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LATEST SCIENCES AND RESEARCH
READ | Coronavirus: Symptomatic children carry more virus than those without symptoms, study suggests
Children who test positive for the novel coronavirus but are asymptomatic (show no symptoms) have significantly lower levels of the virus compared to those who experience symptoms.
This was according to a new study based on an analysis of 817 children from nine hospitals in the US and Canada who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Although the study was the first comprehensive and comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in asymptomatic children, the authors cautioned that the reason behind their finding was still unclear and required further investigation.
“While these findings provide some reassurance about the safety of asymptomatically infected children attending school, these unanswered questions suggest that risk mitigation measures in daycare centers, schools and the community remain critical to reducing the spread. from Covid-19, “said the lead author and epidemiologist. Larry Kociolek of Northwestern University in Illinois.
The study included 339 asymptomatic and 478 symptomatic children (ages 0-17). All the children in the study tested positive for the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
READ | More evidence masks the spread of slow Covid
Here’s more evidence that masking reduces Covid-19 transmission: A new study from Massachusetts found that the use of face coverings resulted in a decline in coronavirus cases among healthcare workers as infections rose in the surrounding community.
“We found clear benefits of universal masking in preventing infectious spread within the work environment,” said researcher Dr. Stefanos Kales.
He is division chief for occupational and environmental medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance (a Harvard-affiliated community health system) and a professor at Harvard Medical School.
For the study, the researchers compared the Covid-19 case rate between the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) and Massachusetts residents from March 17 to May 6. The CHA began demanding masks on March 26.
Universal masking was done during a time of increasing infections in both the health system and the community. After the policy was instituted, infections among healthcare workers dropped dramatically, while infections in the community continued to rise to a peak on April 20.
Before the mask’s mandate, infection rates rose almost identically in the state’s health system and population, the study found.
LATEST CORONAVIRUS CASES
SA cases update:
The latest number of confirmed cases is 719,714.
According to the latest update, 58 deaths have been recorded in the country.
There have been 648,654 recoveries.
So far, 4,752,596 tests have been performed and 25,721 new tests have been reported.
Global Cases Update:
For the latest global data, follow this interactive map from Johns Hopkins University & Medicine.
By early Thursday morning, positive cases worldwide topped 44.3 million, while deaths approached 1.172 million.
The United States had the highest number of cases in the world, more than 8.8 million, as well as the highest number of deaths, about 228,000.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SA
Last News:
READ | Ramaphosa Announces Establishment of 4 New Courts to Deal with Covid-19 Corruption
Four new Special Commercial Crimes Courts will be established to deal with corruption cases related to Covid-19, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.
In response to a question from ANC MP Maurencia Gillion, Ramaphosa said the government had “responded quickly and decisively to allegations of corruption in the award of contracts related to Covid-19.”
It added that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) was investigating 932 cases under the proclamation issued in July and all were in different stages of investigation.
“To date, the SIU has provided me with two interim reports describing the progress of the investigations, including in cases where the investigations have been completed.”
Ramaphosa said that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) had established a Covid-19 project team to investigate and audit cases.
At the end of September, there were 307 cases with an estimated loss of tax revenue of R300 million and 139 companies were referred for possible tax evasion investigations.
READ | Cape Town doctor tests positive for Covid-19 twice: ‘We are not safe from the clutches of SARS-CoV-2’
“We are not safe from the clutches of SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr. Davinia Masimila, who tested positive twice: once in June and a second, after recovering, in September.
However, it has not been confirmed whether he had a true reinfection, even though he had a positive test result and was experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.
Masimila told News24 that she was admitted to the hospital for Covid-19 treatment in June after experiencing severe chest pains and shortness of breath. He recovered, but in September he presented symptoms again.
“More than three months after my initial infection, I experienced unusual tiredness and severe headaches. Then I had an itchy sensation in my throat and then I got dizzy and developed diarrhea.”
He double-checked whether the symptoms he experienced the second time could be related to Covid-19.
“I also contacted an infectious disease colleague regarding my symptoms and whether a second swab was warranted. My colleague suggested a new test for SARS-CoV-2 as she had symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 and more than 90 had passed. days from my initial infection, but we also knew that other common viral infections should also be considered. “
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE WORLD
Last News:
READ | WHO warns that controlling Covid-19 may require tougher locks, ‘sacrifice for many people’
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that the world was “far behind” where it should be in Covid-19, and that getting the crisis under control “may require the sacrifice of many, many people.”
“We are far behind this virus,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, at a news conference in Geneva. “We will have to anticipate this virus and [that] it may require the sacrifice of many, many people in terms of their personal lives, “he added.
His warning came as Covid-19 cases rose, particularly in the United States and Europe.
WHO officials said some countries may have to consider closing non-essential businesses again to stem the tide.
“It may be necessary to shut down and restrict movement and have stay-at-home orders to alleviate this phase of the pandemic,” Ryan said.
The WHO also criticized some nations for not doing enough to reduce the spread of the virus during the first wave of the pandemic.
HEALTH TIPS (as recommended by the NICD and WHO)
• Keep your physical distance: stay at least one meter from someone who is coughing or sneezing
• Practice frequent hand washing, especially after direct contact with sick people or their surroundings.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, as your hands touch many surfaces and could transmit the virus.
• Practice respiratory hygiene: Cover your mouth with a bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Remember to dispose of the tissue immediately after use.
Image Credit: Getty Images
