- A review of 18 studies found that long-distance airborne transmission (qualified as transmission from two or more meters away) of COVID-19 is possible in indoor settings. The studies identify a lack of airflow and ventilation as a leading cause in environments such as the workplace or restaurants.
- Researchers from UT Southwestern developed a new COVID-19 test that can identify what variant a COVID-positive patient has been infected with, which would potentially influence individual treatment decisions.
- Preliminary data from a Veterans Affairs health system study shows that immune protection from both COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 past infections are strong, however, reinfection can still increase the likelihood of new health issues.
- Sabizabulin, a drug created by Veru Inc. initially with the hopes of treating cancer patients, has been found to potentially cut the risk of death among high risk COVID-19 positive patients by significant margins.
- The FDA instructed pharmaceutical companies that any new COVID-19 booster shot in development must include added protection against the Omicron variant and its subvariants.
- The FDA announced that it will allow state-licensed pharmacists to directly prescribe Paxlovid to COVID-19 patients.
White House and Federal Agencies
- The FDA instructed pharmaceutical companies that any new COVID-19 booster shot in development must include added protection against the Omicron variant and its subvariants.
- The FDA announced that it will allow state-licensed pharmacists to directly prescribe Paxlovid to COVID-19 patients.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- According to research conducted in March by the CDC, 40% of rural area parents said that their pediatricians did not recommend the COVID-19 vaccines. By comparison, only 10% of parents in urban communities said the same.
- A review of 18 studies has found that long-distance airborne transmission (qualified as transmission from 2 or more meters away) of COVID-19 is possible in indoor settings. The studies identify a lack of airflow and ventilation as a leading cause in environments such as the workplace or restaurants.
- Researchers at the National Institute of Health released data indicating that between March 2020 and October 2021, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
- The Omicron subvariant BA.5 now accounts for the majority of U.S. COVID-19 cases.
- Researchers from UT Southwestern developed a new COVID-19 test that can identify which variant a COVID-positive patient has been infected with, which would potentially influence individual treatment decisions.
- Preliminary data from a Veterans Affairs health system study shows that immune protection from both COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 past infections are strong; however, reinfection can still increase the likelihood of new health issues.
- Sabizabulin, a drug created by Veru Inc. initially with the hopes of treating cancer patients, has been found to potentially cut the risk of death among high-risk COVID-19 positive patients by significant margins.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has been implicated as a cause for the biggest decrease in US life expectancy since World War II.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
The CDC published the following reports and website updates:
- Cases in the U.S.
- Interim Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines in Children Aged 6 Months–5 Years
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Availability and Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 5–11 Years
- Global Community Mitigation
- COVID-19 Vaccines for People who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised
- COVID-19 Data Tracker Recent Updates
- Interim Analysis of Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Children Aged <10 Years
- Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy
- Archive of COVID-19 Vaccination Data Updates
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination Data
- COVID-19 and Animals
- Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers
- COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country
- Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination
- Factors Associated with Severe Outcomes Among Immunocompromised Adults Hospitalized for COVID-19
