Why purposely infect people with COVID-19?

Even as much focus has been on vaccination rollout and progress of COVID-19 variants, some researchers are undertaking a study to understand aspects of the virus’ activity. The concept, according to U.K. researchers, is to infect up to 90 people with the SARS-CoV-19 virus in a research setting, determine the minimal amount of virus necessaryContinue reading “Why purposely infect people with COVID-19?”

Yes, the vaccines are starting to make a difference!

On Valentine’s day I remarked about the impressive drop in COVID-19 infections observed since late December. The media has picked this up and suggested many reasons behind this fall in infections. Many don’t make much sense, especially citing a change in seasonality of infections since winter “seasonal” increases in respiratory virus infections are usually notContinue reading “Yes, the vaccines are starting to make a difference!”

Will children ever get back to school?!

Tonight, I’m going to recommend that you read a new article in Vox by Benjamin Linas, MD, an infectious disease specialist focused in epidemiology. He relates the story of his three children who are “locked out” of their Brookline, MA public school. He puts the blame for this on the teachers union in the school systemContinue reading “Will children ever get back to school?!”

What is really happening with “dangerous variant” COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom?

There is a consistent stream of news on the “variant” SARS-CoV-2 virus from the U.K. This virus variant, known as B.1.1.7, first came to attention in December. Researchers determined that it had rapidly become more common across Britain in just a couple of months. The variant has been described as “fast-spreading” because it is wasContinue reading “What is really happening with “dangerous variant” COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom?”

A valentine of a report on current COVID-19 infections in the U.S.

The news on COVID-19 infection numbers this Valentines Day continues to be good! New cases per 100,000 individuals remain low, even in California. Texas and Tennessee remain the only outliers. The number of new cases continues to drop and has been below 100,000 for several days. Even in the states with the most new cases,Continue reading “A valentine of a report on current COVID-19 infections in the U.S.”

Updates on two COVID-19 stories related to China.

According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, crucial information regarding the beginning of the pandemic has been withheld from WHO investigators during their visit to China.  Identified information about the earliest illnesses that appeared to be related 2 SARS Co V2 infection was withheld and not provided to the WHO. This meant thatContinue reading “Updates on two COVID-19 stories related to China.”

Fauci reiterates: Everyone will have vaccine by April!

At the end of a week when more vaccination sites seem to be closing than opening (due to lack of the vaccine), Dr. Tony Fauci exhibited unbridled enthusiasm for vaccine availability by April. His exact words are, “If you look at the projection, I would imagine by the time we get to April, that willContinue reading “Fauci reiterates: Everyone will have vaccine by April!”

Why vaccinate children? We have barely started the elderly!

Children are now thought to be a less vulnerable population for COVID-19. Not only do they effectively handle the infection, they also appeared to shed less virus and therefore tend to infect fewer people. The CDC has even indicated that elementary schools should be reopened without vaccinations of students as they do not provide highContinue reading “Why vaccinate children? We have barely started the elderly!”

The WHO concludes that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus did not come from a Chinese laboratory, but other questions remain.

A WHO team led by Peter Ben Embarek said today they failed to find evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 was produced in or released from a Chinese laboratory. However, he was unable to resolve other questions about the beginning of the pandemic and could not definitively say whether the virus was infecting peopleContinue reading “The WHO concludes that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus did not come from a Chinese laboratory, but other questions remain.”

The obscenity of the web-based appointment systems for COVID-19 vaccines

My uncle is the most technically savvy human being I have ever met. I remember watching him as a child as he repaired people’s televisions by examining their circuits and replacing their tubes (yes, TV’s ran on vacuum tubes). As technology advanced, he was often the first adopter of transistor radios, high end stereos, andContinue reading “The obscenity of the web-based appointment systems for COVID-19 vaccines”