When the SARS-CoV-2 virus began spreading, and COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, much of the physician services healthcare community was focused on diagnostic test availability so that we could identify those who had been infected with the virus and use that information to slow the spread of the disease. Now, however, attention has shifted from … [Read more...]
The Latest on COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
How Changing Seasons May Eventually Affect the COVID-19 Infection Rate
Several weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking for answers about how the virus will respond to changing seasons. Since the outbreak began, physicians and scientists have been speculating on how environmental conditions - including weather, may impact SARS-CoV-2. A new study, published in the Journal of Infectious Disease, is shedding … [Read more...]
Suicidal Acts are Increasing, Especially Amongst Certain U.S. Populations
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that while suicidal acts are generally increasing in the United States, much of the recent increase can be attributed to women, older adults, and adolescents. In addition to investigating the likelihood of engaging in suicidal acts based on sex and age, the researchers also examined the details of … [Read more...]
A COVID-19 Vaccine: Clinical Trial Begins
A 43-year old woman with two children has become the first study participant in a phase 1 clinical trial for an experimental vaccine against the spreading coronavirus. She was administered the vaccine, mRNA-1273, on March 16th. This move marks the official start to the open-label trial and what researchers hope will lead to the first approved … [Read more...]
Coronavirus Can Be Detected in Patient Saliva
A new study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases has found that the coronavirus strain that is spreading globally – COVID-19 – can be detected in patients’ saliva. If saliva can in fact be used to diagnose COVID-19, this approach could be valuable not only for patients but also for emergency physicians, hospital physicians, and … [Read more...]