COVID-19

First report on recently publicized Kawasaki-like hyperinflammatory shock state in 8 UK children. Patients are mostly SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative, but antibody positive. One death.

Using data on reported SARS-Cov-2 diagnosis, associated hospitalizations and death this collaborative group lead by ETH Zürich estimated the reproductive number through time for the whole of Switzerland and some cantons for which sufficient data is available. They estimated the reproductive number to be between 0.6 and 0.8 in the first third of April.

COVID-patients develop neutralizing SARS-CoV-Antibodies within 5-14 days after disease onset. Seropositiy can be detected in 29% of oligosymptomatic patients within 15 days and 3% of healthy blood donors are SARS-CoV positive.

The Dutch Radiological Society has introduced the world to CO-RADS, a COVID-19 Reporting And Data System that uses a five-point scale to grade the radiologist’s level of suspicion of COVID-19 pneumonia on CT. CO-RADS mirrors the approach of established methods for standardised and structured reporting in radiology such as BI-RADS (breast imaging), PI-RADS (prostate imaging), or Lung-RADS. Based on their initial validation study, the authors consider CO-RADS useful for day-to-day radiology practice.

High transmissibility of COVID-19 before and immediately after symptom onset suggests that finding and isolating symptomatic patients alone may not suffice to interrupt transmission, and that more generalized measures might be required, such as social distancing. The infection rates in healthcare was lower compared to household or non-household settings.

This study aimed to evaluate postdischarge SARS-CoV-2 status of newborns to mothers with COVID-19 in pregnancy that, at birth, were negative to SARS-CoV-2. At 2-week follow-up, one newborn was tested positive although asymptomatic.

This case series from Iran reports that among 9 pregnant women with severe COVID-19 disease, at the time of reporting, 7 of 9 died. This is in contrast to prior reports suggesting no known mortality among pregnant women infected by SARS-CoV-2

Three cohort studies were simultaneously published in the NEJM on the single topic of angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in the Covid-19 pandemic. These studies do not provide evidence to support the hypothesis that ACE inhibitor or ARB use is associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the risk of severe Covid-19 among those infected, or the risk of in-hospital death among those with a positive test.

First larger pediatric ER case series (100 patients) from a European country. Mild course in most cases; ICU 1 patient; death 0 patients.

Associate Professor from EPFL and graphics/code artist present extensive and elaborate simulations on where the COVID-19 pandemic comes from, what will happen IF, and the implications of all those simulations. Extensive educational resource to help you comprehend, why all that stuff is going on around us.