I’m not a doctor. You know this by now, I’m sure. But I have to make sure it’s clear. I am not a medical professional. The point of these posts is to comb the internet for useful information and deliver it to you.
New Numbers
WHO Numbers
Total Worldwide Cases: 896,450
Total Worldwide Deaths: 45,526
CDC Numbers
Total United States cases: 213,144
— Travel-related: 1,144
— Close contact: 3,245
— Under investigation: 209,755
Total deaths: 4,513
States reporting cases: 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
COVID-19 cases reported by other medical sites:
Johns Hopkins
Total Worldwide Cases: 1,015,709
Total Worldwide Deaths: 53,069
Total Worldwide Recovered: 211,409
Total US cases: 245,213
Total US deaths: 5,983
Total US recovered: 9,090
From Johns Hopkins: “Based on available modeling, notably by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , the US government projects at least 100,000 deaths nationwide, under continued and effective implementation of social distancing measures.”
Regional Numbers
| Cases | Tested | Deaths | Percent-positive | Mortality Rate | |
| MS | 1177 | N/A | 26 | #VALUE! | 2.21% |
| LA | 9150 | 47185 | 310 | 19.39% | 3.39% |
| AL | 1270 | 8393 | 32 | 15.13% | 2.52% |
| TN | 2845 | 34611 | 32 | 8.22% | 1.12% |
| AR | 683 | 8992 | 12 | 7.60% | 1.76% |
| Total | 15125 | 99181 | 412 | 15.25% | 2.72% |
A few states in the region do release the number of hospitalized people due to COVID-19. Those numbers are as follows:
Mississippi: 233
Louisiana: 1,639 (507 on ventilators)
Alabama: Not given
Tennessee: 263
Arkansas: Not given
Making Estimates from past research
I talked about research from the Cruise Ships that may be relevant to estimating the number of cases without testing everyone (since that isn’t a feasible option). Plus, this type of estimate would make a good “first guess” at the number of asymptomatic people (the people who don’t feel sick, but are still infected), too.
This type of estimating isn’t perfect. In fact, it is far from it. And it is just an estimate. But based on the past research, it is at least a start.
| Estimated Symptomatic | Estimated Asymptomatic | Estimated total | |
| MS | 1795 | 394 | 2189 |
| LA | 13956 | 3063 | 17019 |
| AL | 1937 | 425 | 2362 |
| TN | 4339 | 953 | 5292 |
| AR | 1042 | 229 | 1270 |
| Total | 23069 | 5064 | 28133 |
I won’t bury the lede
The University of Pittsburgh claims to have a vaccine for COVID-19.
UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists announced a potential vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. When tested in mice, the vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produces antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralizing the virus.
The paper appeared in EBioMedicine, which is published by The Lancet, and is the first study to be published after critique from fellow scientists at outside institutions that describes a candidate vaccine for COVID-19. The researchers were able to act quickly because they had already laid the groundwork during earlier coronavirus epidemics.
“Our vaccine is focused more on generating the antibody” Dr. Andrea Gambooto said during the press conference.
From what I gather from the description from Dr. Gambotto, this vaccine would act like a flu vaccine where the spike protein is attached in a different way to a different cell. And it allows the bodies natural immune system to attack it and “learn” how to destroy it. So, when the SARS-COV-2 virus invades the body, the immune system already knows how to attack it and kill it.
Here is a look at the press conference:
You may recall that the University of Pittsburgh originally reported to be using a measles vaccine to help create a COVID-19 vaccine.
While this a promising breakthrough and claim, it remains to be seen if it is effective in humans. Yes, the University is still waiting from word from the FDA to allow them to begin testing this on humans. Once that is done, the clinical trial may take up to 18 months to complete.
Other good news
Press release headlines reads: “BD, BioMedomics Announce Launch of Rapid Serology Test to Detect Exposure to COVID-19”
Becton, Dickinson and Company a medical technology company, and BioMedomics, a privately held, North Carolina-based clinical diagnostics company, jointly announced that they have a new “point-of-care” test that can detect antibodies in blood to confirm current or past exposure to COVID-19 in as little as 15 minutes.
From the press release:
The test does not require special equipment and may be used in a laboratory or at the point of care. The test detects antibodies in the blood that are produced by the body in response to coronavirus infection. These antibodies are typically present in the middle to later stages of COVID-19 infection, but may remain present after exposure, which helps clinicians determine who has been exposed to the coronavirus, even if a person didn’t exhibit any symptoms of the COVID-19 disease. Data on past exposure is important for researchers to more accurately understand the likely true occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection across a population. This information will be helpful in informing future strategies for combatting COVID-19.
This sounds very promising, but the equipment, as best I understand, can only test one person at a time, for 15 minutes. Meaning it can only test – at peak efficieny – 96 people per day. So, while it is good news, it is not great news.
“Serology tests are important because they provide an additional piece of information to aid in characterizing possible prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, especially since many infections are mild or asymptomatic in severity,” Dave Hickey, president of Integrated Diagnostic Solutions for BD said. “Initial evidence suggests that nearly all patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 will have developed a detectable antibody response within days of symptom onset, at which time a negative serologic test, along with molecular diagnostics, could be helpful in ruling out COVID-19. Our agreement with BioMedomics adds a rapid serology test that can augment current tests already on the market, and we are pleased to collaborate in this effort with Henry Schein, which has extensive knowledge of the point-of-care test field.”
The test has not been reviewed by the FDA but is permitted for distribution and use under the public health emergency guidance issued by FDA on March 16, 2020, and BD expects to begin shipping tests in April. BD will have capacity to supply more than one million tests over the coming months.
Soap up!
By now, we all know we need to make sure we are washing out hands often – and well. And it turns out that good ol’ soap and water is the key to stopping the virus from infecting you. In this clip, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and director of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, explains what soap does to SARS-CoV-2, and other viruses and bacteria.
Speaking of cleaning things, Dr. Abinash Virk, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist, says the risk of exposure from food is unknown, but likely very low.
There is one quick way to make sure it is zero, though: wash certain foods before eating them.
“The biggest risk of contracting the virus from food would be if you touch food that’s been exposed and then touch your face,” says Dr. Virk. “In that sense it is best to wash your hands before and after handling food and washing unpeeled fruits and vegetables before you eat them.”
It is a really quick and easy step you can take to double-make-certain you aren’t infected.
Blood pressure medications and COVID-19
I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around a paper released in the New England Journal of Medicine titled, “Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Patients with Covid-19” but I’m having very little success. Or rather, not as much success as I’ve had with other papers. This one is rather medical. And a bit too much over my head.
However, this snippet that I think are useful:
It is important to note that, despite inferences about the use of background RAAS inhibitors, specific details have been lacking in studies. Population-based studies have estimated that only 30- to 40-percent of patients in China who have hypertension are treated with any antihypertensive therapy; RAAS inhibitors are used alone or in combination in 25- to 30-percent of these treated patients. Given such estimates, only a fraction of patients with Covid-19, at least in China, are anticipated to have been previously treated with RAAS inhibitors. Data showing patterns of use of RAAS inhibitors and associated health outcomes that rigorously account for treatment indication and illness severity among patients with Covid-19 are needed.
The paper is urging for more investigations and papers looking into any linkages between RAAS and COVID-19 as there seems to be some overlap in severe illness and the use of RAAS inhibitors.
So for those of you who are concerned about taking blood pressure medication, please consult your doctor for more information. But know that this is an area of active research.
Things you should be doing now
I know this can all seem overwhelming at times. The sheer amount of information being kicked out by every media outlets is like an avalanche.
So, here are some things: Stay home if you can! Gotta work? That’s understandable. Need food? Sure, head to the store. But try to skip any “for fun” activities in public where you would be interacting with others or in a place with multiple other people.
Some CDC’s guidance:
— Know where to get your local / state-level information
For Mississippi: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html
For Louisiana: http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/
For Alabama: http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html
If you live in a state outside of the region, head to google and type in, “dept of health” followed by whatever state you live. Google should take you to that state’s department of health and on the main page, most states have a link to an update on the Coronavirus.
— Know the Symptoms
Look for things like a fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. But also know when it may become an emergency. It becomes an emergency when you have difficulty breathing, a persistent pain or pressure in the chest, you develop general confusion, and if you develop bluish lips or face. Also recognize that body aches, weak stomach, nasal congestion, a sore throat, and other symptoms of the regular flu are not the same as the symptoms with Coronavirus.
— Stay home when you are sick
Any kind of sick. If you feel like you may have Coronavirus, call your health care provider’s office in advance of a visit. If you have any sickness, the CDC recommends to limit movement in the community, limit visitors, and practice good social distancing.
— Know if you are at a higher risk
Know what additional measures those at higher risk and who are vulnerable should take. Those at higher risk include older adults (over 60), people who have serious chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease). Some research has indicated that people with asthma may also be included in the higher risk category.
— Take steps to mitigate your infection
The CDC recommends to “Implement steps to prevent illness” by washing high-traffic areas more often, washing hands with soap and water and if someone is sick, to isolate the sick person into a low-traffic area of the home.
— Create a Household Plan
Create a household plan of action in case of illness in the household or disruption of daily activities due to COVID-19 in the community.
Would a full face motorcycle helmet work for masking.