News and Noted
First Fully-Integrated COVID-19 Prevention, Testing & Therapy Center Opens in Phoenix
Concierge physician, Tyler Southwell, created a new practice division – Southwellness COVID Solutions (SCS) – late last year and is opening a 2,600 sf one-of-a-kind facility this week, dedicated specifically to COVID-19 prevention, testing, and therapy.
CDC warns states against lifting restrictions amid threat of virus variants
The Hill reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday urged states against lifting coronavirus restrictions, citing the ongoing virus threat and more contagious variants on the rise despite lower case counts overall.
States Begin to Incorporate Children into their COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans
The National Academy for State Health Policy reports that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ACIP is currently discussing vaccine trials in pediatric populations and has indicated it may update its recommendations once a vaccine is authorized for children under age 16. Meanwhile, several states have already identified a distribution phase for children in their current plans.
Double-masking, knotting-and-tucking for snug fit reduces COVID-19 spread, U.S. study shows
Reuters reports that making sure a mask fits snugly on the face and use of two masks is likely to significantly reduce a person’s exposure to the coronavirus, laboratory experiments described by U.S. health officials on Wednesday showed.
‘These numbers are incredibly important’: Doctors and lawmakers call on FDA to address racial disparities in pulse oximeters
STAT reports that a long-documented, under-the-radar disparity is garnering new attention as the Covid-19 pandemic stretches into another year: Some pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen levels and are critical to making decisions about patient care, aren’t as accurate in Black patients and other people of color.
Roche arthritis drug reduces COVID-19 deaths in trial in hospitalised patients
Reuters reports that Roche’s arthritis drug tocilizumab cuts the risk of death among patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, also shortening the time to recovery and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation, results of a large trial showed.
Surveys and Reports
Covid Antibodies Remain Six Months After Infection, Study Shows
Bloomberg reports that the vast majority of people who contract Covid-19 still have antibodies at least six months after infection, a new study involving more than 20,000 people showed.
Lower-income communities tested less despite higher COVID-19 rates, study says
UPI reports that people in lower-income communities in Massachusetts received fewer COVID-19 tests than those in more affluent areas during the first wave of the pandemic, despite higher rates of infection in these at-risk regions, a study published Tuesday by JAMA Network Open found.
Joint Study Shows Decentralized Clinical Trials More Resilient than Traditional Trials During Global Pandemic
THREAD (@THREADresearch), a global decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) and eCOA provider, and Lokavant, a clinical trial intelligence company, announced the results of a joint analysis demonstrating that clinical trials using decentralized approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic outperformed traditional trials in patient recruitment and retention levels.
At Cedars-Sinai, a volunteer team of experienced physicians is placing central and arterial lines in COVID-19 ICUs.
Tech Crunch (techcrunch) reports that a new study from Mount Sinai researchers published in the peer-reviewed “Journal of Medical Internet Research” found that wearable hardware, and specifically the Apple Watch, can effectively predict a positive COVID-19 diagnosis up to a week before current PCR-based nasal swab tests.
Common asthma drug cuts COVID-19 hospitalization risk, recovery time – Oxford study
Reuters reports that a commonly used asthma treatment appears to reduce the need for hospitalizations as well as recovery time for COVID-19 patients if given within seven days of symptoms appearing, according to researchers at the University of Oxford.
Products and Technology
COVID-19 Weekly Insights from hc1
Follow this weekly dashboard for COVID-19 weekly insights driven by the CV19 Lab Testing Dashboard powered by hc1 (@hc1dotcom) and a coalition of laboratories at no charge to public health officials, government agencies, and healthcare providers.
To Listen
We have compiled a playlist from all our shows and podcasts on our network that discuss the current COVID-19 pandemic.
To Read
Did flu shots and pneumococcal vaccines offer some COVID-19 protection? from Contemporary Pediatrics (@contempeds) – As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic moved into the traditional influenza season, there was a strong drive to administer the flu shot to as many children as possible, to help prevent the health care system from having to fight 2 diseases at the same time. A report in Cureus discusses whether getting that flu shot would have a protective effect on the COVID-19 course.1
COVID-19 and Healthcare: 3 Areas Of Market Focus by Roxy Nacu from HGS (@teamhgs) – From delayed or avoided healthcare procedures to lost insurance coverage, COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of our lives. The primary effects have been well documented, and the secondary effects will present transformational challenges to the healthcare system. Increasingly, there are three emerging areas of opportunity to treat healthcare patients post-pandemic.
The Friday Five – 5 Reasons to Wear a Mask Even After You’re Vaccinated by Liz Szabo (@LizSzabo), Kaiser Health News (@KHNews) – Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer at the University of Michigan, and other health experts explain five reasons Americans should hold on to their masks.
Latest from HHS:
Biden Administration purchases additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
HHS Announces Marketplace Special Enrollment Period for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
HHS Amends PREP Act Declaration to Increase Workforce Authorized to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines
Events
Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI)
What: COVID-19 Physician Peer Support
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 – 6:30 pm ET
Register for Tuesday & Thursday Groups
Twitter: @EmPRO_Insurance
COVID-19 Physician Peer Support – PRI has multiple weekly complimentary Virtual Support Groups on Coping with COVID-19 which your fellow physicians have been utilizing and finding great comfort and support from.
COVID-19 Resources
HealthcareNOW Radio rounded up some health IT resources being offered by companies to help healthcare professionals, American citizens and all of those affected in the fight against the coronavirus.
COVID-19 Pharma News
HealthcareNOW Radio rounded up some of the latest news and announcements pertaining to the coronavirus and the pharmaceutical industry.
Latest COVID-19 News from CDC
CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the US. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats.
The CDC is the front line for our safety and information on the Coronavirus. Keep informed about COVID-19. Sign up to get emails or text alerts from the CDC.
Health Center COVID-19 Testing
Updated weekly using data from the Health Center COVID-19 Survey, the Health Center COVID-19 Testing Dashboard provides a high-level view of total COVID-19 tests conducted and the distribution of positive COVID-19 tests by race and ethnicity.