According to a new study, rapid antigen tests may provide false negatives — suggesting that a person is infection-free, even though other parts of their respiratory tract are teeming with the virus. The researchers found that most people showed a delay of several days between when the virus first appeared in the throat or saliva and when it appeared in the nose. Importantly, 15 of the 17 study participants had high levels of the virus for at least a day prior to getting a positive result.
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Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID
Millions of Patients Do Not Have Full Recovery of Smell or Taste Senses After COVID Infection, Study Finds
Retrospective analysis of national data led by investigators from Mass Eye and Ear estimates that over 20 million COVID patients experienced loss of smell or taste in 2021, with a large portion of patients never fully recovering these senses.
Comments closedTopic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID
Millions of patients do not have full recovery of smell or taste senses after COVID infection, study finds
A retrospective study by researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, investigated the loss of olfactory and gustatory senses and estimated that about a quarter of Americans who had COVID-19 reported only partial or no recovery of taste or smell.
Comments closedTopic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests
Ontario to stop free COVID-19 rapid test program in pharmacies, grocery stores
An Ontario program that distributes free rapid tests for COVID-19 at grocery stores and pharmacies will end after this month.
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Covid-19: Metformin reduces the risk of developing long term symptoms by 40%, study finds
Metformin—a cheap, safe, and widely available diabetes drug—could reduce the incidence of long covid if given during the acute phase of covid-19, a new study indicates.
A two week course of metformin given within three days of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 led to 40% fewer long covid diagnoses over the following 10 months compared with people who had taken placebo, according to a randomised controlled trial.
Leave a commentTopic: cognitive issuesView all posts for the topic: cognitive issues
Researchers discover that COVID-19 can cause brain cells to fuse
Researchers at The University of Queensland have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses can cause brain cells to fuse, initiating malfunctions that lead to chronic neurological symptoms.
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Parents ask Ottawa’s largest school board to monitor air quality
As children are on the list of those most affected by wildfire smoke, some parents are concerned about sending their kids to school due to poor air quality.
During Tuesday night’s Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) budget meeting, Ecology Ottawa Board Chair Katie Gibbs requested that funds go to ensure better ventilation in schools.
Comments closedTopic: cognitive issuesView all posts for the topic: cognitive issues
Could fused neurons explain COVID-19’s ‘brain fog’?
Researchers have demonstrated that a SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce brain cells to fuse together, with severe impacts on the functioning of neurons. Neurons may fuse together with other neurons or glia, and larger multicellular syncytia may be formed. The fusion of neurons may be one of the causes of the cognitive issues associated with COVID-19.
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Face masks to return at Tour de France to limit COVID-19 cases in the peloton
The Tour de France organisers have drawn up a new COVID-19 protocol for this year’s race to try to limit the risk of infection inside the peloton, with riders, team staff and officials set to wearing face masks at sign-on and in the team paddock, while riders will be banned from signing autographs.
Comments closedTopic: childrenView all posts for the topic: children
More than 70% of US household COVID spread started with a child, study suggests
According to a recent study, over 70% of nearly 850,000 US household COVID-19 transmissions originated with a child. The researchers concluded that children had an important role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and that in-person school also resulted in substantial spread.
Comments closedTopic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID
CAMH study confirms ongoing brain inflammation associated with long COVID
A new Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) study found elevated levels of inflammation in the brains of patients who report persistent symptoms of long COVID.
Using advanced brain scanning with positron emission tomography (PET), the researchers found elevated levels of the protein TSPO, a brain marker of inflammation, in patients with onset of depression within several months after a COVID-19 infection.
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Long COVID: The impact on language and cognition
COVID-19 continues to have profound health and economic consequences around the world. Aside from the large number of deaths from this viral infection, there is…
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Une clinique virtuelle pour aider les malades de la COVID longue en Outaouais
he Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de l’Outaouais announced on Wednesday the opening of a satellite clinic for the rehabilitation of post-infectious syndrome to long COVID.
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Une première clinique de COVID longue en Outaouais
A first-ever long COVID clinic opens in the Outaouais.
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Auditor general: GN may have wasted up to 31 per cent of COVID‑19 vaccines
Nunavut’s Health Department may have wasted one-third of its COVID-19 vaccines, according to a report presented Tuesday to the Nunavut legislative assembly by Canada’s auditor general Karen Hogan.
Comments closedTopic: cardiovascular diseaseView all posts for the topic: cardiovascular disease
After N.B.’s deadliest year, COVID-related strokes and heart attacks are in the spotlight
Infection control epidemiologist Colin Furness said rising deaths from heart attacks and strokes increasingly appear to be related to damage caused by COVID-19 infections.
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Hospitals must keep the masks
Re: Three Ottawa hospitals loosen masking requirements, still require them in clinical areas, May 15.
I’m really disappointed to hear that masks will no longer be required in certain public spaces at the Queensway Carleton, Montfort and Royal hospitals. Preventative medicine is best.
We need universal masking with N95 and FFP3 respirators to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
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DoNoHarm BC protests the removal of mandatory masks in healthcare settings
Comments closedAll COVID-19 patients (including vaccinated adults and children) are potentially at risk of long-term health damage or death, though some groups are disproportionately affected. These risks multiply with each reinfection.