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Tag: SARS-CoV-2

Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

What are the most reliable rapid antigen tests?

Published May 6, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: newsGP
Published on:
By Michelle Wisbey

A new study has analysed 26 RATs from Australia and Canada, finding only six could effectively detect the lowest concentrations of COVID-19.

Patients across the globe have come to rely on rapid antigen tests (RATs) to confirm a COVID-19 diagnosis, but a new Australian study has revealed most are not producing accurate results.

Researchers from James Cook University (JCU) say they were left ‘shocked’ after an analysis of 26 RATs from Australia and Canada found just six were effective at detecting the lowest concentration of COVID-19.

One Canadian test failed to detect the COVID-19 protein entirely at any level of concentration.

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Topic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response

The unlearned lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic

Published May 4, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Globe and Mail
Published on:
By The Editorial Board

Four years ago this week, there was only one subject on Canadians’ minds: the incipient COVID-19 pandemic. Schools and businesses were locked down in most of the country. The death count was appalling: close to 1,900 in the first full week of the month. In all, about 4,300 Canadians would die that May – with far more brutal waves of infection and death to come.

The story is much different today. Thanks to the rapid development, approval and delivery of vaccines – an amazing human accomplishment that isn’t celebrated enough – COVID-19 has been brought to heel and is now largely seen as just one more viral disease, like the flu or common cold. The availability of home testing kits means most people who become infected by the latest variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can manage the disease at home, and never trouble the health care system.

That’s good, but it hides the troubling fact that it is difficult to discern coherent policies at any level of government for continuing the fight against COVID-19, for dealing with its long-term effects, or for preparing for another pandemic.

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Topic: metforminView all posts for the topic: metformin

Common diabetes drug lowers SARS-CoV-2 levels, clinical trial finds

Published May 3, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CIDRAP
Published on:
By Stephanie Soucheray

Today, researchers from the University of Minnesota published evidence that the common diabetes drug metformin decreases the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the body and helps reduce the risk of rebound symptoms if given early in the course of non-severe illness.

The study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, suggests metformin may also help prevent long COVID.

The researchers tested metformin against a placebo in 999 adults infected with COVID-19. More than 50% of the study enrollees were vaccinated, and treatment took place when the Omicron variant was the most dominant strain in the United States.

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Topic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines

Fall COVID-19 vaccine guidelines are out. Here’s what NACI recommends

Published May 3, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Global News
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By Katie Dangerfield

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released its updated guidelines on Friday on the use of COVID-19 vaccines during the upcoming fall season.

Although COVID-19 rates are currently low across the country, NACI said it anticipates a surge in activity during the fall and winter months, aligning with patterns seen in previous years and consistent with the behaviour of other respiratory viruses.

“As COVID-19 activity is expected during the upcoming fall and winter months, and COVID-19 disease can compound the impact on the health system of other fall and winter respiratory viruses, NACI continues to provide early guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate planning by provinces and territories,” the guidelines state.

Continue readingFall COVID-19 vaccine guidelines are out. Here’s what NACI recommends
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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

International study highlights best RATs

Published May 2, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: James Cook University
Published on:

A ground-breaking study by James Cook University researchers has produced damning findings on several COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) available in Australia and overseas.

The new joint study by JCU and National Research Council Canada analysed 16 RATs approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and 10 by Health Canada, using a JCU-developed COVID-19 protein and its Canadian counterpart as reference materials.

Out of the total 26 RATs compared, only six were found to be effective at detecting the lowest concentration of the COVID-19 reference proteins in the dilution series used for benchmarking.

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Topic: pro-virus policiesView all posts for the topic: pro-virus policies

Trump Threatens to Shut Down Pandemic Preparedness Office Launched by Biden

Published April 30, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Time
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By Brian Bennett

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign criticized Donald Trump on Tuesday for saying that, if elected, he would close an office in the White House tasked with making sure the country is better prepared for the next pandemic.

In an interview with TIME published Tuesday, Trump said he would disband the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR), which opened last summer after Congress approved a bill in 2022 with bipartisan support to mandate its creation. The office most recently responded to an outbreak of bird flu in dairy farms, coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure milk remains safe to drink, and working with farmers to contain the virus.

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Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick

Two more COVID deaths in New Brunswick

Published April 30, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Telegraph-Journal
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By Andrew Waugh

Two New Brunswickers aged 65 or older died from COVID-19 between April 14-20, according to new data from the province.

The news was included in its weekly update on COVID and influenza.

Seventeen people required hospital treatment for COVID between April 14-20, and one patient needed intensive care. There were two lab-confirmed COVID outbreaks in undisclosed facilities.

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Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick

New Brunswick mulls future of COVID-19 rapid tests, as virus kills 2, hospitalizes child under 4

Published April 30, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
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By Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

New Brunswick is mulling the future of its COVID-19 rapid point-of-care testing program, as the virus claimed two more lives and hospitalized 17 people, including a child under four.

“Demand for rapid tests has been steadily declining since last fall, and the province is currently determining its next steps with regards to the COVID-19 tests,” said Department of Health spokesperson Sean Hatchard.

He made the comment in response to questions from CBC News about how much longer the province will continue to offer free rapid test kits and whether it’s considering phasing them out.

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Topic: ManitobaView all posts for the topic: Manitoba

Mask rules being relaxed at Manitoba health-care facilities

Published April 29, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Katherine Dow

Mask requirements for health-care workers are being loosened at Manitoba facilities starting next month.

In a memo to staff issued last week, Shared Health Chief Operating Officer Monika Warren writes the requirement to mask during direct care interactions will be lifted in most areas starting May 1.

She notes health-care workers are required to wear PPE according to approved protocols, including if respiratory symptoms are present.

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Topic: researchView all posts for the topic: research

Scientists discover higher levels of CO2 increase survival of viruses in the air and transmission risk

Published April 26, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: University of Bristol
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A new study has revealed for the first time the vital role carbon dioxide (CO2) plays in determining the lifespan of airborne viruses – namely SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

It clearly showed keeping CO2 levels in check helps to reduce virus survival, and therefore the risk of infection.

The research, led by the University of Bristol and published today in Nature Communications, shows how CO2 is a major factor in prolonging the life of SARS-CoV-2 variants present in tiny droplets circulating in the atmosphere.

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Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

Video | Akiko Iwasaki on what causes long COVID, brain fog, the Yale Paxlovid study and long COVID treatments

Published April 26, 2024

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Published by: American Medical Association (AMA)
Published on:

What causes long COVID? Is long COVID dangerous? Who is most likely to get long COVID? Any pediatric long COVID news? What can be done for long term COVID?

Our guest is Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale University. AMA Chief Experience Officer Todd Unger hosts.

Continue readingVideo | Akiko Iwasaki on what causes long COVID, brain fog, the Yale Paxlovid study and long COVID treatments
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Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID

Covid-19 Found in People’s Blood Months After Infection

Published April 26, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Psychology Today
Published on:
By Alison Escalante, M.D.

Key points

  • A quarter of people had Covid-19 viral proteins in their blood up to 14 months after infection.
  • These proteins in the blood indicate that SARS-CoV-2 keeps living in tissue reservoirs.
  • The study used a research-grade test that is not available outside of research labs.
  • The strongest evidence to date that Covid-19 persists in the body provides an important clue to Long Covid.
Continue readingCovid-19 Found in People’s Blood Months After Infection
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Topic: United KingdomView all posts for the topic: United Kingdom

About 2m people have long Covid in England and Scotland, figures show

Published April 25, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Guardian
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By Nicola Davis

About 2 million people in England and Scotland say they are experiencing long Covid, figures reveal, with many reporting their symptoms have lasted two years or longer.

The findings were released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and cover the period from November 2023 to March 2024, revealing of those who reported having long Covid, about 1.5 million people – about three-quarters– felt their day-to-day activities were affected, while 381,000 people – about a fifth – said their ability to undertake such activities had been “limited a lot”.

Continue readingAbout 2m people have long Covid in England and Scotland, figures show
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Topic: avian fluView all posts for the topic: avian flu

As bird flu spreads in cows, fractured U.S. response has echoes of early covid

Published April 25, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Washington Post
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By Lena H. Sun, Rachel Roubein

Federal agencies with competing interests are slowing the country’s ability to track and control an outbreak of highly virulent bird flu that for the first time is infecting cows in the United States, according to government officials and health and industry experts.

The response has echoes of the early days of 2020, when the coronavirus began its deadly march around the world. Today, some officials and experts express frustration that more livestock herds aren’t being tested for avian flu, and that when tests and epidemiological studies are conducted, results aren’t shared fast enough or with enough detail. They fear that the delays could allow the pathogen to move unchecked — and potentially acquire the genetic machinery needed to spread swiftly among people. One dairy worker in Texas has already fallen ill amid the outbreak, the second U.S. case ever of this type of bird flu.

Officials and experts said the lack of clear and timely updates by some federal agencies responding to the outbreak recall similar communication missteps at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. They point, in particular, to a failure to provide more details publicly about how the H5N1 virus is spreading in cows and about the safety of the milk supply.

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BC health advocates call on government to reinstate healthcare mask requirementsA white N95 mask with yellow head straps against an orange gradient background. White text reads, Vulnerability isn’t seasonal. #KeepMasksInHealthcare. Let’s get loud! www.DoNoHarmBC.ca
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

BC health advocates call on government to reinstate healthcare mask requirements

Published April 25, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: DoNoHarm BC
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Protect Our Province BC, DoNoHarm BC, and Masks4EastVan highlight harms and human rights violations from loss of healthcare safety

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (British Columbia) – Independent public health groups Protect Our Province BC, DoNoHarm BC, and Masks4EastVan are calling on the BC government to restore healthcare mask requirements. They are urging British Columbians to call for airborne pathogen protections in clinical settings by joining DoNoHarm BC’s campaign.

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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Edmonton judges dismiss appeal by parents; Alberta school boards may not enforce their own masking mandates

Published April 24, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Edmonton Journal
Published on:
By Jackie Carmichael

A panel of Alberta appeals court judges has dismissed an appeal by parents of five immunocompromised Alberta kids.

Lawyers for the families, known only by initials, had argued the children’s Charter rights were violated in 2022 when the province stopped masking requirements and barred school boards from enforcing their own masking mandates.

Continue readingEdmonton judges dismiss appeal by parents; Alberta school boards may not enforce their own masking mandates
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