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Tag: SARS-CoV-2

Study shows long COVID worse for patients than ‘long flu’

In the 18 months after a serious COVID-19 or seasonal influenza infection, patients are at a significant increased risk of death, hospital readmission, or health problems affecting a number of organs, though COVID patients are hit harder, according to a study published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The study was led by Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, the chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University. Al-Aly has been studying long COVID for the past 3 years, and has been interested in studying the differences between the acute and chronic phases of the disease.

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COVID and flu surge could strain hospitals as JN.1 variant grows, CDC warns

Hospitals and emergency rooms could be forced to ration care by the end of this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday, saying recent trends in COVID-19 and influenza are now on track to again strain America’s health care system. The new COVID variant JN.1 is making up an increasing share of cases, the CDC’s tracking shows.

“COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising quickly,” the agency said in its weekly update. “Since the summer, public health officials have been tracking a rise in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is caused by COVID-19. Influenza activity is growing in most parts of the country. RSV activity remains high in many areas.”

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Many Canadians have had long COVID for almost 4 years. Researchers say there’s hope

Four years ago, Sonja Mally was a busy tattoo artist with a photographic memory and penchant for long hikes.

Now, the 38-year-old Toronto woman considers it a good day if she can do a small drawing, muster the energy to walk around the block or “perform very basic tasks.”

“It’s a hard thing to have to explain to people why maybe one day you might be doing fine and the next day you can’t find the words to complete a sentence,” Mally said.

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Did the protesters mean harm? That’s at the heart of bid to toss convoy class-action

A $300-million proposed class-action lawsuit filed against convoy protesters, donors and organizers on behalf of people who live or work in Ottawa is facing another challenge, with lawyers arguing the case seeks to unfairly limit fundamental freedoms.

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‘The highest levels they’ve been ever’: Wastewater testing shows growing spread of COVID-19

“The levels of [COVID-19] are at the highest levels they’ve been ever […] There’s hundreds or even thousands of people that have COVID-19 right now.”

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Alberta’s COVID death toll up by 36 since last week, with 177 more hospitalizations

Another 36 Albertans have died from COVID, according to the latest weekly data released by the province on Thursday.

That brings the death toll for the current season to 306.

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Hospital surge beds added as pressure grows in Alberta’s intensive care units

Alberta hospitals are squeezing in extra intensive care unit beds as respiratory virus cases balloon and ICUs fill up.

Alberta Health Services has added 17 adult surge beds since last week — 12 in Edmonton and 5 in Calgary— bringing the total to 240.

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COVID outbreak declared on fifth floor of Nanaimo hospital

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the fifth floor of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

As of Thursday, a total of 10 hospital-acquired cases had been attributed to the outbreak. All patients are experiencing mild illness, an Island Health official said.

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Arguing long COVID is being downplayed, an advocate has launched this St. John’s billboard

A new billboard has popped up along a prominent road in St. John’s, warning people of the long-term effects of COVID-19 and to take precautionary measures.

The Topsail Road sign — which says “Long COVID ruins lives. Mask up” — was organized not by health officials, but a group concerned about the impact of the disease.

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En plus de la COVID-19, la grippe H1N1 inquiète

Since October, only 16% of Quebecers have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and 17.5% against influenza, this year’s flu (H1N1) that Public Health still fears. The main concern of authorities? The fact that just over one in two Quebecers, among those aged 70 and over, was vaccinated.

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Ten additional COVID-19 deaths reported in Ottawa in past week

Ten Ottawa residents have died of COVID-19 over the past week as the pandemic wave that began in the summer continues, fueled by new sub-variants and the busy season for social gatherings.

Ottawa Public Health reported the 10 new deaths in its latest update on COVID-19, published Wednesday. A total of 1,185 Ottawa residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began nearly four years ago.

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Kingston General Hospital ‘bursting at the seams’ with COVID-19 and respiratory illness patients

The Kingston General Hospital says a surge of emergency department inpatients, including a day that had a near record 580 admissions, has the hospital struggling to keep up as the respiratory virus season peaks across the province.

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Ottawa-Gatineau community update | 2023‑12‑13

📈 The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal for Ottawa has increased substantially (+2,069%) since a low on July 12, 2023. It is extremely high.

⚠️ The 7-day average of percent positivity is extremely high (19.28%).

🏥 Confirmed COVID-19 patients in Ottawa hospitals: 164 ( increase of 8).

In 2023, there have been 129 COVID-19 outbreaks at Ottawa’s hospitals so far, leading to 20 deaths and 1,027 known cases of COVID-19.

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Le mystère entourant la COVID longue limite les capacités de traitements

Four years after the first cases of what was later called COVID-19, infections continue to spread and lead to new cases of long COVID. However,…

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Strained Kingston hospital asks sick people to skip holiday gatherings

With a surge of patients with respiratory illnesses being cared for in its hallways, the Kingston Health Sciences Centre is reminding people to stay home if they’re feeling sick to cut back the spread — even if it means missing that holiday party.

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Recordaantal coronavirusdeeltjes in het rioolwater

Never before have so many coronavirus particles been found in the wastewater as now. Coronavirus variant watcher Josette Schoenmakers reports this on X. At the time of writing, the national government’s coronavirus dashboard has not yet been updated with the most recent data.

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Public health officials detail threats, changed landscape post-pandemic

Public health leaders, including state commissioners and directors, and frontline health workers experienced threats to their well-being and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to up to 30% to step down, retire, or leave the field, according to a recent study in Public Health in Practice.

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COVID-19 home testing as important as ever, infectious disease specialist says

Almost four years into the pandemic many people have been taking a more carefree approach to COVID-19.

Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious diseases specialist and assistant professor at Dalhousie’s School of Medicine, says it’s important to still be vigilant.

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