“Hundreds of studies from around the world have consistently shown that a COVID-19 infection in pregnancy carries significantly higher risk for admission to intensive care units (ICU), invasive ventilation, preeclampsia and death, compared to other COVID-19 patients.”
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Topic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID
The Pandemic Has Faded From View. But Many Educators Still Have Long COVID
More than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, one in 20 K-12 educators believe they have long COVID. Another 14 percent think or know they previously had it but eventually recovered.
Comments closedTopic: wastewater monitoringView all posts for the topic: wastewater monitoring
Wastewater sampling in Canada suggests COVID case rate 19 times higher than reported
At the peak of a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant wave in Ontario, wastewater sampling conducted before the surge suggested that COVID-19 cases were 19 times higher than reported because of changes in clinical testing.
Continue readingWastewater sampling in Canada suggests COVID case rate 19 times higher than reported
Comments closed Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators
Public Health should offer N95 masks
Re: Heavy smoke, smog wallop Ottawa, cancelling Dragon Boat, Indigenous festivals, June 25.
Thanks to climate change, we’re experiencing unprecedented hazardous air quality. Concentrations of pollutants have been an order of magnitude greater than the levels in major cities. And more smoke is on the way.
Ottawa Public Health should follow the example of public health organizations in other cities: it should distribute N95 respirators to Ottawa residents. Huron Perth Public Health is now offering respirators to residents who are at high risk for respiratory issues.
Comments closedTopic: infertilityView all posts for the topic: infertility
Study: Sperm counts decline even after mild COVID infections
Men recently infected with COVID-19 have decreased sperm counts for more than 3 months following even mild infections, and the sperm they do produce is less able to swim, according to new findings presented today at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Denmark.
The findings are intriguing because men produce new sperm every 2 or 3 months, and the findings are based on semen analyses taken after 100 days, suggesting COVID does long-term damage to the male reproductive tract.
Comments closedTopic: long COVIDView all posts for the topic: long COVID
A Common Diabetes Drug May Prevent Long COVID in Some People
The drug metformin cut long COVID risk by 41 percent in both people who were overweight and those with obesity. But treatments remain elusive.
Comments closedTopic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking
Calgary doctor to challenge AHS mask policy change in court
Comments closedYou can’t be putting the responsibility for basic measures to protect people with disabilities and chronic disease… on them when a very minor, reasonable, easy-to-do accommodation can be just kept in place.
Topic: cognitive issuesView all posts for the topic: cognitive issues
New imaging technique captures COVID-19’s impact on the brain
Comments closedSome may think COVID-19 affects just the lungs. What was found is that this new MRI technique that we created is very good at identifying changes to the brain due to COVID-19. COVID-19 changes the white matter in the brain.
Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests
Study: At-Home Rapid COVID Tests May Miss Many Infections
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.
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
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.
Comments closedTopic: metforminView all posts for the topic: metformin
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.
Comments closedTopic: indoor air qualityView all posts for the topic: indoor air quality
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.
Comments closedTopic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking
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.
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