Covid Resources
Covid and the Immune System
Covid & The Immune System
“No, we are *not* going to sling around misinformation like “immunity debt” this winter. Here are 40 sources on what covid does to your immune system”
Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols
Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols is sufficient to transmit covid-19 within minutes
Six aerosol samples from three individuals were culturable, of which five were successfully quantified using TCID50. The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively.
Eyeglasses and risk of Covid-19
Eyeglasses and risk of COVID-19 transmission - analysis of the Virus Watch Community Cohort study
Highlights
- Eyeglasses are associated with a protective effect against COVID-19
- The protective effect was reduced if wearing glasses interfered with mask-wearing
- There was no protective effect for those who wore contact lens
- Still a protective association after adjusting for age, sex, occupation and income
What SARS-CoV-2 Does to the Body
What SARS-CoV-2 Does to the Body (3rd Edition, December 2023)
The Ever-Expanding Biological Minefield
With the JN.1 variant heading into 2024, with poor booster uptake and little to no masking, many Americans will be bringing home a deadly and disabling virus from their holiday celebrations and discovering their new status as a disabled person in the following months. Following up with our previous editions of this archive, from July 2023 and November 2022, this compilation of medical research on just how SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 harm the human body is more important now than ever.
Viral Loads in Stool Samples
Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in stool samples and nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19 patients in the UAE
Overall, in this study, 42% of participants that tested positive for the virus in nasopharyngeal swabs also tested positive in stools highlighting the high rate of viral shedding in stools among COVID-19 patients and demonstrating that wastewater-based epidemiology could provide estimates of infectious cases in the population. Based on the results reported in this study, wastewater-based surveillance has the advantage of monitoring virus shedding over time from symptomatic, asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, and post-symptomatic individuals. This approach can present valuable information on the prevalence of the virus in the community and the early detection of outbreaks. Previously, studies investigating SARS-CoV-2 detection in stool samples were qualitative and involved hospitalized and severe cases. In this study, we explored the quantitative pattern of viral shedding in mild cases and highlighted the disparity between viral shedding in stools and nasopharyngeal swabs.
Viral load in stools and nasopharyngeal swabs of unvaccinated and vaccinated (at least 1 dose) participants.
Diabetes Drug to Prevent Long Covid
Common diabetes drug shown to prevent long COVID
A 14-day course of metformin, a common drug used to manage type 2 diabetes, prevents long COVID, according to a new study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The promising results come from the COVID-OUT study, which looked at three readily available drugs: ivermectin, fluvoxamine, and metformin, for both COVID treatment and long-COVID prevention. All three drugs had shown antiviral properties in vivo against SARS-CoV-2, and all had been promising medical treatments for the virus, as they are cheap and safe.
Now, more than 2 years after the outpatients trial began, metformin is the only medical intervention in the study shown to prevent long COVID.
Outpatient Covid-19 Treatment
Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months (COVID-OUT): a multicentre, randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial
Post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) is an emerging chronic illness potentially affecting millions of people. We aimed to evaluate whether outpatient COVID-19 treatment with metformin, ivermectin, or fluvoxamine soon after SARS-CoV-2 infection could reduce the risk of long COVID.
About SARS-CoV-2
Literature Hub for Coronavirus Scientific Information
A literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus.
LitCovid is a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about the 2019 novel Coronavirus. It is the most comprehensive resource on the subject, providing central access to 29074 (and growing) relevant articles in PubMed. The articles are updated daily and are further categorized by different research topics and geographic locations for improved access.
Covid Safety for Schools
Resources to help schools keep students and staff safe
The COVID Safety for Schools Course is a high-quality video-based course for Australian schools. It explains the realities of COVID in clear, easy-to-understand language and provides practical advice on how to minimise the risk of COVID spreading at schools, based on the latest science.
The course has been created with the involvement of leading scientific and medical experts in fields relevant to COVID-19.
The course is available online, self-paced and completely free.