Tag: cat_covid-19

Previous research has linked vitamin D deficiency to a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and experiencing more severe disease, especially among Black and Hispanic individuals. A new observational study suggests that even “sufficient” vitamin D levels, as guidelines currently define them, are associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 for Black people. Current guidelines for

A new study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 and skin rashes. The authors found a significant association between skin rashes and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. More than 1 in 5 people with a SARS-CoV-2 infection reported skin changes as the only symptom of infection. As we pass the 1-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists

Recent studies confirm that mRNA vaccines are safe and provide a high degree of protection against COVID-19. However, leaked emails show that there were doubts last year about early commercial batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine. The emails reveal that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) raised concerns with Pfizer that the vaccine contained lower levels

Face masks reduce the spread of the new coronavirus and may also lessen the severity of COVID-19. The present study finds that masks increase the humidity of the air that a person breathes. The researchers propose reasons that explain why increased humidity may reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases. Researchers have found that wearing a

Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 experience ongoing symptoms — such as brain fog, increased heart rate, and chronic fatigue — sometimes known as long COVID. There is an overlap between the symptoms of long COVID and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which has led some researchers to suggest they are related. A small

In a recent review, a team of allergists offer reassurance and guidance regarding allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines. The authors, led by allergists at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, conducted a detailed review of issues relating to allergic reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. They conclude that reactions to vaccines are rare, and

A study has found that 32% of people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were still experiencing at least one symptom 6 weeks after their tests. The most common of these symptoms were fatigue, shortness of breath, and a loss of taste or smell. People with relatively mild COVID-19 usually recover within 2–3 weeks of the

Researchers recently found that some people who recovered quickly from COVID-19 continued to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 for several months. This discovery suggests the potential for long-term protection among those with a strong initial immune response. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been more than 9 million confirmed COVID-19

A review of research suggests that abnormalities in the front of the brain identified by electroencephalography (EEG) tests are common among patients who have neurological symptoms with COVID-19. Estimates vary, but approximately 15–25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. Doctors may refer

Winston Morgan, Ph.D., is a reader in toxicology and clinical biochemistry at the University of East London, in the United Kingdom. In this opinion piece, he discusses the outcomes of a recent review into why COVID-19 disproportionately affects people from marginalized racial and ethnic groups. He also highlights why societal changes need more than sentiment

In an interview with Medical News Today, James Hindley, Ph.D., from Indoor Biotechnologies explains how his company is developing a new T cell test during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reveals why this test is a much-needed tool for those designing new vaccines and studying immune responses to the new coronavirus. Since the COVID-19 pandemic

A new study has found that a COVID-19 vaccine candidate is highly effective in protecting rhesus macaque monkeys from the disease. Developing a safe and effective vaccine is central to stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. While emergency measures that authorities put in place to promote physical distancing and protect those

New research indicates that responding to a pandemic, such as the current spread of COVID-19, is 500 times more expensive than taking preventive measures. A new policy brief published in the journal Science has found that preventive measures that would significantly reduce the risk of a pandemic would cost roughly 500 times less than responding

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, marginalized racial groups and those who wore face masks reported an increase in discrimination from people who thought they might have the virus. The online survey of people living in the United States suggests that between March and April 2020, the percentage of people who experienced discrimination related to COVID-19