The Latest: The U.S. hits record of weekly Covid-19 cases
Dear Reader,
As we head into Halloween weekend, keep in mind that the real horror story is Covid-19. The United States reported a record of over 500,000 new Covid-19 cases over the past week. The pandemic is not ending, even though the White House claims it is.
People have really stepped up during the pandemic — for the most part. The proportion of Americans who have changed their behavior is significant, and the majority of people say they support and wear masks regularly. But as Andy Slavitt writes this week, it only takes a handful of noncompliant people to ruin it for everyone — and it doesn’t help that the President of the United States publicly takes off masks and downplays the virus.
Fatigue is normal at this point, but what to do is very straightforward. 😷😷😷😷😷😷
Follow our Medium Coronavirus Blog for regular updates, and read some of the essential stories we’ve curated below.
Be well,
Alexandra Sifferlin
Editor, Medium Coronavirus Blog
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Here’s what we’re talking about on The Blog:
A little bit of good news. A new study published this week from researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City showed that people with either mild or moderate Covid-19 developed antibody levels that appeared to stay relatively stable for at least five months (the length of the study). The overall strength of Covid-19 immunity is still under investigation, but it’s a positive finding. Read more about it.
A Friday vaccine update. Every Friday Yasmin Tayag rounds up everything that happened in the race to find a coronavirus vaccine during the week. There are currently 11 vaccines in phase 3 clinical trials. Read the full update here.
Mouthwash doesn’t work for Covid-19, sorry. A recent study got some buzz for suggesting that mouthwash may swish away coronaviruses and possibly act as an additional layer against Covid-19 transmission. If only it were that simple. Alas, the study didn’t actually look at the virus that causes Covid-19 and wasn’t tested in human mouths, but in a lab. Mouthwash also wouldn’t be much use for SARS-CoV-2 that’s entered the body beyond the mouth. Swish, spit, and move on.
A reminder that testing alone is not enough. The CDC released a case study this week of a summer camp where a single camper — who tested negative before camp started — developed symptoms and set off a chain of transmission that ultimately infected 116 people. The campers were not required to wear masks or social distance outside or indoors. The case study underscores the fact that relying on testing alone is not a solid enough strategy. Read all about it.
A few more smart reads:
The Latest Scientific Theories Around Covid-19 Brain Fog
What It’s Like to Experience Depression for the First Time, in a Pandemic
Data Shows Most People Are Taking Covid Very Seriously
A Maryland Family Battled Covid-19 at the Same Time as Trump. It Devastated Them. (Washington Post)
