“I live in Washington state,” said the caller, “but my husband is on a plane to New York City, and I just got a call from my doctor telling me that he’s positive for COVID! What should I do?” “I take care of my grandmother,” said another, “and she goes to this temple whose Rabbi… read on >
All Mommy:
Nearly Half of Coronavirus Infections May Be Asymptomatic
As many as 45% of people infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms, and they may play a major role in the spread of the virus, a new study says. The findings show the need for large-scale testing and contact tracing to combat the pandemic, according to the Scripps Research investigators. “The silent spread of the… read on >
Blood Type, Genetics Could Impact Odds for Severe COVID-19: Study
A person’s genes and blood type may help determine their odds for a nastier form of COVID-19, should they get infected with the new coronavirus, a new genetics study finds. Published online June 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research helps confirm earlier, more anecdotal evidence that blood type was tied to… read on >
How Easily Does Coronavirus Spread at Home?
COVID-19 spreads easily among people who live together and other family members, even before an infected person shows any symptoms, new research shows. The study — published June 17 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal — also said that the new coronavirus spreads among household members more easily than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or… read on >
Record-High Spikes in New Coronavirus Cases in Arizona, Florida, Texas
After reopening, states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas are all seeing record-high one-day increases in new coronavirus cases. According to The New York Times, on Tuesday, Florida reported 2,783 new cases, Texas 2,622 and Arizona 2,392. The trio of Sun Belt states are among 20 that have seen upticks in cases over the past… read on >
Cheap Steroid Could Slash COVID-19 Death Risk
With U.S. fatalities from COVID-19 now past 115,000, British scientists delivered some welcome news on Tuesday: A drug that appears to cut the odds of death in ventilated patients by one-third. The drug is a low-cost steroid called dexamethasone, which has been in use for decades, noted a team at the University of Oxford. In… read on >
Pandemic ‘Silver Lining:’ Better Sleep for Some
The COVID-19 pandemic may be stressing out most people, but it has had a surprising upside for college students: They’re sleeping better. That’s the upshot of a new study that investigated sleep habits of 139 college students before and after Colorado enacted a stay-at-home order to prevent spread of the new coronavirus. “In the end,… read on >
COVID-19 Death Risk 12 Times Higher for Those With Chronic Health Conditions
With U.S. coronavirus cases now past 2 million, a new report finds that COVID-19 is much more lethal for Americans with underlying health issues — illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or lung ailments. In fact, “deaths were 12 times higher among patients with reported underlying conditions,” compared to healthy individuals, according to an analysis… read on >
In the COVID Era, Dental Appointments Won’t Be the Same
Dental offices responded to COVID-19 lockdowns in much the same way as other medical professions, halting routine visits and only providing emergency care to patients in dire need. But now that stay-at-home orders are lifting, many dentists are reopening, but with new protocols to limit infection. Your dental appointment will not be the same, with… read on >
Adult Life Tougher for Teens Who Had Controlling Parents: Study
Back off, Mom and Dad: Teens who feel their parents are overly controlling may have more difficulty with romantic relationships as adults, a new study suggests. The study, which followed 184 teens, found that those with domineering parents had a future that was different from their peers: On average, they did not go as far… read on >