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Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Feb. 8 to 12, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.<\/p>\n
Airport COVID-19 Safety Measures Still Need Work<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Safety measures taken by U.S. airports have lowered travelers’ risks of getting the new coronavirus, but more needs to be done, a new report claims.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Vaccines for U.S. Children Still Months Away<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Late summer will be the earliest that children in the United States could receive COVID-19 vaccines, experts say.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Most Adults Will Continue Public Health Safety Measures After Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans plan to continue many of the pandemic precautions in the name of public health, even when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, according to the results of a survey released by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Vaccines Likely Available to All Americans by April: Fauci<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Any American will be able to start getting vaccinated by April, the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert predicted Thursday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Prophylactic Anticoagulation May Cut COVID-19 Mortality<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Prophylactic anticoagulation is associated with reduced risk of 30-day mortality among patients admitted to hospital with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in The BMJ<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Many Health Care Workers Report Vaccine Hesitancy<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Many health care workers report they may delay getting the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a research letter published online Feb. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Transmission Low in Day Camps With Safety Measures<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 transmission can be mitigated in child care settings even during times of high community incidence, according to a study published Feb. 3 in Pediatrics<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Modifications Can Improve Mask Efficacy for Reducing Exposure<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Good fit is important for maximizing mask performance to reduce exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 respiratory droplet particles, according to research published in the Feb. 10 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Millions of Counterfeit N95 Face Masks Sold to Americans<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Sales of foreign-made counterfeit N95 face masks in at least five states are being investigated by U.S. officials.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Shortage Forces Temporary Closure of Five LA COVID-19 Vaccination Sites<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Five COVID-19 vaccination sites in Los Angeles will temporarily close due to a shortage of doses, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Vaccination Intent Increased From Sept. to Dec. 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — From September to December 2020, there was an increase in COVID-19 vaccination intent, according to research published in the Feb. 9 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n CDC: COVID-19 Quarantines Not Necessary for Vaccinated People<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Fully vaccinated Americans can now skip quarantines if they are exposed to someone infected with COVID-19, new federal guidelines say.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Caregivers Hesitant to Take Children to ED During COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one in four caregivers reported being hesitant to seek emergency department care for their child, according to a research letter published online Jan. 21 in Academic Emergency Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n WHO: Global Tally of New COVID-19 Cases Declines for Fourth Straight Week<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New COVID-19 cases worldwide fell for the fourth week in a row, and the number of deaths from the disease decreased for the second straight week, the World Health Organization said in its weekly epidemiological update.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Most Americans Unhappy With U.S. Vaccine Rollout: Poll<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As the United States enters a critical phase of its national coronavirus vaccination campaign, a new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans are frustrated with how hard it is to get immunized against COVID-19.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n State Mask Mandates Tied to Drop in COVID-19 Hospitalization Growth Rate<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of statewide mask mandates is associated with a reduction in COVID-19-associated hospitalization growth rates, and mask use has been found to be high at universities, according to two studies published in the Feb. 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Combination Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Authorized for COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The combination treatment of bamlanivimab and etesevimab received emergency use authorization for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Adult Cardiac Surgery Down, Outcomes Worse During Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sharp drops in adult cardiac surgery volume and worse patient outcomes, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held virtually from Jan. 29 to 31.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Unlikely That Coronavirus Leaked From Chinese Lab: WHO Expert<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — It is unlikely that the new coronavirus leaked from a Chinese lab, a World Health Organization expert said Tuesday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n South Africa Considering J&J Vaccine as Next Step<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Giving a COVID-19 vaccine that is still being tested to health care workers is one option being considered by South Africa after it delayed the introduction of the AstraZeneca vaccine.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Peginterferon Lambda Accelerates SARS-CoV-2 Decline in Outpatients<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For outpatients with COVID-19, peginterferon lambda accelerates viral decline, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Detected Six Months After Infection<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For many individuals, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antispike antibodies remain for at least six months after infection, according to a report published by the U.K. Biobank.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Risk for COVID-19 Increased for Patients With Dementia<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Patients with dementia have an increased risk for COVID-19, with the strongest effect seen for vascular dementia, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n South Africa Delays AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Plans to vaccinate frontline health care workers with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been delayed in South Africa because there are questions about its effectiveness.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Vaccine Scammers Proliferating on the ‘Dark Web’<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Online COVID-19 vaccine scams are becoming more widespread, security experts warn.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Tied to Higher Mortality After Cardiac Arrest<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among patients who suffer a cardiac arrest either in or out of hospital, those who are infected with COVID-19 are more likely to die than those who are not infected with COVID-19, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the European Heart Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Canadian Primary Care Shifted to Virtual Early in Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Primary care saw large shifts from office to virtual care during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in CMAJ<\/em>, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Mortality Tied to Social Determinants of Health<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Racial differences in COVID-19 death rates are explained by adverse social determinants of health, including education and poverty, according to a study published Jan. 5 in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Hospitalized Health Care Workers Do Not Have Worse COVID-19 Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Health care worker status is not associated with poorer outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n