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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 April 5 to 9, 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
In-Hospital SARS-CoV-2 Mortality Declined Throughout Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In-hospital mortality for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive patients of all ages has declined throughout the pandemic period, according to a study published online April 8 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Supply of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine to Drop 86 Percent Next Week<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In a setback to a national vaccination campaign that was finally gaining ground, the federal government said Thursday that Johnson & Johnson will allocate 86 percent fewer doses of its COVID-19 vaccine across the United States next week.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n First Living Donor Transplant of Lung Tissue to COVID-19 Patient Announced<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The world’s first transplant of lung tissue from living donors to a COVID-19 patient with severe lung damage was announced Thursday by doctors in Japan.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n CDC: Risk for Catching Coronavirus From Surfaces Is Low<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The risk for catching the new coronavirus from surfaces is low, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week in what some experts say is a long overdue announcement.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Antibodies Persist Six Months After Second Dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Antibodies persist through six months after the second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, according to a letter to the editor published online April 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Blood Type Not Associated With COVID-19 Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Blood type is not associated with COVID-19 susceptibility or outcomes, according to a research letter published online April 5 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Mortality Risk Up for Dialysis Patients in March to July 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, April 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Patients undergoing dialysis and those with kidney transplants had increased mortality risk in 2020 compared with 2017 to 2019, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n NIH Starts Trial Looking at Rare Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A new clinical trial will investigate whether people who are highly allergic or have a mast cell disorder are at higher risk for a sudden allergic reaction to the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Poll: Despite Pandemic’s Toll, Many Older Adults Do Not Have Living Wills<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the United States, less than half of older Americans have legally stated their wishes should they become seriously ill, a new survey reveals.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Cases Climb in the Midwest as British Variant Takes Hold in U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As new coronavirus cases soared across the Upper Midwest on Wednesday, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a highly infectious variant first discovered in Britain has now become the most common source of infections in this country.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Considerable Neurologic, Psychiatric Morbidity Reported After COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In the six months after COVID-19 infection, there is considerable neurologic and psychiatric morbidity, according to a study published online April 6 in The Lancet Psychiatry<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n March 2020 to January 2021 Saw 23 Percent Jump in Mortality<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There was a 22.9 percent increase in all-cause mortality reported in the United States from March 1, 2020, through Jan. 2, 2021, according to a research letter published online April 2 in the J<\/em>ournal of the American Medical Association<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Oral COVID-19 Vaccine Being Tested<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, April 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — California researchers are testing whether an oral vaccine offers similar or better protection than current COVID-19 shots.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Possible Link’ Found Between AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine, Rare Blood Clots<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There is a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and rare blood clots, but the benefits of the vaccine still outweigh the risks, the European Union drug regulator says.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program Announced by White House<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A funeral assistance program that will provide up to $9,000 to cover the burial costs of every American who died of COVID-19 will be launched next week by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Poll: Public Lost Trust in CDC During COVID-19 Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Americans’ trust in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, an opinion poll finds.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Double Mutant’ Coronavirus Variant Detected in US for First Time<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A “double mutant” variant of the coronavirus has been detected in San Francisco, making it the first time the variant has been spotted in the United States.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Two Peaks in MIS-C Followed COVID-19 Peaks in the US<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, two peaks were identified, which followed COVID-19 peaks by two to five weeks, according to a study published online April 6 in JAMA Pediatrics<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy May Protect Infant<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy might confer passive immunity to the newborn, according to a study published online March 29 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Strong Rebound in Mammography Volume Noted by July 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Screening and diagnostic mammography volumes decreased in April 2020 compared with April 2019 prepandemic levels but mainly rebounded by July 2020 compared with July 2019, according to a study published online March 29 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Shelter-in-Place Orders Tied to Weight Gain<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Shelter-in-place orders were associated with consistent weight gain, according to a research letter published online March 22 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n New Coordinator Appointed for U.S. Global Response to COVID-19 Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A new coordinator for the U.S. global response to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced Monday by the White House.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Walgreens Was Not Following COVID-19 Dose Timing Guidelines<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Walgreens was not following U.S. government guidance on when to give second doses of COVID-19 vaccines but will start doing so after hearing from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n No Increase Seen in Outpatient VTE for SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of outpatient venous thromboembolism is similar among symptomatic patients with a positive versus negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test, according to a research letter published online April 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Mass COVID-19 Vaccinations May Help Protect Unvaccinated People<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Mass COVID-19 vaccinations may help combat the pandemic by protecting both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, according to a new study.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Few COVID-19 Infections Seen in Vaccinated Health Care Workers<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of infection is markedly reduced once health care workers receive the second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine regimen, according to two research letters published online March 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n About 40,000 Children Have Lost a Parent to COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 37,300 to 43,000 children have lost a parent to COVID-19, according to a research letter published online April 5 in JAMA Pediatrics<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Navajo Nation Curbs COVID-19 Cases<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The Navajo Nation recently reported no coronavirus cases and no COVID-19 deaths in a 24-hour period, a notable achievement considering that the second largest tribe in the United States once had one of the highest COVID-19 case rates in the country.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Vaccine Passports’ to Be Part of Britain’s Reopening Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A pilot project involving “vaccine passports” will be among the measures included in the British government’s plan to fully reopen the economy as it continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Previously Infected May Only Need Single Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Individuals previously infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection have antibody responses to one dose of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA vaccine that are comparable to those of infection-naive individuals receiving two doses, according to a study published online April 1 in Nature Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Risk of Quitting Up for Medical Center Employees, Faculty During Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A substantial number of employees and trainees working at medical centers have experienced major stress and work disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey study published online April 2 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Pregnant Women Show Robust Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccine<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, April 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Vaccination of pregnant and lactating women can confer robust maternal and neonatal immunity to COVID-19, according to a study published online March 25 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology<\/em>.<\/p>\n