Tag COVID-19

Top pick of the day: Thursday

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COVID-19 and obesity: Doctors studying link between excess weight and severe disease

Story by By The Associated Press online at NBCNews.com , September 8, 2020.

Early in the epidemic, doctors noticed that patients suffering from severe COVID-19 were more likely to be obese. Finally, the picture is growing sharper as to why. It increasingly looks like obesity may help explain why some people are more likely to get sick and have more serious effects. It may also explain why the U.S. and other high-obesity nations have been so hard hit in this pandemic. This article walks through what we know and don’t and why we should all be taking obesity more seriously as a key factor in the COVID-19 saga.

Today’s bite-sized, handpicked selection of important news, information or science for all who want to know where this epidemic is going and what we should do.

Top pick of the day: Friday

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Long-Haulers Are Redefining COVID-19

Article by Ed Yong, online at The Atlantic, August 19, 2020. See also an interview with Mr. Yong about this story also in The Atlantic.

Ed Yong at The Atlantic has consistently delivered some of the best coverage and analysis throughout the COVID-19 saga. Here he takes a deeper dive into an area that I have been particularly focused on in the last few weeks. I have received numerous requests from readers of this blog for more information on this topic. So-called “long-haulers” are those patients who experience COVID-19 symptoms that stubbornly persist for weeks or months. While it is a hot topic among researchers, studies are just underway and careful scientific analyses will have to wait. Until then, journalists are perhaps our best way to tap into this unexpected facet of the pandemic.

Today’s bite-sized, handpicked selection of important news, information or science for all who want to know where this epidemic is going and what we should do.

Top pick of the day: Tuesday

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How California went from a coronavirus success story to a worrying new hot spot

Article by German Lopez, posted online at Vox, July 6, 2020.

A few months ago, it looked like California had it right where New York had dropped the ball. Now, total cases have risen by 90% in the past 2 weeks, the test positivity rate is increasing, and hospitalizations jumped by more than 50% in 2 week as hospitals in Los Angeles and elsewhere could reach capacity soon. What happened in the Golden state and what can the rest of the nation learn?

Today’s bite-sized, handpicked selection of important news, information or science for all who want to know where this epidemic is going and what we should do.