Accommodation & food services, transportation & storage among sectors that sawsubstantial drops in mean hours worked
March 11, 2024 will mark four years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. As economies, borders and workplaces reopened, the global unemployment dropped to the lowest level in 2023 compared to the beginning of the pandemic, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Along with this, the working poverty rate (share of employed persons living in poverty due to low-paying jobs or low incomes) and informality has also approached pre-pandemic rates.
But the desire and need to return to pre-COVID situation has come along with a reality that will especially worry the employers, reveals a new report.
Despite the fact that more people are entering the workforce, the number of hours worked are often lower than they were prior to the pandemic, said the World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2024 report released by ILO January 10, 2024.
The total number of working hours increased in all countries between 2019 and 2023, regardless of income levels. Strong employment growth throughout the post-pandemic recovery has been the main driver of this.
However, the difference between the average number of working hours and the total hours worked grew. Mean weekly hours per worker were lower in 2023 than in 2019 across all income groups except low-income countries, where they were slightly higher, the ILO noted.
The percentage decrease in average hours worked in upper-middle-income countries was less than 1 per cent and in high-income and lower-middle-income countries over 2 per cent.
The trend indicates a decrease in the optimal utilisation of workers, the analysis showed. The reasons for the reductions in hours per worker include increases in part-time employment because of care duties or health reasons, the authors noted.
But one of the reasons behind this, according to the ILO report, is the ongoing longer-term health problems that have built up over the past three years. An increasing number of people are suffering from long-term illnesses attributed to COVID-19, now popular as the Long COVID.
Long COVID can affect anyone exposed to SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or severity of original symptoms, according to WHO. It is a debilitating post-infection multi-system disease, with impacts on multiple organ systems. It has over 300 symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction, impairing ability of a person to perform daily activities for several months or years.
The number of sick days per person has grown dramatically from pre-pandemic levels, the analysts observed. This indicates the negative effects of Long COVID on people's life.
Deteriorated health post-pandemic could be a possible reason for decreases in mean working hours, read the report.
This is consistent with the WHOs December 2022 warning that Long COVID, which affects about 20 per cent of people infected, may be significantly influencing labour market activity metrics, such as working hours.
According to WHO, more than 17 million people across the WHO European Region may have experienced it during 2020 and 2021. As of March 5, 2023, an estimated 1.9 million people in the UK alone were living with Long COVID.
In 2022, the number of sick days per worker in a year remained significantly higher than in 2019. According to data from at least 12 European countries included in the ILO analysis, between 2019 and 2022, the average number of sick days taken by employees increased by 3-72 per cent.
In Estonia, where there is scientific proof of long-term COVID, the annual number of sick days per worker rose by 72 per cent during the period, while it increased by 38 per cent in Germany and Latvia.
People who develop chronic fatigue syndrome (ME / CFS) after their SARS-CoV-2 infection tended to remain severely ill for a long time, found a study by the Charit-Universittsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrck Center across Germany
Scientific studies done in many countries, including the United States and Africa, showed that individuals who contracted mild or asymptomatic cases are experiencing lasting symptoms with significant implications for their day-to-day lives, including their ability to work. Governments across the world, including India, have acknowledged Long COVID as a disease of concern.
In the US, people with Long COVID who stayed in the labour force reduced their average hours of work by 2.2-3.4 per cent, leading to a loss of between 20,000 and 39,000 full-time equivalent workers, according to a research paper by Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Brookings Institution.
Sectors which saw substantial relative drops in mean hours worked include accommodation and food services, as well as transportation and storage, the ILO report noted based on data from high-income nations. Other sectors which followed were information and communications, real estate and professional, scientific and technical activities.
The WHO had warned in December 2022 that Long COVID, which affects about 20 per cent of individuals affected, may be significantly influencing labour market activity metrics, such as working hours.
While the world is determined to move on from the acute phase, at least 65 million people are estimated to struggle with Long COVID, with cases increasing daily, according to a study published in the journal Nature January 13, 2023.
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In a recent study published in ACS Central Science, researchers used a luciferase-independent luminescence test to investigate whether the wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein possesses pseudo-luciferase activity for Cypridina luciferin.
Luciferin (luminescent substrate) and luciferase (enzyme) are crucial for bioluminescence (BL) detection, allowing for highly selective luminescence detection of target proteins and cells. Imidazopyrazinone-type (IPT) luciferin is found in many marine species, whereas Cypridina luciferase catalyzes Cypridina luciferin and coelenterazine (CTZ). Luciferin emits light in luciferase presence, although it can react with non-luciferase proteins or other biomolecules.
A recent study showed that the CTZ derivative HuLumino can quantitatively detect human serum albumin (HAS) with accuracy equivalent to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in less than a minute.
In the present study, researchers investigated the application of Cypridina luciferin's oxidative luminescence reaction, catalyzed by the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, in biotechnology. They reported that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein had pseudo-luciferase activity against Cypridina luciferin and investigated its chemical structure and luminescence activity.
The team investigated IPT luciferins for light emission using the full-length monomer of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. They combined 36 IPT luciferins, including two native luciferins (CTZ and Cypridina luciferin) and 34 previously known CTZ analogs, with S protein. Using the three S protein subunits [S1, S2, and receptor-binding domain (RBD)], the team detected potential Cypridina luciferin components. They compared the kinetic profiles and derived the Km and relative Kcat values from Michaelis-Menten equation fitting curves produced using the starting luminescence intensity for 30 seconds.
The team studied the structure-activity connection of Cypridina luciferin analogs (CLAs) with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins to gain insights into the luminescence reactions between the Cypridina luciferin substrate and SARS-CoV-2 S glycoproteins. The functional groups, 3-indolyl and 3-(1-guanidino)propyl are unique to Cypridina luciferin and absent in other naturally occurring luciferins. To investigate the effects of the functional chemical groups on SARS-CoV-2 S enzymatic luminescence, the researchers synthesized three CLA types by substituting the NH group of 3-indolyl at C-6 of the ITP ring with a heteroatom and removing 3-(1-guanidino)propyl functional groups from C-8 using synthetic procedures.
The team explored the binding affinity of Cypridina luciferin to the S protein due to the 3-(1-guanidino)propyl functional group at C-8 using computational simulations using Autodock Vina. They also investigated whether a biomolecule-catalyzing chemiluminescence (BCL)-based test method that uses the S protein's pseudo luciferase activity might detect the trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in a human salivary sample from a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-negative donor without sample preprocessing.
The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein could be identified in human saliva using a BCL-based test method that detects the protein selectively and rapidly without requiring sample preprocessing. Enzymatic identification of the 3-(1-guanidino)propyl functional group in luciferin at the interfaces of the S protein units led to the luminescence response. The BCL approach has the potential to supplement centralized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, which needs specialized clinical facilities, trained individuals, and lengthy diagnostic timeframes.
The monomeric SARS-CoV-2 S emitted light in Cypridina luciferin presence [signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 35) rather than other luciferins. The findings indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein had pseudo-luciferase activity and demonstrated the ability of this technology to supplement centralized testing approaches. The appropriate orthogonal combination of the monomeric SARS-CoV-2 S protein and Cypridina luciferin showed flash-type kinetic reactions, observed in bioluminescent systems utilizing IPT luciferin, with a luminescence intensity drop of roughly 23% over one minute.
IPT luciferin has sec-2-butyl at C-2, 3-indolyl at C-6, and 3-(1-guanidino)propyl functional groups at C-8 sites of the ITP ring, revealing the pseudo luciferase activity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Cypridina luciferin, a monomeric spike protein, exhibited a higher efficiency for catalytic reactions than fragment proteins, boosting the relative enzymatic turnover (kcat) values by greater than 2.6. Individual units may not contribute to luciferin luminescence but rather the reaction sites created when units unite. The chemiluminescence system, which produces luciferase-dependent luminescence in aprotic polar fluids, should be classified as BCL based on luminescence intensities.
The Cypridinaluciferase (Cluc) and Vargulaluciferin combination produced a 30% bioluminescent quantum yield, the highest of any IPT luciferin-based BL system, with reaction specificity. The biomolecule-catalyzing chemiluminescence-based technique identifies SARS-CoV-2 S quantitatively using a "mix-and-read" approach, which involves adding the luciferin protein to the material and monitoring the luminescence signal for one minute. This approach detects the S protein faster and more accurately than the lateral flow assay (LFA) method, which uses S-protein-binding sialic acid.
The study findings revealed a novel method to identify SARS-CoV-2 antigens without genetic alterations or antibodies. Researchers could quantify the pseudo-luciferase activity of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins in human saliva. The monomeric S protein glows with Cypridina luciferin, but the trimeric S protein needs more luciferin. The 3-indolyl substituent at C-6 and the 3-(1-guanidino)propyl functional group are critical for luminescence activity. The novel protein-analysis technology can detect S proteins in human saliva in one minute without sample preparation.
Responses rate
An online survey was sent via email to healthcare workers (HCWs) from 48 different countries. Out of the 1030 participants, all completed the sociodemographic section, resulting in a response rate of 100%. A total of 730 participants completed the DASS-21 questionnaire (70.9%), 851 completed the MBI questionnaire (82.6%), and 712 completed the CWEQ-II questionnaire (69.1%).
The meanSD age of all responders (n=1030) was 38.889.63years (range: 2174years) and 54.4% (n=560) of them were male. The majority of participants were physicians (n=562, 54.6%), followed by nurses (n=279, 27.1%). Out of 1030 responders, 332 (32.2%) HCWs worked in ICU, 185 (18%) were from internal medicine, 118 (11.5%) werefrom emergency departments, and 109 (10.6%) werefrom anesthesiology. The majority of participants were working in Qatar (n=400, 38.8%) and India (n=161, 15.6%). The frequency of participants by other countries are available at Supplementary File 2 in Figure S1 and S2.
Among all responders (n=1030), 763 (74.1%) of HCWs had been working in areas designated for COVID-19 patients. Out of the 763 HCWs, 692 (90.7%) had been directly involved in the care or management of COVID-19 patients for9months (n=403/763, 52.8%) and for>9months (n=360/763, 47.2%). During the survey period, 435 (42.2%) of HCWs received specific training for COVID-19, while 595 (57.85) did not. The sociodemographic characteristics of participants according to working in the COVID-19 area are presented in Table 1. The main significant differences between HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area and those who did not were observed in terms of age (P<0.001), specialty (P<0.001), level of education (P=0.008), working hours per week (P=0.047), working hours per week during the COVID-19 pandemic (P<0.001) and receipt of specific training (P=0.034).
Total and subscale scores of the DASS-21, MBI and CWEQ-II scales in all participants, as well as in HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area or not, are presented in Table 2. Among all responders (n=730), the median (IQR) scores of stress, anxiety and depression were 12 (618), 6 (212), and 6 (214), respectively. The results of subscale scores based on categories groups showed that the majority of HCWs had normal level of stress (n=364, 49.9%), anxiety (n=391, 53.6%) and depression (n=433, 59.3%). The median (IQR) scores of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment in all responders (n=852) were 22 (1132), 6 (311) and 37 (3142), respectively. The results of categorized subscales indicated that the HCWs experienced high emotional exhaustion, while low depersonalization and personal accomplishment according to MBI scale. Furthermore, the four elements of CWEQ-II showed that HWCs believed they had moderate access to opportunity and information, with median (IQR) scores of 12 (1014) and 11 (9-12), respectively, and a low access to support and resources, with a score of 10 (912) and 9 (811), respectively. In addition, the median (IQR) total scores of DASS-21, MBI and CWEQ-II according to the HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area or did not work in the COVID-19 area are presented in Fig.1A to C. According to these figures, the median (IQR) of total scores of DASS-21, MBI and CWEQ-II were significantly higher in the HCWs who worked in COVID-19 area.
Total scores of (A) DASS-21, (B) MBI and (C) CWEQ-II according to HCWs who worked in COVID-19 area or not were expressed as median (IQR)
The median (IQR) scores of the DASS-21, MBI and CWEQ-II scales were compared between the groups of HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area or not. The results showed that the median score of anxiety (P=0.005), depression (P=0.040) and total score of DASS-21 (P=0.016), in HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area were significantly higher than those who did not work in the COVID-19 area. Moreover, HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 area had a significantly higher median emotional exhaustion (P<0.001), depersonalization (P<0.001) and total score of MBI (P<0.001) compared to those who did not work in the COVID-19 area. In terms of CWEQ-II, HCWs who worked in COVID-19 areas had a significant higher score in opportunity (P<0.001).
Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine potential predictors for the total scores of DASS-21, MBI and CWEQ-II. The results are presented in Figs. 2, 3, and4.
Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analysis of DASS-21 prognostic total scores. Forest plot showed results, after adjustingfor the factors: age, gender, having children, job position, working in COVID-19 area and history of mental health issues. In addition, a comparison of respondents' demographic variables based on high versus low-moderate DASS-21 scores is reported. Abbreviations; F/M: female/male; D/M: divorced/widowed/married; S/M: single/married, Y/N: yes/no; P/N: physician/nurse; T/N: therapist/nurse; O/N: others/nurse; I/A: internal medicine/anesthesiology; C/A: critical care/anesthesiology; S/A: surgery/anesthesiology; E/A emergency/anesthesiology; O/A others/anesthesiology; B/MD: bachelors-masters/ doctor of medicine; PhD/MD: doctor of philosophy/ doctor of medicine and OR: odds ratio
Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analysis of MBI prognostic total scores. Forest plot showed results, after adjusting forthe factors: age, gender, having children, job position, working in COVID-19 area and history of mental health issues. In addition, a comparison of respondents' demographic variables based on high versus low-moderate MBI scores is reported. Abbreviations; F/M: female/male; D/M: divorced/widowed/married; S/M: single/married, Y/N: yes/no; P/N: physician/nurse; T/N: therapist/nurse; O/N: others/nurse; I/A: internal medicine/anesthesiology; C/A: critical care/anesthesiology; S/A: surgery/anesthesiology; E/A emergency/anesthesiology; O/A others/anesthesiology; B/MD: bachelors-masters/ doctor of medicine; PhD/MD: doctor of philosophy/ doctor of medicine and OR: odds ratio
Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis for the prognostic value DASS-21 (Fig.2) showed that the divorced/ widowed HCWs (OR: 2.274, 95% CI: 1.0075.137, P=0.048), those working in internal medicine (OR: 2.077, 95% CI: 1.1573.726, P=0.014), those working more than 27h per week (OR: 1.723, 95% CI: 1.2322.411, P=0.001) and those with a history of mental illness (OR: 2.838, 95% CI: 1.3455.987, P=0.006) had a higher likelihood of experiencing stress, anxiety and depression in comparison to married HCWs, specifically those in anesthesiology, working27h per week, and those without history of mental illness, respectively. However, higher age (OR: 0.663, 95% CI: 0.1440.883, P=0.001) and higher work experience ofmore than 6years (OR: 0.562, 95% CI: 0.0880.899, P=0.008) were found to be negatively associated with the total score of DASS-21.
Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis for the prognostic value MBI (Fig.3) revealed that older HCWs (OR: 0.569, 95% CI: 0.0520.887, P=0.001) and those with higherwork experience of more than6years (OR: 0.585, 95% CI: 0.0520.802, P=0.007) had a lowerlikelihood of experiencing burnout compared to younger HCWs and those with less work experience. While, working longer than 27h per week (OR: 1.467, 95% CI: 1.1072.082, P=0.012), working more than 29h per week during the COVID-19 outbreak (OR: 1.358, 95% CI: 1.1252.035, P=0.046), working in COVID-19 area withinthe hospital (OR:1.782, 95% CI: 1.1282.225, P=0.004), directly interacting with COVID-19 patients (OR: 1.841, 95% CI: 1.1243.309, P=0.041), currently taking medication for mental illness (OR: 2.387, 95% CI: 1.1923.743, P=0.001) and having a family history of mental illness (OR: 1.969, 95% CI: 1.2263.161, P=0.005) were positively associated with burnout among HCWs.
Adjusted binary logistic regression was applied to the prognostic CWEQ-II (Fig.4), indicating that age (OR: 1.422, 95% CI: 1.1311.039, P=0.041), female gender (OR: 1.534, 95% CI: 1.1382.081, P=0.029), physicians (OR: 1.933, 95% CI: 1.3713.489, P=0.029), higher work experience (OR: 1.428, 95% CI: 1.1722.538, P=0.022), working in the COVID-19 area (OR: 2.371, 95% CI: 1.1684.809, P=0.017) and receiving specific training (OR: 1.546, 95% CI: 1.1332.109, P=0.006) were positively correlated with work effectiveness.
Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analysis of CWEQ-II prognostic total scores. Forest plot showed results, after adjusting forthe factors: age, gender, having children, job position, working in COVID-19 area and history of mental health issues. In addition, a comparison of respondents' demographic variables based on high versus low-moderate CWEQ-II scores is reported. Abbreviations; F/M: female/male; D/M: divorced/widowed/married; S/M: single/married, Y/N: yes/no; P/N: physician/nurse; T/N: therapist/nurse; O/N: others/nurse; I/A: internal medicine/anesthesiology; C/A: critical care/anesthesiology; S/A: surgery/anesthesiology; E/A emergency/anesthesiology; O/A others/anesthesiology; B/MD: bachelors-masters/ doctor of medicine; PhD/MD: doctor of philosophy/ doctor of medicine and OR: odds ratio
Newswise Coping with the challenges of parenting can be particularly stressful for those concerned about the flu, COVID-19, or RSV. With an increase in cases this season, parents are seeking effective preventive measures and safety guidelines for their kids. Dr. Christopher Pierce, the interim chair of pediatrics at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, offers insights on managing these three illnesses.
This year, doctors are currently seeing high numbers of flu and this started a bit earlier than historically, says Dr. Pierce. Yearly flu vaccines are needed to give our immune systems a "reminder" of how to fight the flu, there is some added immunity that repeat exposure plays as well.
The prevalence of influenza among children has decreased early pandemic but increased over the past two years, which Dr. Pierce attributes to the heightened exposure to COVID-19 during that period. There was minimal influenza activity from spring 2020 through early summer 2022, which was a direct result of masking and social distancing.
He also says RSV is still prominent, but has begun a decline. RSV is more difficult to track as it is not reportable as are Flu and COVID, which means there is not a good way to keep track of these numbers.
Dr. Pierce says it is important to look for key indicators to assess the severity of your childs illness. Parents should look for rapid breathing, using accessory muscles such as "tummy breathing or "head bobbing, and if older children are complaining of not breathing well, would warrant an emergent evaluation. He says to also watch their level of alertness and fluid intake. Nonetheless, he stresses that reaching out to the primary care provider is the safest way to evaluate a childs level of illness and get the best care.
To differentiate between the three, Dr. Pierce recommends getting tested. Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV can mimic one another, so knowing which symptoms align with which illness can help parents. Overall, COVID-19 symptoms tend to be milder in children and the flu is more of the fever/aches/malaise. RSV is different for premature and younger infants as it can trigger lower respiratory symptoms known as bronchiolitis (not bronchitis) which can lead to respiratory distress which requires hospitalization to manage.
His biggest piece of advice - get the flu vaccine. It is the safest and most effective way to prevent the risk of hospitalization and death from influenza.
- Written by Sarah Hern
Dr. Christopher Pierce is the interim chair of pediatrics with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) and an associate professor of pediatrics. He is also the Chief of General Pediatrics at Carilion Childrens. His leadership has been instrumental in establishing Carilion Childrens Tanglewood Center, which opened in 2021, as the anchor for pediatric care for the region. Dr. Pierce joined Carilion in 2001 as a general pediatrician.
Breakthrough infections (infections after vaccination) by new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are common, despite the extensive immunization programs against SARS-CoV-2. Recent research suggests that human immune responses change in order to combat the never-ending emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and studies point to memory T cells having a role in protecting individuals immunized with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants.
Now, a team of South Korean scientists reveal that the memory T cells that form during Omicron breakthrough infections respond to subsequent strains of the virus.
This work is published in Science Immunology in the paper, Omicron BA.2 breakthrough infection elicits CD8+ T cell responses recognizing the spike of later Omicron subvariants.
This finding gives us new perspectives in the new era of COVID endemic, said Min Kyung Jung, PhD, research fellow at the Center for Viral Immunology, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS). It can be understood that in response to constant emergence of new virus variants, our bodies have also adapted to combat the future strains of the virus.
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant drastically increased transmissibility in comparison to its predecessors, which quickly allowed it to become the dominant strain in 2022. New strains (such as BA.1 and BA2, BA.4/BA.5, BQ.1, XBB, and more recently JN.1) of Omicron have emerged since then, leading to widespread breakthrough infection despite vaccination.
The research teams goal was to uncover the immune system changes that occur after post-vaccination breakthrough infections. Theytracked memory T cell responses in a cohort of vaccinated individuals in Korea who experienced BA.2 Omicron subvariant breakthrough infection in early 2022, focusing in on their ability to respond to various Omicron variants such as BA.2, BA.4/BA/5, and more.
The results showed that the memory T cells from these patients had heightened response against not only the BA.2 strain but the later BA.4 and BA.5 strains of Omicron as well. More specifically, they confirmed that BNT162b2 vaccination induced memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to BA.4/BA.5 spike, even if these individuals had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Breakthrough infection with early Omicron subvariants (BA.1/BA.2) induced an increase in cross-reactive CD8+ T cell responses specific to BA.4/BA.5 spike.
In short, the breakthrough infection strengthened the patients immune systems to combat future variants. The research team also discovered the specific part of the spike protein that is the primary cause of the observed enhancement in the memory T cells. They wrote that they identified peptides in the BA.2 spike that were fully conserved in BA.4/BA.5 and later subvariants but absent in original spike.
These results show that once a person undergoes breakthrough infection by the Omicron infection, it is unlikely for them to suffer severe COVID-19 symptoms from the future emerging variants.
This new finding can also be applied to vaccine development, noted Eui-Cheol Shin, MD, PhD, professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and director of the Center for Viral Immunology at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS). By searching for common features among the current dominant strain and emerging new strains of viruses, there may be higher chances to induce memory T cell defenses against the subsequent variants.
China 'cloned' COVID-like virus to test on mice, acknowledges 'spillover' risk to humans
by JACKSON WALKER | The National Desk
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Yang Hongke checks on test samples at a testing lab of KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd. in Shijiazhuang in northern China's Hebei Province on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. (Mu Yu/Xinhua via AP) /{ }Closeup of Coronavirus COVID-19 computer generated image. (Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (TND)
Chinese researchers claim to have cloned a COVID-like virus mutation that showed a 100% mortality rate in mice.
In a report by researchers under a collaborative project between China and Mongolia, scientists explained the virus is a strain of coronavirus found in pangolins. They then cloned the virus and tested it on mice.
Each mouse tested on displayed symptoms of piloerection, hunched posture, and sluggish movements along with their eyes turning white and weight loss. They each died within eight days with late brain infection being the supposed cause.
Researchers continued, noting the infection could spillover to humans.
Infectious disease expert and University College London Professor Francois Balloux said via X that the study appears totally pointless.
I had a look at the preprint. It's a terrible study, scientifically totally pointless, Balloux wrote. I can see nothing of vague interest that could be learned from force-infecting a weird breed of humanised mice with a random virus. Conversely, I could see how such stuff might go wrong ...
Biologist Alex Washburne also noted the studys format as a letter to the editor raises further questions.
We also can't verify anything about the pre-print. The structure Dear Editor, ... raises questions about the provenance of the document (was it really written by the listed authors?) and the intentions of its release, Washburne said.
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency offered hush money to analysts to cover up their findings that COVID-19 likely originated in a Wuhan, China laboratory, a whistleblower alleged in September. In February 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab.
Other reports show that the Biden administration pressured Meta to suppress posts about the virus, including ones that theorized a lab leak theory.
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Covid symptoms may change, but the appearance of a pink line on a rapid test means one thing for sure: five days of isolation.
The guidance, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been in place since late 2021. At the moment, the agency doesnt appear to be making any changes to the policy.
But in some cases, telling people to isolate after a positive test may have an unintended effect.
Dr. Victoria Valencia, interim director for the Health Center for Student Care at Tulane University in New Orleans, said that she and her staff saw an uptick in Covid when students returned to campus in August. But that is no longer the case, as students now tend to decline Covid testing.
Students are afraid of being diagnosed with Covid because they dont want to isolate, Valencia said.
So is five days of isolation really best? Heres what experts say.
The current recommendation to isolate for five days is a hangover from when the CDC moved from a 10-day isolation recommendation to five days in late 2021, just as the first wave of omicron was taking hold in the U.S., said Harvard University epidemiologist Bill Hanage.
It was not a reflection of evidence-based science, he said. It was there to stop everything from falling apart.
At that time, a large chunk of the population was testing positive all at once because of the highly contagious variant. Recommending that everyone stay home and out of work for 10 days would have brought the country to a halt once again, so the five-day plan was put in place.
If you look at the safety of the public, and the need to have society not disrupted, this was a good choice, Dr. Anthony Fauci, former scientific adviser to the Biden administration, said at the time about the isolation recommendation.
There was also evidence that people are most contagious during those first five days of infection. That remains the most reliable scientific data, experts say.
We know that most people with Covid-19 shed enough virus that they are likely still contagious for at least five days, Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, wrote in an email.
When the Covid public health emergency expired in May 2023, health officials in Oregon decided it was also time to pull back on the five-day isolation recommendation. Instead, the Oregon Health Authority suggested that people with Covid stay home only until theyve gone without spiking a fever for 24 hours and are generally feeling better.
In January of this year, California health officials issued the same guidance.
The ending of the public health emergency declaration doesnt change biology, Nuzzo said when Oregon changed its isolation recommendations. I dont see a biological reason to end the five-day isolation period.
People with the flu are most contagious the first three or four days after the illness begins, according to the CDC. People who test positive for influenza are advised to stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing drugs, such as Tylenol.
A common cold virus is most contagious within the first few days but can continue to spread for up to two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital research.
Like other viruses, people with Covid have varying degrees of sickness.
A set number of days to isolate is dumb if you think about it from a medical perspective, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
If youre feeling fine the entire five days and have absolutely no symptoms, staying at home by yourself is not the same as somebody whos had symptoms and then after five days, theyre going out and coughing on everyone, Chin-Hong said. The symptoms approach makes more sense, not just for Covid, but for lots of other infectious diseases that people dont normally isolate for.
Saskia Popescu, an assistant professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said that while a persons risk of spreading Covid is in the first five days of infection, we know increasingly, that even without symptoms, or upon their resolution, people can still shed infectious virus.
Popescu said that means that while the risk is lower after Day 5, it doesnt mean theres zero risk. You should still try and stay home, she said. And if you absolutely need to, you can wear a mask.
Covid is a very unique infectious disease, Popescu added. Forty to 50% of cases are asymptomatic, or have such mild symptoms that people dont even realize they have symptoms.
In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics in October, researchers found that children ages 7 to 18 were infectious for a median of three days after a positive Covid test. By Day 5, the majority of the kids were no longer infectious.
My personal view is that five days is more than sufficient for isolation, said senior study author Neeraj Sood, a professor of health policy, medicine and business at University of Southern California. Based on the findings, maybe you could go with something a little shorter for kids.
An earlier study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in July 2022, found that adults were infectious for a median of five or six days.
Popescu, who wasnt involved with either study, said the findings on children will probably be used moving forward for a lot of school-based decisions.
Its helpful to see the three days, Popescu said.
On an individual level, common sense should rule, Hanage said. If youre sick, stay away from people most at risk for severe complications, such as older relatives.
You wouldnt want to give them something that would make them badly ill whether its Covid, flu or even food poisoning, he said.
Popescu agreed.
From an infectious disease perspective, we want people to stay home if they have symptoms, she said. And just because you dont have Covid doesnt mean that you dont have another infectious disease that could pose a risk to those around you.
Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist and former assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, urged people to do the best they can and take precautions where possible.
"Nobody's perfect," Mina said. "If you can decrease your chances of spreading to others, that's really good. That alone is very, very good. So if you can't isolate for five days, or it's been five days, but you recognize that you might still be infectious, wear a mask as much as you can, don't attend really densely packed events, and stay away from vulnerable people."
CORRECTION (June 12, 2023, 11:15 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated Jennifer Nuzzos title and employer. She is director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health; she is not senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
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Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."
Akshay Syal, M.D.,is a medical fellow with the NBC News Health and Medical Unit.
Sara G. Miller is the health editor for NBC News, Health & Medical Unit.
Viruses are having a moment. Outbreaks around the world are on the rise, thanks to such factors as climate change, war and instability, and increased animal-to-human contact.
Covid-19 is still here. Even though fewer people are winding up in the hospital compared with last year, some health facilities are requiring masks again as a new variant appears better at infecting people, even those who are vaccinated. Meanwhile, across the globe, a deadlier strain of mpox is threatening the Democratic Republic of Congo, where lifesaving vaccines are difficult to obtain. In Nebraska, a kitten with rabies triggered an all-hands-on-deck public health response.
Post national health reporter Lena Sun has spent a lot of time trying to better understand pathogens and how they spread. She joins Post Reports to examine what lessons we have and havent learned from these three recent outbreaks, and what that means for preventing future ones.
Read more:
Another covid wave hits U.S. as JN.1 becomes dominant variant
Is this covid surge really the second largest?
Mpox surge in Congo raises concerns world will ignore warnings again
How one rabid kitten triggered intensive effort to contain deadly virus
Todays show was produced by Elana Gordon and hosted by Elahe Izadi and guest host Arjun Singh. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Lucy Perkins. Thanks to Tracy Jan and Fenit Nirappil.
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The Hawaii Department of Health today announced the first influenza-associated, pediatric death during this flu season.
The child was an Oahu resident under the age of 18 years old, but no exact age was given.
DOH says out of respect for the familys privacy, no further information about the child will be released.
We are always especially saddened to announce the death of a child in our community, said Dr. Kenneth Fink, Director of Health, in a news release. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this difficult time. If you or your loved ones have not received the flu vaccine this season, I hope you will consider doing so.
Flu cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, according to DOH, in combination with rising RSV cases and continued COVID activity. DOH says unlike other U.S. states, flu transmission in Hawaii is observed year-round.
Hawaiis last pediatric death from influenza occurred in June. The state recorded a total of four pediatric deaths due to influenza during the 2022-23 flu season.
Health officials encourage residents get their flu vaccines if they have not done so yet to decrease the risk of severe disease, emergency department visits, hospitalization and death.
All residents ages six months and older are eligible for a flu shot.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we are seeing a return of pre-pandemic flu impacts in the community, said Dr. Sarah Kemble, State Epidemiologist. Flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from the flu. It is recommended that everyone six months and older get vaccinated each year.
Officials also recommend other basic prevention measures such as hand washing, staying home when sick, and masking, to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
Visit vaccines.gov to find a list of available vaccinations by zip code.
