Coronavirus News Explained

What You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine     With many states beginning to reopen after three months of shelter-in-place orders, people are anxious to get back to normal state of living and put the coronavirus behind them. However, none of this is possible without effective protection against the virus. Vaccines are the solution to this problem. During flu season, many people will receive vaccination shots to prevent sickness from the flu. A vaccine created to prevent COVID-19 will act similarly and is the best hope for ending the pandemic. Currently, no vaccine has been made to prevent COVID-19 but scientists and researchers are working hard to develop a vaccine. Here's what you need to know about the vaccine for COVID-19. What is a Vaccine and How Will it Help     When you become exposed to a disease or infection, your body's immune system creates antibodies to fight off the viruses/bacteria. Vaccines contain weakened or dead viruses/bacteria. This convinces your immu

Will the Approaching Summer Climate Slow the Spread of the COVID-19?           With summer being only a month away, many are hoping that the warmer climate will help slow the spread of coronavirus during the U.S.'s reopening phases. In support of this idea, some studies of similar viruses have indicated that cold and dry conditions increase the transmission of the virus. Among these viruses, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus have both shown an increase in transmission during times of low specific humidity and a reduction of cases in the summertime. However, not all viruses behave the same. Other infections such as enteroviruses, show peaking in the summer season. We do not know how COVID-19 will behave in response to changes in climate.      On May 18, 2020,  Science Magazine  published an  article  predicting the effects of climate on COVID-19.   Their study focused on two coronaviruses ( HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43) and influenza, which are currently circulating in human popu

Coronavirus Precautions- Is 6 feet enough?     Many people have taken the precautions to stay inside and avoid contact with others. However, it is inevitable that one will have to go outside eventually, whether it be for groceries or a breath of fresh air. Multiple states are also in the process of reopening so many people will face some sort of social interaction in the near future. The CDC recommends that everyone stay a minimum of six feet apart when going outside to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. But is 6 feet enough to prevent infection? How far the Virus can travel     The distance a respiratory droplet can travel is dependent on many factors including the type of emission, temperature and humidity. Most droplets evaporate in the air with smaller droplets in warmer climates evaporating faster. A  study published in JAMA, Journal of American Medical Association , shows that gas clouds from a human sneeze can travel a distance from 23-27 feet or 7-8 meters. These ga

COVID-19: Who's at High Risk             A s of May 2020,  the coronavirus has taken the lives of over 76,000 individuals in the United States. You may be wondering what the chances are of you or a loved one contracting the virus and getting hospitalized. On April 17, 2020, the CDC, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, began to release weekly reports of COVID-19 demographics across the U.S. Their reports, which tell us who's most at risk for the coronavirus, highlight four main categories: Age, Gender, Race and Underlying Conditions. Age      The CDC reports show that as age increases, so does the rate of COVID-19 associated hospitalization. Age groups 5-17 years have the lowest hospitalization rate with a rate of 0.1%. The rates were the highest in age groups  >  65 years with a rate of 13.8%. Out of those aged  >  65 years, age groups  >  85 years had the highest hospitalization rate of 17.2.  Garg, Shika. “Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patient