Coronavirus News Explained

 Comparing Counties With & Without Mask Mandates     In the United States, there has been a significant amount of controversy over masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Although wearing a mask is required in a little over 30 states, many other states and regions still doubt the importance of masks and mask mandates. A recent study from October 25, 2020 was published by Donna Ginther PhD, on the University of Kansas MediaHub page. This study compares the COVID-19 outcomes of counties in Kansas with mask mandates to counties in Kansas without mask mandates.  Background Information     On July 3, Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas, implemented a statewide requirement of masks but counties could choose to opt out of this mask mandate. The mandate required residents to wear masks in a public setting and was enforced by 20 out of the 105 Kansas counties. Results     Researchers from this study charted a line graph comparing the number of COVID-19 cases for counties with and without mask r

 COVID-19 Outcomes in a Low Income Country: India     Many cases of COVID-19 have been traced back to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where many individuals are at higher risk for the virus and limited access to health care services. However, many coronavirus studies have been conducted in wealthier countries including the U.S. and European countries. Although there have been some studies modeling potential COVID-19 outcomes in LMICs, very few studies have traced real-life COVID-19 cases to validate the outcomes of the models. A recent investigation  conducted by a professor at UC Berkeley and published in Science,  analyzes these real-life COVID-19 cases from two states in South India. The results from this study answer the question of how COVID-19 outcomes in LMICs compare to that of wealthier countries, such as the United States. Background Information     As of October 2020, India has had 7.8 million COVID-19 infections, making up 18.4% of cases worldwide. Data was taken an

First Case of COVID-19 Reinfection in the United States     Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to become infected with the coronavirus more than once. This summer, the United States experienced its first case of COVID-19 reinfection and fifth case worldwide. The four other reinfection cases occurred in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ecuador. A recent study published on October 12, 2020 in  The Lancet Infectious Diseases, presents a detailed case report and discussion of the American individual who experienced two separate COVID-19 infections.     About the Patient      The reinfected patient was a 25 year old male from Washoe County, Nevada. The patient first tested positive for COVID-19 on April 18, 2020 with mild symptoms (sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, and diarrhea) beginning in April. He had no underlying conditions or indications of a compromised immune system. The patient recovered after 9 days but began experiencing more severe symptoms (fever, headache

 Air Pollution linked with COVID-19 Death Rate           If you live in California, it's likely that you've recently experienced days where the air is polluted with smoke from the ongoing wildfires. According to the California Fire Department, there have been over 2 million acres burned due to wildfires this past year alone from January-October 2020. Many California residents have been asked to stay at home these past few months as fires rage across the state and pollute the air. Air pollution is another problem that many people, inside and outside of California, have to battle along with COVID-19 this year. How are the two related? Air pollution is known to irritate and affect the lungs. Many individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma are more sensitive and easily irritated by air pollution. COVID-19, another respiratory disease, also has symptoms and complications stemming from lung problems. Does exposure to one of these factors increase risk of sever