Coronavirus (COVID-19) Collection
Personal Protective Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany
The first case of COVID-19 in Germany was reported on January 27, 2020 (Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care, 2020). The virus SARS-CoV-2 spreads fast, and within the first two months, more than 42,000 cases had been notified (Robert Koch Institute, 2021). Containment of the virus was not only complicated by the fact that it was found to be contagious even before the onset of symptoms but also because some individuals can live through an infection without showing any symptoms and still infect others (Almadhi et al., 2021; Buitrago-Garcia et al., 2020).The impact of COVID-19 on health care–associated infections in intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings
Before the appearance and worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pervasive decrease in health care–associated infection (HAI) incidence had been observed across hospitals in the United States (Weiner-Lastinger et al., 2021b). Throughout 2020, as COVID-19 swept across the United States in multiple waves of infections, regions experienced steep surges in cases and hospitalizations (Ripa et al., 2021). Some studies specifically noted the occurrence of secondary infections in patients with COVID-19 (Ripa et al., 2021).Country differences in transmissibility, age distribution and case-fatality of SARS-CoV-2: a global ecological analysis
Objectives The first COVID-19 pandemic waves in many low-income countries appeared milder than initially forecasted. We conducted a country-level ecological study to describe patterns in key SARS-CoV-2 outcomes by country and region and explore associations with potential explanatory factors, including population age structure and prior exposure to endemic parasitic infections. Methods We collected publicly available data and compared them using standardisation techniques. We then explored the association between exposures and outcomes using random forest and linear regression.Evaluation of the AMP SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test in a hospital setting
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of a broad clinical spectrum known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China (Zhu et al., 2020; Zhou et al., 2020). Within a short time, a worldwide spread led to the current pandemic that will presumably remain the leading infectious disease topic in 2021 (WHO, 2020a).The initial impact of a national BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine rollout
A two-dose regimen of BNT162b2, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, was shown to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 by around 95% in a randomized clinical trial and in a mass national vaccination program (Dagan et al., 2021; Polack et al., 2020). On 23 December 2020, Qatar started a national BNT162b2 rollout programme, in addition to existing COVID-19 public health control measures. The rollout initially prioritised healthcare workers, individuals aged ≥50 years, and those with chronic or immunosuppressive medical conditions.Impact of COVID-19 on vasooclusive crisis in patients with sickle cell anaemia
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Gorbalenya et al., 2020), has spread to 191 countries and all continents ( https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ), and the pandemic shows no signs of coming under control, despite global efforts. The pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented number of deaths globally, with widespread lockdowns and disruption to world economies and businesses (Fauci et al., 2020). The clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 vary from mild in approximately 80% of cases, severe in 15% and critical in 5%.Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in moderate COVID-19: A phase II, randomized, controlled, open-label study
A novel coronavirus disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 (COVID-19) in a cluster of patients in Wuhan, China, which has been designated a worldwide pandemic (Cucinotta and Vanelli, 2020; Spinelli and Pellino, 2020). As of 31 January 2021, there have been 102,139,771 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, including 2,211,762 reported deaths (WHO, 2021).Comparative assessment of mortality risk factors between admission and follow-up models among patients hospitalized with COVID-19
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected more than 100 million and killed nearly 2.5 million people worldwide over the past few months (JHU, 2020). Although most patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, 10% of them require hospitalization and 5% advanced medical support (Wu and McGoogan, 2020). Early identification of severe cases that will demand longer hospitalizations and increased costs can help guide medical decisions and manage hospital resources, especially in economically deprived areas.Temporal profile of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in posterior nasopharyngeal samples: Analysis of 944 patients in Apulia, Italy
From early 2020 a new Coronavirus disease named COVID-19 has spread worldwide with Italy being one of the most affected countries, albeit with substantial regional differences (IstitutoSuperiorediSanità; WHO). In the Apulia region (southern Italy) approximately 7900 cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported so far, with a peak at the end of April and a substantial decrease from May-June. The rate of hospitalization and number of severe cases also fell during this time (IstitutoSuperiorediSanità).No clinical benefit in mortality associated with hydroxychloroquine treatment in patients with COVID-19
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. As of June 22, 2020, a total of 2,275,645 COVID-19 cases and 119,923 related deaths had been reported in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Reports from around the world indicate that this disease will continue to spread with the potential to cause severe illness in 10%–20% of those infected and to lead to hospitalization, ICU admission, ventilator support, and death.A high-throughput drug screening strategy against coronaviruses
The emergence and re-emergence of coronavirus (CoV) infections have continually caused serious public health concerns over past decades. Severe acute CoV infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, and the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2, have become a growing and long-lasting global threat (Gao, 2018). The first case of SARS-CoV-2 was deemed to occur in December 2019 and identified as a new type of coronavirus in early January 2020 (Burki, 2020; Chen et al., 2020a; Gralinski and Menachery, 2020; Wu et al., 2020b; Zhou et al., 2020b).
