Contagious Disease

A new study has shown some severe COVID-19 cases to cause substantial damage to cognitive processes. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found 400,000 people who may have a level of cognitive impairment equivalent to a 10-point IQ drop or the mental decline that occurs between ages 50 and…

Although the United States has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, there doesn’t seem to be a rise in severe illness. Areas where Omicron sub-variants such as BA.2 first hit have seen a flattening in cases. In other places such as New York, easier spreading omicron versions such as BA.2.12.1…

A new study from the Health Institute Carlos III in Madrid, Spain has linked shorter telomere length to higher COVID-19 mortality, particularly in older women. Telomeres are the end tips of a chromosome and they are made of repetitive sequences of non-coding DNA that protect the chromosome…

Two new Omicron sub-lineages called BA.5 and BA.4 have been discovered in South Africa and some parts of Europe. There now have been 4 omicron sub-variants BA.2, XE (combination of BA.2 and BA.1), and the two new ones. Currently, there is no indication that the BA.5, BA.4, and XE sub-variants are…

It is looking likely that the Biden administration will extend the mask mandate for public transport such as planes, buses, trains, airports, and any transit hub. The mandate was to end on April 18. The masking requirement was first put in place in February 2021 and since then has been extended…

With COVID-19 cases and deaths hitting record lows in the past few months many testing sites have closed due to a lack of demand. The rise in at-home testing availability has also played a role in the decrease in testing sites across the United States. Also, the decrease in federal funding for…

The United States Senate approved a $10 billion COVID-19 funding deal. The plan is mainly focused on funding the purchase of treatments and vaccines as well as maintaining nationwide testing. Half of the $10 billion is going towards the purchase and development of antiviral pills and $750 million…

A new COVID-19 variant called XE has been found in the United Kingdom and has infected 637 people as of March 22 according to the U.K Health Security Agency. The variant is a combination BA.1 omicron variant and the subvariant BA.2 omicron. This combination makes XE a recombinant variant. Dr. John…

The U.S Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said on Tuesday that the COVID-19 BA.2 version of Omicron is now the most common variant. It has been estimated to account for 54.9% of COVID-19 variants in the U.S. Despite the new subvariant’s dominance experts believe it is unlikely that it will…

  A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine has found one of COVID-19’s long-term effects to be increased risk of cardiovascular disease for at least a year after recovery. People who were never infected with COVID-19 were 60% less likely to have future cardiovascular issues compared…

More countries are introducing or exploring the possibility of fourth doses of coronavirus vaccination for their most vulnerable. Israel was the first nation to offer fourth doses, stating in December that people 60 and older, medical staff, and people with impaired immune systems were eligible if…

The World Health Organization has said that the COVID-19 sub-variant Omicron BA.2, first found in January, is now expected to spread globally. According to research in Denmark, Omicron BA.2 is 1.5 times more contagious than the original Omicron BA.1. However, vaccines are still highly effective in…

Talk of COVID-19 becoming an endemic illness has escalated in recent weeks with the rise of the Omicron variant. However, some experts have warned against this characterization. Raina MacIntyre, a professor of global biosecurity at the University of New South Wales in Sydney has said case numbers…

In addition to the free COVID tests available to order across the United States, free N-95 masks are now available. The initiative is part of President Biden's plan to distribute 400 million free N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile through pharmacies and community health centers.…