Health Alerts

COVID-19 cases have doubled in the Americas over the past week – more on global cases and new developments in the Apr 7 WHO Situation Report. In the last week, the CDC has amended its advice for residents regarding face masks and now ‘recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission’. The WHO has also updated its guidance on the use of masks to include ‘Advice to decision makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings’. 

With a similar format to the weekly flu activity report, FluView, the CDC has established ‘COVIDView’ which will provide updated surveillance and a weekly summary.  Read more

More news, articles:

• The MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis ‘weekly report presents forecasts of the reported number of deaths in the week ahead and analysis of case reporting trends (case ascertainment) for 42 countries with active transmission.’
• In its Apr 6 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report MMWR, the CDC published a preliminary description of paediatric U.S. COVID-19 cases Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020.
• Redefining vulnerability in the era of COVID-19 Read more
• Last week the WHO issued an alert relating to ‘the distribution of falsified medical products: Falsified medical products, including in vitro diagnostics, that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19’.
• Global Health Now offers an understanding of ‘key issues related to the outbreak’ with the COVID-19 Expert Reality Check.
• Controversial drug hydroxychloroquine to be given to coronavirus patients in Australia Read more
• Australian health experts split on 'immunity passport' as new coronavirus test begins development Read more
• We don’t want a new Thalidomide: Why a COVID-19 vaccine is so long coming Read more