COVID-19 Delta Variant Fuels Breakthrough Infections, Multi-State Study Finds; convalescent plasma not effective against serious illness: coronavirus update for August. 24, 2021



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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The highly contagious delta variant causes an increase in breakthrough infections in at least parts of the United States, and COVID-19 convalescent plasma has not prevented disease progression in high-risk patients with the disease of COVID-19, according to a study.

Cleveland.com brings together some of the most notable coronavirus news that is making headlines online. Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday, August 24.

Delta variant causing increased breakthrough infections

The arrival of the delta variant in July could cause an increase in infections among fully vaccinated people, according to preliminary data from seven US states.

At least 1 in 5 new cases of COVID-19 in six of those states have involved people who have been vaccinated. According to press reports, the percentages of hospitalizations and deaths among those vaccinated are higher than those seen previously in the seven states.

The seven states analyzed by the New York Times – California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Virginia – were chosen because they retain the most detailed data, according to the newspaper. noted. It is not known if the trends in these states would continue across the country.

Most vaccinated people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 are likely older or have weakened immune systems, the researchers said. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 74% of rupture cases involve adults aged 65 or older.

The absolute number of vaccinated people who get sick with COVID-19 remains very low, health experts have said, and vaccines help protect against serious illness.

COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Did Not Stop Illness, Study Finds

Convalescent COVID-19 plasma did not prevent disease progression in high-risk ambulatory patients with COVID-19, when given in the first week of their symptoms, final trial results show COVID-19 convalescent plasma clinic in ambulatory patients.

The trial was stopped in February due to the lack of efficacy of convalescent plasma based on an interim analysis. The results were published in the latest online issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma, also known as “survivor’s plasma,” is blood plasma derived from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization to allow the use of convalescent plasma in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The researchers wanted to know if the COVID-19 convalescent plasma could also help people recently infected with the coronavirus but who were not seriously ill. The aim of the study was to prevent serious COVID-19 disease.

“We were hoping that using the COVID-19 convalescent plasma would achieve a reduction of at least 10% in disease progression in this group, but instead the reduction we saw was less. at 2%, ”said Principal Investigator Dr. Clifton Callaway. for the trial and professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

The randomized, controlled clinical trial, which began in August 2020, involved adult outpatients who came to emergency departments with mild symptoms of COVID-19 within the first week after becoming infected. The trial recruited more than 500 participants across the United States. Participants also had at least one risk factor for severe COVID-19, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or chronic lung disease.

The convalescent plasma trial was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

High-quality masks slow indoor spread of coronavirus, study finds

A new study suggests the need for better masks and the importance of good ventilation to slow the spread of COVID-19 indoors.

A study from the University of Waterloo showed that the most common masks filter about 10% of exhaled aerosol droplets, mainly due to improper fit. The rest of the aerosol droplets exit from the top of the mask and enter the air without a filter.

The more expensive N95 and KN95 masks filtered more than 50% of the exhaled aerosols that can build up inside and spread the coronavirus, the researchers said.

The results come from experiments using a mannequin to simulate a person sitting breathing in a large room. Research has shown a significant build-up over time of aerosol droplets – exhaled droplets so tiny that they stay suspended and travel through the air – despite the use of surgical tissues and masks.

“There is no doubt that it is beneficial to wear a face covering, both to protect yourself near and from a distance in a room,” said Serhiy Yarusevych, professor of mechanical and mechatronic engineering and head of the ‘study. “However, there is a very big difference in the effectiveness of different masks when it comes to controlling aerosols.”

Answers to your questions about the coronavirus vaccine:

What should parents know when deciding whether their child should receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine?

Are coronavirus vaccines effective in overweight or obese people?

Are you contagious if you have side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?

Are you “less immune” to the coronavirus if you don’t have side effects from the vaccine?

Can I still get my second dose of coronavirus vaccine if I develop symptoms of COVID-19 after the first?

Can you mix and match two doses of coronavirus vaccine from different manufacturers?

Can you request a coronavirus vaccine if you have concerns about the other?

Coronavirus vaccine misinformation permeates social media: Here are the facts to counter six false claims

How will local pharmacies keep the coronavirus vaccine on site if it must be cold? How will they avoid waste?

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If the coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, how will you know if you are in the remaining 5%?

Is it okay to take over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers before getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

Should cancer patients get the coronavirus vaccine?

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Should you get the second vaccine if you contract COVID-19 after your first dose of the coronavirus vaccine?

What can families do safely if parents are immunized but their children are not?

What if you contract COVID-19 between your two doses of the coronavirus vaccine?

Who should skip the second shot of the coronavirus vaccine? We have answers

Why do I have to keep a mask if I have been vaccinated against the coronavirus?

Will your COVID-19 vaccine be less effective if you have to wait longer for the second dose?

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