Navigating the Infodemic

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, News

World Health Organization (WHO) We are all being exposed to a huge amount of COVID-19 information on a daily basis and not all of it is reliable. Due to COVID-19, most of us have a new word in our vocabulary: epidemiology. It is the branch of medical science that deals with the way diseases are transmitted and can be controlled …

Allergic Reactions – Moderna Paused in California

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, News

After several people had apparent allergic reactions at one California clinic, state health officials on Sunday told providers across the state to pause administering doses from one COVID-19 vaccine lot that arrived from Moderna. The move, made “out of an extreme abundance of caution” means that 330,000 doses distributed to 287 providers across the state can’t be used amid an …

Reliability of Signs and Symptoms of Infection

Angie SzumlinskiCase Study, Health

Older adults may manifest acute illness with atypical signs and symptoms, including those that are non-localizing; however, most nursing-home residents with acute infection will also exhibit some localizing signs and symptoms of infection. Non-infectious explanations for non-localizing signs or symptoms of changes in condition should be ruled out first. Some of these changes may include: Changes in medication, Acute or …

Severe COVID-19 – Workers and Household Members

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Employment-related exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can endanger not only workers but also their household members. Using pre-pandemic data, the prevalence of Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were examined. The researchers then estimated how many adults at increased risk of severe COVID-19 held essential jobs and could not …

OSHA – Report by March 2, 2021

Angie SzumlinskiCompliance

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers the agency is collecting the calendar year 2020 Form 300A data and is due by March 2, 2021. Per OSHA, employers have an obligation to report and record work-related COVID-19 cases. The collection of CY 2019 data and beyond will include the collection of establishments’ Employer Identification Numbers …

IPC Adherence – LTCFs Study

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Not surprisingly, a recent study found that long-term care facility residents are among the populations at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In May 2020, the CDC developed interim infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations for healthcare personnel to prevent COVID-19, which included specific guidelines for LTCFs and an Infection Prevention and Control Assessment …

WHO – SARS-CoV-2 Variant – South Africa

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, News

On December 18, 2020, national authorities in South Africa announced the detection of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that is rapidly spreading in three provinces of South Africa. South Africa has named this variant 501Y.V2, because of an N501Y mutation. While SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 from the UK also has the N501Y mutation, phylogenetic analysis has shown that 501Y.V2 from south …

Individual and Community Risk

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States was reported on January 20, 2020 in the state of Washington and to date, the pandemic has led to more than 240,000 COVID-19 deaths, making the United States by far the most affected country globally. To date, the United States and other countries have mostly relied on community-based intervention measures, …

Medication Reduces Viral Replication

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has developed into a global pandemic with millions of people infected and tens of thousands of lives lost. Identifying effective drugs to treat COID-19 is important and urgent, especially the approved drugs that can be immediately tested in clinical trials.   In a recent study, researchers developed …

Coronavirus

COVID-19 Survey for Senior Care/LTC Facilities Q4 2020

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

The Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care and its leading media brand iAdvance Senior Care are conducting surveys to uncover COVID-19’s current impact on senior care and long-term care facilities in the United States. With over 75,000 members, the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care is dedicated to fostering continuous innovation and best practices for business and clinical professionals working throughout the continuum of senior …