Medical Testing

Study measures reductions in coronavirus transmissions by vaccinated persons--Israeli lab

Feb

Vaccinated people less likely to transmit coronavirus, Israeli study suggests Nation's largest testing lab publishes research showing older group's viral load fell compared to younger cohort once most Israelis 60+ had received Pfizer-BioNTech shot timesofisrael

Israel’s largest COVID-19 testing lab says it has found evidence indicating that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine significantly reduces the transmissibility of the coronavirus, offering a tentative answer to one of the world’s most burning questions.

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ANALYSIS: Why the U.S. Is Underestimating Covid Reinfection

Feb

Why the U.S. Is Underestimating Covid Reinfection Hundreds of Americans suspect they contracted covid early in the pandemic and recovered, only to get infected again months later. But because the U.S. does so little genetic sequencing of covid sam… khnjonela Kaiser Health News

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Some states are not counting Covid-19 antigen tests in tally

Feb

Covid-19 antigen tests not counted among cases in some states, CNN analysis shows Antigen test results still are not included in the total count of Covid-19 cases for some states -- not even as probable cases, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. Jacqueline Howard, CNN CNN

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Disease experts warn of surge in deaths from Covid variants as US lags in tracking

Feb

Disease experts warn of surge in deaths from Covid variants as US lags in tracking Despite having a well-developed genomic sequencing infrastructure, a national surveillance program was never enacted the Guardian

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South Africa suspends AstraZeneca vaccine drive following small clinical trial

Feb

South Africa suspends AstraZeneca vaccine drive JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa has suspended plans to inoculate its front-line health care workers with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a small clinical trial suggested that it isn't... AP NEWS

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Calls grow for US to rely on rapid tests to fight pandemic

Feb

Associated Press News News from The Associated Press, the definitive source for independent journalism from every corner of the globe. AP NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) — When a Halloween party sparked a COVID-19 outbreak at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, school officials conducted rapid screening on more than 1,000 students in a week, including many who didn’t have symptoms.

Although such asymptomatic screening isn’t approved by regulators and the 15-minute tests aren’t as sensitive as the genetic one that can take days to yield results, the testing director at the historically Black college credits the approach with quickly containing the infections and allowing the campus to remain open.

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UK backs CureVac effort to make vaccine for COVID variants U.S. rushes to catch up

Feb

UK backs CureVac effort to make vaccine for COVID variants LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government announced Friday that it plans to work with a German biopharmaceutical company to develop vaccines targeting emerging variants of COVID-19 as public health... AP NEWS

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government announced Friday that it plans to work with a German biopharmaceutical company to develop vaccines targeting emerging variants of COVID-19 as public health officials call for new tools to keep the virus in check as it mutates.

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Low Reimbursements Are Causing Some Doctors to Stop Testing for Covid

Feb

Dr. Robin Larabee was thrilled to start offering coronavirus testing at her pediatrics practice in Denver last fall. Testing for children is often scarce, and her new machines could return results within minutes.

She quickly discovered an unexpected obstacle: a major health insurer that paid her less than the cost of the test itself. Each kit Dr. Larabee purchased for her machines cost about $41, but the insurer sent back half that amount each time she submitted a claim.

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