Snapshot of the State of the Pandemic at Dadhaleh Institute

Snapshot of the State of the Pandemic

An article in The Lancet (Has COVID-19 subverted global health?) emphasize the importance of context and equity as key principles of global health. In light of limited financial aid from wealthier countries, [... ]just over two minutes.

An article in The Lancet (Has COVID-19 subverted global health?) emphasize the importance of context and equity as key principles of global health. In light of limited financial aid from wealthier countries, the authors urge developing countries to adopt policies that reflect their local context that focus on what is possible, acceptable, just, and sustainable. What accounts was South Korea’s COVID Secret? Fast Testing, High-Tech Tracing, Zero-Tolerance Isolation (Atlantic) Lockdown Is a Blunt Tool, We Have a Sharper One: Contact Tracing (NYT) WHO issues a Technical Guidance on Contact Tracing for COVID-19 in Africa (WHO) The U.S. can expect a series of ‘mini-epidemics’, as the flattening curve is misleading, as the CIDRP outlines three potential futures: recurring small outbreaks, monster wave, persistent crisis (NYT) Where the latest models think we are headed and why they disagree (FiveThirtyEight) Reopening some states can heighten risk of or recurring second waves in others (STAT) Simulation: Ending restrictions earlier is associated with higher projected cases and deaths, but also quicker economic recovery according to a RAND Corporation online tool In the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors provide two lessons in the Italian response to the pandemic, highlighting the important of testing of health care workers, and how “urgent and decisive” lockdown of the region earlier could have contain the epidemic (Adaptations and Lessons in the Province of Bergamio) National Geographic reviews the lessons learned from national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the spread of social mitigation, the effectiveness of travel restrictions, testing and the impact of speed of response on outbreak trajectory (How to measure your nation’s response to coronavirus). It took the U.S. only seven days to exceed projected COVID-19 deaths for August (Newsweek) A new paper in the Journal of Risk Research (Resilience in the face of uncertainty) describe how political interference undermined the ability of the U.K. National Health Service with COVID-19 preparedness and response. Similar to the Bank of England, the authors argue that national emergency preparedness requires greater independence. While the full impact of the pandemic on food security remains unknown, Dr. Rhonda Ferguson (DIGHR Research Fellow) argues that the displacement of localized food systems require transformation in trade to protect the estimated 265 million people threatened by famine (Coronavirus: Another chance to transform the global food trade) COVID-19 and Globalization (One Health) Could COVID-19 mark a ‘turning point’ in the climate crisis? (WEF) Effective transmission across the globe: the role of climate in COVID-19 mitigation strategies (Lancet Planetary Health) Iran’s locust threats grow amid coronavirus pandemic, sanctions (New Humanitarian) As the number of cases in Iran top 100,000, the spokesperson for the Health Ministry expressed concern in the “rising trend” over the least three days (Daily Star Lebanon) Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) Declaration for COVID-19 extended (WHO) Why we can’t compare country responses to COVID-19: death rates, data and geography (WEF)

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Snapshot of Clinical Public Health

The Journal for Clinical Medicine Research published a systemic review that provides a comprehensive clinical summary of available data as well as preventive measures (Modern Pandemic: A Systematic Review from Front-Line Health [... ]less than two minutes.

The Journal for Clinical Medicine Research published a systemic review that provides a comprehensive clinical summary of available data as well as preventive measures (Modern Pandemic: A Systematic Review from Front-Line Health Care Providers’ Perspective) An article in JAMA (Choices for the ‘New Normal’) outline six lessons for clinical care. These include the changing pace of learning, the value of updated clinical guidelines, protecting the workforce, enabling virtual care, increasing preparedness for novel threats, and addressing issues of inequity. Virus Mutations Reveal How COVID-19 Really Spread (Scientific American) A new study by the U.S. Los Alamos National Laboratory found that a mutated strain of Coronavirus strain detected in Europe three months ago may be spreading faster than earlier versions, urging vaccine and drug developers to consider this new strain in produce solutions (Spike mutation pipeline reveals the emergence of a more transmissible form of SARS-CoV-2) A new paper in the Journal for Clinical Medicine (Estimation of Unreported Coronavirus Infections from Reported Deaths) estimates that almost 92% total daily new infections were unreported based on the early outbreak of COVID-19 in China. In the International Journal of Public Health, authors suggest three additional ways that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect health outcomes: increase in mortality due to the diversion of health resources, impact of the ensuing recession on health systems, and the consequence of potential austerity measures Undiagnosed and untreated TB cases is expected to cause 1.4 million deaths, as global focus is on COVID-19 according to the Stop TB Partnership (Guardian) Widespread population serological testing can be important in determining immunity ('sero-protection') as well as mitigation strategies among vulnerable populations ('social sero-epidemiology'). At present, most tests have been limited in scope, as the quality of serologic tests also remains a challenge (Washington Post) Immunity passports and vaccine certificates: scientific, equitable & legal challenges (Lancet) WHO claims that prior reports of COVID-19 'reinfections' were false positives (Guardian) COVID-19 Riddle: why does the virus affect some countries and regions more than others? (NYT) WHO urges public health basics and community surveillance strategies (WEF) ‘Risk-based’ social distancing key to reopening (WSJ) Mass screening may have helped South Africa stem coronavirus tide (Financial Times)

Snapshot of Equity & Protection

UNOCHA updated the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, appealing for US$6.7 billion for immediate support for pandemic response in fragile countries COVID-19 has “unleashed a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and [... ]two minutes.

UNOCHA updated the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, appealing for US$6.7 billion for immediate support for pandemic response in fragile countries COVID-19 has "unleashed a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering” around the world, according to the UN Secretary-General (Guardian) Institute of Migration issue Communication Guidance in response to the rise of anti-migrant sentiment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements (Environment and Urbanization) A new report by Rescue International shows how restrictions on mobility, lack of information, increased isolation and fear have led to a decrease in women being able to report incidents of domestic violence. COVID-19 on the African continent (The Lancet Infectious Diseases) IOM Chief of Mission in the DRC reports how the experiences and capacity developed to fighting Ebola have informed the COVID-19 response Schools remain locked for more than 127 million children in S.E. Africa (UNICEF) There are reports that some African governments are promoting an unproven herbal remedy called ‘Madagascar Tonic’ despite warnings from health officials (Globe & Mail) Health system quality in the time of COVID-19 (The Lancet Global Health) Food insecurity in West Africa could leave 43 million at risk as coronavirus hits (UN News) UNOCHA issues global attention to food insecurity in humanitarian response locations A new report by the UNDP reveals major disparities among countries in their ability to respond and recover from the pandemic (COVID-19 and Human Development: Exploring Global Preparedness and Vulnerability) Collateral damage of lockdown in India (BMJ) Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements (Environment and Urbanization) Slums are the next front line in the fight against the coronavirus (Devex) Mental health and COVID-19: change the conversation (The Lancet) UNOCHA releases Rapid Learning Review that outlines 14 actions, insights and concepts for humanitarian actors in their COVID-19 responses (ALNAP) The threat of COVID-19 in Syrian war refugee camps (Travel Medicine & Infectious Disease) Emerging challenges of securing mental well-being in conflict settings (Asian Journal of Psychiatry) UNOCHA issues global attention to food insecurity in humanitarian response locations Human rights approach to Emergency Response? Advocacy of Canada's Human Rights Commissions During the COVID-19 Crisis (Canadian Journal of Political Science) Institute of Migration issue Communication Guidance in response to the rise of anti-migrant sentiment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic Prisons have become ‘petri dishes,’ as inmates are unable to guard against virus (KHN) Coronavirus abuse fears for women in South Sudan (New Humanitarian) UN Women issues a Guidance Document on promoting gender-responsive participation in humanitarian settings (UN Women) In Haiti, women’s organizations are at the heart of the response to COVID-19 (CECI)

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Snapshot of Access and R&D

World leaders pledge $8 billion for research into vaccine and therapies as well as equitable and timely distribution (Coronavirus Global Response Summit) The absence of the U.S., India and Russia points to possible [... ]less than two minutes.

World leaders pledge $8 billion for research into vaccine and therapies as well as equitable and timely distribution (Coronavirus Global Response Summit) The absence of the U.S., India and Russia points to possible fractures in global health diplomacy (Washington Post) Vaccine could be available as early as 9-24 months (Gates Foundation) A vaccine likely won’t be available until the end of 2021 due to Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy, according to the chair of the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (CNBC) Nature: Multiple vaccines are in competition: how will scientists choose the best? Rapid review for the anti-coronavirus effect of remdesivir (Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics) Video: How does Gilead's drug remdesivir work against coronavirus? (STAT) Gilead to charge up to US$4,500 for experimental COVID-19 treatment remdesivir (Institute for Clinical and Economic Research) WHO to engage U.S. and Gilead as data on safety and efficacy emerge to ensure wider availability of remdesivir (CNBC) GAVI Vaccine Alliance proposes an Advanced Market Commitment program for COVID-19 vaccine (GAVI) Internet of Things has been deployed in innovative ways to provide information and monitoring during the COVID-19 epidemic, including automated and transparent treatment (Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome) Emerging technologies to combat COVID-19 pandemic (J of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology) Going Viral: how to boost the spread of coronavirus science on social media (Nature) COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of preprints as a means for rapid research dissemination (Nature Biotechnology) Tool: Google releases an AI-powered COVID-19 Research Explorer to assist researchers with complex queries UK researchers create antibody test claiming 100% sensitivity, 99.8% specificity and results in 35 minutes (UK Standard) U.S. Food and Drug Administration tighten standards for antibody testing following false specificity and sensitivity claims (WSJ) Ethical and practical challenges of COVID-19 human vaccine trials (STAT) Human Challenge Studies to Accelerate Coronavirus Vaccine Licensure (Journal of Infections Diseases) WHO to issue ethical guidelines this month to inform human challenge trials amidst reports of deliberate infection of healthy human volunteers to test vaccine candidates (SCMP) Frontier technologies for COVID-19 need better governance (WEF) Unproven herbal remedy, ‘Madagascar Tonic’, touted by some African governments despite warnings from health officials (Globe & Mail; The Economist)

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Snapshot of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Making waves: Coronavirus detection, presence and persistence in the water environment: State of the art and knowledge needs for public health (Water Research) Linking aerosol characteristics of size distributions, core potential pathogens [... ]a few seconds.

Making waves: Coronavirus detection, presence and persistence in the water environment: State of the art and knowledge needs for public health (Water Research) Linking aerosol characteristics of size distributions, core potential pathogens and toxic metals to wastewater treatment process (Environmental Pollution) The Global WASH Cluster issues a Guidance document on mitigating the socio-economic impacts of COVID-10 on the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector Water security beyond COVID-19 (Governance and Social Development Resource Centre) Refugee shelters in Mexico need access to soap and hygiene products, according to UNHCR UNICEF issues Guidance on WASH and Infection Prevention and Control in health care facilities Floods in Burundi cause destruction amid pandemic (UNOCHA)

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