About the public’s health
WHO says asymptomatic people usually don't spread coronavirus. Experts doubt that.: This story is all over the media because of its implications on containing the outbreak. Here is the essence of the debate: “ key experts in the United States say the WHO's conclusion presents some big problems.
It's not that asymptomatic people don’t spread the virus — but that contact tracing is simply bad at detecting it, they argue. The studies cited by WHO relied on only a small number of people in China who claimed to have gotten sick from someone who had symptoms – which is not exactly a rigorous scientific experiment.
They also worry that their findings will lead to confusion.There's a difference between people who truly never showed symptoms of coronavirus and people who were ‘pre-symptomatic,’ who had not yet developed symptoms but eventually would. Then, of course, there are ‘low-symptomatic’ people who are experiencing effects of coronavirus so mild they might not be noticed.”
When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again: The NY Times asked 511 epidemiologist when they expected to re-engage in a number of activities. The answers make interesting reading.
Negative thinking linked to dementia in later life, but you can learn to be more positive: Really, don’t worry, be happy. “A new study found that repetitive negative thinking in later life was linked to cognitive decline and greater deposits of two harmful proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease.”
FDA authorizes COVID-19 saliva test by Phosphorus Diagnostics: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday allowed emergency use of a COVID-19 saliva test made by privately held Phosphorus Diagnostics LLC that allows people to send in their saliva samples to the company’s laboratory for testing.
The company’s sample collection kit, priced at around $140, would be delivered to customers if they are found eligible after completing an online questionnaire.”
Poll: Pandemic does little to alter US views on health care: This AP-NORC poll “found that people are more likely to trust private entities over government at driving innovation in health care (70% to 28%), improving quality (62% to 36%) and providing insurance coverage (53% to 44%). Americans had more confidence in government’s ability to reduce costs, preferring it over the private sector 54% to 44%. All of those preferences are unchanged since before COVID-19 arrived…
While about 3 in 5 said they were very or extremely concerned about Americans in general having access to high quality care, people were less likely than in February to say they were greatly concerned about having access to quality care for themselves (46% to 58%) and about their own health care spending (35% to 44%).”
Social distancing across vulnerability, race, politics, and employment: How different Americans changed behaviors before and after major COVID-19 policy announcements: When it comes to motivating people to social distance practices, one size does not fit all. This research found that the “variation in behavioral drivers including vulnerability, race, political affiliation, and employment industry demonstrates the need for targeted policy messaging and interventions tailored to address specific barriers for improved social distancing and mitigation.”
CMS testing guidelines for uninsured: 5 things to know: “CMS issued a document that outlines state requirements for covering the cost of COVID-19 testing for uninsured Americans, and lists flexibilities that states can use to meet the requirements. “
CDC wants states to count ‘probable’ coronavirus cases and deaths, but most aren’t doing it: “Fewer than half the states are following federal recommendations to report probable novel coronavirus cases and deaths, marking what experts say is an unusual break with public health practices that leads to inconsistent data collection and undercounts of the disease’s impact.
A Washington Post review found that the states not disclosing probable cases and deaths include some of the largest: California, Florida, North Carolina and New York.”
About pharma
AbbVie's Humira defense may keep prices high, but it's still legal, judge rules: “While AbbVie’s deals with biosimilar companies preserve high prices in the U.S. for several years, the company's strategy doesn't amount to an antitrust violation, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah wrote in an order Monday. “ The strategy the company is using is called a patent thicket. “With that thicket, the company sued companies seeking to market biosimilars and then inked deals to keep competing products off the U.S. market until 2023. As part of those deals, AbbVie gave biosim companies permission to launch in Europe despite existing patents there…”
Stanford team deploys CRISPR gene editing to fight COVID-19: “Bioengineers at Stanford University were working on a system to fight the flu with the gene-editing technology CRISPR when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in January. So they quickly pivoted to address the new disease—and now they’re reporting they’ve developed a way to inhibit 90% of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.”
As COVID-19 social media fatigue sets in, pharma begins to restart other health conversations: “COVID-19 fatigue is setting in with many people, and for pharma companies, that means an opportunity to return to social media messages on other health topics.
Evoke Kyne and its new social media chief Kate Callan have been tracking social media conversations throughout the crisis, and the latest numbers show a 65% drop in global conversations around COVID-19, from 204 million weekly mentions in mid-March to just 71 million in late May. The mood around those conversations is also shifting away from disgust, which is still the top feeling at 34%, toward feelings such as anticipation, now at trending at 15% of the conversation mood.”
About hospitals
World’s best hospitals 2020: In this Newsweek list, five of the top six hospitals are in the US.
About health insurance
N.Y. insurers request nearly 12% increase in premiums: “New York insurers selling plans to individuals asked the state to raise rates by a weighted average of 11.7% with some citing COVID-19 as necessitating higher premiums in 2021.
Oscar sought the largest premium increase on average in the individual market at 19.1%…”