Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician's Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of March 28 to April 1, 2022. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

Health, Economic Impact of COVID-19 Set to Lessen in Coming Years

FRIDAY, April 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lessen in the coming years, according to a study published online March 28 in Health Affairs.

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Higher Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Under 5s During Omicron

FRIDAY, April 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For children aged under 5, the incidence rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection was higher with the omicron variant versus the delta variant, according to a research letter published online April 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Early Use of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Cuts Hospitalization Risk

FRIDAY, April 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 convalescent plasma administered to mostly unvaccinated outpatients within nine days after symptom onset reduced the risk of progression of COVID-19 leading to hospitalization, according to a study published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Biden to Lift Pandemic Rule Restricting Immigrants at Land Border

THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (HealthDay News ) -- An emergency health order that has curtailed immigration at U.S. land borders is expected to be lifted in late May.

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CDC Lifts Warning on Cruise Ship Travel

THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A two-year advisory that warned Americans against going on cruises has been dropped by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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New White House Website Speeds Access to Free COVID-19 Care

THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it has launched a new website that includes help for people trying to find free COVID-19 prevention and treatment quickly.

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SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Seems Safe After MIS-C

THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination seems safe for patients previously diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, according to a research letter published online March 28 in JAMA Network Open.

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Booster Strategies After Janssen Shot Increased Protection Against Omicron

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- During a period of omicron predominance, vaccination with a single Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) dose offers lower protection than any of the booster strategies, according to research published in the March 29 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Not Linked to Peripartum Adverse Outcomes

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with an increased risk for adverse peripartum outcomes, according to a large Canadian study published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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21 States Sue to Overturn CDC Public Transport Mask Mandate

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. government's mask mandate for people on planes, trains, ferries, and other modes of public transportation has been challenged in a lawsuit filed by 21 states on Tuesday.

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CDC Supports Second COVID-19 Booster for Americans 50 Years and Older

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Hours after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster shot of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 50 years and older, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its support for the move.

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Risk, Burden of Diabetes Up After Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The risk and 12-month burden of incident diabetes is increased for individuals in the postacute phase of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection, according to a study published online March 21 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Early Aspirin Cuts In-Hospital Mortality With Moderate COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Early aspirin use is associated with lower odds of 28-day in-hospital mortality among U.S. adults hospitalized with moderate COVID-19, according to a study published online March 24 in JAMA Network Open.

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FDA Approves Second COVID-19 Booster for Americans 50+

TUESDAY, March 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has approved a second booster shot of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for people 50 and older.

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No Adverse Outcomes Seen With SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Pregnancy

TUESDAY, March 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a study published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Memory Deficits Seen in Individuals With 'Long COVID'

TUESDAY, March 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with "long COVID" have memory deficits, with increased deficits seen in association with the severity of ongoing self-reported symptoms, according to research published online March 17 in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

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Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Persists in Children

TUESDAY, March 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Most children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies following natural infection retain these antibodies for at least six months, according to research published online March 18 in Pediatrics.

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Biden Administration to Offer Second COVID-19 Boosters to Those 50+

MONDAY, March 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Despite not knowing how long another jab might provide protection, the Biden administration plans to offer a second COVID-19 booster shot to Americans 50 and older.

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Awake Prone Positioning Does Not Improve Outcomes in COVID-19

MONDAY, March 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have moderate hypoxemia, awake prone positioning is poorly tolerated and does not improve outcomes, according to a study published online March 23 in The BMJ.

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COVID-19 Tied to Higher Risk for Pregnancy Complications

MONDAY, March 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is associated with an increased risk for perinatal complications, according to a study published online March 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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