{"id":28506,"date":"2020-09-14T15:45:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T20:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tmc.edu\/news\/?p=28506"},"modified":"2020-09-15T19:04:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T00:04:00","slug":"coronavirus-connection-a-texas-medical-center-continuing-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tmc.edu\/news\/2020\/09\/coronavirus-connection-a-texas-medical-center-continuing-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: A Texas Medical Center continuing update"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE | September 15, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: <\/strong>Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted today’s updated COVID-19 numbers for the city. There were 325 news cases today, bringing the city’s total to 69,567. In addition, there were 12 newly reported deaths, bringing Houston’s total to 982.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 deaths of children under 21<\/h6>\n

A new report<\/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 121 people under age 21 in the United States died of COVID-19 between Feb. 12 and July 31, 2020.<\/p>\n

Of those deaths, 78 percent occurred among Black, Hispanic and American Indian\/Alaska Native individuals. Twelve\u00a0were infants and 85 were aged 10 to 20 years.<\/p>\n

Although symptoms associated with COVID-19 are milder in children than adults, the report concluded that \u201congoing surveillance for SARS-CoV-2-associated infection, hospitalization and death among persons aged <21 years should be continued as schools reopen in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

COVID-19 and blood group<\/h6>\n

STAT News reported this week that a study<\/a> forthcoming from 23andMe, the personal genomics and biotechnology technology company known for its direct-to-consumer DNA test, shows that an individual\u2019s \u201cgenetic code could be connected to how likely they are to catch Covid-19\u2014and how severely they could experience the disease if they catch it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 23andMe study, which included web-based surveys of more than one million research participants, found that people with blood group O tested positive for COVID-19 less frequently than people with other blood groups.<\/p>\n

At least one previous study<\/a> came to a similar conclusion in terms of blood group.<\/p>\n

The 23andMe study also found that African American ancestry, obesity, lower socio-economic status and pre-existing conditions were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients.<\/p>\n

The new study, Stat News reported, has not yet been peer-reviewed.<\/p>\n

Role reversal<\/h6>\n

The New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> today published a \u201cPerspective\u201d piece<\/a> about the role reversal of Big Pharma and the U.S. government, \u201cUp Is Down\u2014Pharmaceutical Industry Caution vs. Federal Acceleration of Covid-19 Vaccine Approval.\u201d<\/p>\n

The article references the Sept. 8 pledge<\/a>\u00a0from nine pharmaceutical companies saying they would not apply for approval of a COVID-19 vaccine until they were satisfied that data from clinical trials was adequate.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a legal perspective, the CEOs\u2019 pledge to hold back on seeking marketing permission prematurely could lead to the unusual situation of the government advocating for quick approval of a medical product even as its manufacturer declines to request such approval,\u201d states the article, written by members of Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston. \u201cThen what? The FDA process is predicated on a sponsor submitting an application to the agency. But an administration that has taken an unprecedented role in influencing FDA policy on COVID-19 could encourage the agency to issue an EUA [Emergency Use Authorization] for a product that has antibody data that only seem promising, even without a formal approval request by its manufacturer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The article looks ahead to the coming months, noting that the federal response to public distrust and the nine pharmaceutical companies \u201cwill help determine not just the fate of the first COVID-19 vaccines, but also what remains of the public\u2019s eroding trust in one of the most important aspects of U.S. science policy.\u201d \u2014 Maggie Galehouse<\/em><\/p>\n

UPDATE | September 14, 2020, 3:45 p.m.<\/strong>: Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the highest single-day increase in global infections since the pandemic began, with 307,930 new cases. The previous daily high was on September 6, with 306,857 new cases.<\/p>\n

The Houston Health Department is reporting today 329 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 additional deaths, bringing the city\u2019s totals to 69,242 cases and 970 deaths. During an afternoon press briefing, Mayor Sylvester Turner also announced that the city\u2019s positivity rate had dropped to 6.1 percent, but reiterated that the goal was for the rate to drop below 5 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis virus is still very much present, we need to be very, very vigilant\u2014even though the positivity rate is moving in the right direction, it can easily go up just like it is coming down,\u201d Turner said.<\/p>\n

Another positive metric: according to the Houston Chronicle<\/a>, the percentage of Houston-area ICU patients hospitalized for COVID-19 fell to 14 percent on Sunday, the first time that percentage has fallen below 15 percent since May 31. The drop is \u201ca key achievement that indicates the virus is slowly being brought under control here,\u201d the authors of the article wrote.<\/p>\n

During today\u2019s press conference, Turner also announced the expansion of the Mayor\u2019s Office of Human Trafficking to include efforts around domestic violence. The newly named Mayor\u2019s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence will continue to focus on gender-based violence and will expand its focus on domestic violence issues, which have escalated during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that the stresses created by the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the risk for domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse for women and girls nationwide,\u201d Turner said. \u201cCOVID-19, let me quickly say, is no excuse for any kind of domestic violence or abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turner added that in the last few months, service agencies have reported a large uptick in requests; he said the Houston Area Women\u2019s Center reported a 40 percent increase in calls and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse<\/a> reported a 90 percent increase for protective orders. Turner said that while there are complexities to this issue, the office will begin by focusing on the financial and economic abuse that survivors often experience.<\/p>\n

The Houston Health Department and its partners have also announced the schedule for free COVID-19 testing sites<\/a> throughout the city this week.<\/p>\n

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The Harris County Agency on Aging is also offering in-home COVID-19 testing for homebound individuals, including those with disabilities and adults 60 years and over. Inquiries can be made at 832-393-4301 or 800-213-8471.<\/p>\n

In COVID-19 vaccine news, AstraZeneca has resumed the Phase 2\/3 trial<\/a> for its vaccine candidate in the United Kingdom only. The trial was suspended temporarily after one of the trial participants experienced a potential adverse reaction involving inflammation of the spinal cord. The testing has not yet resumed in the United States, Brazil and South America, where AstraZeneca is also conducting Phase 2\/3 and Phase 3 trials. In addition, Pfizer and BioNTech are hoping to expand their Phase 3 trail<\/a> for their COVID-19 vaccine. The move will require FDA approval, but the companies hope to increase their participant size from 30,000 to 44,000 individuals. And, according to China\u2019s top medical official<\/a>, the country will not work to vaccinate its entire population against COVID-19 once a vaccine is available, but prioritize frontline workers and vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n

Finally, Baylor College of Medicine released today a set of guidelines<\/a> for schools across the country to reference as they make plans to reopen.<\/p>\n

\u201cBaylor has a history of working closely with math and science-focused schools in Houston and South Texas,\u201d Paul Klotman, M.D., president, CEO and executive dean at Baylor, said in a statement. \u201cWe feel strongly that we should share broadly our expert guidance on how and when to open schools safely in this time of pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guidelines address a wide range of topics, including decisions related to reopening timelines and planning and preparing for re-entry; planning for physical distancing; attention to facilities, including how to clean and disinfect; health supplies; guidance on face coverings, classroom spacing and reducing interactions among students; communication efforts; screening and testing students and teachers for COVID-19 symptoms; potential exposure and protocols for positive cases; and isolation and quarantine instructions. \u2014 Alexandra Becker<\/em><\/p>\n

UPDATE | September 11, 2020, 3:30 p.m.<\/strong>: On this 19th\u00a0anniversary of 9\/11<\/a>, as we remember the nearly 3,000 people who perished in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center<\/a> reported the following national numbers for COVID-19 in the United States:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • 6,397,000 total cases<\/li>\n
  • 35,286 new cases<\/li>\n
  • 191,800 total deaths<\/li>\n
  • 907 new deaths<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    For daily updates of national numbers, visit the \u201cData in Motion\u201d<\/a> feature on the Johns Hopkins website.<\/p>\n

    Allergies, cold, flu or COVID-19?<\/h6>\n

    Flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter, with influenza activity ramping up as early as September and October. As we head into the weekend, a graphic released this week by Harris County Public Health might help people sort out several symptoms they may be experiencing.<\/p>\n

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    N95 masks in short supply<\/h6>\n

    The Associated Press reported<\/a> Thursday that medical supplies needed to battle COVID-19 remain in short supply, despite the fact that White House officials say U.S. hospitals have all the supplies they need. N95 masks are among those items experiencing critical shortfalls in certain places.<\/p>\n

    \u201cFront-line health care workers, hospital officials and even the Food and Drug Administration say shortages persist,\u201d the AP story said.<\/p>\n

    The White House took too long to sign contracts with companies that produce \u201cmeltblown textile,\u201d the dense mesh made from plastic that allows N95 masks to block small particles\u2014including viruses, according to the story.<\/p>\n

    The report is \u201cpart of an ongoing investigation by the Associated Press, the PBS series \u201cFrontline\u201d and the Global Reporting Centre that examines the deadly consequences of the fragmented worldwide medical supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

    U.S. government adjusts entry strategy for international air passengers<\/h6>\n

    Starting Sept. 14, the U.S. government will stop the enhanced entry health screening for passengers arriving from China, Iran, the Schengen region of Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe now have a better understanding of COVID-19 transmission that indicates symptom-based screening has limited effectiveness because people with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or fever at the time of screening, or only mild symptoms,\u201d a media statement posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website said. \u201cTransmission of the virus may occur from passengers who have no symptoms or who have not yet developed symptoms of infection. Therefore, CDC is shifting its strategy and prioritizing other public health measures to reduce the risk of travel-related disease transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Going forward, government resources will focus on individual passengers and a series of new initiatives, including robust illness response at airports; voluntary collection of contact information from passengers using electronic means; potential testing to reduce the risk of travel-related transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19; country-specific risk assessments to assist passengers in making informed decisions about travel-related risk; and post-arrival passenger recommendations for self-monitoring and precautions to protect others. \u2014 Maggie Galehouse<\/em><\/p>\n

    UPDATE | September 10, 2020, 3:30 p.m.:<\/strong>\u00a0An increasing body of research has been published to shed light on the specific ways COVID-19 has roiled the United States for more than six months. Two papers published today explain how the novel coronavirus has caused people to delay care and its disproportionate weathering on poor individuals and people of color.<\/p>\n

    \u201cBeyond the Case Count: The Wide-Ranging Disparities of COVID-19 in the United States\u201d<\/a> from The Commonwealth Fund<\/a> concluded that \u201cCOVID-19 pandemic\u2019s impact in the United States has exposed long-standing inequities by race, ethnicity, and income.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The results are an analysis of the U.S. responses to the Fund\u2019s 2020 International Health Policy COVID-19 Supplement Survey, fielded in the U.S. and nine other countries from March 30 to May 25, 2020.<\/p>\n

    Of the report\u2019s U.S. findings:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • More than half of Latino and nearly half of Black survey respondents reported experiencing an economic challenge because of the pandemic, which is substantially more than the 21 percent of white respondents.<\/li>\n
    • Thirty-nine percent of women reported significant mental health concerns related to COVID-19 \u2014 13 percentage points higher than men. For people with low incomes, the rate of mental health concerns was nearly 20 points higher than the rate for people with high incomes.<\/li>\n
    • Both Black and Latino respondents reported pandemic-related mental health concerns at a rate approximately 10 points higher than whites.<\/li>\n
    • Compared to health care providers, state and local officials and President Trump received lower marks for their responses to the pandemic. Black survey respondents held the least favorable views of government leaders\u2019 actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Also, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<\/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued results of a survey showing that an estimated 41 percent of U.S. adults have avoided medical care during the pandemic<\/a> because of concerns about COVID-19, including 12 percent who sidestepped urgent or emergency care and another 32 percent who bypassed routine care.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      This confirms the anecdotal concerns of Houston-area clinicians and the health care executives who have warned about decreased traffic for preventive care including vaccinations, annual well exams and screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies.<\/p>\n

      \u201cThese findings align with recent reports that hospital admissions, overall emergency department (ED) visits and the number of ED visits for heart attack, stroke, and hyperglycemic crisis have declined since the start of the pandemic, and that excess deaths directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 have increased in 2020 versus prior years,\u201d the report said. \u201cNearly one third of adult respondents reported having delayed or avoided routine medical care, which might reflect adherence to community mitigation efforts such as stay-at-home orders, temporary closures of health facilities, or additional factors. However, if routine care avoidance were to be sustained, adults could miss opportunities for management of chronic conditions, receipt of routine vaccinations, or early detection of new conditions, which might worsen outcomes.\u201d \u2014 Cindy George<\/em><\/p>\n

      UPDATE | September 9, 2020, 3:40 p.m.: <\/strong>The Houston Health Department reported today 223 new cases of COVID-19 and eight new deaths, bringing the total to 66,488 cases and 906 deaths. In addition, the city\u2019s positivity rate is 6.6 percent.<\/p>\n

      Houston to begin restarting live events<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today that he will allow live events with certain health and safety protocols in place, starting with small audiences that fill 25 percent of a controlled venue\u2019s normal occupancy.<\/p>\n

      The Houston Symphony, which typically seats 3,000, will allow 150 guests to attend a concert series at Jones Hall. The Houston Dynamo and Dash have also announced that they will begin hosting their games with less than 25 percent capacity in BBVA Stadium.<\/p>\n

      However, parades, fun runs, walks, biking events, festivals and other similar events in uncontrolled spaces or venues will continue to be on hold through the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

      Houston mourns death of HFD Captain Tommy Searcy<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      Houston Fire Department Capt. Tommy Searcy died yesterday due to complications from COVID-19.<\/p>\n

      \"\"

      Houston Fire Department Capt. Tommy Searcy (Courtesy photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

      \u201cCapt. Searcy fought his illness with the same fierce bravery that he exhibited throughout his 18-year HFD career. Searcy’s family, HFD Chief Sam Pe\u00f1a, and fellow firefighters will undoubtedly miss his leadership and dedication to the fire department,\u201d Turner said in a statement.<\/p>\n

      A father of three daughters, Searcy, 45, was the third HFD firefighter to die in the line of duty as a result of the novel coronavirus. HFD veteran Jerry Pacheco and Capt. Leroy Lucio also perished.<\/p>\n

      Searcy was given the experimental drug, RLF-100, also known as aviptadil, on Aug. 19, after members of HFD fought to cut through red tape to get the drug from Houston Methodist to Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands, where Searcy was being treated.<\/p>\n

      NeuroRx<\/a>, the company that manufactures the RLF-100, said that the drug improved recovery<\/a> from respiratory failure in most critically ill COVID-19 patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted RLF-100 a Fast Track designation, which allows companies to expedite the review and development process. In collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, RLF-100 is undergoing development as a Material Threat Medical Countermeasure.<\/p>\n

      \u201cTommy\u2019s death is a reminder to be vigilant in our efforts to keep our families, friends, and station crews safe in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association president Patrick \u201cMarty\u201d Lancton said in a statement.<\/p>\n

      AstraZeneca stops COVID-19 vaccine study due to suspected adverse reaction<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      AstraZeneca<\/a> and the University of Oxford<\/a>\u2019s Phase 3 clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine was halted yesterday due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in one of the participants at a United Kingdom testing site.<\/p>\n

      According to STAT News<\/a>, the participant experienced neurological symptoms associated with transverse myelitis, a rare spinal inflammatory disorder. Her condition is currently improving and she will be discharged Wednesday, but no official diagnosis has been made yet.<\/p>\n

      \u201cAs part of the ongoing randomized, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of a safety data by an independent committee,\u201d an AstraZeneca spokesperson wrote in a statement<\/a>. \u201cWe are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline. We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials.\u201d<\/p>\n

      AstraZeneca\u2019s clinical trial is one of nine vaccine candidates currently undergoing Phase 3 studies. The study, which is being done at 62 sites in the United States, started on Aug. 17 and was estimated to complete collecting final data in December 2020; however, it is unclear how long AstraZeneca\u2019s study will be on hold.<\/p>\n

      New polls shows financial impact of the pandemic on American households<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      New nationwide polls<\/a> found that more than half of the households in four major U.S. cities including Houston are experiencing financial issues, highlighting the widespread burden and disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

      NPR, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) conducted a series of polls, titled \u201cThe Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Major U.S. Cities,\u201d to better understand the effects of the pandemic. Researchers collected responses about household finances, employment, health care, housing, transportation and well-being from 3,454 adults age 18 or older between July and August 2020.<\/p>\n

      The results showed that households in Chicago (50 percent), New York City (53 percent), Los Angeles (56 percent) and Houston (63 percent)\u2014primarily those in Black and Hispanic communities\u2014reported financial troubles, such as depleted savings and difficulty paying bills or affording health care.<\/p>\n

      Households in New York City (59 percent), Los Angeles (63 percent), Chicago (55 percent) and Houston (75 percent) reported experiencing negative health consequences as a result of an inability to access care when needed.<\/p>\n

      \u201cThis pandemic has revealed glaring problems in the nation\u2019s health care system,\u201d RWJF president and CEO Richard Besser, M.D., said\u00a0in a statement<\/a>. \u201cAt a time when a significant number of people need health care most, many cannot get it. We need to be able to provide safe, affordable care for people with COVID-19, as well as for the many with chronic medical conditions so rampant in America. It is unacceptable that in a wealthy nation like ours factors such as income or race play such a big role in health care access.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Shanley Pierce<\/em><\/p>\n

      UPDATE | September 8, 2020, 2:30 p.m.: <\/strong>Hospitalizations across the state continue to decline. As of Sept. 7, the Texas Department of State Health Services<\/a> reported 3,537 people who are currently in the hospital for COVID-19, 666 fewer than seven days before. In addition, there are 2,057 new cases of COVID-19 in the state and a positivity rate of 7.2 percent.<\/p>\n

      The Houston Health Department announced additional testing sites for the week of Sept. 7.<\/p>\n

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      Abbott extends disaster declaration<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      Gov. Greg Abbott extended the statewide disaster declaration<\/a>\u00a0on Monday for all Texas counties in response to the ongoing fight against COVID-19.<\/p>\n

      \u201cRenewing this Disaster Declaration helps ensure that we have the resources and strategies in place to help communities across Texas respond to COVID-19,\u201d Abbott said in a prepared statement<\/a>. \u201cI urge Texans to take precautionary steps to protect their health by wearing a mask, social distancing, and sanitizing their hands. Working together, we will slow the spread and keep our communities safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Initially issued March 13, the disaster declaration allows Abbott to authorize the use of the state\u2019s available and necessary resources to support COVID-19 efforts, as well as to reallocate resources in the state, including those obtained through the Strategic National Stockpile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      9 vaccine companies sign joint safety pledge<\/strong><\/h6>\n

      Today, the CEOs of nine biopharmaceutical companies signed a pledge of their commitment<\/a> to seek approval or emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only for COVID-19 vaccines that are proven to be safe and effective.<\/p>\n

      AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer and Sanofi signed a statement<\/a>\u00a0that read: \u201cWe, the undersigned biopharmaceutical companies, want to make clear our on-going (sic) commitment to developing and testing potential vaccines for COVID-19 in accordance with high ethical standards and sound scientific principles.”<\/p>\n

      Over the weekend, President Trump said during a White House news conference that a “very safe and very effective” vaccine could be available by October because of\u00a0Operation Warp Speed.<\/a>\u00a0However, given the rigorous testing drugs must go through in order to ensure safety and efficacy, there are growing alarm about cutting corners during vaccine development.<\/p>\n

      Amid concerns of a rushed vaccine development process, the CEOs vowed to make safety their top priority in an effort to reinforce the public\u2019s confidence in the ongoing pursuit of the first COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n

      “With increasing public concerns about the processes that we are using to develop these vaccines and even more importantly the processes that will be used to evaluate the vaccines, we thought it was critical to come out and reiterate our commitment,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in an interview with\u00a0Today<\/em>.<\/p>\n

      The pledge comes a week after the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a global biotech trade association, issued an open letter<\/a> emphasizing that \u201cpublic health, and the public\u2019s trust in new medical products, are dependent upon the integrity, transparency and objective assessment of new data as they emerge.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Shanley Pierce<\/em><\/p>\n

      UPDATE | September 4, 2020, 4 p.m.: <\/strong>As COVID-19 numbers in Texas continue to improve, experts raise concerns about a future surge in cases in the weeks following the upcoming Labor Day weekend, The Texas Tribune<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

      During an afternoon news conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner urged Houstonians to remain vigilant during the holiday.<\/p>\n

      \u201cIt\u2019s important to remember the virus doesn\u2019t take off because it\u2019s an extended weekend or a holiday,\u201d Turner said. \u201cPlease, please keep on your mask, engage in social distancing, proper hygiene\u2014we don\u2019t want to see the numbers go up two weeks from now because we decided to come together in big numbers over the Labor Day weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Turner also addressed recent national news coverage<\/a> about COVID-19 related evictions in Harris County and reminded city and county residents to apply for the\u00a0$60 million rental assistance program<\/a> through the nonprofit BakerRipley. He reiterated that rental assistance remains available and there is no longer a deadline to apply, adding that any individual who wishes to contribute to the funding may contact BakerRipley directly.<\/p>\n

      Today, the Houston Health Department is reporting 510 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 additional deaths, bringing the city\u2019s totals to 64,985 total cases and 862 deaths. The health department also shared a new video as part of its multilingual public health education campaign Better.Together.<\/em><\/a> The agency encourages all residents to do their part to stop the pandemic by adopting behaviors that protect the community at large.<\/p>\n