Monthly Archives: June 2021

Secondary outbreak now connected with previously reported youth camp outbreak in central Illinois

SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is now reporting 85 teens and adult staff at a summer youth camp held in mid-June in central Illinois tested positive for COVID-19. One unvaccinated, young adult was hospitalized. Although all campers and staff were eligible for vaccination, IDPH is aware of only a handful of campers and staff receiving the vaccine. The camp was not checking vaccination status and masking was not required while indoors. IDPH is reminding people about the importance of vaccination, including youth, as the Delta variant and other variants continue to spread.

The majority of the 85 COVID-19 cases associated with the youth camp are among teens, said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. The perceived risk to children may seem small, but even a mild case of COVID-19 can cause long-term health issues. Additionally, infected youth who may not experience severe illness can still spread the virus to others, including those who are too young to be vaccinated or those who dont build the strong expected immune response to the vaccine.

A couple individuals who were at the camp also attended a nearby conference, which resulted in 11 additional cases. At least 70% of those cases were unvaccinated. The vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. have been shown to be effective among individuals who are fully vaccinated, even against the more transmissible and serious variants. Schuyler and Adams counties, where the outbreaks occurred, are seeing approximately 40% of their population fully vaccinated.

IDPH continues to assist local health departments involved in the youth camp and conference outbreaks and is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Specimens are being sought for genomic sequencing to determine if any of the cases were caused by variants.

Information about where to get a COVID-19 vaccination can be found at https://www.vaccines.gov/. CDC guidance adopted by IDPH for operating youth camps can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/operating-youth-camps.

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Public Health Officials Announce More Than 80 COVID-19 Cases Now Associated with Youth Camp Outbreak | IDPH - IDPH

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Bryan-College Station.

Mark Guerrero/Texas A&M Division of Marketing & Communications

A national study evaluating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in college students has expanded to include young adults ages 18-29. Texas A&M University, which is the largest of the 20 participating U.S. colleges, will host an informational meeting on Tuesday, June 29 about how to enroll.

Rebecca Fischer, a principal investigator for the PreventCOVIDU program at Texas A&M, said the meeting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center will be an opportunity to learn more about the purpose of the study.

The underlying premise is that we know that vaccines work extremely well at preventing symptomatic disease, keeping people out of the hospital and preventing death, but whats not translated to most people is that vaccines cannot block us from being exposed to infections like the one that causes COVID-19, said Fischer, an assistant professor of biostatistics and epidemiology.

Vaccinated individuals can still be exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and become infected, she said, and its currently unclear if they can still pass the virus on to unvaccinated people, who could have severe or fatal outcomes. The researchers hope to answer whether people who are vaccinated against the virus are in fact stopping transmission.

When it launched earlier this spring, the study focused on college students, who often report they feel no symptoms at all and are often at higher risk for disease transmission, in part because they may not be aware they are infected. Fischer said the network of researchers across the United States came to the conclusion that the question of to what degree the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can prevent infection and reduce transmission of the disease applies to all young adults, not only to college students.

Expanding from students to be more inclusive was natural for us, and by the same token, expanding that age range up means that more people will be eligible, Fischer said.

While the study previously focused on students ages 18-26 enrolled at a participating university, it is now accepting young adults under 30 who do not need any college affiliation.

The studys goals remain the same, as well as the requirements of participants throughout the four-month process: completing questionnaires in an eDiary app, swabbing their nose daily for SARS-CoV-2, and providing periodic blood samples. Fischer said there will be options to complete these procedures remotely and electronically for participants who are not local to the site of a participating institution. Participants are compensated $1,000 for their time.

Fischer said aside from being under 30, the researchers also are looking for people who have never tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been vaccinated.

Its also open to those who do not wish to be vaccinated. These individuals will serve as a control group to compare infection and transmission rates with those who have been vaccinated.

People who do want to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be randomized into two groups: half will be vaccinated right away, and half will receive a delayed vaccination at the end of the study.

Fischer said the goal is to enroll 2,000 people at the Texas A&M study sites in College Station, Kingsville and Corpus Christi.

The number of national study sites is planned to double as part of the expansion, Fischer said, but Texas A&M currently remains the only participating institution in Texas.

Tuesdays information session will cover the scope of the study, the reimbursement schedule, eligibility and other requirements. Participants will also be asked to identify close contacts, who researchers will contact in the event that a participant tests positive for COVID-19.

Its a historic thing were trying to answer this really important question that will help us understand if its truly safe to go without masks and around our family and friends who can be vulnerable, Fischer said.

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Texas A&M COVID-19 Transmission Study Expands To Adults Ages 18-29 - Texas A&M Today - Texas A&M University Today

Pediatric nurse Jenny gives a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine injection during vaccination at the Revolte Bar, which has been able to reopen after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions were eased, in Berlin, Germany June 13, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN, June 28 (Reuters) - The share of COVID-19 cases caused by the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus more than doubled in Germany within a week and is likely to gain more traction over other variants, a senior health official was quoted as saying on Monday.

Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute public health agency, told officials during a meeting that a genome sequencing analysis had shown the Delta variant accounting for 36% of infections in the week of June 14-20, up from 15% in the previous week, according to a senior official at the meeting.

Given the fast spread of the newer version of the virus and the slow analysis of the detailed data, Wieler estimated that the Delta variant was now already representing more than 50% of registered cases, the source added.

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder told reporters earlier on Monday that he expected the Delta variant, first identified in India, to become the dominant virus strain in Germany by summer. Cases caused by the variant have also been surging in several other countries.

"Ignoring the Delta variant would be a serious mistake," Soeder warned, adding that nobody should think problems related to the more infectious variant would just go away.

Soeder urged citizens to get vaccinated as this would offer the best protection against the coronavirus.

In Germany, roughly 54% of the population has received a first jab and some 35% are fully vaccinated. Health officials have said the spread of the disease can be slowed and the number of cases, hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths reduced if a high percentage of the population gets vaccinated.

Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Share of COVID-19 cases caused by more infectious Delta variant more than double in Germany - Reuters

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Treatment study in Austin seeking people currently infected with COVID-19 - KXAN.com

Epilepsy is a condition that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that 2.3 million adults and over 450,000 children in the United States have epilepsy.

Some types of health conditions can put a person at an increased risks with COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Evidence is limited, but it currently doesnt look like epilepsy raises your risk of contracting COVID-19. It also doesnt affect the severity of the disease if you do get it.

In this article, well discuss what we know so far about epilepsy and COVID-19, and go over the precautions to take during the pandemic.

Now lets dig deeper into what we know about how COVID-19 impacts people with epilepsy. Typically, this involves two questions:

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists dementia and other neurological conditions as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. But research on the specific impact of COVID-19 on those with epilepsy is limited and sometimes conflicting.

Though the research on this subject is limited, there have been some studies so far on a possible link between epilepsy and COVID-19.

A 2021 study surveyed 358 people, of which 154 had epilepsy. In total, 11 percent of all respondents had a history of COVID-19. Having epilepsy wasnt found to be associated with an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 in this cohort.

A 2020 study assessed 1,537 individuals with COVID-19. A total of 21 people (1.3 percent) had previously been diagnosed with epilepsy and were taking medications to manage it, or reported having had at least one seizure in the past year.

Researchers found that the incidence of COVID-19 was higher in individuals with active epilepsy than in the general population. But a main drawback of this study is that only about 43 percent of those with active epilepsy had COVID-19 that was confirmed with a COVID-19 test.

A 2021 study surveyed 252 people with epilepsy. Researchers observed that the percentage of people with confirmed COVID-19 was higher than the general population at the time. But researchers werent able to identify specific risk factors for contracting COVID-19 in this cohort.

Similar to the 2020 study discussed above, this study also included individuals with probable COVID-19 not confirmed by a COVID-19 test.

Another area of research is the severity of illness when COVID-19 is contracted by people with epilepsy. The 2020 study discussed above that assessed 1,537 individuals with COVID-19 found the following:

A 2021 review of studies assessed COVID-19 severity in people with different neurological disorders. The review included a total of 26 articles. It found that, of the 2,168 individuals included across the different studies, 98 had epilepsy.

Of these 98 people, 10 (10.2 percent) experienced severe COVID-19. But this percentage was lower than individuals with other neurological conditions, including:

The 2021 study above that surveyed 252 people with epilepsy found that all individuals with confirmed or probable COVID-19 had mild to moderate illness with symptoms lasting between 7 and 21 days.

Some research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic itself can impact quality of life in people with epilepsy in additional ways.

A 2021 study surveyed 151 people with epilepsy. Some of the most common problems reported during the pandemic included:

A total of 35 respondents reported worsening seizure during the pandemic without having COVID-19. The explanation for this often had to do with increased pandemic-related stresses, including:

A total of 8 respondents contracted COVID-19. Only one reported a mild worsening of their seizures while they were ill.

In many states, having a neurological condition like epilepsy was a qualification to be vaccinated earlier than the general population. At the time of this writing, COVID-19 vaccines are available to all individuals age 12 and older.

The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently authorized in the United States are the:

The CDC notes that people with underlying health conditions may safely receive a COVID-19 vaccine. An exception is if youve had a serious allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine or to a previous dose of the vaccine.

Theres currently no evidence that people with epilepsy are at an increased risk of adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

A 2021 article reviewed the large-scale clinical trials of different COVID-19 vaccines. It notes that no serious neurological side effects were attributed to vaccination with any of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States.

The Epilepsy Foundation notes that fever, a common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines, may temporarily lower seizure thresholds in some people. In rare cases, this may result in a seizure.

If youre concerned about fever-related seizures after vaccination, be sure to speak with a healthcare professional. They can advise you on how to lower your risk of experiencing a seizure due to fever after your vaccination.

Getting vaccinated has many benefits for people with and without epilepsy, like:

The CDC doesnt recommend one of the COVID-19 vaccines over the others. But you can choose which type of vaccine that you receive.

The Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is associated with a heightened risk of blood clots. The CDC says this is most common in women between the ages of 18 and 48. But this side effect is very rare, happening in about 7 per 1 million women in this age group.

These blood clots can affect the large blood vessels in the brain, and in some cases, they may cause seizures. But these seizures arent the same as those that occur in epilepsy.

If youre concerned about the risk of very rare blood clots associated with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, you can choose to receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, which arent associated with this side effect.

People with epilepsy can take the following steps and precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its important that you continue to follow your treatment plan during the pandemic. Your treatment plan may include:

If possible, its a good idea to have a 90-day supply of both prescription and nonprescription medications on hand. That way, if theres a temporary supply issue or you have to self-isolate, youll be covered for several weeks.

Its important to continue to take COVID-19 prevention steps, especially if youre not yet fully vaccinated. These include:

The pandemic has been stressful for many people around the world. Because stress can trigger seizures in some individuals with epilepsy, try to take steps to reduce it. Some suggestions for stress reduction include:

If you notice that youre developing signs of increased anxiety or depression, dont hesitate to reach out to your doctor or another medical professional. They can recommend some mental health resources that can help.

Make sure that you have a well-defined emergency plan during the pandemic. This includes when and how to take rescue medications, like benzodiazepines. It also means knowing when to seek emergency medical care.

If you dont have a plan in place already, your doctor can work with you to help develop one. Be sure that your family and caregivers also have a clear understanding of it.

Plan to keep up with your regular medical appointments. Many doctors are offering telehealth consultations during the pandemic.

Additionally, dont hesitate to seek care for health emergencies, regardless of if theyre related to your epilepsy or not. Urgent care facilities and emergency rooms have put infection control measures in place for your protection.

If you have epilepsy and contract COVID-19, contact your doctor to let them know. Every individual with epilepsy is different and has different needs. Your doctor can advise you on what specific steps to take during your recovery.

In the general population, COVID-19 illness is often mild to moderate, and most people can recover at home. As discussed above, the available research indicates that this may also be the case in many individuals with epilepsy.

While recovering from COVID-19, aim to get rest, stay hydrated, and use over-the-counter medications for symptoms like fever and discomfort. Never stop taking your antiepileptic medications unless instructed to do so by your doctor.

Worsening seizures in people with epilepsy and COVID-19 have been reported, but this seems to be rare. If you develop worsening seizures due to COVID-19, contact your doctor for advice and next steps.

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What to Know About COVID-19 and Epilepsy - Healthline

(Salt Lake City, UT) The number of people getting tested for COVID-19 in Utah has decreased dramatically in recent months and public health officials want to remind everyone testing is still important in this response. COVID-19 testing has declined from 32,536 tests done statewide during the week of November 19, 2020 to only 5,894 tests done statewide the week of June 14, 2021. Even though much of the focus is now on vaccines, there are still several good reasons to make sure you get tested.

1.The pandemic isnt over yet. In fact, now that new variants are circulating and some are even more transmissible, finding out if youre positive and isolating can prevent you from exposing others.

2.If you have symptoms and test positive, you can isolate and stay away from others. Stay home except to get medical care. Visithttps://coronavirus.utah.gov/protect-yourself/for more information.

3.You should be tested if youve been in close contact with someone who tests positive.

4.Some employers may require a negative test before you return to work.

5.Hospitals are offering elective surgeries and you may need to be tested for COVID before you have the procedure.

6.Travel restrictions are different in various parts of the world and you may need proof of a negative test before traveling.

The following testing sites are offered this week throughout Utah.

All of these testing sites offer PCR and rapid antigen tests.

All of these testing sites offer testing for children ages three and older.

Many testing locations will be closed Saturday, July 3, and Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

Locations selected for testing this week include:

TestUtah sites:

Box Elder County:

Brigham City Community Hospital, 950 Medical Dr., Brigham City (drive-through), Friday, 7/212 p.m. to 7 p.m.Registerhere.

Cache County:

Hyrum (drive-through),695 E Main St., Logan, Thursday, 7/112 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.

Davis County:

Ellison Park, 700 N. 2200 W., Layton (drive-through), Monday, 6/2812 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Grand County:

Southeast Utah Health Department, 575 S. Kane Creek, Moab (drive-through),Friday, 7/212 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.

Iron County:

Fiddlers Canyon, 170 E. Fiddlers Canyon, Cedar City (drive-through), Wednesday, 6/308 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, 7/212 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.

Juab County:

Juab High School, 802 North 650 East, (southeast parking lot) Nephi, Tuesday, 6/298 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.

Salt Lake County:

Centennial Park, 5405 W. 3100 S., West Valley City (drive-through), Monday, 6/2812 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, 6/298 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Complex, 5624 Cougar Lane, Kearns (drive-through in the east parking lot), Monday through Thursday, 6/28 to 7/17 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Summit County:

Park City High School, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City (drive-through), Wednesday, 6/3012 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, 7/18 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.

Utah County:

Wride Park, 5806 Pony Express Pkwy., Eagle Mountain, Monday, 6/2812 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, 6/298 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Utah County Health Department, 285 N. 1250 E., Payson, Wednesday, 6/3012 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, 7/18 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.

Lehi Round-up Rodeo Grounds, 105 N 500 W, Lehi, Friday, 7/2 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.

Weber County:

North Shore Aquatic Center, 2480 N. 200 E., North Ogden (drive-through), Tuesday, 6/2912 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, 6/308 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.

Results of tests from TestUtah sites will be emailed with a link to the patient portal where results can be accessed. For issues with accessing TestUtah results, please call (801) 783-1829.

UDOH/National Guard mobile test team sites:

Davis County:

5-C Freeport West (from Antelope Drive, enter at 300 W. and continue to C Street) Clearfield, Monday, 6/28, Wednesday, 6/30, Friday, 7/27 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Davis Technical College, 550 E. 300 S., Kaysville (testing location will be at 500 E. on the west side of the campus and use parallel parking along the street) Tuesday, 6/29 through Friday, 7/22 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registerhere.

Salt Lake County:

Cannon Health Building, 288 N. 1460 W., Salt Lake City, MondayFriday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Utah State Fair Park (building #51), 155 N. 1000 W., Salt Lake City (enter through the northwest corner at 300 N. and 1200 W.), Monday, Wednesday, and Friday11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Saturday, July 3 or Monday, July 5.)

Utah Public Health Laboratory, 4431 S. 2700 W., Taylorsville (drive-through in the west parking lot), MondayFriday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City, (drive-through), MondayFriday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Cottonwood Heights City Hall, 2277 East Bengal Blvd., Cottonwood Heights (mobile van testing held in City Hall parking lot), Wednesday, 6/308 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registerhere.

Murray High School, 5450 South State Street, Murray (mobile van event to be held in the high school parking lot on the State Street side of the school), Monday, 6/28, and Wednesday, 6/308 a.m. to 12 p.m. (both days) Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Highland High School, 2166 South 1700 East (mobile van event in the high school parking lot, enter on 2100 S.), Salt Lake City, Tuesday, 6/29 Thursday 7/18 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registerhere.

Rio Tinto Stadium, 9256 S. State St., Sandy, Monday, 6/28 and Wednesday, 6/302 p.m. to 5 p.m. (both days) Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Utah County:

Utah Valley University, UVU L10 parking lot: northeast corner of 800 S. and 1200 W. by the athletic field (drive-through), Wednesday, 6/302 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registerhere.

Nebo School District Offices, 350 S. Main,(mobile van testing in the south parking lot), Spanish Fork, Monday, 6/28, Friday, 7/28 a.m. to 12 p.m. (each day) Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Grandview Learning Center, 1591 Jordan Avenue (mobile van testing in the east side parking lot), Provo, Tuesday, 6/29 and Thursday, 7/12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registerhere.

Westlake High School, 99 North Thunder Blvd., (mobile van testing in the south parking lot by the band trailer), Saratoga Springs, Monday, 6/28 and Wednesday, 6/302 p.m. to 5 p.m. (both days) Registerhere.(No testing Monday, July 5.)

Utah County Health Department, 354 E. 500 S., American Fork, Tuesday, 6/29 and Friday, 7/22 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registerhere.

Weber County:

Weber State University, 1348 E. 3850 S., (lower campus, right in front of the information booth) Ogden, Tuesday, 6/298 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Friday, 7/22 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registerhere.

Test results from these locations will be emailed to you in an encrypted file fromCV19result@utah.gov30 minutes to several hours after your test is done. If the testing location is extremely busy, it may take a while to process your results. If you dont see an email in your inbox, look in spam or junk mail. Or try to open the email on a non-app browser (chrome, firefox, etc.) and on a computer or non-phone device. If you have trouble opening the email or it doesnt come within a few hours, call (385) 273-7878 for assistance.

For the most accurate results, we recommend that people without symptoms receive a PCR test. PCR results are available within 2-3 business days. Antigen (rapid) results are available within two hours.

For other testing locations visit:https://coronavirus.utah.gov/covid-testing-locations-list.

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Testing Remains a Critical Piece in Fighting COVID-19 | Utah Department of Health - Utah Department of Health

Nearly all Wisconsinites who recently have died of COVID-19 wereunvaccinated or not fully vaccinated state health officials said Monday.

Andjust 1% of allconfirmed and probable COVID-19 cases since Jan. 1 have been among those who were fully vaccinated,a spokeswoman for thestate Department of Health Services said.

The stark news cameas Wisconsin finally reached a significant milestone Monday, with 50.1% of the state's population having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Between March 1 and June 24, 95% of confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths were among those who weren't fully vaccinated, DHS spokeswoman Elizabeth Goodsitt said in an email.

Of the state's433 COVID-19 deaths during that time period, 412 involved people who were unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, while just 21 of those who died were people who were fully vaccinated, she said.

"The science is clear:vaccines work in the real world. They save lives," Goodsitt said. "And if you are fully vaccinated, you are protected. All three vaccines have been tested and proven to besafe and effective."

When it comes to COVID-19 cases statewide, just 1% of total confirmed and probable cases since Jan. 1 have been "breakthrough" cases, she said. A breakthrough case is someonewith apositive COVID-19 test 14 or more days after someone completed the vaccine series.

"We had 1,572 confirmed and probable cases meeting the breakthrough definition," Goodsitt said. "That is 1% of total confirmed and probable COVID cases since January 1, 2021 (143,000+), and among more than 2.9 million fully vaccinated people in our state."

"Take a look at theCOVID-19 dataand you will see that cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been declining since vaccines were authorized and we started getting shots in arms," Goodsitt added.

She acknowledged that some people may experience side effects after getting a shot. Those side effects may include fever, chills, tiredness, headaches, or pain in their arm where they got the vaccine.

"The vaccine not only works to fight off disease, but it reduces the risks for hospitalizations and deaths, and symptoms tend to be milder if someone does get sick after receiving the vaccine than if they didnt get one at all," Goodsitt said.

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, suggested that 98% to 99% of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.

And CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky saidthat the vaccine is so effective that nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable. She called such deaths particularly tragic.

Drake Bentley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

Contact Mary Spicuzzaat (414) 224-2324 ormary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Followheron Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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95% of those who've died from COVID-19 in Wisconsin since March weren't vaccinated or fully vaccinated, officials say - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PHILADELPHIA In addition to sickening and taking the lives of millions across the globe, COVID-19 complicated patient care in a range of less-direct ways, from increased incidence of heart attacks to decreased cancer screenings. The virus also increased the risk of complications and death among trauma patients with injuries from car crashes, falls or other accidents, or who were victims of violent injuries such as gunshots and stabbings, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, published recently in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Surgery.

The findings reveal that patients in trauma centers across the state of Pennsylvania who also tested positive for COVID-19 had six times higher risk of death than patients with similar injuries without COVID. COVID-positive patients also demonstrated double the likelihood of complications such as venous thromboembolism, renal failure, need for intubation, and unplanned ICU admission, as well as more than five times the odds of pulmonary complications. These risks were even greater in patients over age 65.

COVID-19 had the largest impact on patients whose injuries were relatively minor, and who we would have otherwise expected to do well, said lead author Elinore Kaufman, MD, MSHP, an assistant professor in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery at Penn Medicine. Our findings underscore how important it is for hospitals to consistently test admitted patients, so that providers can be aware of this additional risk and treat patients with extra care and vigilance.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 15,550 patients admitted to Pennsylvania trauma centers from March 21, 2020, (when Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closure of non-essential businesses statewide) to July 31, 2020. Of the 15,550 patients, 8,170 were tested for the virus, and 219 tested positive. During this period, the researchers evaluated length of stay, complications, and overall outcomes for patients who tested positive for COVID, compared to patients who did not have the virus. They found that rates of testing increased over time, from 34 percent in April 2020 to 56 percent in July. Rates of testing varied substantially across centers, however, with a median of 56.2 percent and a range of 0 percent to 96.4 percent.

First, we need to investigate how to best care for these high-risk patients, and establish standard protocols to minimize risks, said senior author Niels D. Martin, MD, chief of Surgical Critical Care and an associate professor in the division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery. Second, we need more data on the risks associated with patients who present symptoms of COVID, versus those who are asymptomatic, so we can administer proven treatments appropriately and increase the likelihood of survival with minimal complications.

Penn Medicineis one of the worlds leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of theRaymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nations first medical school) and theUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $8.9 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according toU.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $496 million awarded in the 2020 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health Systems patient care facilities include: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Centerwhich are recognized as one of the nations top Honor Roll hospitals byU.S. News & World ReportChester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; and Pennsylvania Hospital, the nations first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.

Penn Medicine is powered by a talented and dedicated workforce of more than 44,000 people. The organization also has alliances with top community health systems across both Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, creating more options for patients no matter where they live.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2020, Penn Medicine provided more than $563 million to benefit our community.

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Trauma Patients with COVID-19 Face Greater Risk of Complications and Death - pennmedicine.org