Weekly update published on MedShr: 22nd February 2021
Last updated: 22nd February 2021

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Weekly Update 22nd February 2021

This update will be published weekly at 12pm GMT on Mondays and aims to provide clinicians and the public with an overview of the latest data, guidelines, key publications and policy around COVID-19, with links to essential resources and information.

If you are a healthcare professional, please join the discussion on these latest COVID-19 cases on MedShr:

Please post any anonymous educational COVID-19 cases, images or learning points from your clinical practice on MedShr - share key knowledge and experience with a global network of doctors to help improve patient care. Include #COVID19 in your case title.

Please email COVID@medshr.net if you have any data, publications or information you would like to share.

Global Impact of COVID-19 to Date

Data from WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, reported on 21st Feb 2021

Sources: World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine

Data related to 'patients recovered' and 'countries affected' based on data from Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, other data obtained from WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard

COVID-19 Cumulative Global Cases

Data from WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, reported on 21st Feb 2021

Source: World Health Organization

Global Vaccinations Against COVID-19

Official data collated by Our World in Data - data up to 22nd Feb 2021 at 10:20 (GMT)

Source: Our World in Data

For full vaccination data, Our World in Data state: "Total number of people who received all doses prescribed by the vaccination protocol. This data is only available for countries which report the breakdown of doses administered by first and second doses."

Total UK COVID-19 Cases

As of 22nd Feb 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-02-21

Source: Public Health England

COVID-19 in the African Region

As of 22nd Feb 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-02-21

Source: World Health Organization

COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

As of 22nd Feb 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-02-21

Source: World Health Organization

Latest COVID-19 Publications and Guidelines:

A selection of recent publications and useful clinical guidance from scientific journals

The Lancet: Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials

Voysey M, Clemens SAC, Madhi SA. Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials. Lancet. 2021 Feb 19. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00432-3

BMJ: Covid-19 deaths in Africa: prospective systematic postmortem surveillance study

Mwananyanda L, Gill CJ, MacLeod W, et al. Covid-19 deaths in Africa: prospective systematic postmortem surveillance study. BMJ. 2021 Feb 17;372:n334. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n334. PMID: 33597166; PMCID: PMC7887952.

Nature Communications: Reduction in mobility and COVID-19 transmission

Nouvellet P, Bhatia S, Cori A, et al. Reduction in mobility and COVID-19 transmission. Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 17;12(1):1090. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21358-2. PMID: 33597546.

Scientific Reports: Years of life lost to COVID-19 in 81 countries

Pifarré I Arolas H, Acosta E, López-Casasnovas G, et al. Years of life lost to COVID-19 in 81 countries. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 18;11(1):3504. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83040-3. PMID: 33603008.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR): Detection of B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 Variant Strain — Zambia, December 2020

Mwenda M, Saasa N, Sinyange N, et al. Detection of B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 Variant Strain — Zambia, December 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 17 February 2021. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7008e2

The Lancet: Azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial 

RECOVERY Collaborative Group. Azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. Lancet. 2021 Feb 13;397(10274):605-612. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00149-5. Epub 2021 Feb 2. PMID: 33545096; PMCID: PMC7884931.

Clinical Infectious Diseases: The Critical Need for Pooled Data on COVID-19 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action through Multi-Country Research Collaboration 

Sam-Agudu NA, Rabie H, Pipo MT, et al. The Critical Need for Pooled Data on COVID-19 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action through Multi-Country Research Collaboration. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 13:ciab142. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab142. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33580256.

BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health: Contraceptive dynamics during COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: longitudinal evidence from Burkina Faso and Kenya

Karp C, Wood SN, Guiella G, et al. Contraceptive dynamics during COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: longitudinal evidence from Burkina Faso and Kenya. BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2021 Feb 12:bmjsrh-2020-200944. doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200944. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33579717.

Anaesthesia: Impact of vaccination by priority group on UK deaths, hospital admissions and intensive care admissions from COVID‐19 

Cook TM, Roberts JV. Impact of vaccination by priority group on UK deaths, hospital admissions and intensive care admissions from COVID-19. Anaesthesia. 2021 Feb 11. doi: 10.1111/anae.15442. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33572007.

Journal of Public Health: Did people's behavior after receiving negative COVID-19 tests contribute to the spread? 

Robertson LS. Did people's behavior after receiving negative COVID-19 tests contribute to the spread? J Public Health (Oxf). 2021 Feb 8:fdab010. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33558889.

Latest Developments in the News:

WHO Weekly Situational Reports: Epidemiological and Operational

Africa

WHO (AFRO): Africa is getting ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccines

The BMJ: Covid-19 in Africa (Editorial) 

BBC News: Covid-19: Which countries in Africa are administering vaccines?

The Lancet Global Health: Challenges in interpreting SARS-CoV-2 serological results in African countries (correspondence)

Science: Unprotected African health workers die as rich countries buy up COVID-19 vaccines 

MSF: MSF urges rich countries to share appropriate COVID-19 vaccines with Southern Africa

BBC: Coronavirus in Africa tracker

WHO in the African Region: COVID-19

Eastern Mediterranean

WHO (EMRO): WHO Regional Director's statement for virtual press briefing, 15 February

MSF: Worrying situation for severe COVID-19 patients in Baghdad, Iraq

WHO (EMRO): WHO supports Iraq with vital consignment of medical technologies to boost COVID-19 containment efforts

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal: COVID-19 during the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic

WHO: Regional COVID-19 response: success stories

WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: COVID-19

United Kingdom

LSHTM: High level of public support for strict COVID control measures but much lower level of trust in Government

The BMJ: Covid-19: Is vaccination roll out reducing cases and deaths in the UK? 

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: When should the UK lift its lockdown? 

The BMJ: Covid:19: Ethnic minority health staff are less likely to take up vaccine, early data show 

The BMJ: Covid-19: GPs opt to prioritise all patients with learning disabilities for vaccination 

LSHTM: Local and national restrictions in England reduced contacts in small and varied ways

UK Government Advice

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK

Global Health

WHO: From Afghanistan to South Sudan: how WHO and partners continue to fight COVID-19 around the world

Science: To aid vaccine research, U.K. approves deliberate infections of volunteers with coronavirus 

WHO: WHO and donors continue to provide critical support to countries fighting COVID-19

Nature: The coronavirus is here to stay — here’s what that means 

The Lancet: Severe mental illness: reassessing COVID-19 vaccine priorities

Science: How soon will COVID-19 vaccines return life to normal? 

Nature: Some antibodies can dampen antiviral defences in people with severe COVID

The BMJ: Prophylactic anticoagulation for patients in hospital with covid-19 

The Lancet: Urgent needs of low-income and middle-income countries for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics (comment) 

LSHTM: TB vaccine may protect newborns against other infectious diseases

WHO: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (including links to regional offices) and COVID-19 vaccines

Educational Resources:

WHO: COVID-19 Course Series

"Real-time training during global emergencies is critical for effective preparedness and response. The COVID-19 channel provides learning resources for health professionals, decision-makers and the public for the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)." (WHO 2020)

WHO: Vaccine Series

Science: How do the leading COVID-19 vaccines work? Science explains

Johns Hopkins University: Understanding the COVID-19 Pandemic

BMJ Best Practice: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - clinical decision support tool

Elsevier: COVID-19 Health Education resource center, including the Health Education Faculty Hub

NEJM: Covid-19 Vaccine Resource Center

NEJM: Delayed Second Dose versus Standard Regimen for Covid-19 Vaccination

Nature: Coronapod: our future with an ever-present coronavirus (19th February 2021)

MedShr Open: COVID-19 Articles

The COVID-19 Hub on MedShr Open includes a selection of articles covering a range of topics related to COVID-19, ranging from emerging therapies, long-term effects of COVID-19, and considering the effects of the pandemic on other essential healthcare services.

Research related to COVID-19

Below is a list of links to organisations who are making great efforts to categorise, evaluate and summarise the vast catalogue of COVID-19 research. If you discover any other great resources please feel free to share these in the comments section below.

Global research on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) - WHO Global research database and links to further research catalogues

LitCovid - a curated literature hub for tracking up-to-date scientific information about COVID-19

Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Initiative - PubMed Central

COVID-19 Science Updates - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines - National Institutes for Health

ClinicalTrials.gov - COVID-19 clinical trials

Finding the evidence: Coronavirus – Knowledge & Library Services - Public Health England

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Cochrane resources and news - Cochrane

Weekly Update by Dr Ryan Broll, MedShr Open Editorial Team, Medical Education Fellow