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

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Weekly Update 22nd March 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 March 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 March 2021

Source: World Health Organization

Global Vaccinations Against COVID-19

Official data collated by Our World in Data - data up to 21st March 2021 at 09:06 (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 March 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-03-21

Source: Public Health England

COVID-19 in the African Region

As of 22nd March 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-03-21

Source: World Health Organization

COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

As of 22nd March 09:00 (GMT) - Data for 24 hour period, reported on 21-03-21

Source: World Health Organization

Latest COVID-19 Publications and Guidelines:

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

The Lancet: Urgent lessons from COVID 19: why the world needs a standing, coordinated system and sustainable financing for global research and development 

Lurie N, Keusch GT, Dzau VJ. Urgent lessons from COVID 19: why the world needs a standing, coordinated system and sustainable financing for global research and development. Lancet. 2021 Mar 9:S0140-6736(21)00503-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00503-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33711296.

NEJM: Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant

Madhi SA, Baillie V, Cutland CL, et al. Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 16. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2102214. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33725432.

BMJ: Risk of mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern 202012/1: matched cohort study 

Challen R, Brooks-Pollock E, Read JM, et al. Risk of mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern 202012/1: matched cohort study. BMJ. 2021 Mar 9;372:n579. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n579. PMID: 33687922; PMCID: PMC7941603.

Nature: Pregnancy and COVID: what the data say (News Feature)

Subbaraman N. Pregnancy and COVID: what the data say [internet]. Nature. 2021 Mar 9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00578-y 

SSRN: Vaccine after Effects and Post-Vaccine Infection in a Real World Setting: Results from the COVID Symptom Study App (preprint)

Menni C,Klaser K, May A, et al. Vaccine after Effects and Post-Vaccine Infection in a Real World Setting: Results from the COVID Symptom Study App. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3795344 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3795344

Science: Epidemiological and evolutionary considerations of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosing regimes

Saad-Roy CM, Morris SE, Metcalf CJE, et al. Epidemiological and evolutionary considerations of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosing regimes. Science. 2021 Mar 9:eabg8663. doi: 10.1126/science.abg8663. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33688062.

PLoS One: The effects of wearing facemasks on oxygenation and ventilation at rest and during physical activity 

Shein SL, Whitticar S, Mascho KK, et al. The effects of wearing facemasks on oxygenation and ventilation at rest and during physical activity. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 24;16(2):e0247414. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247414. PMID: 33626065; PMCID: PMC7904135.

Ann Intern Med: Clinical and Economic Effects of Widespread Rapid Testing to Decrease SARS-CoV-2 Transmission 

Paltiel AD, Zheng A, Sax PE. Clinical and Economic Effects of Widespread Rapid Testing to Decrease SARS-CoV-2 Transmission. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Mar 9. doi: 10.7326/M21-0510. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33683930.

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: Why COVID antibody treatments may not be the answer (19th March 2021) 

BMJ: A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent covid-19

BMJ: Severe covid-19 pneumonia: pathogenesis and clinical management

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.

Global Health Data for COVID-19

Global.health - a Data Science Initiative - open public health COVID-19 dataset to advance the response to infectious diseases

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)

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 of 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