COVID-19 Update: Friday, August 7

Numbers, Erectile Dysfunction, chronic COVID, NYC and a surprise to end the week.

1. Global Numbers surpassed 19 million this week, but overall new cases were down by roughly 100k compared to last week. Deaths were also slightly down. The overall case fatality rate is down from 3.87 to 3.72. This is the seventh consecutive week it has been down which is great news.

2. US total cases passed 5 million, but we had less new cases than the prior week which is good news. Our case fatality rate is also down from 3.35 to 3.24 and it continues to remain below the global average. For perspective, in May the case fatality rate was 5.87 and rising. So we have done great things since then. It has gone down for 10 consecutive weeks. While nationally we are looking better, 20 states are not. For example, Florida’s case fatality rate is up, although (most likely because) their case count for the week was down. This may well be an artificial rise in CFR due to some of their testing sites being closed which makes cases look lower when they really aren’t. We’ll see if it balances back out next week. Positivity rates are up – meaning more people who are being tested are testing positive. But overall, the US new cases were the best they have been since early – mid July and that is good news. Total deaths in the US caused by PIC were up in week 29 to 12% (this is a total mortality rate for all cause deaths meaning 12% of all deaths in the US were coded as pneumonia, influenza or covid. You may also recall this number is delayed and ever changing as more death certificates are received and of course a combined number for reporting that can be teased out once numbers become more solid.

3. An erectile dysfunction drug seems to be helping severe patients recover from COVID. The drug has only been tried on 15i-sh people but was met with very good results so they will move into clinical trials. As we know from experience, it may not survive the rigor of clinical trials but we are exploring every option.

4. A study was released that found 87.4% of recovered COVID patients were still experiencing at least 1 symptom 60 days after onset of illness. Fatigue and shortness of breath were the most common.

5. NYC is putting up quarantine checkpoints for travelers from 35 states in order to enforce the quarantine mandate.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We made it! Another week has come and gone and we did it. You rocked it this week. Oh sure the were some bumps along the way, but don’t focus on those. It is the wins that we choose to focus on this week. Those superhuman moments where you held your tongue, showed kindness, and reached out to build others up. You deserve a reward – and I have just the thing. I discovered masks that were just perfect for our superhero theme and I would like to provide one to 4 of you. So, for the first 4 people who share how they exhibited superpowers this week (mask wearing, social distancing, showing kindness, holding your tongue, etc.) I will contact you for your info and send you one of these masks. Mostly just because I loved them when I saw them so I bought myself one and then thought it would be a really fun way to finish the week. Thank you to all of you for what you do. Thank you for staying informed and seeking truth (that is what heros do). Thank you for asking me great questions, questions that let me geek out a little over science and pandemics and the stuff I geek out over. Most importantly, remember to take a break from it all this weekend. Turn off the noise and be in the moment, a moment without COVID and politics and social media angst. Eat ice cream or cupcakes or pie. Hang up your superhero cape for the weekend and just be, you have earned it.

For the sake of full transparency, here is the mask I will be sending. I came across it in my social media feed and I loved it, I bought one for myself and thought of you and our superhero theme this week. I know the person who is selling them so I decided to gift some as a fun end of the week and a win-win.