covid daily update july 25, 2022: what if masks could kill covid?
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researchers are working on a facial mask that filters the covid virus and deactivates it too. getty
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new masks can kill covid-19 particles
researchers at the university of kentucky say they have developed masks that not only filter out sars–cov-2 virus particles, the virus that causes covid-19, but also neutralizes them on site.
professor dibakar bhattacharyya and ph.d. student rollie mills published their research on a membrane containing proteolytic enzymes. these enzymes attach to and deactivate the spike protein on the virus, stopping it from being able to enter cells in the body.
“this new material can filter out the virus like the n95 mask does, but also includes antiviral enzymes that completely deactivate it,” bhattacharyya said in a news release. “this innovation is another layer of protection against sars-cov-2 that can help prevent the virus from spreading,”
bhattacharyya also says he hopes the development can be used to defend against other contagious viruses. their research was published in nature communications.
kids at risk for developing long covid
new research from the university of calgary indicates that 5.8 per cent of children who wound up in the emergency department report symptoms of long covid 90 days later.
the most common symptoms being reported at the 90-day mark were a cough, difficult breathing, and fatigue or weakness.
characteristics associated with developing long covid include being hospitalized for at least 48 hours, having at least four symptoms and being 14 years or older. although the risk factors are similar to what is seen in adults, children have less of a risk of showing symptoms several months after the initial illness than adults.
“our finding that children who had multiple covid-19 symptoms initially were at higher risk for long covid is consistent with studies in adults,” co-principal investigator dr. todd florin, md, said in a press release.
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“unfortunately, there are no known therapies for long covid in children and more research is needed in this area. however, if symptoms are significant, treatment targeting the symptoms is most important. multidisciplinary care is warranted if symptoms are impacting quality of life.”
biden on the mend
u.s. president joe biden is feeling “significantly better,” save for a sore throat, according to a note from his doctor sunday.
biden tested positive for the virus on thursday and was prescribed antiviral medication paxlovid. when news broke of the president’s health, white house officials communicated the president had mild symptoms and planned to continue to work.
“i’ve been double-vaccinated, double-boosted,” biden said in a video posted to twitter. “symptoms are mild and i really appreciate your inquiries and concerns.”
‘silent pandemic’ in poor countries
as western nations gear up for a second booster campaign, bringing the total covid vaccine doses available to four, vaccine inequality continues to plague global health efforts.
dr. ayoade alakija, co-chair of the african union’s african vaccine delivery alliance, gave a scathing rebuke of the state of the vaccine roll out in low-income nations.
“that has been a deeply depressing role to be in over the last couple of years, as we have seen that the high-income countries of the world have clearly prioritized themselves but forgotten that this pandemic is affecting all of us,” alakija said in an interview with npr.
alakija explained the focus on health systems — e.g. which hospitals are overwhelmed — creates a blind spot for communities that do not have hospitals. this has led to a “silent pandemic,” alakija says, where much of the world does not realize the extent of the covid-19 pandemic in poorer nations.
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on the african continent, only about one in five individuals have the initial two-shot series, according to npr.
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn.
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