Data Snapshot
UW Medicine Hospitals:
King County: The county reported 146 new positive cases and 3 new deaths on August 25.
Washington: The state reported 71,371 cases and 1,867 deaths as of August 23.
United States: The CDC reports 5,682,491 cases and 176,223 deaths as of August 24.
Global: WHO reports 23,518,343 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 810,492 deaths as of August 25.
*Numbers update frequently, please follow links for most up-to-date numbers.
UW Medicine Research
Featuring: Maria Corcorran, Allergy & Infectious Diseases, et al.
“Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was initially described in Wuhan, China in late 2019 (1). Infection with SARS-CoV-2 typically causes fever, cough, and shortness of breath, although the clinical spectrum can vary from asymptomatic carriage to critical illness (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Older individuals have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with most deaths occurring in persons over the age of 60 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10). SARS-CoV-2 has now spread to nearly every country in the world (11), and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic (12). The first known case of COVID-19 in the United States was diagnosed in Snohomish County, Washington on January 20, 2020 (13), and on February 28, 2020 Public Health – Seattle & King County identified an outbreak of COVID-19 within a Seattle-area long-term care (LTC) facility(10). Since that time, there have been over 64,151 cases of SARS-CoV-2 and 1,716 deaths due to COVID-19 in Washington State (14). While persons over the age of 60 represent 19% of diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 cases in Washington State, they account for 89% of COVID-19 related deaths (14). Outbreaks within LTC facilities have been central to the Washington State COVID-19 epidemic (10, 15); however, there have been no published reports of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks within hospital-based settings. We describe key characteristics, interventions, and outcomes of a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak within an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit at the University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest (UWMC – NW).”
UW Medicine in the News
The Washington Post: How does immunity against coronavirus work? New research shows how antibodies can block it.
Featuring: Lauren Rodda, Immunology
“After research had indicated that antibody counts of those who recovered could drop off in months, some speculated that immunity to the virus may be short-lived. But immune systems also produce fewer antibodies when they aren’t under viral attack, immunologist and co-author Lauren Rodda said. Rodda and other researchers counted the B and T cells that produce antibodies and found the numbers remained stable or increased. ‘It shows that the immune system is working as it should be,’ Rodda said. As scientists hope to figure out how these cells could protect against reinfection from the coronavirus in humans, recent research of rhesus monkeys has shown that primary exposure to the coronavirus offered protection against reinfection or serious illness.”
Patch: UW Medicine Seeks Volunteers To Test Coronavirus Treatment
Featuring: Ann Collier, Allergy & Infectious Diseases
“UW Medicine is seeking volunteers to help test a new treatment for the coroanvirus.
The trail is for a new drug called “LY3819253” which contains coronavirus antibodies. Researchers say that, if the drug is successful, it should provide immediate protection against the virus which should last for several weeks after treatment. To qualify, volunteers must be 18 or older and must have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week before they entered the drug trial. They also need to have exhibited at least one coronavirus symptom within two days before entering the program. They’ll also need to be free for at least 28 days of “intensive” follow-up after receiving their first treatment.”
Mel Magazine: Is It Safer to Dine Outside at a Restaurant — Or Shop for Groceries Inside?:
Featuring: Paul Pottinger, Allergy & Infectious Diseases
“Is taking in a meal under the stars and six feet away from your fellow patrons any riskier than waiting in line at the local Buy-N-Large? Actually no, not really, says Paul Pottinger, director at the Infectious Diseases Training Program at the University of Washington. ‘I would say, if both the dining outside and the shopping are being done appropriately, in that the right precautions are being taken, they’re both relatively safe,’ Pottinger argues. ‘What does that mean? Well, the Six-Foot Rule and wearing a mask [in the restaurant scenario, when you’re not eating] are king. That, combined with never going out if you’re feeling sick or if you’ve been exposed to other people who might be sick, if you can do those things, you should be safe, regardless of whether you’re outside of a restaurant or in a supermarket.”’
Tweet of the Week
With #COVID19 and flu symptoms very similar, it's incredibly important to get a flu shot this year.
An update on our COVID-19 status and response. pic.twitter.com/HpPYXtRHZo
— UW Medicine (@UWMedicine) August 24, 2020
