Women Beat Men at Following Pandemic Rules. And More News Straight from Science Journals

Compiled by veteran medical journalist Brian Owens, this roundup of some of the newest science on the COVID-19 pandemic, straight from the scientific journals, is presented by Hakai Magazine in partnership with The Tyee.

Why was British Columbia better than Ontario at protecting long-term care homes?

As of Sept. 10, Ontario had 5,965 cases of COVID-19 among residents of long-term care homes and 1,817 deaths, while British Columbia had just 466 cases and 156 deaths. Researchers have found that the B.C. long-term care system was generally better prepared for the pandemic and responded faster and more decisively. In B.C., the average funding per resident was higher, at $222 per day compared with $203 in Ontario. In addition, residents were less likely to live in shared rooms, and the links between hospitals, long-term care and public health authorities were stronger. Also, the organizational structure of the B.C. health system was relatively stable compared with Ontario which, in late 2019, was in the process of merging several regional and provincial entities into one organization, an effort that is currently on hold.

Canadian Medical Association Journal, Sept. 30, 2020

Neanderthal genes increase risk of severe COVID-19

A cluster of genes inherited from ancient Neanderthal ancestors raises the risk of developing severe COVID-19 by up to three-fold. The genetic sequence, which has previously been linked to respiratory failure in COVID-19, was inherited by modern humans when they interbred with Neanderthals around 60,000 years ago. About 16 per cent of people in Europe and 50 per cent of people in South Asia have the genetic variant, but it is almost entirely absent in African and East Asian populations.

Nature, Sept. 30, 2020

Ventilation systems increase risk

Ventilation systems in many modern office buildings may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, especially during the winter. The commonly used “mixing ventilation” systems, which are designed to keep temperatures uniform in all parts of the room, also disperse airborne contaminants evenly throughout the space.

Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Sept. 28, 2020

Previous cold infections could help protect against COVID-19

The seasonal colds you have had throughout your life may provide some protection against COVID-19. Researchers have found that the long-lasting memory B cells that develop in response to cold-causing coronaviruses can also recognize the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2. It is not yet known, however, what level of protection they can provide.

mBio, Sept. 25, 2020

How people want a vaccine allocated

A survey in the United States has found that the public largely agrees with medical ethicists about who should receive a COVID-19 vaccine first. People generally support the idea that priority should go to older people, those at greater risk of dying and medical workers.

JAMA Network Open, Sept. 29, 2020

Moderna vaccine shows promise in older people

After reporting last week that few COVID-19 treatment or vaccine trials include older people, the news comes that the phase I clinical trial of biotechnology firm Moderna’s RNA vaccine was expanded to include people over the age of 70. The results so far show that it generates an immune response and has mostly mild side effects in older populations.

New England Journal of Medicine, Sept. 29, 2020

Kids more important in transmission than thought

Children and young adults are more important to transmitting the coronavirus than previously thought, according to a study of more than 500,000 people in India who were exposed to the virus. Children were also much more likely to contract the virus from other infected children, rather than adults. But the study also found that most infected people — 71 per cent — did not pass the virus on to any of their contacts. In fact, just eight per cent of COVID-19 patients accounted for 60 per cent of new infections.

Science, Sept. 30, 2020

Work bubbles can help businesses reopen

Creating “work bubbles,” in which workers are organized into cohorts to minimize contacts across a company, can reduce the risk of company-wide outbreaks and help businesses continue to function. A case study of such bubbles at Bombardier aviation found that they should include the least number of people required to do the job, be designed to allow work to continue if another bubble has to self-isolate, and be strictly separated from other bubbles in time and/or space to prevent virus transmission between groups.

Canadian Medical Association Journal, Sept. 30, 2020

Men dominate COVID expert panels

Men predominate on more than 85 per cent of COVID-19 decision-making and advisory bodies around the world. Women predominate on 11.5 per cent, with gender parity on just 3.5 per cent. Similarly, 81 per cent of the groups were led by a man at the time of the study in June. The researchers point out that, in general, having more diverse groups and more women in leadership positions tends to lead to better outcomes. For example, countries led by women have been associated with particularly effective COVID-19 responses.

BMJ Global Health, Oct. 1, 2020

Pandemic has created a flood of substandard research

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, scientists around the world are scrambling to understand the virus and come up with treatments for it. But the rush to publish new data has led to some low-quality work slipping through the cracks. By the end of July, 33 studies, either published in peer reviewed journals or posted online without review, have been retracted, withdrawn or had serious expressions of concern raised about their data and methods. Patients, doctors, governments and even other researchers need to carefully vet the information they use to make decisions about the pandemic.

Journal of Medical Ethics, Oct. 1, 2020

Masks not dangerous, even for those with lung disease

Worries that wearing face masks will make it more difficult to breathe or lead to carbon dioxide poisoning are unfounded, even for people who already have trouble breathing. Researchers studied changes in oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in healthy people as well as those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease before and while using surgical masks, and found that the effects were minimal, even among those with COPD.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Oct. 2, 2020

Transmission rebounds quickly after physical distancing relaxed

A relaxation of physical distancing rules in the U.S. quickly led to a rebound in COVID-19 transmission. Looking at data from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, researchers found a steady decline in viral transmission in the eight weeks prior to lifting lockdown. But once the rules were relaxed, most states went into reverse. Eight weeks after restrictions were lifted, only nine of the 51 still had low transmission rates.

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Oct. 3, 2020

Women better at following pandemic rules

Women are more likely than men to follow guidelines outlined by medical experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A survey found that women are more likely to report keeping physical distance from others, washing their hands frequently, staying at home and limiting in-person contact. Observations on the streets of three cities found that women are more likely to wear a mask — and to wear it properly. Finally, an analysis of location data from cell phones shows that women are more likely to keep social distance, and less likely to visit non-essential retailers like restaurants, spas and gyms.

Behavioral Science and Policy, Oct. 4, 2020