UB COVID-19 Information Digest *Friday, 28 August* 2020— TRACKING**

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: August 28, 2020, 03:13 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	1,633		6		224	1,403	1	692	1	109,547

map.html

Botswana

1,562 Total confirmed cases

3 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 26 August 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

From Twitter https://twitter.com/AfricaCDC/status/1298540771516264451/photo/1

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 28 August 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 106, 27 August 2020.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GMkWCBWJOEDP7KpfyLkMLMZX4xTOVwnR/view?fbclid=IwAR1ipmrZOn1Y0Op_rQz4ew8BkMZJnFRUAQPWyBnRdwV37NbKBqM5IOsfhQY

NEWS

COVID-19 vaccine trials should seek worthwhile efficacy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31821-3/fulltext

Update Alert 2: Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for e Treatment or Prophylaxis of COVID-19. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1054

Update Alert 2: Masks for Prevention of Respiratory Virus Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2, in Health Care and Community Settings. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1067

Update Alert 3: Risks and Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1068

‘Instant Coffee’ COVID-19 Tests Could Be the Answer to Reopening the U.S. Cheap and quick, they could move us toward normalcy before a vaccine is widely available. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/instant-coffee-covid-19-tests-could-be-the-answer-to-reopening-the-u-s/

The coronavirus may shut down the immune system’s vital classrooms. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/coronavirus-may-shut-down-immune-system-s-vital-classrooms#

Four scenarios on how we might develop immunity to Covid-19. https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/25/four-scenarios-on-how-we-might-develop-immunity-to-covid-19/

Clinical characteristics of children and young people admitted to hospital with covid-19 in United Kingdom: prospective multicentre observational cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3249

WHO says children do spread the virus but schools aren’t a ‘main contributor’. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/27/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_mts-cv-luf%3Aprime-time%2Fpromo#link-E2HML42DZRENTDOZZXYU7BEBJM

SADC COVID 19 Response: All hands on the deck. https://www.theafricanconversations.com/sadc-covid-19-response-all-hands-on-the-deck/

Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in covid-19? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3223

A Randomized Trial of Hydroxychloroquine as Postexposure Prophylaxis for Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2016638?query=featured_home

RESOURCES

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sexual & Reproductive Health in Africa. Webinar hosted by the International Union for the Scientific Study of Populations (IUSSP). 4-day webinar from 31 August to 3 September 2020. 15:00-16:30 UTC , 15:00-16:30 Dakar | 17:00-18:30 Cape Town | Registration. https://iussp.org/en/iussp-webinar-covid-19-pandemic-and-sexual-reproductive-health-africa

OTHER NEWS

Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30750-9/fulltext

The universal health coverage ambition faces a critical test. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31795-5/fulltext

The 6-foot social-distancing rule is based on nearly 80-year-old science. Scientists at MIT and Oxford have created a traffic-light system to use instead. https://www.businessinsider.com/6-foot-distancing-rule-is-outdated-oxford-mit-new-system-2020-8

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 29 August 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: August 29, 2020, 04:15 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop		Total Tests
Botswana	1,633		6		224	1,403	1	692	1		109,547

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 29-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,562 Total confirmed cases

3 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 27 August 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

From Twitter https://twitter.com/AfricaCDC/status/1298540771516264451/photo/1

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 28 August 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 106, 27 August 2020.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GMkWCBWJOEDP7KpfyLkMLMZX4xTOVwnR/view?fbclid=IwAR1ipmrZOn1Y0Op_rQz4ew8BkMZJnFRUAQPWyBnRdwV37NbKBqM5IOsfhQY

NEWS

Reopening schools: how different countries are tackling Covid dilemma (Kenya included). https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/28/reopening-schools-different-countries-tackle-education-conundrum-coronavirus

What if the First Coronavirus Vaccines Aren’t the Best? Dozens of research groups around the world are playing the long game, convinced that their experimental vaccines will be cheaper and more powerful than the ones leading the race today. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/health/covid-19-vaccines.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=464106493&algo=identity&imp_id=132916853&action=click&module=Science%20%20Technology&pgtype=Homepage

Botswana: Baby, Two Women Succumb to Covid-19. https://allafrica.com/stories/202008280676.html?ocid=uxbndlbing

Covid-19: Doctor accused of sparking Canadian outbreak faces charges. A doctor accused of reintroducing covid-19 to the Canadian province of New Brunswick by failing to self-quarantine after visiting neighbouring Quebec has been charged under the province’s Emergency Measures Act.https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3376?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Saliva or Nasopharyngeal Swab Specimens for Detection of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2016359?query=featured_home

Salivary Detection of COVID-19. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4738

RESOURCES

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sexual & Reproductive Health in Africa. Webinar hosted by the International Union for the Scientific Study of Populations (IUSSP). 4-day webinar from 31 August to 3 September 2020. 15:00-16:30 UTC , 15:00-16:30 Dakar | 17:00-18:30 Cape Town | Registration. https://iussp.org/en/iussp-webinar-covid-19-pandemic-and-sexual-reproductive-health-africa

OTHER NEWS

Research and higher education in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31818-3/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Shorter Resident Shifts May Not Improve Patient Safety. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2769720?guestAccessKey=0ec9944d-6622-4aa1-ad3d-b5cc65599865&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3626701016&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98080859

Low-cost oral metronomic chemotherapy versus intravenous cisplatin in patients with recurrent, metastatic, inoperable head and neck carcinoma: an open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority, randomised, phase 3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30275-8/fulltext#.Xz3tXSHXIQw.twitter

Geroscience’s coming of age. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m1323?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Lockdowns have economic and social costs for world’s poorest families. https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/lockdowns-have-economic-and-social-costs-worlds-poorest-families

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 31 August 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: August 31, 2020, 03:33 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	1,633		6		224	1,403	1	692	1	109,547

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 31-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,633 Total confirmed cases

6 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 August 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 30 August 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 106, 27 August 2020.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GMkWCBWJOEDP7KpfyLkMLMZX4xTOVwnR/view?fbclid=IwAR1ipmrZOn1Y0Op_rQz4ew8BkMZJnFRUAQPWyBnRdwV37NbKBqM5IOsfhQY

NEWS

Is Sex a Determinant of COVID-19 Infection? Truth or Myth? We review here the evidence regarding the role of estrogenic hormones in ACE2 expression and regulation, with the intent of bringing to the forefront potential mechanisms that may explain sex differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes, assist in management of COVID-19, and uncover new therapeutic strategies. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11906-020-01073-x

Concerns About the Special Article on Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin in High Risk Outpatients with COVID-19 by Dr. Harvey Risch. https://academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aje/kwaa189/5898696#.X0rCu9tBuZI.twitter

Antiviral used to treat cat coronavirus also works against SARS-CoV-2. Fast-tracked research leads to Phase 1 clinical trials. University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200827155006.htm

Jonathan Rothberg’s Race to Invent the Ultimate Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Test. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/jonathan-rothbergs-race-to-invent-the-ultimate-rapid-at-home-covid-19-test?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_082920&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5e79cea4fbd2976e2f01a8d7&cndid=60373484&hasha=9289a6e403a2eb689aa4ab4c407596cc&hashb=0cebcc28b342867dd99443a4fd3d2a49e9b3fb67&hashc=1811acafdbe64a6c8e695965ac76aa897702049a6a3631c6a45946080ed948bf&esrc=Auto_Subs&utm_term=TNY_Daily

Surveillance is underestimating the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31823-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Opportunities and challenges for telehealth within, and beyond, a pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30362-4/fulltext

AU says COVID-19 pandemic amplifies Africa’s need to expand resource mobilization base. https://www.independent.co.ug/au-says-covid-19-pandemic-amplifies-africas-need-to-expand-resource-mobilization-base/

From Twitter: Bloomberg Africa@BBGAfrica Aug 27. South Africa may be the first country in the region to produce a Covid-19 vaccine. South Africa may sign a deal to help produce a Covid-19 vaccine, potentially boosting access to immunization on a continent with limited manufacturing capacity. bloomberg.com

Here are the countries using Google and Apple’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing API—South Africa is on the list. https://www.xda-developers.com/google-apple-covid-19-contact-tracing-exposure-notifications-api-app-list-countries/?utm_content=buffer8b574&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

COVID-19 care in India: the course to self-reliance. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30384-3/fulltext?utm_content=buffer6a64a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Nepal lockdown halved health facility births and increased stillbirths and newborn deaths. Although prioritised as an essential core health service, some surveys indicate that maternal and newborn health services are being affected due to COVID-19 restrictions in low-income and middle-income countries. Both access and quality of care might be deteriorating, risking deaths and reversals of hard-won gains over the past two decades.https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2020/nepal-lockdown-halved-health-facility-births-and-increased-stillbirths-and

RESOURCES

BMJ–Long covid: diagnosis, management, prognosis Description. A free webinar for clinicians, researchers and policymakers to discuss the emerging evidence about ‘Long covid’ convened by The BMJ and chaired by editor-in-chief Dr Fiona Godlee. Sep 3, 2020 03:30 PM in London https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uqOnQUJLS1GVvdeW3yNYyQ?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Can schools of global public health dismantle colonial legacies? https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1062-6.epdf?sharing_token=c2S0SR9ZZO5qpf8bSQe8btRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PYJu2ZAYCRuVXc9DtU3HtAekW5vkkT25b36NDWSk9-Ge6xMMySzrtIQgFUvr0LXlFbwyNUAqSvDF8-BS9HK32Tuv8tWUfoGriMefwp8JOlkc6U1rFzLmxKzQyXYenrEAU%3D

The universal health coverage ambition faces a critical test. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31795-5/fulltext

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Research and higher education in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31818-3/fulltext

Malawi traditional leader calls for ‘lockdown’ child marriages to be dissolved. A senior traditional leader in Malawi has ordered village chiefs to dissolve all the child marriages that took place during the country’s coronavirus lockdown so girls can return to classes on the opening of schools next month. https://sadcnews.org/2020/08/28/malawi-traditional-leader-calls-for-lockdown-child-marriages-to-be-dissolved/

Zimbabwe investigates mysterious death of 11 elephants. National park authorities rule out poaching and cyanide poisoning. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/zimbabwe-investigates-mysterious-death-of-11-elephants

Liberal trade policy and food insecurity across the income distribution: an observational analysis in 132 countries, 2014–17. The relationship between liberal trade policy and food insecurity varied across countries and households. Liberal trade policy was predominantly associated with lower food insecurity in high-income countries but corresponded to increased food insecurity among the world’s poorest households in low-income countries.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30263-1/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 1 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 1, 2020, 04:40 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	17241,633	[91]	6	493	224	1,225	1	431	3	116,728

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 01-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,633 Total confirmed cases

6 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 30 August 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 1 Sept 2020

PRESS RELEASE

COMPLIANCE TO LIQUOR REGULATIONS

Following allegations on social media that alcohol restrictions have been lifted, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry would like to remind the general public and Liquor Traders that the sale of alcohol in Botswana remains prohibited as per Government Notice No.312 of 2020 published on the 5th August 2020.

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 108, 31 August 2020.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1frgvIHfvTJqIm-rQ9Vg1VgBcgYI6QXnp/view?fbclid=IwAR0SXGoe3FopVKO8pWaqevpY2CUbu3FtMYLUd3NTu_jXMj0oU26QOmtxgWA

NEWS

Regulatory Decision-making on COVID-19 Vaccines During a Public Health Emergency. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770244?guestAccessKey=3a3dbafe-2cf9-497d-9ba6-3d8799d991d8&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3642229252&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98509955

Here’s how the U.S. could release a COVID-19 vaccine before the election—and why that scares some. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/here-s-how-us-could-release-covid-19-vaccine-election-and-why-scares-some

Testing for responses to the wrong SARS-CoV-2 antigen? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31830-4/fulltext?utm_campaign=tlcoronavirus20&utm_content=138642449&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

CDC Study Finds Sudden, Serious Cardiac Events Common in Adults Hospitalized with Flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/cardiac-events-flu.htm

RESOURCES

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Call to Action to All Surgery Journal Editors for Diversity in the Editorial and Peer Review Process. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2770073?guestAccessKey=2c817707-094f-47f1-be8c-437376542c3d&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamasurg&utm_term=3642192158&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98508618

Factors Associated With the Professional Success of Female Surgical Department Chairs. A Qualitative Study. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, participants described both internal and external factors that have been associated with their advancement into leadership roles. Future attention toward encouraging intrinsic strengths, fostering environments that bolster career development, and emphasizing adaptability, along with work-system redesign, may be key components to career success and advancing diversity in surgical leadership roles. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2769902?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0wqnyQ5itc.twitter

Publication Criteria for Research Reports from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Pages/checklistPubCriterial.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=71f12e85-6905-464b-95e4-ba6bdc082cb5

Some mosquitoes already have resistance to the latest weapon against malaria. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/some-mosquitoes-already-have-resistance-latest-weapon-against-malaria

The universal health coverage ambition faces a critical test. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31795-5/fulltext

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Research and higher education in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31818-3/fulltext

Malawi traditional leader calls for ‘lockdown’ child marriages to be dissolved. A senior traditional leader in Malawi has ordered village chiefs to dissolve all the child marriages that took place during the country’s coronavirus lockdown so girls can return to classes on the opening of schools next month. https://sadcnews.org/2020/08/28/malawi-traditional-leader-calls-for-lockdown-child-marriages-to-be-dissolved/

Zimbabwe investigates mysterious death of 11 elephants. National park authorities rule out poaching and cyanide poisoning. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/zimbabwe-investigates-mysterious-death-of-11-elephants

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 2 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 2, 2020, 03:40 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	1,724		6		493	1,225	1	731	3	116,728

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 02-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,633 Total confirmed cases

6 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 30 August 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 1 Sept 2020

PRESS RELEASE

COMPLIANCE TO LIQUOR REGULATIONS

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 109, 1 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/19762ZQXhVYoaghVG7W2Fld6qcK-wZXo6/view?fbclid=IwAR1GXkLzHND_y1HUjTXXF2vwWpyiz9uJM8mQawr-JKtauq4_pZmxmESR4v8

NEWS

Probable Evidence of Fecal Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a High-Rise Building. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-0928

Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3320

Antibody blockade effective in treatment of severe COVID-19. A team of researchers led by Osaka University find an overlap in the pathogenesis of cytokine release syndrome and COVID-19, and show that the symptoms of both can be alleviated by IL-6 signaling blockade. https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200824_1

Large trials for anticipated Oxford COVID-19 vaccine begin in the U.S. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/large-trials-for-anticipated-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-begin-in-the-u-s/ar-BB18yV5C?ocid=msedgntp

Sanofi Halts Kevzara Tests for Covid as Drug Fails to Help. Sanofi said the rheumatoid arthritis medicine Kevzara failed to work against the new coronavirus, joining a growing list of treatments that were tried and discarded in the pandemic. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/sanofi-halts-kevzara-tests-for-covid-as-drug-fails-to-help/ar-BB18zKgr?ocid=msedgntp

Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland. Our results indicate that antiviral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 did not decline within 4 months after diagnosis. We estimate that the risk of death from infection was 0.3% and that 44% of persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland were not diagnosed by qPCR. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026116?query=featured_home

COVID-19 Can Wreck Your Heart, Even if You Haven’t Had Any Symptoms. A growing body of research is raising concerns about the cardiac consequences of the coronavirus. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-19-can-wreck-your-heart-even-if-you-havent-had-any-symptoms/?fbclid=IwAR13zUoX2jc8ScOBiN1oO-smqds0PM2YqJJECuoYElkqa9Skny2rMz4_qU0

Live updates: WHO chief condemns dismissal of elderly coronavirus deaths as ‘moral bankruptcy’. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/01/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most

How chemicals like PFAS can increase your risk of severe COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-chemicals-like-pfas-can-increase-your-risk-of-severe-covid-19/3ZByWZv2p5U3kUZ4KbY6RP?show_order=2

Outbreak of COVID-19 in a nursing home associated with aerosol transmission as a result of inadequate ventilation. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1270/5898577

RESOURCES

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Molepolole Sees Rise In Homebrewed Alcohol Cases. Batswana around the country have resorted to drinking homebrewed alcoholic beverages something which is giving police headaches and sleepless nights. https://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=86845&dir=2020/august/31

From 2019 but excellent: Essential elements for high-impact scientific writing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00546-7

Call to Action to All Surgery Journal Editors for Diversity in the Editorial and Peer Review Process. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2770073?guestAccessKey=2c817707-094f-47f1-be8c-437376542c3d&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamasurg&utm_term=3642192158&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98508618

Factors Associated With the Professional Success of Female Surgical Department Chairs. A Qualitative Study. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, participants described both internal and external factors that have been associated with their advancement into leadership roles. Future attention toward encouraging intrinsic strengths, fostering environments that bolster career development, and emphasizing adaptability, along with work-system redesign, may be key components to career success and advancing diversity in surgical leadership roles. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2769902?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0wqnyQ5itc.twitter

Publication Criteria for Research Reports from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Pages/checklistPubCriterial.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=71f12e85-6905-464b-95e4-ba6bdc082cb5

The universal health coverage ambition faces a critical test. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31795-5/fulltext

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Research and higher education in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31818-3/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 3 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 3, 2020, 03:49 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	1,724		6		493	1,225	1	731	3	116,728

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 03-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,724 Total confirmed cases

6 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 1 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 3 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 110, 2 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cfIc0tp1A1pXCvfgrjbSCaBEA_FegEzr/view?fbclid=IwAR0VnVnLBu7Sa8JNiDFHiiigBKF_GwW2SUNWK58raG06FNwpRJfWkJdHFB8

NEWS

Corticosteroids in COVID-19 ARDS. Evidence and Hope During the Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770275

Phase 1–2 Trial of a SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine. At 35 days, NVX-CoV2373 appeared to be safe, and it elicited immune responses that exceeded levels in Covid-19 convalescent serum. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026920?query=TOC

Covid-19: Pregnant women with virus are more likely to need intensive care, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3391

COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in patients with cancer and the effect of primary tumour subtype and patient demographics: a prospective cohort study

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30442-3/fulltext

Africa Amid Growing Vaccine Nationalism. Among potential vaccines on clinical trials for the SARS-CoV-2 virus globally, the Ox1CoV-19 VIDA-Trials in Johannesburg is the sole candidate in Africa – a collaboration between Oxford University and University of Witswatersrand. This is worrisome despite capacities to conduct clinical trials in other countries including Senegal, Egypt and Algeria. Determined to increase this number, as part of a joint continental strategy for COVID-19, the African Union Commission launched the Consortium for COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials (CONCVACT). https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2020/08/31/africa-amid-growing-vaccine-nationalism/

Infection Fatality Ratios for COVID-19 Among Noninstitutionalized Persons 12 and Older: Results of a Random-Sample Prevalence Study. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5352

Steroids can save lives of patients with severe covid-19, earning WHO endorsement. New studies confirm British findings and build on them to show multiple steroids are effective. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/02/steroids-covid-19-coronavirus/

Scientists see downsides to top COVID-19 vaccines from Russia, China. High-profile COVID-19 vaccines developed in Russia and China share a potential shortcoming: They are based on a common cold virus that many people have been exposed to, potentially limiting their effectiveness, some experts say.https://www.mdlinx.com/news/scientists-see-downsides-to-top-covid-19-vaccines-from-russia-china/efH9KQqm9zWSW5KhiMxJv?utm_medium=email&publish_dt=09-01-2020&utm_source=alert&utm_campaign=ajm_50238

How Latin America is fighting covid-19, for better and worse. “Brazil and Mexico have some of the worst outbreaks in the world, while Uruguay’s experience ranks with the least deadly in Asia or Europe.” https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3319

Daily briefing: Hard numbers reveal risk of death from coronavirus. Age is the biggest predictor of who will die from COVID-19. Plus: A checklist for reproducible code and Africa is declared free from wild polio. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02519-7

Effect of Hydrocortisone on 21-Day Mortality or Respiratory Support Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Effect of Dexamethasone on Days Alive and Ventilator-Free in Patients With Moderate or Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and COVID-19The CoDEX Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Efft of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Association Between Administration of Systemic Corticosteroids and Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19A Meta-analysis/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770279

RESOURCES

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Vaccine-derived polio spreads in Africa after defeat of wild virus. Fresh cases of disease linked to oral vaccine seen in Sudan, following outbreak in Chad. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/02/vaccine-derived-polio-spreads-in-africa-after-defeat-of-wild-virus

2020&utm_source=alert&utm_campaign=ajm_50238

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 4 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 4, 2020, 05:08 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	1,724		6		493	1,225	1	731	3	116,728

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 04-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

1,724 Total confirmed cases

6 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 2 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 4 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 111, 3 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAdsvcoJEmwWm38QJss9XpjE2Jg39gZ9/view?fbclid=IwAR37_P-c_mFcuco68Ll9xb-VSwjquaiyurksKgaJqvzcu9DiE99Pq9DQ7RY

NEWS

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the Member State briefing on COVID-19 – 3 September 2020. https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-member-state-briefing-on-covid-19—3-september-2020

Considerations for Use of Hematopoietic Growth Factors in Patients With Cancer Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jnccn.org/view/journals/jnccn/aop/article-10.6004-jnccn.2020.7610/article-10.6004-jnccn.2020.7610.xml?bc_md5=17736f2d625d8480dc1636b760a26376&utm_medium=email&utm_source=JNCCN-ETOC-Featured-090320

Safety at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to Keep Our Oncology Patients and Healthcare Workers Safe. https://jnccn.org/view/journals/jnccn/18/5/article-p504.xml?bc_md5=17736f2d625d8480dc1636b760a26376&utm_medium=email&utm_source=JNCCN-ETOC-Featured-090320

Scientists suggest new theory over Africa’s low Covid-19 death rate. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/africa-low-coronavirus-levels-a4539286.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1599154546

Coronavirus in South Africa: Scientists explore surprise theory for low death rate. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53998374?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bbbc.news.twitter%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D&at_medium=custom7&at_custom2=twitter&at_custom3=%40BBCWorld&at_custom4=7A94F658-ED72-11EA-B808-20F74744363C&at_campaign=64&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D

Face shield or face mask to stop the spread of COVID-19? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/face-shield-or-face-mask-to-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19/2lZN8MRScdjqdipjB2rp5y?show_order=2&iqs=9z2zktpksv0qbbc7aa94s3s8da32qa8n2sgv87aghp8&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F3%2F2020+Morning+Snippet

Understanding the complexities around the Covid-19 medicine remdesivir. The national health department (South Africa) has decided not to recommend the use of remdesivir — a drug that one study has shown can reduce the recovery period of hospitalised Covid-19 patients from 15 days down to 11. The department issued new treatment guidelines in late August, citing the medicine’s “high cost and marginal benefit” as reasons for its decision to only recommend the medicine’s use for clinical trials. https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/understanding-the-complexities-around-the-covid-19-medicine-remdesivir/ar-BB18EfQK

RESOURCES

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Vaccine-derived polio spreads in Africa after defeat of wild virus. Fresh cases of disease linked to oral vaccine seen in Sudan, following outbreak in Chad. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/02/vaccine-derived-polio-spreads-in-africa-after-defeat-of-wild-virus

Financial incentives to promote retention in care and viral suppression in adults with HIV initiating antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania: a three-arm randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30230-7/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 5 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 5, 2020, 04:56 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,002	[278]	8	[2]	493	1,501	1	848	3	128,016

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 05-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,002 Total confirmed cases

8 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 3 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 1,724 Cases/100k 72 Deaths 6 CFR 0.3 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 67.7 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/3/2020 Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 633,015 Cases/100k 1,090 Deaths 14,563 CFR 2.3 Recoveries 554,887 Tests 3,747,101 Tests/case 5.9 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/3/2020
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	8,323
	Cases/100k	320
	Deaths	87
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	3,611
	Tests	67,287
	Tests/case	8.1
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/3/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	6,678
Cases/100k	39
Deaths	206
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	5,263
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	9.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	2,805
Cases/100k	9
Deaths	113
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,144
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	24.1
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	12,639
Cases/100k	70
Deaths	292
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,572
Tests	120,967
Tests/case	9.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,265
Cases/100k	14
Deaths	26
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,511
Tests	101,888
Tests/case	23.9
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,148
Cases/100k	50
Deaths	31
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	528
Tests	16,033
Tests/case	14.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,720
Cases/100k	337
Deaths	94
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	3,789
Tests	37,563
Tests/case	8.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,593
Cases/100k	28
Deaths	175
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,516
Tests	46,036
Tests/case	8.2
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,149
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	260
CFR	2.6
Recoveries	9,411
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,187
Cases/100k	56
Deaths	198
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,075
Tests	66,077
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	55,213
Cases/100k	50
Deaths	856
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	20,283
Tests	970,591
Tests/case	17.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	34,884
Cases/100k	67
Deaths	589
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,059
Tests	467,677
Tests/case	13.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/3/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 5 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 112, 4 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1Dew0F3Y7VqTio0znSgSZmb8id9L8LJ/view?fbclid=IwAR12Rs5PG0V1MCUiaqbTGg1V9CoNQ6efVjbmOFmtwtTc-o9VrA7_E8mExqo

NEWS

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379

Covid-19: Hydrocortisone can be used as alternative to dexamethasone, review finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3472

Safety and immunogenicity of an rAd26 and rAd5 vector-based heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccine in two formulations: two open, non-randomised phase 1/2 studies from Russia. The heterologous rAd26 and rAd5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine has a good safety profile and induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses in participants. Further investigation is needed of the effectiveness of this vaccine for prevention of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31866-3/fulltext?utm_campaign=tlcoronavirus20&utm_content=139176517&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Pharma Companies Plan Joint Pledge on Vaccine Safety. The statement is meant to reassure the public that the companies will not seek a premature approval of vaccines under pressure from the Trump administration. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/04/science/covid-vaccine-pharma-pledge.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Minimal SARS-CoV-2 diversity suggests a global vaccine is feasible. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/minimal-sars-cov-2-diversity-suggests-a-global-vaccine-is-feasible/2VWTiSAqIYTuXHcfsfD1zC?iqs=9z2zf63fi67m4b5pslv4641u3sij7fb693hhcdn2oh0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=2&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F3%2F2020+Evening+Snippet

Autoantibody-negative insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-020-00281-8

A single-cell RNA expression map of human coronavirus entry factors. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(20)31164-5

COVID-19 exacerbates violence against health workers. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31858-4/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Surveillance is underestimating the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31823-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

RESOURCES

Lancet Global Health. Open Access. Sep 2020. Volume 8Number 9e1101-e1241. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current. Covid-19 articles.

OTHER NEWS

Money down the drain: predatory publishing in the COVID-19 era. https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-020-00411-5

COVID-19: a new lens for non-communicable diseases. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31856-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Changes in medicine that will remain long after COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/changes-in-medicine-that-will-remain-long-after-covid-19/JIXwsKvdNuL3yipWwLYlV?show_order=1&iqs=9z2z6r95bo6gasbgspp2ddii0pt83dpjc1afv0c2bj0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F3%2F2020+Evening+Snippet

Only 1 in 10 medical treatments is backed by high-quality evidence, study finds. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/only-1-in-10-medical-treatments-is-backed-by-high-quality-evidence-study-finds/46nXF89yJXZFrDuKpFjRNE?iqs=9z2z1di5bmpolqa2su67ipeb69453l00mh2vhspd7lg&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=4&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F4%2F2020+Morning+Snippet

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 7 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 7, 2020, 03:43 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,002		8		493	1,501	1	848	3	128,016

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 07-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,002 Total confirmed cases

8 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 5 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 1,724 Cases/100k 72 Deaths 6 CFR 0.3 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 67.7 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/5/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 636,884 Cases/100k 1,096 Deaths 14,779 CFR 2.3 Recoveries 561,204 Tests 3,783,823 Tests/case 5.9 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/5/2020,
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	8,514
	Cases/100k	327
	Deaths	87
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	3,643
	Tests	68,937
	Tests/case	8.1
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/5/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	6,977
Cases/100k	40
Deaths	207
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,360
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	9.1
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	2,935
Cases/100k	9
Deaths	117
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,192
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	23.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	12,776
Cases/100k	71
Deaths	295
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,674
Tests	122,234
Tests/case	9.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,341
Cases/100k	14
Deaths	26
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,579
Tests	102,456
Tests/case	23.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,148
Cases/100k	50
Deaths	31
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	528
Tests	16,033
Tests/case	14.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,819
Cases/100k	344
Deaths	94
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	3,903
Tests	39,018
Tests/case	8.1
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,614
Cases/100k	28
Deaths	175
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,551
Tests	46,636
Tests/case	8.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,178
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	260
CFR	2.6
Recoveries	9,420
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,319
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	200
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,139
Tests	67,187
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	57,466
Cases/100k	52
Deaths	897
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	20,776
Tests	1,018,847
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,103
Cases/100k	67
Deaths	597
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,230
Tests	474,477
Tests/case	13.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/5/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 5 Sept 2020

NEWS

Race for Coronavirus Vaccine Pits Spy Against Spy. The intelligence wars over vaccine research have intensified as China and Russia expand their efforts to steal American work at both research institutes and companies. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/us/politics/coronavirus-vaccine-espionage.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Covering covid-19 in Africa: ‘The virus cannot stop this life and energy’. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/06/covering-covid-19-in-africa-the-virus-cannot-stop-this-life-and-energy

It’s time to talk about how toilets may be spreading covid-19. When you flush a toilet, the churning and bubbling of water aerosolizes fecal matter. That creates particles that will float in the air, which we will now politely call “bioaerosols” for the rest of this article.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/01/its-time-talk-about-how-toilets-may-be-spreading-covid-19/?utm_campaign=wp_week_in_ideas&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_ideas

Association of Vitamin D Status and Other Clinical Characteristics With COVID-19 Test Results. These findings appear to support a role of vitamin D status in COVID-19 risk; randomized clinical trials are needed to determine whether broad population interventions and interventions among groups at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 could reduce COVID-19 incidence. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=090320

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Senegal’s quiet COVID success: Test results in 24 hours, temperature checks at every store, no fights over masks. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/5659696002

Living with covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3392?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

A Supercomputer Analyzed Covid-19 — and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged. A closer look at the Bradykinin hypothesis. https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63

RESOURCES

NEJM A collection of articles and other resources on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, including clinical reports, management guidelines, and commentary. All open access. https://www.nejm.org/coronavirus?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access. This collection features articles and thought pieces on the novel coronavirus, its impact on medical education, and medical education’s response to it. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

GE COVID19 Analytics – 4Sept2020.pdf.Global Confirmed & Active Cases https://higherlogicdownload.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/FACS/ee3374ab-3e87-44a0-8534-ee325c68509a_file.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVRDO7IEREB57R7MT&Expires=1599316572&Signature=X7mlTd%2FoUCZQwjsrM579jfvLfF8%3D

OTHER NEWS

The Education Portfolio. How it differs from a CV. Need to download file.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/The_Education_Portfolio.97109.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=29888a75-67cc-4654-b627-e5eb5b70158c

Academics in Absentia. An Opportunity to Rethink Conferences in the Age of Coronavirus Cancellations. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Academics_in_Absentia__An_Opportunity_to_Rethink.97040.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

The global distribution of lymphatic filariasis, 2000–18: a geospatial analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30286-2/fulltext#%20

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 8 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 8, 2020, 04:30 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,126	[24]	9	[1]	493	1,624	1	901	4	133,971

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 08-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,126 Total confirmed cases

9 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 6 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 1,724 Cases/100k 72 Deaths 6 CFR 0.3 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 67.7 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/6/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 638,517 Cases/100k 1,099 Deaths 14,889 CFR 2.3 Recoveries 563,891 Tests 3,800,190 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/6/2020
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	8,810
	Cases/100k	339
	Deaths	91
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	3,806
	Tests	71,506
	Tests/case	8.1
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/6/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,116
Cases/100k	41
Deaths	208
CFR	2.9
Recoveries	5,373
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.9
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	2,965
Cases/100k	9
Deaths	117
CFR	3.9
Recoveries	1,198
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	22.8
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	12,836
Cases/100k	71
Deaths	295
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,748
Tests	124,073
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/202
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,444
Cases/100k	14
Deaths	27
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,615
Tests	104,376
Tests/case	23.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,148
Cases/100k	50
Deaths	31
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	528
Tests	16,033
Tests/case	14.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/6/2020
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,853
Cases/100k	347
Deaths	94
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	3,951
Tests	39,018
Tests/case	8.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,614
Cases/100k	28
Deaths	175
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,551
Tests	46,636
Tests/case	8.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,233
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	260
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,451
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,352
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	202
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,184
Tests	67,659
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	58,672
Cases/100k	53
Deaths	918
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	21,307
Tests	1,044,005
Tests/case	17.8
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,205
Cases/100k	67
Deaths	599
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,310
Tests	474,477
Tests/case	13.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/6/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 8 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 113, 7 September 2020.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q1AGBd728lXkcWfVZfMS2EsVNiFuWg41/view?fbclid=IwAR2n81GLAlKYTq5dJ0dOsCcSDBprpwNx4RdNeN2KKmd5dtwc_sik_lSC5oM

NEWS

Covid-19: UK studies find gastrointestinal symptoms are common in children. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in children infected with SARS-CoV-2 and should trigger tests for the virus, researchers have said. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3484?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Long covid: How to define it and how to manage it. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3489

On the frontline against Covid-19 in Ethiopia – a photo essayhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/07/on-the-frontline-against-covid-19-in-ethiopia-a-photo-essay

Recruiting students for the COVID-19 emergency response: lessons from eight African countries [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-42/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Coronavirus reinfections: three questions scientists are asking. Second infections raise questions about long-term immunity to COVID-19 and the prospects for a vaccine. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02506-y

China’s Xi says China acted openly and transparently on COVID-19. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-xi-says-china-acted-openly-and-transparently-on-covid-19/ar-BB18NUn9?ocid=msedgntp

Will the COVID-19 pandemic threaten the SDGs? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30189-4/fulltext

India will supply coronavirus vaccines to the world — will its people benefit? The country will struggle to make and distribute enough doses to control its own massive outbreak, scientists say. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02507-x

RESOURCES

OPPORTUNITY: GlobalSurg-CovidSurg registration. Collaborators across hospitals and countries are now setting up the @GlobalSurg @CovidSurgWeek study.https://globalsurgery.redcap.bham.ac.uk/surveys/index.php?s=ERAME4NJHR

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access. This collection features articles and thought pieces on the novel coronavirus, its impact on medical education, and medical education’s response to it. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

OTHER NEWS

REVISED: Career development for infection and immunity research in Uganda: a decade of experience from the Makerere University – Uganda Virus Research Institute research and training programme [version 2; peer review: 2 approved. https://aasopenresearch.org/browse/articles?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY]

Why Covid school closures are making girls marry early. The pandemic’s impact is long-term: the UN warns that it could lead to 13 million more child marriages over a decade. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/07/why-covid-school-closures-are-making-girls-marry-early

Weapons for when bigotry claims science as its ally. As COVID-19 reveals the toll of discrimination, racism and inequality, a book skewers genetic reductionism. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02546-4

The Education Portfolio. How it differs from a CV. Need to download file.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/The_Education_Portfolio.97109.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=29888a75-67cc-4654-b627-e5eb5b70158c

Academics in Absentia. An Opportunity to Rethink Conferences in the Age of Coronavirus Cancellations. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Academics_in_Absentia__An_Opportunity_to_Rethink.97040.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newslette

The global distribution of lymphatic filariasis, 2000–18: a geospatial analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30286-2/fulltext#%20

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 9 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 9, 2020, 02:45 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,126		9		493	1,624	1	901	4	133,971

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-09-2020 04:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,126 Total confirmed cases

9 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 7 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,002 Cases/100k 83 Deaths 8 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 58.3 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/7/2020 Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 639,362 Cases/100k 1,100 Deaths 15,004 CFR 2.3 Recoveries 566,555 Tests 3,808,949 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/7/2020,
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	8,810
	Cases/100k	339
	Deaths	91
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	3,806
	Tests	71,506
	Tests/case	8.1
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/7/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,298
Cases/100k	42
Deaths	210
CFR	2.9
Recoveries	5,455
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	2,981
Cases/100k	9
Deaths	120
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,215
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	22.7
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	12,836
Cases/100k	71
Deaths	295
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,748
Tests	124,073
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,647
Cases/100k	15
Deaths	28
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,715
Tests	107,083
Tests/case	23.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,164
Cases/100k	51
Deaths	31
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	568
Tests	16,120
Tests/case	13.8
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,884
Cases/100k	349
Deaths	94
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	4,029
Tests	39,018
Tests/case	8.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,621
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	176
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,590
Tests	46,750
Tests/case	8.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,292
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	260
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,501
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,435
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	206
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,219
Tests	68,043
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	59,648
Cases/100k	54
Deaths	933
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	21,789
Tests	1,063,454
Tests/case	17.8
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,356
Cases/100k	68
Deaths	599
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,483
Tests	479,697
Tests/case	13.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/7/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 9 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 114, 8 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BHG7jDJAQfOQCfw0fTd0nW7K89ZjQ9Cn/view?fbclid=IwAR2PeHqe-47XrJIYUxRMr94jbXL_emZ_mx5H5s4gCfKnRtg_WMOfhVomLj4

NEWS

The coronavirus is mutating — does it matter? Different SARS-CoV-2 strains haven’t yet had a major impact on the course of the pandemic, but they might in future. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02544-6

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3325

We need better evidence on non-drug interventions for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3473

AstraZeneca Pauses Vaccine Trial for Safety Review. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html

Azithromycin for severe COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31863-8/fulltext

Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2026913?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

NSAIDs not associated with more severe coronavirus disease, study finds. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/nsaids-not-associated-with-more-severe-coronavirus-disease-study-finds/4tnokTFdmloMMFXzn0avh9?iqs=9z2z0rd2d8mgjt923cahf488bhqcj78a620l318lego&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=2&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F8%2F2020+Evening+Snippet

“When Will We Have a Vaccine?” — Understanding Questions and Answers about Covid-19 Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025331?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

Prevalence of Third-Party Tracking on COVID-19–Related Web Pages. This study found that 99% of COVID-19–related web pages included a third-party data request, and 89% included a third-party cookie. By comparison, a prior study of 1 million popular web pages found that 91% included a third-party data request and 70% included a third-party cook. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770565?guestAccessKey=662c641f-6707-44ce-a538-8dd3d0aa0ed3&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3663375607&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=99116652

The Medical Minute: What to expect when COVID-19 meets flu season. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/the-medical-minute-what-to-expect-when-covid-19-meets-flu-season/2uwihhAD6qdzH14bJnbcKr?iqs=9z2z5eda69s82bhleaglv1luvelltr6e38di9mfg058&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=3&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F8%2F2020+Morning+Snippet

RESOURCES

Registration for the Virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020 Is Now Open! Out of deepest respect for members of the greater surgical community who are dealing with financial hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be offering the Clinical Congress at no cost for all attendees for the five-day conference, October 3–7, 2020. Although there is no registration fee, all attendees must register online to gain access to Clinical Congress sessions. https://www.facs.org/clincon2020/register

OUGSG 2020 Conference: Surgical Priorities in a Global Pandemic. FREE. A Global Health Conference for surgeons, ob/gyns and anaesthetists to learn from and with each other. Date And Time Fri, September 18, 2020 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM SAST https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ougsg-2020-conference-surgical-priorities-in-a-global-pandemic-tickets-116848489979

OPPORTUNITY: GlobalSurg-CovidSurg registration. Collaborators across hospitals and countries are now setting up the @GlobalSurg @CovidSurgWeek study.https://globalsurgery.redcap.bham.ac.uk/surveys/index.php?s=ERAME4NJHR

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access. This collection features articles and thought pieces on the novel coronavirus, its impact on medical education, and medical education’s response to it. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

OTHER NEWS

Locust outbreak threatens millions in SADC. https://www.cajnewsafrica.com/2020/09/07/locust-outbreak-threatens-millions-in-sadc/

SA higher education must ensure no international student is left behind in current Covid-19 crisis. https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/opinion-analysis/sa-higher-education-must-ensure-no-international-student-is-left-behind-in-current-covid-19-crisis-891ce694-929a-4f75-84bf-9a7c8b6a5815

Perceived HIV stigma and HIV testing among men and women in rural Uganda: a population-based study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30198-3/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 10 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 10, 2020, 03:45–54 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,126		9		493	1,624	1	901	4	133,971

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-10-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,126 Total confirmed cases

9 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 8 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,002 Cases/100k 83 Deaths 8 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 58.3 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/8/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 640,441 Cases/100k 1,102 Deaths 15,086 CFR 2.4 Recoveries 567,729 Tests 3,821,162 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/8/2020
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	9,108
	Cases/100k	350
	Deaths	93
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	4,640
	Tests	74,093
	Tests/case	8.1
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/8/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,388
Cases/100k	43
Deaths	218
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,477
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	3,033
Cases/100k	10
Deaths	124
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	1,215
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	22.3
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	13,112
Cases/100k	72
Deaths	300
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,839
Tests	126,138
Tests/case	9.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,647
Cases/100k	15
Deaths	28
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,715
Tests	107,083
Tests/case	23.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,164
Cases/100k	51
Deaths	31
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	568
Tests	16,120
Tests/case	13.8
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,904
Cases/100k	350
Deaths	96
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	4,059
Tests	39,018
Tests/case	8.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,630
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	176
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,603
Tests	46,857
Tests/case	8.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,292
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	260
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,501
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,520
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	206
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,243
Tests	68,669
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	60,784
Cases/100k	55
Deaths	949
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	22,677
Tests	1,078,269
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,460
Cases/100k	68
Deaths	607
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,557
Tests	479,697
Tests/case	13.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/8/2020

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 10 Sept 2020

NEWS

Covid-19: Oxford researchers halt vaccine trial while adverse reaction is investigated. The candidate vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford in partnership with AstraZeneca, is being tested in multiple countries around the world, including the UK, Brazil, and South Africa, to see whether it is effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19.1 https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3525

The underdog coronavirus vaccines that the world will need if front runners stumble. As leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies fast-track COVID-19 vaccines through clinical trials, smaller developers face a battle to get their candidates noticed. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02583-z

Projected health-care resource needs for an effective response to COVID-19 in 73 low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30383-1/fulltext

Evidence based care for pregnant women with covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3510

Why COVID-19 is more deadly in people with obesity—even if they’re young. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/why-covid-19-more-deadly-people-obesity-even-if-theyre-young

Obesity and Hypertension in the Time of COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770253?guestAccessKey=d6a32aec-bf36-4351-a25e-88ca668b8b92&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3668651970&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=99206409

Comparison of Clinical Features of COVID-19 vs Seasonal Influenza A and B in US Children. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770250

Should countries aim for elimination in the covid-19 pandemic? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3410?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Legal agreements: barriers and enablers to global equitable COVID-19 vaccine access. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31873-0/fulltext

COVID-19 could reverse decades of progress toward eliminating preventable child deaths, agencies warn. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-09-2020-covid-19-could-reverse-decades-of-progress-toward-eliminating-preventable-child-deaths-agencies-warn

RESOURCES

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter your details using the form on this page before 31 Dec, 2020 to receive our top-cited, high-impact content —sent straight to your inbox. https://info.thelancet.com/langlo-2020-jcr?utm_campaign=jcr20&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

World Patient Safety Day: Health Worker Safety in a Time of Pandemics. A UGHE Webinar. Thursday, September 17th at 5:30PM CAT/11:30AM EST. Register Host:
Prof. Agnes Binagwaho MD, M(Ped), PHD
Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Edward Talbott Kelley, PhD
Director, Department of Integrated Health Services, World Health Organization
Dr. Raji Tajudeen MD, MPH, FWACP
Head of Public Health Institutes & Research, Africa CDC
Dr. Giuseppe Raviola, MD, MPH
Director, Program in Global Mental Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Professor Abebe Bekele, MD, FCS
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Research Affairs, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine, UGHE https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a1-_qUhdT-qxJv2ggYocgQ

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access. This collection features articles and thought pieces on the novel coronavirus, its impact on medical education, and medical education’s response to it. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

OTHER NEWS

Dozens of scientific journals have vanished from the internet, and no one preserved them. Eighty-four online-only, open-access (OA) journals in the sciences, and nearly 100 more in the social sciences and humanities, have disappeared from the internet over the past 2 decades as publishers stopped maintaining them, potentially depriving scholars of useful research findings, a study has found. An additional 900 journals published only online also may be at risk of vanishing because they are inactive, says a preprint posted on 3 September on the arXiv server. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/dozens-scientific-journals-have-vanished-internet-and-no-one-preserved-them

Sterile processing in low- and middle-income countries: An integrative review. Journal of Infection Prevention. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5ce3279e6cac3424fef2b9f8/5f4ea7a5187bac0775a5c844_Sterile%20Processing%20Literature%20Review%202020.pdf

Guiding better design and reporting of AI-intervention trials. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30223-5/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancet&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Guidelines for clinical trial protocols for interventions involving artificial intelligence: the SPIRIT-AI extension. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30219-3/fulltext

A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?GPT-3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/08/robot-wrote-this-article-gpt-3

SA higher education must ensure no international student is left behind in current Covid-19 crisis. https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/opinion-analysis/sa-higher-education-must-ensure-no-international-student-is-left-behind-in-current-covid-19-crisis-891ce694-929a-4f75-84bf-9a7c8b6a5815

Perceived HIV stigma and HIV testing among men and women in rural Uganda: a population-based study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30198-3/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 11 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 11, 2020, 02:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,2522,126	[126]	10	[1]	546	1,696	1	954	4	138,290

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-11-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,252 Total confirmed cases

10 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 9 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,002 Cases/100k 83 Deaths 8 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 493 Tests 116,728 Tests/case 58.3 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/9/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 642,431 Cases/100k 1,106 Deaths 15,168 CFR 2.4 Recoveries 569,935 Tests 3,842,898 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/9/202
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	9,256
	Cases/100k	356
	Deaths	96
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	4,767
	Tests	75,511
	Tests/case	8.2
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/9/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,429
Cases/100k	43
Deaths	222
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,542
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	3,092
Cases/100k	10
Deaths	126
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	1,245
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	21.9
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	13,214
Cases/100k	73
Deaths	300
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,899
Tests	127,529
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,764
Cases/100k	15
Deaths	28
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,763
Tests	107,758
Tests/case	22.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,245
Cases/100k	54
Deaths	33
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	661
Tests	16,639
Tests/case	13.4
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,936
Cases/100k	353
Deaths	97
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	4,077
Tests	40,236
Tests/case	8.2
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,655
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	176
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,683
Tests	47,434
Tests/case	8.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,343
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	262
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,533
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,624
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	208
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,295
Tests	69,411
Tests/case	4.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	61,700
Cases/100k	56
Deaths	966
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	23,054
Tests	1,093,830
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,460
Cases/100k	68
Deaths	607
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	21,557
Tests	481,982
Tests/case	13.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/9/2020

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 11 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 115, 9 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-0zgz9Dnksg_bfXOzjH2R302ykkeHJM/view?fbclid=IwAR0_beIjQmFARoWdVgUbKUm7Ucq8i8jd5fdCRBS1qhszLSR5Av_uhV75UIQ

NEWS

Inquiry Begins Into AstraZeneca’s Vaccine Trial. A participant in the company’s late-stage coronavirus vaccine trial reportedly developed severe neurological symptoms. Now experts must assess whether the vaccine was responsible. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/health/covid-astrazeneca-vaccine-trans.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Discovery of four COVID-19 risk groups helps guide treatment. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/discovery-of-four-covid-19-risk-groups-helps-guide-treatment/3BrBIxvY9lwr8UeQyvhDVF?iqs=9z2zql14k9sb92hcdrve86fcevpfvn85pb6aprndorg&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=3&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F10%2F2020+Evening+Alert+Template

Projected health-care resource needs for an effective response to COVID-19 in 73 low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30383-1/fulltext

Mapping global trends in vaccine confidence and investigating barriers to vaccine uptake: a large-scale retrospective temporal modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31558-0/fulltext

Covid-19: Shooting for the moon. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3509

Seven lineages of SARS-CoV-2 identified in Nigeria: Why that matters. https://www.livescience.com/seven-lineages-of-sars-cov-2.html

Use of “normal” risk to improve understanding of dangers of covid-19
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3259

Risk stratification of patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol: development and validation of the 4C Mortality Score. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3339

How the Coronavirus Attacks the Brain. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/health/coronavirus-brain.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=923037839&algo=identity&imp_id=537161398&action=click&module=Science%20%20Technology&pgtype=Homepage

RESOURCES

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter your details using the form on this page before 31 Dec, 2020 to receive our top-cited, high-impact content —sent straight to your inbox. https://info.thelancet.com/langlo-2020-jcr?utm_campaign=jcr20&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

OTHER NEWS

A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?GPT-3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/08/robot-wrote-this-article-gpt-3

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 12 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 12, 2020, 03:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,252		10		546	1,696	1	954	4	138,290

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-12-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,252 Total confirmed cases

10 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 10 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,252 Cases/100k 94 Deaths 10 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 546 Tests 138,290 Tests/case 61.4 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/10/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 644,438 Cases/100k 1,109 Deaths 15,265 CFR 2.4 Recoveries 573,003 Tests 3,863,453 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/10/2020,
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	9,256
	Cases/100k	356
	Deaths	96
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	4,767
	Tests	75,511
	Tests/case	8.2
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/10/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,453
Cases/100k	43
Deaths	222
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,635
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	3,217
Cases/100k	10
Deaths	130
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,277
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	21.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	13,323
Cases/100k	74
Deaths	306
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	11,899
Tests	128,662
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	4,832
Cases/100k	15
Deaths	31
CFR	0.6
Recoveries	2,857
Tests	108,745
Tests/case	22.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,245
Cases/100k	54
Deaths	33
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	661
Tests	16,639
Tests/case	13.4
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	4,994
Cases/100k	357
Deaths	98
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	4,103
Tests	40,236
Tests/case	8.1
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,655
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	176
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,683
Tests	47,434
Tests/case	8.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,361
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	262
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,622
Tests	56,829
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,669
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	209
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,320
Tests	69,800
Tests/case	4.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	62,578
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	974
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	23,640
Tests	1,110,495
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,793
Cases/100k	69
Deaths	616
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	22,442
Tests	481,982
Tests/case	13.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/10/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 12 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 117, 11 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ifcfWv6C_9e61erljfIcYDWeHNK1n3Aj/view?fbclid=IwAR3ZJGPUCpJH5WY3W7HdcJ3uXwQLuvVaSAGpjgjS2o-8i6ZhuNvUWGg_f5k

NEWS

Update Alert 4: Epidemiology of and Risk Factors for Coronavirus Infection in Health Care Workers. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1134

China Injects Hundreds of Thousands With Experimental Covid-19 Vaccines. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-injects-hundreds-of-thousands-with-experimental-covid-19-vaccines/ar-BB18W5Ta?ocid=msedgdhp

China hands over donations to Botswana. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-09/10/c_139359176.htm

Lesotho to produce PPE for SADC. http://lestimes.com/lesotho-to-produce-ppe-for-sadc/

Senegal’s quiet COVID success: Test results in 24 hours, temperature checks at every store, no fights over masks. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/09/06/covid-19-why-senegal-outpacing-us-tackling-pandemic/5659696002/

Mkhize ays SA is over its Covid-19 surge, but warns against early celebrations – reports. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/mkhize-says-sa-is-over-its-covid-19-surge-but-warns-against-early-celebrations-reports-20200908

NAMIBIA is the first country in Africa to venture into training dogs to sniff out Covid-19. https://www.namibian.com.na/94285/read/Virus-sniffing-dogs-trained

Covid-19: US should end Gilead’s monopoly on producing remdesivir, report says. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3537

Use of “normal” risk to improve understanding of dangers of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3259

RESOURCES

Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries: Closing the Gap for the Poorest Billion. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N1ES-NafRQilBe8IEuo5HA

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

OTHER NEWS

Global collaboration for health: rhetoric versus reality. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31900-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 14 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 14, 2020, 04:12 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,252		10		546	1,696	1	954	4	138,290

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-14-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,252 Total confirmed cases

10 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 12 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,252 Cases/100k 94 Deaths 10 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 546 Tests 138,290 Tests/case 61.4 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/12/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 648,214 Cases/100k 1,116 Deaths 15,427 CFR 2.4 Recoveries 576,423 Tests 3,902,786 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/12/2020,
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	9,719
	Cases/100k	374
	Deaths	101
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	6,543
	Tests	80,352
	Tests/case	8.3
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/12/2020

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,508
Cases/100k	43
Deaths	224
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,675
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	3,335
Cases/100k	10
Deaths	132
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,289
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	20.3
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	13,539
Cases/100k	75
Deaths	312
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	12,260
Tests	131,034
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	5,040
Cases/100k	16
Deaths	35
CFR	0.7
Recoveries	2,906
Tests	112,238
Tests/case	22.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,303
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	33
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	679
Tests	17,040
Tests/case	13.1
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/12/2020
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	5,050
Cases/100k	361
Deaths	98
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	4,188
Tests	40,772
Tests/case	8.1
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,678
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	177
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,724
Tests	48,113
Tests/case	8.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,390
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	264
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,756
Tests	57,059
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,757
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	211
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,368
Tests	70,972
Tests/case	4.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	63,888
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	996
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	24,493
Tests	1,130,850
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	35,969
Cases/100k	69
Deaths	622
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	23,067
Tests	497,652
Tests/case	13.8
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/12/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 14 Sept 2020

NEWS

Astrazeneca expects COVID vaccine result by year-end if trials resume. AstraZeneca would supply vaccines to countries at the same time to ensure a fair and equitable distribution, Soriot said, reiterating that the company was close to having capacity to produce 3 billion doses at sites set up around the world to prevent governments from restricting distribution. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/astrazeneca-expects-covid-vaccine-result-by-year-end-if-trials-resume/748ACc4eJkwR4v3UdkuRoi?iqs=9z2zd4lqnrgggk73baalmempctb2k803auijcbcgfd8&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=2&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F12%2F2020+Evening+Alert+Template

A sobering breakdown of severe COVID-19 cases shows young adults can’t dismiss it. A new study underscores the fact that people ages 18 to 34 can still get severely sick. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-severe-covid19-cases-young-adults

Comparative strategic approaches to COVID-19 in Africa: Balancing public interest with civil liberties. In this article, we look at government responses to the pandemic in six African countries (Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana), and highlight ethical concerns arising in these contexts. http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13051

Preparing healthcare facilities to operate safely and effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic: The missing piece in the puzzle. This model specifically addresses the challenges in preparing a facility for COVID-19 in a low-resource setting and in rural areas. In addition, we include links to resources to allow workers in low-resource settings to prepare their facilities adequately. http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/13050

COVID-19 and the Path to Immunity. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770758?guestAccessKey=53967a32-98a6-4964-a4a5-32f1fb594ee3&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3677862114&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=99438310

Coronavirus is hundreds of times more deadly for people over 60 than people under 40. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/coronavirus-is-hundreds-of-times-more-deadly-for-people-over-60-than-people-under-40/7qSjbsTefjm3aNwPzpChvP?show_order=2&iqs=9z2zs9kkeqav680eakh3hvv3jo7t3q5vqidssrt2mgg&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F11%2F2020+Evening+Alert+Template

As COVID-19 continues, getting a flu shot is vital to protecting your health. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/as-covid-19-continues-getting-a-flu-shot-is-vital-to-protecting-your-health/7sYSTfKhe0SKZ3GX42XU7?iqs=9z2zgbsgpqog82jldo9t1qnbd7mehq2cba7as2ibsvo&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&show_order=4&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F11%2F2020+Evening+Alert+Template

Every Body Counts: Measuring Mortality From the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-3100

The case for chronotherapy in Covid‐19‐induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bph.15140

Vaccine Makers Keep Safety Details Quiet, Alarming Scientists. Researchers say drug companies need to be more open about how vaccine trials are run to reassure Americans who are skittish about getting a coronavirus vaccine. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/science/coronavirus-vaccine-trials.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

RESOURCES

Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries: Closing the Gap for the Poorest Billion. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N1ES-NafRQilBe8IEuo5HA

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

All collaborators will be included as PubMed-citable co-authors on resulting publications. Start the process for securing local study approvals (e.g. research ethics/ institutional review board) NOW so that you are ready to start data collection in October 2020.

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

OTHER NEWS

Cover Lets Household Drills Be Used in Surgery. A sterile cover for hardware-store drills won financial support from the Grand Challenges of Canada program. The drill cover is to help surgeons in low-budget hospitals who need to operate on broken bones or drill into skulls. Specialized electric surgical drills cost up to $30,000. Cheaper surgical hand drills are slow and hard to use. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/health/cover-lets-household-drills-be-used-in-surgery.htmlFind recent back issues at https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 15 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 15, 2020, 04:12 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,463	[211]	11	[1]	575	1,877	1	1,043	5	150,407

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-15-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,463 Total confirmed cases

11 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 13 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 2,252 Cases/100k 94 Deaths 10 CFR 0.4 Recoveries 546 Tests 138,290 Tests/case 61.4 Epidemic Phase 2 Date 9/13/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 649,793 Cases/100k 1,118 Deaths 15,447 CFR 2.4 Recoveries 577,906 Tests 3,918,478 Tests/case 6.0 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 9/13/2020,
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	9,719
	Cases/100k	374
	Deaths	101
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	6,543
	Tests	80,352
	Tests/case	8.3
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	9/13/2020

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	7,526
Cases/100k	44
Deaths	224
CFR	3.0
Recoveries	5,678
Tests	63,185
Tests/case	8.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	3,388
Cases/100k	11
Deaths	134
CFR	4.0
Recoveries	1,301
Tests	67,623
Tests/case	20.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	13,539
Cases/100k	75
Deaths	312
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	12,260
Tests	131,034
Tests/case	9.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020,
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	5,269
Cases/100k	17
Deaths	35
CFR	0.7
Recoveries	2,960
Tests	114,333
Tests/case	21.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	1,303
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	33
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	679
Tests	17,040
Tests/case	13.1
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	9/13/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	5,075
Cases/100k	363
Deaths	98
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	4,229
Tests	40,772
Tests/case	8.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020,
Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,690
Cases/100k	29
Deaths	177
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	3,731
Tests	48,556
Tests/case	8.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	10,390
Cases/100k	12
Deaths	264
CFR	2.5
Recoveries	9,756
Tests	57,059
Tests/case	5.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	15,757
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	211
CFR	1.3
Recoveries	14,368
Tests	70,972
Tests/case	4.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	64,301
Cases/100k	58
Deaths	1,013
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	24,983
Tests	1,138,012
Tests/case	17.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020,
Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	36,157
Cases/100k	69
Deaths	622
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	23,067
Tests	497,652
Tests/case	13.8
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	9/13/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 15 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 118, 14 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fGgXZWvWbQpPlbs23IhmPN9XjBeuTkjj/view?fbclid=IwAR06eLH0SSMDxC72bu7NHZnwFluS2-gH5V5FKtKJ-_A1QAFSuswq2VNQaBo

NEWS

Lancet COVID-19 Commission Statement on the occasion of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The Commission aims to offer practical solutions to the four main global challenges posed by the pandemic: suppressing the pandemic by means of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions; overcoming humanitarian emergencies, including poverty, hunger, and mental distress, caused by the pandemic; restructuring public and private finances in the wake of the pandemic; and rebuilding the world economy in an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable way that is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31927-9/fulltext?utm_campaign=tlcoronavirus20&utm_content=139842048&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Understanding the US failure on coronavirus—an essay by Drew Altman. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3417

Institutionalizing research capacity strengthening in LMICs: A systematic review and meta-synthesis [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-43/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Ethical or exploitative—should prisoners participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/ethical-or-exploitative-should-prisoners-participate-covid-19-vaccine-trials

New study describes which cancer patients are more vulnerable to COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-study-describes-which-cancer-patients-are-more-vulnerable-to-covid-19/4LK9TLWDkrEB5nariGUTLF?iqs=9z2zpm8pfqugiqua9k393una7rdk4tm1ul3134bh87g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=2&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F14%2F2020+Morning+Alert+Template

Fever Checks Are No Safeguard Against Covid-19. The practice of taking temperatures is becoming de rigueur in many workplaces and restaurants, even though federal health officials say they are of limited value. And a growing body of evidence suggests that many of those who are driving transmission are so-called silent carriers — people who have been infected but feel fine, and don’t have a fever or any other symptoms. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/health/covid-fever-checks-dining.html

Will 2 flu shots this year boost immunity? When is the best time to get it? Here’s what health experts say. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/will-two-flu-shots-boost-immunity-best-month-to-get-vaccine-during-covid-19-what-health-experts-say.html?__source=sharebar%7Cfacebook&par=sharebar&fbclid=IwAR1wypjmFeI7TLflFM8DBDVClNHwDGk4lTCva6VlgezuegQQLWm31fcS_88

Pitt Scientists Discover Tiny Antibody Component That is Highly Effective in Preventing and Treating SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Animal Models. https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/pitt-scientists-discover-tiny-antibody-component-highly-effective-preventing-and-treating-sars?fbclid=IwAR2jYPhIEnTa__vXd1t0AEPKORQDM8Iqcl89cK4pc1XP3-z0uCIXX9D8Pa8

Covid-19: Doctors working outside their expertise are unlikely to face GMC charges. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3572?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Assessment of Mental Health of Chinese Primary School Students Before and After School Closing and Opening During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://edhub.ama-assn.org/jn-learning/module/2770489?widget=personalizedcontent&previousarticle=18540470

Curing COVID-19 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30706-4/fulltext

RESOURCES
United Nations General Assembly – Youth In Global Surgery Side Event 75th

The Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, The International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN), and The World Medical Association are bringing together an extraordinary panel of youth leaders in global surgery from across the globe to discuss their surgical work, opportunities for collaboration and innovation, and the future of the field. Date & Time: September 19th, 0900ET/1300 GMT
Platform: Zoom link will be emailed 1-2 hours prior to the event to registrants.

Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries: Closing the Gap for the Poorest Billion. The event will stream live on Tuesday, 15 September, from 9:00 am – 10:30 am EDT | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm GMT. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N1ES-NafRQilBe8IEuo5HA

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

OTHER NEWS

To Prepare for Pandemics, Invest in Surgical Care. From a pandemic readiness point of view, strengthening surgical care represents a “best buy” in achieving a key objective of increased treatment capacity. Surgical subsystems, with its Space (operating rooms, pre- and post-op rooms, ICUs, and wards), Stuff (personal protective equipment, ventilators, sterilization equipment, etc.) and Staff (surgeons, anesthesiologists/anesthetists, nurses, trainees etc.), can be quickly converted to care for patients in pandemics like COVID-19. https://www.globalhealthnow.org/2020-09/prepare-pandemics-invest-surgical-care

Why we . . . deskercise. https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/370/bmj.m3524.full.pdf

Covid-19 is magnifying the digital divide. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/01/covid-19-is-magnifying-the-digital-divide/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

TB Control Suffers During Pandemic. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 16 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 16, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,463	[211]	11	[1]	575	1,877	1	1,043	5	150,407

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-16-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,463 Total confirmed cases

11 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 14 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 15 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 119, 15 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ByeFiPdGYeyQW2yJ6vLmdmsrCpQykzGO/view?fbclid=IwAR3JXaRNajuKOu9qfzLzmdZDmlRUQXcXZImI-kHSmeL2jTrzVwz43ejp4k4

NEWS

Coronavirus research updates: A groundbreaking guide to making ‘cocktails’ to treat COVID-19. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Convalescent plasma for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3516

Stillbirth rate rises dramatically during pandemic. Researchers stress need for antenatal care, as emerging data link disrupted pregnancy services to increase in stillbirths. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02618-5

Researchers highlight ‘questionable’ data in Russian coronavirus vaccine trial results. Open letter flags results that appear to be duplicated and calls for access to the underlying data on the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for widespread use. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02619-4

Addressing racial inequalities in a pandemic: data limitations and a call for critical analysis. chttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30360-0/fulltext

How COVID-19 can damage the brain. Some people who become ill with the coronavirus develop neurological symptoms. Scientists are struggling to understand why. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02599-5

The lasting misery of coronavirus long-haulers. Months after infection with SARS-CoV-2, some people are still battling crushing fatigue, lung damage and other symptoms of ‘long COVID’. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02598-6

Developing Guidelines Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4907

The COVID-NMA Project: Building an Evidence Ecosystem for the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5261

Health officials worldwide are receiving death threats because of their work to educate the public and stop the spread of COVID-19. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/health-officials-worldwide-are-receiving-death-threats-because-of-their-work-to-educate-the-public-and-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19/ar-BB192Mhs?ocid=msedgntp

Vaccine confidence volatile, vulnerable to misinformation, global study finds. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/vaccine-confidence-volatile-vulnerable-to-misinformation-global-study-finds/4GMdQEkbpEotJ48W9Izar5?show_order=3&iqs=9z2zeckesbpg8cqpg8phufsbkpp6dt67e798ji4dn38&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F15%2F2020+Morning+Alert+Template

Middle-aged individuals may be in a perpetual state of H3N2 flu virus susceptibility. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/middle-aged-individuals-may-be-in-a-perpetual-state-of-h3n2-flu-virus-susceptibility/4rYn3nFmB0SMcBhA2rl6ic?iqs=9z2zbmsplgl5dmaa3eg4onmh1k8apd345hrean8f6f0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=5&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F15%2F2020+Morning+Alert+Template

Long covid: doctors call for research and surveillance to capture disease. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3586

RESOURCES
United Nations General Assembly – Youth In Global Surgery Side Event 75th

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

World Patient Safety Day: Health Worker Safety in a Time of Pandemics. A UGHE Webinar. Thursday, September 17th at 5:30PM CAT/11:30AM EST. Register Host:
Prof. Agnes Binagwaho MD, M(Ped), PHD
Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Edward Talbott Kelley, PhD
Director, Department of Integrated Health Services, World Health Organization
Dr. Raji Tajudeen MD, MPH, FWACP
Head of Public Health Institutes & Research, Africa CDC
Dr. Giuseppe Raviola, MD, MPH
Director, Program in Global Mental Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Professor Abebe Bekele, MD, FCS
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Research Affairs, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine, UGHE https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a1-_qUhdT-qxJv2ggYocgQ

OTHER NEWS

POLICY & ETHICS. Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden. We’ve never backed a presidential candidate in our 175-year history—until now. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientific-american-endorses-joe-biden/

Why we . . . deskercise. https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/370/bmj.m3524.full.pdf

Covid-19 is magnifying the digital divide. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/01/covid-19-is-magnifying-the-digital-divide/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

TB Control Suffers During Pandemic. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 17 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 17, 2020, 02:38 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,463		11		575	1,877	1	1,043	5	150,407

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-17-2020 03:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,463 Total confirmed cases

11 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 15 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 17 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 120, 16 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aaXiSAhxg_m0ALfBx5EynkSTkdNNaN6h/view?fbclid=IwAR2EenMV2a5_QKY-W1agRemSDVB643rKIkvz76UpVPOLgBp3bsQlREMpUe0

NEWS

Fast coronavirus tests: what they can and can’t do. Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infectious. Will they be game changers? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02661-2

AstraZeneca’s U.S. Trial Remains on Hold Pending FDA Review. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/astrazeneca-s-u-s-trial-remains-on-hold-pending-fda-review/ar-BB194FAW?ocid=msedgntp

‘Confounding’: Covid may have already peaked in many African countries. One explanation for virus not behaving as expected could be previous exposure to other infections, experts tell MPs. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/16/confounding-covid-may-have-already-peaked-africa

Which immune response could cause a vaccine against COVID-19? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/which-immune-response-could-cause-a-vaccine-against-covid-19/2gOef8HaxCw6REA5uuizWG?iqs=9z2z5rb2m3kp2j2alb663dpv23n2qfrsict43i4rqdg&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&show_order=3&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All+Specialties+9%2F16%2F2020+Morning+Alert+Template

Up Is Down — Pharmaceutical Industry Caution vs. Federal Acceleration of Covid-19 Vaccine Approval. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2029479?query=TOC

Stroke can be the first presenting symptom in younger patients with COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/stroke-can-be-the-first-presenting-symptom-in-younger-patients-with-covid-19/WRG1t8EQEKAihSbWAyknr?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zehr6ub8avbehqvjkedum69t3appnbhipl49ijog&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F16%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

Have you registered for the FREE virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020? Registration for the FREE Virtual Clinical Congress 2020, October 3–7, is open! With access to hours of on-demand surgical education content, virtual networking opportunities, & more than 200 hours of available CME—what are you waiting for? Register today! https://www.facs.org/clincon2020

United Nations General Assembly – Youth In Global Surgery Side Event 75thThe Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, The International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN), and The World Medical Association are bringing together an extraordinary panel of youth leaders in global surgery from across the globe to discuss their surgical work, opportunities for collaboration and innovation, and the future of the field. Date & Time: September 19th, 0900ET/1300 GMT
Platform: Zoom link will be emailed 1-2 hours prior to the event to registrants.

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

OTHER NEWS

Caring for Children with Cancer in Africa during the COVID-19 Crisis: Implications and Opportunities. Jeremy S. Slone (Botswana),Nmazuo Ozuah &Peter Wasswa. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08880018.2020.1772913?scroll=top&needAccess=true

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 18 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 18, 2020, 03:26 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567	[104]	13	[2]	624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-18-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 16 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 18 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 121, 17 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ebne860BMkdgd89qT1TH1KtZWrMOOWOh/view?fbclid=IwAR0QGSqVqGUwLHORmb5L2l4x18rI_QL9krgcdo_If8Vdsqptt8LXdYqQByw

NEWS

Covid-19: Do many people have pre-existing immunity? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3563

Assessing a novel, lab-free, point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 (CovidNudge): a diagnostic accuracy study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30121-X/fulltext

Association between mental illness and COVID-19 susceptibility and clinical outcomes in South Korea: a nationwide cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30421-1/fulltext

No patient safety without health worker safety. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31949-8/fulltext

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 with SHERLOCK One-Pot Testing. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2026172

Potential COVID-19 drug azithromycin may increase risk for cardiac events. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/potential-covid-19-drug-azithromycin-may-increase-risk-for-cardiac-events/54dYDKHkbnJhHdQx8n0peY?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zsl1cco1fk2dmoguq6d7kg71seueoklr1q6q71jo&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F17%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Pfizer says late-stage coronavirus vaccine study shows moderate side effects. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/pfizer-says-late-stage-coronavirus-vaccine-study-shows-moderate-side-effects/49ZPaZWPILq3UiczzIWEV1?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zsius3nsg5l39dpif0in5ttamh8rc3jct1qvmft0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F17%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Association of Daily Wear of Eyeglasses With Susceptibility to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection. In this cohort of 276 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Suizhou, China, the proportion of daily wearers of eyeglasses was lower than that of the local population (5.8% vs 31.5%). Meaning These findings suggest that daily wearers of eyeglasses may be less likely to be infected with COVID-19.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2770872?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamaophthalmol.2020.3909

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Review of Viral, Host, and Environmental Factors. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5008

Managing COVID-19 in a Novel, Rapidly Deployable Community Isolation Quarantine Facility. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4746

Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6349

Moderna and Pfizer Reveal Secret Blueprints for Coronavirus Vaccine Trials. The companies hope to earn the trust of the public and of scientists who have clamored for details of the studies. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/covid-moderna-vaccine.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

RESOURCES

United Nations General Assembly – Youth In Global Surgery Side Event 75th

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

All collaborators will be included as PubMed-citable co-authors on resulting publications. Start the process for securing local study approvals (e.g. research ethics/ institutional review board) NOW so that you are ready to start data collection in October 2020. Register : https://globalsurgery.redcap.bham.ac.uk/surveys/?s=ERAME4NJHR

The Lancet Global Health publishes articles of the highest relevance and impact, and our success is partly reflected in our Impact Factor of 21·597 (2018 Journal Citation Reports®, Clarivate Analytics 2019) as well as our 2019 Scopus CiteScore metrics. Enter

OTHER NEWS

Staple food prices rise by 50% in Sudan amid economic strife, floods and Covid. Cost of sugar, bread and transport soar, while promised World Bank aid is yet to arrive. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/17/staple-food-prices-rise-by-50-in-sudan-amid-economic-strife-floods-and-covid

Good perioperative care can cut post-surgery complications by up to 80%, review shows. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3670

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 19 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 19, 2020, 03:24 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567		13		624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-19-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 17 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 19 Sept 2020

NEWS

Assessing a novel, lab-free, point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 (CovidNudge): a diagnostic accuracy study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30121-X/fulltex

Covid-19: Point of care test reports 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared with laboratory test. The CovidNudge test does not require laboratory processing. Lead author of the study, Graham Cooke, stressed, however, that this test is not likely to be used for mass testing at events attended by thousands of people because the machine can only process one test at a time, with a maximum of 15 tests per machine each day. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3682

Official ORCHID trial results to be released shortly, will tell us effectivity of hydroxychloroquine in acute COVID-19 cases. Hydroxychloroquine is an effective therapy for a number of illnesses, and ORCHID looks to determine its safety and efficacy in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. https://vanderbilthustler.com/34307/featured/official-orchid-trial-results-to-be-released-shortly-will-tell-us-effectivity-of-hydroxychloroquine-in-acute-covid-19-cases/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Official%20ORCHID%20trial%20results%20to%20be%20released%20shortly%2C%20will%20tell%20us%20effectivity%20of%20hydroxychloroquine%20in%20acute%20COVID-19%20cases&utm_campaign=IMPH%20Newsletter%20September%202020

COVID-19 data scandal prompts tweaks to elite journal’s review process. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/covid-19-data-scandal-prompts-tweaks-elite-journal-s-review-process

Who gets a COVID vaccine first? Access plans are taking shape. Advisory groups around the world release guidance to prioritize health-care workers and those in front-line jobs. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02684-9

Uruguay is winning against covid-19. This is how. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3575

China and Russia are ahead in the global coronavirus vaccine race, bending long-standing rules as they go. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-and-russia-are-ahead-in-the-global-coronavirus-vaccine-race-bending-long-standing-rules-as-they-go/2020/09/18/9bfd4438-e2d4-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html

T cells take the lead in controlling SARS-CoV-2 and reducing COVID-19 disease severity. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/t-cells-take-the-lead-in-controlling-sars-cov-2-and-reducing-covid-19-disease-severity/1Rp6kovdDfJpSsVGZeYK6u?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zbhbsne3fe9uf24ep4ci2lsdo2frfurgj8qvpavo&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F18%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=3

RESOURCES

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

OTHER NEWS

Learning from a retraction. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31958-9/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 21 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 21, 2020, 03:40 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567		13		624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-21-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 19 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 Sept 2020

NEWS

COVID-19 screening in public venues is unreliable. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-screening-in-public-venues-is-unreliable/5KGgs1B2ryyAs5LuX4y1Oq?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zmn18kp2mh3bi7fa8blv8gm877al5okf1fmrrvbo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F17%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

Global preparation: how different countries planned for the second wave of Covid-19. Lockdowns brought temporary relief to some but, everywhere, test and trace is key. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/20/global-preparation-how-different-countries-planned-for-the-second-wave-of-covid-19

AstraZenaca Releases Blueprints for Virus Vaccine Trial Amid Safety Scrutiny. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/19/world/covid-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

C.D.C. Reverses Testing Guidelines for People Without Covid-19 Symptoms. The agency now says anyone exposed to an infected person for more than 15 minutes needs a test. An earlier guideline saying it might not be necessary had shocked public health experts. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=814771850&algo=identity&imp_id=966249336&action=click&module=Science%20%20Technology&pgtype=Homepage

The Science of Persuasion Offers Lessons for COVID-19 Prevention. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770888?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=091920#.X2Zk-jEs1Pk.twitter

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert

Investigating Whether Blood Type Is Linked to COVID-19 RiskRubin RJAMA September 16, 2020

The Science of Persuasion Offers Lessons for COVID-19 PreventionAbbasi JJAMA September 16, 2020
Suboptimal US Response to COVID-19 Despite Robust Capabilities and ResourcesNuzzo JB, Bell JA, Cameron EEJAMA September 16, 2020
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Worker Safety During the COVID-19 PandemicMichaels D, Wagner GRJAMA September 16, 2020
Association of Daily Wear of Eyeglasses With Susceptibility to Coronavirus Disease 2019 InfectionZeng W, Wang X, Li J, et al.JAMA Ophthalmology September 16, 2020
Eye Protection and the Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does Wearing Eye Protection Mitigate Risk in Public, Non–Health Care Settings?Maragakis LLJAMA Ophthalmology September 16, 2020
Flipping the Script for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Contact TracingSchneider JA, Pollack HAJAMA Health Forum September 16, 2020

Relation of statin use prior to admission to severity and recovery among COVID-19 inpatients. https://www.mdlinx.com/journal-summary/relation-of-statin-use-prior-to-admission-to-severity-and-recovery-among-covid-19-inpatients/3bZjRiuxgdjVOeZrmcrGtC?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zs1vc4i1a8v25l11er8jasdbkke4pl06sro4irmg&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F20%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

RESOURCES

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

OTHER NEWS

Tackling childcare in a global pandemic. https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/tackling-childcare-global-pandemic?cid=ECR_TT_worldbank_EN_EXT#

Academic Medicine. Addressing Race and Racism in Medical Education. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=72

Technology Can Augment, but Not Replace, Critical Human Skills Needed for Patient Care. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Technology_Can_Augment,_but_Not_Replace,_Critical.97002.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

Building the Next Generation of Researchers: Mentored Training in Dissemination and Implementation Science. file:///C:/Users/Test/Downloads/Building_the_Next_Generation_of_Researchers_.96986.pdf

Infertility. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility

Kenya’s small-town singers hope coronavirus-inspired lyrics make for smash hits. https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/kenya-coronavirus-songs/2020/09/14/48602156-e1ad-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 22 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 22, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567		13		624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-22-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 20 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 22 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 123, 21 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hustdonHiZ3Ot0HntV49vKlt77mZ8FV_/view?fbclid=IwAR1HcqxqQxw9J3EymPgLiqR_c4XwHgRdCHWxJfXFJO44TutP-c9f3ILhD7w

NEWS

Over half of COVID-19 patients in a new study are suffering long-term fatigue. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/over-half-of-covid-19-patients-in-a-new-study-are-suffering-long-term-fatigue/5WbXyLtNublqP6dHxgdlBc?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z4trermve1po5ii5bgonrfn8a7ctjblfga5d4n50&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F21%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

COVID-19 could cause declines in life expectancy. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-could-cause-declines-in-life-expectancy/4I5YGZoItjIKijqd64X6dd?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z2hr7s1e5cl6e6dgrph6p7olculh1qd0agpt0sko&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F21%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Study shows the experimental drug AR-12 could be a promising COVID-19 treatment. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-shows-the-experimental-drug-ar-12-could-be-a-promising-covid-19-treatment/2Ban5NnlLE6TU9bsHiCjAY?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z9s73mjqqhvft20ruokbrgcohoc72frgf8mrabb0&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F21%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=

World Health Organization unveils plan for distributing coronavirus vaccine, urges cooperation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/coronavirus-vaccine-covax-who/2020/09/21/d21c7b4a-f9d3-11ea-a510-f57d8ce76e11_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_mos

Free fatty acid binding pocket in the locked structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/18/science.abd325

Immune life history, vaccination, and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 over the next 5 years. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/18/science.abd734

COVID-19 in children and young people, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/18/science.abd6165Bulletin 12: SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 https://www.sadc.int/files/8616/0034/8253/COVID-19_12th_Report_EN_mail.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2Ov_ZsyOBqyWquYLwKbqm45gA0F5WcBsVFYidq0V23_0xyOiZ-YkLA3iMAsked and answered: What readers want to know about coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/coronavirus-frequently-asked-questions/?itid=hp_pandemic-guide-box

RESOURCES

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

OTHER NEWS

Mass Elephant Deaths in Botswana Caused By Bacteria Toxin In Waterholes. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mass-elephant-deaths-in-botswana-caused-by-bacteria-toxin-in-waterholes/ar-BB19fSEu?ocid=msedgntp

Patient loyalty to HIV care in an HIV facility in Eldoret, Kenya: A mediated mediation. Not peer reviewed. [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-48/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 23 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 23, 2020, 02:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567		13		624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-23-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 20 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 22 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 124, 22 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DV08kF1ELDq42NAUAUqG6qPfqlZjmxao/view?fbclid=IwAR2IvDzPcTujgpPc3ByIpoZFzW7-awzSXQwlngSzpQlrB7LR9tAsbywalOI

NEWS

Africa has defied the covid-19 nightmare scenarios. We shouldn’t be surprised. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/22/africa-has-defied-covid-19-nightmare-scenarios-we-shouldnt-be-surprised/?fbclid=IwAR3ZKt6fGYKpARLqUqoGsXC9HHIERHdIJIDU4tks74y0ceS4aF6gwy1XgvU

Number of new weekly coronavirus cases at record high, says WHO. Announcement comes as Covid deaths increased by 27% in Europe week on week. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/weekly-number-of-new-coronavirus-cases-at-highest-level-says-who

COVID research updates: Good timing might help the immune system to control COVID-19. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Boost for global response to COVID-19 as economies worldwide formally sign up to COVAX facility. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/21-09-2020-boost-for-global-response-to-covid-19-as-economies-worldwide-formally-sign-up-to-covax-facility

Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 During Long Flight. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3299_article

One in 7 reported COVID-19 infections is among health workers – WHO. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/one-in-7-reported-covid-19-infections-is-among-health-workers-who/6reJlzD7qIYKmrZUg0slOz?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zmb882jnromhhl3mmk8ku0lp6vfjqim7qt5h6i0g&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F19%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Effects of Cocooning on Coronavirus Disease Rates after Relaxing Social Distancing. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/12/20-1930_article

Operating Protocols of a Community Treatment Center for Isolation of Patients with Coronavirus Disease, South Korea. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-1460_article

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the JAMA Network. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770825?guestAccessKey=e1800e02-4d9a-4d6d-b175-bd54b8d134d3&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3729529339&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=100222491

Patient Trajectories Among Persons Hospitalized for COVID-19. A Cohort Study. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-3905

RESOURCES

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

OTHER NEWS

AfLIA, in partnership with Creative Commons, is organizing another exciting webinar focused on “Open Access to Information – promoting innovation in Africa.” The event is scheduled to hold on 28th September, 2020 at 11am GMT to celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information through a panel discussion to explore how the fields of Open science, Open education and in general Open access can help libraries fulfil their mission and foster knowledge exchange in Africa for sustainable development.

We must increase lending to the world’s poorest countries now – or pay the price later. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Africa will suffer its worst recession since the 1970s. For the first time since the 1990s, extreme poverty will increase. The annual death toll from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria is set to double. We also fear a near doubling in the number of people facing starvation. Many girls out of school will never go back. Life expectancy will fall.https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/22/what-are-we-waiting-for-we-must-increase-lending-to-the-worlds-poorest-now

Indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria intervention coverage, morbidity, and mortality in Africa: a geospatial modelling analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30700-3/fulltext

If you do not snooze you lose: Sleep seen as essential for the brain. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/if-you-do-not-snooze-you-lose-sleep-seen-as-essential-for-the-brain/48JvnirmIKowHGQWqFs5pe?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zk8g00g3jmiv4i3rfk568hro0mvlcs9nt4p04vo0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F21%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 24 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 24, 2020, 03:04GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,567		13		624	1,930	1	1,087	6	156,054

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-24-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,567 Total confirmed cases

13 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 22 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 24 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 125, 23 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sKTFjoQfrLKxoYOa_aSZSGybCx1vMCAw/view?fbclid=IwAR2l5KLlQF2gZGPQpith9t0U395AbLdLRr3U1wkccnNtt9vb8I_klTvya-Y

NEWS

Massive genetic study shows coronavirus mutating and potentially evolving amid rapid U.S. spread. The new report, however, did not find that these mutations have made the virus deadlier or changed clinical outcomes. All viruses accumulate genetic mutations, and most are insignificant, scientists say. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/23/houston-coronavirus-mutations/?arc404=true

Covid-19: Government must publish results of pilots of contract tracing app, experts say. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3708?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

The BMJ interview: Anthony Fauci on covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3703

What COVID-19 Reinfection Means for Vaccines. We now know repeat infections are possible; understanding them will shape the fight against the pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-covid-19-reinfection-means-for-vaccines/

Fourth large-scale COVID-19 vaccine trial begins in the United States. Trial evaluating investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/fourth-large-scale-covid-19-vaccine-trial-begins-united-states?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

‘Landmark moment’: 156 countries agree to Covid vaccine allocation deal. Covax plan will counter rising threat of ‘vaccine nationalism’, prioritising vulnerable healthcare systems and frontline workers. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/21/landmark-moment-156-countries-agree-to-covid-vaccine-allocation-deal?utm_term=fa67d931980b1189f7dea744125719bc&utm_campaign=GlobalDispatch&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=globaldispatch_email

As Their Numbers Grow, COVID-19 “Long Haulers” Stump Experts. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771111

The complexities of SARS-CoV-2 serology. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30699-X/fulltext

Evaluating and Deploying Covid-19 Vaccines — The Importance of Transparency, Scientific Integrity, and Public Trust. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2026393?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

Covid-19: Risk of death more than doubled in people who also had flu, English data show. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3720?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

‘I just want this suffering to be over.’ Brazilians flock to COVID-19 vaccine trials. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/i-just-want-suffering-be-over-brazilians-flock-covid-19-vaccine-trials

Immune life history, vaccination, and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 over the next 5 years. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/18/science.abd7343?rss=1

COVID-19 can affect the heart. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/23/science.abe2813?rss=1

RESOURCES

ALL HOSPITALS | ALL SPECIALTIES | ALL PATIENTS

ONE WEEK DATA COLLECTION GlobalSurg | CovidSurg Week is an international prospective multi-centre cohort study that aims:

(1) To determine the optimal timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection;

(2) Determine assess key global surgical indicators, such as postoperative mortality.

All hospitals can participate in this study, including hospitals that have not admitted SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

All patients (from all specialties) undergoing a surgical procedure done in an operating theatre will be included (any SARS-CoV-2 status).

In 2020, the United Nations (UN) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the organization stimulates a global conversation on major challenges of our time: digital technologies, violence, inequality, climate and demographic change. We believe that academic knowledge has a major part to play in tackling these issues. That’s why we’ve curated a collection of cutting-edge, open access ebooks and journal articles from De Gruyter and our publisher partner presses on the topics of #UN75. All titles are free to read, share and download.
https://cloud.newsletter.degruyter.com/un75?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=un75&utm_term=AC&utm_content=read_product_cluster

OTHER NEWS

Human rights parables for a post-pandemic world. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31923-1/fulltext

Online learning cannot just be for those who can afford its technology. The dramatic shift to online learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic risks widening educational inequalities. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02709-3

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 25 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 25, 2020, 02:57GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,921	[354]	16	[3]	701	2,204	1	1,236	7	179,742

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-25-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,921 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 23 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 25 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 126, 24 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qaONVoO9-3oTAhUNOYXgwmr1VFjR6R9C/view?fbclid=IwAR3cd98g-0Zw4U1zH1dTMM0nsQefAb8KC4ZrRG2MvVzx0OUn4Hmz-SC47qE

NEWS

Lessons learnt from easing COVID-19 restrictions: an analysis of countries and regions in Asia Pacific and Europe. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32007-9/fulltext

Inhaled corticosteroids and COVID-19-related mortality: confounding or clarifying? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30447-1/fulltext

Risk of COVID-19-related death among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma prescribed inhaled corticosteroids: an observational cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30415-X/fulltext

Hidden immune weakness found in 14% of gravely ill COVID-19 patients. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/hidden-immune-weakness-found-14-gravely-ill-covid-19-patients

How the coronavirus spreads through the air: 5 essential reads. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-the-coronavirus-spreads-through-the-air-5-essential-reads/404jJ57ACqeEYDP7rguWT4?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zf4tet1d8u306ieq12ph9mg1mgka0o5n52ko6d40&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F24%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

A cheaper, faster COVID-19 test. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/a-cheaper-faster-covid-19-test/7ftedhV5hP69w3UqXIaxV0?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2znpcnk125mqu7476bc4veck3pu11r4dtdqkkg8ko&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F24%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: Promoting healthy behaviours and mitigating the harm from misinformation and disinformation. Joint statement by WHO, UN, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNAIDS, ITU, UN Global Pulse, and IFRC. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/23-09-2020-managing-the-covid-19-infodemic-promoting-healthy-behaviours-and-mitigating-the-harm-from-misinformation-and-disinformation

COVID research updates: Extreme infection level might have helped to quell a city’s epidemic. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

RESOURCES

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

From 13-15 October, WomenLift Health will convene the fourth annual Women Leaders in Global Health (WLGH) Conference. This year’s conference will take place in a virtual format, providing an opportunity to reach a broader audience, elevate new voices, and facilitate geography-specific discussion, while maintaining the sense of global community, learning and passion that has characterized the conferences since their start.

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Baloxavir Protects Against Household Influenza Spread. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770844?guestAccessKey=bd6be062-c03b-402a-bf7b-2102d9a34557&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3729529388&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=100222497

Central fatness and risk of all cause mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 72 prospective cohort studies. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3324

This $1 hearing aid could treat millions with hearing loss. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/1-hearing-aid-could-treat-millions-hearing-loss

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 26 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 26, 2020, 03:33GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,921	[354]	16	[3]	701	2,204	1	1,236	7	179,742

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-26-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,921 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 24 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 26 Sept 2020

Presidential (COVID-19) Task Force Bulletin, Issue 127, 25 September 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cwUQlK57seQntBWGGPczZp6U5ZWVH6c9/view?fbclid=IwAR37qCE63MZ89eK4pBLTBWYKQsvU_H0_qUM0POxHQ_EKdOSuQHGpBcSOQ_8

NEWS

COVID-19 in Africa: half a year later. With the number of COVID-19 cases decreasing across the continent, it is time to reflect on the first months of the pandemic in Africa. Munyaradzi Makoni reports. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30708-8/fulltext

Africa has held off the worst of the coronavirus. Researchers are working to figure out how. The reasons are still something of a mystery, but scientists said the success of many African countries offers crucial lessons. South Africa, the hardest-hit country on the continent, has recorded more than 665,000 cases and 16,206 deaths. That represents about 28 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to more than 61 deaths per 100,000 in the U.S. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/africa-has-held-worst-coronavirus-researchers-are-working-figure-out-n1241026?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR2TSFByzcKZV51KKocq-BnQ8pVaClEbW1rxtgnhwxTpgmjZ1xGsird3-N0

COVID-vaccine results are on the way — and scientists’ concerns are growing. Researchers warn that vaccines could stumble on safety trials, be fast-tracked because of politics or fail to meet the public’s expectations. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02706-6

COVID research updates: The immune breakdown linked to dire illness. Some severe cases of COVID-19, including those in young, healthy people, could be linked to dysfunction of immune-signalling chemicals called type-1 interferons, according to a survey of nearly 1,000 people with life-threatening SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

3 SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC #COVID19SADC. Bulletin 13. With focus on Global Vaccines Initiatives, Law Enforcement and Security, Standards and Quality as well as post-COVID-19 recovery initiatives https://www.sadc.int/files/7016/0096/7989/COVID-19_13th_Report_EN_3_mail.pdf

Viral presence and immunopathology in patients with lethal COVID-19: a prospective autopsy cohort study. In patients with lethal COVID-19, an extensive systemic inflammatory response was present, with a continued presence of neutrophils and NETs. However, SARS-CoV-2-infected cells were only sporadically present at late stages of COVID-19. This suggests a maladaptive immune response and substantiates the evidence for immunomodulation as a target in the treatment of severe COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30144-0/fulltext

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in COVID-19: an international cohort study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32008-0/fulltext

Inhaled corticosteroids and COVID-19-related mortality: confounding or clarifying? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30447-1/fulltext

Hidden immune weakness found in 14% of gravely ill COVID-19 patients. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/hidden-immune-weakness-found-14-gravely-ill-covid-19-patients

How the coronavirus spreads through the air: 5 essential reads. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-the-coronavirus-spreads-through-the-air-5-essential-reads/404jJ57ACqeEYDP7rguWT4?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zf4tet1d8u306ieq12ph9mg1mgka0o5n52ko6d40&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F24%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

A cheaper, faster COVID-19 test. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/a-cheaper-faster-covid-19-test/7ftedhV5hP69w3UqXIaxV0?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2znpcnk125mqu7476bc4veck3pu11r4dtdqkkg8ko&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F24%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert%20Template&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: Promoting healthy behaviours and mitigating the harm from misinformation and disinformation. Joint statement by WHO, UN, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNAIDS, ITU, UN Global Pulse, and IFRC. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/23-09-2020-managing-the-covid-19-infodemic-promoting-healthy-behaviours-and-mitigating-the-harm-from-misinformation-and-disinformation

COVID research updates: Extreme infection level might have helped to quell a city’s epidemic. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of COVID-19: Perspectives of the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6448

RESOURCES

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Baloxavir Protects Against Household Influenza Spread. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770844?guestAccessKey=bd6be062-c03b-402a-bf7b-2102d9a34557&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3729529388&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=100222497

Central fatness and risk of all cause mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 72 prospective cohort studies. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3324

This $1 hearing aid could treat millions with hearing loss. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/1-hearing-aid-could-treat-millions-hearing-loss

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 29 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 29, 2020, 03:46GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	2,921	[354]	16	[3]	701	2,204	1	1,236	7	179,742

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-29-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

2,921 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 27 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 27 Sept 2020

NEWS

Dried blood spot sampling offers an inexpensive way to widen access to antibody testing for COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/dried-blood-spot-sampling-offers-an-inexpensive-way-to-widen-access-to-antibody-testing-for-covid-19/2Tpq9wWtxXPXKw6FIbDb1n?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zbdlgf5a5p1ef9468fcidkfnnkqfkmd8k8slp9oo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F26%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

COVID-19 may damage monocytes in bone marrow. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-may-damage-monocytes-in-bone-marrow/65WAbTlAerWyLluT1Iyyf?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z0r9sqddh8smt1rkecmc1hoadmva6bc16os10ik8&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F27%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

COVID-19 vaccination: returning to WHO’s Health For All. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30415-0/fulltext

Offline: COVID-19 is not a pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32000-6/fulltext

How Do Children Fight Off the Coronavirus? The secret may lie in an “innate” immune response that targets unrecognized invaders, scientists say. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/health/coronavirus-children-immune.html

As Covid-19 Closes Schools, the World’s Children Go to Work. Former students are taking illegal and often dangerous jobs in India and other developing countries, potentially. rolling back years of progress in social mobility and public health. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/27/world/asia/covid-19-india-children-school-education-labor.html

1 MILLION DEAD. From the first wave in February in China through New York City’s April catastrophe and on to India’s current surge, the coronavirus has unleashed a worldwide suffering with no evident exit. The deaths started as a trickle. Then they become a torrent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/coronavirus-deaths-1-million/?itid=hp-top-table-main

Doctors rate the riskiest activities to do right now. Going into a church or a bar are the two highest-risk activities for COVID-19 exposure, according to the results of a new survey of physicians. But no matter where you go, these physicians say, wearing a mask and keeping social distance reduces your risk. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/doctors-rate-the-riskiest-activities-to-do-right-now/37xRwWxi7SKn7p7IJLNkh7?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zmvg6ceiur7e6h08sl7bd81dfbr1v152an61f8j0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F27%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Ultrapotent antibody mix blocks COVID-19 virus attachment. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/ultrapotent-antibody-mix-blocks-covid-19-virus-attachment/2ddJZQjU2XwZhJdSR3AJku?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zjr7s959lghf5h5ocag6u0anbto28q2t14k7vr18&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F27%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
September 29 & October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

From 13-15 October, WomenLift Health will convene the fourth annual Women Leaders in Global Health (WLGH) Conference. This year’s conference will take place in a virtual format, providing an opportunity to reach a broader audience, elevate new voices, and facilitate geography-specific discussion, while maintaining the sense of global community, learning and passion that has characterized the conferences since their start.

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Low health literacy may be a risk factor for postoperative infection. https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/11516-low-health-literacy-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-postoperative-infection

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 29 September 2020— TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 29, 2020, 03:47 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,1722,921	[251]	16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-29-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 27 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 27 Sept 2020

NEWS

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine produces strong immune response in early trial. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/johnson-and-amp-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-produces-strong-immune-response-in-early-trial/4hQImWdBBY0UoAiRukLDem?iqs=9z2z7q5kn7l62350rgc303nsj5i22l92l635vv0bkg8&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&c=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&%3Fshow_order=3

Immunological cause of severe COVID-19 identified. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/immunological-cause-of-severe-covid-19-identified/3vH1y5ZylIdYsvUZA3jzQd?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zg6g8k2ql3s35ggio61bnihh8kc40qf2s3fdffj8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

Adequate levels of vitamin D reduce complications, death among COVID-19 patients. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/adequate-levels-of-vitamin-d-reduce-complications-death-among-covid-19-patients/TrcOypaBrayUI4DmOGlyE?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zl2e8mvsg7tnq39anhe92c523ao3gahcnfmte7e0&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

COVID research updates: Tests reveal silent reinfections in hospital workers. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

When and Why You Should Get a Flu Shot. Experts explain why getting vaccinated is important every year—and especially during a pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-and-why-you-should-get-a-flu-shot/

The Coronavirus Mostly Spares Younger Children. Teens Aren’t So Lucky.Younger children are about half as likely as older teenagers and adults to become infected, new studies suggest. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/health/coronavirus-children.html

Anti-C5a antibody IFX-1 (vilobelimab) treatment versus best supportive care for patients with severe COVID-19 (PANAMO): an exploratory, open-label, phase 2 randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(20)30341-6/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 seems to block some pain signals; here’s why this is important. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/sars-cov-2-seems-to-block-some-pain-signals-heres-why-this-is-important/6psHwzKxEYfzt7cUF3MIOU?iqs=9z2z4kt30am94t4erks4leh7v98fos39rg4c2b8ne50&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&c=All%20Specialties%209%2F28%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
September 29 & October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Global maps of travel time to healthcare facilities. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1059-1#Sec2

Low health literacy may be a risk factor for postoperative infection. https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/11516-low-health-literacy-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-postoperative-infection

Deadly Spread of Some Cancers May Be Driven by a Common Mouth Microbe

An ordinary bacterium can trigger changes in some primary tumors that lead to dangerous metastasis. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deadly-spread-of-some-cancers-may-be-driven-by-a-common-mouth-microbe/

Lower-Dose Zinc for Childhood Diarrhea — A Randomized, Multicenter Trial. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1915905?query=featured_home

Ebola Response Priorities in the Time of Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025512?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 29 September 2020— Happy Botswana Day! TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: Sept 29, 2020, 04:41 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-29-2020 06:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 28 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 30 Sept 2020

NEWS

Daily briefing: One million people have died from COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02769-5

High-resolution structures of the SARS-CoV-2 2′-O-methyltransferase reveal strategies for structure-based inhibitor design. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/651/eabe1202

One number could help reveal how infectious a COVID-19 patient is. Should test results include it? They say testing centers should report not just whether a person is positive, but also a number known as the cycle threshold (CT) value, which indicates how much virus an infected person harbors.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/one-number-could-help-reveal-how-infectious-covid-19-patient-should-test-results

How stigmatizing disease—from COVID-19 to HIV—creates a vicious cycle of sickness. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/how-stigmatizing-disease-covid-19-hiv-creates-vicious-cycle-sickness

On the road with Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine effort. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/road-operation-warp-speed-us-covid-19-vaccine-effort

Millions of Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Tests May Help Fill the Testing Gap. The assays may not detect all cases, but they are cheap and could be used at home. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/millions-of-rapid-covid-19-antigen-tests-may-help-fill-the-testing-gap/

Vaccine Chaos Is Looming. The COVID-19 vaccines furthest along in clinical trials are the fastest to make, but they are also the hardest to deploy. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/covid-19-most-complicated-vaccine-campaign-ever/616521/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&fbclid=IwAR1sWj1cxp0TisAHTbNJFT-LxUlFlx_gjMoYk9i8UZcm7R1PUWiWCUjtdE

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Global maps of travel time to healthcare facilities. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1059-1#Sec2

Low health literacy may be a risk factor for postoperative infection. https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/11516-low-health-literacy-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-postoperative-infection

Deadly Spread of Some Cancers May Be Driven by a Common Mouth Microbe. An ordinary bacterium can trigger changes in some primary tumors that lead to dangerous metastasis. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deadly-spread-of-some-cancers-may-be-driven-by-a-common-mouth-microbe/

Lower-Dose Zinc for Childhood Diarrhea — A Randomized, Multicenter Trial. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1915905?query=featured_home

Ebola Response Priorities in the Time of Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025512?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2020— Happy Botswana Day! TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 1, 2020, 03:55 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-01-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 1 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Safety and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 Vaccine in Older Adults. In this small study involving older adults, adverse events associated with the mRNA-1273 vaccine were mainly mild or moderate. The 100-μg dose induced higher binding- and neutralizing-antibody titers than the 25-μg dose, which supports the use of the 100-μg dose in a phase 3 vaccine trial. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2028436

COVID research updates: A front-runner vaccine shows promise in older people. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

COVID vaccine confidence requires radical transparency. Public trust in a potential vaccine is under threat. Drug companies and their academic partners must disclose protocols and results data. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02738-y

One in Seven Dire COVID Cases May Result from a Faulty Immune Response

Two new studies link some severe infections to genetics and an autoimmune reaction that attacks the body’s own defenses. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/one-in-seven-dire-covid-cases-may-result-from-a-faulty-immune-response/

‘Provocative results’ boost hopes of antibody treatment for COVID-19. A second company has now produced strong hints that monoclonal antibodies, synthetically produced versions of proteins made by the immune system, can work as treatments in people who are infected with the pandemic coronavirus but are not yet seriously ill. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/provocative-results-boost-hopes-antibody-treatment-covid-19

This biologist helped trace SARS to bats. Now, he’s working to uncover the origins of COVID-19. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/biologist-helped-trace-sars-bats-now-hes-working-uncover-origins-covid-19

Rethinking Covid-19 Test Sensitivity — A Strategy for Containment. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025631?query=TOC

Covid-19: Universities roll out pooled testing of students in bid to keep campuses open. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3789

Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children and Adolescents Compared With AdultsA Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis including 32 studies, children and adolescents younger than 20 years had 44% lower odds of secondary infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared with adults 20 years and older; this finding was most marked in those younger than 10 to 14 years. Data were insufficient to conclude whether transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by children is lower than by adults. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2771181

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Lockdown, domestic abuse perpetration, and mental health care: gaps in training, research, and policy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30397-7/fulltext

Delaying Pregnancy during a Public Health Crisis — Examining Public Health Recommendations for Covid-19 and Beyond. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2027940?query=TOC

How Covid sowed the seeds of food security in Johannesburg. During South Africa’s strict lockdown, groups of activists decided to distribute parcels of vegetables as wells as seedlings and gardening materials as well as to hundreds of vulnerable households https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2020/sep/30/how-covid-sowed-the-seeds-of-food-security-in-johannesburg

Flu Season Never Came to the Southern Hemisphere. Mask wearing and social distancing for COVID-19 may have cut influenza cases south of the equator. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/flu-season-never-came-to-the-southern-hemisphere/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 2 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 2, 2020, 04:51 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-02-2020 06:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 30 Sept 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 2 OCTOBER 2020

UPDATE BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Edwin Dikoloti updating on the strategic direction of the Ministry during the extension of the State of Emergency (SoE) and launch of the COVID-19 19 Sentinel surveillance that runs from October to December 2020

NEWS

Trump Tests Positive for the Coronavirus. “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter shortly before 1 a.m. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-covid.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

COVID research updates: A fast-spreading viral variety shows higher infectiousness. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

A second vaccine nears approval in Russia. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/09/30/world/covid-19-coronavirus?campaign_id=154&type=styln-key-updates&index=0&emc=edit_cb_20200930&instance_id=22681&nl=coronavirus-briefing&regi_id=35464541&segment_id=39492&te=1&user_id=668420d1d50ece39e7e4cdbddc0196d0#a-second-vaccine-nears-approval-in-russia

Risk of COVID-19 During Air Travel. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771435?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=100120#.X3ZJr4e4zHo.twitter

In-hospital cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with covid-19: multicenter cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3513

Protecting against COVID’s Aerosol Threat. How can we make our schools, office buildings and homes safer? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/protecting-against-covids-aerosol-threat/

False-positive COVID-19 results: hidden problems and costs. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30453-7/fulltext

JAMA Network Open and COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770861?guestAccessKey=8846f1c4-d4c7-4f49-981e-4aabc29baf08&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3729529601&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=100222525

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Powerful US research funder unveils strict open-access policy. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is the second major US funder to mandate that the research it pays for must be free to read on publication. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02793-5

HPV Vaccination and the Risk of Invasive Cervical Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1917338?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

Eating a tiny bit of mom’s poop could give C-section babies an immune ‘primer’. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/eating-tiny-bit-mom-s-poop-could-give-c-section-babies-immune-primer

Health Literacy. https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/health-literacyFind recent back issues at https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-informaton-digest/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 3 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 3, 2020, 04:39 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-03-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 01 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 2 OCTOBER 2020

UPDATE BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & WELLNESS

NEWS

Here’s what’s known about President Trump’s COVID-19 treatment. This afternoon, the White House announced that President Donald Trump had received an experimental antibody treatment after a test revealed he was infected with SARS-CoV-2. He reportedly has mild COVID-19 symptoms, including fever and congestion, and he was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center later in the day. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/here-s-what-s-known-about-president-trump-s-covid-19-treatment

Trump goes to Walter Reed hospital for coronavirus treatment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-covid/2020/10/02/b91072e6-04c3-11eb-a2db-417cddf4816a_story.html

Covid-19: 120 million rapid tests pledged to low and middle income countries. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3857

CDC identifies new Covid-19 syndrome in adults similar to MIS-C in kids. They’re calling it multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults, or MIS-A, and say it’s similar to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/cdc-identifies-new-covid-19-syndrome-in-adults-similar-to-mis-c-in-kids/ar-BB19Etma?ocid=msedgntp

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Malaria campaigns fight off Covid disruptions to deliver programmes. Almost all planned work against the disease has gone ahead this year, delivering nets, drugs and the world’s first malaria vaccine. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/02/malaria-campaigns-fight-off-covid-disruptions-to-deliver-programmes

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 5 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 5, 2020, 03:51 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-05-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 01 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 5 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Nigerian scientists develop cheaper and faster Covid-19 test kits. The diagnostic test kit will cost less than $25 and samples can be analyzed using a mobile machine that can be operated by low-skilled personnel with minimal training, the agency said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/nigerian-scientists-develop-cheaper-and-faster-covid-19-test-kits/ar-BB19Fcf4?ocid=msedgdhp

Identify the Different Symptoms of the Flu and Covid-19. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/03/at-home/coronavirus-flu-symptoms.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Charting a Coronavirus Infection. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/02/science/charting-a-coronavirus-infection.html

Companies Ditch Plans for Rapid Coronavirus Spit Tests at Home. You won’t be buying a rapid spit test anytime soon. But nose-swab versions might be on the way. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/health/coronavirus-saliva-tests.html

Huge Study of Coronavirus Cases in India Offers Some Surprises to Scientists. The rate of death went down in patients over 65. Researchers also found that children of all ages became infected and spread the virus to others. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/health/covid-india-children.html

FAQ: What you need to know about mks and covid-19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/09/30/mask-guidelines-covid-faq/?arc404=true

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

COVID-19 and Medical Education. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

Use of a mutation-specific genotyping method to assess for HIV-1 drug resistance in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1 Subtype C-infected patients in Botswana [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-50/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

23 Questions to Guide the Writing of a Quantitative Medical Education Research Proposal. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/23_Questions_to_Guide_the_Writing_of_a.97051.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=512d1194-db3b-4d4e-b0c9-f8550cb06e19

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 6 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 6, 2020, 04:54 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		16		710	2,446	1	1,342	7	184,076

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-06-2020 06:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

16 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 04 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 5 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Lopinavir–ritonavir in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, lopinavir–ritonavir was not associated with reductions in 28-day mortality, duration of hospital stay, or risk of progressing to invasive mechanical ventilation or death. These findings do not support the use of lopinavir–ritonavir for treatment of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32013-4/fulltext

Antiviral monotherapy for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 is not enough. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32078-X/fulltex

Covid-19: how to prioritize worse-off populations in allocating safe and effective vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3795?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usag

COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b1 elicits human antibody and T_H1 T-cell responses. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2814-7

Update: Here’s what is known about Trump’s COVID-19 treatment. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/heres-what-known-about-president-donald-trump-s-covid-19-treatment

IBD meds could treat COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/ibd-meds-could-treat-covid-19/35ev8IWI1N0MOlwgo02wv?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zg0ioshkf2rpkshbd68ov15d8avfju8lmrr9js9o&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F5%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Creditors must wake up fast to threat of emerging market debt crisis. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/04/creditors-must-wake-up-fast-to-threat-of-emerging-market-debt-crisis

A Randomized Trial Comparing Antibiotics with Appendectomy for Appendicitis. For the treatment of appendicitis, antibiotics were noninferior to appendectomy on the basis of results of a standard health-status measure. In the antibiotics group, nearly 3 in 10 participants had undergone appendectomy by 90 days. Participants with an appendicolith were at a higher risk for appendectomy and for complications than those without an appendicolith. (Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; CODA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02800785. opens in new tab.) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2014320

Congratulations! Your Article Has Been Accepted. Now What? Media, Social Media, and Other Outlets for Promoting Your Work. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2016/12000/Congratulations__Your_Article_Has_Been_Accepted_.42.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=a3caa85c-2bdf-48eb-9a00-10ea8e023f97

A four-year timeline of Trump’s impact on science. From travel bans to human spaceflight to the coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump’s policies and actions have changed science. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02814-3

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 7 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 7, 2020, 04:02 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		18	[2]	834	2,320	1	1,342	8	222,045

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-07-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

18 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 05 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 7 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Remdesivir for Adults With COVID-19. A Living Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Practice Points. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5752

Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 1). https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5831

EU Regulator Starts Review of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid Vaccine. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/eu-regulator-starts-review-of-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine/ar-BB19KgIh?ocid=msedgntp

Nearly One-Third of Covid-19 Patients in Study Had Altered Mental State. The hospitalized patients showed signs of deteriorating neurological function, ranging from confusion to coma-like unresponsiveness, new research indicates. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/health/Covid-patients-mental-state.html?smid=tw-nythealth&smtyp=cur

Prevalence, management, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in older people and those with dementia in mental health wards in London, UK: a retrospective observational study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30434-X/fulltext

Rogue Antibodies and Gene Mutations Explain Some Cases of Severe COVID-19. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/10/06/rogue-antibodies-and-gene-mutations-explain-some-cases-of-severe-covid-19/

Face masks: what the data say. The science supports that face coverings save lives, and yet the debate trundles on. How much evidence is enough? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8

Covid-19: Trump returns to White House amid confusion over his illness and treatment. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3897

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

World Health Organization Guidelines on Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M19-3860

Why Nature needs to cover politics now more than ever. Science and politics are inseparable — and Nature will be publishing more politics news, comment and primary research in the coming weeks and months. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02797-1

Constitutive expression of progesterone receptor isoforms promotes the development of hormone-dependent ovarian neoplasms, https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/652/eaaz9646

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 8 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 8, 2020, 03:31 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,172		18		834	2,320	1	1,342	8	222,045

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-08-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,172 Total confirmed cases

18 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 06 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 8 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Republished in Scientific American from June: How ‘Superspreading’ Events Drive Most COVID-19 Spread

As few as 10 percent of infected people may drive a whopping 80 percent of cases in specific types of situations. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-superspreading-events-drive-most-covid-19-spread1/

Mysterious post-COVID syndrome found in kids is now also affecting adults. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/mysterious-post-covid-syndrome-found-in-kids-is-now-also-affecting-adults/7u7PKk5ABCMM7Lvdo7XLBa?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zo17766nmi1lf63tgkdd0h42i1l375gknh60a1pg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F7%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Long COVID: let patients help define long-lasting COVID symptoms. The terminology for long-lasting COVID symptoms — and the definition of recovery — must incorporate patients’ perspectives. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02796-2

Saying human trials aren’t enough, researchers call for comparison of COVID-19 vaccines in monkeys. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/saying-human-trials-arent-enough-researchers-call-comparison-covid-19-vaccines-monkeys

Political interference in public health science during covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3878

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Statement by the Investigators of the African Covid-19 Critical Care Outcomes Study (ACCCOS). Interpretation: Mortality in critically ill COVID-19 African patients is higher than any other region, with an excess mortality of 18 and 29 deaths per 100 patients compared to other regions. Mortality is associated with limited critical care resources and severity of organ dysfunction at admission. https://www.asos.org.za/acccos/Documents/ACCCOS%20Investigators%20statement%207.10.2020.pdf

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19–Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study. https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdfdirect/10.1200/JCO.20.01933

Newly discovered viruses suggest ‘German measles’ jumped from animals to humans. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/newly-discovered-viruses-suggest-rubella-jumped-animals-humans

COVID-19 and clean air: an opportunity for radical change. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30201-1/fulltext

Dying in a Leadership Vacuum. New England Journal of Medicine Editorial. Covid-19 has created a crisis throughout the world. This crisis has produced a test of leadership. With no good options to combat a novel pathogen, countries were forced to make hard choices about how to respond. Here in the United States, our leaders have failed that test. They have taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2029812?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 9 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 9, 2020, 02:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,219	[47]	18		834	2,367	1	1,362	8	224,692

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-09-2020 04:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,219 Total confirmed cases

18 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 07 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 9 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

West and central Africa’s closed schools putting children at risk, Unicef warns. Only seven out of 24 countries have reopened classrooms with Covid-safe measures, leaving millions unable to access education. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/08/west-and-central-africas-closed-schools-putting-children-at-risk-unicef-warns

Daily briefing: COVID-sniffing dog tops the month’s best science images. Sniffer dogs to screen for COVID-19, what China’s speedy COVID vaccine deployment means for the pandemic and what scientists in Sweden think of its controversial COVID strategy. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02870-9

Researchers face hurdles to evaluate, synthesize COVID-19 evidence at top speed. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/researchers-face-hurdles-evaluate-synthesize-covid-19-evidence-top-speed

New test detects coronavirus in just 5 minutes. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-test-detects-coronavirus-just-5-minutes

Living with the COVID-19 pandemic: act now with the tools we have. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32117-6/fulltext

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Effect of exercise training for five years on all cause mortality in older adults—the Generation 100 study: randomised controlled trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3485

Association between the reproductive health of young women and cardiovascular disease in later life: umbrella review. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3502

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19–Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study. https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdfdirect/10.1200/JCO.20.01933

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 10 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 10, 2020, 03:50 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,219	[47]	18		834	2,367	1	1,362	8	224,692

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-10-2020 05:23 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,219 Total confirmed cases

18 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 08 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 10 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

New coronavirus survives nine hours on human skin. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-coronavirus-survives-nine-hours-on-human-skin/4y3eYt7T3BsmLPR6rhc3Mc?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zh393odt8eikicrqsho4e0cacsgltjlrartojj2o&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F9%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

CDC says being overweight not just obese makes you more prone to COVID. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/cdc-says-being-overweight-not-just-obese-makes-you-more-prone-to-covid/ar-BB19QDpo?ocid=msedgntp

What China’s speedy COVID vaccine deployment means for the pandemic. China has promised vaccines to many countries, but whether it can meet its commitments is unclear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02807-2

Daily briefing: What Germany’s leading pandemic scientist says about what’s to come. German virologist Christian Drosten on everything from testing to visiting your grandparents. Plus, China has joined COVAX and rediscovering Nobel-winning science. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02879-0

REGN-COV2 antibodies prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection in rhesus macaques and hamsters. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/10/08/science.abe2402

Inhibiting Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2 entry. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6513/167
Coronavirus News Roundup: October 3–October 9. Here are pandemic news highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-october-3-october-9

Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Final Report. Our data show that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ACTT-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04280705. opens in new tab.)https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007764?query=featured_home

Effect of school closures on mortality from coronavirus disease 2019: old and new predictions. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3588

RESOURCES

“Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”
October 20 3:00 PM (GMT). WEBINAR– REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kZrU3CeQsuRkalAZgwbng

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Wildfires, Global Climate Change, and Human Health. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsr2028985?query=featured_hom

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 12 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 12, 2020, 03:37 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,219		18		834	2,367	1	1,361	8	224,692

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-12-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,219 Total confirmed cases

18 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 10 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 12 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

‘I Feel Like I Have Dementia’: Brain Fog Plagues Covid Survivors. The condition is affecting thousands of patients, impeding their ability to work and function in daily life. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/11/health/covid-survivors.html

COVID Misinformation Is Killing People. This “infodemic” has to stop. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people/

Neanderthal DNA May Be COVID Risk. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/neanderthal-dna-may-be-covid-risk/

Covid-19, Ebola, and HIV — Leveraging Lessons to Maximize Impact. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2022269?query=featured_home

Improving Clinical Trial Enrollment — In the Covid-19 Era and Beyond. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2019989?query=featured_home

As a doctor, I must act when coronavirus politics threaten to harm my patients. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-politicization-harm-patients-doctor/2020/10/09/bd98f136-fcf2-11ea-9ceb-061d646d9c67_story.html

Coronavirus antibodies last at least three months after infection, study suggests. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/coronavirus-antibodies-last-at-least-three-months-after-infection-study-suggests/54FioG8uoC6LyJfT6RRDIh?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zgv37fhekf6553upid0j4g1mvhu6c5kd4snk12vg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F11%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

Writing for Impact: How to Prepare a Journal Article. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/b9b81-writingforimpact.pdf

Medical and Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809969-8.00009-7 Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

13 October: Spotlight on South Asia (10:00am – 1:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Developing excellence in biostatistics leadership, training and science in Africa: How the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) training unites expertise to deliver excellence

[version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-51/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Institutionalizing research capacity strengthening in LMICs: A systematic review and meta-synthesis [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-43

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 14 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 14, 2020, 03:19 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,515		20		853	2,642	1	1,361	8	238,344

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-14-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,515 Total confirmed cases

20 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 12 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 14 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Daily briefing: COVID-19 reinfections raise immunity questions. Coronavirus reinfections, long-term immunity and the prospects for a vaccine. Plus, auction insights win the economics Nobel and why NASA astronauts are cheering the new space toilet. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02906-0

Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on the incidence of preterm birth: a national quasi-experimental study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30223-1/fulltext

Can an antibody ‘cocktail’ prevent COVID-19 infection? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/can-an-antibody-and-8216-cocktail-and-8217-prevent-covid-19-infection/5v2Ne5PMF8PNCcwUIjdSZg?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2ziadv68c3pamkk7jlkh553cajmv8hdf6pl330h9o&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F13%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=3

Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 rare but possible. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/vertical-transmission-of-sars-cov-2-rare-but-possible/31xL9zJJbtSmPfKIpobKHK?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zntnmqmssmdc6sdlmo4lmochdea92p9leluiopt0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F13%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Lessons from AIDS for the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lessons-from-aids-for-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Scientists’ advice for ways to ward off the coronavirus. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/scientists-advice-for-ways-to-ward-off-the-coronavirus/4yXOWl3HotzIoRahsM3qxf?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zd72r3equf2qut4ntsk9tn7hert81jr2l320dup8&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F13%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

COVID-19 diagnostics: How do saliva tests compare to swabs? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-diagnostics-how-do-saliva-tests-compare-to-swabs/2WD2cHJtZdlAe8YIAd9sdq?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zapk1rusl32hc3k1fq414una8r73lvrj5nu1rsm8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F13%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Eight Persistent COVID-19 Myths and Why People Believe Them. From a human-made virus to vaccine conspiracy theories, we rounded up the most insidious false claims about the pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eight-persistent-covid-19-myths-and-why-people-believe-them/

Mental Health Disorders Related to COVID-19–Related Deaths. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771763?guestAccessKey=58eaf409-8e42-4ba3-9ea0-7c547a40da08&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3892513014&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=101816229

Neuropsychiatric complications of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3871?sso=

NIH study aims to identify promising COVID-19 treatments for larger clinical trials. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-aims-identify-promising-covid-19-treatments-larger-clinical-trials

COVID-19, comics, and the visual culture of contagion. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32084-5/fulltext

RESOURCES

Honoring the 2020 Nobel Laureates with free access to their research. Read the Nobel Prize winners’ most relevant papers published by Elsevier, as we celebrate their achievements in science. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/honoring-the-2020-nobel-laureates?sf238537737=1

Writing for Impact: How to Prepare a Journal Article. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/b9b81-writingforimpact.pdf

Medical and Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809969-8.00009-7 Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

14 October: Spotlight on Africa (12:00pm – 3:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Delivering transformative action in paediatric pain: a Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Commission. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(20)30277-7/fulltext

Research integrity: nine ways to move from talk to walk. Counselling, coaches and collegiality — how institutions can share resources to promote best practice in science. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02847-8

WHO Guidance for Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/climate-resilient-and-environmentally-sustainable-health-care-facilities

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 15 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 15, 2020, 03:51 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,515		20		853	2,642	1	1,361	8	238,344

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-15-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,515 Total confirmed cases

20 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 13 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 15 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Your likelihood of contracting COVID-19 may not be age-dependent, study shows. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/your-likelihood-of-contracting-covid-19-may-not-be-age-dependent-study-shows/1AEuGtydX41b90filuIqyj?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zfeo1vsa4o49j36mc906jd0ulanar90j3angb0po&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F14%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

World Bank Approves $12 Billion for COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/10/13/world-bank-approves-12-billion-for-covid-19-vaccines?cid=ECR_TT_worldbank_EN_EXT

How anti-ageing drugs could boost COVID vaccines in older people. COVID-19 poses the greatest threat to older people, but vaccines often don’t work well in this group. Scientists hope drugs that rejuvenate the immune system will help. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02856-7

COVID research updates: There’s more than one way to build a coronavirus-fighting antibody. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Early approval of a COVID-19 vaccine could stymie the hunt for better ones. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/early-approval-covid-19-vaccine-could-stymie-hunt-better-ones

Will SARS-CoV-2 become endemic? https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/10/13/science.abe5960?rss=1

Safety and Immunogenicity of Two RNA-Based Covid-19 Vaccine Candidates. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027906?query=featured_home

Evaluation of the mRNA-1273 Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in Nonhuman Primates. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2024671?query=featured_home

The BMJ Interview: Tim Spector on how data can arm us against covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3921

RESOURCES

Honoring the 2020 Nobel Laureates with free access to their research. Read the Nobel Prize winners’ most relevant papers published by Elsevier, as we celebrate their achievements in science. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/honoring-the-2020-nobel-laureates?sf238537737=

Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2020.
REGISTER https://www.womenlifthealth.org/global-convenings

15 October: Global Dialogue (1:00pm – 4:00pm UTC) (Google | Outlook | iCal)

Click here to see the times in your time zone: Time Zone Converter

OTHER NEWS

Training can improve patient and health worker safety in sub-Saharan Africa. https://theconversation.com/training-can-improve-patient-and-health-worker-safety-in-sub-saharan-africa-147222?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV Infection in Adults2020 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society–USA Panel. Conclusion and Relevance Advances in HIV prevention and management with antiretroviral drugs continue to improve clinical care and outcomes among individuals at risk for and with HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771873?guestAccessKey=6e06f3d6-fe7e-4a26-98dd-d14fe79a123e&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3910411649&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=101999054

Writing for Impact: How to Prepare a Journal Article. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/b9b81-writingforimpact.pdfMedical and Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809969-8.00009-7 Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 16 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 16, 2020, 04:04 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	3,914	[399]	20		905	2,989	1	1,655	8	238,334

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-16-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

3,914 Total confirmed cases

20 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 14 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 16 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to act now. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32153-X/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR1jgG65X2IuyTg_r0NMzYUAu9cwsG8xYUDfdrufBACfyfsnLmA_7mmTrA0

Act now, wait for perfect evidence later, says ‘high priestess’ of U.K. COVID-19 masking campaign. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/act-now-wait-perfect-evidence-later-says-high-priestess-uk-covid-19-masking-campaign

COVID-19 recovery funds dwarf clean energy investment needs. https://www.sciencemag.org/collections/coronavirus

Comparative host-coronavirus protein interaction networks reveal pan-viral disease mechanisms. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/10/14/science.abe9403

The BMJ Interview: Tim Spector on how data can arm us against covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3921

Developing health policies in patients presenting with SARS-CoV-2: consider tuberculosis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30413-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Pfizer won’t seek coronavirus vaccine authorization until after election. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pfizer-won-t-seek-coronavirus-vaccine-authorization-until-after-election/ar-BB1a67Q3?ocid=msedgntp

RESOURCES

Lancet 2019 Global Burden of Disease. https://www.thelancet.com/gbd Special issue of Lancet https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/vol396no10258/PIIS0140-6736(20)X0042-0

Honoring the 2020 Nobel Laureates with free access to their research. Read the Nobel Prize winners’ most relevant papers published by Elsevier, as we celebrate their achievements in science. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/honoring-the-2020-nobel-laureates?sf238537737=1

OTHER NEWS

Geospatial analysis: a new frontier in humanitarian health research? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30390-9/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Training can improve patient and health worker safety in sub-Saharan Africa. https://theconversation.com/training-can-improve-patient-and-health-worker-safety-in-sub-saharan-africa-147222?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV Infection in Adults2020 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society–USA Panel. Conclusion and Relevance Advances in HIV prevention and management with antiretroviral drugs continue to improve clinical care and outcomes among individuals at risk for and with HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771873?guestAccessKey=6e06f3d6-fe7e-4a26-98dd-d14fe79a123e&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3910411649&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=101999054

New PLOS pricing test could signal end of scientists paying to publish free papers. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-plos-pricing-test-could-signal-end-scientists-paying-publish-free-papers

Why a Historic Emissions Drop from COVID Is No Cause to Celebrate

The greenhouse gas reductions highlight the difficult road ahead to substantially limit global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-a-historic-emissions-drop-from-covid-is-no-cause-to-celebrate/

Factors Affecting Women Surgeons’ Careers in Low–MiddleIncome Countries: An International Survey. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00268-020-05811-9?sharing_token=9FTXQ31ynrgnWpscQhcMc_e4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY58oo3nzvxB0tXg6QzQ8-jC60fgHBp_Qu0otPfbfwr0xsPBF3-1khvYXp1SEyFguGlsjHbEwX0n1Pr4WGQsWlljlSXs-YkSGvaSs9CY5213Ng9m1dzFqgjxyJqx34MO6U0%3D

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 17 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 17, 2020, 03:54 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,242	[1,328]	20		905	4,317	1	2,216	8	256,952

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-17-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,242 Total confirmed cases

20 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 15 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 17 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

COVID research updates: Are rapid coronavirus tests effective? It depends Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Coronavirus News Roundup: October 10–October 16. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-october-10-october-16/ Here are pandemic highlights for the wee

Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir Shortens Recovery but Is Not a Magic Bullet. Despite conflicting data, the highly anticipated results will make the treatment a standard of care in the U.S. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-drug-remdesivir-shortens-recovery-but-is-not-a-magic-bullet/

Producing and using timely comparative evidence on drugs: lessons from clinical trials for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3869

What it’s really like to do science amid COVID-19. From Germany to India, researchers are grappling with how to run labs and lessons under extraordinary restrictions. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02815-2

Scientists develop extremely rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/scientists-develop-extremely-rapid-diagnostic-test-for-covid-19/6mOJCkAjYxjXcUM4nHzGXo?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z0sbe8uu9t6cf2kgsqkc71psebcibp1mgk0qkaf0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F15%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

Thirty-year failure to tackle preventable disease fuelling global Covid pandemic. Study reveals increase in high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and obesity, all risk factors for disease. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/15/thirty-year-failure-to-tackle-preventable-disease-fuelling-global-covid-pandemic?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1602813214

Preprint, not published–Repurposed antiviral drugs for COVID-19 –interim WHO SOLIDARITY trial results. These Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir and Interferon regimens appeared to have little or no effect on hospitalized COVID-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay. The mortality findings contain most of the randomized evidence on Remdesivir and Interferon, and are consistent with meta-analyses of mortality in all major trials. (Funding: WHO. Registration: ISRCTN83971151, NCT04315948) https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.15.20209817v1.full.pdf

COVID-19 frequently causes neurological injuries. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-frequently-causes-neurological-injuries/527g8seqIaaDxV67VZXNua?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z306prsv2idjapj61v6bae66b15u3knunornmh7g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F15%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

Big Mountain Data and Dev Conference Cost: Free! Event Date: Thursday October 22nd & Friday October 23rd 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Online, Powered by LoudSwarm(www.LoudSwarm.com) Join us for discussions about the event on our Slack channel. Click here to Register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-mountain-data-and-dev-2020-tickets-116698102165

Schedule

Lancet 2019 Global Burden of Disease. https://www.thelancet.com/gbd Special issue of Lancet https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/vol396no10258/PIIS0140-6736(20)X0042-0

OTHER NEWS

Flying Soon? Here’s the Covid Safety Gear You Do—and Don’t—Need. Online retailers are touting all kinds of protective gear for germaphobic travelers. While fliers really need to wear some of them, others just constitute overkill.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-soon-heres-the-covid-safety-gear-you-doand-dontneed-11602284017?mod=wsjtwittertest19

Training can improve patient and health worker safety in sub-Saharan Africa. https://theconversation.com/training-can-improve-patient-and-health-worker-safety-in-sub-saharan-africa-147222?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV Infection in Adults2020 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society–USA Panel. Conclusion and Relevance Advances in HIV prevention and management with antiretroviral drugs continue to improve clinical care and outcomes among individuals at risk for and with HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771873?guestAccessKey=6e06f3d6-fe7e-4a26-98dd-d14fe79a123e&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3910411649&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=101999054

New PLOS pricing test could signal end of scientists paying to publish free papers. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-plos-pricing-test-could-signal-end-scientists-paying-publish-free-papers

Why a Historic Emissions Drop from COVID Is No Cause to Celebrate. The greenhouse gas reductions highlight the difficult road ahead to substantially limit global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-a-historic-emissions-drop-from-covid-is-no-cause-to-celebrate/

Factors Affecting Women Surgeons’ Careers in Low–Middle Income Countries: An International Survey. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00268-020-05811-9?sharing_token=9FTXQ31ynrgnWpscQhcMc_e4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY58oo3nzvxB0tXg6QzQ8-jC60fgHBp_Qu0otPfbfwr0xsPBF3-1khvYXp1SEyFguGlsjHbEwX0n1Pr4WGQsWlljlSXs-YkSGvaSs9CY5213Ng9m1dzFqgjxyJqx34MO6U0%3D

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday 19, October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 19, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,242		20		905	4,317	1	2,216	8	256,952

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-19-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,242 Total confirmed cases

20 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 17 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 19 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

NIH begins large clinical trial to test immune modulators for treatment of COVID-19. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-begins-large-clinical-trial-test-immune-modulators-treatment-covid-19?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, BBIBP-CorV: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30831-8/fulltext

Some Signs of Recovery From Severe Covid Lung Damage. In two early studies, researchers said some patients showed signs of healing just weeks after leaving the hospital. https://www.nytimes.com/section/health

Remdesivir Fails to Prevent Covid-19 Deaths in Huge Trial. Critics said the study, sponsored by the W.H.O., was too poorly conducted to be definitive. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/health/coronavirus-remdesivir-who.html

Large Meta-analysis Digs Into Obesity’s COVID-19 Risks. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772071?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=101620#.X4lhswrZvEo.twitter

RESOURCES

NEJM Clinical Cases Resource Center. https://www.nejm.org/clinical-cases?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

Lancet 2019 Global Burden of Disease. https://www.thelancet.com/gbd Special issue of Lancet https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/vol396no10258/PIIS0140-6736(20)X0042-0

OTHER NEWS

Institutionalizing research capacity strengthening in LMICs: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-43

Andrew George: Consent is only possible in a relationship. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/10/14/andrew-george-consent-is-only-possible-in-a-relationship/

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19–Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study. https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.01933

International Open Access Week 2020 (OA Week 2020) takes place from 19 – 25 October, and EIFL will be celebrating with libraries and researchers in our partner countries. https://www.eifl.net/where-we-work

Flying Soon? Here’s the Covid Safety Gear You Do—and Don’t—Need. Online retailers are touting all kinds of protective gear for germaphobic travelers. While fliers really need to wear some of them, others just constitute overkill.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-soon-heres-the-covid-safety-gear-you-doand-dontneed-11602284017?mod=wsjtwittertest19

Poor diet is top contributor to heart disease deaths globally. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/poor-diet-is-top-contributor-to-heart-disease-deaths-globally/2SqaM79AMExRRXtISSeicL?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z265sjuaf6m343easnrv1gp2k4d0nc6fp465nt68&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F17%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

The surprising factor that’s keeping Americans from traveling abroad. While Americans have the green light to travel to certain international destinations, admittance to most countries requires a negative COVID-19 test within 48-72 hours of arrival. This seems straightforward, but good luck getting test results back within the time limit. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/the-surprising-factor-that-and-8217-s-keeping-americans-from-traveling-abroad/5sNlkZu0ULw4Nt1K4HE4Ol?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zut0o620jaf82omsjeiimkip2ggvsa348qc4ab3o&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F16%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 20 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 20, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,609	[367]	21	[1]	915	4,673	1	2,371	8	267,517

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-20-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,609 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 18 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 20 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Ethical Framework for Assessing Manual and Digital Contact Tracing for COVID-19. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5834

COVID-19 Vaccine: What Physicians Need to Know. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6841

Update Alert 5: Epidemiology of and Risk Factors for Coronavirus Infection in Health Care Workers. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1227

Correction: Infection Fatality Ratios for COVID-19 Among Noninstitutionalized Persons 12 and Older. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1152

‘Killer’ cells in Ebola immunity study could help Covid research. Ebola survivors showing no antibodies found to still have lasting capacity to fight virus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/19/killer-cells-ebola-immunity-study-could-help-covid-research

All eyes on a hurdle race for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates have progressed through laboratory tests at record speed. Two early clinical trials suggest that immunization delivers a favourable immune response and safety profile, but questions remain. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02926-w

Could certain COVID-19 vaccines leave people more vulnerable to the AIDS virus? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/could-certain-covid-19-vaccines-leave-people-more-vulnerable-aids-virus

America’s Last Line of Defense for a Safe Vaccine. The independent advisers to the CDC and FDA will not bend to politics https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/americas-last-line-of-defense-for-a-safe-vaccine/

Covid-19’s known unknowns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3979

Herd Immunity and Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Control. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772167?guestAccessKey=89c40601-e93e-4b3c-a29d-537f25bc84d4&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3947971930&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=102370893

RESOURCES

NEJM Clinical Cases Resource Center. https://www.nejm.org/clinical-cases?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

OTHER NEWS

Institutionalizing research capacity strengthening in LMICs: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-43

What Is Herd Immunity? https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772168?guestAccessKey=b28d4f71-cfdd-4b7d-b04b-ca40c4e6ee6a&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3947971934&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=102371275

International Open Access Week 2020 (OA Week 2020) takes place from 19 – 25 October, and EIFL will be celebrating with libraries and researchers in our partner countries. https://www.eifl.net/where-we-work

Flying Soon? Here’s the Covid Safety Gear You Do—and Don’t—Need. Online retailers are touting all kinds of protective gear for germaphobic travelers. While fliers really need to wear some of them, others just constitute overkill.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-soon-heres-the-covid-safety-gear-you-doand-dontneed-11602284017?mod=wsjtwittertest19

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 21 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 21, 2020, 03:48 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,609		21		915	4,673	1	2,371	9	267,517

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-21-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,609 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 19 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

How obesity could create problems for a COVID vaccine. Researchers fear that vaccines might not be as effective in people who are obese, a population already highly vulnerable to COVID-19. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02946-6

Daily briefing: A popular unproven COVID treatment is hindering drug trials. Scientists are struggling to run clinical trials for ivermectin in Latin America. Plus: the unsung heroes of a Nobel-winning discovery and Nature has its first open-access agreement. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02969-z

All eyes on a hurdle race for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates have progressed through laboratory tests at record speed. Two early clinical trials suggest that immunization delivers a favourable immune response and safety profile, but questions remain. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02926-w

Living risk prediction algorithm (QCOVID) for risk of hospital admission and mortality from coronavirus 19 in adults: national derivation and validation cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3731

Covid-19’s known unknowns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3979

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the JAMA Network. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/277082

Two SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays perform best. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/two-sars-cov-2-antibody-assays-perform-best/4Ngv8prBxH1LJQ0SGUvuea?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z1u5lotl8or91j8eltv2tvjrttv223p18bnhviqg&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F20%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=

COVID-19 long-acting antibodies discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center move to phase 3 clinical trials. AstraZeneca is advancing into phase 3 clinical trials with an investigational COVID-19 therapy of two long-acting antibodies discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and optimized by AstraZeneca.https://news.vumc.org/2020/10/13/covid-19-long-acting-antibodies-discovered-by-vanderbilt-university-medical-center-move-to-phase-3-clinical-trials/

Coronavirus survives on skin five times longer than flu: Study. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/coronavirus-survives-on-skin-five-times-longer-than-flu-study/3RzW7tk5ZVx5xMoHxljvcc?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zfo3ur6futlsns0g2rtd62lefehur41dflkv529g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F20%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

RESOURCES

NEJM Clinical Cases Resource Center. https://www.nejm.org/clinical-cases?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

OTHER NEWS

Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30925-9/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_email_newsletter_lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_campaign=lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97803896&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-92qVBiDQl37Nohz69wvb7RJNUs9A2YttvOsLJ61qUfPLEFK0_nHt1ic4HR21WlpET_i9NlHfmOen1diRkW5j6jz8jchKNoj8Vc4FxcIF67TH5X5n0&utm_content=97803896&utm_source=hs_email

Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30752-2/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_email_newsletter_lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_campaign=lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97803896&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_a7c62sRcBw8rYm2OyyY1sJeUNlS5nGdGBYmR6cLhu_zo3A6mdn6krpCmUO9LpkC2vxYbYcpv9c9Rr1Wbd4W4UR9zhNGFjghTULVSMbfKypndiwqg&utm_content=97803896&utm_source=hs_email

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30977-6/fulltext?dgcid=hubspot_email_newsletter_lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_campaign=lancet-gbd-alerts20&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97803896&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96sOh9O91Mfel693yEG6PrPC0Wx0eCFYuYsF2PzbAYMjiwOqz2HJ4HxheqB7wan77NwEGpo4pFbXtAcc0BOUGodEJBnwa0JK7DXH32OrD7xw7agog&utm_content=97803896&utm_source=hs_email

Nature journals announce first open-access agreement. The arrangement will allow some researchers in Germany to publish openly — but critics say it comes with a high price. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02959-1

In new strategy, Wellcome Trust will take on global health challenges. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-strategy-wellcome-trust-will-take-global-health-challenges

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 22 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 22, 2020, 04:07 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,609		21		915	4,673	1	2,371	9	267,517

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-22-2020 06:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,609 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 20 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 22 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

The false promise of herd immunity for COVID-19. Why proposals to largely let the virus run its course — embraced by Donald Trump’s administration and others — could bring “untold death and suffering”. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02948-4

Dozens to be deliberately infected with coronavirus in UK ‘human challenge’ trials. Proponents of the trials say they can be run safely and help to identify effective vaccines, but others have questioned their value. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02821-4

Understanding COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/10/21/science.abe5938

Nature: Coronavirus: Research, Commentary, and News. https://www.sciencemag.org/collections/coronavirus

The Challenges of Expanding Rapid Tests to Curb COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772299

Studies Point To Big Drop In COVID-19 Death Rates. The study, which was of a single health system, finds that mortality has dropped among hospitalized patients by 18 percentage points since the pandemic began. Patients in the study had a 25.6% chance of dying at the start of the pandemic; they now have a 7.6% chance. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/20/925441975/studies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates

Neuropilin-1 drives SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, finds breakthrough study. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/neuropilin-1-drives-sars-cov-2-infectivity-finds-breakthrough-study/3sXkDYJ4Tyl570hOjNRogf?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z4gt9ko83cdvfe5s7m2qtns2vm0du8qr1l8uh8l0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F21%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Insight – doctors probe whether COVID-19 is causing diabetes. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/insight-doctors-probe-whether-covid-19-is-causing-diabetes/4cXTK5RytNeFmp9cijtD9Q?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z1ma80d9vscf2n33s44145ahcrhc4g8p58ufvkto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F21%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

What we know and don’t know about COVID-19 reinfection cases. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-covid-19-reinfection-cases/7nedprnkUx3oCzpkfYtJ1Y?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zuthhd7meefliqrvbfruhhraih3bu2odvdsp6u2o&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F21%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Unprecedented vaccine trials on track to begin delivering results. In anticipation of the data, independent advisers to the FDA meet Thursday to lay the groundwork for deciding whether specific vaccines are safe and effective. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/vaccine-progress-coronavirus/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2c41c4b%2F5f905b229d2fda0efb506d22%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F21%2F69%2Fab60eb874ab571bbae56dd0d96a034a4

COVID-19 vaccine trial continues despite death of volunteer. Anvisa, The Brazilian National Health Agency, has said that testing of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University will continue despite the death of a volunteer in a clinical trial in Sao Paulo, Brazil.https://www.mdlinx.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-trial-continues-despite-death-of-volunteer/78BYoFO4f5yX3r5uxSLIAy?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zc60iv1pufa5satsap3qacv0bn4lrpsiflrmtfko&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F21%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

Anticoagulation in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde2028217?query=TOC

RESOURCES

OTHER NEWS

Nature journals announce first open-access agreement. The arrangement will allow some researchers in Germany to publish openly — but critics say it comes with a high price. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02959-1

In new strategy, Wellcome Trust will take on global health challenges. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-strategy-wellcome-trust-will-take-global-health-challenges

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 23 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 23, 2020, 03:43 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,923	[314]	21		927	4,975	1	2,503	9	279,070

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-23-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,923 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 21 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 23 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

The engines of SARS-CoV-2 spread. The majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections likely occur within households and other residential settings (such as nursing homes). This is because most individuals live with other people, and household contacts include many forms of close, high-intensity, and long-duration interaction. Both early contact tracing studies and a large study of more than 59,000 case contacts in South Korea found household contacts to be greater than six times more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 than other close contacts https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6515/406

Susceptibility to severe COVID-19. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6515/404

Why decoding the immune response to COVID matters for vaccines. Nature’s second progress report on the pandemic looks at the key factors to making vaccines safe, effective and welcomed by the public. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02943-

COVID-19 Mortality Risk in Down Syndrome: Results From a Cohort Study Of 8 Million Adults. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4986

Update Alert 3: Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for the Treatment or Prophylaxis of COVID-19. This report, the third update of a previously published living systematic review (1), focuses on treatment (not prophylaxis) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine. The first and second updates covered evidence available through 1 July 2020 (2) and 1 August 2020 (3), respectively. This update evaluates evidence published through 21 September 2020. No new evidence about chloroquine was found. One new randomized trial (4) and 5 new cohort studies (5–9) evaluating hydroxychloroquine were found. None of the studies used zinc; all studies (5–8) except for 1 (9) with a hydroxychloroquine group and an azithromycin group evaluated hydroxychloroquine alone. The trial used a “standard care” control group (4) and had high risk of bias, whereas all of the cohort studies had serious risk of bias (5–9). The trial (4) and 3 of the new cohort studies (6, 7, 9) assessed hospital-initiated hydroxychloroquine, whereas 2 of the new cohort studies (5, 8) assessed prehospital initiation. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1257

Evidence synthesis communities in low-income and middle-income countries and the COVID-19 response . https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32141-3/fulltext

Will covid-19 vaccines save lives? Current trials aren’t designed to tell us. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4037?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Covid-19 vaccine trial protocols released. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4058?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Stop wiping down groceries and focus on bigger risks, say experts on coronavirus transmission. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/surface-wipes-contamination-covid/2020/10/22/41c77e28-13c3-11eb-bc10-40b25382f1be_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2c46c52%2F5f91b1ca9d2fda0efb5153bb%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F10%2F71%2Fab60eb874ab571bbae56dd0d96a034a4

Do Masks On Plane Flights Really Cut Your Risk Of Catching COVID-19? Freedman looked at all Emirates flights from Dubai to Hong Kong between June 16 and July 5. What he found is quite telling. During those three weeks, Emirates had five flights with seven or more infected passengers on each flight, for a total of 58 coronavirus-positive passengers flying on eight-hour trips. And yet, nobody else on the planes — none of the other 1,500 to 2,000 passengers — picked up the virus, Freedman and his colleague report in the Journal of Travel Medicine.“Those were flights with higher risk, and yet there was no transmission,” Freedman says. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/20/925892185/do-masks-really-cut-your-risk-of-catching-covid-19-on-long-plane-flights?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

What We Know So Far about How COVID Affects the Nervous System. Neurological symptoms might arise from multiple causes. But does the virus even get into neurons? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-we-know-so-far-about-how-covid-affects-the-nervous-system/

Coronavirus Drug Remdesivir Shortens Recovery but Is Not a Magic Bullet. Despite conflicting data, the highly anticipated results will make the treatment a standard of care in the U.S. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-drug-remdesivir-shortens-recovery-but-is-not-a-magic-bullet/

The temporal association of introducing and lifting non-pharmaceutical interventions with the time-varying reproduction number (R) of SARS-CoV-2: a modelling study across 131 countries. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30785-4/fulltext

Possible vertical transmission and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among infants born to mothers with COVID-19: A living systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33090535/

The chest CT features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China: a meta-analysis of 19 retrospective studies. https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-020-01432-9?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Clinical Endpoints for Evaluating Efficacy in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6169

Tocilizumab doesn’t ease symptoms or prevent death in moderately ill COVID-19 inpatients. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/tocilizumab-doesnt-ease-symptoms-or-prevent-death-in-moderately-ill-covid-19-inpatients/zGhkOKCVpIZv89yB92fuT?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zidoet1ph0luup2bpvsuhj3leq7srfco897ovo80&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F22%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

National Surgical, Obstetric & Anaesthesia Planning (NSOAP) With High-Priority Government Strategies. Integrating an NSOAP into national health % pandemic response strategies: aligning the plans. Webinar Registration. Wednesday, October 28th @ 9am EST/ 3pm CET.

Https://Us02web.Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/9716025049537/WN_Ykk-Oka_Tkidstlx2le8oa

SMAR1 repression by pluripotency factors and consequent chemoresistance in breast cancer stem-like cells is reversed by aspirin. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/654/eaay6077

Let’s flatten the infodemic curve. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/let-s-flatten-the-infodemic-curve

OTHER NEWS

Preventive malaria treatment among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analyses. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30325-9/fulltext

Burden of non-communicable diseases from infectious causes in 2017: a modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30358-2/fulltext

In new strategy, Wellcome Trust will take on global health challenges. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/new-strategy-wellcome-trust-will-take-global-health-challenges

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 24 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 24, 2020, 04:03 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,923		21		927	4,975	1	2,503	9	279,070

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-24-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,923 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 22 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 24 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Coronavirus News Roundup, October 17-October 23. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-october-17-october-23/

Virology, transmission, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3862

The race to make COVID antibody therapies cheaper and more potent. Injections of antibodies might prevent mild COVID-19 from becoming severe, but the treatments are expensive and difficult to make. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02965-3

Scientific and Ethical Principles Underlying Recommendations From the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for COVID-19 Vaccination Implementation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772326

Will we ever get to ‘zero COVID-19’? An immunologist weighs in. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/will-we-ever-get-to-zero-covid-19-an-immunologist-weighs-in/2wYfPlpJvnKuCS0BhdO5rg?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zkptdnp8o7av0fv06a5g0eg1os1lcplh169e1j30&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F23%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

The COVID-19 syndemic is not global: context matters. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32218-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Influenza control during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32166-8/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Herd immunity confusion. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32167-X/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

SARS-CoV-2 risk misclassification explains poor COVID-19 management. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32169-3/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Be careful with Big Data: Re-analysis of Patient Characteristics and Outcomes of 11,721 Patients with COVID19 Hospitalized Across the United States. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1618/5934822?searchresult=1

Convalescent plasma in the management of moderate covid-19 in adults in India: open label phase II multicentre randomised controlled trial (PLACID Trial). https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3939

RESOURCES

Https://Us02web.Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/9716025049537/WN_Ykk-Oka_Tkidstlx2le8oa

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

SMAR1 repression by pluripotency factors and consequent chemoresistance in breast cancer stem-like cells is reversed by aspirin. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/654/eaay6077

Let’s flatten the infodemic curve. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/let-s-flatten-the-infodemic-curve

OTHER NEWS

Antenatal Dexamethasone for Early Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Countries. Among women in low-resource countries who were at risk for early preterm birth, the use of dexamethasone resulted in significantly lower risks of neonatal death alone and stillbirth or neonatal death than the use of placebo, without an increase in the incidence of possible maternal bacterial infection. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022398?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 26 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 26, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,923		21		927	4,975	1	2,503	9	279,070

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-24-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

5,923 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 24 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 26 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Clinical course and outcomes of critically-ill patients with COVID-19 infection: A systematic review. https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(20)30648-0/fulltext

ARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(20)30651-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_aip_email#.X5XDnX_rr7c.twitter

To Find a Coronavirus Vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline Is Bonding With Its Biggest Competitors. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/to-find-a-coronavirus-vaccine-glaxosmithkline-is-bonding-with-its-biggest-competitors/ar-BB1aluXU?ocid=msedgntp

Thirteen people infected on a flight led to 59 cases. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/thirteen-people-infected-on-a-flight-led-to-59-cases-39664941.html

Classification of aerosol-generating procedures: a rapid systematic review. In the context of covid-19, aerosol generating procedures have been highlighted as requiring a higher grade of personal protective equipment. We investigated how official guidance documents and academic publications have classified procedures in terms of whether or not they are aerosol-generating. https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000730

RESOURCES

WORLD HEALTH SUMMIT 2020—CONTINUES TODAY . 2 MORE DAYS – 50 SESSIONS – 300 SPEAKERS – ALL DIGITAL#WHS2020 Tune in and take part – by simply clicking on the session you want to follow. Live, interactive and cost-free: https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/

TODAY–PD 19 – Essential Surgical and Trauma Care An Integral Part of Universal Health Coverage. Oct. 26, 2020, CET: 04:00 PM – 05:30 PM / UTC: 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM. Digital Participation: https://worldhealthsummit-org.zoom.us/j/95062767600

Meeting ID: 950 6276 7600

Https://Us02web.Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/9716025049537/WN_Ykk-Oka_Tkidstlx2le8oa

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

OTHER NEWS

Low‐dose ketamine for acute pain control in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acem.14159?campaign=wolacceptedarticle#.X5XvV0D5jQ8.twitter

Antenatal Dexamethasone for Early Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Countries. Among women in low-resource countries who were at risk for early preterm birth, the use of dexamethasone resulted in significantly lower risks of neonatal death alone and stillbirth or neonatal death than the use of placebo, without an increase in the incidence of possible maternal bacterial infection. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022398?query=featured_home

The prevalence, incidence and mortality associated with intra-abdominal hypertension among patients in intensive care units of a low-income country: a cohort study [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/browse/articles?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Developing excellence in biostatistics leadership, training and science in Africa: How the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) training unites expertise to deliver excellence [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/browse/articles?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Diagnostic accuracy of the CAM-ICU and ICDSC in detecting intensive care unit delirium: A bivariate meta-analysis. Although both the CAM-ICU and the ICDSC are accurate assessment tools for screening delirium in critically ill patients, the CAM-ICU is superior in ruling out patients without ICU delirium and detecting delirium in patients in the medical ICU and those receiving mechanical ventilation. Further investigations are warranted to validate our findings. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748920302686?dgcid=coauthor

Autocratisation and universal health coverage: synthetic control study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4040?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 27 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 27, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,283	[360]	21		4,438	1,824	1	2,655	9	289,232

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-27-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,283 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 25 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 27 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

COVID research updates: A maths-based strategy streamlines COVID testing. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Preventing the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 With Masks and Other “Low-tech” Interventions. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Researchers discover a second ‘key’ that makes the new coronavirus so infectious. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/researchers-discover-a-second-key-that-makes-the-new-coronavirus-so-infectious/18I0pQQDzZ4lrUpdeNLgI6?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zjgqs3nmpaonbdd7g3gh61oji3c6c02bkfmq5208&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F26%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Aspirin use reduces risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/aspirin-use-reduces-risk-of-death-in-hospitalized-covid-19-patients/6J0gmq7mlJTZH9pi4HeUv0?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zgf4va9incgsjucdho09jp4up3do53vqc5fmg4hg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F26%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

Does the COVID-19 pandemic provide an opportunity to eliminate the tobacco industry? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30466-6/fulltext

Ventilation management and clinical outcomes in invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 (PRoVENT-COVID): a national, multicentre, observational cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30459-8/fulltext

COVID-19: Near-Universal Masking / Confined Students’ Mental Health / Vaccine Trials Resume. https://www.jwatch.org/fw117161/2020/10/25/covid-19-near-universal-masking-confined-students-mental

RESOURCES

WORLD HEALTH SUMMIT 2020—CONTINUES TODAY . 1 MORE DAY – 50 SESSIONS – 300 SPEAKERS – ALL DIGITAL#WHS2020 Tune in and take part – by simply clicking on the session you want to follow. Live, interactive and cost-free: https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/

Https://Us02web.Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/9716025049537/WN_Ykk-Oka_Tkidstlx2le8oa

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

OTHER NEWS

An unrecognized key population? traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa. Conclusions: Nearly all traditional healers are routinely performing minimally invasive skin incisions that could expose them to patient blood. The lack of training and access to personal protective equipment increase their risk of acquisition of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV. Given the widespread practice of traditional skin incisions across southern Africa, and the higher levels of HIV among traditional healers exposed to patient blood, it is likely that traditional healers are a hitherto unrecognized key population at disproportionate risk of acquiring HIV. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33048882/

Scaling up Surgery and Anesthesia, Post-Coronavirus. Expanding access to surgery and anesthesia globally would be a win–win for health security and universal health coverage. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/scaling-surgery-and-anesthesia-post-coronavirus

When our research internship went virtual, we needed a new mentorship approach. https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2020/10/when-our-research-internship-went-virtual-we-needed-new-mentorship-approach

Expanding Use of Clinical Genome Sequencing and the Need for More Data on Implementation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

New advances in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3544?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Strengthening the global response to climate change and infectious disease threats. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3081?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

The impact of adult behavioural weight management interventions on mental health: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13150#.X5eNwedZrFA.twitter

Effects of oncological care pathways in primary and secondary care on patient, professional and health systems outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-020-01498-0?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 28 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 28, 2020, 03:39 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,283		21		4,438	1,824	1	2,655	9	289,232

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-28-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,283 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 26 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 28 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

A Flu Shot Might Reduce Coronavirus Infections, Early Research Suggests. Hospital workers who got vaccinated were significantly less likely to develop COVID than those who did not. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-flu-shot-might-reduce-coronavirus-infections-early-research-suggests/

What defines an efficacious COVID-19 vaccine? A review of the challenges assessing the clinical efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30773-8/fulltext

COVID research updates: A maths-based strategy streamlines COVID testing. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

COVID research updates: Basketball stars score with coronavirus insights. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Spike mutation D614G alters SARS-CoV-2 fitness. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2895-3

Deferral of Care for Serious Non–COVID-19 Conditions. A Hidden Harm of COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2772349

Covid-19: French sidelining of patient associations is a global trend. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4082

Corticosteroids in COVID-19: Is it Rational? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33103063/

COVID-19 and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: A Systematic Review of 104 Cases. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3441?fbclid=IwAR2tBopC9KgnLH0-pUkx1timgzohwfDRyU8EifTaSDts_-7q8SilO5YDorw

‘Every minute counts.’ This immunologist rapidly reshaped her lab to tackle COVID-19. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/every-minute-counts-immunologist-rapidly-reshaped-her-lab-tackle-covid-19

Risk stratification of patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3339

13 responses https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3339/rapid-responses

Editorial Prediction models for covid-19 outcomes https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3777

RESOURCES

Https://Us02web.Zoom.Us/Webinar/Register/9716025049537/WN_Ykk-Oka_Tkidstlx2le8oa

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

WHO — About the Clinical Management Course Series. Quality clinical care is at the heart of a robust, effective response to outbreaks. Frontline health workers need evidence-based tools and training to provide safe, effective and quality clinical care. The Clinical Management channel includes training courses on a range of diseases, such as Ebola, diphtheria, influenza and others. The channel will also host a full course series on COVID-19 which covers a holistic pathway of care of a patient, from screening and triage to rehabilitation and palliative care.

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

OTHER NEWS

Risk of Overcorrection in Rapid Intermittent Bolus vs Slow Continuous Infusion Therapies of Hypertonic Saline for Patients With Symptomatic Hyponatremia:The SALSA Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2772353

‘Old and unsafe’ cars sent to developing world fuelling air pollution, report finds. Poor quality of used vehicles exported from the US, Europe and Japan are hindering efforts to mitigate climate breakdown, says UN. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/27/old-and-unsafe-cars-sent-to-developing-world-fuelling-air-pollution-report-finds

Daily briefing: Air pollution linked to COVID deaths. An analysis of health and pollution data concludes that long-term exposure to particulates could be linked to 15% of global COVID-19 deaths. Plus: consciousness in lab-grown brains and 20 years of the International Space Station. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03039-0

Influence and management of conflicts of interest in randomised clinical trials: qualitative interview study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3764

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 29 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 29, 2020, 04:11 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,283		21		4,438	1,824	1	2,655	9	289,232

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-29-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,283 Total confirmed cases

21 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 27 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 29 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Covid-19: risks to healthcare workers and their families. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3944

Health Care Worker SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Flying Under the Radar. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772293?guestAccessKey=7f191123-bf20-4779-b6fc-a974ae4253ec&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4006702730&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=102998045

New COVID-19 related genes – helpful and harmful – found in massive screen. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-covid-19-related-genes-helpful-and-harmful-found-in-massive-screen/6iI2beAQzgsoEQGWHn5QET?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2znu5gjaervvu96s11lhhok8n43dsmk32r15n5h60&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F28%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

These are the top coronavirus vaccines to watch. We are tracking 200 experimental vaccines aimed at ending the
pandemic, a scientific quest moving at record-breaking speed. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/covid-vaccine-update-coronavirus/?utm_campaign=wp_to_your_health&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_tyh&wpmk=1&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNWNkMmVmZmY5YmJjMGYwYmY4OGIwODEwIiwidGFnIjoiNWY5OWQ2Zjc5ZDJmZGEwZWZiNTY4NmEwIiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2dyYXBoaWNzLzIwMjAvaGVhbHRoL2NvdmlkLXZhY2NpbmUtdXBkYXRlLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249d3BfdG9feW91cl9oZWFsdGgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3R5aCZ3cG1rPTEifQ.Oq-FatsAxGmuxSY5D1Ll8MmwSxalLsg1JuKkcsAHupU

COVID research updates: A fur-farm animal can spread the coronavirus. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

The ‘very, very bad look’ of remdesivir, the first FDA-approved COVID-19 drug. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/very-very-bad-look-remdesivir-first-fda-approved-covid-19-drug

‘Another piece of populist propaganda’: Critics slam the Brazilian government’s new COVID-19 drug. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/another-piece-populist-propaganda-critics-slam-brazilian-government-s-new-covid-19-drug

Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland. Our results indicate that antiviral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 did not decline within 4 months after diagnosis. We estimate that the risk of death from infection was 0.3% and that 44% of persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland were not diagnosed by qPCR. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026116?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody LY-CoV555 in Outpatients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029849?query=featured_home

Face masks, vision, and risk of falls. At risk groups should be advised to “take their time” rather than “look down.” Specifically, people should take their time before starting to walk and then walk more slowly. This will ensure that they have enough time to detect upcoming trip hazards and plan a safe route. Slowing down will also reduce the need for large, rapid head and eye movements while walking. Slower walking speed may have its own disadvantages, such as increased gait variability and less intense physical activity. But given the risks associated with looking down more or making no adjustment, slowing down is likely to be the least risky strategy. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4133

Diagnosis of COVID-19 by analysis of breath with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry – a feasibility study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30353-9/fulltext

NIH scientists discover key pathway in lysosomes that coronaviruses use to exit cells. Targeting cells’ ‘trash compactor’ could lead to new antiviral strategy to fight COVID-19. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-scientists-discover-key-pathway-lysosomes-coronaviruses-use-exit-cells?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

RESOURCES

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

OTHER NEWS

Africa’s people must be able to write their own genomics agenda. Genomics on the continent is finally getting the attention it deserves from international donors — but more funding needs to come from national and regional sources, too. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03028-3

Making pharmaceutical research and regulation work for women. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3808

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 30 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 30, 2020, 04:11 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,6426,283	[359]	24	[3]	4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-30-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 28 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 30 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

Why schools probably aren’t COVID hotspots. Young children are unlikely to spread the virus — but older kids are more at risk, say researchers. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02973-3

Case Fatality Rates for COVID-19 Patients Requiring Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Meta-analysis. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/rccm.202006-2405OC

India’s COVID-19 cases have declined rapidly—but herd immunity is still far away, scientists say. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/indias-covid-19-cases-have-declined-rapidly-herd-immunity-still-far-away-scientists-say

Risk of hospital admission with coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare workers and their households: nationwide linkage cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3582

Covid-19: Is a second wave hitting Europe? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4113

Covid-19: Why we still need more women in academia. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4161

Maintaining confidentiality of emerging results in COVID-19 vaccine trials is essential. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32259-5/fulltext

Most people mount a strong antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 that does not decline rapidly: Study. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/most-people-mount-a-strong-antibody-response-to-sars-cov-2-that-does-not-decline-rapidly-study/51lFxkWarWTgqTeI1khFGm?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z1gc0ognm2kh2o8si41kdjrsienm4jcgbihcj0v8&utm_campaign=All%20Specialties%2010%2F29%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

RESOURCES

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

Video- Integrating an NSOAP into National Health and Pandemic Response Strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k17PFhFGfDI&list=PLQR8YH-YtQS9cxvw9FiIrWUhypOVWvZrN

OTHER NEWS

Quantifying Plasmodium falciparum infections clustering within households to inform household-based intervention strategies for malaria control programs: An observational study and meta-analysis from 41 malaria-endemic countries. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1003370&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

New polio vaccine poised to get emergency WHO approval. The vaccine, designed to prevent harmful mutations, is seen as key to eradicating polio. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03045-

Leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin (LPEP): an international feasibility programme. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30396-X/fulltext

Developing a Surgical Quality Improvement Program for Resource-Limited Settings. The program incorporates 4 key components: (1) the training of a clinical quality champion in high-value QI skills and techniques, (2) an effective morbidity and mortality conference, (3) process standardization, and (4) establishment of a reliable data collection system to monitor quality and outcomes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2772069?guestAccessKey=f14fd783-b337-47b7-9a27-72bac4c0ca7f&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamasurg&utm_term=4014739612&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=103080524

Memory failure predicted by attention lapsing and media multitasking. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2870-z

Africa’s people must be able to write their own genomics agenda. Genomics on the continent is finally getting the attention it deserves from international donors — but more funding needs to come from national and regional sources, too. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03028-3

Making pharmaceutical research and regulation work for women. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3808

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 31 October 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: OCT 31, 2020, 05:06 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,642		24		4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 10-31-2020 06:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 October 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 31 OCTOBER 2020

NEWS

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 30 October 2020. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—30-october-2020

Is the COVID-19 risk on airplanes really that low? Here’s what experts say. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-10-29/covid-19-risk-airplanes

Securing a healthy future: what COVID-19 taught the world. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/securing-a-healthy-future-what-covid-19-taught-the-world

Scientific American Coronavirus News Roundup, October 24-October 30. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-october-24-october-30/

Peripheral Oxygen Saturation in Older Persons Wearing Nonmedical Face Masks in Community Settings. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

RESOURCES

The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

Video- Integrating an NSOAP into National Health and Pandemic Response Strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k17PFhFGfDI&list=PLQR8YH-YtQS9cxvw9FiIrWUhypOVWvZrN

OTHER NEWS

Stroke systems of care in low-income and middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31374-X/fulltext?utm_campaign=lancetstroke20&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Gastrointestinal-resident, shape-changing microdevices extend drug release in vivo. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/44/eabb4133

Comparison of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) With Ibuprofen for Treatment of Fever or Pain in Children Younger Than 2 Years. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772373

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 2 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 2, 2020, 07:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,642		24		4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-02-2020 08:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 1 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 2 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

COVID-19 deaths: infection fatality ratio is about 1% says new report. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-deaths-infection-fatality-ratio-is-about-1-says-new-report/6PetxfIFlVS5IqXhypMi7G?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zp2ljvd3cml7n03eta1a1pif5s7rmh8f8sdhpgc8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F01%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

How the Wealthy World Has Failed Poor Countries During the Pandemic. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/how-the-wealthy-world-has-failed-poor-countries-during-the-pandemic/ar-BB1aABDB?ocid=msedgntp

Can covid-19 help us deal with the pandemic of defensive medicine? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/10/30/can-covid-19-help-us-deal-with-the-pandemic-of-defensive-medicine/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bmj%2Fblogs+%28Latest+BMJ+blogs%29&g=w_bmj-com

Covid-19 deaths are soaring, and Jakarta’s graveyards are running out of space. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/coronavirus-deaths-indonesia-cemeteries/2020/10/30/83b4663e-0d29-11eb-b404-8d1e675ec701_story.html

Household spread of Covid-19 is common and quick, CDC study finds. “Because prompt isolation of persons with COVID-19 can reduce household transmission, persons who suspect that they might have COVID-19 should isolate, stay at home, and use a separate bedroom and bathroom if feasible,” wrote a CDC-led team of researchers.. In addition, all members of the household should wear masks at all times in common spaces, the team said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/household-spread-of-covid-19-is-common-and-quick-cdc-study-finds/ar-BB1ayqaz?ocid=msedgntp

Everything doctors must know before COVID-19’s next wave. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/everything-doctors-must-know-before-covid-19-and-8217-s-next-wave/bhDio4iIKYVMmapkHm07A?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zpl63saamgetdha9h0bqkalri54l0750evp9n2s8&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2010%2F31%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

How does the environment impact COVID-19? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-does-the-environment-impact-covid-19/DZQADSgSy9S53wFNn5QON?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z1s7bptfrt6q1iflouf7j9hqv6gkksh1pc3su5k8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2010%2F31%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

The effect of coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV) during pregnancy and the possibility of vertical maternal-fetal transmission: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res. 2020 Sep 4;25(1):39. Coronavirus infection is more likely to affect pregnant women. Respiratory infectious diseases have demonstrated an increased risk of adverse maternal obstetrical complications than the general population due to physiological changes occurred during pregnancy. None of the studies reported transmission of CoV from the mother to the fetus in utero, which may be due to a very low expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 in early maternal-fetal interface cells. https://plus.mcmaster.ca/COVID-19/Article/Details/32887660?s=Twitter

RESOURCES

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68
The Academy of Medical Sciences and The Lancet International Health Lecture. 10.30- 12.00 (GMT), Monday 02 November 2020. Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics. Free Registration.

2020. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/events/international-health-lecture-2020

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Center. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

Video- Integrating an NSOAP into National Health and Pandemic Response Strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k17PFhFGfDI&list=PLQR8YH-YtQS9cxvw9FiIrWUhypOVWvZrN

OTHER NEWS

Taking Early Cancer Detection to the Next Level. The genomic revolution gives us an opportunity to bend the mortality curve. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/taking-early-cancer-detection-to-the-next-level/

On the Use and Value of Reporting Guidelines in Health Professions Education Research. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/On_the_Use_and_Value_of_Reporting_Guidelines_in.1.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Pause, Persist, Pivot: Key Decisions Health Professions Education Researchers Must Make About Conducting Studies During Extreme Events, https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/Pause,_Persist,_Pivot__Key_Decisions_Health.33.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Propelling Educational Innovations to Publication in Five Steps. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/Propelling_Educational_Innovations_to_Publication.63.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Evaluating the Reliability and Validity Evidence of the RIME (Reporter-Interpreter-Manager-Educator) Framework for Summative Assessments Across Clerkships. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Evaluating_the_Reliability_and_Validity_Evidence.96949.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

An Evaluation of Faculty Development Programs for Clinician–Educators: A Scoping Review. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/An_Evaluation_of_Faculty_Development_Programs_for.96952.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

“Digital Clinical Placements”==Challenges in a Lower Middle-Income Country. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/_Digital_Clinical_Placements___Challenges_in_a.96961.aspx

Ugandan Medical Student Career Choices Relate to Foreign Funding Priorities. Medical students in Uganda acknowledge the career opportunities for physicians in specialties prioritized by the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to avoid “brain drain” and encourage students to pursue careers in surgery, career opportunities including surgical residencies must be prioritized and supported in sub-Saharan Africa. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-020-05756-z?utm_source=toc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=toc_268_44_12&utm_content=etoc_springer_20201031

Gastrointestinal-resident, shape-changing microdevices extend drug release in vivo. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/44/eabb4133

Comparison of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) With Ibuprofen for Treatment of Fever or Pain in Children Younger Than 2 Years. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772373

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 3 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 3, 2020, 03:53 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,642		24		4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-03-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 1 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 2 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and transmission risk factors among high-risk close contacts: a retrospective cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30833-1/fulltext

Study shows myocarditis linked to COVID-19 not as common as believed. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-shows-myocarditis-linked-to-covid-19-not-as-common-as-believed/6VAywJQC2KC9EyIsNrUUs6?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zcs1l794oh6qi5s4ssa05hieieqf3iant4q5deu0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F02%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

COVID-19 patients infect half of household: CDC study, https://www.mdlinx.com/news/covid-19-patients-infect-half-of-household-cdc-study/3dxmxQQjyJ7yLsMl1BRFkv?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zcb6dbifpjfsenk7or1egn72vt12mr6vfkiq1g3o&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F02%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Nature Daily briefing: How COVID turns our immune defences against us. The fiendishly complicated relationship between our immune systems and SARS-CoV-2, how scientists are making lab life comfy for ‘extremophile’ microbes and a Trump order alarms US government scientists. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03093-8

Science Denial and COVID Conspiracy Theories. Potential Neurological Mechanisms and Possible Responses. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772693

Preparing for the 2020-2021 Influenza Season. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2772691

High-risk Groups for Influenza Complications. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772692

The concept of “fatigue” in tackling covid-19. The concept of “fatigue” in tackling covid-1. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4171

RESOURCES

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

Please visit the COVID-19 national languages channel to access COVID-19-related clinical care courses in additional languages. https://openwho.org/channels/clinical-management

Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition. As part of an ongoing Call for Papers on Obesity and Healthy Weight Nutrition, Elsevier and the editors of the following journals are pleased to make these specially selected articles available free through December 31, 2020. https://www.elsevier.com/health/medicine/journals/obesity-and-healthy-weight-nutrition?utm_campaign=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1599232901_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Nutrition&sf237451963=1

Video- Integrating an NSOAP into National Health and Pandemic Response Strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k17PFhFGfDI&list=PLQR8YH-YtQS9cxvw9FiIrWUhypOVWvZrN

OTHER NEWS

Cost-effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine for malaria during pregnancy: an analysis using efficacy results from Uganda and Kenya, and pooled data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30369-7/fulltext

Sepsis: the importance of an accurate final diagnosis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30520-8/fulltext

Stroke rehabilitation in low-income and middle-income countries: a call to action. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31313-1/fulltext

Dietary intake of total, animal and plant proteins and the risk of coronary heart disease and hypertension: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2020.1841730

Ten simple rules for women principal investigators during a pandemic. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008370

Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Further, cellular phone use with cumulative call time more than 1000 h statistically significantly increased the risk of tumors. This comprehensive meta-analysis of case-control studies found evidence that linked cellular phone use to increased tumor risk. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8079

Engaging Children and Young People in Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review of Modes of Delivery, Facilitators, and Barriers. https://www.jmir.org/2020/6/e16317/

From 2 Nov 20

Taking Early Cancer Detection to the Next Level. The genomic revolution gives us an opportunity to bend the mortality curve. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/taking-early-cancer-detection-to-the-next-level/

On the Use and Value of Reporting Guidelines in Health Professions Education Research. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/On_the_Use_and_Value_of_Reporting_Guidelines_in.1.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Pause, Persist, Pivot: Key Decisions Health Professions Education Researchers Must Make About Conducting Studies During Extreme Events, https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/Pause,_Persist,_Pivot__Key_Decisions_Health.33.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Propelling Educational Innovations to Publication in Five Steps. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2020/11000/Propelling_Educational_Innovations_to_Publication.63.aspx?context=FeaturedArticles&collectionId=8

Evaluating the Reliability and Validity Evidence of the RIME (Reporter-Interpreter-Manager-Educator) Framework for Summative Assessments Across Clerkships. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Evaluating_the_Reliability_and_Validity_Evidence.96949.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

An Evaluation of Faculty Development Programs for Clinician–Educators: A Scoping Review. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/An_Evaluation_of_Faculty_Development_Programs_for.96952.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

“Digital Clinical Placements”==Challenges in a Lower Middle-Income Country. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/_Digital_Clinical_Placements___Challenges_in_a.96961.aspx

Ugandan Medical Student Career Choices Relate to Foreign Funding Priorities. Medical students in Uganda acknowledge the career opportunities for physicians in specialties prioritized by the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to avoid “brain drain” and encourage students to pursue careers in surgery, career opportunities including surgical residencies must be prioritized and supported in sub-Saharan Africa. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-020-05756-z?utm_source=toc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=toc_268_44_12&utm_content=etoc_springer_20201031

Gastrointestinal-resident, shape-changing microdevices extend drug release in vivo. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/44/eabb4133

Comparison of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) With Ibuprofen for Treatment of Fever or Pain in Children Younger Than 2 Years. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772373

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 4 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 4, 2020, 04:02 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,642		24		4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-04-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 2 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 4 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Persistence of viral RNA, pneumocyte syncytia and thrombosis are hallmarks of advanced COVID-19 pathology. COVID-19 is a unique disease characterized by extensive lung thrombosis, long-term persistence of viral RNA in pneumocytes and endothelial cells, along with the presence of infected cell syncytia. Several of COVID-19 features might be consequent to the persistence of virus-infected cells for the duration of the disease. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(20)30480-1/fulltext

Interferon deficiency can lead to severe COVID. Understanding what contributes to the development of severe COVID-19 would be of great clinical benefit. Analysis of people in whom this occurred pinpoints a key role for the signalling pathway mediated by type I interferon proteins. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03070-1

Will a small, long-shot U.S. company end up producing the best coronavirus vaccine? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/will-small-long-shot-us-company-end-producing-best-coronavirus-vaccine

Seven different ‘disease forms’ identified in mild COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/seven-different-disease-forms-identified-in-mild-covid-19/iH5JWUDAhf0MK0wT1WYMb?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zaceprgpquen54stjcdjhpofkm9cnctac2ahk7p0&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F03%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

New drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-drug-candidate-for-the-treatment-of-covid-19/1D7cxV20NpgMHu6EJyoJ9a?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z9c7t60dhmoh5kncl9u1ufumn99hfiuj0qku4dqo&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F03%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

Stroke systems of care in low-income and middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31374-X/fulltext

Vitamin D levels during pregnancy linked with child IQ. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/vitamin-d-levels-during-pregnancy-linked-with-child-iq/61Yj6G63xCGG3YCK2rQjrx?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zig2j2gqntbmoqp0kc6k0tsiuqvctsll0pqqakr8&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F03%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

Internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph node chain irradiation in stage I–III breast cancer (EORTC 22922/10925): 15-year results of a randomised, phase 3 trial. The 15-year results show a significant reduction of breast cancer mortality and any breast cancer recurrence by IM-MS irradiation in stage I–III breast cancer. However, this is not converted to improved overall survival. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30472-1/fulltext

Association of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index With Fetal Growth and Neonatal Thalamic Brain Connectivity Among Adolescent and Young Women. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772523

Young scientists in Malaysia have made integrity training fun and relevant. Bottom-up workshops have laid a foundation for responsible research, but institutions must add structural support. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03082-x

Low-Dose Edoxaban in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2012883?query=featured_home

From 3 November

Sepsis: the importance of an accurate final diagnosis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30520-8/fulltext

Stroke rehabilitation in low-income and middle-income countries: a call to action. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31313-1/fulltext

Ten simple rules for women principal investigators during a pandemic. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008370

Engaging Children and Young People in Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review of Modes of Delivery, Facilitators, and Barriers. https://www.jmir.org/2020/6/e16317/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 5 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 5, 2020, 03:27 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	6,642		24		4,676	1,942	1	2,806	10	299,546

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-05-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

6,642 Total confirmed cases

24 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 3 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 4 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

T-cell study adds to debate over duration of COVID-19 immunity. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/t-cell-study-adds-to-debate-over-duration-of-covid-19-immunity/38GyDW3W89rbgMHfRzmnaa?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zo1re00jnvfdnmadt6toqisa9ui3vp3n4jv4qjd8&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F04%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

New cause of COVID-19 blood clots identified. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-cause-of-covid-19-blood-clots-identified/7kGWPuA4lkJ5pmUmaLyz8F?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zsfjemp4fbfstvgobp121u09tculq9m8prae6ato&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F04%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

COVID research updates: Many surfaces carry coronavirus RNA — but not much of it. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Final Report.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007764?query=featured_home

Remdesivir for 5 or 10 Days in Patients with Severe Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2015301?query=featured_home

Covid-19: GPs are told to be ready to deliver vaccine from next month. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4291

Clinically extremely vulnerable adults should not leave home for work, says new advice. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4292

RESOURCES

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

Are infections seeding some cases of Alzheimer’s disease?. A fringe theory links microbes in the brain with the onset of dementia. Now, researchers are taking it seriously. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03084-9

Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4087

Associations between high temperatures in pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirths: systematic review and meta-analysis. Conclusions: Although summary effect sizes are relatively small, heat exposures are common and the outcomes are important determinants of population health. Linkages between socioeconomic status and study outcomes suggest that risks might be largest in low and middle income countries. Temperature rises with global warming could have major implications for child health. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3811

______________________________________________

From 4 November

Stroke systems of care in low-income and middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31374-X/fulltext

Vitamin D levels during pregnancy linked with child IQ. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/vitamin-d-levels-during-pregnancy-linked-with-child-iq/61Yj6G63xCGG3YCK2rQjrx?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zig2j2gqntbmoqp0kc6k0tsiuqvctsll0pqqakr8&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F03%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

Association of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index With Fetal Growth and Neonatal Thalamic Brain Connectivity Among Adolescent and Young Women. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772523

Young scientists in Malaysia have made integrity training fun and relevant. Bottom-up workshops have laid a foundation for responsible research, but institutions must add structural support. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03082-xLow-Dose Edoxaban in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2012883?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 6 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 6, 2020, 02:49 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835	[193]	27	[3]	5,534	2,274	1	3,309	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-06-2020 04:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 4 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 6 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Telework Before Illness Onset Among Symptomatic Adults Aged ≥18 Years With and Without COVID-19 in 11 Outpatient Health Care Facilities — United States, July 2020. Weekly / November 6, 2020 / 69(44);1648–1653. What is added by this report? Adults who received positive test results for SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report exclusively going to an office or school setting in the 2 weeks before illness onset, compared with those who tested negative, even among those working in a profession outside of the critical infrastructure. What are the implications for public health practice? Businesses and employers should promote alternative work site options, such as teleworking, where possible, to reduce exposures to SARS-CoV-2. Where telework options are not feasible, worker safety measures should continue to be scaled up to reduce possible worksite exposures. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6944a4.htm?s_cid=mm6944a4_w

Challenges in creating herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection by mass vaccination. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32318-7/fulltext Effect of pre-exposure use of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 mortality: a population-based cohort study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus using the OpenSAFELY platform. We found no evidence of a difference in COVID-19 mortality among people who received hydroxychloroquine for treatment of rheumatological disease before the COVID-19 outbreak in England. Therefore, completion of randomised trials investigating pre-exposure prophylactic use of hydroxychloroquine for prevention of severe outcomes from COVID-19 are warranted. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(20)30378-7/fulltext

These countries got COVID-19 under control. Here’s 3 things they did right. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/these-countries-got-covid-19-under-control-heres-3-things-they-did-right/7hk19AR7lXIONNJc1wNFq3?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zffn6pimuvm7u4h08c98gekmjfhs4svefksp42t0&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F05%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Scientists find tissue in the human eye that appears resistant to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/scientists-find-tissue-in-the-human-eye-that-appears-resistant-to-sars-cov-2/6Yh7rKlFbOyClArqEzGOHV?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z29k5hdu4cg3isd71plb3ohpbr6tst3mg5hdpk1o&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F04%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

World Health Assembly charts course for COVID-19 response and global health priorities. https://www.who.int/news/item/05-11-2020-world-health-assembly-charts-course-for-covid-19-response-and-global-health-priorities

Versatile and multivalent nanobodies efficiently neutralize SARS-CoV-2. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/04/science.abe4747

De novo design of potent and resilient hACE2 decoys to neutralize SARS-CoV-2. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/04/science.abe0075

An ultrapotent synthetic nanobody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by stabilizing inactive Spike. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/04/science.abe3255

Public health during the pandemic in India. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6517/663

RESOURCES

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

New research confirms obesity is a cause of kidney disease. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-research-confirms-obesity-is-a-cause-of-kidney-disease/3OQjgyO9T7oiG5QFqAgW0F?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z6ej0sm2r7q2ijhn4i1aqhcss61hgv54dvqsjbug&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F05%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33148440/

Evidence-based prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of 243 observational prospective studies and 153 randomised controlled trials. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/91/11/1201

Association of Echocardiographic Left Ventricular End-Systolic Volume and Volume-Derived Ejection Fraction With Outcome in Asymptomatic Chronic Aortic Regurgitation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2772324

_________________________________________________

From 5 November

Are infections seeding some cases of Alzheimer’s disease?. A fringe theory links microbes in the brain with the onset of dementia. Now, researchers are taking it seriously. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03084-9

Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4087

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 7 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 7, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835		27		5,534	2,274	1	3,309	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-07-2020 05:24 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 5 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 7 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Emergency use authorisation for COVID-19 vaccines: lessons from Ebola. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32337-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Daily briefing: Rapid COVID tests — what they can and can’t do. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03160-0

Preexisting and de novo humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in humans. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/05/science.abe1107

Coronavirus News Roundup, October 31-November 6. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-october-31-november-6/

First It Was Masks; Now Some Refuse Testing for SARS-CoV-2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772860

The democratic, political, and scientific failures of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4277

Covid-19: Rapid test missed over 50% of positive cases in Manchester pilot. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4323

The US’s workplace safety regulator just released guidance on how to ventilate offices to decrease the airborne spread of COVID-19. https://www.businessinsider.com/osha-releases-covid-19-ventilation-guide-for-workplaces-2020-11

When coffee smells like gasoline: Covid isn’t just stealing senses — it may be warping them. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/smell-loss-covid-parosmia/2020/11/04/08a24c26-1e05-11eb-b532-05c751cd5dc2_story.html

RESOURCES

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

New Guideline Calls for Cervical Cancer Screening to Begin at Age 25 Years. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772859

Association of Adverse Neighborhood Exposures With HIV Viral Load in Pregnant Women at Delivery. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772566

_____________________________________________

From 6 November

New research confirms obesity is a cause of kidney disease. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-research-confirms-obesity-is-a-cause-of-kidney-disease/3OQjgyO9T7oiG5QFqAgW0F?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z6ej0sm2r7q2ijhn4i1aqhcss61hgv54dvqsjbug&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F05%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=4

Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33148440/

Association of Echocardiographic Left Ventricular End-Systolic Volume and Volume-Derived Ejection Fraction With Outcome in Asymptomatic Chronic Aortic Regurgitation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2772324

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 9 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 9, 2020, 03:48 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835		27		5,534	2,274	1	3,309	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-09-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 7 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 9 NOVEMBER 2020

PRESS RELEASE – PRESIDENT MASISI APPROVES LIFTING OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN A PHASED MANNER STARTING FROM THE 9th NOVEMBER 2020

His Excellency the President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi has approved the lifting of international travel restrictions in a phased manner starting from the 9th of November, 2020 and extending to the 1st of December, 2020, covering the 14 Points of Entry listed as follows:

i. On the 9th of November, 2020, air travel will resume at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, Kasane International Airport and Maun International Airport.

ii. On the 1st of December, 2020, Ground Crossing will resume at the commercial border points of Kazungula road, Kazungula ferry, Ngoma, Ramokgwebana, Martins Drift, Ramatlabama, Tlokweng, Mamuno, Pioneer and Mohembo.

iii. Furthermore, international air travel will resume on the 1st of December, 2020 at Phillip G. Matante International Airport in Francistown.

All arriving travellers will be expected to meet the following requirements:

a) Present a valid 72 Hour negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) result from time of departure.

b) Screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry.

c) Symptomatic clients upon arrival will be required to undertake mandatory testing and possible isolation and or quarantine, as per section 76 (1) (2) and 80 of the Public Health Act of 2013.

d) The traveller will be required to remain in contact with the local health authority for a period of 14 days doing self-monitoring.

e) Returning citizens and residents not meeting the requirement will undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine and testing at their own cost (as assessed by local authority).

f) Non-citizen travelers not meeting the requirements will NOT be allowed entry into Botswana.

g) Travellers exiting Botswana are expected to comply with travel regulations of the destination country at their own expense.

The remaining Points of Entry will be considered in due course subject to disease burden and harmonization with other neighbouring countries.

[Signed]

Andrew O. Sesinyi

PERMANENT SECRETARY

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS

NEWS

COVID research updates: A vaccine that mimics the coronavirus prompts potent antibodies. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Study uncovers subset of COVID-19 patients who recover quickly and sustain antibodies. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-uncovers-subset-of-covid-19-patients-who-recover-quickly-and-sustain-antibodies/3IWr53NmZPAC39CwNxz9pD?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z9rgnaudl729d63cdqsok085viutm81pcn6omme8&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F07%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=3

WHO-led COVID drug scheme doubles down on antibodies, steroids and shuns remdesivir. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/who-led-covid-drug-scheme-doubles-down-on-antibodies-steroids-and-shuns-remdesivir/2bddH0A6ejBhRflzZFtXLx?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zis2amdl0qfgqn91r4t4svc70o3c3slmh2m4knm0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F08%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

How COVID-19 symptoms differ from allergies, cold and flu. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-covid-19-symptoms-differ-from-allergies-cold-and-flu/3gh8EEn4HUgKwW5nssiTcg?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zht3efj82l1jsn3t83tg4lvb5d69bpb5gieigk6g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F08%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

5th African Conference on Emergency Medicine (#AfCEM20) November 9 – 12, 2020 (EAT). $50. Registration. https://afcem.info/registration/

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease. In a randomized trial involving patients with chronic coronary disease, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly lower among those who received 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily than among those who received placebo https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2021372?query=featured_home

REVISED A Journey of Hope: giving research participants a voice to share their experiences and improve community engagement around advanced HIV disease in Uganda [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-33

From 6 November

New Guideline Calls for Cervical Cancer Screening to Begin at Age 25 Years. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772859

Association of Adverse Neighborhood Exposures With HIV Viral Load in Pregnant Women at Delivery. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772566

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 10 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 10, 2020, 03:29 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835		27		5,534	2,274	1	3,308	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-10-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 8 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 10 NOVEMBER 2020

PRESS RELEASE – AIR BOTSWANA RE-COMMENCES SCHEDULED REGIONAL OPERATIONS

9 November 2020-Gaborone – In accordance with the Government’s announcement on the further relaxation of international travel restrictions, the Air Botswana Board, Management and Staff are pleased to announce the re-commencement of its scheduled regional operations effective November 10, 2020.

Air Botswana will initially offer four weekly flights between Gaborone and Johannesburg, but these will be adjusted based on travel demand. This is taking into account the prevalent travel conditions and protocols, still to be adhered to. Other regional destinations will be gradually introduced, including Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka.

“We are indeed very pleased at the announcement and view this as a positive development which will afford us an opportunity to progress our recovery plan”. In this regard, we remain committed to continue implementing comprehensive safety and health measures, that are in line with globally recommended COVID-19 mitigation standards.

Our focus remains deeply rooted on the recovery of the airline, its commercial viability and sustainability. Despite the difficult operating environment, we continue to explore new ways of doing things, exploit any possible opportunities, have the safety of our staff and customers at the heart of our business. These, we believe are key to ensuring that Air Botswana maintains its going-concern status,” said the General Manager, Agnes. T. Khunwana.

To further comply with health protocols and efficiency of service delivery, Air Botswana encourages the public and customers to take advantage of its online services for assistance with domestic and regional travel bookings, and other related enquiries via the business website; www.airbotswana.co.bw and call centre + 267 3680900.

Furthermore, the public and the travelling community are advised to familiarise themselves with the prevailing travel regulations and guidelines as provided by Health authorities and the Government.

We thank you, our valuable passengers, for continuing to support us during these difficult times and we assure you of safety and comfort. Thank you and fly safe!

-END-

Corporate Communications Tel: +267 3688426 www.airbotswana.co.bw

NEWS

What Pfizer’s landmark COVID vaccine results mean for the pandemic. Scientists welcome the first compelling evidence that a vaccine can prevent COVID-19. But questions remain about how much protection it offers, to whom and for how long. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03166-8

Pfizer says early analysis shows its Covid-19 vaccine is 90% effective. The so-called interim analysis looked at the first 94 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among the more than 43,000 volunteers who got either two doses of the vaccine or a placebo. It found that fewer than 10% of infections were in participants who had been given the vaccine. More than 90% of the cases were in people who had been given a placebo. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/health/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-effective/index.html

COVID vaccination logistics: five steps to take now. Beyond vaccine safety, efficacy and procurement lie licensing and delivery — nations must get ready. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03134-2

Effect of Hydroxychloroquine on Clinical Status at 14 Days in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19A Randomized Clinical Trial. In this randomized clinical trial that included 479 hospitalized adults with respiratory symptoms from COVID-19, the distribution of the day 14 clinical status score (measured using a 7-category ordinal scale) was not significantly different for patients randomized to receive hydroxychloroquine compared with placebo (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772922

Misguided Use of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19The Infusion of Politics Into Science. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2772921

Covid-19 vaccines: Should we allow human challenge studies to infect healthy volunteers with SARS-CoV-2? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4258

COVID research updates: Uninfected children have antibodies to the coronavirus. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Champagne and questions greet first data showing that a COVID-19 vaccine works. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/champagne-and-questions-greet-first-data-showing-covid-19-vaccine-works

How a communist physics teacher flattened the COVID-19 curve in southern India. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/how-communist-physics-teacher-flattened-covid-19-curve-southern-india

COVID research updates: A vaccine that mimics the coronavirus prompts potent antibodies. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Can My Blood Really Help COVID Patients? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-my-blood-really-help-covid-patients/

Study uncovers subset of COVID-19 patients who recover quickly and sustain antibodies. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-uncovers-subset-of-covid-19-patients-who-recover-quickly-and-sustain-antibodies/3IWr53NmZPAC39CwNxz9pD?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z9rgnaudl729d63cdqsok085viutm81pcn6omme8&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F07%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=3

WHO-led COVID drug scheme doubles down on antibodies, steroids and shuns remdesivir. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/who-led-covid-drug-scheme-doubles-down-on-antibodies-steroids-and-shuns-remdesivir/2bddH0A6ejBhRflzZFtXLx?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zis2amdl0qfgqn91r4t4svc70o3c3slmh2m4knm0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F08%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

How COVID-19 symptoms differ from allergies, cold and flu. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-covid-19-symptoms-differ-from-allergies-cold-and-flu/3gh8EEn4HUgKwW5nssiTcg?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zht3efj82l1jsn3t83tg4lvb5d69bpb5gieigk6g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F08%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

5th African Conference on Emergency Medicine (#AfCEM20) November 9 – 12, 2020 (EAT). $50. Registration. https://afcem.info/registration/

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

A country-level comparison of access to quality surgical and non-surgical healthcare from 1990-2016. Compared to low-income countries, high-income countries have been 2.77 times more effective at improving surgical care (p < .05). Government expenditure on healthcare has a larger effect on improving surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05) while development assistance for health has a larger effect on improving non-surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0241669

Global prevalence and burden of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder: A meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that people living with HIV have a high burden of HAND in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Earlier initiation of ART and sustained adherence to maintain a high-level CD4 cell count and prevent severe immunosuppression is likely to reduce the prevalence and severity of HAND. https://mazenz.com/Newsemia/2020/11/10/global-prevalence-and-burden-of-hiv-associated-neurocognitive-disorder-a-meta-analysis/?utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Twitter

Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease. In a randomized trial involving patients with chronic coronary disease, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly lower among those who received 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily than among those who received placebo https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2021372?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday. 11 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 11, 2020, 03:43 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835		27		5,534	2,274	1	3,308	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-11-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 10 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 11 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

What Pfizer’s landmark COVID vaccine results mean for the pandemic. Scientists welcome the first compelling evidence that a vaccine can prevent COVID-19. But questions remain about how much protection it offers, to whom and for how long. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03166-8

COVID-19 treatments and pathogenesis including anosmia in K18-hACE2 mice. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2943-z

How to stop restaurants from driving COVID infections. US mobile data suggests restaurants, gyms and cafes can be covid hotspots — and reveals strategies for limiting spread. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03140-4

Big data and simple models used to track the spread of COVID-19 in cities. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02964-4

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms between humans and mink and back to humans. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/09/science.abe5901

Can a nose-full of chicken antibodies ward off coronavirus infections? If the idea pans out—and there are no animal data yet showing it can work—people could sniff the nasal drops before getting on a plane, working in a crowded space, entering a college dormitory, or joining a family get together. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/can-nose-full-chicken-antibodies-ward-coronavirus-infections

The Cardiac Toxicity of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis. Treatment of COVID-19 patients with CQ or HCQ is associated with a significant risk of drug-induced QT prolongation and relatively higher incidence of TdP/VT/cardiac arrest. Therefore, these agents should not be used routinely in the management of COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 patients who are treated with antimalarials for other indications should be adequately monitored. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542454820302058

Institutional versus home isolation to curb the COVID-19 outbreak. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32161-9/fulltext

Institutional versus home isolation to curb the COVID-19 outbreak – Authors’ reply. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32171-1/fulltext

Characteristics and outcomes of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK: a prospective national cohort study using active surveillance. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(20)30342-4/fulltext

Bidirectional associations between COVID-19 and psychiatric disorder: retrospective cohort studies of 62 354 COVID-19 cases in the USA. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30462-4/fulltext

Could a nasal spray prevent coronavirus transmission? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/could-a-nasal-spray-prevent-coronavirus-transmission/8qOSftWE8u0pRgWPFVPP2?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z920fi1haf8agocu9bc3o1j99b6rs8vtbnlj8r6o&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F10%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Aspirin to be tested as potential COVID-19 drug in UK study. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/aspirin-to-be-tested-as-potential-covid-19-drug-in-uk-study/23Sq36Lh0rpr985kribDya?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zl5uciq7rbh5kefrcedi9ibplgj03fn3vpkqpbm8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F10%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

RESOURCES

The Fundamentals of Global Surgery lectures. Free. Registration required. https://academy.one.surgery/

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

The polio eradication campaign is faltering. Can a new vaccine help it get back on track? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/polio-eradication-campaign-faltering-can-new-vaccine-help-it-get-back-track

An Alternative View of Childhood Blood Pressure Screening. Reframing the Question. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772732

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Valproate and Other Antiepileptic Drugs With
Intellectual Disability and Delayed Childhood Milestones. These findings add to the evidence for risk in the use of valproate among pregnant women and all women of childbearing potential and suggest risks in the use of other antiepileptic drugs by these populations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772738

Announcing the Lancet Commission on stigma and discrimination in mental health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32203-0/fulltext

Study: Blood Biomarker Detects Early Alzheimer’s— Plasma p-tau217 may screen for preclinical AD. https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/89572?xid=nl_covidupdate_2020-11-10&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyUpdate_111020&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update

FROM 10 NOVEMBER

A country-level comparison of access to quality surgical and non-surgical healthcare from 1990-2016. Compared to low-income countries, high-income countries have been 2.77 times more effective at improving surgical care (p < .05). Government expenditure on healthcare has a larger effect on improving surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05) while development assistance for health has a larger effect on improving non-surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0241669

Global prevalence and burden of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder: A meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that people living with HIV have a high burden of HAND in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Earlier initiation of ART and sustained adherence to maintain a high-level CD4 cell count and prevent severe immunosuppression is likely to reduce the prevalence and severity of HAND. https://mazenz.com/Newsemia/2020/11/10/global-prevalence-and-burden-of-hiv-associated-neurocognitive-disorder-a-meta-analysis/?utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Twitter

Colchicine in Patients with Chronic Coronary Disease. In a randomized trial involving patients with chronic coronary disease, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly lower among those who received 0.5 mg of colchicine once daily than among those who received placebo https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2021372?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 12 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 12, 2020, 04:24 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	7,835		27		5,534	2,274	1	3,308	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-12-2020 06:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

7,835 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 10 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 11 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Cost-effectiveness of public health strategies for COVID-19 epidemic control in South Africa: a microsimulation modelling study. In South Africa, strategies involving household contact tracing, isolation, mass symptom screening, and quarantining household contacts who test negative would substantially reduce COVID-19 mortality and would be cost-effective. The optimal combination of interventions depends on epidemic growth characteristics and practical implementation considerations. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30452-6/fulltext

Seroprevalence of anti–SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Kenyan blood donors. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/10/science.abe1916?rss=1

Why do COVID death rates seem to be falling? Hard-won experience, changing demographics and reduced strain on hospitals are all possibilities — but no one knows how long the change will last. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03132-4

Russia announces positive COVID-vaccine results from controversial trial. Developers of the Sputnik V vaccine announce phase III results, two days after Pfizer and BioNTech released the first compelling evidence that a vaccine can protect against coronavirus infection. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03209-0

Russia’s claim of a successful COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t pass the ‘smell test,’ critics say. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/russia-s-claim-successful-covid-19-vaccine-doesn-t-pass-smell-test-critics-say

Therapy for Early COVID-19A Critical Need. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773058

Where did COVID come from? WHO investigation begins but faces challenges. Identifying the source will be tricky, and investigators will need to grapple with the sensitive political situation. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03165-9

COVID research updates: A coronavirus mutation could weaken antibodies’ power. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Covid Threatens People With Intellectual and Developmental Challenges. People with these disorders are three times more likely to die of Covid-19, compared with patients without the conditions, a new analysis found. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/health/covid-developmental-disabilities.html

New study adds to COVID-19 symptom list. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-study-adds-to-covid-19-symptom-list/23cO0AWL1McpWar9qBkxga?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zs240trb16ih9k9nv5rqeqq0lf7ekoijd5k8c4rg&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F11%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

U.S. allows emergency use of Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 antibody therapy. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/u-s-allows-emergency-use-of-eli-lillys-covid-19-antibody-therapy/2OLkcHOk1nVnXaifbzElCU?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zfi19eeq4j1rmlimftk4rss9vu6kcgeorf4ob56o&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F11%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Risk of Acquiring Perioperative COVID-19 During the Initial Pandemic Peak. A Retrospective Cohort Study. Among 501 negative patients undergoing index surgeries, 9 (1.8%) developed symptomatic COVID-19 in the postoperative period; all occurred before implementation of routine preoperative testing (9/243, 3.7% vs. 0/258, 0%, OR: 0.048, p = 0.036). https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/9000/Risk_of_Acquiring_Perioperative_COVID_19_During.94057.aspx

CDC says masks can also benefit the wearer in strongest endorsement yet for face coverings. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/10/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/

Insights From Rapid Deployment of a “Virtual Hospital” as Standard Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4076

Sixty-Day Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5661

The Real Danger Posed by Coronavirus-Infected Mink. A new SARS-CoV-2 strain in mink has infected about a dozen people in Denmark, but it is not known whether the mutation makes the virus more dangerous. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-danger-posed-by-coronavirus-infected-mink/

How to Minimize COVID Risk and Enjoy the Holidays. Experts suggest limiting travel and keeping Thanksgiving and other celebrations small and outdoors. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-minimize-covid-risk-and-enjoy-the-holidays/

RESOURCES

The Fundamentals of Global Surgery lectures. Free. Registration required. https://academy.one.surgery/

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Stroke: systems of care and rehabilitation. https://www.thelancet.com/series/stroke-systems-and-rehab

COVID-19 and Medical Education. Open access articles from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=68

OTHER NEWS

Antibiotic use during end-of-life care: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33172507/

Efficacy and safety of lowering LDL cholesterol in older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32332-1/fulltext

FROM 11 NOVEMBER

The polio eradication campaign is faltering. Can a new vaccine help it get back on track? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/polio-eradication-campaign-faltering-can-new-vaccine-help-it-get-back-track

An Alternative View of Childhood Blood Pressure Screening. Reframing the Question. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772732

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Valproate and Other Antiepileptic Drugs With
Intellectual Disability and Delayed Childhood Milestones. These findings add to the evidence for risk in the use of valproate among pregnant women and all women of childbearing potential and suggest risks in the use of other antiepileptic drugs by these populations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772738

Announcing the Lancet Commission on stigma and discrimination in mental health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32203-0/fulltext

Study: Blood Biomarker Detects Early Alzheimer’s— Plasma p-tau217 may screen for preclinical AD. https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/89572?xid=nl_covidupdate_2020-11-10&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyUpdate_111020&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 13 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 13, 2020, 03:40 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	8,225	[390]	27		5,559	2,639	1	3,472	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-13-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

8,225 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 11 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 13 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Pfizer’s Early Results Bode Well for a COVID Vaccine Approval This Year. The data are preliminary, however, and it is not yet clear whether the vaccine protects against severe disease. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pfizers-early-results-bode-well-for-a-covid-vaccine-approval-this-year/

Safety and efficacy of inhaled nebulised interferon beta-1a (SNG001) for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30511-7/fulltext

Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19A Randomized Clinical Trial. In this preliminary study, adult outpatients with symptomatic COVID-19 treated with fluvoxamine, compared with placebo, had a lower likelihood of clinical deterioration over 15 days; however, determination of clinical efficacy would require larger randomized trials with more definitive outcome measures. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773108

Testing for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4288

Covid-19: Government buried negative data on its favoured antibody test. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4353

COVID-19 Infection—Preventing Clinical Deterioration. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773107

Therapy for Early COVID-19A Critical Need. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773058

Reflections of a COVID-19 Long Hauler. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773056

Ethnicity and clinical outcomes in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30374-6/fulltext

Scientists just found a mysteriously hidden ‘gene within a gene’ in SARS-CoV-2. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/scientists-just-found-a-mysteriously-hidden-gene-within-a-gene-in-sars-cov-2/4PitGWyzL8H6LoFXY7D9Gn?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zg9su4pkv3rjkggtk2c7b6oinj1nn5l8lsia11p0&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F12%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve resistance to COVID-19 vaccines? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/could-sars-cov-2-evolve-resistance-to-covid-19-vaccines/ewFmMseNigOKnLsB0959N?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z1ntdgork4tahfdlvb8j029ru2pj0tnethltf81g&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=Minor%2011%2F12%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

After COVID Diagnosis, Nearly 1 In 5 Are Diagnosed With Mental Disorder. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/11/11/933964994/after-covid-diagnosis-nearly-1-in-5-are-diagnosed-with-mental-disorder

COVID-19 Antibody Tests Perform Well in Head-to-Head Comparison. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.21073?guestAccessKey=b606563e-884e-43bb-87f7-c9147d8e60e3&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4117653958&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=104101659

Preoperative nasopharyngeal swab testing and postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing elective surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Preoperative nasopharyngeal swab testing was beneficial before major surgery and in high SARS-CoV-2 risk areas. There was no proven benefit of swab testing before minor surgery in low-risk areas. https://academic.oup.com/bjs/advance-article/doi/10.1093/bjs/znaa051/5974404

Accuracy of UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC) “AbC-19 Rapid Test” for detection of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in key workers: test accuracy study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4262

Covid-19: Government’s tacit approval of traditional medicine treatments alarms India’s doctors. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4319

Younger Adults Caught in COVID-19 Crosshairs as Demographics Shift. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773055?resultClick=1

What’s next for COVID-19 apps? Governance and oversight, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6518/760

SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant exhibits efficient replication ex vivo and transmission in vivo. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/11/science.abe8499

An Emerging Tool for COVID Times: The Portable MRI. Bedside imaging holds vast potential as a diagnostic tool, especially during the pandemic. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-emerging-tool-for-covid-times-the-portable-mri/

RESOURCES

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

OTHER NEWS

The first 2 h after birth: prevalence and factors associated with neonatal care practices from a multicountry, facility-based, observational study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30422-8/fulltext

The Lancet Commission on diabetes: using data to transform diabetes care and patient lives . https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32374-6/fulltext

Leveraging the COVID-19 response to end preventable child deaths from pneumonia. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32348-5/fulltext

Nurses: at the heart of diabetes care. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS2213-8587(20)30377-6/fulltext

Treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3773?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

HIV prevention injection is more effective than daily pill, trials show. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4433?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Pregravid contraceptive use and fecundability: prospective cohort study. Use of some hormonal contraceptive methods was associated with delays in return of fertility, with injectable contraceptives showing the longest delay. The findings indicated little or no lasting effect of long term use of these methods onfecundability. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3966

Medical students need experience not just competence. Anticipating a serious workforce shortage, the World Health Organization advocates substantial changes in how we prepare clinicians for practice.1 A look at current medical student education supports that recommendation. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4298

FROM 12 NOVEMBER

Antibiotic use during end-of-life care: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33172507/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 14 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 14, 2020, 04:19 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	8,225		27		5,559	2,639	1	3,472	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-14-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

8,225 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 12 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 14 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Hospital-Acquired SARS-CoV-2. InfectionLessons for Public Health. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.21399?guestAccessKey=65131fcd-7180-407c-92fe-9f51af9ed900&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4140116580&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=104392553

Daily briefing: Interactive COVID map estimates the risk of meeting up A ‘weather map’ for COVID, the fraught story of hydroxychloroquine and the search for an all-encompassing definition of a particle. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03241-0

Covid-19: politicisation, “corruption,” and suppression of science. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4425

COVID research updates: The coronavirus can mutate swiftly in one person’s body. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

For COVID Drugs, Months of Frantic Development Lead to Few Outright Successes. There have been mixed results as researchers try to stop a disease they are still trying to understand. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-covid-drugs-months-of-frantic-development-lead-to-few-outright-successes/

Coronavirus News Roundup, November 7-November 13. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-november-7-november-13/

Dating During the Pandemic: Can You Trust an ‘Antibody Positive’ Claim? Testing positive for COVID antibodies is not a pass to date freely. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dating-during-the-pandemic-can-you-trust-an-antibody-positive-claim/

Hospital-Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Lessons for Public Health. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773128

The Need for More and Better Testing for COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773129

Using antibiotics wisely for respiratory tract infection in the era of covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4125

4 activities you can do safely before a second coronavirus lockdown, and 4 things you should skip. https://www.insider.com/second-lockdown-checklist-dos-and-donts-covid-19-coronavirus-2020-11

RESOURCES

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

In recognition of the challenges that Covid-19 presents we have created a package of freely-available self study courses to help you continue to produce, share and use research and knowledge, in support of national, and global development.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Comparison of index-linked HIV testing for children and adolescents in health facility and community settings in Zimbabwe: findings from the interventional B-GAP study. The HIV yield of index-linked testing was low compared with blanket testing approaches in similar settings. Index-linked HIV testing can improve testing uptake among children, although strategies that improve testing uptake in older children are needed. Community based testing by lay workers is a feasible strategy that can be used to improve uptake of HTS among children and adolescents. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30267-8/fulltext

Polypill with or without Aspirin in Persons without Cardiovascular Disease. Combined treatment with a polypill plus aspirin led to a lower incidence of cardiovascular events than did placebo among participants without cardiovascular disease who were at intermediate cardiovascular risk https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2028220?query=featured_home

Measles Deaths Soared Worldwide Last Year, as Vaccine Rates Stalled. The new data, from the W.H.O. and C.D.C., alarmed public health experts, who fear the effect of the coronavirus pandemic this year could bring more bad numbers. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/health/measles-deaths-soared-worldwide-last-year-as-vaccine-rates-stalled.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201113&instance_id=24067&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=26464847&segment_id=44402&user_id=9289a6e403a2eb689aa4ab4c407596cc

Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3048?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Association of Diet With Erectile Dysfunction Among Men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772916

Maternal Morbidity and Birth Satisfaction After Implementation of a Validated Calculator to Predict Cesarean Delivery During Labor Induction. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772920

Anesthesiologist to Patient Communication. A Systematic Review. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772832

Tracking infectious diseases in a warming world. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3086

Estimating the proportion of people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection eligible for hepatitis B antiviral treatment worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(20)30307-1/fulltext

FROM 13 NOVEMBER

The Lancet Commission on diabetes: using data to transform diabetes care and patient lives . https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32374-6/fulltext

Leveraging the COVID-19 response to end preventable child deaths from pneumonia. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32348-5/fulltext

Nurses: at the heart of diabetes care. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS2213-8587(20)30377-6/fulltext

Treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3773?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

HIV prevention injection is more effective than daily pill, trials show. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4433?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Medical students need experience not just competence. Anticipating a serious workforce shortage, the World Health Organization advocates substantial changes in how we prepare clinicians for practice.1 A look at current medical student education supports that recommendation. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4298

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 16 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 16, 2020, 03:43 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	8,225		27		5,559	2,639	1	3,472	1	330,611

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-16-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

8,225 Total confirmed cases

27 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 14 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 16 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Vitamin C’s effectiveness against COVID may hinge on vitamin’s natural transporter levels. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/vitamin-cs-effectiveness-against-covid-may-hinge-on-vitamins-natural-transporter-levels/1aLMCYeBvzDrrKieWCy2Um?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zbr7r43s1p4tsggr7av5vadbka527s3ql407a0go&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_campaign=All%2011%2F14%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=5

Four COVID-19 Lessons for Achieving Health Equity. https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2772835

This $1 made-in-Africa Covid-19 test kit could revolutionize testing on the continent. The Pasteur Institute, a biomedical research center based in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, says it is close to producing an affordable, handheld Covid-19 diagnostic test kit that can give results in a matter of minutes. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/10/africa/senegal-coronavirus-rapid-testing-spc-intl/index.html?utm_content=2020-11-11T03%3A30%3A13&utm_medium=social&utm_term=link&utm_source=twCNN

One out of five COVID-19 deaths in Africa linked to diabetes — WHO. https://effiezy.com/2020/11/13/one-out-of-five-covid-19-deaths-in-africa-linked-to-diabetes-who/

RESOURCES

Dissecting Intersections of COVID-19 & Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa. The Young Women’s Leadership Project is housed under the African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town. Nov 18, 2020 12:00 PM in Johannesburg. REGISTRATION https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcu2tqzgoGd2CRAd2xVoon69hEZZ3OlAV

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Check back here for updates on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

The defeat of polio proved that immunisation saved lives, but there’s a sting to the tale. The rising number of vaccinederived polio outbreaks has important implications for how we deal with Covid-19. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/nov/15/the-defeat-of-polio-proved-that-immunisation-saved-lives-but-theres-a-sting-to-the-tale

N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects. Patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects received four bottles of a statin, four bottles of placebo, and four empty bottles, each to be used for 1 month in a random sequence for 12 months. The symptom burden with placebo was 90% of the symptom burden with the statin. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031173?query=featured_home

Effect of High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs Corn Oil on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients at High Cardiovascular RiskThe STRENGTH Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773120

Association of Genetic West African Ancestry, Blood Pressure Response to Therapy, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Self-Reported Black Individuals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction Intervention Trial (SPRINT). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2773093

A Guide to Educational Pyramids Commonly Used in Medical Education Programs. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/A_Guide_to_Educational_Pyramids_Commonly_Used_in.96942.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

FROM 14 NOVEMBER

Polypill with or without Aspirin in Persons without Cardiovascular Disease. Combined treatment with a polypill plus aspirin led to a lower incidence of cardiovascular events than did placebo among participants without cardiovascular disease who were at intermediate cardiovascular risk https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2028220?query=featured_home

Measles Deaths Soared Worldwide Last Year, as Vaccine Rates Stalled. The new data, from the W.H.O. and C.D.C., alarmed public health experts, who fear the effect of the coronavirus pandemic this year could bring more bad numbers. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/health/measles-deaths-soared-worldwide-last-year-as-vaccine-rates-stalled.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201113&instance_id=24067&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=26464847&segment_id=44402&user_id=9289a6e403a2eb689aa4ab4c407596cc

Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3048?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Association of Diet With Erectile Dysfunction Among Men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772916

Maternal Morbidity and Birth Satisfaction After Implementation of a Validated Calculator to Predict Cesarean Delivery During Labor Induction. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772920

Anesthesiologist to Patient Communication. A Systematic Review. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772832

Tracking infectious diseases in a warming world. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3086

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 17 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 17, 2020, 03:33 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,103	[78]	30	[3]	6,801	2,272	1	3,842	13	362,171

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-17-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,103 Total confirmed cases

30 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 15 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 17 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

COVID vaccine excitement builds as Moderna reports third positive result. Preliminary data show that the immunization is 94% effective and seems to prevent severe infections. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03248-7

‘Just beautiful’: Another COVID-19 vaccine, from newcomer Moderna, succeeds in large-scale trial. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/just-beautiful-another-covid-19-vaccine-newcomer-moderna-succeeds-large-scale-trial

Temperature concerns could slow the rollout of new coronavirus vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/temperature-concerns-could-slow-rollout-new-coronavirus-vaccines

Scientists Failed to Use Common Sense Early in the Pandemic. The WHO’s initial advice not to wear masks in the fight to contain COVID sowed dangerous confusion. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-failed-to-use-common-sense-early-in-the-pandemic/

COVID research updates: Quick COVID tests catch the people who are most infectious

Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Covid-19: Third candidate vaccine will be tested in UK. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4451

Telemedicine and Office-Based Care for Behavioral and Psychiatric Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6243

RESOURCES

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV . https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30459-9/fulltext

Sotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2030186?query=featured_home

Clinical Effects of Balanced Crystalloids vs Saline in Adults With Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A Subgroup Analysis of Cluster Randomized Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772993

Measles cases and deaths are increasing worldwide, warn health agencies. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4450

FROM 16 NOVEMBER

The defeat of polio proved that immunisation saved lives, but there’s a sting to the tale. The rising number of vaccinederived polio outbreaks has important implications for how we deal with Covid-19. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/nov/15/the-defeat-of-polio-proved-that-immunisation-saved-lives-but-theres-a-sting-to-the-tale

N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects. Patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects received four bottles of a statin, four bottles of placebo, and four empty bottles, each to be used for 1 month in a random sequence for 12 months. The symptom burden with placebo was 90% of the symptom burden with the statin. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031173?query=featured_home

Association of Genetic West African Ancestry, Blood Pressure Response to Therapy, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Self-Reported Black Individuals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction Intervention Trial (SPRINT). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2773093

A Guide to Educational Pyramids Commonly Used in Medical Education Programs. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/A_Guide_to_Educational_Pyramids_Commonly_Used_in.96942.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 18 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 18, 2020, 03:52 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,103		30		6,801	2,272	1	3,842	13	362,171

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-18-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,103 Total confirmed cases

30 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 16 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 18 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18–59 years: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 clinical trial. Taking safety, immunogenicity, and production capacity into account, the 3 μg dose of CoronaVac is the suggested dose for efficacy assessment in future phase 3 trials. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30843-4/fulltext

Expecting the unexpected with COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30870-7/fulltext

Counting stillbirths and COVID 19—there has never been a more urgent time. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30456-3/fulltext

Daily briefing: Why a negative COVID test is not a free pass to party. Don’t let a COVID test give you a false sense of security, say public-health leaders. Plus, the DIY technologies that are democratizing science. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03266-5

COVID research updates: Quick COVID tests catch the people who are most infectious. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Ensuring vaccine safety. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/16/science.abf0357

Long covid: Damage to multiple organs presents in young, low risk patients. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4470

Vaccine innovation spurred by the long wait for an Ebola virus vaccine. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30515-6/fulltext

An institutionally racist lockdown policy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32464-8/fulltext

Obesity aggravates COVID-19: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33200825/

RESOURCES

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Association of Infant Antibiotic Exposure With Childhood Health Outcomes. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30785-0/fulltext

What if tropical diseases had as much attention as COVID?

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to erode huge gains against much more devastating infections, I look for silver lining. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03220-5

The neocoloniality of who cares: US underinvestment in medical education exacerbates global inequities. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4293

Effect of female sex work-targeted community-based interventions along the HIV treatment cascade in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review protocol. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/10/e039495.long

The role of the University of Cape Town, South Africa in the training and retention of surgeons in Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(20)30424-4/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/11/17/default-calendar/launch-of-the-global-strategy-to-accelerate-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer

FROM 17 NOVEMBER

Estimates of the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV . https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30459-9/fulltext

Sotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2030186?query=featured_home

Clinical Effects of Balanced Crystalloids vs Saline in Adults With Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A Subgroup Analysis of Cluster Randomized Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772993

Measles cases and deaths are increasing worldwide, warn health agencies. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4450

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 19 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 19, 2020, 03:52 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,103		30		6,801	2,272	1	3,842	13	362,171

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-19-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,103 Total confirmed cases

30 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 17 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 19 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

More people are getting COVID-19 twice, suggesting immunity wanes quickly in some. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/more-people-are-getting-covid-19-twice-suggesting-immunity-wanes-quickly-some

‘Incredible milestone for science.’ Pfizer and BioNTech update their promising COVID-19 vaccine result. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/covid-19-vaccine-trial-complete-pfizer-and-biontech-update-their-promising-result

Prothrombotic autoantibodies in serum from patients hospitalized with COVID-19. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/570/eabd3876

Fever, aches from Pfizer, Moderna jabs aren’t dangerous but may be intense for some. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/fever-aches-pfizer-moderna-jabs-aren-t-dangerous-may-be-intense-some

Effect of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19. Among patients hospitalized with Covid-19, those who received hydroxychloroquine did not have a lower incidence of death at 28 days than those who received usual care.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022926?query=featured_home

Proposed Framework and Timeline of the Spectrum of Disease Due to SARS-CoV-2 InfectionIllness Beyond Acute Infection and Public Health Implications. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773338

Mysteries of COVID Smell Loss Finally Yield Some Answers. Explanations begin to arise at the molecular level for this vexing but commonplace symptom. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysteries-of-covid-smell-loss-finally-yield-some-answers1/

Engineered antibodies to combat viral threats. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages globally, interest in antiviral treatments has never been higher. Antibodies are key defence components, and engineering them to better exploit their natural functions might boost therapeutic options. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03196-2

The woman playing a key role in a small firm’s quest for an effective COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/woman-playing-key-role-small-firm-s-quest-effective-covid-19-vaccine

Case report and systematic review suggest that children may experience similar long-term effects to adults after clinical COVID-19. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33205450/

Meta-analysis Comparing Outcomes in Patients With and Without Cardiac Injury and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19). https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(20)31234-0/fulltext#.X7XHW6O9mzI.twitter

RESOURCES

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Predictive Modeling for Perinatal Mortality in Resource-Limited Settings. Using advanced machine learning–based modeling techniques on a large multicountry prospective maternal and neonatal database, this cohort study found that the prediction accuracy of models for risk of stillbirth and neonatal death using variables before delivery is low, but the prediction accuracy for neonatal death can be improved by including postdelivery variables. Birth weight was the most important predictor of neonatal mortality. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773076

Strengthening our resolve for primary health care. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/98/11/20-279489.pdf

Effect of Vitamin D₃ Supplements on Development of Advanced CancerA Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical Trial. These findings suggest that vitamin D₃ may reduce the risk of developing advanced cancer among adults without a diagnosis of cancer at baseline; this protective effect is apparent for those who have normal but not elevated body mass index. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773074

Comparative effectiveness of exercise interventions for preventing falls in older adults: A secondary analysis of a systematic review with network meta-analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S053155652030499X?dgcid=coauthor

Schistosomiasis and climate change. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4324

First line drug treatment for hypertension and reductions in blood pressure according to age and ethnicity: cohort study in UK primary care. Similar reductions in blood pressure were found to be associated with new use of CCB as with new use of ACEI/ARB in non-black people who did not have diabetes, both in those who were aged younger than 55 and those aged 55 and older. For black people without diabetes, CCB new use was associated with numerically greater reductions in blood pressure than ACEI/ARB compared with non-black people without diabetes, but the confidence intervals were overlapping for the two groups. These results suggest that the current UK algorithmic approach to first line antihypertensive treatment might not lead to greater reductions in blood pressure. Specific indications could be considered in treatment recommendations.https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4080

FROM 18 NOVEMBER

Association of Infant Antibiotic Exposure With Childhood Health Outcomes. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30785-0/fulltext

What if tropical diseases had as much attention as COVID?

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to erode huge gains against much more devastating infections, I look for silver lining. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03220-5

The neocoloniality of who cares: US underinvestment in medical education exacerbates global inequities. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4293

Launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/11/17/default-calendar/launch-of-the-global-strategy-to-accelerate-the-elimination-of-cervical-cancer

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 20 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 20, 2020, 03:52 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,594	491	31	[1]	7.296	2,267	1	4,049	13	377,957

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-20-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,594 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 18 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 8,225 Cases/100k 343 Deaths 27 CFR 0.3 Recoveries 5,534 Tests 330,611 Tests/case 40.2 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 11/18/2020 Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 757,144 Cases/100k 1,303 Deaths 20,556 CFR 2.7 Recoveries 701,534 Tests 5,189,580 Tests/case 6.9 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 11/18/2020
	Country	Nambia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	13,610
	Cases/100k	523
	Deaths	140
	CFR	1.0
	Recoveries	13,152
	Tests	142,636
	Tests/case	10.5
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	11/18/2020

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	8,981
Cases/100k	52
Deaths	261
CFR	2.9
Recoveries	8,184
Tests	169,745
Tests/case	18.9
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	13,922
Cases/100k	44
Deaths	332
CFR	2.4
Recoveries	6,623
Tests	146,458
Tests/case	10.5
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	17,280
Cases/100k	95
Deaths	356
CFR	2.1
Recoveries	16,495
Tests	346,012
Tests/case	20.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	14,629
Cases/100k	47
Deaths	119
CFR	0.8
Recoveries	12,754
Tests	214,935
Tests/case	14.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	2,058
Cases/100k	89
Deaths	44
CFR	2.1
Recoveries	1,273
Tests	24,701
Tests/case	12.0
Epidemic Phase	2
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	6,144
Cases/100k	439
Deaths	119
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	5,826
Tests	57,159
Tests/case	9.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020

Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	5,999
Cases/100k	30
Deaths	185
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	5,434
Tests	69,621
Tests/case	11.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020
Country	Dem. Rep. of Congo
Region	Central
Cases	11,918
Cases/100k	14
Deaths	323
CFR	2.7
Recoveries	11,190
Tests	76,664
Tests/case	6.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	17,310
Cases/100k	64
Deaths	250
CFR	1.4
Recoveries	16,592
Tests	92,992
Tests/case	5.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	103,928
Cases/100k	94
Deaths	1,601
CFR	1.5
Recoveries	64,593
Tests	1,574,870
Tests/case	15.2
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020,

Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	72,686
Cases/100k	139
Deaths	1,313
CFR	1.8
Recoveries	49,878
Tests	804,894
Tests/case	11.1
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/18/2020

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 20 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Update to living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4475

W.H.O. Rejects Antiviral Drug Remdesivir as a Covid Treatment. In a review of several trials, the World Health Organization found that Gilead’s drug did not improve survival rates for patients nor did it help them recover. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/health/remdesivir-covid-19.html

Immunity to the Coronavirus May Last Years, New Data Hint. Blood samples from recovered patients suggest a powerful, long-lasting immune response, researchers reported. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-immunity.html

Covid-19: Critically ill patients treated with arthritis drug tocilizumab show improved outcomes, researchers report. The rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab seems to improve outcomes in patients with covid-19 who are the most severely ill, show early results released from the Remap-Cap international platform trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4530

Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Stay safer on different forms of transportation. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/evaluating-covid-risk-on-planes-trains-and-automobiles2/

Slow Gains against the Virus. Multiple and complex underlying factors determine why some people get terribly sick from COVID-19. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/slow-gains-against-the-virus/

The COVID Cold Chain: How a Vaccine Will Get to You. A vaccine logistics expert explains how millions of frozen vials will be widely distributed. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-covid-cold-chain-how-a-vaccine-will-get-to-you/

Covid-19: What now for remdesivir? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4457

What the data say about asymptomatic COVID infections. People without symptoms can pass on the virus, but estimating their contribution to outbreaks is challenging. Now, evidence suggests that about one in five infected people will experience no symptoms, and they will transmit the virus to significantly fewer people than someone with symptoms. But researchers are divided about whether asymptomatic infections are acting as a ‘silent driver’ of the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03141-3

Hydroxychloroquine with or without Azithromycin in Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19. Among patients hospitalized with mild-to-moderate Covid-19, the use of hydroxychloroquine, alone or with azithromycin, did not improve clinical status at 15 days as compared with standard care. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2019014?query=featured_home

Long covid: Damage to multiple organs presents in young, low risk patients. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4470

Safety and immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine administered in a prime-boost regimen in young and old adults (COV002): a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32466-1/fulltext

Age and frailty in COVID-19 vaccine development. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32481-8/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV viral load dynamics, duration of viral shedding, and infectiousness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30172-5/fulltext

RESOURCES

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Association of Circulating Tumor DNA With Disease-Free Survival in Breast Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773104

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773105

Evaluation of Adjuvant Treatments for T1 N0 M0 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773097

Exploration of Factors Associated With Surgeon Deviation From Practice Guidelines for Management of Inguinal Hernias. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773098

Delirium in Older Patients With COVID-19 Presenting to the Emergency Department. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773106

Data for action on early childhood development. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32482-X/fulltext

FROM 19 NOVEMBER

Strengthening our resolve for primary health care. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/98/11/20-279489.pdf

Effect of Vitamin D₃ Supplements on Development of Advanced CancerA Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical Trial. These findings suggest that vitamin D₃ may reduce the risk of developing advanced cancer among adults without a diagnosis of cancer at baseline; this protective effect is apparent for those who have normal but not elevated body mass index. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773074

Comparative effectiveness of exercise interventions for preventing falls in older adults: A secondary analysis of a systematic review with network meta-analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S053155652030499X?dgcid=coauthor

Schistosomiasis and climate change. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4324

Find recent back issues at https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 20 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 20, 2020, 03:52 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,594	491	31	[1]	7.296	2,267	1	4,049	13	377,957

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-20-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,594 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 18 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 20 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Update to living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4475

W.H.O. Rejects Antiviral Drug Remdesivir as a Covid Treatment. In a review of several trials, the World Health Organization found that Gilead’s drug did not improve survival rates for patients nor did it help them recover. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/health/remdesivir-covid-19.html

Immunity to the Coronavirus May Last Years, New Data Hint. Blood samples from recovered patients suggest a powerful, long-lasting immune response, researchers reported. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-immunity.html

Covid-19: Critically ill patients treated with arthritis drug tocilizumab show improved outcomes, researchers report. The rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab seems to improve outcomes in patients with covid-19 who are the most severely ill, show early results released from the Remap-Cap international platform trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4530

Covid-19: What now for remdesivir? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4457

What the data say about asymptomatic COVID infections. People without symptoms can pass on the virus, but estimating their contribution to outbreaks is challenging. Now, evidence suggests that about one in five infected people will experience no symptoms, and they will transmit the virus to significantly fewer people than someone with symptoms. But researchers are divided about whether asymptomatic infections are acting as a ‘silent driver’ of the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03141-3

Hydroxychloroquine with or without Azithromycin in Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19. Among patients hospitalized with mild-to-moderate Covid-19, the use of hydroxychloroquine, alone or with azithromycin, did not improve clinical status at 15 days as compared with standard care. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2019014?query=featured_home

Long covid: Damage to multiple organs presents in young, low risk patients. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4470

Age and frailty in COVID-19 vaccine development. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32481-8/fulltext

RESOURCES

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Association of Circulating Tumor DNA With Disease-Free Survival in Breast Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773104

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773105

Evaluation of Adjuvant Treatments for T1 N0 M0 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773097

Exploration of Factors Associated With Surgeon Deviation From Practice Guidelines for Management of Inguinal Hernias. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773098

Delirium in Older Patients With COVID-19 Presenting to the Emergency Department. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773106

Data for action on early childhood development. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32482-X/fulltext

FROM 19 NOVEMBER

Strengthening our resolve for primary health care. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/98/11/20-279489.pdf

Effect of Vitamin D₃ Supplements on Development of Advanced CancerA Secondary Analysis of the VITAL Randomized Clinical Trial. These findings suggest that vitamin D₃ may reduce the risk of developing advanced cancer among adults without a diagnosis of cancer at baseline; this protective effect is apparent for those who have normal but not elevated body mass index. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773074

Comparative effectiveness of exercise interventions for preventing falls in older adults: A secondary analysis of a systematic review with network meta-analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S053155652030499X?dgcid=coauthor

Schistosomiasis and climate change. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4324

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 21 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 21, 2020, 03:25 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	5,594	491	31		7.296	2,267	1	4,049	13	377,957

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-21-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,594 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 19 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers. A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6817?fbclid=IwAR3aXPvW1vBYSuVNLafc-W_qqWHWYGDV4T_pvtZdidvy03Xaiqpb-OeX7cE

Anti-COVID-19 nasal spray ‘ready for use in humans’. A pre-print (not yet peer-reviewed) study describes cell culture experiments designed to test the ability of the solution to inhibit infection. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/anti-covid-19-nasal-spray-ready-for-use-in-humans/2GLrKknGJrC5HgN2z9PjbN?ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zm41r9aupntsbq48bmvhb6vitrpgpp826jln03ho&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=All%20SP%2011%2F20%2F2020%20Morning%20Alert&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=1

COVID research updates: Immune responses to coronavirus persist beyond 6 months. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

The known unknowns of T cell immunity to COVID-19. https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/5/53/eabe8063

Should researchers shelve plans to deliberately infect people with the coronavirus? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/should-researchers-shelve-plans-deliberately-infect-people-coronavirus

Fever, aches from Pfizer, Moderna jabs aren’t dangerous but may be intense for some. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/fever-aches-pfizer-moderna-jabs-aren-t-dangerous-may-be-intense-some

The COVID Cold Chain: How a Vaccine Will Get to You. A vaccine logistics expert explains how millions of frozen vials will be widely distributed. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-covid-cold-chain-how-a-vaccine-will-get-to-you/

Doing the Touchy Math on Who Should Get a COVID Vaccine First. Mathematicians model pandemic scenarios by plugging thorny ethical and logistical issues into calculations. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/doing-the-touchy-math-on-who-should-get-a-covid-vaccine-first

Older Adults and the Mental Health Effects of COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Covid-19: What now for remdesivir? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4457

Rapid response to: Long covid: Damage to multiple organs presents in young, low risk patients. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4470/rr-3

SARS-CoV-2 viral load is associated with increased disease severity and mortality. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19057-5.epdf?sharing_token=uyUwFpvUQkPiCz9SpK3nPdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NgzL7s1Q_Aow3j7eUbqbF8YITsLS1EK2dKxek2NBxaVWK6FiHdQeW3jEXcCg5SNi_LEw5rR28H5Dy8Hv-7-j_AmfDJwLf2N6B8p6lZpap4fMR_1EXhrpFJoUPW4xRIUfw%3D

RESOURCES

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Check back here for updates on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Daily briefing: Tips for trust-building science communication. Aim to inform and not persuade, say science communication experts. Plus, the iconic Arecibo telescope is to close forever and how COVID hinders taste and smell. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03307-z

After scalding critiques of study on gender and mentorship, journal says it is reviewing the work. In response to the uproar, the journal’s editorial team announced Thursday it is reviewing the study, which concludes that mentorship by women can damage the careers of female students and early-career scientists; it recommends encouraging male mentors for women instead.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/after-scalding-critiques-study-gender-and-mentorship-journal-says-it-reviewing-work Here’s the article: The association between early career informal mentorship in academic collaborations and junior author performance. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19723-8

FROM NOVEMBER 20

Association of Circulating Tumor DNA With Disease-Free Survival in Breast Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773104

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773105

Evaluation of Adjuvant Treatments for T1 N0 M0 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773097

Exploration of Factors Associated With Surgeon Deviation From Practice Guidelines for Management of Inguinal Hernias. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773098

Delirium in Older Patients With COVID-19 Presenting to the Emergency Department. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773106

Data for action on early childhood development. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32482-X/fulltext

/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 23 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 23, 2020, 04:02 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,594	491	31		7.296	2,267	1	4,049	13	377,957

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-23-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,594 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 21 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 23 NOVEMBER 2020

LIFTING OF SUSPENSION OF CROSS-BORDER PASSENGER ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

Cross-border public passenger transport operations were suspended during the first national lockdown (March 2020) due to the Covid19 outbreak, and this affected many businesses especially cross-border passenger road transport operations.

As part of government’s effort to open up the economy, a decision to lift the suspension of cross border passenger road transport operations has been taken, as a means to provide services to members of the public and business community across the borders. As such, cross-border public transport operations will commence effective 01st December 2020 when designated land ports of entry are opened

Below are the routes that will resume operation on the 1st December 2020:

Border/ route

Tlokweng Border Gaborone-Johanneburg

Gaborone-Zeerust

Gaborone-Rustenburg

Ramatlabama Border

Gaborone-Mafikeng

Lobatse-Mafikeng

Martinsdrift Border

Palapye-Johhanesburg

Ramakgwebana Border

Francistown-Bulawayo

Francistown-Harare

Kazungula Border

Francistown-Lusaka

Cross-border public transport operators must adhere to the following conditions;

(i) abide with covid-19 protocols

(ii) Clean the interior and exterior of the vehicles with water and soap or sanitize 2 to 3 times a day or after every trip.

(i) a passenger shall present a valid 72-hour negative Covid-19 result to either bus operator, conductor or driver before boarding the bus

(ii) a person shall not be allowed to use public transport without wearing a mask

(iii) public transport operators shall keep a register of all passenger on board which shall be open for inspection by the Director of Health Services or a law enforcement officer

(iv) selling inside a public service vehicle is prohibited

(v) touting is not allowed

(vi) Public service vehicles shall load as per the authorised seating capacity stated in their passenger permits without standing.

Thank you

NEWS

Antibody cocktails at low doses could be more effective at treating COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/antibody-cocktails-at-low-doses-could-be-more-effective-at-treating-covid-19/BdeGqSycHrtOWjOvn4VXF?utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z8ma93vke7dbivj4b7390910245ua8qih4hvrvu0&utm_campaign=All%2011%2F20%2F2020%20Evening%20Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&%3Fshow_order=2

Ethical and Scientific Considerations Regarding the Early Approval and Deployment of a COVID-19 Vaccine. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-7357

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment of COVID-19. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment of COVID-19 | FDA

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in elderly, trial results by Christmas. AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in elderly, trial results by Christmas | MDLinx

A Proposed Framework and Timeline of the Spectrum of Disease Due to SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Illness Beyond Acute Infection and Public Health Implications. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773338?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=112220#.X7smKcMT74Y.twitter

RESOURCES

Download the NSOAP Manual. To download the NSOAP Manual free of charge, please fill out the form linked here. https://www.globalsurgeryfoundation.org/news/social-media-launch We kindly ask you to share this form with other interested parties instead of disseminating the PDF directly.

Covid-19: Management of respiratory failure Please join Dr Navjoyt Ladher of The BMJ for the next in our series of webinars examining an important aspect of the covid-19 pandemic. Dr Ladher, along with fellow panellists including Dr Susan Wilcox of Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr Nick Hart and Dr Luigi Camporota of Guys and St Thomas Hospital, London, and Dr Stefano Nova of Bologna University (other speakers to be confirmed) will discuss clinical insights from the covid-19 front line, and the latest research evidence too.

Please join us for this event on November 26 and share this page with any colleagues in your professional networks who you think may also find it useful to attend Covid-19: Management of respiratory failure

Time Nov 26, 2020 03:30 PM in London https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qmc2hstcQrmZZde9lEKYuw

Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme. Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme – Africa CDC Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme – Africa CDC https://africacdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Kofi-Annan-Fellowship-Prospectus-ENG.pdf

WHO Children’s story book released to help children and young people cope with COVID-19. My Hero Is You (April 2020) https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-04/My%20Hero%20is%20You%2C%20Storybook%20for%20Children%20on%20COVID-19.pdf

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus All articles free.

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

REVISED Strengthening research management and support services in sub-Saharan African universities and research institutions [version 2; peer review: 3 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-31/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

Golimumab and Beta-Cell Function in Youth with New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2006136?query=featured_home

FROM 21 NOVEMBER

Medical stereotypes: Just good fun or a barrier to diversity in our workforce? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/11/18/medical-stereotypes-just-good-fun-or-a-barrier-to-diversity-in-our-workforce/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

The risk of Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia after P. falciparum malaria: An individual patient data meta-analysis from the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33211712/

Recapitulation of HIV-1 Env-antibody coevolution in macaques leading to neutralization breadth. Recapitulation of HIV-1 Env-antibody coevolution in macaques leading to neutralization breadth | Science (sciencemag.org)

Endometrial Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1514010?query=WBancer | NEJM Endometrial Cancer | NEJM

EP1.11-24 The TREAT Model 2.0: Predicting Lung Cancer in Patients Seeking Care in High-Risk Clinics. https://www.jto.org/article/S1556-0864(19)32928-4/fulltext

Daily briefing: Tips for trust-building science communication. Aim to inform and not persuade, say science communication experts. Plus, the iconic Arecibo telescope is to close forever and how COVID hinders taste and smell. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03307-z

After scalding critiques of study on gender and mentorship, journal says it is reviewing the work. In response to the uproar, the journal’s editorial team announced Thursday it is reviewing the study, which concludes that mentorship by women can damage the careers of female students and early-career scientists; it recommends encouraging male mentors for women instead.https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/after-scalding-critiques-study-gender-and-mentorship-journal-says-it-reviewing-work Here’s the article: The association between early career informal mentorship in academic collaborations and junior author performance. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19723-8

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 24 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 24, 2020, 03:23 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,992	[398]	31		7,692	2,269	1	4,216	13	398,311

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-24-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,992 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 22 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 24 NOVEMBER 2020

LIFTING OF SUSPENSION OF CROSS-BORDER PASSENGER ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

UPDATE – CROSS-BORDER PASSENGER ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

Cross-border public transport operations will commence effective 01st December 2020 when designated land ports of entry are opened.

Below are the routes that will resume operation on the 1st December 2020:[UPDATED]

Border/ route

Tlokweng Border

Gaborone-Johanneburg

Gaborone-Zeerust

Gaborone-Rustenburg

Gaborone – Carlton Ville

Gaborone – Moria

Gaborone – O. R. Tambo Airport

Gaborone – Pretoria

Gaborone- Pretoria – Bosman Taxi Rank

Ramatlabama Border

Gaborone-Mafikeng

Lobatse-Mafikeng

Kanye- Mafikeng

Pioneer Border

Lobatse- Johannesburg

Lobatse-Zeerust

Gaborone-Johannesburg via Lobatse

Martins drift Border

Palapye-Johannesburg

Selebi-Phikwe-Johannesburg

Bobonong-Dendron

Francistown-Johannesburg

Ramokgwebana Border

Francistown-Bulawayo

Francistown-Harare

Gaborone – Bulawayo

Gaborone – Gweru

Gaborone – Harare

Gaborone – Harare via Bulawayo

Gaborone – Masvingo

Gaborone – Mutare via Harare

Gaborone- Mutare via Masvingo

Maun-Harare

Francistown – Mutare

Kazungula Border

Francistown-Lusaka

Francistown – Victoria falls

Gaborone – Lusaka

Mamuno Border

Ghanzi – Windhoek via Mamuno

Francistown – Windhoek

Gaborone – Windhoek

Working border posts: Martins Drift, Ngoma, Kazungula, Mamuno, Ramokgwebana, Pioneer, Ramatlabana, Tlokweng

Cross-border public transport operators must adhere to the following conditions;

(i) abide with covid-19 protocols

(ii) Clean the interior and exterior of the vehicles with water and soap or sanitize 2 to 3 times a day or after every trip.

(i) a passenger shall present a valid 72-hour negative Covid-19 result to either bus operator, conductor or driver before boarding the bus

(ii) a person shall not be allowed to use public transport without wearing a mask

(iii) public transport operators shall keep a register of all passenger on board which shall be open for inspection by the Director of Health Services or a law enforcement officer

(iv) selling inside a public service vehicle is prohibited

(v) touting is not allowed

(vi) Public service vehicles shall load as per the authorised seating capacity stated in their passenger permits without standing.

NEWS

Covid-19: Oxford vaccine is up to 90% effective, interim analysis indicates. The analysis included 131 covid-19 cases and showed the vaccine was 62% effective when given as two standard doses (8895 participants) one month apart, but 90% effective when a half dose followed by a standard dose regime (2741) was used. No hospitalised or severe cases were found in anyone who received the vaccine. . https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4564?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Why Oxford’s positive COVID vaccine results are puzzling scientists. Preliminary data suggest that the immunization was more effective in trial participants who received a lower dose [mt1] . https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03326-w

Coronaviruses closely related to the pandemic virus discovered in Japan and Cambodia. The viruses, both found in bats stored in laboratory freezers, are the first SARS-CoV-2 relatives to be found outside China. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03217-0

Daily briefing: Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccine works — but scientists have questions. Early data indicate that the Oxford–AstraZeneca jab is effective, but dose makes a difference. Plus, the scientific dilemma posed by emergency vaccine approvals, and an AI that sums up papers in a sentence. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03328-8

Another COVID-19 vaccine success? Candidate may prevent further coronavirus transmission, too. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/another-covid-19-vaccine-success-candidate-may-prevent-further-coronavirus-transmission

Diagnosis, Management, and Pathophysiology of Arterial and Venous Thrombosis in COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773516

Psychological Distress and COVID-19–Related Stressors Reported in a Longitudinal Cohort of US Adults in April and July 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773517

Three reasons why COVID-19 can cause silent hypoxia. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/three-reasons-why-covid-19-can-cause-silent-hypoxia/45NXnvalykKmG1omXUcdH1?show_order=4&utm_campaign=All+11%2F23%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z714pbudau9qom5fv0633q4to0v0vgpshfchs46g

AstraZeneca slides after announcing its COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 70% effective. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstocks/astrazeneca-slides-after-announcing-its-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-is-70-effective/ar-BB1bh6P0?ocid=msedgntp

RESOURCES

Download the NSOAP Manual. To download the NSOAP Manual free of charge, please fill out the form linked here. https://www.globalsurgeryfoundation.org/news/social-media-launch We kindly ask you to share this form with other interested parties instead of disseminating the PDF directly.

Covid-19: Management of respiratory failure

Please join Dr Navjoyt Ladher of The BMJ for the next in our series of webinars examining an important aspect of the covid-19 pandemic. Dr Ladher, along with fellow panellists including Dr Susan Wilcox of Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr Nick Hart and Dr Luigi Camporota of Guys and St Thomas Hospital, London, and Dr Stefano Nova of Bologna University (other speakers to be confirmed) will discuss clinical insights from the covid-19 front line, and the latest research evidence too.

Please join us for this event on November 26 and share this page with any colleagues in your professional networks who you think may also find it useful to attend Covid-19: Management of respiratory failure

Time Nov 26, 2020 03:30 PM in London https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qmc2hstcQrmZZde9lEKYuw

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus All articles free.

Lancet Coronavirus Resource Centre. https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA RESOURCE CENTER Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Cancer Report Updates. The Learning Platform from the 2020 World Cancer Report. https://learning.iarc.fr/wcr/

Self-study tutorials– INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia. https://moodle.inasp.info/

Covid-19 has massive implications for efforts to support and strengthen the creation of research and evidence, which is vital in tackling the current world crisis and responding better in the future.

These tutorials are all offered as an open educational resources by INASP, with no cost to participate or enrol. https://moodle.inasp.info/mod/page/view.php?id=6204

OTHER NEWS

Every breath you take, every move you make. Wearable fitness monitors enable users to track a range of health metrics, such as physical activity, quality of sleep, and heart rate. Combined with user demographics and medical history, they might herald a personalised approach to promoting health and preventing illness, including cardiovascular disease. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30272-7/fulltext

Will global health survive its decolonisation? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32417-X/fulltext?rss=yes

Academic Medicine Guide to Reviewer Recommendations. For peer reviewers. 13-026 Academic Medicine Author Guidelines (lww.com)

FROM 23 NOVEMBER

Golimumab and Beta-Cell Function in Youth with New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2006136?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 25 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 25, 2020, 04:11 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,992		31		7,692	2,269	1	4,216	13	398,311

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-25-2020 06:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,992 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 23 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 25 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

The COVID vaccine challenges that lie ahead. As positive results emerge at last, researchers must help the world to address vaccine hesitancy, supply logistics and pricing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03334-w

Daily briefing: What the science says about COVID-sniffing dogs . https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03340-y

With more data on its COVID-19 vaccine, Russian institute offers new evidence of success. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/more-data-its-covid-19-vaccine-russia-institute-offers-new-evidence-successe offers new evidence of success | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)

COVID Models Show How to Avoid Future Lockdowns. The models could help inform policy on everything from mask mandates to social distancing. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-models-show-how-to-avoid-future-lockdowns/

A Randomized Trial of Convalescent Plasma in Covid-19 Severe Pneumonia. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2031304?query=featured_home

A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Hydroxychloroquine for Prevention of Covid-19.

Postexposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine did not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or symptomatic Covid-19 in healthy persons exposed to a PCR-positive case patient. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2021801?query=featured_home

Antibodies, Immunity, and COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2773575

Remdesivir: a pendulum in a pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4560

Covid-19: What do we know about the late stage vaccine candidates? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4576

Covid -19, misinformation, and antimicrobial resistance. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4501

RESOURCES

Top of Form

Wednesday, 25th November 2020 at 6pm. Bottom of Form

Top of Form

Global Surgery & RCSI:Sustainable Collaborations and Partnership! 1 CPD credit for attendance at live webinar – registration is necessary for CPD points upload and to obtain a CPD certificate. REGISTER Medical Professional – Wednesday, 25th November 2020 at 6pm (eventsair.com) https://rcsi.eventsair.com/25112020-webinar/global-surgery-rcsi-sustainable-collaborations-partnership/Site/Register

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OTHER NEWS

Pharmacokinetics and safety of early nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy for neonates at high risk for perinatal HIV infection: a phase 1/2 proof of concept study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30274-5/fulltext

Time trends and sociodemographic inequalities in the prevalence of adolescent motherhood in 74 low-income and middle-income countries: a population-based study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(20)30311-4/fulltext

Efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose compared with oral iron for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in women after childbirth in Tanzania: a parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled phase 3 trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30448-4/fulltext

Safety and efficacy of prednisone versus placebo in short-term prevention of episodic cluster headache: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30363-X/fulltext

University rankings need a rethink. World league tables for higher education are flawed, poorly used and entrench inequity. https://ww w.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03312-2

For scientists studying ‘disaster fatigue,’ this has been a year like no other. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/scientists-studying-disaster-fatigue-has-been-year-no-other

Effect of Nebulized Magnesium vs Placebo Added to Albuterol on Hospitalization Among Children With Refractory Acute Asthma Treated in the Emergency Department.A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2773271

Millions will face surgery delays unless anaesthetic workforce grows, college warns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4579

Mental health research funding: too little, too inequitable, too skewed. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30471-5/fulltext

FROM 24 NOVEMBER

Will global health survive its decolonisation? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32417-X/fulltext?rss=yes

Academic Medicine Guide to Reviewer Recommendations. For peer reviewers. 13-026 Academic Medicine Author Guidelines (lww.com)

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 26 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 26, 2020, 03:54 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	9,992		31		7,692	2,269	1	4,216	13	398,311

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-26-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

9,992 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 24 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 26 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Can I Choose My COVID-19 Vaccine? https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/89871?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2020-11-25&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Top%20Cat%20HeC%20%202020-11-25&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition

COVID Models Show How to Avoid Future Lockdowns. The models could help inform policy on everything from mask mandates to social distancing. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-models-show-how-to-avoid-future-lockdowns/

Rethinking Covid-19 Test Sensitivity — A Strategy for Containment. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025631?query=featured_home

Daily briefing: ‘Serendipity’ boosted Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy. Mistake led to striking improvement for COVID vaccine, how Iceland hammered COVID with science and ways Joe Biden can achieve his ambitious climate agenda. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03353-7

After dosing mix-up, latest COVID-19 vaccine success comes with big question mark. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/after-dosing-mix-latest-covid-19-vaccine-success-comes-big-question-mark

Transmission heterogeneities, kinetics, and controllability of SARS-CoV-2. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/23/science.abe2424?rss=1

With global push for COVID-19 vaccines, China aims to win friends and cut deals. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/global-push-covid-19-vaccines-china-aims-win-friends-and-cut-deals

India needs more transparency in its COVID-19 vaccine trials, critics say. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/india-needs-more-transparency-its-covid-19-vaccine-trials-critics-say

Zambia’s default fuels fears of African ‘debt tsunami’ as Covid impact bites. Aid agencies say debts should be restructured or cancelled due to the pandemic and warn other countries could follow. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/25/zambias-default-fuels-fears-of-african-debt-tsunami-as-covid-impact-bites

Audio Interview: New Studies of Covid-19 Transmission. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2034094?query=featured_home

RESOURCES

Top of Form

Bottom of FormTop of FormBottom of FormCORRECTION!! I GAVE INCORRECT LINK–Download the NSOAP Manual. To download the NSOAP Manual free of charge, please fill out the form linked here. We kindly ask you to share this form with other interested parties instead of disseminating the PDF directly. https://www.globalsurgeryfoundation.org/nsoap-manual

OTHER NEWS

Reboot contraceptives research — it has been stuck for decades. There is a huge global market, and exciting tools are ready to help develop what women want. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03287-0

Largest ever research integrity survey flounders as universities refuse to cooperate. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/largest-ever-research-integrity-survey-flounders-universities-refuse-cooperate

Once-Weekly Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes without Previous Insulin Treatment, Once-weekly treatment with insulin icodec had glucose-lowering efficacy and a safety profile similar to those of once-daily insulin glargine U100 in patients with type 2 diabetes. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022474?query=featured_home

Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study. Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study | The BMJ

Disadvantages in preparing and publishing scientific papers caused by the dominance of the English language in science: The case of Colombian researchers in biological sciences. Overall, this study exhibits the negative consequences of hegemony of English that preserves the global gap in science. Although having a common language is important for science communication, generating multilinguistic alternatives would promote diversity while conserving a communication channel. Such an effort should come from different actors and should not fall solely on EFL researchers. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238372

Hormone replacement therapy and cervical cancer: a systematic review of the literature. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33236658/

Factors influencing medical students’ choice of specialization: A gender based systematic review. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30333-3/fulltext

FROM 25 NOVEMBER

University rankings need a rethink. World league tables for higher education are flawed, poorly used and entrench inequity. https://ww w.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03312-2

For scientists studying ‘disaster fatigue,’ this has been a year like no other. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/scientists-studying-disaster-fatigue-has-been-year-no-other

Effect of Nebulized Magnesium vs Placebo Added to Albuterol on Hospitalization Among Children With Refractory Acute Asthma Treated in the Emergency Department.A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2773271

Millions will face surgery delays unless anaesthetic workforce grows, college warns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4579

Mental health research funding: too little, too inequitable, too skewed. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(20)30471-5/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 27 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 27, 2020, 03:57 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,258	[266]	31		7,717	2,510	1	4,327	13	406,978

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-27-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,258 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 24 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 27 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

The curious case of the Danish mask study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4586

Covid-19: controversial trial may actually show that masks protect the wearer . https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/11/24/covid-19-controversial-trial-may-actually-show-that-masks-protect-the-wearer/

The Danish Study: Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers. A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6817?fbclid=IwAR3aXPvW1vBYSuVNLafc-W_qqWHWYGDV4T_pvtZdidvy03Xaiqpb-OeX7cE

Surge of Aids-related deaths feared as Covid pandemic puts gains at risk. UN calls for urgent focus on HIV/Aids as coronavirus blocks access to drugs and missed targets threaten to derail progress. Surge of Aids-related deaths feared as Covid pandemic puts gains at risk | Global development | The Guardian

Covid-19 has harmed poorest countries the most across Asia Pacific, says OECD. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4660

Will covid-19 vaccines be cost effective—and does it matter? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4491

RESOURCES

Top of Form

OTHER NEWS

WHO launches strategy to accelerate elimination of cervical cancer. On Nov 17, 2020, WHO launched a global initiative to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, and set up an historical milestone—through adoption of a resolution by 194 countries at the World Health Assembly—that pledged, for the first time, to eliminate a malignant disease by pursuing three important steps: vaccination, screening, and treatment. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30729-4/fulltext

Pregnancy cohorts and biobanking in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/11/e003716

Gestational age and hospital admissions during childhood: population based, record linkage study in England (TIGAR study). https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4075

Scotland becomes first country to provide free period products. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4613

FROM 26 NOVEMBER

Reboot contraceptives research — it has been stuck for decades. There is a huge global market, and exciting tools are ready to help develop what women want. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03287-0

Largest ever research integrity survey flounders as universities refuse to cooperate. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/largest-ever-research-integrity-survey-flounders-universities-refuse-cooperate

Once-Weekly Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes without Previous Insulin Treatment, Once-weekly treatment with insulin icodec had glucose-lowering efficacy and a safety profile similar to those of once-daily insulin glargine U100 in patients with type 2 diabetes. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022474?query=featured_home

Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study. Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study | The BMJ

Disadvantages in preparing and publishing scientific papers caused by the dominance of the English language in science: The case of Colombian researchers in biological sciences. Overall, this study exhibits the negative consequences of hegemony of English that preserves the global gap in science. Although having a common language is important for science communication, generating multilinguistic alternatives would promote diversity while conserving a communication channel. Such an effort should come from different actors and should not fall solely on EFL researchers. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238372

Hormone replacement therapy and cervical cancer: a systematic review of the literature. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33236658/

Factors influencing medical students’ choice of specialization: A gender based systematic review. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30333-3/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 28 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 28, 2020, 04:22 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,258		31		7,717	2,510	1	4,327	13	406,978

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-28-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,258 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 26 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 28 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

Will everyone in the world have access to a Covid vaccine? – video explainer. Will everyone in the world have access to a Covid vaccine? – video explainer | Society | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2020/nov/27/will-everyone-in-the-world-have-access-to-a-covid-vaccine-video-explainer

A tribute to some of the doctors who died from COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32478-8/fulltext?utm_campaign=tlcoronavirus20&utm_content=147300627&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292

Maintaining quality essential health services during COVID-19: Learning from country experiences. https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2020/12/03/default-calendar/maintaining-quality-essential-health-services-during-covid-19-learning-from-country-experiences

Maintaining the HIV response in a world shaped by COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32526-5/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Applying for residency in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32476-4/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Their Teeth Fell Out. Was It Another Covid-19 Consequence? People who already have dental problems may see them aggravated by encounters with the coronavirus, some experts suggest. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/26/health/covid-teeth-falling-out.html

The Virus Won’t Stop Evolving When the Vaccine Arrives. The coronavirus is not a shape shifter like the flu virus, but it could become vaccine resistant over time. That prompts researchers to urge vigilance. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/science/covid-vaccine-virus-resistance.html

RCORRECTION!! I GAVE INCORRECT LINK–Download the NSOAP Manual. To download the NSOAP Manual free of charge, please fill out the form linked here. We kindly ask you to share this form with other interested parties instead of disseminating the PDF directly. https://www.globalsurgeryfoundation.org/nsoap-manual

OTHER NEWS

How to manage when your fieldwork is cancelled. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to upend plans for data collection, scientists stuck at home are finding innovative ways to adapt their research questions. Here’s what they’re doing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03368-0

A Randomized Trial of Laryngeal Mask Airway in Neonatal Resuscitation. This randomized trial of the effectiveness and safety of the LMA in neonatal resuscitation conducted by midwives in a low-income country showed the LMA to be safe in the hands of midwives but to confer no benefit over the face mask with respect to the composite of early neonatal death or moderate-to-severe hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. The cuffless LMA that was used in this trial is designed to provide an efficient seal to the larynx without the inflatable cuff used in conventional LMAs. Positioning is easy, and the risk of tissue compression or dislodgement is low.^16,32 Thus, the device provides a useful alternative to the face mask and endotracheal intubation, especially in settings where skills in performing positive-pressure ventilation or intubation are insufficient.⁵ A study in Uganda that used mannequins showed that after a brief training, midwives could easily insert this LMA, and it was more effective than the face mask in establishing positive-pressure ventilation in a mannequin.³³ A phase 2, randomized, controlled trial at the same site showed that midwives could perform resuscitation in neonates effectively and safely with the cuffless LMA.³⁴ https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2005333?query=featured_home

People versus politics at the 2020 Global Health Film Festival. People versus politics at the 2020 Global Health Film Festival – The Lancet https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32537-X/fulltext

Global burden of acute lower respiratory infection associated with human metapneumovirus in children under 5 years in 2018: a systematic review and modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30393-4/fulltext

Women Physicians and Promotion in Academic Medicine. Over a 35-year period, women physicians in [US] academic medical centers were less likely than men to be promoted to the rank of associate or full professor or to be appointed to department chair, and there was no apparent narrowing in the gap over time.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1916935?query=featured_home

Physical activity guidelines 2020: comprehensive and inclusive recommendations to activate populations. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32229-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Same Data, Opposite Results?A Call to Improve Surgical Database Research. Same Data, Opposite Results? A Call to Improve Surgical Database Research | Health Care Safety | JAMA Surgery | JAMA Network

FROM 27 NOVEMBER

Pregnancy cohorts and biobanking in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/11/e003716

Gestational age and hospital admissions during childhood: population based, record linkage study in England (TIGAR study). https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4075

Scotland becomes first country to provide free period products. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4613

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 30 November 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: NOV 30, 2020, 04:11 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,258		31		7,717	2,510	1	4,327	13	406,978

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-30-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,258 Total confirmed cases

31 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 28 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

	Country Botswana Region Southern Cases 9,992 Cases/100k 416 Deaths 31 CFR 0.3 Recoveries 5,534 Tests 406,978 Tests/case 40.7 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 11/28/2020, Country South Africa Region Southern Cases 785,139 Cases/100k 1,351 Deaths 21,439 CFR 2.7 Recoveries 723,347 Tests 5,383,078 Tests/case 6.9 Epidemic Phase 3 Date 11/28/2020
	Country	Namibia
	Region	Southern
	Cases	14,345
	Cases/100k	552
	Deaths	151
	CFR	1.1
	Recoveries	13,439
	Tests	155,543
	Tests/case	10.8
	Epidemic Phase	3
	Date	11/28/2020,

Country	Zimbabwe
Region	Southern
Cases	9,822
Cases/100k	57
Deaths	275
CFR	2.8
Recoveries	8,472
Tests	190,175
Tests/case	19.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020
Country	Angola
Region	Southern
Cases	15,087
Cases/100k	47
Deaths	345
CFR	2.3
Recoveries	7,763
Tests	171,247
Tests/case	11.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020
Country	Zambia
Region	Southern
Cases	17,608
Cases/100k	97
Deaths	357
CFR	2.0
Recoveries	16,983
Tests	399,492
Tests/case	22.7
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020
Country	Mozambique
Region	Southern
Cases	15,613
Cases/100k	50
Deaths	130
CFR	0.8
Recoveries	13,677
Tests	230,490
Tests/case	14.8
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,
Country	Lesotho
Region	Southern
Cases	2,109
Cases/100k	92
Deaths	44
CFR	2.1
Recoveries	1,278
Tests	25,687
Tests/case	12.2
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,
Country	Eswatini
Region	Southern
Cases	6,406
Cases/100k	458
Deaths	121
CFR	1.9
Recoveries	5,987
Tests	63,766
Tests/case	10.0
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,

Country	Malawi
Region	Southern
Cases	6,025
Cases/100k	31
Deaths	185
CFR	3.1
Recoveries	5,453
Tests	73,576
Tests/case	12.2
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region	Central
Cases	12,702
Cases/100k	15
Deaths	333
CFR	2.6
Recoveries	11,585
Tests	79,566
Tests/case	6.3
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,
Country	Madagascar
Region	Eastern
Cases	17,341
Cases/100k	64
Deaths	251
CFR	1.4
Recoveries	16,657
Tests	93,734
Tests/case	5.4
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020
Country	Tanzania
Region	Eastern
Cases	509
Cases/100k	1
Deaths	21
CFR	4.1
Recoveries	178
Tests	3,880
Tests/case	7.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Eastern
Cases	108,930
Cases/100k	99
Deaths	1,695
CFR	1.6
Recoveries	68,250
Tests	1,626,446
Tests/case	14.9
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,

Country	Kenya
Region	Eastern
Cases	83,316
Cases/100k	160
Deaths	1,452
CFR	1.7
Recoveries	54,975
Tests	885,933
Tests/case	10.6
Epidemic Phase	3
Date	11/28/2020,

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 30 NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS

South Africa’s Western Cape officials warn of COVID-19 resurgence. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africas-western-cape-officials-warn-of-covid-19-resurgence-idUSL8N2IB50O

Kenyan Study Suggests Parts Of Africa Saw Fewer Severe Cases Of Covid-19 Despite Wide Spread. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dishashetty/2020/11/24/kenyan-study-supports-impression-that-covid-19-spread-weaker-in-africa/?sh=43c27ac5142b&utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_content=4248982933&utm_campaign=sprinklrForbesMainTwitter

Why COVID-19 is less prevalent in Africa than the US – Study. The study shows that there is a higher prevalence of cross-reactive antibodies against the coronavirus in the blood samples collected from sub-Saharan African populations. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/428557-why-covid-19-is-less-prevalent-in-africa-than-the-us-study.html

AstraZeneca May Conduct Additional Trial For Covid-19 Vaccine After Acknowledging Errors In Initial Trial. https://www.forbesafrica.com/health/2020/11/27/astrazeneca-may-conduct-additional-trial-for-covid-19-vaccine-after-acknowledging-errors-in-initial-trial/

Damaged Sense of Smell in Covid Patients Holds Clues to How Recovery Might Work. Researchers study neurological reasons why some coronavirus patients often find familiar scents repulsive. https://www.wsj.com/articles/damaged-sense-of-smell-in-covid-patients-holds-clues-to-how-recovery-might-work-11606140319

Strengthening pandemic preparedness and response begins with answering the question: where are the women? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/11/20/strengthening-pandemic-preparedness-and-response-begins-with-answering-the-question-where-are-the-women/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Prevalence of Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Psychological Distress among Populations Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178120332601

The Surprising Mental Toll of COVID. The rise in depression https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-surprising-mental-toll-of-covid/

Covid-19 vaccines: where are the data? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/11/27/covid-19-vaccines-where-are-the-data/

COVID-19 and systemic anticancer therapy: exploiting uncertainty. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30700-2/fulltex t

War in the time of COVID-19: humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30510-6/fulltext

Corticosteroids for COVID-19: the search for an optimum duration of therapy. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30530-0/fulltext

Why COVID-19 strengthens the case for a dedicated financing mechanism to scale up innovation in women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30507-6/fulltext

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program (Part II) Dec 1, 2020 08:00 AM in Mountain Time (US and Canada)—5 PM CAT

This second session of the series, “Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program”, expands upon the role that the surgical educator plays in any modern hospital in LMIC’s and HIC’s. Skilled Nursing Professional Development practitioners assess the knowledge of incoming OR nurse staff and will customize learning programs accordingly. Nurses keep the safety of patients and personnel in mind, keep staff current and promote professional education to support quality surgical care.

OTHER NEWS

Malaria death toll to exceed COVID-19’s in sub-Saharan Africa: WHO. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-malaria-who-idUSKBN28A009?taid=5fc44675585f620001e51792&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Researchers gather to discuss hottest topics in cancer research. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/researchers-gather-to-discuss-hottest-topics-in-cancer-research/7Dw6TC1wkOyXYxntp7uUVL?show_order=3&utm_campaign=All+11%2F28%2F2020+Evening+Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zbpg5j3i4k1fej6hlsji432iv2ekeo8pl1e3q0h8

There’s a social pathogen stalking the world that’s as deadly as Covid-1. The endurance of TB and malaria shows how health resources are hoarded by the wealthy. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/29/theres-a-social-pathogen-stalking-the-world-thats-as-deadly-as-covid-19

FROM 28 NOVEMBER

How to manage when your fieldwork is cancelled. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to upend plans for data collection, scientists stuck at home are finding innovative ways to adapt their research questions. Here’s what they’re doing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03368-0

A Randomized Trial of Laryngeal Mask Airway in Neonatal Resuscitation. This randomized trial of the effectiveness and safety of the LMA in neonatal resuscitation conducted by midwives in a low-income country showed the LMA to be safe in the hands of midwives but to confer no benefit over the face mask with respect to the composite of early neonatal death or moderate-to-severe hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. The cuffless LMA that was used in this trial is designed to provide an efficient seal to the larynx without the inflatable cuff used in conventional LMAs. Positioning is easy, and the risk of tissue compression or dislodgement is low.^16,32 Thus, the device provides a useful alternative to the face mask and endotracheal intubation, especially in settings where skills in performing positive-pressure ventilation or intubation are insufficient.⁵ A study in Uganda that used mannequins showed that after a brief training, midwives could easily insert this LMA, and it was more effective than the face mask in establishing positive-pressure ventilation in a mannequin.³³ A phase 2, randomized, controlled trial at the same site showed that midwives could perform resuscitation in neonates effectively and safely with the cuffless LMA.³⁴ https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2005333?query=featured_home

Women Physicians and Promotion in Academic Medicine. Over a 35-year period, women physicians in [US] academic medical centers were less likely than men to be promoted to the rank of associate or full professor or to be appointed to department chair, and there was no apparent narrowing in the gap over time.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1916935?query=featured_home

Same Data, Opposite Results?A Call to Improve Surgical Database Research. Same Data, Opposite Results? A Call to Improve Surgical Database Research | Health Care Safety | JAMA Surgery | JAMA Network

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 1 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 1, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,742	[484]	34	[3]	7,812	2,510	1	4,530	14	422,359

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-01-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,742 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 01 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Kenya: Covid-19 Drug Clinical Trials in Africa Kicks Off With Kenya https://allafrica.com/stories/202011300058.html?utm_campaign=allafrica%3Ainternal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=promote%3Aaans%3Aabafbt

Researchers reveal how genetic variations are linked to COVID-19 disease severity. https://outlook.office.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkADkzN2IzNzA4LTU2ZDAtNGQ4My04YmVhLTEwZjg3ZDlmNTM2NwBGAAAAAAC8WMpHWuWOS57LQryZCLW3BwANMwsi6utOTb58IHOQliyvAAAATEIBAADyO5zJQCD4Q6tRqr2CWd5rAAEHsjc7AAA%3D

Covid-19 Live Updates: Moderna to Seek Emergency F.D.A. Approval for Vaccine. If authorization is granted, the first shots could be given as early as Dec. 21. Meanwhile, federal officials have urged Americans returning from Thanksgiving travel to reduce unnecessary activity. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/30/world/covid-19-coronavirus

How COVID vaccines are being divvied up around the world. Canada leads the pack in terms of doses secured per capita. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03370-6

Absolutely remarkable’: No one who got Moderna’s vaccine in trial developed severe COVID-19. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/absolutely-remarkable-no-one-who-got-modernas-vaccine-trial-developed-severe-covid-19

The COVID Science Wars. Shutting down scientific debate is hurting the public health. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-covid-science-wars1/

Egyptian inventor trials robot that can test for COVID-19. https://uk.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-egypt-robot/egyptian-inventor-trials-robot-that-can-test-for-covid-19-idUKKBN2852F6

Negative Conversion Rate of SARS-CoV-2 Infection, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2773238

Negative Conversion Rate of SARS-CoV-2 Infection—Reply. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2773240

Prevalence of COVID-19-related risk factors and risk of severe influenza outcomes in cancer survivors: A matched cohort study using linked English electronic health records data. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30400-4/fulltext

Update Alert 6: Risks and Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1355

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19–Related Infections, Hospitalizations, and Deaths. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6306

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Basics of a Hospital-Based Surgical Staff Education Program (Part II) Dec 1, 2020 08:00 AM in Mountain Time (US and Canada)—5 PM CAT

OTHER NEWS

The case for an HIV cure and how to get there. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30232-0/fulltext

Effect of a Low-Fat Vegan Diet on Body Weight, Insulin Sensitivity, Postprandial Metabolism, and Intramyocellular and Hepatocellular Lipid Levels in Overweight Adults. A Randomized Clinical Trial. Meaning A low-fat plant-based diet is an effective tool for reducing body weight and increasing insulin sensitivity and postprandial metabolism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773291

FROM 3O NOVEMBER

Malaria death toll to exceed COVID-19’s in sub-Saharan Africa: WHO. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-malaria-who-idUSKBN28A009?taid=5fc44675585f620001e51792&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

Researchers gather to discuss hottest topics in cancer research. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/researchers-gather-to-discuss-hottest-topics-in-cancer-research/7Dw6TC1wkOyXYxntp7uUVL?show_order=3&utm_campaign=All+11%2F28%2F2020+Evening+Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zbpg5j3i4k1fej6hlsji432iv2ekeo8pl1e3q0h8

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 2 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 2, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,742		34		7,812	2,510	1	4,530	14	422,359

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-02-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,742 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 November 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 01 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

COVID research updates: To avoid COVID, beware your nearest and dearest. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

A single-dose live-attenuated YF17D-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-3035-9

CDC advisory panel takes first shot at prioritizing who gets the first shots of COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/cdc-advisory-panel-takes-first-shot-prioritizing-who-gets-first-shots-covid-19-vaccines

‘Absolutely remarkable’: No one who got Moderna’s vaccine in trial developed severe COVID-19. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/absolutely-remarkable-no-one-who-got-modernas-vaccine-trial-developed-severe-covid-19

Shedding of Viable SARS-CoV-2 after Immunosuppressive Therapy for Cancer. Shedding of Viable SARS-CoV-2 after Immunosuppressive Therapy for Cancer | NEJM

Covid-19: Asymptomatic cases may not be infectious, Wuhan study indicates. Findings not generally applicable. The researchers said that their findings did not show that the virus couldn’t be passed on by asymptomatic carriers, and they didn’t suggest that their findings were generalisable.. They said that strict measures—such as mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, and lockdown—were successful in reducing the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan and that asymptomatic people in Wuhan may have low viral loads. This means that the finding cannot be applied to countries where outbreaks have not been successfully brought under control. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4695

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Canadian Global Surgery Trainees’ Alliance (CGSTA)–We’re running our second webinar for CGSTA titled: “Introduction to Ethics in Global Surgery”. This workshop will be happening on Dec 6th at 1-3pm EST (8-11 pm CAT) and will be run by a general surgeon, Dr. Alreem Al Hinai, from UAlberta!

Register at: www. cgsta.org/events

OTHER NEWS

World AIDS Day Is a Grim Reminder That We Have Many Pandemics Going On. The coronavirus is amplifying racial, class and other disparities, just as HIV has been doing for decades. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-aids-day-is-a-grim-reminder-that-we-have-many-pandemics-going-on/

Test for HIV wherever blood is taken, commission recommends. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4694

Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32340-0/fulltext

Malnutrition: the silent pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4593

FROM 1 DECEMBER

The case for an HIV cure and how to get there. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30232-0/fulltext

Effect of a Low-Fat Vegan Diet on Body Weight, Insulin Sensitivity, Postprandial Metabolism, and Intramyocellular and Hepatocellular Lipid Levels in Overweight Adults. A Randomized Clinical Trial. Meaning A low-fat plant-based diet is an effective tool for reducing body weight and increasing insulin sensitivity and postprandial metabolism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773291

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 3 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 3, 2020, 03:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	10,742		34		7,812	2,510	1	4,530	14	422,359

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-03-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

10,742 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 1 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 03 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Covid-19: Moderna applies for US and EU approval as vaccine trial reports 94.1% efficacy. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4709

U.K. Approves Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine, a First in the West. Emergency approval of the vaccine, ahead of the United States and the European Union, clears the way for Britain to begin mass inoculations. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-approved-uk.html

Could COVID delirium bring on dementia? Delirium is very common on COVID wards. Researchers are testing whether these temporary bouts of confusion could bring on permanent cognitive decline. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03360-8

‘Malicious and misconceived.’ Indian vaccine producer hits back at complaint from trial volunteer. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/malicious-and-misconceived-indian-vaccine-producer-hits-back-complaint-trial-volunteer

COVID Pandemic Reduces Seismic Noise. Vibrations in the earth’s crust generated by human activity dropped as lockdowns went into effect. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-pandemic-reduces-seismic-noise/

Repurposed Antiviral Drugs for Covid-19 — Interim WHO Solidarity Trial Results. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2023184?query=featured_home

Placebo-Controlled Trials of Covid-19 Vaccines — Why We Still Need Them. WHO Ad Hoc Expert Group on the Next Steps for Covid-19 Vaccine Evaluation https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2033538?query=featured_home

“When Will We Have a Vaccine?” — Understanding Questions and Answers about Covid-19 Vaccination.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025331?query=featured_home

Rapid Response to an Outbreak in Qingdao, China. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2032361?query=featured_home

WHO fine-tunes advice on COVID masks for public, health workers. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-masks/who-fine-tunes-advice-on-covid-masks-for-public-health-workers-idUSKBN28C173

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdfop of Form

Register at: www. cgsta.org/events

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

OTHER NEWS

African malaria deaths set to dwarf covid-19 fatalities as pandemic hits control efforts, WHO warns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4711

Potential impact of midwives in preventing and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and stillbirths: a Lives Saved Tool modelling study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30397-1/fulltext

Scientists fear that ‘covidization’ is distorting research. Some researchers worry that shifting priorities towards pandemic-focused science comes at the expense of other disciplines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03388-w

Glycine-based treatment ameliorates NAFLD by modulating fatty acid oxidation, glutathione synthesis, and the gut microbiome. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/572/eaaz2841

Transomics analysis reveals allosteric and gene regulation axes for altered hepatic glucose-responsive metabolism in obesity. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/660/eaaz1236

Solving Population-wide Obesity — Progress and Future Prospects. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2029646?query=featured_home

Researchers restore lost sight in mice, offering clues to reversing aging. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/researchers-restore-lost-sight-mice-offering-clues-reversing-aging

FROM 2 DECEMBER

World AIDS Day Is a Grim Reminder That We Have Many Pandemics Going On. The coronavirus is amplifying racial, class and other disparities, just as HIV has been doing for decades. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-aids-day-is-a-grim-reminder-that-we-have-many-pandemics-going-on/

Test for HIV wherever blood is taken, commission recommends. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4694

Malnutrition: the silent pandemic. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4593

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 4 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 4, 2020, 04:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	11,531	[789]	34		8,978	2,519	1	4,862	14	438,332

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-04-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

11,531 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 2 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 04 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

An African plan to control COVID-19 is urgently needed. In Africa, for example, the pandemic continues to grow, but heterogeneously. Cases are rising sharply in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and South Africa. But in Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, WHO reports only 1173 deaths from COVID-19. Although data are sparse, the first wave of the pandemic seemed to peak in early August. Numbers of COVID-19 deaths declined through September, but the disease has been stubbornly persistent since then, burning slowly through communities throughout the continent. As of Dec 1, WHO reports 1·5 million cases and 33 573 deaths from COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32580-0/fulltext

South Africa and India push for COVID-19 patents ban. They want the WTO to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights so that COVID-19 vaccines and other new technologies are accessible for poor countries. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32581-2/fulltext

Fragmented health systems in COVID-19: rectifying the misalignment between global health security and universal health coverage. With only four of 55 countries in the African Union having reached the 15% commitment, which was set in the Abuja Declaration in 2001, national spending on health is still low in most countries and PHC and critical-care capacities, such as beds and ventilators in intensive care units, are exceedingly scarce; boosting these health-care functions during the pandemic is likely to be too late. Furthermore, with funding driven by donors financing large portions of key health services, such as the majority of HIV care in Nigeria and Zimbabwe, cuts to international assistance could destabilise many downstream services that are supported by siloed investments in health systems.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32228-5/fulltext

Factbox: Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. Moscow plans to open its COVID-19 vaccination centres on Saturday and England’s National Health Service is looking at ways to deploy vaccinations in care homes. Meanwhile Africa aims to have 60% of its population vaccinated within the next two to three years. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest-factbox/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN28D0LA

South Africa tightens COVID-19 rules in Eastern Cape, Ramaphosa says ‘in the fight of our lives’. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-tightens-covid-19-rules-in-eastern-cape-ramaphosa-says-in-the-fight-of-our-lives-idUSKBN28D32X

Durability of Responses after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 Vaccination. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2032195?query=featured_home

Persistence and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in an Immunocompromised Host. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031364?query=featured_home

U.N. chief pans countries who ignored COVID-19 facts, WHO guidance. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-un/u-n-chief-pans-countries-who-ignored-covid-19-facts-who-guidance-idUSKBN28D2NQ

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Register at: www. cgsta.org/events

BMJ’s Coronavirus (covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

OTHER NEWS

Malaria Chemoprevention in the Postdischarge Management of Severe Anemia. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002820?query=featured_home

Pembrolizumab in Microsatellite-Instability–High Advanced Colorectal Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2017699?query=featured_home

Lifetime perspective on alcohol and brain health. Highly prevalent patterns of alcohol use may cause harm during these sensitive periods, including low level prenatal alcohol exposure, adolescent binge drinking, and low-to-moderate alcohol use in older adulthood. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4691

Coca-Cola sought to shift blame for obesity by funding public health conferences, study reports. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4718

Managing Asthma in Adolescents and Adults2020 Asthma Guideline Update From the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/277348

Conference cancelled: The equitable flip side of the academic surgery coin. Conferences have long come with substantial barriers that have made it difficult for those who would benefit most to attend. First, as the majority of academic conferences occur in high-income countries (HICs), accessibility has prevented many, especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), to attend meetings in HICs for which visas are often hard to obtain. https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(20)30437-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

FROM 3 DECEMBER

African malaria deaths set to dwarf covid-19 fatalities as pandemic hits control efforts, WHO warns. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4711

Scientists fear that ‘covidization’ is distorting research. Some researchers worry that shifting priorities towards pandemic-focused science comes at the expense of other disciplines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03388-w

Glycine-based treatment ameliorates NAFLD by modulating fatty acid oxidation, glutathione synthesis, and the gut microbiome. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/572/eaaz2841

Transomics analysis reveals allosteric and gene regulation axes for altered hepatic glucose-responsive metabolism in obesity. https://stke.sciencemag.org/content/13/660/eaaz1236

Solving Population-wide Obesity — Progress and Future Prospects. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2029646?query=featured_home

Researchers restore lost sight in mice, offering clues to reversing aging. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/researchers-restore-lost-sight-mice-offering-clues-reversing-aging

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 5 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 5, 2020, 04:06 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	11,531		34		8,978	2,519	1	4,862	14	438,332

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-05-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

11,531 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 3 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 05 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

South Africa expects first vaccines from COVAX scheme in Q2 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/south-africa-expects-first-vaccines-from-covax-scheme-in-q2-2021-idUSKBN28E2WY

First-of-its-kind African trial tests common drugs to prevent severe COVID-19. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/first-its-kind-african-trial-tests-common-drugs-prevent-severe-covid-19

An African plan to control COVID-19 is urgently needed. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32580-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Time, Sets New Travel Guidance. https://www.jwatch.org/fw117286/2020/12/02/cdc-shortens-covid-19-quarantine-time-sets-new-travel

Covid-19: Air travellers [returning home to Europe] should not be considered high risk, says European guidance. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4746

Covid-19: Safety of lateral flow tests questioned after they are found to miss half of cases. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4744

COVID research updates: Smell tests could sniff out rising COVID case counts. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 in rhesus macaques. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03041-6

The UK has approved a COVID vaccine — here’s what scientists now want to know

The Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine has passed safety and efficacy tests — but scientists still have many questions about how this and other vaccines will perform as they’re rolled out to millions of people. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03441-8

New Sports Guidelines for Young Athletes After Covid-19. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/well/family/youth-sports-covid.html

COVID-19 vaccine trial ethics once we have efficacious vaccines. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/02/science.abf5084

Coronavirus News Roundup, November 28-December 4. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-november-28-december-4/

Climate and COVID-19: converging crises. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Register at: www. cgsta.org/events

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Capacity Building for Academic Institutions. Michigan Center for Global Surgery Symposium. Virtual Event

8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM EST TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

REGISTER https://video.ibm.com/channel/DJRXWqvs57v

Join us as we hear from academic institutions across the country on their personal experiences with their respective International partners. The broad theme of capacity building has been interpreted differently. We will also hear from faculty who have obtained successful NIH funding for capacity building. Additionally, we will have Program Officers from the NIH discuss “best practices” on how to obtain grant funding for Capacity Building.

OTHER NEWS

Are Bill Gates’s Billions Distorting Public Health Data? Thanks to the Microsoft founder’s support, the IHME can make its own rules about how to track global health. That’s a problem. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/gates-covid-data-ihme/

How to write a superb literature review. Nature speaks to old hands and first timers about the work they did to make their reviews sing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03422-x

In biology publishing shakeup, eLife will require submissions to be posted as preprints. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/biology-publishing-shakeup-elife-will-require-submissions-be-posted-preprints

Effect of High-Dose Trivalent vs Standard-Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine on Mortality or Cardiopulmonary Hospitalization in Patients With High-risk Cardiovascular Disease. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

FROM 4 DECEMBER

Malaria Chemoprevention in the Postdischarge Management of Severe Anemia. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002820?query=featured_home

Pembrolizumab in Microsatellite-Instability–High Advanced Colorectal Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2017699?query=featured_home

Lifetime perspective on alcohol and brain health. Highly prevalent patterns of alcohol use may cause harm during these sensitive periods, including low level prenatal alcohol exposure, adolescent binge drinking, and low-to-moderate alcohol use in older adulthood. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4691

Coca-Cola sought to shift blame for obesity by funding public health conferences, study reports. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4718

Managing Asthma in Adolescents and Adults2020 Asthma Guideline Update From the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773482

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 7 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 7, 2020, 04:05 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	11,531		34		8,978	2,519	1	4,862	14	438,332

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-07-2020 05:25 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

11,531 Total confirmed cases

34 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 3 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 07 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

WHO set to approve a COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2020—increasing hopes for equitable access.The U.K.’s vaccine approval triggered a global domino effect. Now the WHO and humanitarian organizations are racing to ensure fair access. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/world-health-organization-set-to-approve-coronavirus-vaccine-by-end-of-2020-hopes-for-equitable-access/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=SpecialEdition_20201204&rid=9289A6E403A2EB689AA4AB4C407596CC

Doctors Are Skeptical of Pricey Drug Given Emergency Approval for Covid. Baricitinib, an arthritis drug made by Eli Lilly, may reduce recovery time by a day, but costs about $1,500 and comes with side effects. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/health/covid-drug-baricitinib.html

Hyperglycemia on hospital admission tied to COVID-19 mortality. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/hyperglycemia-on-hospital-admission-tied-to-covid-19-mortality/4lwkoHcp232FgpZWFHbmkl?show_order=4&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F05%2F2020+Morning+Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zk0fd460k80q8h500pqsr87fu4tbm1fvlvntlttg

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Capacity Building for Academic Institutions. Michigan Center for Global Surgery Symposium. Virtual Event

8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM EST TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

REGISTER https://video.ibm.com/channel/DJRXWqvs57v

OTHER NEWS

Lack of Sleep Could Be a Problem for AIs. Some types of artificial intelligence could start to hallucinate if they don’t get enough rest, just as humans do. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lack-of-sleep-could-be-a-problem-for-ais/

Travel time to health-care facilities, mode of transportation, and HIV elimination in Malawi: a geospatial modelling analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30351-X/fulltext

FROM 5 DECEMBER

Are Bill Gates’s Billions Distorting Public Health Data? Thanks to the Microsoft founder’s support, the IHME can make its own rules about how to track global health. That’s a problem. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/gates-covid-data-ihme/

How to write a superb literature review. Nature speaks to old hands and first timers about the work they did to make their reviews sing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03422-x

In biology publishing shakeup, eLife will require submissions to be posted as preprints. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/biology-publishing-shakeup-elife-will-require-submissions-be-posted-preprints

Effect of High-Dose Trivalent vs Standard-Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine on Mortality or Cardiopulmonary Hospitalization in Patients With High-risk Cardiovascular Disease. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 8 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 8, 2020, 04:28 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,058	[527]	36	[2]	9,400	2,622	1	5,083	15	455,040

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-08-2020 06:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,058 Total confirmed cases

36 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 6 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 07 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

A year into COVID-19, U.N. declares a day of ‘epidemic preparedness’ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-un/a-year-into-covid-19-u-n-declares-a-day-of-epidemic-preparedness-idUSKBN28H2QU

In Kenya, COVID-19’s rural spread strains creaky healthcare. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-kenya/in-kenya-covid-19s-rural-spread-strains-creaky-healthcare-idUSKBN28H0J0

COVID vaccination starts tomorrow in the UK. UK hospitals will start giving people the Pfizer—BioNTech vaccine on Tuesday. Plus, samples returning from the asteroid Ryugu and the Moon and the huge toll of snakebites on survivors in India. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03493-w

COVID research updates: Just a pinch of antibodies can protect against COVID Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

A Nursing Researcher’s Experience in a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2773790

Dynamics and Correlation Among Viral Positivity, Seroconversion, and Disease Severity in COVID-19. A Retrospective Study. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-3337

Hydroxychloroquine as Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection. A Randomized Trial. Among the 689 (89%) participants who were SARS-CoV-2 negative at baseline, there was no difference between the hydroxychloroquine and control groups in SARS-CoV-2 acquisition by day 14 (53 versus 45 events; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.73 to 1.66]; P > 0.20). The frequency of participants experiencing adverse events was higher in the hydroxychloroquine group than the control group (66 [16.2%] versus 46 [10.9%], respectively; P = 0.026). https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6519

Exposed to Covid-19 During the Holidays? Here Are Safe Tests and Practices. Experts at top medical centers discuss quarantining, testing and informing people that you may be infected. https://www.wsj.com/articles/exposed-to-covid-19-during-the-holidays-here-are-safe-tests-and-practices-11607346001

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

Capacity Building for Academic Institutions. Michigan Center for Global Surgery Symposium. Virtual Event

8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM EST TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020, 2PM CAT

REGISTER https://video.ibm.com/channel/DJRXWqvs57v

NSOAP Education Series #6 – The role of NGOs, academic institutions, professional associations and other non-state actors in supporting the NSOAP process. —Weds, 9 December, 03:00 PM in Zurich. 4P CAT. Registration https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8016025924455/WN_ah0u2aOvS9GBzqZXC2gaVw

OTHER NEWS

Innovative universal flu vaccine shows promise in first clinical test. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/innovative-universal-flu-vaccine-shows-promises-it-first-clinical-test

Stillbirths During the COVID-19 Pandemic in England, April-June 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774088

Changes in Preterm Birth Phenotypes and Stillbirth at 2 Philadelphia Hospitals During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, March-June 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774087

FROM 7 DECEMBER

Lack of Sleep Could Be a Problem for AIs. Some types of artificial intelligence could start to hallucinate if they don’t get enough rest, just as humans do. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lack-of-sleep-could-be-a-problem-for-ais/

Travel time to health-care facilities, mode of transportation, and HIV elimination in Malawi: a geospatial modelling analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30351-X/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 9 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 9, 2020, 04:08 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Serious Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,058		36		9,400	2,622	1	5,083	15	455,040

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-09-2020 06:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,058 Total confirmed cases

36 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 7 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 09 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Pfizer’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection After First Dose. The Food and Drug Administration’s first analysis of the clinical trial data also found that the coronavirus vaccine worked well regardless of a volunteer’s race, weight or age. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html

What you need to know about the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines. All three drugmakers have moved at record speed, and the first shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could be given in the coming weeks. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/17/covid-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/?arc404=true

Britain launches the West’s first mass vaccination for coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/covid-vaccine-pfizer-uk/2020/12/08/f78a8978-3676-11eb-9699-00d311f13d2d_story.html

COVID vaccines: the world’s medical regulators need access to open data. The global race to produce COVID vaccines is a chance for regulators and drug companies to create a more harmonized approvals process. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03458-z

COVID research updates: A coronavirus vaccine shows lasting benefit. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Oxford COVID vaccine paper highlights lingering unknowns about results. The Oxford–AstraZeneca partnership is the first major developer to publish detailed data from phase III trials. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03504-w

New DIY Contact Tracing App Is Based on the Science of Memory. It uses words and photos to remind you of where you’ve been and whom you’ve seen. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-diy-contact-tracing-app-is-based-on-the-science-of-memory/

Air freight prices ‘outrageous’ as COVID-19 shots rolled out, says WHO expert. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-vaccines/air-freight-prices-outrageous-as-covid-19-shots-rolled-out-says-who-expert-idUSKBN28I2RM

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION (PDF). FREE. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

NSOAP Education Series #6 – The role of NGOs, academic institutions, professional associations and other non-state actors in supporting the NSOAP process. —Weds, 9 December, 03:00 PM in Zurich. 4P CAT. Registration https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8016025924455/WN_ah0u2aOvS9GBzqZXC2gaVw

OTHER NEWS

Predatory journals enter biomedical databases through public funding. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4265

Analysing the Operative Experience of Paediatric Surgical Trainees in Sub-Saharan Africa Using a Web-Based Logbook. The trainees worked across 14 centres in five Sub-Saharan countries: Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-020-05892-6#citeas

Association of Unexpected Newborn Deaths With Changes in Obstetric and Neonatal Process of Care. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773773

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment in ChildhoodA Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773815

Surgical Delay and Pathological Outcomes for Clinically Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773817

Assessment of Prevalence, Awareness, and Characteristics of Isolated Systolic Hypertension Among Younger and Middle-Aged Adults in China. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773814

Comparison of Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Visits With Primary Care Visits. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773813

FROM 8 DECEMBER

Innovative universal flu vaccine shows promise in first clinical test. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/innovative-universal-flu-vaccine-shows-promises-it-first-clinical-test

Stillbirths During the COVID-19 Pandemic in England, April-June 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774088

Changes in Preterm Birth Phenotypes and Stillbirth at 2 Philadelphia Hospitals During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, March-June 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774087

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 10 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 10, 2020, 03:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,058		36		9,400	2,622	5,083	15	455,040

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-10-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,058 Total confirmed cases

36 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 8 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 10 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest

Phase 1–2 Trial of a SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026920?query=featured_home

Rooming-In, Breastfeeding Appear Safe for New Moms With COVID-19— Degree of infectiousness seen as key in individual cases. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/90052?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2020-12-08&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Top%20Cat%20HeC%20%202020-12-08&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition

Covid-19–Associated Myopathy Caused by Type I Interferonopathy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031085?query=featured_home

Covid-19: Oxford vaccine could be 59% effective against asymptomatic infections, analysis shows. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4777

Oxford COVID-vaccine paper highlights lingering unknowns about results. The Oxford–AstraZeneca partnership is the first major developer to publish detailed data from phase III trials. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03504-w

Genomic epidemiology of superspreading events in Austria reveals mutational dynamics and transmission properties of SARS-CoV-2. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/573/eabe2555

Great efficacy claimed for another COVID-19 vaccine, this one from China https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/great-efficacy-claimed-another-covid-19-vaccine-one-china .

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION ( PDF). FREE. yOU MUST “bUY” IT IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

OTHER NEWS

Long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine dosed every 2 months in adults with HIV-1 infection (ATLAS-2M), 48-week results: a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3b, non-inferiority study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32666-0/fulltext

Safety and immunogenicity of two novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine candidates compared with a monovalent type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine in healthy adults: two clinical trials. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32541-1/fulltext

Safety and immunogenicity of two novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine candidates compared with a monovalent type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine in children and infants: two clinical trials. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32540-X/fulltext

Researchers decry ‘pay to publish’ system— but don’t want it to stop. South African incentive programme has attracted criticism for encouraging unethical behaviour. A survey of nearly 1,000 academic researchers in South Africa suggests that the majority are in favour of keeping a government scheme that offers cash rewards for publishing research papers in accredited journals, even though they agree that this can promote unethical practices. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03483-y

Survival with Olaparib in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022485?query=featured_home

Effect of a Lower vs Higher Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Strategy on Ventilator-Free Days in ICU Patients Without ARDS.A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774078

Association of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Overall Survival in Women With Metastatic Endometrial Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773827

Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33275950/

How poor oral hygiene may result in metabolic syndrome. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-poor-oral-hygiene-may-result-in-metabolic-syndrome/UdaJDwro8juTJ25YcA7sU?show_order=5&utm_campaign=All+12%2F08%2F2020+Evening+Alert&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zet35jes83o8uci38ccep2ggieqgbi9235ak83to

Study details how aerobic exercise reverses degenerative process that leads to metabolic diseases. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-details-how-aerobic-exercise-reverses-degenerative-process-that-leads-to-metabolic-diseases/1c6ghzeqK4LZqVyD8FPs2I?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F09%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z3qf6e2nmvervbrv3ros4jjboqkcpmouubd2u5u8

Scaling up care by midwives must now be a global priority. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30478-2/fulltext

Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to VISION 2020: the Right to Sight: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30478-2/fulltext

Association between conflicts of interest and favourable recommendations in clinical guidelines, advisory committee reports, opinion pieces, and narrative reviews: systematic review. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4234?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

ACS TRAUMA QUALITY PROGRAMS BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES FOR ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT IN TRAUMA PATIENTS. https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/acute_pain_guidelines.ashx

Withdrawing Approval of Makena — A Proposal from the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2031055?query=featured_home

FROM 9 DECEMBER

Predatory journals enter biomedical databases through public funding. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4265

Analysing the Operative Experience of Paediatric Surgical Trainees in Sub-Saharan Africa Using a Web-Based Logbook. The trainees worked across 14 centres in five Sub-Saharan countries: Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-020-05892-6#citeas

Association of Unexpected Newborn Deaths With Changes in Obstetric and Neonatal Process of Care. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773773

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment in ChildhoodA Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773815

Surgical Delay and Pathological Outcomes for Clinically Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773817

Assessment of Prevalence, Awareness, and Characteristics of Isolated Systolic Hypertension Among Younger and Middle-Aged Adults in China. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773814

Comparison of Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Visits With Primary Care Visits. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773813

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 11 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 11, 2020, 03:44 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,501 12,058	[443]	37	[1]	9,940	2,524	5,269	16	470,387

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-11-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,501 Total confirmed cases

37 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 9 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 10 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Infection and mortality of healthcare workers worldwide from COVID-19: a systematic review. COVID-19 infections and deaths among HCWs follow that of the general population around the world. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/12/e003097

Nigeria warned of possible new COVID-19 wave, authorities eye vaccine in early 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria/nigeria-warned-of-possible-new-covid-19-wave-authorities-eye-vaccine-in-early-2021-idUSKBN28K2US

How kids’ immune systems can evade COVID. Childrens’ untrained immune response seems to be key to eliminating SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03496-7

FDA panel backs Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, paving way for emergency use in the United States. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/fda-panel-backs-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-paving-way-emergency-use-united-states

Covid-19: People with history of significant allergic reactions should not receive Pfizer vaccine, says regulator. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4780

Lightening the viral load to lessen covid-19 severity. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4763

Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577?query=featured_home

Phase 1–2 Trial of a SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026920?query=featured_home

Risk Factors Associated With In-Hospital Mortality in a US National Sample of Patients With COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773971

Assessment of an Online Tool to Simulate the Effect of Pooled Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Populations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773967

A Data-Driven Rationale for High-Throughput SARS-CoV-2 Mass Screening Programs. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773965

Evaluation of Cloth Masks and Modified Procedure Masks as Personal Protective Equipment for the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774266

Filtration Efficiency of Face Masks Used by the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774265

Lightening the viral load to lessen covid-19 severity. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4763

Efficacy and harms of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33301514/

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION ( PDF). FREE. yOU MUST “bUY” IT IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Preterm Birth and 17OHP — Why the FDA Should Not Withdraw Approval. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2031727?query=featured_home

Effect of Capecitabine Maintenance Therapy Using Lower Dosage and Higher Frequency vs Observation on Disease-Free Survival Among Patients With Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Who Had Received Standard Treatment. The SYSUCC-001 Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774295

Adjuvant Capecitabine in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. New Strategies for Tailoring Treatment Recommendations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774294

Analysis of Radiation Facility Volume and Survival in Men With Lymph Node–Positive Prostate Cancer Treated With Radiation and Androgen Deprivation Therapy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773968

Perceptions of Parenting Challenges and Career Progression Among Physician Faculty at an Academic Hospital. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773966

Patient mortality after surgery on the surgeon’s birthday: observational study. Among Medicare beneficiaries who underwent common emergency surgeries, those who received surgery on the surgeon’s birthday experienced higher mortality compared with patients who underwent surgery on other days. These findings suggest that surgeons might be distracted by life events that are not directly related to work. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4381

FROM 10 DECEMBER

Survival with Olaparib in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022485?query=featured_home

Effect of a Lower vs Higher Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Strategy on Ventilator-Free Days in ICU Patients Without ARDS.A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774078

Association of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Overall Survival in Women With Metastatic Endometrial Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773827

Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33275950/

How poor oral hygiene may result in metabolic syndrome. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-poor-oral-hygiene-may-result-in-metabolic-syndrome/UdaJDwro8juTJ25YcA7sU?show_order=5&utm_campaign=All+12%2F08%2F2020+Evening+Alert&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zet35jes83o8uci38ccep2ggieqgbi9235ak83to

Study details how aerobic exercise reverses degenerative process that leads to metabolic diseases. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-details-how-aerobic-exercise-reverses-degenerative-process-that-leads-to-metabolic-diseases/1c6ghzeqK4LZqVyD8FPs2I?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F09%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z3qf6e2nmvervbrv3ros4jjboqkcpmouubd2u5u8

Scaling up care by midwives must now be a global priority. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30478-2/fulltext

Association between conflicts of interest and favourable recommendations in clinical guidelines, advisory committee reports, opinion pieces, and narrative reviews: systematic review. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4234?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

ACS TRAUMA QUALITY PROGRAMS BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES FOR ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT IN TRAUMA PATIENTS. https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/quality-programs/trauma/tqip/acute_pain_guidelines.ashx

Withdrawing Approval of Makena — A Proposal from the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2031055?query=featured_home

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 12 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 12, 2020, 05:01 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,501		37		9,940	2,524	5,269	16	470,387

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-12-2020 06:55 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,501 Total confirmed cases

37 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 10 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 12 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

South Africa’s chief justice unrepentant for linking Covid vaccines to satanism. Concerns surface that people might avoid having jabs as result of comments by Mogoeng Mogoeng. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/11/south-africa-chief-justice-unrepentant-link-vaccines-satanism-coronavirus

Rwanda’s secret weapon against covid-19: trust. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4720

Covid-19: Many poor countries will see almost no vaccine next year, aid groups warn. At least 90% of people in 67 low income countries stand little chance of getting vaccinated against covid-19 in 2021 because wealthy nations have reserved more than they need and developers will not share their intellectual property, says the People’s Vaccine Alliance, which includes Amnesty International, Frontline AIDS, Global Justice Now, and Oxfam. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4809

Facing up to long COVID. Multiorgan symptoms after COVID-19 are being reported by increasing numbers of patients. They range from cough and shortness of breath, to fatigue, headache, palpitations, chest pain, joint pain, physical limitations, depression, and insomnia, and affect people of varying ages. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32662-3/fulltext

Coronavirus News Roundup, December 5-December 11. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-december-5-december-11/

Baricitinib plus Remdesivir for Hospitalized Adults with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2031994?query=featured_home

US thumbs-up for COVID vaccine marks new phase in safety monitoring. With the United States poised to deploy the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, regulators are gearing up to look for side effects. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03542-4

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID Vaccine Is First to Win U.S. Authorization. The FDA issued the emergency use authorization for the vaccine late on Friday. And immunizations of health care workers and long-term care facility residents could begin within days.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-is-first-to-win-u-s-authorization/

Covid-19: Pfizer vaccine efficacy was 52% after first dose and 95% after second dose, paper shows. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4826

Ensuring vaccine safety. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6522/1274

Remembering seasonal coronaviruses. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6522/1272

Development of unique Australian COVID-19 vaccine halted. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/development-unique-australian-covid-19-vaccine-halted

COVID-19 vaccine trial ethics once we have efficacious vaccines. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6522/1277

Study: Smell, taste should be closely monitored as first signs of COVID-19 infection. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-smell-taste-should-be-closely-monitored-as-first-signs-of-covid-19-infection/14qYK5OhO1LdHUJLWxgyf5?show_order=5&utm_campaign=All+12%2F10%2F2020+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z2ltjt09i2n19egq9o0icc34j67ibgra450fh2i8

Studies reveal potential weaknesses in SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/studies-reveal-potential-weaknesses-in-sars-cov-2-infection/6yvK413M7McWOsZolSY4uu?show_order=1&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F11%2F2020+Morning+Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zvlsplk55jbgc4lnfqr5ak3kj8sst315mqho3f08

Facing up to long COVID. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32662-3/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

The infective nurture of pandemic comics. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32550-2/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

An EUA for Bamlanivimab—A Monoclonal Antibody for COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Association of SARS-CoV-2 renal tropism with acute kidney injury. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32588-5/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Association of SARS-CoV-2 renal tropism with acute kidney injury – Authors’ reply. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32586-1/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Lessons from the pandemic fall: Infections are rare in classrooms, not off campus, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/colleges-fall-semester-classroom-infections-coronavirus/2020/12/09/f6b7288a-3586-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION ( PDF). FREE. yOU MUST “bUY” IT IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Center https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Parent-Reported Symptoms and Medications Used Among Children With Severe Neurological Impairment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774075

Effect of therapeutic suggestions during general anaesthesia on postoperative pain and opioid use: multicentre randomised controlled trial. The intervention comprised an audiotape of background music and positive suggestions based on hypnotherapeutic principles, which was played repeatedly for 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of silence to patients through earphones during general anaesthesia. Patients in the control group were assigned to a blank tape. Therapeutic suggestions played through earphones during general anaesthesia could provide a safe, feasible, inexpensive, and non-drug technique to reduce postoperative pain and opioid use, with the potential for more general use. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4284

Primary biliary cholangitis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31607-X/fulltext

Maintaining a gendered perspective in scientific meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32512-5/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Diet modifications – including more wine and cheese – may help reduce cognitive decline. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/diet-modifications-including-more-wine-and-cheese-may-help-reduce-cognitive-decline/7MmBBoJJq2eszAin9obJkJ?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F11%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zs1hniq26ltqvjgd72df6hc5chinde8ci9hdo1ro

First-in-human study has good news for universal flu vaccine. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/first-in-human-study-has-good-news-for-universal-flu-vaccine/5fKm6y4B3LI0RzWVFbs8AP?show_order=4&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F11%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2ztdr3jt095fj4p5ov3m8vr8jm27p3jldlv61ddh0

FROM 11 DECEMBER

Preterm Birth and 17OHP — Why the FDA Should Not Withdraw Approval. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2031727?query=featured_home

Adjuvant Capecitabine in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. New Strategies for Tailoring Treatment Recommendations. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774294

Analysis of Radiation Facility Volume and Survival in Men With Lymph Node–Positive Prostate Cancer Treated With Radiation and Androgen Deprivation Therapy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773968

Perceptions of Parenting Challenges and Career Progression Among Physician Faculty at an Academic Hospital. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773966

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 14 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 14, 2020, 02:51 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,501		37		9,940	2,524	5,269	16	470,387

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-14-2020 04:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,501 Total confirmed cases

37 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 12 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 14 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Eswatini’s prime minister, who tested positive for COVID-19, dies. Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini, who tested positive for COVID-19 four weeks ago, has died at age 52 after being hospitalised in neighbouring South Africa, the tiny absolute monarchy’s government said late on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eswatini/eswatinis-prime-minister-who-tested-positive-for-covid-19-dies-idUSKBN28N0VJ

The Next Six Months Will Be Vaccine Purgatory. The period after a vaccine is approved will be strange and confusing, as certain groups of people get vaccinated but others have to wait. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/next-six-months-will-be-vaccine-purgatory/617371/?fbclid=IwAR2CBzXzeOW6yOQU7Asc3YKeYrHZGEt-LFjJ9MO4da49DdWMz2bGcjF6yEw

Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2028836?query=WB

What Science Has Learned about the Coronavirus One Year On. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/what-science-has-learned-about-the-coronavirus-one-year-on/

These Hospital Staff Are Surprisingly Shielded From COVID-19 Infection— Not all healthcare workers share the same infection risk. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/90178?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2020-12-12&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Top%20Cat%20HeC%20%202020-12-12&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition

Covid-19: People with history of significant allergic reactions should not receive Pfizer vaccine, says regulator. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4780

Exclusive: Kids catch and spread coronavirus half as much as adults, Iceland study confirms. Big decisions around COVID-19 and children have been heavy on politics and short on science. New large-scale studies are changing that. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/we-now-know-how-much-children-spread-coronavirus/

Could routine race-adjustment of spirometers exacerbate racial disparities in COVID-19 recovery? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30571-3/fulltext

The COVID-19 vaccines rush: participatory community engagement matters more than ever. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32642-8/fulltext

Rapid triage for COVID-19 using routine clinical data for patients attending hospital: development and prospective validation of an artificial intelligence screening test. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30274-0/fulltext

HIV infection and COVID-19 death: a population-based cohort analysis of UK primary care data and linked national death registrations within the OpenSAFELY platform. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30305-2/fulltext

Any Delay in Ending COVID Could Spur a Different Pandemic. Coronavirus infections can lead to bacterial infections—and bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment with antibiotics. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/any-delay-in-ending-covid-could-spur-a-different-pandemic/

Why RNA vaccines for COVID-19 raced to the front of the pack. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/why-rna-vaccines-for-covid-19-raced-to-the-front-of-the-pack/yHAc2UnQKOIsqgs2sQdQ9?show_order=5&utm_campaign=All+12%2F13%2F2020+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&iqs=9z2z3489tjsb51q5i82a5flnljmcdtj86ho778b5v7o

Daily briefing: Australian COVID vaccine trial abandoned after HIV ‘false positives.’ HIV protein fragment posed no risk to human health, but could interfere with HIV screening tests. Plus, China launches twin-satellite mission and a COVID vaccine is poised for authorization in the US. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03570-0 .

China’s vaccine gambit. With its global campaign to test and promote COVID-19 vaccines, China aims to win friends and cut deals. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6522/126

Serologic testing of U.S. blood donations to identify SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies: December 2019-January 2020. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may have been introduced into the United States prior to January 19, 2020. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1785/6012472

High blood sugar tied to COVID-19 risk in nondiabetics. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/high-blood-sugar-tied-to-covid-19-risk-in-nondiabetics/3gmn6Mkje688OXh4XmPkR9?show_order=3&utm_campaign=All+12%2F13%2F2020+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z19oao3tbtalj9h8poldjhjlkshqemg1ug8gdek0

RESOURCES

WHO–WORLD CANCER REPORT: CANCER RESEARCH FOR CANCER PREVENTION ( PDF). FREE. yOU MUST “bUY” IT IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD. https://shop.iarc.fr/products/world-cancer-report-cancer-research-for-cancer-prevention-pdf

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Comparing accuracy of lipoarabinomannan urine tests for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children from four African countries: a cross-sectional study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30598-3/fulltext

FROM 12 DECEMBER

Parent-Reported Symptoms and Medications Used Among Children With Severe Neurological Impairment. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774075

Primary biliary cholangitis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31607-X/fulltext

First-in-human study has good news for universal flu vaccine. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/first-in-human-study-has-good-news-for-universal-flu-vaccine/5fKm6y4B3LI0RzWVFbs8AP?show_order=4&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F11%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2ztdr3jt095fj4p5ov3m8vr8jm27p3jldlv61ddh0

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 15 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 15, 2020, 03:24 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,873	[372]	38	[1]	10,456	2,379	54259	16	489,264

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-15-2020 05:26 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,873 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 13 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 15 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

COVID research updates: A drug duo that helps people with severe COVID. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

These Drugs Might Prevent Severe COVID. Even with vaccines on the way, treatments are needed to prevent the disease from getting worse—and to be ready for COVID-25, COVID-37, and so on. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/these-drugs-might-prevent-severe-covid1/

Readmission and Death After Initial Hospital Discharge Among Patients With COVID-19 in a Large Multihospital System. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774380

The Ethics of Continuing Placebo in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774382

Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines After Emergency Use Authorization or Licensing of Initial Candidate Vaccines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774383

Comparison of 2 Triage Scoring Guidelines for Allocation of Mechanical Ventilators. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774098

Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774102

Elevated biomarker for blood vessel damage found in all children with SARS-CoV2 . https://www.mdlinx.com/news/elevated-biomarker-for-blood-vessel-damage-found-in-all-children-with-sars-cov2/QdIdRplGs3FUVekbrPuof?show_order=3&utm_campaign=All+12%2F14%2F2020+Morning+Alert+-snippet+header&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost&iqs=9z2zo51vo50l3oprqts6ahf87lhmcuu59p8f5qu7jbo

Scientists pinpoint genes common among people with severe coronavirus infections. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/scientists-pinpoint-genes-common-among-people-with-severe-coronavirus-infections/ar-BB1bUCYO?ocid=msedgntp

Student parties blamed as South Africa braces for Covid second wave. Health minister says end-of-year mass gatherings are turning into super-spreader events. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/14/student-parties-south-africa-covid-second-wave

South Africa tightens restrictions further as COVID-19 infections rise. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-tightens-restrictions-further-as-covid-19-infections-rise-idUSKBN28O2O2

Why many countries failed at COVID contact-tracing — but some got it right. Rich nations have struggled with one of the most basic and important methods for controlling infectious diseases. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03518-4

Arab nations first to approve Chinese COVID vaccine — despite lack of public data. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain say the vaccine is 86% effective, but scientists would like to see data to support the claim. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03563-z

COVID and 2020: An extraordinary year for science. The coronavirus pandemic shaped the year in research — from vaccines and treatments to campus shutdowns and virtual meetings. https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-020-03437-4/index.html

Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Boston highlights the impact of superspreading events. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/09/science.abe3261?rss=1

Fauci Explains How to End the COVID Pandemic. The country’s leading expert on infectious diseases shares his thoughts on resolving the current public health crisis and preparing for the next. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fauci-explains-how-to-end-the-covid-pandemic1/

Clinical Characteristics and Disease Severity Among Infants With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774096

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Tof Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Lung Cancer Survival in Patients With Autoimmune Disease. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774100

Assessment of Time-to-Treatment Initiation and Survival in a Cohort of Patients With Common Cancers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774101

Effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation vs Headache Education for Adults With Migraine. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2774130

Are Methods for Evaluating Medications Appropriate for Evaluating Nonpharmacological Treatments for Pain?—Challenges for an Emerging Field of Research. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2774121

FROM 14 DECEMBER

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 16 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 16, 2020, 03:53 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,873		38		10,456	2,379	54259	16	489,264

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-16-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,873 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 14 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 16 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Equitable global access to coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4735

Comparative evaluation of clinical manifestations and risk of death in patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 and seasonal influenza: cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4677

Global, regional, and national estimates of target population sizes for covid-19 vaccination: descriptive study. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4704

Reserving coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines for global access: cross sectional analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4750

Global Regulators Set Standards for Safe Vaccines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.24252?guestAccessKey=bdaa6a96-43f7-45b3-acd1-203348fb89a9&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4319296258&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=107187580

Waivers and Alterations of Research Informed Consent During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6993

How COVID-19 is changing the cold and flu season. Measures meant to tame the coronavirus pandemic are quashing influenza and most other respiratory diseases, which could have wide-ranging implications. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03519-3

Daily briefing: Gene variations associated with severe COVID-19 Genetic variations that could make some people more susceptible to severe COVID-19, Nature’s 10 and the Drosophila stockeepers who keep the fruit flies flowing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03589-3

COVID-19 is 10 times deadlier for people with Down syndrome, raising calls for early vaccination. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/covid-19-10-times-deadlier-people-down-syndrome-raising-calls-early-vaccination

As COVID-19 vaccines emerge, a global waiting game begins. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/covid-19-vaccines-emerge-global-waiting-game-begins

Inferring the effectiveness of government interventions against COVID-19. Closing all educational institutions, limiting gatherings to 10 people or less, and closing face-to-face businesses each reduced transmission considerably. The additional effect of stay-at-home orders was comparatively small. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/15/science.abd9338?rss=1

RESOURCES

Oxygen Therapy & Critical Care – Session 5 Session Topic: Critical Care Outside the ICU: A Rapid Response (for healthcare providers in low-resource setting)
Session Duration: ~90 minutes

Time Dec 21, 2020 Africa: 5:00pm EAT (Eastern Africa) | 3:00pm WAT (West Africa) 4:00pm CAT (Central Africa) & SAST (South Africa Standard) |
2:00pm GMT (Greenwich Mean)06:00 AM in Pacific Time (US and Canada) US: 7:00am MT (Mountain) | 9:00am EST (Eastern)
REGISTER https://echo.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUof-qoqz4sHdTEvvGc59HeUJJ7Gd90Qteg

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Open-access journal eLife announces ‘preprint first’ publishing model It also plans to make reviews publicly available — for both accepted and rejected manuscripts. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03541-5

For a Better Connection, Talk instead of Typing. The phone is not as awkward as you think, and you may have a more satisfying interaction. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-a-better-connection-talk-instead-of-typing/

Creating More Climate-Proof Health https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.24250?guestAccessKey=f4d3c49a-e8c8-4b4a-b7b1-33b03d262b1d&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4319296218&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=107187579

.

Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Measles, Polio Resurgence. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.23615?guestAccessKey=1a79da72-f0b0-48c8-ae2d-7b4e9b6fba63&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4319296178&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=107187578

FROM 15 DECEMBER

Lung Cancer Survival in Patients With Autoimmune Disease. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774100

Assessment of Time-to-Treatment Initiation and Survival in a Cohort of Patients With Common Cancers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774101

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 17 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 17, 2020, 04:21 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	12,873		38		10,456	2,379	54259	16	489,264

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-17-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

12,873 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 15 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 17 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Safety and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 Vaccine in Older Adults. In this small study involving older adults, adverse events associated with the mRNA-1273 vaccine were mainly mild or moderate. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2028436?query=featured_home

Safety and Immunogenicity of Two RNA-Based Covid-19 Vaccine Candidates. The safety and immunogenicity data from this U.S. phase 1 trial of two vaccine candidates in younger and older adults, added to earlier interim safety and immunogenicity data regarding BNT162b1 in younger adults from trials in Germany and the United States, support the selection of BNT162b2 for advancement to a pivotal phase 2–3 safety and efficacy evaluation. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027906?query=featured_home

Severe Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp2009575?query=featured_home

All-Cause Excess Mortality and COVID-19–Related Mortality Among US Adults Aged 25-44 Years, March-July 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774445

Coronavirus and public holidays: what the data say. With the festive season ahead, Nature examines what is known about the risks of COVID spread, and how researchers will spend their time off. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03545-1

How a torrent of COVID science changed research publishing — in seven charts. A flood of coronavirus research swept websites and journals this year. It changed how and what scientists study, a Nature analysis shows. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03564-y

The coronavirus may sometimes slip its genetic material into human chromosomes—but what does that mean? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/coronavirus-may-sometimes-slip-its-genetic-material-human-chromosomes-what-does-mean\

Messenger RNA gave us a COVID-19 vaccine. Will it treat diseases, too? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/messenger-rna-gave-us-covid-19-vaccine-will-it-treat-diseases-too

Emergence of a Highly Fit SARS-CoV-2 Variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2032888?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission among Marine Recruits during Quarantine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029717?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. Military — Lessons for Civil Society. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2032179?query=featured_secondary

Risk Factors for SARS-CoV-2 in a Statewide Correctional System. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2029354?query=featured_home

‘If we don’t do it, who will?’: a year on the frontline of Covid-19. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/if-we-dont-do-it-who-will-a-year-on-the-frontline-of-covid-19

Covid-19: New coronavirus variant is identified in UK. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4857

Coronavirus can travel farther and faster inside restaurants than previously thought, South Korean study suggests. https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2020/12/11/korean-restaurant-coronavirus-airflow-study/?fbclid=IwAR0tPOxTYPZRU1dufpxBHqwEnB208murrxYCXutoR2aJUxyJ5ZFcRgZcrwc

RESOURCES

Oxygen Therapy & Critical Care – Session 5 Session Topic: Critical Care Outside the ICU: A Rapid Response (for healthcare providers in low-resource setting)
Session Duration: ~90 minutes

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Mapping routine measles vaccination in low- and middle-income countries. Local Burden of Disease Vaccine Coverage Collaborators. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03043-4

Trial of Dexamethasone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020473?query=featured_home

Malaria Chemoprevention for Management of Severe Anemia. https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo005895/full/

This is How Close We Are to Eliminating Malaria – 7.6 Million Deaths Averted in 20 Years, Thanks to Generous Nations. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/7-million-malaria-deaths-averted/

Assessment of the validity of the measurement of newborn and maternal health-care coverage in hospitals (EN-BIRTH): an observational study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30504-0/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy vs Standard Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774248

Updated Analysis of Complication Rates Associated With Invasive Diagnostic Procedures After Lung Cancer Screening. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774245

Comparison of Treatments for Frozen Shoulder

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774247

Identification of Incidental Skin Cancers Among Adults Referred to Dermatologists for Suspicious Skin Lesions. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774249

Association of high profile football matches in Europe with traffic accidents in Asia: archival study. Days featuring high profile football matches in Europe were associated with more traffic accidents in Taiwan and Singapore than were days with lower profile football matches. A potential causal mechanism may be Asian drivers losing sleep by watching high profile European matches, which are often played in the middle of the night in Asia. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4465

Teaching Human Rights in Surgical Curriculum. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2020/12000/Teaching_Human_Rights_in_Surgical_Curriculum.15.aspx

FROM 16 DECEMBER

For a Better Connection, Talk instead of Typing. The phone is not as awkward as you think, and you may have a more satisfying interaction. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-a-better-connection-talk-instead-of-typing/

Creating More Climate-Proof Health https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.24250?guestAccessKey=f4d3c49a-e8c8-4b4a-b7b1-33b03d262b1d&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4319296218&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=107187579

.

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 18 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 18, 2020, 03:33 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,014	[141]	38		10,535	2,441	5,483	16	495,696

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-18-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,014 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 16 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 18 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Second COVID-19 wave hits West & Central Africa as weather cools. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-westafrica/second-covid-19-wave-hits-west-central-africa-as-weather-cools-idUSKBN28R2ZZ

How a torrent of COVID science changed research publishing — in seven charts. A flood of coronavirus research swept websites and journals this year. It changed how and what scientists study, a Nature analysis shows. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03564-y

The WHO’s chief scientist on a year of loss and learning. The head of scientific work at the World Health Organization reflects on the agency’s challenges and achievements as it navigates the COVID pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03556-y

2020 BREAKTHROUGH of the YEAR. Shots of hope. Desperately needed vaccines against COVID-19, developed and tested at record speed, are 2020’s breakthrough. https://vis.sciencemag.org/breakthrough2020/

A divisive disease. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6523/1395

The Data on Coronavirus and Public Holidays. With the festive season ahead, Nature examines what is known about the risks of COVID spread, and how researchers will spend their time off. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-data-on-coronavirus-and-public-holidays/

REGN-COV2, a Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail, in Outpatients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035002?query=featured_home

Update to living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4779

Covid-19 vaccines: delivering protective immunity. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4838

RESOURCES

Oxygen Therapy & Critical Care – Session 5 Session Topic: Critical Care Outside the ICU: A Rapid Response (for healthcare providers in low-resource setting)
Session Duration: ~90 minutes

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Harms and the Xmas factor https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4067?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Effect of Once-Weekly Azithromycin vs Placebo in Children With HIV-Associated Chronic Lung Disease. The BREATHE Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/currentissue

The Updated US Preventive Services Task Force Hepatitis B Screening Recommendations—Staying Committed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774357

FROM 17 DECEMBER

Mapping routine measles vaccination in low- and middle-income countries. Local Burden of Disease Vaccine Coverage Collaborators. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03043-4

Trial of Dexamethasone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020473?query=featured_home

Malaria Chemoprevention for Management of Severe Anemia. https://www.nejm.org/do/10.1056/NEJMdo005895/full/

This is How Close We Are to Eliminating Malaria – 7.6 Million Deaths Averted in 20 Years, Thanks to Generous Nations. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/7-million-malaria-deaths-averted/

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy vs Standard Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774248

Updated Analysis of Complication Rates Associated With Invasive Diagnostic Procedures After Lung Cancer Screening. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774245

Comparison of Treatments for Frozen Shoulder

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774247

Identification of Incidental Skin Cancers Among Adults Referred to Dermatologists for Suspicious Skin Lesions. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774249

Teaching Human Rights in Surgical Curriculum. https://journals.lww.com/aosopen/Fulltext/2020/12000/Teaching_Human_Rights_in_Surgical_Curriculum.15.aspx

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 19 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 19, 2020, 04:37 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,014		38		10,535	2,441	5,483	16	495,696

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-19-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,014 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 17 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 18 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

The Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Africa’s Response to COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30031-3

South Africa identifies new coronavirus strain causing surge in cases. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-identifies-new-coronavirus-strain-causing-surge-in-cases-idUSKBN28S2HH

Factbox: Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. Several European countries headed for stricter restrictions and new lockdowns as cases surged, while South Africa identified a new variant of the coronavirus, days after Britain said it had also found a new variant of the virus boosting cases. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN28O0KW

South Africa’s coronavirus cases cross 900,000: health ministry. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africas-coronavirus-cases-cross-900000-health-ministry-idUSKBN28S2OX

Coronavirus News Roundup, December 12-December 18. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-december-12-december-18/

Med Special Issue: Fighting COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/med/current?utm_medium=homepage

Vaccination Is the Only Acceptable Path to Herd Immunity. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30032-5

Moderna COVID vaccine becomes second to get green light in United States. Two RNA vaccines will be useful as US infections surge, but the speedy authorizations complicate clinical trials. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03593-7

The lightning-fast quest for COVID vaccines — and what it means for other diseases. The speedy approach used to tackle SARS-CoV-2 could change the future of vaccine science. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03626-1

Study uncovers two phases of infection in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/study-uncovers-two-phases-of-infection-in-patients-with-severe-covid-19-pneumonia/2upLq6NEkk1LVtjRMjPzCz?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F17%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zhq62mgi5t82ecfkq4rlrum22ojta8ta2uit05k0

Neanderthal gene found in many people may open cells to coronavirus and increase COVID-19 severity. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/neanderthal-gene-found-many-people-may-open-cells-coronavirus-and-increase-covid-19

Shots of hope. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6523/1392

Do we need a COVID-19 vaccine for pets? | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)

RESOURCES

Oxygen Therapy & Critical Care – Session 5 Session Topic: Critical Care Outside the ICU: A Rapid Response (for healthcare providers in low-resource setting)
Session Duration: ~90 minutes

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Multiomics Characterization of Preterm Birth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Results of this study suggest that most PTBs can be predicted using blood and urine samples collected early in the pregnancy, providing opportunities for interventions. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774321

Africa steps up fight against HIV with trial of new combination vaccines. African-led study expected to involve 1,600 people over next three years in Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/18/africa-steps-up-fight-against-hiv-with-trial-of-new-combination-vaccines

The pandemic bookshelf grows. Outbreaks have long wrought fear, lies, intolerance, inequality and ruin — will we ever learn? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03555-z

The immune landscape in tuberculosis reveals populations linked to dis 1ease and latency. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(20)30635-1

FROM 18 DECEMBER

Harms and the Xmas factor https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4067?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

The Updated US Preventive Services Task Force Hepatitis B Screening Recommendations—Staying Committed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774357

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 21 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 21, 2020, 03:16 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,014		38		10,535	2,441	5,483	16	495,696

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-21-2020 05:27 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,014 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 19 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 DECEMBER 2020

A conversation with Professor Mosepele Mosepele on all things about Covid. https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/videos/216962499930854

NEWS

Infected person hurrying down a narrow hallway leaves a ‘wake’ of virus-laden droplets. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/infected-person-hurrying-down-a-narrow-hallway-leaves-a-wake-of-virus-laden-droplets/3OTTkkJzT0xyeqKWoIRzsh?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+12%2F18%2F2020+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zsr7geoj0jppo0kdbe7kv8n0lvfin5fn1bnoboko

How can the world allocate COVID-19 vaccines fairly? https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-can-the-world-allocate-covid-19-vaccines-fairly/5rSadwmQj89gDAm6CEiiO4?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F19%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&iqs=9z2zmgspm585sqhh0fh2d633hjrhs74u7esdshk6ebg

SARS-CoV-2-like particles very sensitive to temperature. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/sars-cov-2-like-particles-very-sensitive-to-temperature/7pt0JYhK6J45J0tLp6gH1M?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+12%2F19%2F2020+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&utm_source=iPost&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2zpnub3vectspeerg4vk06hfr5m6tmrp0p455ti4o

Africa crosses 2.5 million COVID-19 cases – Reuters tally. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa-cases/africa-crosses-2-5-million-covid-19-cases-reuters-tally-idUSKBN28T0W9

Here’s what we know about the new European coronavirus mutation. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/here-s-what-we-know-about-the-new-european-coronavirus-mutation/ar-BB1c5Fu0?ocid=msedgntp

RESOURCES

Oxygen Therapy & Critical Care – Session 5 Session Topic: Critical Care Outside the ICU: A Rapid Response (for healthcare providers in low-resource setting)
Session Duration: ~90 minutes

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Pregnant Women Must Be Included in Medical Research. There’s finally a plan for how to do that. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pregnant-women-must-be-included-in-medical-research/

FROM 19 DECEMBER

The pandemic bookshelf grows. Outbreaks have long wrought fear, lies, intolerance, inequality and ruin — will we ever learn? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03555-z

The immune landscape in tuberculosis reveals populations linked to dis 1ease and latency. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(20)30635-1

FROM 18 DECEMBER

Harms and the Xmas factor https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4067?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

The Updated US Preventive Services Task Force Hepatitis B Screening Recommendations—Staying Committed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774357

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 22 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 22, 2020, 04:16 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,622	[608]	38		11,147	2,437	5,738	16	513,852

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-22-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,622 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 20 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 22 DECEMBER 2020

A conversation with Professor Mosepele Mosepele on all things about Covid. https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/videos/216962499930854

NEWS

The Coronavirus Is Mutating. What Does That Mean for Us?. Officials in Britain and South Africa claim new variants are more easily transmitted. There’s a lot more to the story, scientists say. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/health/coronavirus-britain-variant.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20201221

Panama to suspend entry of travelers from U.K. and South Africa. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-panama/panama-to-suspend-entry-of-travelers-from-u-k-and-south-africa-idUSKBN28W001

Netherlands bans all flights from South Africa over COVID-19 mutation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-south-africa-nethe/netherlands-bans-all-flights-from-south-africa-over-covid-19-mutation-idUSKBN28V2UV

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN28O0KW

Sudan bans travel from countries with new coronavirus variant from Wednesday(OFFICIAL). https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-sudan/sudan-bans-travel-from-countries-with-new-coronavirus-variant-from-wednesday-idUSKBN28V2OU

COVID research updates: How 90% of French COVID cases evaded detection. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Mutant coronavirus in the United Kingdom sets off alarms, but its importance remains unclear. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/mutant-coronavirus-united-kingdom-sets-alarms-its-importance-remains-unclear

Here’s what we know about the new European coronavirus mutation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/20/new-covid-mutation-uk/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2dc26de%2F5fe0d00b9d2fda0efb8fb76d%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F26%2F68%2F5fe0d00b9d2fda0efb8fb76d

Suspicions grow that nanoparticles in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trigger rare allergic reactions. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/suspicions-grow-nanoparticles-pfizer-s-covid-19-vaccine-trigger-rare-allergic-reactions

A Crisp(r) New Perspective on SARS-CoV-2 Biology. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31625-1

Frontline Workers and People Over 74 Should Get Shots Next, C.D.C. Panel Says. The recommendation was a compromise aimed at getting the coronavirus vaccine to the most vulnerable of two high-risk groups. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/20/health/covid-vaccine-first-elderly-workers.html

RESOURCES

Review Criteria for Research Manuscripts. AAMC. 2015. DIGITAL. Must “purchase” for free. https://store.aamc.org/review-criteria-for-research-manuscripts.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=df53ba7c-3361-4ec6-b6ad-fd7d4050553f

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Researchers retract controversial female mentorship paper. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/researchers-retract-controversial-female-mentorship-paper

Associations of Menstrual Cycle Characteristics Across the Reproductive Life Span and Lifestyle Factors With Risk of Type 2 Diabetes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774351

Pulse oximetry may underestimate hypoxaemia in black patients, study finds. Pulse oximetry devices used for warning of low blood oxygenation in covid-19 and other diseases may be missing three times as many cases of occult hypoxaemia in black patients as in white, says a study report published in the New England Journal of Medicine.1 https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4926

Psycho‐educational interventions focused on maternal or infant sleep for pregnant women to prevent the onset of antenatal and postnatal depression: A systematic review. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/npr2.12155

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 23 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 23, 2020, 04:07 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,622		38		11,147	2,437	5,738	16	513,852

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-23-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,622 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 21 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 23 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS
South Africa struggles to contain second Covid wave with new strain. Variant similar to that in UK appears to be causing faster spread than during first wave. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/south-africa-struggles-contain-second-covid-wave-new-strain

Malawi closes borders again following coronavirus resurgence. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-malawi/malawi-closes-borders-again-following-coronavirus-resurgence-idUSKBN28W284

Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load, Transplacental Antibody Transfer, and Placental Pathology in Pregnancies During the COVID-19 Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774428

A Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody for Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19. Monoclonal antibody LY-CoV555, when coadministered with remdesivir, did not demonstrate efficacy among hospitalized patients who had Covid-19 without end-organ failure. Thus, LY-CoV555 met the prespecified criteria for futility and further enrollment was stopped. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2033130?query=featured_home

What the data say about border closures and COVID spread. Models estimate that travel restrictions worked early in the pandemic, but became less effective throughout the year. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03605-6

Makers of successful COVID-19 vaccines wrestle with options for placebo recipients. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/makers-successful-covid-19-vaccine-wrestle-options-many-thousands-who-received-placebos

Compromised SARS-CoV-2-specific placental antibody transfer. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31749-9

Uniting infectious disease and physical science principles on the importance of face masks for COVID-19. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30072-6

Decreased COVID-19 Mortality—A Cause for Optimism. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774571

What’s your risk of catching COVID? These tools help you to find out. A look at apps that predict the chance of infection and illness depending on what you’re doing and where you are. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03637-y

College Campuses and COVID-19 Mitigation: Clinical and Economic Value. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6558

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Racial Differences in Postpartum Blood Pressure Trajectories Among Women After a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774429

FROM 22 DECEMBER

Researchers retract controversial female mentorship paper. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/researchers-retract-controversial-female-mentorship-paper

Find recent back issues at https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 24 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 24, 2020, 04:22 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	13,622		38		11,147	2,437	5,738	16	513,852

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-24-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

13,622 Total confirmed cases

38 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 22 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 24 DECEMBER 2020

COVID-19 NATIONAL UPDATE. HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MOKGWEETSI E. K. MASISI UPDATES THE PUBLIC ON COVID-19 https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/videos/454278445564146

NEWS

Mmegi on Twitter: “MASISI IMPOSES A NIGHT CURFEW President Mokgweetsi Masisi has imposed a nationwide night curfew from December 24, 2020 to Jan 3, 2021. This means there will be no movement of people between 7pm to 4am over the festive season. #coronavirus #covid19 #coronavirusBotswana https://t.co/hBS223y5hA” / Twitter

https://twitter.com/MmegiOnline/status/1341796703557574657

South African Covid-19 variant has reached the UK, says Matt Hancock. Two people in UK test positive for variant as government bans travel to England from South Africa. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/south-african-covid-19-variant-has-reached-the-uk-says-matt-hancock

South African Covid-19 variant may be ‘more effective at spreading’, Research still to confirm threat posed but variant does not appear to provoke more serious symptoms. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/south-african-covid-19-variant-may-be-more-effective-at-spreading

England halts flights from South Africa as coronavirus variant spreads. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-safrica/england-halts-flights-from-south-africa-as-coronavirus-variant-spreads-idUSKBN28X2QX

South Africa set to surpass COVID’s first wave peak. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-set-to-surpass-covids-first-wave-peak-idUSKBN28X2KQ

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN28O0KW

Afucosylated IgG characterizes enveloped viral responses and correlates with COVID-19 severity. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/22/science.abc8378?rss=1

Assessment of Air Contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in Hospital Settings. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774463

Covid-19: What have we learnt about the new variant in the UK? https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4944

Covid-19: Tests on students are highly inaccurate, early findings show. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4941

Elimination could be the optimal response strategy for covid-19 and other emerging pandemic diseases. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4907

NICE guideline on long covid. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4938

Covid-19: Police enforcement of restrictions is often abusive and counterproductive, charges Amnesty International. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4927

COVID-19 testing: One size does not fit all. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/18/science.abe9187?rss=1

U.K. variant puts spotlight on immunocompromised patients’ role in the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/uk-variant-puts-spotlight-immunocompromised-patients-role-covid-19-pandemic

Antibody Status and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034545?query=featured_home

AFRICA CDC:COVID-19 Update: Keeping safe and healthy through the holidays. https://africacdc.org/download/covid-19-update-keeping-safe-and-healthy-through-the-holidays/?fbclid=IwAR3jWCcHIN_ZU51ib6oYHMM773URJQrVJUP-YO4iI6SU071NK-F1aYXATFk

Shedding of Viable SARS-CoV-2 after Immunosuppressive Therapy for Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031670?query=featured_home

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Frequency, Timing, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Desaturation in Infants With Acute Bronchiolitis and Initially Normal Oxygen Saturation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774461

Antenatal Dexamethasone for Early Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Countries. The WHO ACTION Trials Collaborators. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022398?query=featured_home

Changes in Seizure Frequency and Antiepileptic Therapy during Pregnancy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2008663?query=featured_home

Systemic Therapy for Estrogen Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1307118?query=featured_home

Comparison of Trends in Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Before vs After Initiation of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774459

Association of Improved Periconception Hemoglobin A1c With Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Diabetes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774458

‘Sex for sanitary pads’: how Kenya’s lockdown led to a rise in teenage pregnancy. Girls who got free sanitary products at school were pushed to desperate measures in what is being called a shadow pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/24/sex-for-sanitary-pads-how-kenyas-lockdown-led-to-a-rise-in-teenage-pregnancy

Racial Differences in Postpartum Blood Pressure Trajectories Among Women After a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774429

“You’re on mute:” How to organise a virtual medical conference. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4942

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 28 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 28, 2020, 04:20 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	14,025 13,622	[403]	40	[2]	11,627	2,358	5,906	17	523,759

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-28-2020 06:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

14,025 Total confirmed cases

40 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 28 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 28 DECEMBER 2020

COVID-19 NATIONAL UPDATE. HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MOKGWEETSI E. K. MASISI UPDATES THE PUBLIC ON COVID-19 https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/videos/454278445564146

NEWS

South Africa hits 1 million coronavirus cases as new variant spreads rapidly, President Cyril Ramaphosa expected to announce new restrictions in attempt to slow the surge. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/28/south-africa-hits-1-million-coronavirus-cases-as-new-variant-spreads

At least 15 dead in delays at South Africa-Zimbabwe border -TV news. The health ministry, Department of Home Affairs and South African police Local did not respond immediately to Reuters’ requests on Friday for confirmation of fatalities that local media outlets attributed to exhaustion and ill health owing to a lack of facilities while waiting to cross the border, sometimes for days.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-zimbabwe-border/at-least-15-dead-in-delays-at-south-africa-zimbabwe-border-tv-news-idUSKBN28Z0OJ

High-Throughput Rational Design Of The Remdesivir Binding Site In The Rdrp Of Sars-Cov-2: Implications For Potential Resistance. Https://Www.Cell.Com/Iscience/Fulltext/S2589-0042(20)31189-5

Induction Of Alarmin S100a8/A9 Mediates Activation Of Aberrant Neutrophils In The Pathogenesis Of Covid-19. Https://Www.Cell.Com/Cell-Host-Microbe/Fulltext/S1931-3128(20)30679-X

D614g Mutation Alters Sars-Cov-2 Spike Conformation And Enhances Protease Cleavage At The S1/S2 Junction. Https://Www.Cell.Com/Cell-Reports/Fulltext/S2211-1247(20)31619-3

Salivadirect: A Simplified And Flexible Platform To Enhance Sars-Cov-2 Testing Capacity. Https://Www.Cell.Com/Med/Fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30076-3

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

REVISED Developing excellence in biostatistics leadership, training and science in Africa: How the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) training unites expertise to deliver excellence [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-51/v2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

REVISED The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review protocol [version 2; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/3-12

FROM 24 DECEMBER

Frequency, Timing, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Desaturation in Infants With Acute Bronchiolitis and Initially Normal Oxygen Saturation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774461

Antenatal Dexamethasone for Early Preterm Birth in Low-Resource Countries. The WHO ACTION Trials Collaborators. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022398?query=featured_home

Changes in Seizure Frequency and Antiepileptic Therapy during Pregnancy. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2008663?query=featured_home

Systemic Therapy for Estrogen Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1307118?query=featured_home

Comparison of Trends in Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Before vs After Initiation of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774459

Association of Improved Periconception Hemoglobin A1c With Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Diabetes. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774458

‘Sex for sanitary pads’: how Kenya’s lockdown led to a rise in teenage pregnancy. Girls who got free sanitary products at school were pushed to desperate measures in what is being called a shadow pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/24/sex-for-sanitary-pads-how-kenyas-lockdown-led-to-a-rise-in-teenage-pregnancy

Racial Differences in Postpartum Blood Pressure Trajectories Among Women After a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774429

“You’re on mute:” How to organise a virtual medical conference. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4942

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 29 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 29, 2020, 03:48 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	14,025		40		11,627	2,358	5,906	17	523,759

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-29-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

14,025 Total confirmed cases

40 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 26 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 29 DECEMBER 2020

COVID-19 NATIONAL UPDATE. HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MOKGWEETSI E. K. MASISI UPDATES THE PUBLIC ON COVID-19 https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/videos/454278445564146

NEWS

S.Africa bans alcohol sales, tightens curfew in new COVID-19 restrictions. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-curfew/s-africa-bans-alcohol-sales-tightens-curfew-in-new-covid-19-restrictions-idUSKBN2921Q7

Coronavirus variant from South Africa found in Japan. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan/coronavirus-variant-from-south-africa-found-in-japan-idUSKBN2920N4

Novavax launches pivotal U.S. trial of dark horse COVID-19 vaccine after manufacturing delays. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/novavax-launches-pivotal-us-trial-dark-horse-covid-19-vaccine-after-manufacturing

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN29007S

Characterizing COVID-19 and Influenza Illnesses in the Real World via Person-Generated Health Data. https://www.cell.com/patterns/fulltext/S2666-3899(20)30258-0

How Does the Coronavirus Behave Inside a Patient? | The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/how-does-the-coronavirus-behave-inside-a-patient?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_122720&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5e79cea4fbd2976e2f01a8d7&cndid=60373484&hasha=9289a6e403a2eb689aa4ab4c407596cc&hashb=0cebcc28b342867dd99443a4fd3d2a49e9b3fb67&hashc=1811acafdbe64a6c8e695965ac76aa897702049a6a3631c6a45946080ed948bf&esrc=Auto_Subs&utm_term=TNY_Daily

New study identifies greatest risk factors of mortality from COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-study-identifies-greatest-risk-factors-of-mortality-from-covid-19/35eAbM9t2QBVRmMuDc0us8?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+SP+12%2F28%2F2020+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2zq1buortur0beubqt9d6q4o63d1tamicj9j7qst8

Studies Find Having Covid-19 May Protect Against Reinfection. Https://Www.Mdlinx.Com/News/Studies-Find-Having-Covid-19-May-Protect-Against-Reinfection/01gni2wrq1oky0uehk66yp?Show_Order=2&Utm_Campaign=All+12%2f28%2f2020+Evening+Alert+-Snippet+Header&Utm_Source=Ipost&Utm_Medium=Email&Ipost_Environment=M3usainc&Iqs=9z2zokdetm2ragfllse90npkbo1lq6a8pmrle5eoso8

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

From child marriage to revenge porn: 10 set-backs for women in 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yearender-women-rights/from-child-marriage-to-revenge-porn-10-set-backs-for-women-in-2020-idUSKBN293005

Digital Health—The Need to Assess Benefits, Risks, and Value. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774657

Investigator Use of Social Media for Recruitment of Patients for Cancer Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774491

FROM 28 DECEMBER

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 30 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 30, 2020, 04:19 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	14,025		40		11,627	2,358	5,906	17	523,759

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-30-2020 05:54 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

14,025 Total confirmed cases

40 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 28 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 30 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Global report: India finds six cases of new UK variant; South Africa bans alcohol sales. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/global-report-covid-south-africa-bans-alcohol-sales-spain-to-keep-vaccine-register

Nigeria warns on oxygen supplies, dysfunctional labs in tackling COVID. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria/nigeria-warns-on-oxygen-supplies-dysfunctional-labs-in-tackling-covid-idUSKBN2931S0

Rapid generation of durable B cell memory to SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins in COVID-19 and convalescence. https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/5/54/eabf8891

A Kenyan health economist investigates the pandemic’s puzzling course in his country. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/kenyan-health-economist-investigates-pandemics-puzzling-course-his-country

Small Number of Covid Patients Develop Severe Psychotic Symptoms. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/small-number-of-covid-patients-develop-severe-psychotic-symptoms/ar-BB1cigNp?ocid=msedgdhp

A Crisp(r) New Perspective on SARS-CoV-2 Biology. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31625-1

RESOURCES

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Antenatal Glucocorticoids in Low-Resource Settings — Who, When, and Where? https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2032499?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

10 global health issues to track in 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/10-global-health-issues-to-track-in-2021

FROM 29 DECEMBER

Digital Health—The Need to Assess Benefits, Risks, and Value. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774657

Investigator Use of Social Media for Recruitment of Patients for Cancer Clinical Trials. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774491

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 31 December 2020 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: DEC 31, 2020, 04:24 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	14,700	[625]	40		12,006	2,654	6,189	17	541,468

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-31-2020 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

14,700 Total confirmed cases

40 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 29 December 2020 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 31 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Bringing Traditional Healing Under the Microscope in South Africa. Traditional and mainstream medicine have long been at odds. But Covid-19 may be driving a new, evidence-based reckoning. https://undark.org/2020/12/30/covid-19-south-africa-traditional-medicine/

‘Vaccine diplomacy’ sees Egypt roll out Chinese coronavirus jab. A lack of trial data transparency from China has raised concerns, but the country is confidently pushing ahead. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/30/vaccine-diplomacy-sees-egypt-roll-out-chinese-coronavirus-jab

Factbox-First found in UK and South Africa, COVID variants cross the world. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-variants-f/factbox-first-found-in-uk-and-south-africa-covid-variants-cross-the-world-idUSKBN2931BO

Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035389?query=featured_home

Maintaining Safety with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2035343?query=featured_home

Covid-19: Antibodies protect against reinfection for at least six months, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4961

Supporting Clinicians during Covid-19 and Beyond — Learning from Past Failures and Envisioning New Strategies. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2024834?query=featured_home

FDA Approval of Remdesivir — A Step in the Right Direction. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2032369?query=featured_home

The Immune Havoc of COVID-19. The virus flourishes by undermining the body’s chemical defense system. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-immune-havoc-of-covid-19/

‘It’s crazy.’ Upbeat COVID-19 vaccine news from China and U.K. leaves scientists wanting more details. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/it-s-crazy-upbeat-covid-19-vaccine-news-china-and-uk-leave-scientists-wanting-more

Should Docs’ Spouses Be Higher Up on COVID Vaccine Priority List? — Yes, says ICU physician whose wife got the virus from him and nearly died. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/90451?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2020-12-30&eun=g1652901d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Top%20Cat%20HeC%20%202020-12-30&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition

Microvascular Injury in the Brains of Patients with Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2033369?query=featured_home

Emergence of a Highly Fit SARS-CoV-2 Variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2032888?query=featured_home

COVID-19 Conspiracies and Beyond: How Physicians Can Deal With Patients’ Misinformation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774709

Prospects of honey in fighting against COVID-19: pharmacological insights and therapeutic promises. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(20)32641-4

RESOURCES

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Malaria Prevention Pushes Forward in Africa Despite Pandemic. Experts warn that malaria cases will likely increase as Covid-19 wears on, but aid work within communities is helping. https://undark.org/2020/12/28/malaria-prevention-pushes-forward-in-africa-despite-pandemic/

We Need a Paris Agreement for Plastics. They’re flowing into the natural environment every day at an unprecedented rate. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-need-a-paris-agreement-for-plastics/

Higher or Lower Hemoglobin Transfusion Thresholds for Preterm Infants. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020248?query=featured_home

Trial of Dexamethasone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020473?query=featured_home

Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2002697?query=featured_home

Argentina legalises abortion in historic vote. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4965

FROM 30 DECEMBER

Antenatal Glucocorticoids in Low-Resource Settings — Who, When, and Where? https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2032499?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

10 global health issues to track in 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/10-global-health-issues-to-track-in-2021

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 4 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 04, 2021, 03:32 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	14,805	[105]	42	[2]	12,136	2,627	6,232	18	544,167

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 04-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

14,805 Total confirmed cases

42 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 2 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 04 JANUARY 2021

NEWS

Botswana extends curfew as new COVID-19 strain detected. GABORONE, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) — Botswana announced on Sunday extension of nighttime curfew up to Jan. 31 following the emergence of a new and more transmissible strain of COVID-19.Minister of Health and Wellness Edwin Dikoloti made the announcement through national television, saying the curfew, enacted by the president on Dec. 23, will continue to be enforced between 20:00 and 04:00 (1800-0200 GMT) daily. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/04/c_139639956.htm

South African game reserves forced to cull animals as Covid halts tourism. Tourist lodges run out of cash to feed and care for the animals on their land and thousands of villagers lose their jobs. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/03/south-african-game-reserves-forced-to-cull-animals-as-covid-halts-tourism

WORLD FACES COVID-19 “VACCINE APARTHEID”. Even countries that hosted vaccine trials — like Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey — will not receive adequate supplies. https://theintercept.com/2020/12/31/covid-vaccine-countries-scarcity-access/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=theintercept

Defying fears and skepticism, thousands in Pakistan volunteer for Chinese vaccine trials. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-coronavirus-vaccine/2020/12/31/b2582d5e-4843-11eb-a9f4-0e668b9772ba_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2e079eb%2F5fef50879d2fda0efb9af245%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F36%2F72%2F5fef50879d2fda0efb9af245

Faster-Spreading Covid Strain Affects Young the Most, Study Says. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/faster-spreading-covid-strain-affects-young-the-most-study-says/ar-BB1cnR6V?ocid=msedgntp

A Continent Where the Dead Are Not Counted. All 54 African countries put together have registered fewer Covid deaths than France. That doesn’t mean people aren’t dying from the virus. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/02/world/africa/africa-coronavirus-deaths-underreporting.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20210103

S.Africa targets COVID-19 vaccines next month but deals not yet signed. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa aims to get COVID-19 vaccines by next month but is still in talks with pharmaceutical companies and no deals have been signed yet, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday, amid growing criticism of the government’s response. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/s-africa-targets-covid-19-vaccines-next-month-but-deals-not-yet-signed-idUSKBN2980IZ

‘Overwhelmed’ Zimbabwe tightens COVID-19 restrictions, orders most businesses closed. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-zimbabwe-lockdown/overwhelmed-zimbabwe-tightens-covid-19-restrictions-orders-most-businesses-closed-idUSKBN2970KQ

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest-factbox/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN29007S

World risks ‘moral catastrophe’ if COVID shots delayed in Africa, its CDC chief says. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/world-risks-moral-catastrophe-if-covid-shots-delayed-in-africa-its-cdc-chief-says-idUSKBN2950ZE

Covid-19: Expedite vaccination or deaths will surge, researchers warn. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4958

Vaccines Take a While to Kick In. Experts Say That Means the Body Is Doing Its Job. Reports of Covid-19 cases that appeared shortly after a single shot of a two-dose vaccine shouldn’t cause concern. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/health/covid-vaccine-side-effects.html

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

A New Strain of Drug-Resistant Malaria Has Sprung Up in Africa. Here’s how we fight back. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-strain-of-drug-resistant-malaria-has-sprung-up-in-africa/

Health as a foundation for society. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32751-3/fulltext

A new mandate highlights costs, benefits of making all scientific articles free to read. In 2018, a group of mostly European funders sent shock waves through the world of scientific publishing by proposing an unprecedented rule: The scientists they funded would be required to make journal articles developed with their support immediately free to read when published. The new requirement, which takes effect starting this month, seeks to upend decades of tradition in scientific publishing, whereby scientists publish their research in journals for free and publishers make money by charging universities and other institutions for subscriptions.. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/new-mandate-highlights-costs-benefits-making-all-scientific-articles-free-read

UK pledges an extra £47m in aid as agencies warn of ‘catastrophic hunger’. Coronavirus, conflict and cuts to UN funding are increasing the risks of food insecurity and acute malnutrition in 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/31/uk-pledges-an-extra-47m-in-aid-as-agencies-warn-of-catastrophic-hunger

Five myths about nutrition – The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-nutrition/2020/12/30/a76d691a-49e5-11eb-839a-cf4ba7b7c48c_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2e0ce3e%2F5ff0a45e9d2fda0efb9c5b3f%2F5cd2efff9bbc0f0bf88b0810%2F48%2F66%2F5ff0a45e9d2fda0efb9c5b3f

FROM 31 DECEMBER

Higher or Lower Hemoglobin Transfusion Thresholds for Preterm Infants. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020248?query=featured_home

Trial of Dexamethasone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020473?query=featured_home

Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2002697?query=featured_home

Argentina legalises abortion in historic vote. https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4965

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 5 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 05, 2021, 04:12 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	15,368	[563]	45	[3]	12,481	2,842	6,469	19	553,859

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 05-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

15,368 Total confirmed cases

45 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 3 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 05 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

UK scientists worry vaccines may not protect against S. African coronavirus variant. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-south-afri/uk-scientists-worry-vaccines-may-not-protect-against-s-african-coronavirus-variant-idUSKBN2990T3

South African variant bigger risk than UK variant – UK’s Hancock. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-south-afri/south-african-variant-bigger-risk-than-uk-variant-uks-hancock-idUSKBN2990RU

eSwatini aims to vaccinate entire population against COVID-19. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eswatini/eswatini-aims-to-vaccinate-entire-population-against-covid-19-idUSKBN2991NN

COVID research updates: A vaccine works quickly to ward off COVID-19

Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Update Alert 7: Risks and Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers on SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-1446

New COVID Vaccines Need Absurd Amounts of Material and Labor. Companies are scrambling to obtain supplies for hundreds of millions of doses of a type of vaccine that has never been made at this scale before. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-covid-vaccines-need-absurd-amounts-of-material-and-labor/

Acute immune signatures and their legacies in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infected cancer patients. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00001-5

Alternative Dose Allocation Strategies to Increase Benefits From Constrained COVID-19 Vaccine Supply. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-8137

Parents worry as crowded Kenyan schools reopen after coronavirus shutdown. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-schools-kenya/parents-worry-as-crowded-kenyan-schools-reopen-after-coronavirus-shutdown-idUSKBN29912E

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Satellite alerts seen helping fight deforestation in Africa. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-climate-forests/satellite-alerts-seen-helping-fight-deforestation-in-africa-idUSKBN2992B6

FROM 4 JAN

Health as a foundation for society. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32751-3/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 6 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 06, 2021, 04:o5 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	15,440	[72]	45		12,481	2,914	6,499	19	553,859

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 06-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

15,440 Total confirmed cases

45 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 4 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 06 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Viral mutations may cause another ‘very, very bad’ COVID-19 wave, scientists warn. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/viral-mutations-may-cause-another-very-very-bad-covid-19-wave-scientists-warn

Scientists criticize ‘rushed’ approval of Indian COVID-19 vaccine without efficacy data. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/scientists-criticize-rushed-approval-indian-covid-19-vaccine-without-efficacy-data

COVID-19 and cancer in Africa. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6524/25

The puzzle of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6524/27

Insulin Treatment Is Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30647-1?utm_medium=homepage

Covax must go beyond proportional allocation of covid vaccines to ensure fair and equitable access. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4853

Why were breastfeeding women in the UK denied the covid-19 vaccine? But, in our view, the MHRA’s approach was not cautious: it was reckless to insist on exposing these women, their families, and—in the case of healthcare workers—their patients, to a potentially lethal virus. It also threatened the UK’s already low breastfeeding rates. The US approach has been quite different. Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, approved by the Centers for Disease Control, agreed from the outset that breastfeeding women could choose to receive or refuse the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n4

How Eight Covid-19 Vaccines Work. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/health/how-covid-19-vaccines-work.html

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Establishment of an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) program in rural Kenya: a review of patient and trainee outcomes. https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00464-020-08214-y?sharing_token=HA_Z_BpBWiQzyH85oxjXVfe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY7adiOQz6aU4Lbm05UgfV8pwPVPRdwbeae5E18wksMOLbp4zOoFrf99n-x8xZ0IdctJhB7L4eMdgaZSICjKDW17FRm2eJ2ZXsrTTGrrcxHWmRA3VyjvrTOcpIXHkv_pOAU%3D

Tenofovir alafenamide vs. tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: an updated meta-analysis of 14 894 patients across 14 trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33048869/

Rethinking travel in a post-pandemic world. Climate scientists recommend ways to boost the value of virtual conferences and reduce carbon footprints even when travel curbs ease. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03649-8

FROM 5 JAN

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 7 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 07, 2021, 04:10 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	15,440		45		12,481	2,914	6,499	19	553,859

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 07-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

15,440 Total confirmed cases

45 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 5 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 07 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

CLOSURE OF TLOKWENG AND PIONEER BORDER GATES

The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs informs the general public that the South African Kopfontein Border Post which is adjoining to our Tlokweng Border has been temporarily closed with effect from 5th January,2021 until further notice.

This therefore renders Tlokweng Border Post in Botswana to be also temporarily closed. The public is further notified that the South African Skilpadshek Border Post that is adjoining to Botswana Pioneer Border Gate (Lobatse) has been closed with immediate effect.

Therefore the only routes to enter into and out of South Africa and Botswana is through Martins Drift and Ramatlabama Border Gates respectively.

The Ministry regrets any inconveniences caused by this development

NEWS

Africa Succeeded Against COVID-19’s First Wave, but the Second Wave Brings New Challenges. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775004

Do school closures reduce community transmission of COVID-19? A systematic review of observational studies.This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.02.21249146v1

Zimbabwe enters Covid lockdown amid fears over crowded new year parties. Panic over infection rates mixed with fear of widespread hunger as 30-day shutdown is imposed after people defy ban on gatherings. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jan/05/zimbabwe-enters-covid-lockdown-amid-fears-over-crowded-new-year-parties

South African medical schemes to fund COVID-19 vaccines for 30% of adults. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/south-african-medical-schemes-to-fund-covid-19-vaccines-for-30-of-adults-idUSKBN29B2GB

South African variant unlikely to ‘completely negate’ COVID vaccines, scientist says. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/south-african-variant-unlikely-to-completely-negate-covid-vaccines-scientist-says-idUSKBN29A27R

Covid-19 vaccination: What’s the evidence for extending the dosing interval? https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n18

COVID research updates: A less-sensitive COVID test could help to curb outbreaks. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Debates intensify over dosing plans for authorized COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/debates-intensify-over-dosing-plans-authorized-covid-19-vaccines

Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/05/science.abf4063?rss=1

A Virologist Helps Keep Uruguay Safe from COVID with a Homegrown Test. Gonzalo Moratorio assists his country in steering a more adept response than that mounted in Argentina and Brazil. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-virologist-helps-keep-uruguay-safe-from-covid-with-a-homegrown-test/

Early High-Titer Plasma Therapy to Prevent Severe Covid-19 in Older Adults. Early administration of high-titer convalescent plasma against SARS-CoV-2 to mildly ill infected older adults reduced the progression of Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2033700?query=featured_home

Open Schools, Covid-19, and Child and Teacher Morbidity in Sweden. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2026670?query=featured_home

Genetic Variants of SARS-CoV-2—What Do They Mean? https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775006

Sorting Out Whether Vitamin D Deficiency Raises COVID-19 Risk. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775003

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

FROM 6 JAN

Tenofovir alafenamide vs. tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: an updated meta-analysis of 14 894 patients across 14 trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33048869/

Rethinking travel in a post-pandemic world. Climate scientists recommend ways to boost the value of virtual conferences and reduce carbon footprints even when travel curbs ease. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03649-8

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 8 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 08, 2021, 03:59 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,050	[610]	48	[3]	12,927	3,075	6,755	20	559,538

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 08-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,050 Total confirmed cases

48 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 5 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 08 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

PIONEER BORDER POST RE- OPENS AFTER TEMPORARY CLOSURE

The Ministry of Nationality Immigration and Gender Affairs would like to inform the public that Pioneer Border Post which was temporarily closed yesterday (on 6 January 2021) is now open to the public.

Meanwhile Tlokweng Border Post remains closed until further notice.

NEWS

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears effective against mutation in new coronavirus variants -study. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-appears-effective-against-mutation-in-new-coronavirus-variants-study-idUSKBN29D0DX

S. Africa’s two biggest pharmacies plan to offer COVID-19 vaccines. South Africa’s two biggest pharmacy chains Clicks Group and Dis-Chem Pharmacies said they plan to offer COVID-19 shots at their stores and provide storage and distribution facilities in the vaccine rollout programme once the government provides more details. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-pharmacy/s-africas-two-biggest-pharmacies-plan-to-offer-covid-19-vaccines-idUSKBN29C2NQ

Amid COVID-19 surge, S. Africa aims to vaccinate for herd immunity. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/amid-covid-19-surge-s-africa-aims-to-vaccinate-for-herd-immunity-idUSKBN29C15K

South Africa’s Aspen could produce J&J COVID shots by end-March. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-aspen-pharmacare-v/south-africas-aspen-could-produce-jj-covid-shots-by-end-march-idUSKBN29C1TY

S.Africa says in advanced vaccine negotiations with J&J. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-johnson-jo/s-africa-says-in-advanced-vaccine-negotiations-with-jj-idUSKBN29C2A3

COVID research updates: Evidence grows of a new coronavirus variant’s swift spread

Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Could new COVID variants undermine vaccines? Labs scramble to find out. Researchers race to determine why variants identified in Britain and South Africa spread so quickly and whether they’ll compromise vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00031-0

UK extends England entry ban to travellers from 11 African countries for COVID variant. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-uk-travel/uk-extends-england-entry-ban-to-travellers-from-11-african-countries-for-covid-variant-idUSKBN29C2W4

Coronavirus live news: poorest countries to get vaccine in weeks, says WHO; Brazil deaths pass 200,000. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/jan/08/coronavirus-live-news-poorest-countries-to-get-vaccine-in-weeks-says-who-brazil-deaths-pass-200000

Brazil announces “fantastic” results for China-made COVID-19 vaccine, but details remain sketchy. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/brazil-announces-fantastic-results-china-made-covid-19-vaccine-details-remain-sketchy

SARS-CoV-2 spillover events. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6525/120

COVID-19 testing: One size does not fit all. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6525/126

The Best Evidence for How to Overcome COVID Vaccine Fears. Social science offers valuable lessons about ways to convince those who are hesitant about the shots. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-best-evidence-for-how-to-overcome-covid-vaccine-fears1/

Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia. In hospitalized patients with Covid-19 pneumonia who were not receiving mechanical ventilation, tocilizumab reduced the likelihood of progression to the composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or death, but it did not improve survival. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2030340?query=featured_home

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission From People Without COVID-19 Symptoms. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774707

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

S. Africa’s plan to record all babies’ biometrics raises privacy fears. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-tech-rights/s-africas-plan-to-record-all-babies-biometrics-raises-privacy-fears-idUSKBN29C2UL

U.S. toughens ban on ‘abhorrent’ female genital mutilation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-law-fgm/u-s-toughens-ban-on-abhorrent-female-genital-mutilation-idUSKBN29C2OF

Obesity Management in Women of Reproductive Age. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775112

Parenting in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32755-0/fulltext

FROM 7 JAN

A road to optimising maternal and newborn quality care measurement for all. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30519-2/fulltext#.X_cnubcc8qg.twitter

Women with HIV have sixfold increase in risk of cervical cancer. Vaccination, screening and treatment could achieve elimination within a decade, says World Health Organization. https://www.aidsmap.com/news/dec-2020/women-hiv-have-sixfold-increase-risk-cervical-cancer

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 9 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 09, 2021, 04:38 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,050		48		12,927	3,075	6,755	20	559,538

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,050 Total confirmed cases

48 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 7 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 09 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

PIONEER BORDER POST RE- OPENS AFTER TEMPORARY CLOSURE

Meanwhile Tlokweng Border Post remains closed until further notice.

NEWS

‘We can’t cope’: Lesotho faces Covid-19 disaster after quarantine failures. Rise in cases reported after workers returned from South Africa for Christmas, with many crossing illegally to avoid tests. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jan/08/we-cant-cope-lesotho-faces-covid-19-disaster-after-quarantine-failures

Coronavirus live news: China tightens curbs as cases surge; Denmark restricts all travel. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/jan/08/coronavirus-live-news-poorest-countries-to-get-vaccine-in-weeks-says-who-brazil-deaths-pass-200000

Factbox: Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest-factbox/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN2991UY

S.Africa testing vaccines on variant, hopes for results within 2 weeks. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/s-africa-testing-vaccines-on-variant-hopes-for-results-within-2-weeks-idUSKBN29D2DS

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears effective against mutation in new coronavirus variants -study. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-appears-effective-against-mutation-in-new-coronavirus-variants-study-idUSKBN29D0DX

Search for better COVID vaccines confounded by existing rollouts.As placebo-controlled testing falls out of favour, vaccine developers eye blood markers and challenge trials to assess next-generation candidates. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00015-0

Daily briefing: Two arthritis drugs cut the risk of death from COVID. Two more life-saving COVID drugs, identical twins are not so identical and early evidence that new SARS-CoV-2 variants do not hinder vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00038-7

COVID research updates: Quick treatment with antibody-laden blood cuts risk of severe COVID. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

6-month consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32656-8/fulltext

Returning to physical activity after covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4721

Covid-19 has amplified moral distress in medicine. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n28

Covid-19: Indian health officials defend approval of vaccine. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n52

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Science advocacy groups join calls for Trump’s removal. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/science-advocacy-groups-join-calls-trump-s-removal

Caloric Restriction Promotes Immunometabolic Reprogramming Leading to Protection from Tuberculosis. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30671-9

Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Benzodiazepines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775180

Apprenticeship model would better prepare medical students for practice, says RCP. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n65

FROM 8 JAN

S. Africa’s plan to record all babies’ biometrics raises privacy fears. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-tech-rights/s-africas-plan-to-record-all-babies-biometrics-raises-privacy-fears-idUSKBN29C2UL

U.S. toughens ban on ‘abhorrent’ female genital mutilation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-law-fgm/u-s-toughens-ban-on-abhorrent-female-genital-mutilation-idUSKBN29C2OF

Obesity Management in Women of Reproductive Age. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775112

Parenting in the time of COVID-19. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32755-0/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 11 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 11, 2021, 04:25 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,050		48		12,927	3,075	6,755	20	559,538

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 11-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,050 Total confirmed cases

48 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 9 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 11 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

‘South Africa is going to get a third wave of coronavirus, even a fourth’. Covid fatigue, super-spreader events and a virulent local variant of the virus put economy and healthcare in crisis. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/10/south-africa-is-going-to-get-a-third-wave-of-coronavirus-even-a-fourth

One in five in England have had Covid, modelling suggests. Analysis shows 12.4 million people infected since start of pandemic, against 2.4 million detected by test and trace. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/jan/10/one-in-five-have-had-coronavirus-in-england-new-modelling-says

South African coronavirus variant detected in reinfection case in Brazil. Brazilian researchers have identified the concerning new coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa in a woman who contracted COVID-19 for the second time, and said it was the first such case reported in the world. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-reinfection/south-african-coronavirus-variant-detected-in-reinfection-case-in-brazil-idUSKBN29E08M

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sustainability determinants: A global trend. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(21)00017-7

RESOURCES

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Thinking across disciplinary boundaries in a time of crisis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32757-4/fulltext

Public health role for fractional dosage of yellow fever vaccine. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32707-0/fulltext

FROM 9 JAN

Science advocacy groups join calls for Trump’s removal. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/science-advocacy-groups-join-calls-trump-s-removal

Caloric Restriction Promotes Immunometabolic Reprogramming Leading to Protection from Tuberculosis. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30671-9

Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Benzodiazepines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775180

Apprenticeship model would better prepare medical students for practice, says RCP. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n65

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 12 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 12, 2021, 01:57 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,768	[718]	59	[11]	13,310	3,399	7,055	25	573,333

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 12-01-2021 03:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,768 Total confirmed cases

59 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 9 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 12 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

In Senegal, lack of cold storage limits COVID vaccine options. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-senegal/in-senegal-lack-of-cold-storage-limits-covid-vaccine-options-idUSKBN29G271

Trial of COVID-19 blood plasma finds no benefit in severely ill patients. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-plasma/trial-of-covid-19-blood-plasma-finds-no-benefit-in-severely-ill-patients-idUSKBN29G1JZ

How can countries stretch COVID vaccine supplies? Scientists are divided over dosing strategies. Researchers worry that efforts to free up limited vaccine doses are driven by desperation rather than data. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00001-6

COVID research updates: Traitorous antibodies are linked to COVID death. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms between humans and mink and back to humans. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6525/172

The Sensitivity and Costs of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Saliva Versus Nasopharyngeal Swabs. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Saliva sampling seems to be a similarly sensitive and less costly alternative that could replace nasopharyngeal swabs for collection of clinical samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M20-6569

Preterm Birth and Stillbirth During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden: A Nationwide Cohort Study. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6367

RESOURCES

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

The Bethune Roundtable (BRT) is an interdisciplinary meeting hosted at a Canadian academic centre to discuss challenges and solutions to improving surgical care to underserviced communities. The objective of BRT is to bring together health professionals from across disciplines to share their experiences in delivering safe surgery, anesthesia and obstetric care in low-resource settings.

Abstract submission is now open and until 18 January 2021. Please see the criteria Bethune Round Table 2021 — MUHC Centre for Global Surgery (cglobalsurgery.com) https://www.cglobalsurgery.com/bethune-round-table-2021 and send it to gabriela.sanchez@muhc.mcgill.ca

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Outcomes After Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair Performed by Associate Clinicians vs Medical Doctors in Sierra Leone. These findings demonstrate that surgical task sharing to ACs in groin hernia surgical procedures was safe and effective and could be expanded to address the immense burden of disease owing to groin hernia. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774739

A Randomized Clinical Trial

Thinking across disciplinary boundaries in a time of crisis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32757-4/fulltext

Public health role for fractional dosage of yellow fever vaccine. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32707-0/fulltext

Effect of Oral Moxifloxacin vs Intravenous Ertapenem Plus Oral Levofloxacin for Treatment of Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis. The APPAC II Randomized Clinical Trial. Among adults with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, treatment with 7 days of oral moxifloxacin compared with 2 days of intravenous ertapenem followed by 5 days of levofloxacin and metronidazole resulted in treatment success rates greater than 65% in both groups, but failed to demonstrate noninferiority for treatment success of oral antibiotics compared with intravenous followed by oral antibiotics. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775227

Evolving Issues in the Use of Antibiotics for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Appendicitis. Editorial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775226

FROM 9 JAN

Science advocacy groups join calls for Trump’s removal. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/science-advocacy-groups-join-calls-trump-s-removal

Caloric Restriction Promotes Immunometabolic Reprogramming Leading to Protection from Tuberculosis. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30671-9

Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Benzodiazepines. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775180

Apprenticeship model would better prepare medical students for practice, says RCP. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n65

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 13 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 13, 2021, 03:56 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,768		59		13,310	3,399	7,055	25	573,333

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 13-01-2021 05:21 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,768 Total confirmed cases

59 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 9 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 13 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to inform the public of the below international travel restrictions, made in response to the spread of COVID-19, which affect Botswana:

UNITED KINGDOM – has, with effect from 9th January 2021, placed a ban on travellers from Botswana to the United Kingdom which will be in place for an initial 2 week period.

For more information please visit the website https://www.gov.uk/…/travel-restrictions-update-south…

JAPAN – Following the declaration of State of Emergency in Japan on 8th January 2021, travellers from Botswana wishing to travel to Japan should note the following:

All those entering, re-entering or returning to Japan (including Japanese nationals) are requested to submit a certificate of negative test result of pre-entry COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours (from the sampling time to departure time of the flight) until the lifting of the state of emergency, no matter whether arriving from the countries/regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission to enter Japan or not, or no matter whether using Business Track/Residence Track or not. They are also subject to conducting of COVID-19 test upon arrival.

For further details please refer to the following website:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section2

Members of the public are further requested to ensure that they always check travel requirements for their countries of destination before making travel arrangements.

NEWS

Factbox: Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latest-factbox/factbox-latest-on-worldwide-spread-of-the-coronavirus-idUSKBN2991UY

How COVID unlocked the power of RNA vaccines. The technology could revolutionize efforts to immunize against HIV, malaria, influenza and more. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00019-w

Vaccine makers in Asia rush to test jabs against fast-spreading COVID variant Investigations are under way in China and India over fears that new SARS-CoV-2 variants could undermine vaccines. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00041-y

COVID research updates: Immune cells gone wild are tied to COVID lung damage. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Third time’s the charm? Brazil scales back efficacy claims for COVID-19 vaccine from China . https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/third-time-s-charm-brazil-scales-back-efficacy-claims-covid-19-vaccine-china

COVID-19 measures also suppress flu—for now. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/covid-19-measures-also-suppress-flu-now

Captive gorillas test positive for coronavirus. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/captive-gorillas-test-positive-coronavirus

How the Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine was made. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n86

RESOURCES.

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Join us for 18th annual Global Health & Innovation Conference – a 4 day live virtual event on April 8-11 with keynotes, panel sessions, workshops, poster sessions, social impact labs, & Innovation Prize competition. Register: https://bit.ly/3k4EvLo #globalhealth #socent #SDGs

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

A road to optimising maternal and newborn quality care measurement for all. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30519-2/fulltext

FROM 12 JAN

Thinking across disciplinary boundaries in a time of crisis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32757-4/fulltext

Public health role for fractional dosage of yellow fever vaccine. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32707-0/fulltext

Evolving Issues in the Use of Antibiotics for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Appendicitis. Editorial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775226

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 14 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 14, 2021, 04:02 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	16,768		59		13,310	3,399	7,055	25	573,333

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 14-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

16,768 Total confirmed cases

59 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 12 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 13 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

African Union secures 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from manufacturers. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/african-union-secures-270-million-covid-19-vaccine-doses-from-manufacturers-idUSKBN29I2WG

Mozambique approaches global COVID-19 vaccine scheme for doses for 20% of population. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mozambique/mozambique-approaches-global-covid-19-vaccine-scheme-for-doses-for-20-of-population-idUSKBN29I2TR

World Bank chief says vaccine rollout critical for poorer countries. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-world-bank-vaccine/world-bank-chief-says-vaccine-rollout-critical-for-poorer-countries-idUSKBN29I2SK

Why a pioneering plan to distribute COVID vaccines equitably must succeed. COVAX is key to both immunizing the world’s poorest people and ending the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00044-9

COVID research updates: A mutation undercuts the immune response to the COVID virus. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Will delaying second doses of COVID-19 vaccines spur viral resistance? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/will-delaying-second-doses-covid-19-vaccines-spur-viral-resistance

Saliva could hold clues to how sick you will get from COVID-19 | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org). https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/saliva-could-hold-clues-how-sick-you-will-get-covid-19

Immunological characteristics govern the transition of COVID-19 to endemicity. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/11/science.abe6522?rss=1

Convalescent Plasma Antibody Levels and the Risk of Death from Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2031893?query=featured_home

Interim Results of a Phase 1–2a Trial of Ad26.COV2.S Covid-19 Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034201?query=featured_home

Promising new antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 found. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/promising-new-antibodies-against-sars-cov-2-found/23MryliW83l2HUQf35rtHg?show_order=1&utm_campaign=All+SP+1%2F13%2F2021+Morning+Alert&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z0csigtkfqjhd2t932va9s5lv6dp8pnbh6v5fiio

Audio Interview: Covid-19 in South Africa and a New SARS-CoV-2 Variant. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2100736?query=featured_home

RESOURCES.

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Association of Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Docetaxel Combination Therapy With Overall Survival in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774899

Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4743

FROM 13 JAN

A road to optimising maternal and newborn quality care measurement for all. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30519-2/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 15 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 15, 2021, 03:37 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	17,365	[597]	71	[12]	13,519	3,775	7,305	30	584,169

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 15-01-2021 04:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

17,365 Total confirmed cases

71 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 13 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 15 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation Botswana

January 12 at 2:32 PM ·

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to inform the public of the below international travel restrictions, made in response to the spread of COVID-19, which affect Botswana: UNITED KINGDOM – has, with effect from 9th January 2021, placed a ban on travellers from Botswana to the United Kingdom which will be in place for an initial 2 week period. For more information please visit the website https://www.gov.uk/…/travel-restrictions-update-south…JAPAN – Following the declaration of State of Emergency in Japan on 8th January 2021, travellers from Botswana wishing to travel to Japan should note the following: All those entering, re-entering or returning to Japan (including Japanese nationals) are requested to submit a certificate of negative test result of pre-entry COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours (from the sampling time to departure time of the flight) until the lifting of the state of emergency, no matter whether arriving from the countries/regions designated as an area subject to denial of permission to enter Japan or not, or no matter whether using Business Track/Residence Track or not. They are also subject to conducting of COVID-19 test upon arrival. For further details please refer to the following website:https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html#section2Members of the public are further requested to ensure that they always check travel requirements for their countries of destination before making travel arrangements.

NEWS

Gambia records first two cases of UK COVID-19 variant. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-gambia/gambia-records-first-two-cases-of-uk-covid-19-variant-idUSKBN29J2BR

Two arthritis medicines prove effective for covid-19. The drugs in question, tocilizumab and sarilumab, are currently used to reduce inflammation in patients with arthritis. https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/01/14/two-arthritis-medicines-prove-effective-for-covid-19?utm_campaign=editorial-social&utm_medium=social-organic&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1STEHWoE6lUkFI4ZUf2YGHfsJrGW8AkHyZgZS1kDmYeyBo9xMkTDxtFY8

Africa cannot relax now COVID-19 vaccines are coming, health boss says. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/vaccines-due-in-weeks-or-months-not-yet-africas-way-out-of-pandemic-officials-say-idUSKBN29J1DL

6-month consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study. At 6 months after acute infection, COVID-19 survivors were mainly troubled with fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. Patients who were more severely ill during their hospital stay had more severe impaired pulmonary diffusion capacities and abnormal chest imaging manifestations, and are the main target population for intervention of long-term recovery. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32656-8/fulltext

Taking a Closer Look at COVID-19’s Effects on the Brain. https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2021/01/14/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-effects-of-covid-19-on-the-brain/

Covid-19: When to start invasive ventilation is “the million dollar question”. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n121

Covid-19: Past infection provides 83% protection for five months but may not stop transmission, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n124

.

COVID reinfections are unusual — but could still help the virus to spread. Large study of UK health-care workers suggests that most people are immune for months after catching COVID-19 for the first time. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00071-6

Why a pioneering plan to distribute COVID vaccines equitably must succeed. COVAX is key to both immunizing the world’s poorest people and ending the pandemic. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00044-9

COVID vaccine causes a durable immune response. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

‘Compelled by stories.’ A marketing expert’s tips for promoting COVID-19 vaccination. ‘Compelled by stories.’ A marketing expert’s tips for promoting COVID-19 vaccination

The Remaining COVID-19 Journey. With a vaccine in limited availability, many still need medicines to keep the virus at bay. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-remaining-covid-19-journey/

Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID vaccine promising in early trial. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/johnson-and-amp-johnsons-one-dose-covid-vaccine-promising-in-early-trial/1ucqFNrMN0RjakzzKFfIrJ?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+1%2F14%2F2021+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2ztqhfaro75fl73lf3jo3qeue5a2kjacpkvmapsuo

Reporting Clinical Studies Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines for Authors. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775069

RESOURCES

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Launch of Lancet Series on Women’s & Children’s Health in Conflict Settings—FREE–REGISTER https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-lancet-series-on-womens-childrens-health-in-conflict-settings-tickets-135855971869

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease, and particularly affects children, premenopausal women, and people in low-income and middle-income countries. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32594-0/fulltext

Broad, Durable Antibody Response in Universal Flu Vaccine Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774814?guestAccessKey=464f84e5-2884-4318-b16b-1854b7b0f838&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4398485480&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=108968920

Opinion: A Big Science Publisher Is Going Open Access. But at What Cost?. The steep fees Springer Nature will charge to make papers freely readable show what’s wrong with science publishing. I examined a sampling of data from publisher websites and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and found that the biggest for-profits — Springer Nature, Elsevier, and Wiley — charge an average APC of $2,660. While some nonprofits like eLife and PLOS charge nearly as much as their for-profit counterparts, an analysis of data from the DOAJ shows that after removing the big commercial publishers, the remaining open-access journals — published mostly by nonprofit foundations, academic societies, and universities — charged just $715 on average as of 2018. https://undark.org/2021/01/14/big-science-publisher-is-going-open-access/

Cell’s publisher invites statements in papers about studies’ diversity and inclusion efforts. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/cell-s-publisher-invites-statements-papers-about-studies-diversity-and-inclusion

Safety, Reactogenicity, and Health-Related Quality of Life After Trivalent Adjuvanted vs Trivalent High-Dose Inactivated Influenza Vaccines in Older Adults. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775073

Medical Oncology Professionals’ Perceptions of Telehealth Video Visits. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775074

Piped water boosts women’s health, happiness and income in rural Zambia. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-water-women/piped-water-boosts-womens-health-happiness-and-income-in-rural-zambia-idUSKBN29J2BJ

FROM 14 JAN

Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4743

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 16 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 16, 2021, 04:19 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	17,365		71		13,519	3,775	7,305	30	584,169

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 16-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

17,365 Total confirmed cases

71 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 14 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 16 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation Botswana

January 12 at 2:32 PM ·

PUBLIC NOTICE

NEWS

African Union vaccines to be allocated according to population. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa/african-union-vaccines-to-be-allocated-according-to-population-idUSKBN29K1J4

Coronavirus News Roundup: January 9–January 15. Here are pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-january-9-january-15/

New therapeutic approaches for SARS-CoV-2. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/new-therapeutic-approaches-for-sars-cov-2/25ooMLa0O520ZerNrw5iSu?show_order=1&utm_campaign=All+SP+1%2F15%2F2021+Morning+Alert&ipost_environment=m3usainc&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&iqs=9z2z5q8q3kvfh3cul8a0484a2gqcabbdgjmcb8au5r0

WHO stops short of advising proof of COVID-19 shots for travel. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-panel/who-stops-short-of-advising-proof-of-covid-19-shots-for-travel-idUSKBN29K25S

WHO sees poorer countries getting first COVID vaccines this quarter. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-covax/who-sees-poorer-countries-getting-first-covid-vaccines-this-quarter-idUSKBN29K2CN

COVID research updates: Two anti-inflammatory drugs prevent COVID deaths. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

New coronavirus variants could cause more reinfections, require updated vaccines. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/new-coronavirus-variants-could-cause-more-reinfections-require-updated-vaccines

Many scientists citing two scandalous COVID-19 papers ignore their retractions. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/many-scientists-citing-two-scandalous-covid-19-papers-ignore-their-retractions

Herd immunity by infection is not an option. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6526/230

COVID’s toll on smell and taste: what scientists do and don’t know. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00055-6

‘A bloody mess’: Confusion reigns over naming of new COVID variants. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00097-w

Alarming COVID variants show vital role of genomic surveillance. Efforts to track SARS-CoV-2 sequences have helped identify worrying variants — but researchers are blind to emerging mutations in some regions. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00065-4

Daily briefing: Underwhelming trial results for leading Chinese COVID vaccine The CoronaVac vaccine, developed by Sinovac in China, reports mixed results in Brazil. Plus, what we know about COVID’s toll on smell and taste, and the mysterious extinction of the dire wolf. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00114-y

Covid-19: Doctors’ leaders call for revised PPE guidance to reflect new variants. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n146

Mitigating ethnic disparities in covid-19 and beyond. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4921

What is the evidence for transmission of COVID-19 by children in schools? A living systematic review. There is limited high-quality evidence available to quantify the extent of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools or to compare it to community transmission. Emerging evidence suggests lower IAR and SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate in students compared to school staff. Future prospective and adequately controlled cohort studies are necessary to confirm this finding. http://europepmc.org/article/PMC/7774027

Comparison of Saliva and Nasopharyngeal Swab Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing for Detection of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. These results suggest that saliva NAAT diagnostic accuracy is similar to that of nasopharyngeal swab NAAT, especially in the ambulatory setting. These findings support larger-scale research on the use of saliva NAAT as an alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33449069/

Potential COVID-19 drug is successful in lab study. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/potential-covid-19-drug-is-successful-in-lab-study/71X1b1llNO6f18B6JfHpP9?show_order=2&utm_campaign=All+1%2F15%2F2021+Evening+Alert+-snippet+header&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&ipost_environment=m3usainc&iqs=9z2z12jkr6aucc9a5vt4l7ijiebbcppr0jj37lsb778

RESOURCES

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

South African scientists discover new chemicals that kill malaria parasite. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-malaria/south-african-scientists-discover-new-chemicals-that-kill-malaria-parasite-idUSKBN29K210

Science family of journals announces change to open-access policy. Subscription journals will let some Plan S funded researchers share accepted manuscripts under open licences. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00103-1

Diversity, Race, and Health. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30083-0

Why Calls to Diversify Trial Populations Fall Short. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30078-7

Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Biopsy to Verify Breast Cancer Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775220

Evaluation of Aspirin Use With Cancer Incidence and Survival Among Older Adults in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. These findings suggest that aspirin use may improve bladder and breast cancer survival. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775219

Association of Immunosuppression and Viral Load With Subcortical Brain Volume in an International Sample of People Living With HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775217

Assessment of Interruptive Behavior at Residency Teaching Conferences by Gender. Across all conferences, men interrupted more often than expected based on attendance and assuming gender-equal participation. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775216

Reporting Clinical Studies Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines for Authors. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775069

FROM 15 JAN

Safety, Reactogenicity, and Health-Related Quality of Life After Trivalent Adjuvanted vs Trivalent High-Dose Inactivated Influenza Vaccines in Older Adults. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775073

Medical Oncology Professionals’ Perceptions of Telehealth Video Visits. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775074

Piped water boosts women’s health, happiness and income in rural Zambia. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-water-women/piped-water-boosts-womens-health-happiness-and-income-in-rural-zambia-idUSKBN29J2BJ

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 18 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 18, 2021, 04:34 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	17,365		71		13,519	3,775	7,305	30	584,169

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 18-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

17,365 Total confirmed cases

71 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 16 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 18 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Five Countries, Five Experiences of the Coronavirus Pandemic | The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/science/medical-dispatch/five-countries-five-experiences-of-the-pandemic?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_011721&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5e79cea4fbd2976e2f01a8d7&cndid=60373484&hasha=9289a6e403a2eb689aa4ab4c407596cc&hashb=0cebcc28b342867dd99443a4fd3d2a49e9b3fb67&hashc=1811acafdbe64a6c8e695965ac76aa897702049a6a3631c6a45946080ed948bf&esrc=Auto_Subs&utm_term=TNY_Daily

Ghana president warns of health system overload as COVID cases soar. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ghana/ghana-president-warns-of-health-system-overload-as-covid-cases-soar-idUSKBN29M0OX

Development and Validation of a Risk Score Using Complete Blood Count to Predict In-hospital Mortality in COVID-19 Patients. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30079-9

Covid-19: Norway investigates 23 deaths in frail elderly patients after vaccination. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n149

Covid-19: Japan declares second state of emergency as Asia struggles with virus surge. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n141

India: Doctors call for investigation into allegations of ethical abuse in covid-19 vaccine trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n131

Britons lament ‘U.K. variant’ label, as highly contagious version of coronavirus spreads around the world. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-variant-covid-b117/2021/01/16/b559d11a-5739-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html

Kenya’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a balance between minimising morbidity and adverse economic impact [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-3/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

High infectious disease burden as a basis for the observed high frequency of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in sub-Saharan Africa [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. https://aasopenresearch.org/articles/4-2/v1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=etoc_alert_WEEKLY

RESOURCES

ATTENTION—VIRTUAL CONFERENCE–Bethune Round Table on 27-30 May 2021 in an online format

Strengthening Health Infrastructures in Under-Resourced Communities

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Covid Rapid Testing (idsociety.org) . https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/rapid-testing/

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Women Giving Birth With and Without COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775396

FROM 16 JAN

Diversity, Race, and Health. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30083-0

Why Calls to Diversify Trial Populations Fall Short. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(20)30078-7

Reporting Clinical Studies Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidelines for Authors. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775069

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 19 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 19, 2021, 03:43 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	18,630	[265]	88	[17]	14,624	3,918	7,836	37	599,609

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 19-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

18,630 Total confirmed cases

88 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 17 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 19 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

WHO chief warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’ as rich countries dominate vaccine supplies. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/who-chief-warns-of-catastrophic-moral-failure-as-rich-countries-dominate-vaccine-supplies/ar-BB1cRaoz?ocid=msedgntp

WHO: just 25 Covid vaccine doses administered in low-income countries. Director-general warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’ if richer countries hoard treatment. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/18/who-just-25-covid-vaccine-doses-administered-in-low-income-countries

I never thought of Zimbabwe as a haven of stability. This year, I finally could. Michelle Kambasha. Under the tutelage of World Health Organization regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, governments like Zimbabwe’s did as much as they could. With her four-decade long experience of containing outbreaks across the region, most infamously HIV, Moeti urged pre-emptive lockdown measures right at the beginning of the pandemic, conscious of the fragility of healthcare systems on the continent. Countries were encouraged to repurpose existing disease control operations. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/18/family-fled-zimbabwe-covid-safer-england-government-pandemic

Previous coronavirus infection may offer less protection from new variant. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-variant/previous-coronavirus-infection-may-offer-less-protection-from-new-variant-idUSKBN29N1NX

Daily briefing: The sticky issue of honey fraud. The beekeepers using science to expose shady sugar-syrup scandals. Plus, coronavirus-variant naming confusion, and an attempted peer-review hijack. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00128-6

Vaccines Need Not Completely Stop COVID Transmission to Curb the Pandemic. Lessons from other viruses show that even if vaccines don’t completely stop disease spread, they can still successfully contain it. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vaccines-need-not-completely-stop-covid-transmission-to-curb-the-pandemic/

Inflammatory leptomeningeal cytokines mediate COVID-19 neurologic symptoms in cancer patients. https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(21)00051-9

Sensitive detection of total anti-Spike antibodies and isotype switching in asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(21)00004-5

Vaccinating against covid-19 in people who report allergies. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n120

Covid-19: What new variants are emerging and how are they being investigated? https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n158

Covid-19: Doctors’ leaders call for revised PPE guidance to reflect new variants. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n146

Characteristics, Outcomes, and Trends of Patients With COVID-19–Related Critical Illness at a Learning Health System in the United States. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-5327

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: Much Accomplished, Much to Learn. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0111

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Designing and undertaking randomised implementation trials: guide for researchers. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m3721

FROM 18 JAN

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Women Giving Birth With and Without COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775396

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Wednesday, 20 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 20, 2021, 04:21 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	18,630		88		14,624	3,918	7,836	37	599,609

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 20-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

18,630 Total confirmed cases

88 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 18 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 20 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

BWgovernment 20h ·

REMARKS BY MINISTER KWAPE REGARDING THE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ON DURING THE ONGOING VIRTUAL 148TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION’S (WHO) EXECUTIVE BOARD (18/1/2021) [Full Text]

*Salutations*

1. Chairperson, Botswana is pleased to deliver this report on behalf of the Africa Region Member States. We thank the Director General for the detailed and informative report on the COVID-19 Response. The Africa Region commend the WHO’s leadership and coordination role across all levels in the COVID-19 response. The WHO’s Health Emergency Programme which was established under the leadership of the Director-General Dr Tedros, has been a key milestone in this regard.

2. We appreciate the technical and operational Secretariat’s support missions and expansion of the hospital bed capacity, Infection Prevention and Control support, SARS-COV-2 laboratory testing capacity. The Region has utilised the tools available including the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, Partners Platform, and the various technical guiding documents.

3. We congratulate the Secretariat on the global collaborative effort on the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT Accelerator) which is a key initiative to promote equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and all other medical products. We look forward to an ongoing transparent and inclusive update on the successes of this initiative for the benefit of the Member States.

4. Chairperson, the Africa Region is concerned about the disruptions in the global supply chains particularly during the initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis, which significantly affected our response. We are however confident that the Secretariat in partnership with other UN agencies and philanthropic organisations will continue to ensure equitable allocation of critical items which include personal protective equipment, comprising medical masks, respirators, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, ventilators and other essential biomedical items for clinical care particularly to low and middle income countries.

5. The Region notes with appreciation the WHO’s ambitious target for the distribution of new COVID-19 tools including the provision of two billion doses of vaccine to all countries by the end of 2021 and 245 million treatment courses and 500 million diagnostic tests to low-income and middle-income countries by mid-2021.

6. Chair, as reported by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response there are great inequalities in the COVID-19 vaccines availability and roll-out among and between nations. The report indicates that our Region will be the last to receive enough vaccine coverage for public health impact which is deeply concerning. We therefore call for urgent global solidarity to prioritise investment in affordable and safe COVID-19 vaccines and equitable allocation based on the principle of fairness for public health impact.

7. Regarding the research and development (R&D) we thank the Secretariat for supporting several scientific studies on new diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. It is important for the WHO to continue to ensure representation of public health researchers and scientists from the Region in the WHO R&D multi-stakeholder forums, in order to share expertise, forge networks and partnerships.

8. We appreciate the support to assess Member States readiness to deploy new COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics effectively and efficiently as they become available.

9. Chairperson, the Africa Region commits to working with the Secretariat and Partners to assure readiness for vaccine introduction.

I thank you.

NEWS

HIV-positive demonstrate more salt sensitivity and nocturnal non-dipping blood pressure than HIV-negative individuals. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33446278/

Landlocked Lesotho faces food crisis amid Covid border closures. Food price increases and economic impact of lockdowns have left a quarter of the kingdom’s population reliant on food aid, UN warns. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jan/19/landlocked-lesotho-faces-food-crisis-amid-covid-border-closures

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wto/backers-of-ip-waiver-for-covid-19-drugs-make-fresh-push-at-wto-idUSKBN29O2DF

Nigeria to seek COVID-19 vaccines less dependent on cooling facilities -official. Nigeria will seek to procure vaccines that are less dependent on cooling facilities, the head of the country’s primary healthcare agency said on Tuesday, adding that talks were in progress with Russia and India to procure such vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria-storage/nigeria-to-seek-covid-19-vaccines-less-dependent-on-cooling-facilities-official-idUSKBN29O253

EU eyes scheme to share surplus COVID-19 vaccines with poorer nations. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-kyriakides/eu-eyes-scheme-to-share-surplus-covid-19-vaccines-with-poorer-nations-idUSKBN29O0UN

Nigeria’s exhausted medics keep waiting for COVID-19 vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria-vaccine/nigerias-exhausted-medics-keep-waiting-for-covid-19-vaccines-idUSKBN29O0XS

Liberia’s Johnson Sirleaf discouraged by COVID vaccine roll-out plan. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-panel-africa/liberias-johnson-sirleaf-discouraged-by-covid-vaccine-roll-out-plan-idUSKBN29O1PB

Daily briefing: A portrait of the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant. A richly illustrated look at the worryingly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant. Also, advice from award-winning mentors and the plus side of retracting a paper. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00144-6

Rogue antibodies could be driving severe COVID-19. Evidence is growing that self-attacking ‘autoantibodies’ could be the key to understanding some of the worst cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00149-1

COVID research updates: Immune cells ‘remember’ COVID for at least half a year. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Evolution of antibody immunity to SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03207-w

Another Way to Protect Against COVID Beyond Masking and Social Distancing. Boosting indoor humidity in winter can hinder transmission of the virus. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/another-way-to-protect-against-covid-beyond-masking-and-social-distancing/

Cell-Free DNA Tissues-of-Origin by Methylation Profiling Reveals Significant Cell, Tissue and Organ-Specific injury related to COVID-19 Severity. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(21)00031-3

What we know about covid-19 reinfection so far. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n99

Covid-19: Assess the effects of extending Pfizer vaccine dosing interval, expert urges. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n162

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

GLOBAL SURGERY STUDENT ALLIANCE. Registration is free Events on March 26th and 27th: Registration is free https://www.globalsurgerystudents.org All events will be held exclusively in a virtual environment

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Monthly Malaria Prophylaxis Cuts Child Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. Treating children in sub-Saharan Africa’s malaria-endemic areas with a monthly preventive drug regimen during the rainy season reduced children’s deaths from the disease by up to 57%, a study found. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775294?guestAccessKey=cf0183f3-8804-40f5-96eb-dab54636bfb9&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4417283004&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=109485668

Designing and undertaking randomised implementation trials: guide for researchers. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m3721

FROM 18 JAN

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized Women Giving Birth With and Without COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775396

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Thursday, 21 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 21, 2021, 03:44 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	18,630		88		14,624	3,918	7,836	37	599,609

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 21-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

18,630 Total confirmed cases

88 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 19 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

New COVID-19 variant defeats plasma treatment, may reduce vaccine efficacy. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa can evade the antibodies that attack it in treatments using blood plasma from previously recovered patients, and may reduce the efficacy of the current line of vaccines, scientists said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-variant/new-covid-19-variant-defeats-plasma-treatment-may-reduce-vaccine-efficacy-idUSKBN29P2HJ

Exclusive: COVID-19 shots to cost $3 to $10 under African Union vaccine plan. NAIROBI/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – African countries will pay between $3 and $10 per vaccine dose to access 270 million COVID-19 shots secured this month by the African Union (AU), according to a draft briefing on the plan prepared by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and provided to Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa-vaccine-exc/exclusive-covid-19-shots-to-cost-3-to-10-under-african-union-vaccine-plan-idUSKBN29P0LL

Coronavirus live news: WHO says ‘don’t panic’, all will get Covid vaccine; new US CDC director sworn in. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/jan/21/coronavirus-live-news-who-says-dont-panic-all-will-get-covid-vaccine-new-us-cdc-director-sworn-in

WHO plans slew of COVID-19 vaccine approvals for global rollout. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-vaccines-exclu/who-plans-slew-of-covid-19-vaccine-approvals-for-global-rollout-idUSKBN29P218

Netherlands proposes first curfew since World War Two, flight bans. AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch government on Wednesday proposed the first nationwide curfew since World War Two and a ban on flights from South Africa and Britain in its toughest moves yet to limit the spread of coronavirus in the Netherlands. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-netherlands/netherlands-proposes-first-curfew-since-world-war-two-flight-bans-idUSKBN29P170

UK helps Kenya prepare to roll-out COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-kenya-britain/uk-helps-kenya-prepare-to-roll-out-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKBN29P11Q

Kenya reports two cases of new coronavirus variant first seen in South Africa. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-kenya-variant/kenya-reports-two-cases-of-new-coronavirus-variant-first-seen-in-south-africa-idUSKBN29P1XI

COVID research updates: The unsung viral feature that could lead to more COVID treatments. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

The world needs a single naming system for coronavirus variants. Geographic associations risk stigma. Researchers must quickly agree on a more meaningful and universal nomenclature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00105-z

The Second-Generation COVID Vaccines Are Coming. After Pfizer and Moderna, a slew of other candidates could fill gaps in efficacy, production, or distribution. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-second-generation-covid-vaccines-are-coming/

Zooanthroponotic potential of SARS-CoV-2 and implications of re-introduction into human population. https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(21)00034-2?utm_medium=homepage

Audio Interview: An International Look at Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2101204?query=featured_home

REGN-COV2, a Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail, in Outpatients with Covid-19. In this interim analysis, the REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail reduced viral load, with a greater effect in patients whose immune response had not yet been initiated or who had a high viral load at baseline. Safety outcomes were similar in the combined REGN-COV2 dose groups and the placebo group. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035002?query=featured_home

Vaccinating Children against Covid-19 — The Lessons of Measles. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2034765?query=featured_home

Associations of Government-Mandated Closures and Restrictions With Aggregate Mobility Trends and SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Nigeria. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775300

Covid-19: Arthritis drug trial for severe illness is stopped early after increase in deaths. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n186 and https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n84

Priority setting during the COVID-19 pandemic: going beyond vaccines. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004686

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

GLOBAL SURGERY STUDENT ALLIANCE. Registration is free Events on March 26th and 27th: Registration is free https://www.globalsurgerystudents.org All events will be held exclusively in a virtual environment

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Global health 2021: who tells the story? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00004-8/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Drop in Vaccination Causes Surge in Global Measles Cases, Deaths. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775295?guestAccessKey=0d2270dc-cb4b-4ade-bd2b-643c849ae6bf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=4417283008&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=109485669

Feed fight: African consumers hit as Asia gobbles up rice supplies. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-rice-feed/feed-fight-african-consumers-hit-as-asia-gobbles-up-rice-supplies-idUSKBN29Q04N

Polypill with or without Aspirin in Persons without Cardiovascular Disease. Combined treatment with a polypill plus aspirin led to a lower incidence of cardiovascular events than did placebo among participants without cardiovascular disease who were at intermediate cardiovascular risk. (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2028220?query=featured_home

Post-Transcriptional Genetic Silencing of BCL11A to Treat Sickle Cell Disease. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029392?query=featured_home

Postinfectious Epigenetic Immune Modifications — A Double-Edged Sword. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2028358?query=featured_home

Conference equity in global health: a systematic review of factors impacting LMIC representation at global health conferences. ‘Conference inequity’ is common in gl

obal health, with LMIC attendees under-represented at global health conferences. LMIC attendance is limited by systemic barriers including high travel costs, visa restrictions and lower acceptance rates for research presentations. This may be mitigated by relocating conferences to visa-friendly countries, providing travel scholarships and developing mentorship programmes to enable LMIC researchers to participate in global conferences. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003455

Unseen and unheard: African children with cancer are consistently excluded from clinical trials. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004750

Predictors of disease severity in children presenting from the community with febrile illnesses: a systematic review of prognostic studies. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003451

FROM 20 JAN

Designing and undertaking randomised implementation trials: guide for researchers. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m3721

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Friday, 22 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 22, 2021, 03:33 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	19,654	[1,024]	105	[17]	15,911	3,638	8,265	4	613,944

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 22-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

19,654 Total confirmed cases

105 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 20 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 21 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Preparing for a COVID-19 resurgence in the WHO African region. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32725-2/fulltext

Getting COVID-19 vaccines to West and Central Africa. How UNICEF is harnessing decades of expertise to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the region. https://www.unicef.org/supply/stories/getting-covid-19-vaccines-west-and-central-africa?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=coronavirus&fbclid=IwAR1ZMNQy12dwtS4VRQJY5UsaVaDZB4mgFa6MOa-IzHUx1WOXHE00kSmYaNs

South Africa to pay $5.25 a dose for AstraZeneca vaccine from India’s SII. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica-vaccines/south-africa-to-pay-5-25-a-dose-for-astrazeneca-vaccine-from-indias-sii-idUSKBN29Q0JL

Fast-spreading COVID variant can elude immune responses. Evidence that a variant of the coronavirus identified in South Africa might compromise immunity sparks concerns about vaccine effectiveness. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00121-z

Mali to buy 8.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mali/mali-to-buy-8-4-million-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKBN29Q347

Nigeria approves release of $16.9 million to set up oxygen plants amid COVID-19 surge. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-nigeria-oxygen/nigeria-approves-release-of-16-9-million-to-set-up-oxygen-plants-amid-covid-19-surge-idUSKBN29Q2UD

COVID research updates: COVID vaccines might lose potency against new viral variants. Nature wades through the literature on the new coronavirus — and summarizes key papers as they appear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w

Media outlets inconsistently mention uncertain status of COVID-19 preprints. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/media-outlets-inconsistently-mention-uncertain-status-covid-19-preprints

Optimizing age-specific vaccination. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/21/science.abg2334?rss=1

COVID Can Cause Forgetfulness, Psychosis, Mania or a Stutter. The virus induces neurological symptoms that persist long after the pandemic ends. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-can-cause-forgetfulness-psychosis-mania-or-a-stutter/

Early induction of functional SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells associates with rapid viral clearance and mild disease in COVID-19 patients. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(21)00041-3

Effect of Bamlanivimab as Monotherapy or in Combination With Etesevimab on Viral Load in Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775647

Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775646

Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody for Mild to Moderate COVID-19. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775645

Effect of tocilizumab on clinical outcomes at 15 days in patients with severe or critical coronavirus disease 2019: randomised controlled trial. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n84

Covid 19: Hope is being eclipsed by deep frustration. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n171

UW Health Doctor Says to Avoid Alcohol with COVID-19 Vaccine. https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/madison/news/2021/01/06/uw-health-doctor-says-to-avoid-alcohol-with-covid-19-vaccine?fbclid=IwAR1Z2wadb5syeN0qfRZ_tQ-GmfbPmIpYGXAmyPEuqtRZ_0im1E1K9RVBS9s

UK bans passengers from Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo to control spread of COVID variant. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-travel/uk-bans-passengers-from-tanzania-democratic-republic-of-congo-to-control-spread-of-covid-variant-idUSKBN29Q2U9

Exclusive: India to begin commercial vaccine exports with shipments to Brazil, Morocco. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-c0r0navirus-india-vaccines/exclusive-india-to-begin-commercial-vaccine-exports-with-shipments-to-brazil-morocco-idUSKBN29Q2BR

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32649-0/fulltext

FROM 21 JAN

Global health 2021: who tells the story? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00004-8/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

Post-Transcriptional Genetic Silencing of BCL11A to Treat Sickle Cell Disease. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029392?query=featured_home

Postinfectious Epigenetic Immune Modifications — A Double-Edged Sword. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2028358?query=featured_home

Conference equity in global health: a systematic review of factors impacting LMIC representation at global health conferences. ‘Conference inequity’ is common in gl

Unseen and unheard: African children with cancer are consistently excluded from clinical trials. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004750

Predictors of disease severity in children presenting from the community with febrile illnesses: a systematic review of prognostic studies. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003451

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Saturday, 23 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 23, 2021, 04:24GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	19,654		105		15,911	3,638	8,265	4	613,944

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 23-01-2021 05:21 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

19,654 Total confirmed cases

105 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 21 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 23 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Why did the world’s pandemic warning system fail when COVID hit? Nearly one year ago, the World Health Organization sounded the alarm about the coronavirus, but was ignored. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00162-4

Severely ill COVID-19 patients display impaired exhaustion features in SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD8+ T cells. https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/6/55/eabe4782

Monoclonal antibodies can prevent COVID-19—but successful vaccines complicate their future. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/monoclonal-antibodies-can-prevent-covid-19-successful-vaccines-complicate-their-future

Coronavirus News Roundup, January 16-January 22. Pandemic highlights for the week. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-news-roundup-january-16-january-22/

World’s poor need action, not Covid ‘vaccine nationalism’, say experts. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/22/worlds-poor-need-action-not-covid-vaccine-nationalism-say-experts

The Proportion of SARS-CoV-2 Infections That Are Asymptomatic. A Systematic Review. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6976

Timing of second Covid vaccine doesn’t need to be exact. Just get it, experts say.. It’s OK if you can’t get the second dose right away. But experts strongly recommend getting it as soon as you can. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/timing-second-covid-vaccine-doesn-t-need-be-exact-just-n1255136

Covid-19: Reports from Israel suggest one dose of Pfizer vaccine could be less effective than expected. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n217

Managing the long term effects of covid-19: summary of NICE, SIGN, and RCGP rapid guideline. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n136

Why Kids Might Be Key to Reaching Herd Immunity. Children rarely get very ill from COVID-19. But there’s another reason to vaccinate. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/01/should-kids-get-covid-19-vaccine/617762/

WHO says Pfizer deal could allow poor countries to start vaccinating in Feb. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pfizer-covax/who-says-pfizer-deal-could-allow-poor-countries-to-start-vaccinating-in-feb-idUSKBN29R288

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004275

What are SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the WHO Africa region member states telling us? https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004408

Mali picks AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for 4.2 million people. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mali/mali-picks-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-for-4-2-million-people-idUSKBN29R2HQ

Morocco gets 2 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses, first big shipment to Africa. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-morocco/morocco-gets-2-million-astrazeneca-vaccine-doses-first-big-shipment-to-africa-idUSKBN29R1O4

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries. GlobalSurg Collaborative and National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00001-5/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

The effectiveness of training strategies to improve healthcare provider practices in low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003229

Using treatment guidelines to improve antibiotic use: insights from an antibiotic point prevalence survey in Kenya. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003836

Estimating the burden of cardiovascular risk in community dwellers over 40 years old in South Africa, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Ghana. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003499

Learning from changes concurrent with implementing a complex and dynamic intervention to improve urban maternal and perinatal health in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2011-2019. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004022

Workforce capacity for the care of patients with kidney failure across world countries and regions. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004014

Good Medicine. Medicine has always been a minefield of ethical concerns but today more so than ever. Drug pricing. Patient privacy and social media. Conflicts of interest. Equity in care. Through careful reporting and expert-written commentary, the Good Medicine report explores the issues at the intersection of ethics, medicine and the biopharma industry. https://www.scientificamerican.com/custom-media/good-medicine/?mvt=i&mvn=2c385ebf9a0f41ada4cb95d1a37342eb&mvp=NA-SCIEAMERLIVE-11237933&mvl=HomeLatest

Assessment of Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Association With Socioeconomic Disparities Among Young Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2003 to 2018. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775408

FROM 22 JAN

Metabolic surgery versus conventional medical therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: 10-year follow-up of an open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled trial. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32649-0/fulltext

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Monday, 25 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 25, 2021, 04:00 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	19,654		105		15,911	3,638	8,265	4	613,944

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 25-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

19,654 Total confirmed cases

105 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 23 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 25 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Coronavirus vaccines offer the world hope – unless you live in Africa. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/24/coronavirus-vaccines-offer-the-world-hope-unless-you-live-in-africa

Political economy of covid-19: extractive, regressive, competitive. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n73?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Exclusive: Biden to impose South Africa travel ban to combat new COVID-19 variant – CDC. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi/exclusive-biden-to-impose-south-africa-travel-ban-to-combat-new-covid-19-variant-cdc-idUSKBN29T0P6

How We Can Deal with ‘Pandemic Fatigue’.The first step is to understand that it’s not just about exhaustion or tiredness or depleting a mental resource. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-we-can-deal-with-pandemic-fatigue/

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

Quote Tweet

@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Assessment of Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Association With Socioeconomic Disparities Among Young Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2003 to 2018. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775408

The Risk of Anal Carcinoma After Anogenital Warts in Adults Living With HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2774799

Unseen and unheard: African children with cancer are consistently excluded from clinical trials. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004750

F.D.A. Approves Monthly Shots to Treat H.I.V.. A combination of two injectable drugs will provide an alternative to daily pills for people with H.I.V. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/health/hiv-cabenuva.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimesscience

Gender distribution among surgical journals’ editorial boards: Empowering women surgeon scientists. https://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(20)30889-8/fulltext#.YA0PwCD7uMs.twitter

BWgovernment Official https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment

THE RANKS UB BOTSWANA’S PREMIER INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING

The 2020/21 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings Report has placed the University of Botswana at the top, cementing its national standing as Botswana’s premier institution of higher learning.

According to the report, University of Botswana is ranked number one in Botswana, giving it a premier national standing. In Africa the University of Botswana is ranked 27th while globally it is ranked 1068. Placing 27 in Africa means the University of Botswana is among the Top 30 highly recognized and competitive universities in the continent as per the 2021 Times Higher Education ranked African universities.

Other universities which submitted their data for ranking in southern, central and eastern Africa were University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, University of KwaZulu Natal and Durban University of Technology.

Others were Makerere University, North West University, University of Johannesburg, University of Nairobi, University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape, University of South Africa and Tshwane University of Technology. All these were ranked among the Top 30 Universities in Africa.

The ranking was based on two sources of data. The first was institutional data provided directly by the university through the Department of Institutional Planning. The second data source was the bibliometric analysis of the university publications sources by the Times Higher Education partner Elsevier from the Scopus data base. The third source was an Academic Reputation Survey sent to academic colleagues which measures the perceived reputation of each university in terms of teaching and research.

However, given it was the first year UB participated, the survey was not administered but will be undertaken for subsequent evaluations. There are three widely observed and recognized international rankings of universities which are deemed to be objective and valid. These are Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking).

There are additional global rankings with the most popular one being Ranking Web or Webometrics which provides rankings of several thousands of higher education institutions across the globe based on web presence and web impact.

While university rankings and league tables are frequently controversial, there is no common set of metrics of performance indicators used by various compilers of university league tables, nonetheless they are increasingly important as a reflection of the university’s national, regional and international standing and competitiveness.

With the University of Botswana’s previous Vision of becoming a distinctive centre of academic excellence in Botswana, Africa and globally, and with the increasing competition for students and resources, it has become imperative for the University of Botswana to maintain its number one spot in Botswana besides aiming to be in the Top 10 in Africa and Top 500 globally. Its new Vision is Creating a Future for the Knowledge Generation which aligns with Botswana development agenda of creating a knowledge-based society and economy.

FROM 23 JAN

The effectiveness of training strategies to improve healthcare provider practices in low-income and middle-income countries. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003229

Using treatment guidelines to improve antibiotic use: insights from an antibiotic point prevalence survey in Kenya. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003836

Estimating the burden of cardiovascular risk in community dwellers over 40 years old in South Africa, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Ghana. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e003499

Workforce capacity for the care of patients with kidney failure across world countries and regions. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004014

UB COVID-19 Information Digest Tuesday, 26 January 2021 TRACKING

WORLDOMETER COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Last updated: JAN 26, 2021, 04:12 GMT

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2OhpWiFATgR5aenmpd2KHJ0EIi89WgIHqGEts5TuDlnTTGUU6Liq1kbp4#countries

Country	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Active Cases	Tot Cases/ 1M pop	Deaths/ 1M pop	Total Tests
Botswana	20,658	[1,004]	124	[19]	16.794	3,740	8,686	52	632,628

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 26-01-2021 05:22 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana

20,658 Total confirmed cases

124 Deaths

Africa CDC Dashboard 24 January 2021 https://africacdc.org/covid-19/

Get the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from The Government of Botswana FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGE https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/ 26 JANUARY 2021

https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1346126279163203584/photo/1

NEWS

Merck Shuts Down Covid Vaccine Program After Lackluster Data. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/merck-shuts-down-covid-vaccine-program-after-lackluster-data/ar-BB1d4u1i?ocid=msedgntp

Risk of ‘vaccine-busting’ coronavirus variants prompts tougher UK quarantine – Johnson. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson/risk-of-vaccine-busting-coronavirus-variants-prompts-tougher-uk-quarantine-johnson-idUSKBN29U14Y

Are COVID vaccination programmes working? Scientists seek first clues. Vaccinated people in Israel are less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, but a population-wide effect will take time to become clear. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00140-w

Why did the world’s pandemic warning system fail when COVID hit? Nearly one year ago, the World Health Organization sounded the alarm about the coronavirus, but was ignored. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00162-4

Daily briefing: Retracted COVID papers are still being cited. Most citations of discredited Surgisphere research fail to mention retractions. Plus, why the world’s pandemic warning system failed when COVID hit and how uncertainty can sharpen our thinking. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00224-7

Prospective mapping of viral mutations that escape antibodies used to treat COVID-19. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/22/science.abf9302?rss=1

Broad and potent activity against SARS-like viruses by an engineered human monoclonal antibody. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/22/science.abf4830?rss=1

Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/01/22/science.abf4058?rss=1

Can Shocking Images Persuade Doubters of COVID’s Dangers?. Using pictures to convey the pandemic’s harsh reality is a communication strategy that requires nuance and empathy. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-shocking-images-persuade-doubters-of-covids-dangers/

A Step to Ease the Pandemic Mental Health Crisis. A technique known as psychological first aid could help reduce COVID stress and anxiety. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-step-to-ease-the-pandemic-mental-health-crisis/

Association of Smoking and Cumulative Pack-Year Exposure With COVID-19 Outcomes in the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 Registry. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775677

Community Outbreak Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Among Bus Riders in Eastern China—More Detailed Studies Are Needed. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775679 Correction January 25, 2021 Updated Information About Index Patient in Study of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Among Bus Riders in Eastern China. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2775673

Covid-19: Medical community split over vaccine interval policy as WHO recommends six weeks. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n226

COVID-19 and the brain: What do we know so far? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-does-sars-cov-2-affect-the-brain

Why Men Are More Likely to Die from Covid-19. Genes, sex hormones, and stress form a dangerous trifecta. https://elemental.medium.com/4-theories-why-covid-19-is-worse-for-men-d421ea0de380

New coronavirus variants accelerate race to make sure vaccines keep up. Moderna has begun developing a new vaccine against the South African variant as a precaution. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/25/covid-vaccine-virus-variant/?utm_campaign=wp_to_your_health&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_tyh&wpmk=1&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNWNkMmVmZmY5YmJjMGYwYmY4OGIwODEwIiwidGFnIjoiNjAwZjM5YjY5ZDJmZGEwZWZiYzA3NDA4IiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2hlYWx0aC8yMDIxLzAxLzI1L2NvdmlkLXZhY2NpbmUtdmlydXMtdmFyaWFudC8_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXdwX3RvX3lvdXJfaGVhbHRoJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJndwaXNyYz1ubF90eWgmd3Btaz0xIn0.v3Hgc92wBkf1BTcmx16WQM5O81DPS3ZZhzr7KP-H7qA

Is it time to ditch your cloth mask—and replace it with something better? Daily Briefing. https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2021/01/22/masks?fbclid=IwAR125X6fx21n0WN3o41Dh2Z6iY9HJokk9wdBYV9YoU5y-6R_-guu7y3XIjY

RESOURCES

Unite for Sight Virtual Conference

January 31st, 2021 deadline for abstracts for oral & poster presentations.

https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/submit-abstract

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@uniteforsight 2021 Confirmed Global Health & Innovation Conference Speakers (uniteforsight.org) https://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/speakers-2021

Date And Time Mon, January 25, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM SAST

JBI Evidence Synthesis. COVID 19 ARTICLES: https://journals.lww.com/jbisrir/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=15

Cell Press Coronavirus Resource Hub. https://www.cell.com/COVID-19?dgcid=STMJ_1594154018_SC

LANCET RESOURCES https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus?dgcid=kr_pop-up_tlcoronavirus20

Top of Form

BMJ’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub. https://www.bmj.com/coronavirus

BMJ BEST PRACTICES—UPDATED DAILY https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000201

JAMA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert?utm_campaign=COVID19&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=house&utm_content=box&utm_term=300×250

OTHER NEWS

Building sustainable and consequential research capacity within a global alliance of paediatric surgical centres. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00383-021-04858-6

FROM 25 JAN

Assessment of Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Association With Socioeconomic Disparities Among Young Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2003 to 2018. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775408

The Risk of Anal Carcinoma After Anogenital Warts in Adults Living With HIV. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2774799

Unseen and unheard: African children with cancer are consistently excluded from clinical trials. https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/1/e004750

Gender distribution among surgical journals’ editorial boards: Empowering women surgeon scientists. https://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(20)30889-8/fulltext#.YA0PwCD7uMs.twitter

BWgovernment Official https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment

THE RANKS UB BOTSWANA’S PREMIER INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING

Find more recent back issues at https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/covid-information-digest/

[mt1]

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 28-08-2020 04:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

‘Instant Coffee’ COVID-19 Tests Could Be the Answer to Reopening the U.S. Cheap and quick, they could move us toward normalcy before a vaccine is widely available. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/instant-coffee-covid-19-tests-could-be-the-answer-to-reopening-the-u-s/

The coronavirus may shut down the immune system’s vital classrooms. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/coronavirus-may-shut-down-immune-system-s-vital-classrooms#

Clinical characteristics of children and young people admitted to hospital with covid-19 in United Kingdom: prospective multicentre observational cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3249

WHO says children do spread the virus but schools aren’t a ‘main contributor’. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/27/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_mts-cv-luf%3Aprime-time%2Fpromo#link-E2HML42DZRENTDOZZXYU7BEBJM

SADC COVID 19 Response: All hands on the deck. https://www.theafricanconversations.com/sadc-covid-19-response-all-hands-on-the-deck/

Two metres or one: what is the evidence for physical distancing in covid-19? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3223

A Randomized Trial of Hydroxychloroquine as Postexposure Prophylaxis for Covid-19. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2016638?query=featured_home

The 6-foot social-distancing rule is based on nearly 80-year-old science. Scientists at MIT and Oxford have created a traffic-light system to use instead. https://www.businessinsider.com/6-foot-distancing-rule-is-outdated-oxford-mit-new-system-2020-8

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 29-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Botswana: Baby, Two Women Succumb to Covid-19. https://allafrica.com/stories/202008280676.html?ocid=uxbndlbing

Saliva or Nasopharyngeal Swab Specimens for Detection of SARS-CoV-2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2016359?query=featured_home

Salivary Detection of COVID-19. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-4738

Shorter Resident Shifts May Not Improve Patient Safety. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2769720?guestAccessKey=0ec9944d-6622-4aa1-ad3d-b5cc65599865&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3626701016&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98080859

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 31-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Concerns About the Special Article on Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin in High Risk Outpatients with COVID-19 by Dr. Harvey Risch. https://academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aje/kwaa189/5898696#.X0rCu9tBuZI.twitter

Antiviral used to treat cat coronavirus also works against SARS-CoV-2. Fast-tracked research leads to Phase 1 clinical trials. University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200827155006.htm

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Zimbabwe investigates mysterious death of 11 elephants. National park authorities rule out poaching and cyanide poisoning. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/zimbabwe-investigates-mysterious-death-of-11-elephants

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 01-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Regulatory Decision-making on COVID-19 Vaccines During a Public Health Emergency. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770244?guestAccessKey=3a3dbafe-2cf9-497d-9ba6-3d8799d991d8&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jama&utm_term=3642229252&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=98509955

Here’s how the U.S. could release a COVID-19 vaccine before the election—and why that scares some. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/here-s-how-us-could-release-covid-19-vaccine-election-and-why-scares-some

CDC Study Finds Sudden, Serious Cardiac Events Common in Adults Hospitalized with Flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/cardiac-events-flu.htm

Publication Criteria for Research Reports from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Pages/checklistPubCriterial.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=71f12e85-6905-464b-95e4-ba6bdc082cb5

Some mosquitoes already have resistance to the latest weapon against malaria. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/some-mosquitoes-already-have-resistance-latest-weapon-against-malaria

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Zimbabwe investigates mysterious death of 11 elephants. National park authorities rule out poaching and cyanide poisoning. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/zimbabwe-investigates-mysterious-death-of-11-elephants

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 02-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3320

Large trials for anticipated Oxford COVID-19 vaccine begin in the U.S. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/large-trials-for-anticipated-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-begin-in-the-u-s/ar-BB18yV5C?ocid=msedgntp

Live updates: WHO chief condemns dismissal of elderly coronavirus deaths as ‘moral bankruptcy’. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/01/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most

How chemicals like PFAS can increase your risk of severe COVID-19. https://www.mdlinx.com/news/how-chemicals-like-pfas-can-increase-your-risk-of-severe-covid-19/3ZByWZv2p5U3kUZ4KbY6RP?show_order=2

Outbreak of COVID-19 in a nursing home associated with aerosol transmission as a result of inadequate ventilation. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1270/5898577

From 2019 but excellent: Essential elements for high-impact scientific writing. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00546-7

Publication Criteria for Research Reports from Academic Medicine. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Pages/checklistPubCriterial.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=71f12e85-6905-464b-95e4-ba6bdc082cb5

How can I get involved in research as a medical student? https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2586

The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770075?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=083020#.X0uPObEd-3k.twitter

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 03-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Corticosteroids in COVID-19 ARDS. Evidence and Hope During the Pandemic. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770275

Phase 1–2 Trial of a SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine. At 35 days, NVX-CoV2373 appeared to be safe, and it elicited immune responses that exceeded levels in Covid-19 convalescent serum. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026920?query=TOC

Covid-19: Pregnant women with virus are more likely to need intensive care, study finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3391

Steroids can save lives of patients with severe covid-19, earning WHO endorsement. New studies confirm British findings and build on them to show multiple steroids are effective. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/02/steroids-covid-19-coronavirus/

How Latin America is fighting covid-19, for better and worse. “Brazil and Mexico have some of the worst outbreaks in the world, while Uruguay’s experience ranks with the least deadly in Asia or Europe.” https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3319

Daily briefing: Hard numbers reveal risk of death from coronavirus. Age is the biggest predictor of who will die from COVID-19. Plus: A checklist for reproducible code and Africa is declared free from wild polio. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02519-7

Effect of Dexamethasone on Days Alive and Ventilator-Free in Patients With Moderate or Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and COVID-19The CoDEX Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Efft of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/newonline

Association Between Administration of Systemic Corticosteroids and Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19A Meta-analysis/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2770279

Vaccine-derived polio spreads in Africa after defeat of wild virus. Fresh cases of disease linked to oral vaccine seen in Sudan, following outbreak in Chad. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/02/vaccine-derived-polio-spreads-in-africa-after-defeat-of-wild-virus

2020&utm_source=alert&utm_campaign=ajm_50238

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 04-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Scientists suggest new theory over Africa’s low Covid-19 death rate. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/africa-low-coronavirus-levels-a4539286.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1599154546

Vaccine-derived polio spreads in Africa after defeat of wild virus. Fresh cases of disease linked to oral vaccine seen in Sudan, following outbreak in Chad. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/02/vaccine-derived-polio-spreads-in-africa-after-defeat-of-wild-virus

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 05-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379

Covid-19: Hydrocortisone can be used as alternative to dexamethasone, review finds. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3472

Autoantibody-negative insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-020-00281-8

Money down the drain: predatory publishing in the COVID-19 era. https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-020-00411-5

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 07-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

Senegal’s quiet COVID success: Test results in 24 hours, temperature checks at every store, no fights over masks. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/5659696002

Living with covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3392?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage

A Supercomputer Analyzed Covid-19 — and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged. A closer look at the Bradykinin hypothesis. https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

The Education Portfolio. How it differs from a CV. Need to download file.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/The_Education_Portfolio.97109.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=29888a75-67cc-4654-b627-e5eb5b70158c

Academics in Absentia. An Opportunity to Rethink Conferences in the Age of Coronavirus Cancellations. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Academics_in_Absentia__An_Opportunity_to_Rethink.97040.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 08-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Long covid: How to define it and how to manage it. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3489

Coronavirus reinfections: three questions scientists are asking. Second infections raise questions about long-term immunity to COVID-19 and the prospects for a vaccine. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02506-y

China’s Xi says China acted openly and transparently on COVID-19. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-xi-says-china-acted-openly-and-transparently-on-covid-19/ar-BB18NUn9?ocid=msedgntp

India will supply coronavirus vaccines to the world — will its people benefit? The country will struggle to make and distribute enough doses to control its own massive outbreak, scientists say. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02507-x

SADC Regional Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Bulletin No. 11. https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/sadc-regional-response-covid-19-pandemic-bulletin-no-11

Weapons for when bigotry claims science as its ally. As COVID-19 reveals the toll of discrimination, racism and inequality, a book skewers genetic reductionism. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02546-4

The Education Portfolio. How it differs from a CV. Need to download file.https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Citation/9000/The_Education_Portfolio.97109.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=acadmedjournal&utm_content=29888a75-67cc-4654-b627-e5eb5b70158c

Academics in Absentia. An Opportunity to Rethink Conferences in the Age of Coronavirus Cancellations. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/9000/Academics_in_Absentia__An_Opportunity_to_Rethink.97040.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newslette

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBCupdated: 09-09-2020 04:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3325

We need better evidence on non-drug interventions for covid-19. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3473

Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2026913?source=nejmtwitter&medium=organic-social

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 28-08-2020 04:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 29-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 31-08-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 01-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 02-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 03-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 04-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 05-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 07-09-2020 05:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 08-09-2020 06:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-09-2020 04:28 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-10-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-11-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Use of “normal” risk to improve understanding of dangers of covid-19
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3259

Coronavirus in Africa tracker—Johns Hopkins—used by BBC
updated: 09-12-2020 05:29 GMT https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html