March 25, 2021 Epidemiology Ontario Science Table’s report and review of the data on Covid-19 screening of LTC home staff states, “there is no available real-world evidence to support or refute the benefits of screen testing in preventing LTC home COVID-19 outbreaks”.
March 24, 2021 Health Policy Quebec proposes one Covid vaccine for those who were previously infected without any substantive evidence to support such a policy change.
March 19, 2021 Epidemiology Montreal Public Health pilot project will monitor the outcome of managing a cluster outbreak of COVID-19 variant in two neighbourhoods to see if it blunts spread within the zone and surrounding areas.
March 11, 2021 Health Policy Ontario family physicians remain unaware about their role in providing soon-to-expire AZ COVID-19 vaccines. Hopefully there will be sufficient time to set up offices before allotment’s expiry date. Vague nonspecific answers to media are not helpful.
February 24, 2021 Epidemiology Education workers ask to be included as part of the next COVID-19 vaccination phase. It can contribute to a stable school year, improve children’s mental health and pedagogic stability, teacher security, and reduces family stress and yo-yo closures.
February 19, 2021 Epidemiology What is behind recent COVID-19 case reductions? An aggregate of factors with disproportionate influences thought to be contributing factors: social distancing, seasonality, seroprevalence, and shots.
February 18, 2021 Clinical Research In vitro studies reported in NEJM show that Pfizer/Moderna vaccines were still able to neutralize variant B.1.351 from South Africa despite reduction in neutralizing antibodies. Authors’ opinion is that vaccine remains efficacious. More to follow.
February 15, 2021 Clinical Research Israeli study offers more evidence of Pfizer vaccine efficacy with 94% drop in symptomatic cases and 92% decrease in severe illness in people aged 55 and older.—- Restriction-easing plan in Ontario risks Yo-Yo effect once again.
February 12, 2021 Epidemiology Who/what priority group is next in line with limited vaccine supply once those most at risk are vaccinated? Gut-wrenching decisions & no easy solutions considering Minorities, socioecon status, work environment, med hx, and other interconnected factors.
February 5, 2021 General information Do people need a mask upgrade? @WSJ reviews the studies and some of the recommendations.