COVID-19 replace for Might 17: Here is what you have to know

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Right here’s your day by day replace with every part you have to know on the COVID-19 state of affairs in B.C. and world wide for Might 17, 2022.

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We’ll present summaries of what’s happening proper right here so you will get the most recent information at a look. This web page will probably be up to date usually all through the day, with developments added as they occur, so remember to examine again typically.

You may as well get the most recent COVID-19 information delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our publication right here.

Headlines at a look

• A sequence of occasions probably triggered by unrecognized an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus could possibly be inflicting the mysterious circumstances of extreme hepatitis reported in a whole bunch of younger youngsters world wide, researchers recommend.
• About 3,900 British Columbians could possibly be requested to take part in a COVID-19 survey by Statistics Canada.
• A brand new Canadian examine is including one other piece of the puzzle on how COVID-19 sufferers fare after being hospitalized.
• For hospitalized COVID-19 sufferers who’re respiratory on their very own however with supplemental oxygen, mendacity face down may not assist forestall them from finally needing mechanical air flow, in accordance with a brand new examine.
• The U.S. FDA has determined to not authorize the antidepressant fluvoxamine to deal with COVID-19, saying that the information has not proven the drug to be an efficient therapeutic for preventing the virus.
• Shanghai plans to end painful six-week COVID-19 lockdown beginning June 1
• South Korea will supply humanitarian assist as North Korea battles COVID-19 outbreak
• North Korean chief Kim Jong Un known as the rising outbreak of a fever “the massive upheaval for the reason that nation’s founding” as state media reported greater than 820,000 COVID circumstances.
• The Esquimalt-based HMCS Winnipeg has been hit with a COVID-19 outbreak.
• A Canadian soldier who criticized federal vaccine necessities in a TikTok video has been charged.
• B.C. well being officers reported the best variety of sufferers in hospital with COVID-19 in months.

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LATEST NEWS

SARS-CoV-2 could possibly be at root of mysterious hepatitis in youngsters

A sequence of occasions probably triggered by unrecognized an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus could possibly be inflicting the mysterious circumstances of extreme hepatitis reported in a whole bunch of younger youngsters world wide, researchers recommend.

Kids with COVID-19 are at considerably elevated danger for liver dysfunction afterward, in accordance with a report posted on Saturday on medRxiv forward of peer overview. However a lot of the youngsters with acute hepatitis – which is mostly uncommon in that age group – don’t report a earlier SARS-CoV-2 an infection.

As an alternative, the bulk have been discovered to be contaminated with an adenovirus known as 41F, which isn’t identified to assault the liver. It’s attainable that the affected youngsters, a lot of whom are too younger to be vaccinated, could have had delicate or asymptomatic COVID infections that went unnoticed, a separate crew of researchers recommend in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

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If that had been true, they theorize, then lingering particles of the coronavirus within the gastrointestinal tract in these youngsters could possibly be priming the immune system to over-react to adenovirus-41F with excessive quantities of inflammatory proteins that finally injury the liver.

“We advise that youngsters with acute hepatitis be investigated for SARS-CoV-2 persistence in stool” and for different indicators that the liver injury is going on as a result of the spike protein of the coronavirus is a “superantigen” that over-sensitizes the immune system, they mentioned.

— Reuters

Statistics Canada launches survey to evaluate affect of COVID-19 on Canadians

Statistics Canada will probably be asking almost 4,000 B.C. residents to take part in a nationwide survey that might assist assess the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians.

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About 33,000 survey kits have been mailed out to Canadians final week, together with 3,919 kits to B.C. addresses, as a part of the second wave of the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Well being Survey.

Contributors will probably be requested to fill out an digital questionnaire, and submit a finger-prick antibody check and PCR saliva check.

The outcomes will assist estimate the variety of Canadians who’ve or had a COVID-19 an infection amid decreased PCR testing charges. It would additionally assist decide what number of Canadians have antibodies from an infection or from vaccines and monitor attainable long-term results of COVID and the prevalence of persistent situations and signs.

Participation for the survey’s first wave was highest in B.C. at 20 per cent.

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In complete, 100,000 Canadians will probably be randomly chosen to obtain kits to take part within the survey.

— Cheryl Chan

New COVID examine sheds gentle on hospital readmission danger after preliminary keep

A brand new examine involving Alberta researchers is including one other piece of the puzzle on how COVID-19 sufferers fare after being hospitalized.

College of Alberta basic inside medication professor Dr. Finlay McAlister is the lead writer of a examine, revealed within the Canadian Medical Affiliation Journal, that examined the information of grownup sufferers hospitalized for COVID in Ontario and Alberta from the beginning of 2020 to September 2021. Of greater than 800,000 individuals who examined constructive on a PCR check in each provinces, 5.5 per cent wanted hospital care.

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Of the individuals who had been admitted to hospital with COVID, 18 per cent died there. However for individuals who had been discharged after recovering, one in 9 had been readmitted or died inside 30 days. Sufferers who died had been typically older, had a number of well being situations and had been extra more likely to be male.

McAlister, who has cared for a lot of COVID sufferers on the overall medication wards through the pandemic, mentioned the information helps fill gaps about what occurs to folks after they survive the illness.

“There’s been a variety of consideration, clearly, paid to admissions for COVID … and never a variety of consideration paid to the post-discharge interval.”

Learn the total story right here.

— Edmonton Journal

U.S. FDA to quickly authorize Pfizer’s COVID booster shot for youthful youngsters: Report

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U.S. well being regulators are anticipated to authorize a booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11 as quickly as Tuesday, the New York Occasions reported on Monday, citing folks conversant in the matter.

The businesses submitted an software to the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration for the authorization final month.

They’ve cited information from a mid- to late-stage examine exhibiting a 3rd dose of their shot elevated safety towards the unique coronavirus model and the Omicron variant amongst youngsters within the age group.

It’s unclear how a lot demand there may be for the third dose within the age group. Simply 28.8% of kids aged 5 to 11 are totally vaccinated, in accordance with information from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

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— Reuters

Face-down place unhelpful for awake sufferers

For hospitalized COVID-19 sufferers who’re respiratory on their very own however with supplemental oxygen, mendacity face down may not assist forestall them from finally needing mechanical air flow, in accordance with a brand new examine.

Within the examine, 400 sufferers had been randomly assigned to typical care or to straightforward care plus intermittently mendacity on their abdomen, a place identified to enhance the course of sickness in sedated sufferers on mechanical ventilators. Over the following 30 days, 34.1 per cent within the prone-positioning group and 40.5 per cent within the usual-care group wanted to be intubated and placed on a ventilator, a distinction that was not statistically vital.

There may need been a discount within the danger for intubation with susceptible positioning amongst among the sufferers, researchers mentioned on Monday in JAMA, however they might not affirm it statistically from their information. The common length of susceptible positioning per day was roughly 5 hours, lower than the goal of eight to 10 hours per day.

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“Lengthy hours of awake susceptible positioning are difficult and extremely influenced by affected person consolation and choice,” the researchers mentioned. “The most typical motive for interruption of susceptible positioning was affected person request, which could have been associated to general subjective enchancment or associated to discomfort from susceptible positioning.”

— Reuters

U.S. FDA declines to authorize widespread antidepressant as COVID therapy

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has determined to not authorize the antidepressant fluvoxamine to deal with COVID-19, saying that the information has not proven the drug to be an efficient therapeutic for preventing the virus.

“Based mostly on the overview of obtainable scientific proof, the FDA has decided that the information are inadequate to conclude that fluvoxamine could also be efficient within the therapy of nonhospitalized sufferers with COVID-19 to stop development to extreme illness and/or hospitalization,” the company mentioned in a doc revealed on Monday.

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College of Minnesota professor Dr. David Boulware submitted the emergency use authorization request to the FDA that might have allowed docs to prescribe fluvoxamine maleate to deal with COVID-19 in non-hospitalized sufferers.

The generic drug belongs to an previous, widely-used class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

— Reuters

Shanghai targets June COVID lockdown exit as China economic system slumps

Shanghai set out plans on Monday for the top of a painful COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted greater than six weeks, closely bruising China’s economic system, and for the return of extra regular life from June 1.

Within the clearest timetable but, Deputy Mayor Zong Ming mentioned Shanghai would reopen in phases, with motion curbs largely to stay in place till Might 21 to stop a rebound in infections, earlier than an easing.

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“From June 1 to mid- and late June, so long as dangers of a rebound in infections are managed, we are going to totally implement epidemic prevention and management, normalize administration, and totally restore regular manufacturing and life within the metropolis,” she mentioned.

However the announcement was met with skepticism by some Shanghai residents, who’ve repeatedly been dissatisfied by shifting schedules for the lifting of restrictions.

The complete lockdown of Shanghai and COVID curbs on a whole bunch of tens of millions of customers and employees in dozens of China’s cities have inflicted financial ache throughout a variety of sectors, including to fears the economic system might shrink within the second quarter.

Learn the total story right here.

— Reuters

South Korea says it can spare no effort to assist North Korea amid COVID outbreak

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South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned on Monday the nation will spare no effort to assist North Korea, because the remoted nation battles a COVID-19 outbreak, and reiterated he’ll stay open for humanitarian assist.

“If North Korea responds (to our assist), we are going to spare no medicines together with COVID-19 vaccines, medical gear and well being personnel,” mentioned Yoon in a speech on the plenary session of the Nationwide Meeting.

Individually within the speech, Yoon additionally mentioned he’ll focus on with U.S. President Joe Biden methods to strengthen cooperation on the worldwide provide chain by way of the Indo-Pacific Financial Framework. Biden is scheduled to go to the nation this week.

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un known as the rising outbreak of a fever “the massive upheaval for the reason that nation’s founding” as state media reported extra new circumstances Saturday.

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Learn the total story right here.

— Reuters

820,000 COVID circumstances reported in North Korea, Kim warns of ‘upheaval’ after explosive outbreak

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un known as the rising outbreak of a fever “the massive upheaval for the reason that nation’s founding” as state media reported extra new circumstances Saturday.

There have been about 296,000 circumstances of fever with 15 deaths, the Korean Central Information Company mentioned, including to the greater than 170,000 circumstances reported the day prior to this. The overall loss of life toll stands at 42.

Kim has ordered a lockdown of main cities for the reason that nation mentioned earlier this week it discovered a COVID case inside its borders. With some 820,000 circumstances reported since, Kim is in search of to beef up quarantine efforts because the outbreak has the potential to devastate a inhabitants that depends on an antiquated well being care system and stays largely malnourished, with possible no vaccines.

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Learn the total story right here.

— Bloomberg

B.C. couple problem $11,400 in COVID-test fines

A Qualicum Seashore couple who had been every fined $5,700 for violating cross-border COVID-19 testing guidelines hope the choose they’re as a result of earlier than on Thursday will sympathize with their predicament.

Charles and Susan Lee are scheduled for a digital court docket look to enter a plea. They haven’t but determined tips on how to deal with the matter and haven’t retained a lawyer.

Learn their story right here.

— Occasions Colonist

Airways press U.S. to raise pre-departure COVID testing necessities

U.S. airways are urgent the Biden administration to raise a 16-month-old rule requiring almost all worldwide air passengers with some exceptions to check detrimental for COVID-19 earlier than getting into the nation.

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Airline executives say many People will not be travelling internationally due to considerations they may check constructive abroad after which be stranded overseas. Worldwide U.S. air journey stays down about 15% from pre-pandemic ranges.

Airways for America, an trade group, mentioned Friday a survey of its carriers estimated that dropping testing guidelines would usher in an extra 4.3 million worldwide passengers and $1.7 billion in incremental income – and will end in an incremental 1.075 million overseas guests and $2.1 billion in customer spending.

Learn the total story right here.

— Reuters

Canadian warship based mostly in B.C. hit with COVID-19 outbreak

A Canadian warship has been hit with an outbreak of COVID-19 whereas getting ready for an abroad deployment within the Pacific.

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HMCS Winnipeg is again house in Esquimalt after seven sailors examined constructive, solely weeks earlier than the ship is because of take part in a significant coaching train and two abroad missions.

These embody helping with the enforcement of United Nations sanctions towards North Korea, which the Canadian Armed Forces has been doing since 2018.

Navy Lt. Pamela Hogan says the Winnipeg will stay docked in Esquimalt till mid-June, throughout which period sailors exhibiting signs will probably be required to self-isolate and never report back to responsibility.

Learn the total story right here.

— The Canadian Press

Canadian soldier charged for talking out towards vaccine necessities whereas in uniform

A Canadian soldier who publicly spoke out towards federal vaccine necessities whereas in uniform has been charged whereas one other Armed Forces member has been fined after posting a video supporting the Freedom Convoy.

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The Defence Division confirmed the fees towards Warrant Officer James Topp and discovering of guilt towards Aviator Riley MacPherson on Wednesday, including six different service members stay below investigation for criticizing authorities coverage.

A 22-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan, Topp faces two counts of conduct to the unfairness of excellent order and self-discipline for feedback that he made whereas carrying his uniform in February.

A replica of the cost sheet offered by his lawyer, Phillip Millar, says one of many expenses relates particularly to a video posted to TikTok by which the military reservist criticized vaccine necessities for army personnel and different federal workers.

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Learn full story right here.

— The Canadian Press

Sufferers in hospital with COVID-19 hits highest stage since February

The variety of British Columbians in hospital with COVID-19 has climbed to its highest stage since February.

In response to the most recent COVID-19 figures launched Thursday, 596 individuals who examined constructive for the virus are presently in hospital, together with 54 in essential care.

Hospitalization figures have been climbing steadily since a low of 255 in mid-March. The final time that quantity was this excessive was on Feb. 24, when 612 COVID-positive sufferers had been in hospital.

Learn the total story right here.

— Cheryl Chan

What are B.C.’s present public well being measures?

MASKS: Masks will not be required in public indoor settings although particular person companies and occasion organizers can select to require them.

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Masks are additionally inspired however not required on board public transit and B.C. Ferries, although they’re nonetheless required in federally regulated journey areas comparable to trains, airports and airplanes, and in well being care settings.

GATHERINGS AND EVENTS: There are presently no restrictions on gatherings and occasions comparable to private gatherings, weddings, funerals, worship companies, train and health actions, and swimming swimming pools.

There are additionally no restrictions or capability limits on eating places, pubs, bars and nightclubs; and no restrictions on sport actions.

CARE HOMES: There are not any capability restrictions on guests to long-term care and seniors’ assisted dwelling services, nevertheless, guests should present proof of vaccination earlier than visiting. Exemptions can be found for kids below the age of 12, these with a medical exemption, and guests attending for compassionate visits associated to finish of life.

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Guests to seniors’ houses are additionally required to take a speedy antigen check earlier than visiting the ability or be examined on arrival. Exemptions to testing can be found for these attending for compassionate visits or end-of-life care.

The place can I get a COVID-19 check?

TESTING CENTRES: B.C.’s COVID-19 check assortment centres are presently solely testing these with signs who’re hospitalized, pregnant, thought-about excessive danger or reside/work with those that are excessive danger. You’ll find a testing centre utilizing the B.C. Centre for Illness Management’s testing centre map.

When you’ve got delicate signs, you do not want a check and may keep house till your fever is gone. These with out signs don’t want a check.

TAKE-HOME RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS: Eligible British Columbians over the age of 18 with a private well being quantity can go to a pharmacy to obtain a free take-home check equipment containing 5 COVID-19 speedy antigen assessments.

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