Bottom line: The response of cryptocurrency markets to the COVID-19 has shown greater instability and irregularity than international stock markets. Thus, investment in digital markets presents a greater risk during the current global pandemic. Reference: Lahmiri S. & Bekiros S. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic upon stability and sequential irregularity of equity and cryptocurrency markets. [...]
Category: Global Impact
CPR in the COVID-19 Era — An Ethical Framework
Bottom Line: With an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the typical assumptions regarding the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are challenged. This article summarizes the underlying issues and proposes an ethical framework with recommendations for crisis standards of patient care. Reference: Kramer D.B., Lo B. & Dickert N.W. CPR in the Covid-19 Era—An Ethical Framework. [...]
Risk stratification strategies for shielding
Bottom Line: Risk stratification strategies to selectively distribute shielding provide a potential approach to easing social restrictions while attenuating the spread of COVID-19 Reference: Smith, G.D. & Spiegelhalter, D. Shielding from covid-19 should be stratified by risk. BMJ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2063 Date Published: 28 May 2020 Synopsis: Risk stratification for mortality due to COVID-19 to identify [...]
Impact of climate and public health interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic
Bottom Line: Epidemic growth is associated with humidity and the degree of public health measures including social distancing, school closures, and restrictions on mass gatherings. Reference: Jüni, P. et al. Impact of climate and public health interventions on the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study. CMAJ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.200920 Date Published: 25 May 2020 Synopsis: The decline [...]
CPR in the Covid-19 Era — An Ethical Framework
Bottom Line: With an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the typical assumptions regarding the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are challenged. This article summarizes the underlying issues and proposes an ethical framework with recommendations for crisis standards of patient care. Reference: Kramer, D.B., Lo, B. & Dickert, N.W. CPR in the Covid-19 Era—An Ethical Framework. New [...]
COVID-19 and vaccination program planning
Bottom Line: The groundwork for public acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine must be proactively started before a vaccine becomes available to maximize vaccination rates and ensure herd immunity. Reference: DeRoo, S.S., Pudalov, N.J. & Fu, L.Y. Planning for a COVID-19 Vaccination Program. JAMA (2020). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.8711 Date Published: 18 May 2020 Synopsis: A long-term solution to [...]
The UK’s public health response to COVID-19
Bottom Line: The UK was slower to react to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to other first world nations, resulting in 505.8 deaths per million population, higher than both the global and American averages. Reference: Scally, G., Jacobson, B. & Abbasi, K. The UK’s public health response to covid-19. BMJ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1932 Date Published: 15 May [...]
Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response
Bottom Line: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global health crisis that requires large-scale behavioural changes and places psychological burden on individuals. Insights from social and behavioral sciences can help in understanding and aligning public health responses in order to manage several aspects of this pandemic such as navigating threats and fear during a pandemic, social [...]
COVID-19 and Job Losses Will Test the US Health Insurance Safety Net
Bottom Line: The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansions are a safety net providing Americans with health insurance following the widespread loss of employment-based health insurance during the current economic crisis. Reference: Levitt L. COVID-19 and Massive Job Losses Will Test the US Health Insurance Safety Net. JAMA Health Forum. American Medical Association (2020). https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2766729 [...]
The Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines
Bottom Line: Future relief from COVID-19 should be provided in a equitable manner through the collaboration of world powers. Reference: Bollyky, T.J., Gostin, L.O. & Hamburg, M.A. The Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines. JAMA (2020). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.6641 Date: 7 May 2020 Synopsis: Currently, there are several vaccine candidates for COVID-19 in trials and [...]