All tagged covid-19

California: Covid-19 affects Latinos most, in both cases and deaths

California: Covid-19 affects Latinos most, in both cases and deaths

Tatiana Prophet
Covid-19

By TATIANA PROPHET

In California, Latinos are the only group that has experienced both more Covid deaths and more Covid-19 positive cases than their percentage of the population.

Like Hispanics, blacks in California show more deaths relative to their population (9 percent of total Covid deaths), but a lower number of positive cases (4 percent of the total). With Hispanics making up 39 percent of the state’s population, and 45 percent of Covid deaths, the numbers are significant. Blacks are 6 percent of California’s population but show 4 percent of all Covid cases and 9 percent of all deaths. Asian, whites and blacks all tested positive in a proportion that is less than their percentage of the general population (see charts).

California's death and infection rate low despite huge spike in testing

California's death and infection rate low despite huge spike in testing

Tatiana Prophet
Privacy, Covid-19

California has tested 5 million specimens for Covid-19. During the entire month of June, the state went from above 50,000 tests per day to well over 100,000 tests per day. Yet infection rates and death rates remain flat.

Tests in California more than doubled between June 1 and July 7, from about 2 million to 5 million. And cases roughly tripled. But the death rate remains between 1% and 2%, while the infection rate is relatively flat between 5% and 11%.

Animated graph: Yes, Covid-19 deaths are still going down in the United States

Animated graph: Yes, Covid-19 deaths are still going down in the United States

Tatiana Prophet
Health

UPDATE: As of July 4, daily Covid-19 deaths in the United States fell to above the average daily deaths from influenza/pneumonia and below those for diabetes.

Daily Covid-19 deaths for the United States peaked at 2,683 per day on April 21, 2020. View this chart to see the progression of daily deaths compared with the top 15 causes of death, and those average daily deaths from the year 2017.

The graphs that show a huge uptick in cases should be labeled “known cases,” as they represent those that were tested. Tests have been rising int he United States for the last few weeks, resulting in a precipitous rise in cases, many in the 18-49 range. But the death rate for this age group is quite low. Most of the Covid-19 deaths, while tragic, remain above age 80, and involve pre-existing conditions. The anomalies — no preexisting conditions or young people, remain in the hundreds for the entire nation. This is compared with the 120,000-plus deaths now recorded.

Yale epidemiologist says evidence shows HCQ safe for Covid 'standard of care'

Yale epidemiologist says evidence shows HCQ safe for Covid 'standard of care'

Tatiana Prophet
Health

By TATIANA PROPHET

A professor of epidemiology at the Yale University School of Medicine has reviewed all 16 studies of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, and not only does he state that it will save thousands of lives threatened by Covid-19, but recommends it be used — with screening — as soon as possible to treat the disease.

In a passionate, at times pithy manuscript, Dr. Harvey A. Risch showed how the studies showing no benefit of hydroxychloroquine were looking at the wrong stage of the disease and evaluating an unnecessarily high dosage. He called one study “a fishing expedition” and another “deeply flawed.”

Dr. Risch, a cancer researcher as well as epidemiologist, concluded that “all available evidence” points to the general safety of the drug in combination with an antibiotic and “preferably zinc,” thus recommending it to become the standard of care.

When all other physicians have been silenced, including Dr. Oz, either being censored or walking back their enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine, why is Dr. Risch one of the few voices still offering a full-throated recommendation of this drug, touted in March by President Trump as a game changer? Evidence. The studies that have been highly publicized, including the VA Hospital study and the Lancet, involved hospitalized patients, he said.

Covid-19: Randomized trials well under way for hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir

Covid-19: Randomized trials well under way for hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir

Tatiana Prophet
Health

NYU Langone began trial April 1
South Dakota announced study April 13
Both will involve 2,000 patients
With a controlled placebo

Photo: The Sanford USD Medical Center, a sprawling complex in Sioux Falls.

By Tatiana Prophet

SIOUX FALLS — Gov. Kristy Noem announced Monday that the state was “going on the offense” and would be partnering with Sanford Health in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Doctors have been using the drug across the country on a compassionate basis while the FDA weighs approval.