In store for Covid survivors: Re-infection and brain damage?

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⇒ Issue #74 [In numerology, the number 74 is an intuitive-relationship number. It is introspective, spiritual, a good companion, and pragmatic.]

⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 07/14: 110,046*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 07/14: 8,836*
⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 07/14: 13,113,181*
⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 07/14: 573,288*

July 13, 2020—Hi-dilly-ho, ¡quarantinerinos! Cory Perla here, reporting from Buffalo, N.Y. Hope you're having a productive Tuesday so far.

The president of the United States of America wore a mask this week and let me tell you, a whole lot of people are impressed. Of course, it doesn’t take much to impress Americans these days. Maybe that's because there is a virus floating around that can cause brain damage. Neurologists in the United Kingdom studying the coronavirus have said the next epidemic could be one of brain-damage resulting from the current epidemic.

In an interview with Reuters news agency, Dr. Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist at Western University in London, Ont. said that he worries that some portion of the millions of people who have recovered from Covid-19 may never regain certain cognitive abilities. This could leave some unable to return to work or life in a normal way, he said.

Despite these recent findings, a representative of President Trump’s White House said in an interview with Fox News that 99 per cent of Covid-19 cases are harmless. It is possible that our definitions of "harmless" differ.

Now for some good news and some bad news. The good news first: there may be a way to use blood plasma from coronavirus survivors to inoculate others, according to an article in the L.A. Times. The bad news is the US government refuses to look into the idea, saying it is unproven. Dr. Anthony Fauci has called it a “very attractive concept,” and other researchers are questioning why this idea is not being pushed into clinical trials, according to the L.A. Times.

This idea comes as global coronavirus cases have hit 13 million, with cases beginning to increase dramatically in Central and South America, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, the DNA testing site, 23andMe.com is seeking volunteers for a study on the relationship between blood type and coronavirus infection.

COVID CHRONICLE 07/14/2020

• In a research letter published online by JAMA (July 8, 2020), investigators outline evidence that prison inmates are significantly more likely to contract Covid-19 than non-prisoners in the U.S. Researchers reported infection rates of as much as 65 per cent in some prisons. The study looked at 43,107 Covid-19 cases, including 510 deaths, among 1.2 million inmates.

• Quarantine guidelines may have saved almost 400,000 lives in the U.S., according to a new study published in Health Affairs (July 9, 2020). Researchers said that after three weeks, stay-at-home orders began to reduce the mortality rate. After 42 days, the mortality rate was found in some cases to decrease by more than 6 per cent. Investigators concluded that daily growth rates of Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations were decreased due to stay-at-home orders in the 19 states with orders that were examined.

• Death due to coronary syndrome exacerbated by the stress of losing loved ones to Covid-19 has been on the rise, according to a new study. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that stress cardiomyopathy may have increased from an incidence rate of 1.5 per cent to a rate of 7.8 per cent since the pandemic began.

• Patients can repeatedly contract coronavirus, according to a new study. Researchers in the United Kingdom found evidence that antibody response decreased relatively quickly after infection. According to the authors of the study, this may raise questions about how effective a future vaccine may be.

STORIES CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

A video report on a study that found evidence strengthening the link between "Covid Toes" and coronavirus infection.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE LISTENING TO. . .

Taken Away, the latest album from Detroit-deep house-legend, Moodymann. The soulful album combines deep house, R&B, funk, and gospel to create a groovy, summer backyard BBQ-ready, yet a contemplative set of tracks propelled by squawking synthesizers, sensuous vocals, and motorized beats.

LATER WE ARE WATCHING. . .

I'm pretty late to the game on this one, but I'm addicted to Designated Survivor on Netflix. I love the high concept that keeps you wondering just how Kiefer Sutherland will handle each hurdle that comes his way after suddenly and unexpectedly becoming president of the United States.

DROP US A LINE

Use the comments section at the Daily CurveFlattener to let us know what you're up to today. Or feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector. By all means, pass this newsletter along to your colleagues. That's it for now. Stay in touch, stay safe and make this a tolerable Tuesday. My colleague Dhiren Mahiban will fill you in on the latest coronavirus news tomorrow.