U.S. election result pending, Covid case numbers daunting, but don't be afraid of mathematics

The NPC Healthbiz Weekly has launched. It's your weekly briefing on topics pertinent to healthcare marketers and executives published in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions. From Chronicle Companies, organizers of the 14th National Pharmaceutical Congress, which concludes this afternoon. More info at pharmacongress.info

⇒ Issue #131 (In numerology, 131 represents success, excellence, and clear communications.)

⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 11/04: 247,916*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 11/04: 10,334*
⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 11/04: 47,491,193*
⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 11/04: 1,215,173*

November 4, 2020—Good morning, CurveFlattners. It's Kylie Rebernik here reporting to you this morning from friendly Oakville, Ont., which is a short one-hour jaunt by car down the Queen Elizabeth Way to the U.S. border. As was the case four years ago, the U.S.A. this morning appears once again bifurcated, with half the nation voting yesterday for decency, prosperity, and the very survival of their children, while the other half seemingly based their voting decision on personal fondness for their crack-pipe. As this newsletter went to press, the voting outcome was unclear.

Meanwhile, in the part of the world that has not necessarily completely lost its mind, today is the last day of the 14th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress (NPC). This year's NPC has looked a little different, with panelists and delegates joining us virtually from their living room or home office, but the virtual format has not stopped the fantastic discussion and valuable knowledge that the NPC has come to be known for. And if you are reading this at 6 a.m., it is not too late to join us for the last session, which starts at 11:00 a.m. Visit www.pharmacongress.info.

The digital NPC is proof that the world is adapting to the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, and it looks like we will have to keep adapting. Yesterday, Ontario reported 1,050 new positive Covid-19 cases, the highest yet since the start of the pandemic. Health officials are also reporting that they have failed to meet their testing goal of 50,000 samples a day by mid-October and are still only able to process about 25,000 samples a day. On the other side of the country, Vancouver is reporting 1,120 new cases, according to Vancouver's Health Minister, Adrian Dix. Says he: "The Covid-19 tide is rising. You can see that in the numbers."

The numbers are indeed daunting, but it's good to remember the comment of Yafreisy Carrero, an architect who describes herself as a landscape mathematician. She says: “We should not be afraid of mathematics. If you already understand nature, you understand mathematics.”

The NPC Podcast is back for another season. The organizers of the National Pharmaceutical Congress are proud to release our new weekly podcast series, hosted by Peter Brenders. Peter's guest this week is Kevin Leshuk. Listen here now, or download the episode and play it at your convenience. The NPC Podcast is presented in cooperation with Impres Pharma

COVID CHRONICLE 11-04-20

• New research published in BMJ (Nov. 2, 2020) has shown that "robust cellular immunity" persists for at least 6 months in mild or asymptomatic cases of Covid-19. The study, which included 100 participants, highlighted that immunity response was 50 per cent higher in people who had mild or asymptomatic cases of Covid-19. 
• According to an editorial piece published in JAMA (Oct. 26, 2020), there is a need to further study and evaluate a safe return to play for athletes who have tested positive for Covid-19. Research from Germany showed that 60 per cent of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 had active and ongoing myocardial inflammation. In addition, a new study on 26 elite college athletes, who had tested positive for Covid-19 and were asymptomatic, showed 15 per cent of the participants had myocardial inflammation despite normal cardiac structure. 
• New research shows that there has been a decrease in hospitalizations among patients with chronic and acute conditions not related to Covid-19. According to the authors of the study, some factors that may contribute to a decrease in patient hospitalization include patient avoidance and fear caused by Covid-19. The research was published in JAMA (Oct. 26, 2020)

TODAY I AM LISTENING TO...

I have recently been obsessed with the CounterClock podcast. I know that I am a bit late to discover this series, but there is nothing like a cold case and true crime to make your days more productive. 

LATER I AM EATING...

Instant Pot Beef Stew. This will be my first time trying to make this but I am hopeful it will turn out yummy and provide me with lots of leftovers. 

TOMORROW AND TOMORROW

Tomorrow, podcast producer extraordinaire Jeremy Visser will continue your CurveFlattening coverage. Meanwhile, please make use of the comments section at the Daily CurveFlattener, to let us know what you're up to today. Feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector, and, by all means, pass this newsletter along to your colleagues.