Year: 2020
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How accurate are COVID-19 tests?
The following research conducted by Andrew Cohen and Bruce Kessel is a meta-analysis of the quality of assessments returned by RT-PCR tests. Their results show us RT-PCR tests have higher false positive rates than false negative rates. This means that there is a higher chance for individuals to receive a positive result even when they…
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Evidence clear: True political leaders should lift lockdown
In this article published by The Hill, Dr. Scott Atlas says that we know enough about the new coronavirus to make the right decisions. He explains that by looking at the evidence, government leaders will be able to create effective public policy which will help alleviate the anxiety created by the reopening of society. Dr. Atlas says…
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Lessons We Can Learn from COVID-19 Autopsies
In this article for Scientific American, W. Wayt Gibbs and Steve Miraky interviewed Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Desiree Marshall about the autopsies they have conducted on COVID-19 positive cases. In the interview with Dr. Mukhopadhyay, we learn how COVID-19 can lead to death. We also discover how doctors can distinguish between deaths WITH COVID-19 and deaths…
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How does inaccurate COVID-19 test results impact us?
The following article written by Christian Yates for The Conversation offers to us a guide for understanding the accuracy of test results. The explain what false positives and false negatives are, and how small changes in the rates can affect entire populations. Yates also tells us that in an area where disease prevalence is low, false positives…
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Can the Philippines’ health care system cope up with a COVID-19 surge?
This April 20, 2020 report published by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, offers an assessment of the extent of risk that we will face when lockdowns across provinces in the Philippines are lifted. It states that a majority (81%) of Filipinos infected with the new coronavirus experience little to no complications of COVID-19, while…
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Crucial COVID-19 data tallied two months late
In this article for ANC, infectious diseases and clinical pharmacology expert Dr. Benjamin Co breaks down the COVID-19 data being reported by the Department of Health to the public. According to Dr. Co, the case fatality in the Philippines is now at 6.74 (compared to 6.73 world average and 2.44 ASEAN average). Dr. Co says that…
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Philippine government recalls lifting of community quarantines
A day after announcing the lifting of community quarantines in several areas in Luzon, the government has recalled its decision today, May 13, 2020. According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has decided to retain community quarantines (CQ) in the country, but will subject provinces to…
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Errors in Philippines’ COVID-19 data spotted by experts
In this article for The Philippine Star, Ratziel San Juan details the various errors and discrepancies in the Department of Health (DOH) data on COVID-19 patients. According to San Juan, the reporting format and protocols has changed several times since March, which has then led to inconsistencies in the data. The errors were discovered by the…
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A look inside Danish classrooms
Being one of the first countries to re-open its schools, Denmark has become a model for many European countries that are still hesitating to lift lockdowns. Barely a month in, people are the world are asking, how are children in Denmark faring? This 3-minute video from BBC shows us that school may have resumed in Denmark, but…
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Sweden’s COVID-19 strategy will soon be the world’s
In this article for Foreign Affairs, authors Nils Karlson, Charlotta Stern, and Daniel Klein discuss the benefits of the Swedish COVID-19 strategy and why more countries will soon emulate it. The authors also discuss the many reasons why countries must begin to ease lockdowns as soon as they can. Editor’s Note: The success of the Swedish strategy…
