The man who caused a bomb explosion in Nashville, Tennessee on 25 December 2020, died in the blast, not from COVID-19. Social media posts claiming that he died from COVID-19 took a fabricated CNN broadcast from a satirical news website out of context.
Asymptomatic and presymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were estimated to account for at least 50% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. People who appear to be healthy can still transmit the disease, justifying the need for people to wear masks and practice physical distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. A study that screened 10 million people in Wuhan, China assessed whether the stringent lockdown was effective at reducing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population. However, the study was not designed to measure the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by asymptomatic carriers.
Several scientific research groups independently identified and isolated SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, as demonstrated in numerous published studies. Studies also show that the virus fulfils Koch’s postulates, indicating that it is indeed the cause of COVID-19.
Rapid antigen tests are highly accurate in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in human samples from the throat and nose. However, like any other test, they should be carried out correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Misuse of antigen tests either by testing inappropriate samples such as fruits and soft-drinks or using wrong conditions of sterility and pH would render the results unreliable and useless.
The number of deaths recorded in the U.S. so far has exceeded that of previous years by more than 300,000 (excess death). Many parts of the U.S. are also now seeing a shortage in intensive care unit bed capacity. This is likely to translate to a suboptimal level of healthcare resources, which will adversely affect the quality of care for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
The American Medical Association did not change its stance from opposing to supporting the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. The association supports the ability of health practitioners to prescribe drugs based on their professional judgement, but insists that practitioners rely on evidence-based medicine. So far, there is no scientific support for the claim that hydroxychloroquine can prevent COVID-19 deaths.
Fainting, also known as syncope, can occur after vaccination. It is usually harmless in itself, although it can lead to injuries if the affected person falls, which can happen if they are not sitting or lying down at the moment of fainting. Episodes of vasovagal syncope are often triggered by pain and/or anxiety, which can lead to changes in heart rate and blood flow, resulting in a temporary loss of consciousness. The sight of blood or a needle can also trigger vasovagal syncope. Fainting following vaccination is not necessarily indicative of problems with the vaccine itself.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration summoned a panel of scientific experts on 17 December 2020 to assess the efficacy and safety of the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19. After reviewing the clinical data, the FDA committee voted in favor of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and recommended it for emergency use authorization, stating that its benefits far outweigh its potential risks. The data indicate a 95% reduction in symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in individuals who received the vaccine compared to those that did not. The clinical data also showed few serious adverse events in vaccinated individuals. The FDA should officially approve its distribution to the population in the next few days.
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to the general population, in particular healthcare workers, having received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 11 December 2020. Since then, many posts and articles on social media have claimed alleged safety issues. … Continued
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by health agencies in the U.K. and the U.S. The clinical trials proved that the vaccine is safe and efficient at preventing COVID-19 infection. The main ingredient is a messenger RNA that encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is used to trigger an immune response. The other ingredients, including the lipids that allow the mRNA to enter human cells, are common in drug formulation.
