PCR tests: what procedures are used to identify “Covid cases”
PCR tests have been a fundamental part of the strategy that most countries have followed in fighting the pandemic, namely in identifying cases and deaths associated with the infection. In
Lack of transparency, alarmism, excessive spending, vested interests. The mistakes pointed out to the management of the 2009 pandemic
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has given negative points for most of the European interventions made during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, and alerted to serious
UK: Public Accounts Committee questions Test and Trace programme and the effectiveness of mass testing
The UK has invested £37 billion in a testing and tracing system – NHS Test and Trace (NHST&T) – on the promise (made by the Department of Health and Social
Pandemic in Portugal: 28,000 health professionals infected. 19 have died.
Around 28,000 Portuguese health professionals have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus since the beginning of the pandemic. 19 have died, representing a case fatality rate of 0.067%. According to
What is the role of asymptomatic transmission? History and evidence
One of the questions that arose in this pandemic was the possibility that individuals without symptoms could be major transmitters of the disease. This hypothesis is now perceived as a
New revision: ECDC does not recommend respirators and double masks
The ECDC says that “the use of respirators in place of other types of face masks in the community is not considered currently justifiable“, taking into account “the potential costs
Cochrane review: effectiveness of masks and hand washing
Cochrane, a recognised organisation that conducts systematic reviews of high-quality studies, provided the update on ‘Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses’. In this systematic review
Correlation: Confinements and mortality
In response to this pandemic, many countries have opted for extreme measures. General lockdown was introduced on the grounds that it was a way of decreasing transmission and hence mortality
Swedish Public Health Agency recommends gradual re-opening of secondary schools
The Swedish Public Health Agency recommends the gradual reopening of secondary schools (16-18 years old), and the resumption of organised sports and leisure activities in the country as of next
Norway revises Covid vaccination guide after death of elderly due to adverse reactions, but refuses alarmism
Norway’s National Institute of Public Health has revised and changed the vaccination guide for the new coronavirus following 23 reported deaths of elderly people associated with adverse reactions to the
WHO says asymptomatics should repeat test if positive
The new WHO guidelines for PCR tests recommend that they be used as an aid to diagnosis. “Most PCR assays are indicated as an aid for diagnosis, therefore, health care
EMA and FDA: Covid Vaccine is cleared but not approved. What is the difference?
The FDA has authorised the distribution of the vaccines created by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech in the United States, but has not approved them. “There is no U.S. Food and