The hottest COVID-19 Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

UK MEDIA REGULATOR OFCOM GOES AFTER MARK STEYN, AND ME, FOR TELLING THE TRUTH

Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf • 6 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics COVID-19
  1. UK media regulator Ofcom censured Mark Steyn for sharing information from Pfizer documents about harm to women and babies.
  2. Ofcom found GB News in breach of broadcasting rules for not adequately challenging harmful claims made on air.
  3. Ofcom received over 26,000 complaints about COVID-related content and has opened several investigations into breaches.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 161 - Drs. Angus Dalgleish and William Makis - DNA Contamination and the Cancer Connection

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 23 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics COVID-19
  1. There will be a live discussion about a possible link between DNA contamination in the Pfizer vaccine and rising cancer rates, especially in younger people.
  2. Dr. Angus Dalgleish and Dr. William Makis will share their insights, including concerns about vaccine safety and new cancer treatments they are using.
  3. The event encourages people to mark their calendars and share the information widely, as it seeks to raise awareness on important health issues.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 160 - COVID's Horrific Aftermath with Dr. Philip McMillan

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 16 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics COVID-19
  1. Dr. Philip McMillan is discussing long-term health effects of COVID-19, saying many people still feel sick even after recovering. It's important to understand these ongoing issues.
  2. He emphasizes the need for more research into post-COVID conditions and suggests early detection and treatment can help. This could improve public health responses.
  3. McMillan also calls for global cooperation to better manage the lasting impacts of COVID-19. This teamwork is vital to address health challenges that remain.
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What’s one of the most underused but effective tools we have against COVID-19?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Paxlovid is an underused but effective tool against COVID-19, especially for high-risk individuals over 50.
  2. Taking Paxlovid within the first 5 days of symptoms can prevent severe disease, death, and Long Covid.
  3. Paxlovid has shown to reduce the risk of post-acute symptoms and can be beneficial for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

More Between the Lines

American Samizdat • 0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
📰 News COVID-19
  1. The text discusses the lockdowns being sold to the public as a short-term solution.
  2. There is mention of an assertion regarding the impact of lockdowns on democracy.
  3. The post features the idea of the lockdowns being extended far beyond the initially communicated duration.

Roundup, week 5 2024

The GIZN Journal of Medicine • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy does not pose risks to newborns and may offer protection against severe complications.
  2. Paxlovid has shown effectiveness in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 cases during the Omicron epidemic.
  3. After chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, a study found a 27% incidence of CMV reactivation, but no patients developed CMV end-organ disease.

A Spring Without Mulch

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 21
🎨 Art & Illustration COVID-19
  1. Art should strive to convey a meaningful message or provoke thought about important issues, rather than simply aiming to create pretty pictures for self-indulgence.
  2. During difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic, finding inspiration from historical figures who faced adversity with positivity and humility can be powerful.
  3. Humility and a connection to nature can be essential in facing the challenges of the world, and in finding joy amidst hardships.

How to Own the Libs on the Covid Conspiracy Argument

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics COVID-19
  1. Show Bill Gates' video to challenge belief in Covid response - it reveals his acknowledgment of Covid's low threat to most people.
  2. Question why governments didn't act on public knowledge about Covid's low fatality rate early on - it exposes potential manipulation.
  3. Highlight global leaders' decisions contrasting with known data - it points to a deliberate, authoritarian agenda during the pandemic.

Open-Sourcing Equal’s Framework For COVID-19 Scenario Planning

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 20
💼 Business COVID-19
  1. Founders need plans for various potential scenarios caused by the pandemic, leading to the creation of a standardized framework for strategic planning.
  2. The framework is divided into 3 key sections: current impacts analysis, short-term scenario planning, and long-term implications discussion.
  3. Personalizing the framework template for different business categories is important to account for varying impacts and parameters.

COVID-19: Where are we now?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Immunity evolution is changing our approach to COVID-19 exposure and risk assessment. It's no longer a novel virus for most people, but individuals with weak immune systems still face risks.
  2. Vaccine effectiveness may be impacted by the evolution of the virus. Boosters are recommended for enhanced protection, especially for older individuals or those who are immunocompromised.
  3. Rapid tests may not serve as early warnings for infectiousness due to the virus's familiarity. Symptoms now provide key information, and rapid tests help determine the safety of interacting with others as symptoms lessen.

We need to adjust how we are using rapid tests

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 22
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are crucial despite delays in testing positive after symptoms - it's essential to use them more, not less, to catch infections early.
  2. Symptoms like cough and brain fog can precede positive RAT results, but do not indicate contagion - testing should happen a few days after symptoms start to confirm infection.
  3. Current guidelines recommend testing too early after symptoms; waiting 5 days to test after symptom onset is more accurate - understanding this can help prevent the spread of the virus.

BA.2: Your 2022 Variant De Jour

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. A new Omicron variant, BA.2, has emerged and appears to be 1.5 times as transmissible as the original BA.1 variant, leading to concerns about rapid spread.
  2. Studies suggest that BA.2 is not more lethal than Omicron and current vaccines are effective in preventing serious illness.
  3. There are concerns about potential reinfections with Omicron, as evidence shows higher reinfection rates and possible waning immunity within just 10 weeks.

What does a positive RAT result mean?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. A positive rapid antigen test result's accuracy depends on the prevalence of Covid-19. Lower prevalence leads to fewer false positives.
  2. During periods of low Covid-19 prevalence, the specificity of rapid tests is very high, above 99%. This means positive results are more likely to be accurate.
  3. Having a positive rapid test result during the Omicron wave means there is a less than 10% chance of it being a false positive. These tests are reliable.

Rationing rapid tests

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jan 22
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Rapid tests are important for managing the risk of infecting others, especially in situations where isolation decisions need to be made.
  2. Concentrating repeated tests in one person can be a strategy for rationing tests, especially in households where everyone is likely to be infected if one person tests positive.
  3. Consider who in your household comes into contact with vulnerable individuals or is the most likely to bring COVID into the house when deciding on whom to test.

Insanity and weirdness

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 31 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. The global pandemic has brought unexpected challenges and changes in management approach, shifting towards individual risk management, which raises concerns about lack of tools to help people self-manage effectively.
  2. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has unique characteristics that make it highly infectious but less severe, potentially leading to complacency and overlooking the risks of continued virus circulation and possible mutations.
  3. There is a risk of complacency and potential resurgence of the pandemic if steps are not taken to prepare for scenarios where the virus mutates to become more infectious and virulent, highlighting the importance of staying vigilant and prepared for the future.

The Rapid Test Epiphany

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Public health officials are now embracing the use of rapid tests for Covid-19, marking a significant shift in attitude after over 20 months of resistance.
  2. Rapid testing offers individuals the ability to know their Covid status and manage their risk when meeting in groups or with vulnerable individuals.
  3. Rapid testing, while helpful, may not be enough to fully prevent the spread of the Omicron variant and should be paired with other measures like social distancing and masking.

NSW vs Ontario: Another Month

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. NSW and Ontario were used as comparison cases for the Delta variant, with NSW passing 80% of its 16+ population fully vaccinated and starting to ease restrictions.
  2. In Ontario, despite concerns of an outbreak when kids returned to school, the outbreak was relatively stunted compared to NSW, showcasing the value of vaccination over lockdowns.
  3. Winter will be the true test of resilience for vaccinations in Ontario, as well as dealing with waning immunity that will hit Ontario sooner than NSW.

NSW vs Ontario: A month later

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. The comparison between New South Wales and Ontario shows a clear divergence in Delta experiences, highlighting the effectiveness of vaccines.
  2. Ontario faces challenges with schools reopening and colder weather ahead, which might test vaccine resistance.
  3. NSW seems to have shifted away from the Covid-Zero strategy, leading to interesting political and economic dynamics within Australia.

Supply of Rapid Tests

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Abbott destroyed millions of rapid test products due to a mistaken prediction of decreased demand, leading to supply shortages when demand surged again.
  2. Public health recommendations, like CDC's guidance on testing, heavily influence the demand for rapid tests.
  3. Vaccine mandates and the requirement for negative tests are increasing the demand for testing, highlighting the importance for governments to act promptly to ensure sufficient supply.

A Tale of Two Regions

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 15 Aug 21
🌍 World Politics COVID-19
  1. NSW and Ontario have similar Covid-19 infection rates, but experience different outcomes - NSW has higher infection rates and more hospitalizations despite being in lockdown.
  2. Vaccination rates play a crucial role in controlling Covid-19 - higher vaccination rates in Ontario contribute to its relative openness compared to NSW.
  3. Weather differences between regions may impact Covid-19 spread - with Ontario in summer and NSW in winter, it's suggested that infections may be weather-related.

It's worse (maybe)

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. The Delta variant of Covid-19 is concerning as it shows high viral load in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, longer infectious period, and a high R0 value.
  2. Superspreading events indoors may remain risky, leading to continued need to avoid crowded indoor spaces. Entry requirements might shift to requiring negative tests along with vaccinations.
  3. There is a greater importance placed on rapid antigen testing in various settings due to the spread of the virus by vaccinated individuals, emphasizing the need for more accessible and widespread testing.

Rapid screening in schools

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Regular rapid antigen testing in schools can help prevent disruptions and keep schools open by catching infectious cases
  2. Using daily testing in schools can lead to significantly fewer school days lost and staff absences due to Covid-19 compared to mandatory isolation measures
  3. Denmark recommends regular testing for school children as a measure to control the spread of Covid-19

Living with the virus

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Living with the virus requires leadership to navigate uncertainties and make decisions for the well-being of all.
  2. Regular screening and vaccination are crucial in managing risks associated with the virus, especially in shared spaces like gyms and universities.
  3. Adapting to living with Covid-19 involves shifting mindset from complete avoidance to understanding and managing risks, requiring a balance between precautions and returning to normalcy.

Variance

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Living with Covid as endemic means acknowledging variance in outbreaks and economic disruption.
  2. Continued outbreaks will disrupt plans and economic activity, leading to supply constraints and potential inflation in the near future.
  3. Investing in systems like rapid screening can help minimize disruptions, but adoption must happen before serious outbreaks occur.

B.1.617.2

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jun 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Vaccination rates in Canada are high and cases are decreasing, but the B.1.617.2 variant is a cause for concern due to its increased transmissibility.
  2. New variants of COVID-19 may have advantages over older variants based on environmental conditions and spread through superspreading events.
  3. The uncertainty surrounding the B.1.617.2 variant and its potential for causing outbreaks emphasizes the need for caution and monitoring before widespread reopening.

Michigan's Big Vaccine Game

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 30 Apr 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics COVID-19
  1. Michigan's re-opening plan tying restrictions to vaccine thresholds is a sensible approach that shifts vaccine hesitancy from individual to societal responsibility.
  2. Creating a team effort by rewarding everyone involved when individual milestones are met can be an effective motivator, as seen in the comparison to toilet training children.
  3. The Michigan plan of gradually lifting restrictions at specific vaccination thresholds with built-in measures to prevent gaming could serve as a successful template for other regions.

Taking variants seriously

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Variants of the virus have higher reproduction numbers and spread more effectively in certain environments, posing a significant threat.
  2. Considering variants as new viruses could prompt more focused and proactive measures like containment and targeted testing and vaccination.
  3. Efforts to combat new variants require heightened focus on genomic testing, international collaboration, and strategic allocation of resources to areas where variants are emerging.

Where are we now?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Covid-19 is likely becoming endemic, meaning it will continue circulating and need ongoing efforts to manage
  2. Vaccine hesitancy and new variants may lead to large outbreaks in the near future, posing challenges worldwide
  3. Variants of the virus are evolving to bypass current measures, indicating the need for serious attention and action

The coming vaccine wall in Ontario

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Increasing vaccine supply is crucial to maintain vaccination rates and prevent the pandemic from resurging when needed.
  2. Extending the length between vaccine doses beyond 16 weeks presents uncertainties, and experts are still unsure of the outcomes.
  3. Monitoring the effectiveness of first doses over time and preparing for potential booster shots post-second dose are crucial for informed decision-making before July.

Ontario, a turn at being the worst

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Ontario is currently facing a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by new variants, particularly the B.1.1.7 or UK variant.
  2. The outbreak is primarily originating in workplaces that remain open, such as manufacturing factories and distribution centers, leading to high rates of infection.
  3. A proposed solution to counter the surge in cases is to mandate the use of N95 or better masks in all currently open workplaces in Ontario with more than 20-30 employees.

Let's check in on Slovakia

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 21
🌍 World Politics COVID-19
  1. Slovakia conducted mass testing twice on its population in a short period and implemented continuous weekly testing to bring down COVID-19 cases. They made testing mandatory for certain activities and made isolation voluntary for family members with a positive case.
  2. Slovakia's approach relied heavily on regular testing and isolation of cases and household members, showing significant success in managing outbreaks and decreasing case numbers.
  3. The success of Slovakia's testing strategy was facilitated by its small size, efficient decision-making process, and strong community adherence to regulations. A small group of epidemiologists made decisions quickly, and the country swiftly mobilized resources for mass testing.

What to make of AstraZeneca?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. AstraZeneca has been linked to rare blood clot issues, particularly in younger individuals, presenting a challenge in vaccine distribution and risk assessment.
  2. The distribution of AstraZeneca vaccine is crucial due to its wide availability, but balancing the risk of blood clots against the benefits of vaccination is a complex task.
  3. Messaging around AstraZeneca vaccination plays a significant role in managing vaccine hesitancy and public perception, highlighting the need for a balanced approach and continual adjustment based on new information.

A rapid screening Regime is just as sensitive as PCR testing

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. A new study shows that rapid antigen tests can be just as effective as PCR tests at identifying infected individuals if used at least twice a week.
  2. PCR tests have higher sensitivity than rapid antigen tests, but with frequent testing, the differences become insignificant.
  3. Frequent rapid antigen screenings (twice a week) can be more effective and cost-efficient compared to weekly PCR tests.

Nu or COVID-21?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Nov 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. The concern is about a new strain, B.1.1.529, and its impact compared to existing variants of COVID-19 - the key question being whether it is new enough to cause significant issues.
  2. The worrying factor includes the high mutation rate in the spike protein of B.1.1.529, the uncertainty about its classification as a new variant or a new disease, and the potential origin from animal populations.
  3. The positive aspects involve B.1.1.529 being detectable by existing tests, limited data showing it spreading in a population with a low vaccination rate, and the opportunity for quicker monitoring of cases due to specific patterns in diagnostic tests.

Do masks work?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Despite recent reviews, high quality masks are effective in reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
  2. Different types of masks, usage, and settings affect their effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
  3. There is strong evidence that masks are able to block aerosol transmission and reduce the risk of transmission and infection of COVID-19.

How many minutes of exposure does it take to get COVID?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19
  1. Exposure longer than 15 minutes increases infection risk, but shorter exposure with other risk factors can still lead to COVID infection.
  2. Factors like what the infected person was doing, presence of symptoms, ventilation, and proximity affect risk of infection.
  3. Wearing a mask indoors, even for brief periods, is a good precaution due to various factors that influence COVID transmission.