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Coronavirus
COVID mortality age patterns changed significantly during pandemic
COVID mortality age patterns changed significantly during pandemic
Between March 2020 and October 2021, death rates from the virus decreased for those 80 and older and increased for those 25 to 54, results that held across racial and ethnic groups.
From a pandemic, scientific insights poised to impact more than just COVID-19
From a pandemic, scientific insights poised to impact more than just COVID-19
Pivoting to study SARS-CoV-2, many scientists on campus have launched new research projects that address the challenges of the pandemic but also prepare us to confront future challenges.
New COVID-19 roadmap: Four takeaways
New COVID-19 roadmap: Four takeaways
A report spearheaded by PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel, with input from other Penn experts, lays out a dozen priorities for the federal government to tackle in the next 12 months. The aim: to help guide the U.S. to the pandemic’s “next normal.”
The pandemic’s psychological scars
The pandemic’s psychological scars
It’s been a long and uncertain road, with some groups shouldering a disproportionately greater burden of mental anguish from COVID-19. Yet now there’s a glimmer of hope. Has the page finally turned?
COVID in a cat
COVID in a cat
A new report led by Elizabeth Lennon of the School of Veterinary Medicine and colleagues has confirmed what is believed to be the first published account of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a house cat.
SARS-CoV-2 is moving between humans and wildlife around the U.S.
SARS-CoV-2 is moving between humans and wildlife around the U.S.
In humans the pandemic is showing signs of ebbing. In white-tailed deer and other wildlife, however, infections appear widespread.
COVID-19 vaccines for young children
COVID-19 vaccines for young children
As the pandemic enters its third year, kids under five can’t get vaccinated. Researchers explain what’s been unfolding with the vaccine authorization process.
Perceptions shaped social behavior during the pandemic
Perceptions shaped social behavior during the pandemic
Research from Penn psychologists found that Americans who most feared losing their connections continued interacting with others, paradoxically acting in ways that risked prolonging disease-mitigating social restrictions.
Combating health misinformation
Combating health misinformation
A new article from Penn Nursing explains how unreliable and false health information accelerated during the pandemic, and how social media platforms amplified the problem.
Hyperbaric treatment, carbon monoxide poisoning spiked amid COVID-19
Hyperbaric treatment, carbon monoxide poisoning spiked amid COVID-19
Penn Hyperbaric Medicine donated carbon monoxide detectors to patients who come in contact with carbon monoxide poisoning but don’t have a detector, and to families in transitional housing.
In the News
Business Today
Omicron infection produces better immunity response than booster shots: Report
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine says COVID breakthrough infections should be thought of as essentially equivalent to another dose of vaccine and that, if someone had COVID recently, they could wait before getting another booster shot.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Want to know which COVID variant you have?
Frederick Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on COVID variant tracking: “If we know what variants are involved, what their properties are, we can tell what to expect by sort of forecasting by the experience of other places that are ahead of us, based on our sequence and knowledge of the different variants.”
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The Washington Post
Stop dismissing the risk of long COVID
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel writes that COVID-19 is not a mere cold or mild flu and we still do not know enough about the complications that come after the initial infection.
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Fox 29 (Philadelphia)
COVID-19 long haulers discuss their lengthy recoveries
Benjamin Abramoff of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on how long-haul COVID can affect people and what he’s seeing among patients.
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Scientific American
How to judge COVID risks and when to wear a mask
Ethan Craig of the Perelman School of Medicine discusses how immunosuppression medications can factor into personal risk calculations and the differences in potential risk based on the environment a person enters into.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Do you need a second COVID booster? ‘It depends,’ Penn Medicine experts say
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine says that as antibody levels go down to expect more mild infections and more asymptomatic infections now that there is increased testing.
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