Becker's Hospital Review

35 FINANCE CMO / CARE DELIVERY How researchers' understanding of airborne COVID-19 transmission has evolved: A timeline of 6 important studies, reports By Anuja Vaidya S ince March, researchers worldwide have published several studies explor- ing how the new coronavirus interacts with the air. ese findings have evolved as the world continues to learn more about the new virus. Here are six important studies and reports covered by Becker's Hospital Review about air- borne transmission of the new coronavirus: March 4: An early study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that the new coronavirus may not linger in the air, but does contaminate hospi- tal environments and surfaces. March 17: A study published in e New En- gland Journal of Medicine found that the new virus can remain infectious in the air for up to three hours and last on some surfaces for more than a day. April 27: Another study from China published in the journal Nature found that the new vi- rus can potentially be spread via fine airborne particles and may linger in patient bathrooms, medical staff areas and areas prone to crowd- ing, though it did not establish how infectious the virus detected in these hospital areas were. July 6: More than 200 scientists wrote an open letter to the World Health Organization stating that airborne spread indoors could be a significant mode of COVID-19 transmis- sion and that evidence shows the virus lingers in the air in indoor spaces. July 7: Following the letter's publication, WHO officials acknowledged "emerging evidence" about the airborne spread of COVID-19. July 9: WHO officials formally acknowledged that droplets carrying the new coronavirus may be airborne indoors and that people who spend long periods in crowded set- tings with poor ventilation may be at risk of becoming infected. n Texas CMO warns about 'COVID parties' occurring in multiple states after patient death By Gabrielle Masson A Texas hospital reported a patient death linked to a "COVID party," gatherings that have occurred in multiple states, according to The New York Times. COVID parties intentionally expose people to the virus to test whether the virus exists or gain immunity, though being infected has not yet been proven to provide immunity. A 30-year-old man who thought the virus was a hoax and attended a COVID party died af- ter contracting the disease, said Jane Ap- pleby, MD, chief medical officer at San Anto- nio-based Methodist Hospital. Dr. Appleby said she was sharing the story to warn others, especially those in Texas, where cases rose sharply in July. Previous stories have emerged about young adults in Alabama throwing parties where peo- ple with COVID-19 attend and the first person to get infected receives a payout, though the events could not be confirmed by state health officials, the Times reported. n Two-dose COVID-19 vaccines could complicate efforts to immunize billions of people By Maia Anderson A COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses may be more effec- tive at protecting against the disease, but would also make the effort to immunize billions of people much more complicated, Bloomberg reported. AstraZeneca, in partnership with the University of Oxford in England, and Moderna are planning to conduct final-stage testing of vaccines that would require two doses. Almost all standard vaccines are mul- tiple-shot regimens, Tony Moody, MD, an immunologist at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, told Bloomberg. But the need for two doses would make manufacturing and logistics more complex. "A one-shot vaccine would be ideal, but the first vaccines are highly un- likely to meet this very high threshold," Michael Kinch, PhD, a vaccine specialist and associate vice chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, told Bloomberg. "As we hopefully move from whether there will be a vaccine to how to apply this, logistics are going to become the absolute most important topic." Because a two-shot vaccine will be harder to distribute, it will likely dis- advantage developing countries, Bloomberg reported. The challeng- es would multiply if the vaccine's efficacy wanes over time and repeat doses are needed, such as with the flu shot. Merck has committed to only pursuing one-dose vaccines to simplify worldwide distribution.n

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