Travel

New studies indicate high level of Covid in toilet samples of US-bound planes, and effectiveness of pre-departure testing

Thu, 2023-03-02 09:52 — mike kraft

81% of toilet samples from US-bound planes had Omicron RNA CIDRAP

Two new studies from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlight new findings about air travel amid COVID-19, with one showing that 81% of wastewater samples from airplane restrooms had SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant genetic material in fall 2022, and the other suggesting that predeparture testing of international travelers was tied to a 52% lower positivity rate at arrival in the United States.

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Sewage testing for disease prevailance may be distorted by large numbers of tourists.

Mon, 2023-02-27 09:29 — mike kraft

What stays in Vegas: Tourist sewage may inflate community COVID prevalence CIDRAP

While SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance is a valuable way to measure disease prevalence and predict surges, a new study conducted in Las Vegas suggests that the tool may overestimate the true viral burden in areas with large influxes of tourists or commuters.

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U.S. House votes to end COVID vaccine requirement for foreign air travelers

Thu, 2023-02-09 11:45 — mike kraft

U.S. House votes to end foreign air traveler COVID vaccine requirement The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to end a requirement that most foreign air travelers be vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the few remaining pandemic travel restrictions still in place. David Shepardson Reuters

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Debate over whether Covid reinfection bring more health risks – or makes you ‘super immune’?

Tue, 2023-01-24 10:07 — mike kraft

Does Covid reinfection bring more health risks – or make you ‘super immune’? The debate over the risks of reinfections – which are likely to continue – could determine what precautions people take, but experts disagree on the data the Guardian

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CDC is discussing with airlines testing wastewater in planes for covid

Mon, 2023-01-23 09:51 — mike kraft

CDC is talking to airlines about wastewater testing in planes. New reports support that strategy. Analyzing airplane sewage could help scientists track new Covid variants entering the U.S., or identify novel pathogens. NBC News

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The U.S. has been monitoring for the coronavirus in wastewater since the CDC launched its National Wastewater Surveillance System in September 2020. But that testing mainly involves wastewater from households or buildings, not samples from airports or planes.

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UK Study of airplane wastewater shows COVID-19 travel restrictions failed

Fri, 2023-01-20 10:29 — mike kraft

Study of airplane wastewater shows COVID-19 travel restrictions failed Tests of toilet tank water from flights entering the United Kingdom helped Welsh scientists determine that steps meant to keep the COVID-19 virus from traveling among countries appear to have failed. UPI

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China says critical COVID cases have peaked but hospitals creak under the strain

Thu, 2023-01-19 13:13 — mike kraft

China says critical COVID cases have peaked as holiday travel surges Millions travelled across the country for long-awaited reunions with families, raising fears of fresh outbreaks. Bernard Orr,Martin Quin Pollard Reuters

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There has been widespread scepticism over China's official COVID data since it abruptly axed anti-virus controls last month that had shielded China's 1.4 billion people from the disease for three years. ...

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U.S. government asks court to reverse order banning airplane mask mandate to combat COVID

Wed, 2023-01-18 09:31 — mike kraft

U.S. asks court to reverse order banning airplane mask mandate to combat COVID The Justice Department on Tuesday asked an appeals court panel to reverse an April 2021 ruling that declared unlawful a government order requiring masks on airplanes, buses, trains, ridesharing services and at airports and other transportation hubs. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on the government's appeal of a ruling by a U.S. district court judge in Florida that found the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lacked legal authority to issue a nationwide travel mask mandate to combat COVID-19.

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American holidays didn’t lead to feared bump in flu cases, CDC says

Mon, 2023-01-16 10:08 — mike kraft

Holidays didn't lead to feared bump in flu cases, CDC says NEW YORK (AP) — New U.S. government data suggests holiday gatherings didn't spark surges in respiratory diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported that visits to doctors' offices for the flu-like illnesses fell for the sixth straight week. AP NEWS

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Of course, the situation is uneven across the country, and some places have more illnesses than others. But some doctors say patient traffic is easing.

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