INSIDER
U-M to begin offering free COVID testing to Ann Arbor residents living near campus
Read full article: U-M to begin offering free COVID testing to Ann Arbor residents living near campusUniversity officials have confirmed that some outbreaks of the virus on campus include the new, highly contagious COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant. Testing offered to the local community is limited to those living within three blocks from campus. If you do not live right next to campus but would like to be tested, visit Washtenaw Countyโs COVID testing website to find a free clinic near you. AdAdditionally, free testing is now offered weekly at Pioneer High School. The university-run saliva-based testing will be offered to U-M students, faculty, staff and Ann Arbor residents living geographically close to the university on the following days and times:Information on U-M's community testing program from Feb. 3-28, 2021.
Family urges others to take COVID seriously after birthday party makes them sick
Read full article: Family urges others to take COVID seriously after birthday party makes them sickIn spite of the CDC warnings, a lot of people are planning to see family on Thanksgiving. Because coronavirus can be spread while someone is asymptomatic or presymptomatic, thereโs no way to know if your family is being infected. After months of carefully following COVID-19 restrictions, the family gathered for a birthday party. Those infected spread the virus to three other relatives who didnโt attend the party. By staying apart, we can fight this virus together.โThe family does not have plans to gather for Thanksgiving.
Tracking the trends of how COVID-19 is spread
Read full article: Tracking the trends of how COVID-19 is spreadWhite House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said the amount of asymptomatic spread is large. โWhen you start to look at this college data, it may be up to 80% of individuals under 30 are asymptomatic," Birx said. "And weโre still getting the data from all of the colleges.โThe CDC said understanding and tracking positive test rates by age group could help public health officials identify future hotspots and better prevent and prepare for a rise in COVID-19 cases. โThe way you find that is the way the universities are finding it -- regular testing," Birx said. "If you wait until people have symptoms, youโve waited too long because thereโs so much asymptomatic spread before that.โAs temperatures get cooler, health officials are reminding everyone to keep wearing masks, social distancing and washing their hands.
WHO walks back statement on asymptomatic spread of coronavirus
Read full article: WHO walks back statement on asymptomatic spread of coronavirusIn the statement WHO noted it appears to be rare that an asymptomatic person transmits the virus. In the truly asymptomatic, symptoms will never develop, and the only way to identify these people is by testing. Circling back to the WHO clarification issued Tuesday, its 16 percent estimate of asymptomatic spread appears to refer specifically to people who are truly asymptomatic. Notably the CDC, in its guidance for developing COVID-19 pandemic models used an estimate of 35 percent of asymptomatic spread and a study published on June 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed 16 other reports of asymptomatic spread and estimated it to be as high as 40 to 45 percent, although they could not completely assess what percentage might have been presymptomatic spread. In terms of whether these differences in asymptomatic versus presymptomatic spread change anything right now the answer is simple.