Editor's Note This study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that adults with positive COVID-19 test results were almost twice as likely to have dined in a restaurant (including indoor, patio, and outdoor seating) within 2 weeks of developing symptoms. The study included 615 potential case…

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Editor's Note This study by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 13 academic medical centers in 12 states found that 6% of healthcare workers had antibody evidence of COVID-19 infection, but 29% of them were asymptomatic and 69% had not received a diagnosis of COVID-19.…

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Editor's Note The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 21 recommended that children in the community setting under age 5 not wear face masks as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Other recommendations include: For those aged 6 to 11 years, there should be a risk-based approach that considers factors such…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its face mask recommendations, warning that masks with built in exhalation valves or vents aren’t effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others. However, masks with one-way…

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Editor's Note Four national organizations have released a joint statement on maintaining essential surgical procedures as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) reported on August 13. The joint statement from the ACS, American Society of Anesthesiologists, AORN, and American Hospital Association, provides a list of principles…

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Editor's Note This study of healthcare workers (HCWs) in a tertiary New York State hospital finds that the rate of COVID-19 infection in HCWs is lower than what has been reported for the general public in the region. Of 3,046 HCWs, 1,699 had antibody testing, 617 had RT-PCR testing, and…

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Editor's Note This study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill evaluated 29 face masks for use by clinicians interacting with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and  found that expired N95 respirators and sterilized, reused N95 respirators were acceptable alternatives when N95 respirators were not available. All other…

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Editor's Note This study finds that front-line healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) had a three-fold increased risk of testing positive for COVID-19, compared to the general population. Those with inadequate PPE had a further increase in risk. The study also found that healthcare workers from Black, Asian,…

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Editor's Note This study reinforces the high risk of COVID-19 transmission in households and is the first to show the effectiveness of precautionary mask use, social distancing, and regular disinfection before the development of symptoms in the index case. There was no association between mask use after illness onset in…

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Editor's Note The protective value of masks depends on how they are used. If people are reckless about masking up or clumsy when handling or removing masks, they can put themselves and others at risk, the July 21 Livestrong reports. To get the most out of wearing face-coverings, it’s important…

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