In what is considered the most comprehensive global study of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the peer-reviewed Lancet Medical Journal found that nearly 5 million deaths in 2019 were associated with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. In addition, the study found that … Read more about Antibiotic Resistance
What You Need to Know About the Omicron “Stealth Variant”
Since the pandemic's start, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected 392 million people and caused 5.7 million deaths worldwide. The highly transmissible omicron variant, first discovered in November 2021, accounts for nearly all active coronavirus infections globally. Recently, headlines have appeared … Read more about What You Need to Know About the Omicron “Stealth Variant”
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests from the Government
At-home testing for COVID-19 is an essential tool that can help mitigate the spread of the virus. The US government launched a new website last Tuesday, January 18, allowing households to order up to four free at-home coronavirus tests. Type of At-Home COVID-19 Tests In December, the Biden … Read more about Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests from the Government
Webinar: SARS-COV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern
Join us on December 14th at 11 am EST/8 am PST for a webinar featuring VIGILINT Emergency Medicine Physicians Drs Ossmann and Cellini as they discuss the newly discovered omicron variant and the potential impact on holiday travel. You have questions, and we want to hear from you! Please submit … Read more about Webinar: SARS-COV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children & The Pandemic’s Impact on Working Parents
COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Children 5-11 Kids 5 and up can now get their age-appropriate dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is the most effective way to protect against the virus—hard stop. After a year that saw parents scrambling to find ways to protect their children from illness and keep … Read more about COVID-19 Vaccine for Children & The Pandemic’s Impact on Working Parents
White House Announces “Path out of the Pandemic”
Today, President Biden announced a six-pronged national strategy to expand the federal government’s response to COVID-19. The Department of Labor is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are fully vaccinated and require unvaccinated … Read more about White House Announces “Path out of the Pandemic”
The Debate: Masks in Schools
As summer draws to a close, fall brings unique challenges. The surge of COVID-19 cases, instigated by the Delta variant, has heavily impacted the beginning of the new school year. In July, the CDC recommended that all students and staff wear masks in schools, regardless of vaccination status. The … Read more about The Debate: Masks in Schools
Spectators barred from the Olympics due to COVID-19 risk
Nestled amid a global pandemic, athletes from 206 countries are making their way to Japan to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Not the first Games to be affected by widespread health concerns: although the novel Zika virus was a concern during the 2016 Rio Olympics, the World … Read more about Spectators barred from the Olympics due to COVID-19 risk
Reopening the Schools – Weighing the Risks
For nearly a year, schools in the United States have adapted to the pandemic by utilizing distance-learning models with varying success levels. Many studies indicate that the interruption to in-person learning has drastically affected standardized test scores, graduation rates, absenteeism, and … Read more about Reopening the Schools – Weighing the Risks
COVID-19 ONE YEAR LATER, Part II: Testing and Vaccines
In the second part of VIGILINT's two-part series COVID-19 1 Year Later, VIGILINT Ops Analyst and blogger Colin Schilly dives into the two critical hallmarks of the pandemic. Testing and vaccines. The development and rollout of several effective vaccines in under a year offer great hope for the … Read more about COVID-19 ONE YEAR LATER, Part II: Testing and Vaccines
COVID-19 ONE YEAR LATER, Part I: The Best and Worst Handlings of the COVID-19 Crisis
On January 10, 2020, VIGILINT first reported a new strain of a coronavirus connected to a cluster of pneumonia cases linked to Wuhan, China. No one could have predicted the year that would follow. As of publishing, worldwide cases have reached 104 million with 2.27 million deaths. VIGILINT … Read more about COVID-19 ONE YEAR LATER, Part I: The Best and Worst Handlings of the COVID-19 Crisis
COVID-19 Transmission: Surfaces
There is some risk of COVID-19 transmission from surfaces, but the primary disease transfer mode is airborne transmission. Several studies have analyzed the detection of COVID-19 on various surfaces. One such study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2020, largely shaped the … Read more about COVID-19 Transmission: Surfaces