With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1452:  Another coronavirus surge is expected in the U.S. as daily COVID-19 cases continue to plateau around 60,000. Outbreaks will likely arise from the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the U.K. On March 7, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, stated that 4 weeks ago, the B.1.1.7 variant constituted about 1% to 4% of the virus being seen in communities and now it is up to 30% to 40%. It has been seen in Europe that when the 50% mark is reached, there is a surge in cases. In the U.S., around 59 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 30.6 million have received two doses. About 9% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated. (MD Edge)

1453: People with COVID-19 who are close to the border between a healthy and overweight BMI, from 23.7 kg/m2 to 25.9 kg/m2, have been noted to have the lowest risks for adverse outcomes, in a study published online  in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (Medscape)

1454:  The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can neutralize a new variant of the coronavirus spreading rapidly in Brazil, suggested a laboratory study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (Mint)

1455:  A study published in JAMA Neurology has shown that neurologic involvement was common in children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and was mostly transient. In addition, a spectrum of life-threatening neurologic involvement was infrequently noted which was tied to more extreme inflammation and severe sequelae. (JAMA Neurology)

1456: Covaxin, the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine that was authorized for use in January, has been declared safe, immunogenic with no serious side effects by Lancet. The journal has published the phase 2 trials results. It has been stated that efficacy cannot be assessed based on phase 2 trials but the vaccine made by Bharat Biotech is safe/immunogenic. (NDTV)

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA