Iowa news
Iowa’s recent COVID-19 surge slows
COVID-19’s most-recent rise across Iowa slowed somewhat in the past week, according to new data released by the Iowa Department of Public Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The number of new reported COVID-19 cases have increased again, but only slightly, up to 3,960 new reported cases this week compared to 3,847 the week before. That’s an average of about 566 new reported cases per day. While it’s a slim week-over-week increase, it’s still the most cases reported in a week since early March. (Des Moines Register)
Avera studies impact of virtual health care in schools without nurses
Avera Health, JDRF and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust have created the eCare School Health T1D Demonstration Project to address disparities in access to school health care, starting with students living with diabetes. The National Association of School Nurses recommends students have daily access to a full-time registered nurse. Yet, only 39% of schools in the U.S. employ a full-time school nurse, and just 35% employ a part-time school nurse. eCare School Health provides access to experienced school nurses through live audiovisual technology. During the 2020-2021 school year, more than 6,300 video visits were conducted serving 50 schools in North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. (KEYC)
What’s next for COVID-19 vaccines, boosters?
With an effective COVID-19 vaccine developed and out in the world, the next step for scientists is to “fine tune” booster shots. COVID-19 vaccine efficacy wanes over time, leading experts to say it’s likely Americans will need annual boosters as virus activity continues. But if studies underway turn out to be successful, it’s likely coronavirus boosters will be given at the same time as annual flu shots, said Dr. Pat Winokur, executive dean of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation unit director. (The Gazette)
National news
Where deaths rose during the pandemic
Throughout the pandemic, the U.S. has had outsize access to lifesaving supplies like vaccines, antiviral treatments, face masks and testing kits. The country also has spent trillions of dollars in pandemic stimulus funds and enacted a raft of policies at the local and national level to combat the coronavirus. Yet, despite its distinct advantage, the U.S. has had more deaths above normal levels during the pandemic than most other wealthy countries, according to data released by the World Health Organization this month. (The New York Times)
Physician compensation rebounded slightly in 2021, study shows
Compensation among most physician specialties increased slightly in 2021 compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Medical Group Management Association. Compensation plateaued in 2020 as providers dealt with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in nonessential health care services. Those trends reversed for most specialists last year. (Modern Healthcare)
Brain fog, other long-COVID-19 symptoms can last more than a year, study finds
The devastating neurological effects of long COVID-19 can persist for more than a year, even as other symptoms abate. The study, published in the journal “Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology,” is the longest follow-up study of the neurological symptoms among long-COVID-19 patients who were never hospitalized for COVID-19. The neurological symptoms — which include brain fog, numbness, tingling, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus and fatigue — are the most frequently reported for the illness. (NBC News)