Nancy Lapid

(Reuters.) – Here is a list of recent COVID-19 studies. These include additional research to confirm the findings, and which has not yet been certified by peer review.

Omicron can survive longer on skin and plastic

Japanese scientists found that the Omicron version can survive on human skin longer than other coronavirus variants.

Omicron might have been the dominant strain because of its high environmental stability, which is its inability to spread infectiously. Average survival times for the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta strains, as well as the Delta, Beta, Gamma, and Gamma versions, were respectively 56, 191.3, 156.6, 59.5 hours and 114.0 hours on plastic surfaces. This is compared with 193.5 hours Omicron. The researchers also reported this on bioRxiv before peer review. Average virus survival time was 8.6 hours with the original version of Omicron, Alpha at 19.6 hours, Beta at 19.1 hours, Gamma at 11.0, Delta, and 16.8 hours respectively for Omicron.

All variants of alcohol-based hand sanitizers completely destroyed their ability to activate skin. The researchers concluded that it is strongly recommended that hand hygiene practices be used disinfectants, as suggested by the World Health Organization.

Nose swabbing best for rapid antigen tests

According to new research, rapid antigen test users for COVID-19 detection should use the manufacturers’ instructions and not just swab the cheek or throat.

Researchers at Omicron performed PCR and DNA testing earlier this month. Omicron is responsible for almost all the coronavirus cases in San Francisco. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:)’ BinaxNOW rapid antigen test on 731 people requesting COVID-19 tests. According to Dr. Diane Havlir of University of California San Francisco, nasal swabbing has “detected more than 95% of those with highest virus levels who are most likely infectious.” Her team used swabs from the nose and throat of 115 people who had positive PCR test results to compare BinaxNOW results. They found that throat swabs were able to detect nearly 40 percent more cases than nasal swabs. This was before any peer review. A Spanish study was posted to medRxiv that found that swabbing on the inside of the cheeks is not as reliable for detecting an infectious disease than using nostril swabs. Omicron may be detectable in the throat sooner than the nose. Recent research has led some to recommend that people swab the neck, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated the test should not be taken as directed.

Havlir explained that the data supports using BinaxNOW via nasal swabs according to instructions. If you have positive BinaxNOW Rapid Tests or other symptoms (or are exposed), repeat rapid testing may be recommended.

Omicron makes it easier for long-term care facilities to be impacted less by Omicron

New data shows that Omicron is less prevalent in long-term care residents than it was earlier coronavirus versions.

In England, researchers compared the hospitalization rates of residents in 333 facilities prior to and after Omicron became predominant. Omicron was found in 398 of the infected residents. 10.8% of them required hospitalization. This compares with just 4% for 1,241 Omicron-infected people. Infected people were on average 85 years old. The odds of being hospitalized were half as low for Omicron-infected patients, according to the research published on Sunday via medRxiv before peer review. Although most residents of the facility had been immunized and only 10% were infected before, there was a significant drop in hospitalization rates for Omicron infected patients, who received booster vaccine doses at 77%. Researchers also observed fewer COVID-19-related deaths in Omicron periods, but it is too early to make definitive conclusions on the effect on mortality.

The researchers conclude that the “overall” impact of Omicron infections on long-term residents and hospitalizations can be significantly reduced if there is high vaccine uptake.

Click for a Reuters graphic https://tmsnrt.rs/3c7R3Bl on vaccines in development.