A discovery in the muscles of long COVID patients may explain exercise troubles Long COVID patients can experience severe energy crashes after physical exertion. New research provides clear evidence that there's a biological basis for the symptoms. NPR

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By taking biopsies from long COVID patients before and after exercising, scientists in the Netherlands constructed a startling picture of widespread abnormalities in muscle tissue that may explain this severe reaction to physical activity.

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Long-term respiratory illness is here to stay Covid is not the only disease with a long version Yahoo News

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Some Southern Hemisphere countries experiencing rise in COVID COVID is at higher-than-expected levels in some parts of South America. CIDRAP

Some countries in the Southern Hemisphere, currently in their summer season, are experiencing higher-than-expected levels of respiratory disease activity for this time of year due to COVID-19, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said yesterday in an epidemiologic update.

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The US is starting 2024 in its second-largest COVID surge ever, experts say A COVID wave is hitting the US in 2024, and it could be the the 2nd largest ever. COVID-19 mask mandates are returning. Know the symptoms, and take precautions. Yahoo News

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What kinds of schools fared the best and worst during the pandemic? HeyTutor looked at a 2023 NWEA report to determine how the pandemic affected test score outcomes for students by comparing 2019 and 2022 test scores. Natalie P. McNeal, Data Work By Wade Zhou AOL

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Fauci sits through first 7 hours of questioning with COVID select subcommittee Former chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci sat for a seven-hour closed-door meeting Monday, facing questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and offering his expertise on preparing for … jchoi The Hill

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Care-seeking for heart-related illness fell amid pandemic—with long-term fallout likely Wavebreakmedia / iStock CIDRAP

Rates of long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (CVEs) fell after the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 and remained lower over the next year among commercially insured New England patients seeking care, and the incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) and angina (chest pain) remained lower than expected.

World is dangerously close to a global warming limit, new data shows | CNN The year 2023 had already been confirmed as the hottest on record, but new data shows an alarming rise in heating. Angela Dewan, Krystina Shveda, Lou Robinson CNN

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After winter holidays, respiratory virus activity continues to build across the US | CNN The first look at trends following most of the winter holidays shows that seasonal virus activity remains elevated and continues to rise across the United States, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As infections and hospitalizations mount, the CDC continues to emphasize the importance of vaccination — and the value of treatment to avoid severe disease. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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