BA.2 Blitzes Through Households, Even More Than Original Omicron Preprint study finds increased risk of infection with subvariant Molly Walker medpagetoday

Omicron subvariant BA.2 was associated with higher susceptibility of infection among households, regardless of vaccination status, than the original BA.1 variant, Danish researchers found.

The extraordinary success of Covid-19 vaccines, in two charts Deaths tell one story of the pandemic. The lives saved tell another. Umair Irfan Vox

There are several ways to look at the Covid-19 pandemic. One is that a cataclysm we weren’t prepared for — worsened by policy mistakes, misinformation, and global inequity — claimed more than 5 million souls and stalled the lives and livelihoods of billions of people around the world. As the pandemic drags into its third year, it’s hard to see it any other way.

Is COVID-19 on airplane air filters? Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more interested in how well airplane cabins filter and circulate their air. Amanda Morris

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With this support, the researchers will specifically look for evidence of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, on used filters collected from airplanes. If viruses can be found on filters, then filters from international flights could be used as a new way to track when and where viruses enter the country. Rather than testing travelers individually, it might be possible to monitor entire flights with one test...

How you can help scientists better understand COVID variants with wearable devices Duke researchers are investigating whether data from your smartphone and smartwatch can help determine if you have COVID-19 and how severe the infection could get. Their work has the potential to help ... Brittany Vekstein

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"Increasing the number of people participating in our study is more important now than ever as the omicron surge continues," said Dunn. "This provides an unprecedented opportunity to collect this rare and unique data that will make our work much more powerful to prevent future pandemics."...

Outrage as Paris hospitals chief raises idea of charging unvaccinated patients Martin Hirsch’s remarks have provoked anger across political spectrum in France the Guardian

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Can you get long COVID if you were vaccinated? What the latest research says about getting long COVID-19 once you’re vaccinated. Herb Scribner Deseret News

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A new study out of Israel has found that long COVID-19 symptoms are less likely in fully vaccinated people, according to Nature....

A federal watchdog for coronavirus aid warns Congress it is nearly out of money The warning arrived from the special inspector general for pandemic recovery, which stressed that it could 'close prematurely' unless Democrats and Republicans fill its coffers swiftly as part of an upcoming debate over government funding levels. Tony Romm Washington Post

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Omicron Will Likely Recede More Slowly in U.S. Than in Other Countries, Expert Says Continued high test positivity rate is also concerning, says Jennifer Nuzzo of Johns Hopkins Joyce Frieden medpagetoday

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Biden Administration’s Rapid-Test Rollout Doesn’t Easily Reach Those Who Need It Most Two rapid-testing initiatives the Biden administration released in the past week are inaccessible to some residents of multifamily housing, people who don’t speak English well, or those without int… khnhannahr Kaiser Health News

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New study suggests two paths toward 'super immunity' to COVID-19 New laboratory research from Oregon Health & Science University reveals more than one path toward robust immunity from COVID-19. Science X staff

New laboratory research from Oregon Health & Science University reveals more than one path toward robust immunity from COVID-19.

A new study finds that two forms of immunity—breakthrough infections following vaccination or natural infection followed by vaccination—provide roughly equal levels of enhanced immune protection.