As Congress and local governments across the United States consider police reform, one important question is why police use excessive force, even after scores of protests across the country against police brutality following the death of George Floyd and other people of color. A common answer is that officers are afraid of being injured or...
Health
At Height of COVID-19, Nurses and Doctors Reported High Levels of Distress
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, health care workers on the front lines had high levels of acute stress, anxiety, and depression, a study by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian has found. Levels of stress, anxiety and depression were particularly high among those with the greatest...
Experts Identify Steps to Expand and Improve Antibody Tests in COVID-19 Response
More than 300 scientists and clinicians from the federal government, industry and academia published a report of their conclusions and recommendations on COVID-19 serology studies online in Immunity. The group gathered for an online workshop in May to discuss the role of serology testing in understanding and responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis and to...
Are You a Hugger? It Might Be Hereditary
A new study of twins finds that genetics play a significant role in how affectionate women are, but the same can’t be said for men. Researchers examined differences in the level of affection people express in an effort to determine how much affectionate behavior is influenced by genetics versus a person’s environment. They found that,...
Public Support for Alcohol Control Initiatives Across Seven Countries
The findings – that 68 percent of Australians and 67 percent of New Zealanders surveyed are in favour – come at a critical time, with Australian and New Zealand Health and Food Ministers shortly to vote on recommendations by independent authority Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to introduce long-awaited alcohol warning labels. Conducted by...
Survey Finds U.S. Adults Largely Supported Measures to Limit Spread of COVID-19 in May
No mass gatherings. Stay-at-home orders. Nonessential business closures. Use of cloth face coverings. In April, these and other measures were adopted by states to try to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. and across the globe. A new study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report...
Heat May Kill More People in U.S. Than Previously Reported
Death records point to hundreds of U.S. deaths from heat each year, but even moderately hot weather may actually be killing thousands. This summer, COVID-19 may make it harder to stay cool. As temperatures rise this summer, a new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the University of British Columbia School...
Higher Rates of Severe COVID-19 in BAME Populations Remain Unexplained
Higher rates of severe COVID-19 infections in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations are not explained by socioeconomic or behavioral factors, cardiovascular disease risk, or by vitamin D status, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London. The findings, published in the Journal of Public Health, suggest that the relationship between COVID-19...
Environmental Conditions Found to Affect Stability of Virus That Causes COVID-19
A new study led by Marshall University researcher M. Jeremiah Matson found that environmental conditions affect the stability of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human nasal mucus and sputum. Matson, the lead author on a study published earlier this month as an early release in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the journal of the...
Babies with COVID-19 Tend to Have Mild Illness, Mostly with Fever
found to be the primary or only symptom. Findings were published in The Journal of Pediatrics. “While there is limited data on infants with COVID-19 from the United States, our findings suggest that these babies mostly have mild illness and may not be at higher risk of severe disease as initially reported from China.” says lead...