COVID News - January 18th
New strains are expected

• Inside the hunt for coronavirus variants in Canada. The Genome Canada led CanCOGen network is helping find, identify, and track SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.  
• Gene-Mapping Champion Iceland Leads The Way In Covid Sequencing. The World Health Organization is urging all countries to use genomics technology to detect and disrupt the coronavirus.
• Watch: Canadian vaccine maker pioneers new technology using plants. It is still in the trial phase but this could be the first plant-based vaccine to come to market.
• Watch: New Montreal study claims schools major Covid-19 vector. At least one study suggests that kids should be kept at home.
• How Canadian researchers are using genome sequencing to track coronavirus variants. The Canadian COVID Genomics Network is showing the value of sequencing in tracking the spread of a pandemic and the nature of the pathogens.
• Blood kits sent to 48,000 Canadians to survey extent of COVID-19. A random sample of Canadians are being asked to take a pinprick test to look for COVID-19 antibodies.
• University of Saskatchewan COVID-19 vaccine approved for human clinical trials. Using proven vaccine technology, the trials are expected to begin in January.

 

• The best treatments we currently have for COVID-19. Until immunity is widespread, treatment is important and we have learned a lot in the last 12 months.
• EXPLAINER: What is WHO team in Wuhan looking for. There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the international research team which landed in Wuhan this week. Like everyone else they have to go into quarantine before getting to work.
• COVID-19 vaccine roll-out won't achieve herd immunity this year - health experts. The World Health Organization says "We won’t get back to normal quickly". Poor countries, vaccine hesitancy, and viral mutations could all stand in the way of an end to the pandemic.
• While we will not be out of the pandemic right away, First fruits of vaccine rollout 'should be seen in weeks' in at least some areas of the United Kingdom.
• Experts answer your questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Summary of an #AskReuters Twitter chat on vaccines.
• Two gorillas test positive for COVID at San Diego zoo in first known cases among primates. The virus seems to have been spread from a zoo worker who also testes positive.

 Myths and Misinformation

• No, SARS-CoV-2 was not created using genes from HIV, Fauci does not hold patents for an ‘HIV component’ to SARS-CoV-2. A fact check from Reuters.
• Why do people deny the seriousness of COVID-19? I asked them. Here's what they said. Frustration, fear, and anger are key factors. OF course there are those who simply do not believe the numbers or the science.
• Ontario university professor debunks COVID-19 vaccine falsehoods. New vaccines and new variants bring new myths and misinformation.
• Fact check: Genetic materials from mRNA vaccines do not multiply in your body forever. Yes, there is a small amount of genetic material in a dose of the new vaccine. No it does not merge with your DNA and lead to alterations.

 Resources

 

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations. The 'Our World in Data' project updates data on vaccination rats, doses, and other relevant information every 15 minutes.
• Explore CanCOGeN. The Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) is a Genome Canada led cross-agency initiative for large-scale SARS-CoV-2 and human host sequencing to track viral origin, spread and evolution, and characterize the role of human genetics in COVID-19. The new website will keep you up-to-date on the activities of the network.
• Essential Vocab For COVID-19: From Asymptomatic To Zoonotic. This is a handy guide to help you not only understand what you are reading in the news, but to help you talk about the pandemic.
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology update. Government of Canada information updated daily.
• Covid-19 pandemic: Tracking the global coronavirus outbreak. Graphics and other visual tools will give you a good look at the current state of the pandemic around the world.
• Why You Should Still Wear A Mask And Avoid Crowds After Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine. Even with the arrival of the first vaccines we will not be over the pandemic for many months.

 

If you have something in particular you would like to see included on this page, drop us a line at info@GenomeAlberta.ca or on Twitter.

 This is a COVID tracker from Bing.com which is updated throughout the day.