The Code COVID19 International Update is a weekly snapshot of the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing efforts by nations around the world to test, track and fight the virus. It’s compiled by Dr Priscilla Robinson, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health at La Trobe University, and an editor for the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Hello one and all
View the latest spreadsheet here
Another rather slow week for new COVD news, which might or might not be a good thing.
Here in Australia we passed the 10 million mark with no comment at all, and there is now a push from some politicians to reduce the quarantine period to five days. I have no idea why, I have not seen any scientific evidence to suggest that this is a good idea – this seems to just be a political thought bubble. I am very aware that some people test RAT-negative quite quickly and others take anything up to two weeks to apparently stop shedding, and also many people do not feel all that well for anything up to a fortnight (especially with ‘brain fog’ and fatigue) and are not fit to go back to work. Actually, the same effect happens after ‘flu and various other infections, it just can take a lot of time to get 100% better. It would just be good if people did not feel they had to go back to normal activities before they are properly recovered.
Anyway…
Epidemiology
Worldwide there continues to be about 500,000 – 1,000,000 cases reported every day, but the fall in fatality rates continues, now at 1.08%. This week about 15% fewer cases and 7% fewer fatalities have been notified to WHO. The pattern is generally even in all WHO regions, although Africa remains interesting and a bit unpredictable. No particular places seem to be having particular problems, so nothing to really report.
Vaccines
Yes, well. No notable changes in the vaccine department. Just more sad commentary about lack of commitment to equitable access to vaccines for all countries.
And finally:
Some of you already know that I am in the process of moving to London (for many reasons). I am happy to continue producing this blog, but it is probably time to change how it works – so how would you like to see it evolve? Twice a month? Add in some other infectious diseases (I hesitate to suggest Monkeypox) – there are plenty of others to consider. Is it time to call a halt? (If you have any ideas you can send them to me on priscilla.robinson@latrobe.edu.au).
This week I have a non-COVID smile for you. Two actually. For people who appreciate a rather English sense of humour.
Firstly from The Guardian sports pages. For those who have not been to that part of England, Bourton-on-the Water is a pretty village with a shallow river running through it.
And for diagram freaks:
About Dr Priscilla Robinson and The CODE COVID-19 International Update
Dr Robinson is a public health epidemiologist with particular interests in international health and communicable diseases, and public health competencies. She has worked in health departments in England and Australia, has managed public health teaching programmes, and taught and researched many aspects of public health epidemiology and policy in many countries. She is an adjunct Associate Professor at LaTrobe University, and to stop herself being bored is an editor of PHAA’s journal ANZJPH, and holds board positions (almost all unpaid) on various NGOs, journals, and at her local hospital. Otherwise, 10 acres of untamed bushland on a hill in South Gippsland, VIC, makes weight-bearing gym exercise and strength training a bit redundant.
The CODE Update is a regular Intouch feature to keep readers informed of COVID-19 developments around the world.
The CODE Update originally began at the start of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic as Priscilla’s way of explaining to her friends and family around the world what was happening, and counter their experiences of information overload and misinformation. The update provides links to practical materials and papers written for people who are not versed in the language of outbreaks and epidemic curves. Published weekly, it includes a short commentary to provide context to the numbers included in the spreadsheets.
Note: While every attempt is made to transcribe all data faithfully, every now and again mistakes are made and not noticed until the next Update. Also, on occasion, numbers are revised after posting at the source databases.
We hope you will find these updates to be a helpful tool, and the links to current information useful.
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