Check daily for information updates on COVID-19 news

Author and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer on a segment for the CNN/PBS program Amanpour and Company:

Genome Alberta is here to help you stay informed with reliable COVID-19 information, links, and news. This page is updated regularly. You should also visit our COVID blog pages for more in-depth stories about COVID research.

Latest update: August 7^th, 2020.

Research Insights

Canadian researchers are among the many scientists around the world finding ways to meet the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. We can't introduce you to all the projects underway but here is a small sample of the Canadian efforts.

Women in health care at increased risk for stress, burnout and depression during COVID-19: U of T study. Women account for 80% of Canada’s health workforce. The study from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health identifies the triggers and has recommendations to deal with the issue.
COV3R – Genome Capture Detects COVID-19 Virus (and Everything Else). Saskatchewan researchers supported with Genome Prairie funding are developing a test to for co-infections that may accompany COVID-19. The work will tie into the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) initiative led by Genome Canada.
Consolidation of COVID-19 Research Initiatives. Genome Alberta has crunched its way through the databases, websites, and Google to create an inventory of COVID-19 related research. Updated July 03, 2020.
How AI is enabling COVID-19 research. University of Toronto researchers are using machine learning tools to find ways to treat patients.
Characteristics and Strength of Evidence of COVID-19 Studies Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. From the beginning of the pandemic there was the possibility that mistakes will be made in the research push to deal with the problem. This JAMA article emphasizes the concerns.

Check back a couple of times a week as we will be posting new insights into COVID-19 research taking place in Canada.

Editor's Picks

News you can trust because we have checked it for you first. The facts and figures around the pandemic change rapidly so we will be updating this section regularly. Here are some headlines for August 7^th.

The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away. Even if there is a successful vaccine to deal with the coronavirus it is never going to completely disappear. Sarah Zhang is a solid science writer for The Atlantic so you can be assured the article is well researched.
‘Trials come first’: Russia’s accelerated race for COVID-19 vaccine worries scientists. Cutting corners can be done safely given the urgent need for a vaccine. Cutting corners just to be first past the post could be dangerous. Here is a 2-minute video which explains how it can be done safely.
Covid-19 could push some universities over the brink. Falling enrollment from International Student and the virus transmission dangers in crowded facilities are just new problems facing the already tight budgets of some institutions. You may need to register with The Economist to read this, but it is free initially.
Doctor’s Note: Are vaccine efforts against COVID-19 succeeding? Who, what, how, and when all get answered on this piece from Al Jazeera.
How to Think Like an Epidemiologist. You will need NY Times access and it is not a quick read. However it will help you understand the shifting sands of what we know about COVID-19.

Myths and Misinformation

COVID-19 conspiracy theories are creating a 'public health crisis' in Canada: experts. “Long live freedom without a mask" is becoming part of the movement against masks. With freedom comes responsibility.
Don't drink hand sanitizer, CDC warns after slew of poisonings. Some people need to be warned?
A look at the Americans who believe there is some truth to the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 was planned. 25% of Americans think that conspiracy theories about COVID19's origin are definitely or probably true.
Facebook's dilemma: How to police claims about unproven COVID-19 vaccines. Whether you are a Facebook fan or not you have to admit policing such a massive collection of material is no easy task. Especially when you hit the grey areas.
In the midst of the pandemic, academics are fighting a rising ‘infodemic’. Conspiracy theories seem to fill a "psychological need" in people looking for some meaning in the turbulent times we are going through.

Resources

Living with face masks: How to stow them, reuse disposables and more. Love 'em or hate 'em, masks are going to be a fact of life for some time.
Recall of certain hand sanitizers that may pose health risks. Not all hand sanitizers are created equal and some manufacturers tried to cash in on the demand without doing their homework.
Resources for researchers and clinicians responding to the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada. A site to help those involved in COVID-19 research and development in Canada to locate human resources, expertise, reagents, equipment and information in a timely manner.
WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Updated throughout the day.
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.
COVID-19 Interactive Dashboard. Johns Hopkins University has created a breakdown of the numbers by country and region, confirmed cases, deaths, active cases, etc. Updated daily.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology update. Government of Canada information updated daily.

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.

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