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Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
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13 Jan, 4 tweets, 3 min read
“How did it get transmitted? Was it in the air conditioning? Was it movement, was it picking up something? We just don’t know those answers yet.”

I think we do: #COVIDisAirborne.

No more mistakes. The UK strain (B117) isn’t forgiving.
#auspol #COVID19Aus
We’ve evidence to suggest the virus can be carried over long distances by air conditioning.

For example, in this study, viral RNA was detected in a hospital ventilation system more than 50 metres away from patients.
We also know that infectious virus can be cultured from air samples collected at a distance of at least 2 metres from people with #COVID19.

It’s not just fragments of viral RNA that can be found in the air, but complete, infectious virus.
We need to urgently improve safety in the hotel quarantine system, to prevent the UK strain (B117) from spreading in the community.

We must:
✅ improve ventilation (air must not be circulated between hotel rooms)
✅ issue P2/N95 masks to all staff
#auspol

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More from @DrZoeHyde

Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
8 Jan
WA’s PPE guidelines are inadequate. Staff don’t have to wear masks if distance can be maintained, & bus drivers are only provided with surgical masks.

These are inadequate precautions for an airborne virus, and could lead to outbreaks.
#wapol #auspol
@CHO_WAHealth @MarkMcGowanMP
There are now numerous examples of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 around the world, particularly in enclosed environments such as buses.
Here is an example of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurring in a building:
Read 8 tweets
Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
1 Jan
Anaphylactic reactions may be more likely with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines than other traditional vaccines (1 in 100,000 vs. 1 in 1,000,000); likely a reaction to carrier used to protect RNA component (polyethylene glycol, PEG), rather than the vaccine per se.
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
Persons with a history of allergic reactions associated with polyethylene glycol (or reactions to any of the other components listed) should avoid mRNA vaccines, and receive a different type of vaccine instead.
Note that other kinds of allergies (e.g., hay fever), are not expected to cause a problem.

There is no need to avoid the mRNA vaccines unless there is a specific history of allergic reactions to polyethylene glycol, or the other ingredients of the vaccines.
Read 5 tweets
Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
30 Dec 20
The evidence is in, and the UK variant does appear to be of great concern. The viral load of infected people is higher, and it seems to be about 50% more transmissible. It doesn’t appear to cause more severe illness, but more cases will unfortunately result in greater mortality.
The estimated viral load of people infected with the new variant is substantially higher, although it is not yet clear why. Further laboratory studies will hopefully explain this.
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
In contrast to early speculation, children do not appear to be markedly more susceptible to the new variant.
Read 9 tweets
Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
18 Dec 20
(1/4) If I understand correctly, this is potentially dangerous. Rapid testing is to be rolled out in UK schools, but only staff are to be tested regularly. Students will only be tested if they are close contacts.
🔰 dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/15/mas…

This has problems.

H/T: @dgurdasani1.
(2/4)

➡️ Both staff and students should be regularly tested. A proactive approach is required. Find the cases in students before they have a chance to transmit!

➡️ Primary school students should also be tested, not just secondary students. Young children transmit the virus too.
(3/4)

➡️ The rapid test to be used (a lateral flow test) has been shown to give false negatives half of the time.

Because close contacts will no longer quarantine under this programme, it’s likely some will go on to infect others.
bmj.com/content/371/bm…
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
16 Dec 20
The latest round of random testing in the UK shows both children and teenagers are now more likely to be infected than adults.

1 in 48 teenagers and 1 in 58 children tested positive.

Infections are decreasing in adults, but increasing in children.

Red bar = most recent round.
The proportion of people testing positive by age group is as follows:

5-12: 1.7%
13-17: 2.1%
18-24: 1.0%
25-34: 1.0%
35-44: 0.8%
45-54: 0.8%
55-64: 0.7%
65+: 0.4%
In the accompanying media release the researchers note cases are no longer decreasing overall and:

“School-age children are ... the most affected age group, which could be linked to schools remaining open during lockdown.”

Link to media release & report: imperial.ac.uk/news/210873/co…
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zoë Hyde Profile picture
12 Dec 20
(1/10) Follow-up study of household contacts of people with #COVID19, showing it’s possible to prevent transmission at home.

Daily testing showed some people may not test positive for long. One child was positive for only 2 days. Cases are easily missed.
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27…
(2/10) This was a study of 5 households in Utah, conducted by the CDC. Each household had one index case. CDC staff visited each household within 2-4 days of the index cases’ positive test (day 0), for the next 4 days (day 1-4), and 14 days later. Contacts were tested each visit.
(3/10) In 3 of the 5 households, there was no transmission to other household members (0%).

In the other 2 households, all family members were infected (100%).

Overall, 7 of the total 15 contacts were infected (47%).
Read 10 tweets

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