Monthly Archives: August 2022

Laal Singh Chaddha: Is It Unfair To Call For Boycott Of Films Even Before Their Release? – SheThePeople

Posted: August 2, 2022 at 3:53 pm

While responding to a trending Twitter hashtag that is calling for the boycott of his upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha, actor Aamir Khan said, Please dont boycott my films, please watch them. The posts calling for a boycott of the film recalled a controversy from 2015 when Khan had said he was alarmed by the incidents of growing intolerance in India and that his then-wife Kiran Rao had suggested they should probably leave the country. Since then, the actor has been careful not to make a single controversial statement. Responding to calls that his new, much-awaited film be shunned, Khan said he loves India and requested fans to not think otherwise. I really love the country Thats how I am. It is rather unfortunate if some people feel that way. I want to assure everyone that its not the case so please dont boycott my films, please watch them, he added.

It is disappointing how boycott/cancel culture has evolved into a phrase that is all over the news and tossed around in numerous social media conversations like it is not a big deal.

The roots of cancel culture are concealed in a quest to attain some form of meaningful accountability from public figures who are typically answerable to no one. But after centuries of ideological debate turning over questions of free speech, censorship, and, in recent decades, political correctness, it was perhaps inevitable that the cancel culture debate has now become about how we communicate within a right versus the wrong framework.

The core concern of cancel culture accountability remains as crucial a topic as ever. However, the central question is not whether we can hold one another accountable, but how can we ever forgive.

While one part of the practice can mean re-investigating our past under newly forged restrictions, the practice of re-circulating Khans old statements ahead of each of his films releases seems a bit unfair. Because a movie never belongs to just its lead actors alone, thousands of workforce and creative minds put in hard work and time to bring out that magic on the silver screen. This cultural movement has dramatically impacted art. Hence, to decide the films fate even before its release seems quite unjust.

Allowing people to choose what they want to see ensures a vibrant artistic climate. And rather than trying to shut movies down before they reach the box office, activists should instead reach out to audience upon seeing the film and ask if the perspectives presented resonated with them or offended them instead.

At its worst, this boycott culture curtails speech. It threatens the longstanding fundamental freedom. If we limit speech by cancelling those we disagree with, other societal pillars also face peril. When expression is compromised, which freedom is next?

Within the realm of good faith, the cancel culture will produce conversation around these questions, combat wrong behaviour and promote social justice. But taken in bad faith, it will attack all even at the merest sign of dissent.

In an interview, Kareena Kapoor Khan, who plays the female lead in Laal Singh Chaddha, opened up about the boycott trend. She said, I am like Its a film and its going to release and everyone will have their opinion. So thats it. If its a good film, I believe that it will surpass anything, pretty much, the response will be good. I think that good films will surpass anything.

Khans grovelling public avowal of love and loyalty towards his country subsets his enormous contribution to Indian cinema. Perhaps Laal Singh Chaddha will get through the stern eye of bizarre offence-mongers, perhaps not, and only time will tell that. Meanwhile lets hope creative freedom survives the scrutiny and gets its due.

An official remake of Forrest Gump, Laal Singh Chaddha releases in theatres on 11 August.

Suggested Reading: The Conflict Of Cancel Culture: Is It A Catch-22 Situation?

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The Reason Why ‘The Rings of Power’ Is So Controversial – We Got This Covered

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It is rather ironic that mere decades after his death, J.R.R. Tolkiens worst fears about the unbridled evil of industrialization should come after his lifes work and set about the desolation of the impressive Arda legendarium, itself one of the greatest works of literary fiction in history and, dare we claim, the cornerstone of all modern speculative fiction.

While that statement might admittedly be a much too dramatic way of announcing a new Lord of the Rings adaptation is on the way, it perhaps underpins what most Tolkien fans fear these days after witnessing, over the past few years, the rapidly shifting landscape of entertainment, where the need for quantity to feed the furnace of the unruly content frenzy of the streaming age precedes quality and capitalizes on substance rather than value.

Perhaps thats also the reason why most Lord of the Rings fans were too quick to cheer on the licensing deal between Amazon Studios and the Tolkien Estate back in 2017, oblivious to impending industry standards for most adaptations that would attempt to succeed Game of Thrones as the next big fantasy series. Now, more than five years after the deal was struck, Amazon is preparing to introduce the world to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which they refer to not only as their most ambitious undertaking but factually as the most expensive production in the history of television.

The only catch is that while at first, it seemed like a brilliant idea to resurrect Middle-earth nearly two decades after Peter Jacksons highly acclaimed cinematic trilogy, fans are now showing an ill disposition towards The Rings of Power and anything it might have to say about their favorite work of genre fiction, even if theyve seen far too little to leave them with an unbiased impression.

Right now, the overwhelming majority of comments under anything related to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are negative and disparaging towards the companys perceived half-hearted attempt at playing in the grown-ups league of streaming giants such as Netflix and Disney Plus, and theres a good reason why.

Jeff Bezos might claim that this is a passion project for him, but the timing is way too convenient for anyone to believe that. It all goes back to what Tolkien intended with his creation and how it influenced speculative fiction, or more specifically, the high fantasy genre.

Tolkien is now widely regarded as the father of modern fantasy, influencing most of the works that succeeded it in the past several decades. The Linguist professor had sensed a lack of mythos in the British literary canon, and the only story that barely resembled anything of the sort he had in mind involved the Arthurian legend, which was largely developed in France when the two countries were at each others throats in the Middle Ages.

But Tolkiens work, especially through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, blended mythology with the storytelling tropes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, spearheading a literary movement that would help define the entertainment industry as we know it today.

From the early days when dozens of creative writers tried to imitate the success of The Lord of the Rings by untastefully rehashing everything he had done in his story, to prominent Hollywood moguls cautiously dipping their toes into the untraveled waters of speculative fiction in search of gold, the world of Middle-earth has inspired artists and their patrons as usual driven mad by the greed of filling their coffers even more to take a crack at the seemingly impossible case of J.R.R. Tolkien.

I mean, if he could do it, if he could write one of the best-selling novels of all time and become a cultural sensation across the pond from where he lived, so could they, right? Whats more, Tolkien proved to the world that fantastical stories have the potential to be just as profound as what literary snobs refer to as serious literature, so theres no reason it could suddenly stop working or not yield as many fruitful results in other mediums.

And so began the nerd era. While J.R.R. Tolkien definitely wasnt the only creator to influence and inspire the rise of geekdom, he kickstarted the high fantasy movement, in whose shadow the bespoke Mount Tolkien many authors have risen to prominence and success, namely Robert Jordan with his Wheel of Time series and George R.R. Martin with A Song of Ice and Fire.

Of course, todays fantasy landscape bears the name of many acclaimed writers besides the most obvious and popular contenders, each contributing a novel note to this ever-expanding orchestra of imaginative brilliance. (Brandon Sanderson with Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, Patrick Rothfuss with The Kingkiller Chronicle, Joe Abercrombie with The First Law, Robin Hobb with The Realm of Elderlings, etc.)

But no two names have managed to become so embedded into the public psyche as J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin have across the years, and thats mostly thanks to the cinematic medium.

The release of Peter Jacksons The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and its subsequent box office success and critical acclaim, not only reinforced interest in Tolkiens work but also ruffled a few feathers in the speculative sphere of the entertainment industry. What predictably followed was a string of unsuccessful and half-hearted attempts at recapturing Jacksons magic, but lightning would refuse to strike twice until the time came for an unassuming new high fantasy adaptation by HBO to take the world by storm.

Game of Thrones becoming the most popular television series in the world coincided with the golden age of television, a perfect prologue to the age of streaming, by the grace of which were constantly, and perhaps too incessantly, entertained. But as HBOs hit fantasy series slowly crept up on an inevitable end and in hindsight, an altogether controversial and middling one industry moguls quickly got to work brainstorming about the next big fantasy series to take its place in the public psyche, and what better IP than the story that spawned this industry in the first place?

It might have taken them a long time to get here and make the series, but Amazon is in this for the numbers and people recognize it, or else theyd have tried their hand at adapting other novel fantasy stories floating on the edges of awareness, begging to be picked up by a producer.

Now, you might say that the entertainment industry isnt here for the sake of making great art at least not solely and youd be completely right. In any business, the idea is to always capitalize on returns, and Amazon is an absolute powerhouse in this regard. Things become problematic, however, when you factor in the companys track record and the overall trend of adaptations over the past several years, which brings us to our next point.

The Lord of the Rings took many years of Peter Jacksons life because it was an absolute behemoth of a story to spin into existence. But what you ever so subtly discern when watching those movies is the fact that a lot of effort and passion went into making sure that they would become timeless masterpieces. And even if you dont find the creative footprint of that effort tangible, the extensive behind-the-scenes footage left of the work on that trilogy will put any such doubt to rest.

That dedication and passion is something that a lot of adaptations are missing out on today. Because nowadays, when it comes to producing movies and TV shows, youre confronted with a checklist of ideas that come directly out of out-of-touch focus groups that care nothing more than to cater to the whims of their demographics or the so-called genre tropes that theyre certain will work.

Dont get me wrong; Im not talking about political correctness and the warring cultural fronts that have divided audiences right down the middle. The problem occurs when these established narratives and character tropes that must have no doubt yielded great results in the past become the golden foundation on which almost every studio builds its stories, resulting in a long list of adaptations that not only fail to capture the essence of their source material but fail to even work in their own mediums as decent works of entertainment art, being neither entertaining nor artistic.

Netflixs The Witcher, HBOs His Dark Materials, Amazons own The Wheel of Time, Apple TVs Foundation, and even inspired stories like Cursed are but a few contenders in this category. Some of these adaptations are decent enough, mind you, but when all is said and all is done, none have managed to highlight what makes their source material such a lasting work of art, not like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have.

And who is to blame them? For streaming giants, the most important thing is to pick up a culturally relevant and adequately popular story and churn it into content. More and more content, thats what we need. Its all about filling up that watchlist and keeping audiences engaged. Youre done with this fantasy series? Well, dont you worry, you can just hop into another world with a few clicks of your TV remote. And if that doesnt hook you, its no bother whatsoever, because there are dozens more to take its place. Youre eventually going to find what youre looking for, contented, and spend even more time on the platform, if for nothing else than the sheer frustration of going through those endless lists.

Suffice it to say, audiences have slowly recognized a pattern here, so its no wonder that theyre on the fence when it comes to The Lord of the Rings, a story that deeply resonates with them and brings to mind memories of much simpler times.

Consequently, there are many reasons why folks simply dont want to have anything to do with The Rings of Power, or even remotely acknowledge it at the edges of their conscious awareness, despite not having seen a single episode of the new series.

But what if there was a small chance, perhaps barely there, that could turn this reception narrative around on its head?

Because unlike all those other adaptations we talked about, and the general trend of the industry, Amazons adaptation has managed to get a few things right, things that actually go a long way in putting fan concerns to rest.

Perhaps chiefly among them, despite having every reason to not do so, Amazon decided to take their time with this adaption and do it justice. Instead of rushing a television production after acquiring the rights in November 2017, as any company would do especially if theirs was to spearhead a replacement for Game of Thrones Amazon took its time and realized that one does not simply make a Lord of the Rings television series.

Its been almost five years since the Tolkien Estate struck that deal, which means that the crew of The Rings of Power has spent years in pre-production, as Peter Jackson had done, to make sure that every piece of the puzzle falls seamlessly into place. Did they have to spend so much time? We know that a company of HBOs standing is perfectly capable of making a season of television in less than two years, so why take all of that time if all you care about is profit?

Another instance of this proposed hopeful outlook comes courtesy of several creatives whom Amazon has consulted or even contracted from The Lord of the Rings trilogy to help them realize this vision. The inclusion of Howard Shore as the composer for the main theme, and John Howe as the graphic artist for world building purposes, sends across a clear signal: We know how much the trilogy means to you. So, were going to make sure that the language of our world is synonymous with the Middle-earth youve grown to love.

And ultimately, wed be remiss to not mention the elephant in the room. Amazon has already spent something close to $500 million on the first season of The Rings of Power, making it, effectively, the most expensive television production in the history of this medium. While we all know that dedicating these egregious sums isnt necessarily going to put a dent in Amazons deepless purse, this pattern of behavior once again fails to correspond to the trend of the industry.

As stated earlier, the goal of this business is to capitalize on profits, which means that Amazon didnt have to go this big. Whether wed want to admit it or not, the company is taking a gamble here, one that they know wont pay off if the series is anything other than spectacular and immediately popular.

It would also do to note all the reassuring things showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have repeatedly said over the past few months, but if youre already feeling skeptical of the series, nothing that they have to say is going to change your mind, which is why we decided to stick with an otherwise outside perspective for this piece.

Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings fans have every right to their misgivings about The Rings of Power. But at the same time, I dont think the franchise as a whole would benefit from any of us auguring its doom before the time has come.

I might live to regret these words, but perhaps, and against my better judgment, I should like to give the series a chance to prove its merit.

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August 2022 Covid-19 And Monkeypox Travel Restrictions – Forbes

Posted: at 3:52 pm

This summer is still an ideal time to travel as there are minimal travel restrictions for domestic and international travel. However, not every country is open for leisure travel. Additionally, your vaccination status can impede entry to select destinations as well.

Tourists enjoy the day at Jibacoa Beach, Mayabeque Province, Cuba, on August 1, 2022. (Photo by ... [+] Yamil LAGE / AFP) (Photo by YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)

United States Travel Restrictions

U.S. residents can visit various states and cities without restrictions, making it easy to go to a picture-perfect beach destination. Local travel restrictions may still apply in major cities.

Mask Mandates

The TSA mask mandate for commercial travel is still suspended as the federal appeal makes its way through the court system.

The most prevalent local mask mandate affecting travelers concerns these three New York City airports:

Another high-profile indoor mask mandate policy from Californias Los Angeles County expired at the end of July.

Tourist spots may also have indoor mask requirements, including visitor centers and crowded exhibits at national parks.

Monkeypox Travel Restrictions

Its still too soon to tell if monkeypox will have the same detrimental effects on business trips and leisure travel like the novel coronavirus. Currently, case counts are rising across the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) also declared a public health emergency for the virus in late July.

So far, California, Illinois and New York have declared a state of emergency. Travelers should practice several CDC recommendations to prevent exposure.

Vaccine Mandate For Visitors

The United States no longer requires a negative pre-arrival test, but international visitors eligible for the coronavirus vaccine must be fully vaccinated. There are no vaccination requirements for returning United States citizens and lawful residents.

Canada

Canada remains open to fully vaccinated visitors only. No pre-arrival test is required when entering by air, land or sea. You must upload your vaccine dates and lot information into the ArriveCAN act to avoid a mandatory quarantine.

Latin America Travel Restrictions

Many Latin American countries are continuing to lighten their travel protocols. For example, Belize no longer requires purchasing Covid travel insurance. The government ended this requirement on July 14, 2022.

Most countries no longer require pre-arrival test results for fully vaccinated guests. However, indoor mask mandates can still be active.

Unvaccinated travelers must obtain a negative test result to enter most Central American and South American countries. Brazil and a couple of other smaller countries continue to ban unvaccinated visitors.

Mexico and Costa Rica continue to have some of the most lenient entry guidelines.

Europe

Most of Europe is open without restrictions to the vaccinated and unvaccinated. However, France and Spain require a pre-arrival test for entry. Unless they fall under an exemption, the Netherlands prohibits unvaccinated non-European residents from entry.

Australia

Australia ceased its vaccination and pre-arrival testing requirements in early July 2022. Travelers no longer need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration either.

New Zealand

Starting August 1, 2022, New Zealands borders are fully open for the first time since the pandemics beginning. In most situations, visitors must be fully vaccinated and take two post-arrival tests.

The country also requires a passenger declaration form to collect the travelers vaccination details, travel history for the past 14 days and emergency contact details.

Asia

The Asian region continues to have some of the strictest requirements. Thankfully, its possible to travel to several pre-pandemic tourism favorites.

Japan

The Land of the Rising Sun reopened in June for tourism booked through travel agencies and essential travel like business and education. A negative pre-arrival test from visitors and downloading the MySOS mobile app (or another app) upon arrival are required. Visitors without a smart phone may rent one.

Thailand

Thailand ended most of its travel restrictions in early July. Now, short-term visitors only need to show proof of vaccination or a negative pre-arrival test. The country also no longer requires filling out the cumbersome Thailand Pass. Travel authorities reported an immediate increase in flight bookings.

Philippines

The Philippines are open to vaccinated travelers only. Its not necessary to have a pre-arrival test, but a health declaration form is required.

Summary

The Americas and Europe continue to be the most lenient travel destinations in most situations. Post-pandemic international travel is as easy as possible now that more countries are removing health pass and travel insurance requirements. This month is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a final summer trip.

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COVID-19 Daily Update 8-1-2022 – West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Posted: at 3:52 pm

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of August 1, 2022, there are currently 3,335 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 5 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 7,161 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 80-year old male from Harrison County, a 70-year old female from Kanawha County, a 67-year old male from Kanawha County, a 74-year old male from Wetzel County, and an 83-year old male from Cabell County.

Each loved one lost is forever remembered, and as a state we grieve with their families, friends and neighbors, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. COVID vaccines and booster shots are readily available statewide and I encourage all West Virginians to receive this life-saving vaccine.

CURRENT ACTIVE CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (35), Berkeley (199), Boone (59), Braxton (10), Brooke (28), Cabell (186), Calhoun (8), Clay (7), Doddridge (8), Fayette (94), Gilmer (10), Grant (20), Greenbrier (67), Hampshire (40), Hancock (34), Hardy (35), Harrison (131), Jackson (23), Jefferson (81), Kanawha (301), Lewis (27), Lincoln (44), Logan (71), Marion (114), Marshall (61), Mason (43), McDowell (39), Mercer (147), Mineral (35), Mingo (43), Monongalia (173), Monroe (48), Morgan (29), Nicholas (72), Ohio (66), Pendleton (5), Pleasants (13), Pocahontas (15), Preston (40), Putnam (97), Raleigh (217), Randolph (43), Ritchie (20), Roane (32), Summers (21), Taylor (30), Tucker (0), Tyler (10), Upshur (43), Wayne (47), Webster (23), Wetzel (13), Wirt (13), Wood (191), Wyoming (74). To find the cumulative cases per county, please visit coronavirus.wv.gov and look on the Cumulative Summary tab which is sortable by county.

West Virginians ages 6 months and older are recommended to get vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19. Those 5 years and older should receive a booster shot when due. Second booster shots for those age 50 and over who are 4 months or greater from their first booster are recommended, as well as for younger individuals over 12 years old with serious and chronic health conditions that lead to being considered moderately to severely immunocompromised.

Visit the WV COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator, a free, online tool that helps individuals figure out when they may be due for a COVID-19 shot, making it easier to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, or to find a vaccine site near you, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.

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New Numbers Show More Californians are Getting Reinfected With COVID-19 – NBC Bay Area

Posted: at 3:52 pm

A growing number of Californians are getting COVID-19 a second time.

New state numbers show one out of every seven new cases in July was a reinfection and infectious disease specialists say the highly transmissible variant BA.5 is playing a big role in the increase in reinfections.

Among those reinfected was San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who announced on Twitter he had COVID for the second time in two months.

According to the new state health department numbers last month, at least 50,000 people came down with COVID for a second time.

We have had an incredible number of infections in our clinics and throughout the city, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, UCSF infectious disease specialist.

Dr. Gandhi said the highly transmissible BA.5 variant is behind many of those reinfections.

I think it's just that BA.5 evades antibodies and that's what protects us from getting infections in our nose and mouth so we are seeing so many more infections with BA.5, she said.

Dr. Gandhi said people are unlikely to get infected twice within a few months with the same variant and the second infection is usually less severe.

She also said President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID again on Saturday, is not considered a reinfection.

That is called a paxlovid rebound. A virus test came out positive in his nose. After taking paxlovid. It doesn't mean he got a new infection, she said.

The Biden administration is pre-purchasing tens of millions of newly formulated "BA.5 specific" boosters expected to be ready for approval in September.

Dr. Ghandi anticipates that this will help reduce the number of COVID reinfections in the future.

Doctors also said it's possible people who already had COVID let their guard down, and quit wearing masks as often, thinking their antibodies will protect them.

That also may have played a role in the number of reinfections.

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How ‘Never COVID’ Novids Have Avoided COVID-19 – Healthline

Posted: at 3:52 pm

Two and a half years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that a majority of people in the United States have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at least once.

Some have contracted COVID-19 multiple times.

Then there are the Never COVID or Novids the people who, despite sometimes living or working in high-exposure environments, have never tested positive for COVID-19.

Researchers are trying to find out why, in hopes of identifying protective factors that could prevent other people from getting sick.

Experts who spoke to Healthline pointed out several major factors that may be helping Novids avoid the illness. Among them include:

There are probably a lot of different explanations. One of the most important is vaccination, Dr. Erica Johnson, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland who chairs the Infectious Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine, told Healthline. Age, timing, and type of immune response, whether you get exposed before or after vaccination, chronic diseases all of these go into an individuals immune response.

Some people have been more faithful to mitigation measures, including being vaccinated and boosted, masking, social distancing and avoiding crowds, working remotely, and avoiding travel and venues that increase risk, David Souleles, MPH, director of the COVID-19 Response at the University of California at Irvine and director of MPH Program & Practice at the UCI Program in Public Health, told Healthline. These measures all work to reduce the risk of becoming infected and, when layered together, can provide significant protection against COVID-19 infection.

Research from earlier this year suggests that people with a certain genetic makeup may be more susceptible to a COVID-19 infection or serious illness.

However, researchers note that certain types of gene expressions could also provide a protective effect something that already is known to be the case with other infectious diseases.

We seek to understand if the individual genetic makeup of people might explain why some do not contract COVID-19 despite intense exposure to the virus. To test this hypothesis, we use cutting-edge human genetic techniques to study those people who appear naturally resistant to SARS-CoV-2, Dr. Andrs N. Spaan, a clinical microbiologist at The Rockefeller University in New York and one of the co-founders of the international COVID Human Genetic Effort, told Healthline.

An individuals immune response to other health conditions and illnesses also may provide some protection against COVID-19, some studies suggest.

For example, researchers reported in a May 2022 study that people with food allergies seemed to have a lower COVID-19 risk.

There also has been some discussion around whether there is any protective effect from exposure to other coronaviruses, such as the common cold, said Johnson.

For some Novids, simply not being exposed to people with COVID-19 could be the simple answer to why they have never tested positive.

As a network security engineer and an entrepreneur, I have the luxury to work from home. I have managed to remain Novid even though I am not as careful as I used to be at the beginning of the pandemic, Andreas Grant, founder of Networks Hardware, told Healthline. I was super strict about following rules and had some of my own made-up rules as well. Even after I heard that you cant catch COVID-19 from food, I continued heating every takeaway order I received. For packaged foods, I either didnt touch them for a specific period of time or washed them. I continued wearing my mask even after everyone else stopped officially wearing them.

Other Novids, though, may simply have been unaware they had the illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 70 percent of Americans have already had a COVID-19 infection with a number of them having contracted the disease without knowing it.

It is likely that some people have had COVID-19 and did not know it because they did not test, said Souleles. They may have been asymptomatic or had mild symptoms and attributed those symptoms to a cold, flu, or allergies.

I had COVID-19 early in the pandemic before vaccines were available, Erica Susky, a microbiologist and hospital infection-control expert at IPAC Canada, told Healthline. Even at that time, many people such as myself experienced very mild symptoms.

I would have never known, based on my symptoms alone, if I had COVID-19 unless I was PCR tested as part of an outbreak, Susky noted. In a regular situation, I would have attributed my symptoms to being overtired, it did not feel much like a cold or flu. If one had a mild illness and tested negative via a [less reliable] rapid antigen test, they may never know with certainty whether or not they had COVID-19.

A combination of reduced attention to preventive measures such as masking and physical distancing, combined with the rise of vaccine-resistant and immunity-resistant COVID-19 variants such as BA.5, could shrink the population of Novids.

Dr. David Culpepper, clinical director of the telehealth company LifeMD, told Healthline that while wearing a mask and avoiding large gatherings can help people avoid COVID-19, Most of us know at least one person who has taken all of the available precautions and has still gotten COVID-19.

I am not suggesting that you should not wear a mask and take other precautions. You should do everything in your power to reduce your risk of contracting the virus, said Culpepper. Im merely pointing out that some who have contracted COVID-19 have taken a lot of precautions and have just been unlucky. And there is likewise a certain amount of luck involved in those who have avoided it.

Now that we are living in an almost post-pandemic world where many of us are vaccinated, I am not as strict as I used to be, said Grant. I recently had to start wearing glasses, so I dont feel like wearing my mask while I have my glasses on. I make an effort to avoid crowded places, but as a movie buff, I cant help myself from frequently visiting indoor movie theaters. I am not following my made-up rules either, so at this point, I am probably just lucky.

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Health officials predict COVID-19 cases will rise once school starts, as millions of kids remain unvaccinated – ABC Action News Tampa Bay

Posted: at 3:52 pm

TAMPA, Fla. With the start of the school year just days away now, health officials are keeping a close eye on COVID-19 numbers.

Its going to spread and probably like wildfire, said Dr. David Berger, Board Certified Pediatrician for Wholistic Pediatrics and Family Care.

I believe theres going to be a pretty good bump in the number of cases that were seeing when kids go back to school, said Dr. Thomas Unnasch, Distinguished USF Health Professor.

The concern isnt just about who catches it but how sick people will get.

The virus doesnt cause as much disease in kids, which is a benefit, said Dr. Michael Teng, Virologist and Association Professor for USF Health.

Its a different story for adults who dont have any immunity.

Were going to see quite a few cases being brought home to mom and dad, said Unnasch.

Thats why federal health officials are urging everyone to stay up to date on their vaccines.

The vaccination rates for kids are much lower than theyd hoped.

The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show only 30.3% of kids ages 5-11 are fully vaccinated, and 60.2% of kids ages 12-17 are fully vaccinated.

Most of the kids have not been vaccinated, said Unnasch.

This is especially worrisome because the omicron subvariant BA.5 is the dominant strain, and its the most infectious mutation to date.

Everybody is going to get exposed to this, said Unnasch.

Experts think the start of the school year will only fuel the spread.

Were not going to have any mask mandates or anything in the schools, so the kids are just going to be out doing their kid thing, which is spreading viruses amongst themselves, said Unnasch.

If they keep transmitting the virus, the virus is going to keep figuring out a way around our immune system, and then its going to get back out into the population, into those vulnerable populations, said Teng.

Doctors believe there are some things parents can do to keep their kids healthy.

They recommend talking to their childs pediatrician about giving them vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.

People who have good vitamin D and zinc levels are protected against severity of viruses and even catching them, said Berger.

He recommends that parents should make sure their kids are getting enough sleep.

We know how important sleep is. Kids, especially older kids, high schoolers, do not get enough sleep. If we dont have good rest, thats going to decrease our ability to fight, said Berger.

Avoiding processed foods can also help kids stay healthy, according to Berger.

We know with COVID-19, its not just the infection, but the inflammation thats causing people to get more sick than they might otherwise. There are certain foods that are more triggering for inflammation. A lot of processed foods, a lot of high sugary foods, he said.

There are foods that we know are able to help out with inflammation more and thats eating lots of fruits and vegetables, the bioflavonoids, the vitamins the minerals in there. In particular, broccoli and broccoli sprouts, Berger added.

These are all things that can help the body be optimal for fighting off infections and fighting off severity, he said.

Health officials believe its crucial that if a child does have any COVID-19 symptoms, they stay home from school.

We dont want to be getting an entire classroom sick and the teachers sick, said Berger.

Testing is going to play a pretty important role. I would hope that parents will start testing their kids, and if their child shows up positive, they will hold them out from school, said Unnasch.

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Health officials predict COVID-19 cases will rise once school starts, as millions of kids remain unvaccinated - ABC Action News Tampa Bay

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Saline County reported 165 additional COVID-19 cases this week – Salina Journal

Posted: at 3:52 pm

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK| Salina Journal

Kansas reported 7,490 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, from 7,635 the week before of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Kansas ranked 19th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States increased 7.4% from the week before, with 906,593 cases reported. With 0.88% of the country's population, Kansas had 0.83% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 28 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Saline County reported 165 cases and minus one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 160 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 15,084 cases and 251 deaths.

Within Kansas, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Hamilton County with 906 cases per 100,000 per week; Woodson County with 574; and Grant County with 573. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Sedgwick County, with 1,393 cases; Johnson County, with 1,309 cases; and Shawnee County, with 644. Weekly case counts rose in 55 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Cowley, Montgomery and Geary counties.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Across Kansas, cases fell in 48 counties, with the best declines in Reno County, with 149 cases from 230 a week earlier; in Finney County, with 131 cases from 191; and in Riley County, with 116 cases from 162.

In Kansas, five people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, nine people were reported dead.

A total of 835,500 people in Kansas have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 8,971 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 91,316,648 people have tested positive and 1,029,926 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, July 31. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Hospitals in 24 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 21 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 30 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

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Saline County reported 165 additional COVID-19 cases this week - Salina Journal

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COVID-19 vaccine verification assistance and testing site updates – University of California, Riverside

Posted: at 3:52 pm

Dear Campus Community,

Beginning August 1, our on-campus COVID-19 testing sites have augmented their services and resources available to all UC Riverside faculty, staff, and students.

Employees who have not yet uploaded their COVID-19 vaccination/booster record into the MyChart system and would prefer to show proof of vaccination in person or virtually to the COVID-19 Management Team, can do so at either of our testing sites or by scheduling an appointment via Zoom.

In-Person VerificationNo appointment is necessary. You can walk-in and show proof of vaccination.

ZoomSchedule a time by either e-mailing covid19@ucr.edu or calling 844-827-6827 and selecting option no. 1. A Zoom link will be sent to you for your appointment time.

Please note that you will need to provide your photo ID or UCR ID and your COVID-19 vaccination card* for in person verification. We will not make a copy of the employees vaccine card.

*Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO), which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date doses administered A photo of a vaccination card as a separate document A photo of a vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device Documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider Digital record that includes a QR code that when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader displays to the reader name, date of birth, vaccination dates, and vaccine type.

COVID-19 TestingFree PCR testing continues at both inside the Student Success Center and at Glen Mor. Hours have been slightly modified for the summer. No appointment is necessary.

Glen Mor Building C Room 001 Monday-Thursday: 6:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Friday: 6:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Student Success Center Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

ResourcesAdditional items available for pick up include at the Glen Mor testing location include: Surgical and N95 masks Free antigen test kits (request form) Hand sanitizer bottles

You may also request free test kits to be mailed to your home address by visiting http://www.covid.gov/tests.

Face CoveringsAs a reminder, UCR strongly encourages the use of masks for everyone while indoors. Masks continue to be required in clinical settings including Student Health Services.

Individuals who have medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine policy must continue to mask while on campus, test weekly, and report their testing completion via the COVID Screening Check.

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Hyperglycemia in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors and Outcomes – Cureus

Posted: at 3:52 pm

Background: Hyperglycemia is commonly seen in critically ill patients. This disorder was also seen in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and was associated with a worse prognosis. The current study determined the prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic implications of hyperglycemia in COVID-19 patients.

Method: This was a retrospective observational study performed in an intensive care unit for COVID-19 patients. Electronic data of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit from August 2nd to October 15th, 2021, were collected. Patients were divided into non-hyperglycemia, hyperglycemia in diabetic patients, and hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients. Primary outcomes were 28-day and in-hospital mortalities. Multinomial logistic regression and multivariable Cox regression models were used to determine the risk factors for hyperglycemia and mortality, respectively.

Results: Hyperglycemia was documented in 65.6% of patients: diabetic patients (44.8%) and new-onset hyperglycemia (20.8%). In-hospital and 28-day mortality rates were 30.2% and 26.1%, respectively. Respiratory failure, corticosteroid therapy, and a higher level of procalcitonin were risk factors for hyperglycemia in diabetic patients, whereas cardiovascular diseases, respiratory failure, and higher aspartate aminotransferase/glutamate aminotransferase ratio were risk factors for hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients. The risk of the 28-day mortality rate was highest in the new-onset hyperglycemia (hazard ratio [HR] 3.535, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.338-9.338, p=0.011), which was higher than hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (HR 1.408, 95% CI 0.513-3.862, p=0.506).

Conclusion: Hyperglycemia was common in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. Hyperglycemia reflected the disease severity but was also secondary to therapeutic intervention. New-onset hyperglycemia was associated with poorer outcomes than that in diabetic patients.

Since December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly across the globe and claimed more than 511 million infected cases and 6.22 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest plagues in the human history [1].

Chronic comorbidities are common in severe and critical COVID-19 patients [2]. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was the second most frequent chronic disease in COVID-19 patients and was a risk factor for severity and mortality in this group of patients [3-5]. Compared to baseline hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), acute hyperglycemia in diabetes is a stronger predictor of death in critically ill diabetic patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) [6,7]. Hyperglycemiais also common among non-diabetic patients in ICU, and the more severe hyperglycemia is, the higher the risk of respiratory failure, infection, and mortality [8,9]. Interestingly, acute hyperglycemia is more harmful to non-diabetic patients than to diabetic patients in the ICU [10]. It was demonstrated that diabetes and hyperglycemia were the risk factors for a poorer prognosis of the previous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease [11]. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was recognized that pre-existing T2DM, newly diagnosed T2DM, and new-onset hyperglycemia were associated with a worse prognosis in COVID-19 patients [12,13].

Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients is caused by multiple pathological conditions, including inflammatory reactions. Cytokine storm plays a central role in the pathology of COVID-19 [14]. It is not surprising that hyperglycemia occurs in COVID-19 patients [5]. However, different from other critical diseases and also different from those in the early phase of the COVID-pandemic, the wide adoption of corticosteroid therapy (CST), especially mini pulse CST in the second half of the year 2021, might affect the epidemiology and the outcome of acute hyperglycemia in COVID-19 patients. This study was performed in this clinical context to investigate the incidence, the possible risk factors of hyperglycemia, and the effect of hyperglycemia in 28-day in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

This retrospective observational study recruited all COVID-19 patients, confirmed with positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, admitted to our COVID-19 intensive care center from August 2nd to October 15th, 2021. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 following the World Health Organization (WHO) interim guidance [15]. We excluded patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, patients under 18 years of age, patients in whom a presence of a T2DM was not confirmed or excluded with certainty, and patients whose electronic medical record was not well documented. This center, a part of a field hospital, was a tertiary referral center established during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the city of 10 million inhabitants.

The relevant data were extracted from the electronic medical records. Data of each patient were collected by two investigators. Any collected information that required further clarification was reviewed by the most senior investigatorsor by the whole team.

We mostly used capillary blood glucose (BG) values in clinical practice. The venous BG from the central laboratory was issued on a daily checkup or on demand, usually in combination with other hematological, biochemical, and immunological tests. Should the venous BG report an abnormal result, we used the capillary BG for closer monitoring. This study used the capillary BG values for analysis. All patients had their capillary BG values measured on admission to the ICU.

Hyperglycemia was defined when a patient had at least two random BG values >180 mg/dL in 24 hours. Based on the BG level during the hospital stay and history of T2DM, we divided the patients into three groups as follows:

Non-hyperglycemia: non-diabetic or T2DM patients who did not meet the criteria of hyperglycemia during their hospital stay;

Hyperglycemia with T2DM: at least two random BG values >180 mg/dL in 24 hours and the patient had been previously diagnosed with T2DM; and

New-onset hyperglycemia: at least two random BG values >180 mg/dL in 24 hours and the T2DM was excluded.

The primary outcome was 28-day and in-hospital mortality in the three groups mentioned above.

The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics, version 28.0.1.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Data are expressed as frequency (percentage) for categorical variables; mean standard deviation, and median (interquartile range) for continuous parameters. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare three groups. In univariate analysis, the chi-square test was used for categorical parameters and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous parameters to compare the survival and death groups. The variables that had significance in the univariate analysis were included in multivariate Cox (proportional-hazards) regression to identify the independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality. All statistical tests were two-tailed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The present study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (approval number: 08022022/HDDD-BVDHYD). The informed consent for participation was obtained from the patients or their family members. All methods were performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

After screening, 517 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the three groups on admission are presented in Table 1. The incidence of hyperglycemia was 65.6%. The non-hyperglycemia group was younger than the two groups with hyperglycemia. The two groups with hyperglycemia were comparable in age and body mass index (BMI), but the T2DM hyperglycemia group had a significantly higher percentage of female patients (62.9% vs. 52.3%). Comorbidities were common in three groups, with arterial hypertension more dominant in the T2DM hyperglycemia group. On admission, clinical parameters were not significantly different between the two groups with hyperglycemia. The respiratory failure in the non-hyperglycemia was less severe than in the rest. In the non-hyperglycemia group, there were 24 diabetic patients (13.5%). The new-onset hyperglycemia incidence in non-diabetic patients was 41.0% (107/261 patients).

As well recognized as a factor inducing hyperglycemia, CST was also investigated in the current study. Briefly, the new-onset hyperglycemia group seemed to receive slightly higher doses of corticosteroids than the two other groups.

The laboratory results on the admission of the three groups of patients are presented in Table 2. Both T2DM and new-onset hyperglycemia groups demonstrated higher levels of inflammatory markers, namely white blood cell counts (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and interleukin-6, except for the plasma fibrinogen concentration. The procalcitonin concentrations of the three groups were statistically different in absolute values as well as in terms of the proportions of patients with procalcitonin levels equal to or above 0.5 ng/mL. The renal function of T2DM hyperglycemia and new-onset hyperglycemia groups was more depressed than the non-hyperglycemia group. Liver function tests in three groups showed a mild degree of hepatic damage with a higher aspartate aminotransferase/glutamate aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio in the new-onset hyperglycemia group.

We further investigated the independent risk factors of T2DM hyperglycemia and new-onset hyperglycemia. The analysis results are presented in Table 3. The invasive mechanical ventilation on admission, procalcitonin level of more than 0.5 ng/mL, and CST were the risk factors for hyperglycemia in T2DM patients. In non-diabetic patients, invasive mechanical ventilation on admission was still an important independent risk factor for hyperglycemia. In addition, the presence of cardiovascular diseases and the high AST/ALT ratio were also the risk factors for hyperglycemia in non-diabetic COVID-19 patients.

Out of 517 patients enrolled in the study, 156 (30.2%) patients died in the hospital. The 28-day mortality was 3.9% (7/178), 34.5% (80/232), and 44.9% (48/107) in the non-hyperglycemia, T2DM hyperglycemia, and new-onset hyperglycemia group, respectively.

The hazard ratio (HR) for death with adjustment for other risk factors was significantly increased among patients with hyperglycemia with or without T2DM compared to those of the non-hyperglycemia group (Figure 1).

We also noticed that the percentage of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation was significantly higher (70%) in the new-onset hyperglycemia groupthan in the T2DM hyperglycemia group (51%) and in patients without hyperglycemia (9%).

We also performed a multivariable Cox regression model to identify the risk factors of 28-day in-hospital mortality. The results are presented in Table 4.Out of 13 parameters investigated, higher age, increased mean glucose level, D-dimer, new-onset hyperglycemia, PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission, PCT 0.5 ng/mL, and average daily corticosteroid dose were independently associated with increased risk of mortality. Interestingly, the new-onset hyperglycemia was associated with an important increase in in-hospital mortality (HR 3.535, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.338-9.338, p = 0.011).

It is well established that diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing and dying from infectious diseases [16,17]. Hyperglycemia is a common manifestation directly correlated with increased mortality or morbidity in critically ill patients [18-20]. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the first studies found that diabetes was one of the most common comorbidities in COVID-19 patients [4,21]. In COVID-19 patients, hyperglycemia may be further accentuated due to the intense cytokine storm [22]. Little evidence existed on whether hyperglycemia in COVID-19 patients bears any significant prognostic implication. The current study investigated the incidence of hyperglycemia, the risk factors of hyperglycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients, and the impact of hyperglycemia on mortality and morbidity.

The incidence of hyperglycemia was noticeably high (65.6%) in the studied population. Hyperglycemia-associated mortality in critically ill patients and the beneficial effects of glycemic control have been intensively studied since the breakthrough work by Van den Berghe et al. [8]. These studies have shed light on the mechanism of hyperglycemia and its harmful consequence in this group of patients. The mechanisms of hyperglycemia in COVID-19 patients are likely multifactorial and were discussed in depth elsewhere [22]. The incidence of hyperglycemia in our study was higher than that in a study by Bode et al., including COVID-19 patients from 88 hospitals in the United States, where hyperglycemia was documented in 40% of patients [23]. Several possible reasons for the higher incidence of hyperglycemia in the current study should be mentioned. Our study was conducted in a field hospital built when the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak, causing overwhelming in the healthcare facility and human resources. These factors might reduce the required adhesion to protocolized management, including glycemic control in critically ill patients. Furthermore, the current study was performed after nearly two months of strict travel restrictions and city lockdown. The consequent lifestyle change, reduced physical activity, poorly controlled diets, and difficulty in medical access, especially the diabetic medications, might partially explain the high incidence of hyperglycemia [22].

The new-onset hyperglycemia was documented in 20.8% of all patients and 41.0% of non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. This incidence was lower than that (28.4%) in the retrospective study by Li et al. [13]. More importantly, the widespread CST therapy, especially the mini-pulse dose, was obviously responsible for hyperglycemia, as shown in Table 3. Previous studies showed that 53-70% of non-diabetic individuals developed steroid-induced hyperglycemia after being treated with high-dose corticosteroids [24,25].

The 28-day and the in-hospital mortality rates were 26.1% and 30.2%, respectively. Our center was the tertiary referral hospital receiving the most severe COVID-19 patients during the zenith of the pandemic. This might explain the higher mortality rate compared to previous studies from China and United States. Besides a higher 28-day mortality, the new-onset hyperglycemia was also related to an increased need for mechanical ventilation during the hospitalization (70%) compared to the T2DM hyperglycemia group (51%). The current study confirmed once again the findings in previous works [3,26]: the new-onset hyperglycemia was associated with poorer outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Compared to the non-hyperglycemia group, the risk of the 28-day mortality rate was highest in the new-onset hyperglycemia (HR 3.535, 95% CI 1.338-9.338, p = 0.011), which was higher than T2DM hyperglycemia (HR 1.408, 95% CI 0.513-3.862, p = 0.506). The clinical and laboratory findings in T2DM hyperglycemia and new-onset hyperglycemia in the current study indicated the more severe manifestations in these two groups compared to the rest. At the first glance, the severity in the two hyperglycemia groups was not significant. However, the levels of CRP (72.7 mg/L vs. 57.9 mg/L), D-dimer (1540 ng/mL vs. 1139 ng/mL), AST/ALT ratio (1.5 vs. 1.2), and the proportion of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (30.8% vs. 23.3%) on admission were higher in the new-onset than in the T2DM hyperglycemia group. This difference in severity may explain why the new-onset hyperglycemia group had poorer outcomes than the T2DM hyperglycemia group. It has been demonstrated that the relationship between hyperglycemia and COVID-19 is a complex and bidirectional interaction: hormone dysregulations with insulin resistance and the intense cytokine storm in COVID-19 induce hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia, in turn, adversely affects the host immune response [27], increases inflammatory cytokines [28], and facilitates SARS-CoV-2 replication [29]. More importantly, hyperglycemia worsened the progression of respiratory failure [26]. T2DM has been well proven as one of the most common chronic comorbidities and an important risk factor for poorer outcomes and higher mortality in COVID-19 patients. Our study reinforced the evidence in a new demographic, therapeutic, and socio-economic population. The important finding was that the new-onset hyperglycemia patients were associated with higher mortality and other secondary outcomes compared to T2DM patients who developed hyperglycemia during their hospitalization due to COVID-19. The new-onset hyperglycemia mirrored the severity of COVD-19 disease and adversely affected the clinical course of these patients. Therefore, new-onset hyperglycemia is a strong predictor of severity in COVID-19 patients.

Hyperglycemia was documented in approximately two-thirds of severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU. Hyperglycemia in patients with T2DM was more frequently seen and two-foldhigher than the new-onset hyperglycemia. The new-onset hyperglycemia group had the highest 28-day and in-hospital mortality rates, followed by the T2DM hyperglycemia group. The lowest mortality rates were documented in the non-hyperglycemia group. Similarly, the percentage of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation was significantly higher in the new-onset hyperglycemia group than in the T2DM hyperglycemia group and in patients without hyperglycemia. CST was the strongest independent risk factor for hyperglycemia in T2DM patients, whereas respiratory failure, reflected by the proportion of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation upon admission, was the strongest independent risk factor of hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients. New-onset hyperglycemia was the most important risk factor for death in COVID-19 patients. The present study suggests that BG levels should be actively monitored in severe and critical COVID-19 patients. The occurrence of hyperglycemia in these patients, especially those without a previous diagnosis of T2DM, should be considered a marker of severity and worse outcomes. More studies are required to elucidate the likely multifactorial mechanisms of new-onset hyperglycemia in COVID-19 and the bidirectional interaction between new-onset hyperglycemia and severity in COVID-19 disease. We also need a prospective study investigating the impact of glycemic control in this group of patients and other similar diseases.

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Hyperglycemia in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: Risk Factors and Outcomes - Cureus

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