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More bad news with regard to Covid-19. . . a new study found that most patients hospitalized with Covid-19 have neurological symptoms.
The study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine was published last week. The study “highlights the high frequency and range of neurologic manifestations, which occurred in more than four-fifths of Covid‐19 patients hospitalized in our hospital network system.”
The study looked at medical records data on 509 Covid-19 patients. They were hospitalized in nine hospitals and an academic medical center within the Northwestern Medicine Healthcare system in the Chicago area.
Researchers found that 42.2% of the patients had neurological symptoms of their Covid-19 illness when they first started experiencing symptoms before going to a hospital.
By the time patients were sick enough to be hospitalized, 62.7% of them had neurological symptoms.
Overall, 82% of patients had neurological symptoms during their illness.
The most frequent symptoms were muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, impaired sense of taste, loss of smell and encephalopathy (brain disease that alters brain function).
Researchers found that patients with any neurologic symptoms tended to be younger than those without.
This research lines up with other studies published earlier this year.
A study in April suggested more than a third of 214 Covid-19 patients experienced neurological complications ranging from loss of smell to stroke.
In a University College London study, 10 of 43 patients had brain dysfunction and delirium. Another 12 patients had brain inflammation, eight had nerve damage and another eight had a stroke.
Another paper published in June in The Lancet Psychiatry looked at 153 patients in the UK. It found even those younger than 60 could have psychosis, depression or strokes.
While all these studies were small, it looks likely that the virus can lead to all sorts of neurological complications. Larger studies are sure to follow.
The Big News
Mask-Wearing in Arizona Worked
A report from the CDC showed how masks are effective in taming coronavirus. A stay-at-home order in Arizona expired May 15 and two weeks later, the inevitable happened. The daily average number of COVID-19 cases jumped by 151%, swamping Arizona hospitals. Cases then declined by about 75% between July 3 and July 12. The CDC report said mitigation measures, including masks, “appear to have been effective in decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona.”
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Face Obstacles
The monoclonal antibody cocktail President Trump claims “cured” him of Covid-19 may receive EUA approval soon from the FDA. The treatment consists of manufactured antibodies that are administered soon after a Covid-19 diagnosis. Initial data does show it speeds up the resolution of symptoms and potentially prevents hospitalization. But determining who gets the treatment and the cost could create logistical and ethical problems.
New York City Adopts Targeted Shutdowns
As cases begin to rise in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a targeted approach to combating the spread of the virus. Rather than an all-city lockdown, specific zones will face localized restrictions. This will only curb the spread of coronavirus up to a point. But it is an opportunity to model a new type of containment strategy.
India Surges Past 7 Million Coronavirus Cases
Over the weekend, the total number of coronavirus cases in India topped 7 million. That puts it on track to surpass the U.S. as the country worst hit by the pandemic. Health resources are scarce in the rural parts of the country. That’s why most experts think India’s death toll is much higher than reported. Experts also note that, as elsewhere, many people are growing tired of mask wearing and distancing.
JNJ Halts Covid Vaccine Trial
Johnson & Johnson has paused all trials of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine. This came after one of the participants developed an “adverse reaction.” It was not immediately clear what caused the reaction in the participant, or whether it was linked to the vaccine. JNJ scientists, as well as an independent safety board are studying what happened.
The Coronavirus Numbers
Here are the numbers from Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET from Johns Hopkins University:
- 37,857,361 Infected Worldwide
- 1,081,695 Deaths
- 7,804,660 Infected in the U.S.
- 215,089 Deaths in the U.S.
Airbnb Confidential IPO: Sources Reveal Private Details
Reuters reports that Airbnb plans to IPO in a $31 BILLION deal. My urgent briefing reveals little-known details on the biggest IPO of 2020. Click here ASAP for urgent details.
What’s Next
Wall Street fell in love again yesterday with its old “girlfriend,” TINA.
You remember TINA, don’t you? There Is No Alternative (to stocks).
I think she is dating the Nasdaq whale.
The whale may have also reappeared yesterday, with some large options activity going on. The tech-led surge left the S&P 500 up 1.6%. The Nasdaq soared 2.6%, its best day since April.
Meanwhile, there are also fears of delays to vaccines. Not to mention that rising cases globally are leading to new lockdowns. And Dr. Fauci said our country faces a lot of trouble as case numbers rise into the winter.
This backdrop will favor pandemic winners like U.S. large-cap tech stocks.
5G iPhone Makes Debut
Giving tech a further boost – as if it needed it – is the excitement over the launch of Apple’s 5G iPhone. The 5G iPhone 12. Apple shares surged on a flood of retail options activity amidst the 5G iPhone news.
Apple is expected to unveil its new 5G iPhone 12 today. Investors are eyeing how the 5G iPhone and new product line-up will drive top sales growth in the near term. I think the 5G iPhone debut could be the most important event in several years for Apple.
And when Apple is soaring, other tech stocks usually follow.
Meanwhile, a flood of HUGE IPOs will happen before the New Year. That means it could be your last chance to scoop up private shares of the best big IPOs. Click here ASAP to discover the Billionaire’s Pre-IPO Secret.
Yours in Health & Wealth,
Tony Daltorio