COVID-19: Infection Rate in France / Return-to-Play Algorithm / Multiorgan Involvement / Transmission Between Cats

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Take a look at the latest news on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

Infection rate in France: Researchers estimate that in France, just 4.4% of the population has been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Their modeling study, reported in Science, also suggests that 65% of the world would need to be immune to establish herd immunity. They write, "Our results therefore strongly suggest that, without a vaccine, herd immunity on its own will be insufficient to avoid a second wave at the end of the lockdown [scheduled for May 11]."

Return to play: In JAMA Cardiology, researchers present an algorithm to help inform when highly active people and competitive athletes can return to play after COVID-19. Among the recommendations: asymptomatic people should not exercise for 2 weeks after a positive COVID-19 result, and those with mild symptoms should not exercise until 2 weeks after symptom resolution.

Multiple organ involvement: SARS-CoV-2 can be found not only in the lungs and pharynx but also in the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys, according to findings from an autopsy series of 27 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Additionally, patients with at least two coexisting conditions were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 tropism for the kidneys, even if they didn't have pre-existing kidney disease.

Transmission between cats: SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted between domestic cats, according to an NEJM report. Researchers inoculated three domestic cats with the virus, and a cat with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was cohoused with each of the inoculated cats 1 day later. Two days later, one of the cohoused cats tested positive for the virus, and by 5 days, all three cohoused cats had tested positive. All of the cats studied were asymptomatic. The researchers note, "Cats may be a silent intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2, because infected cats may not show any appreciable symptoms that might be recognized by their owners."