Slideshow: COVID-19 Cognitive Losses, Pandemic Restrictions Decreased Mortality

Although cases of COVID-19 are significantly less than what has been seen previously, they have been increasing for several weeks. Cases are also likely much higher than what current reports suggest due to the scaling back of disease surveillance. The current rise in cases is due to the FLiRT variant, which is the name for a family of variants including KP.2 and JN.1.7, among others.¹ And while the public health emergency ended in May 2023, the virus still represents a threat to public health. That’s why research into COVID-19 remains ongoing, with recent studies assessing cognitive loss after an infection, how pandemic restrictions impacted excess deaths, and the increase in physicians experiencing PTSD.

READ MORE: COVID-19 Resource Center

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References

1. Katella K. 3 Things to Know About FLiRT and LB.1, the New Coronavirus Strains. News Report. Yale Medicine. July 11, 2024. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/3-things-to-know-about-flirt-new-coronavirus-strains

2. de Pádua Serafim A, Saffi F, Soares ARA, et al. Cognitive performance of post-covid patients in mild, moderate, and severe clinical situations. BMC Psychol. 12, 236 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01740-7

3. Ruhm CJ. US State Restrictions and Excess COVID-19 Pandemic Deaths. JAMA Health Forum. 2024;5(7):e242006. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.2006

4. Kamra M, Dhaliwal S, Li W, et al. Physician Posttraumatic Stress Disorder During COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2423316. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.23316