COVID-19 Scan for Apr 28, 2022

Modeling study shows geographical disparities in US COVID deaths Using excess mortality data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers from Georgetown University found significant regional differences in mortality rates due to COVID-19, with a disproportionate number of virus deaths in Southern states.Excess deaths were analyzed for the period between Jan 3, 2020, to Sep 26, 2021, with Northeast, Midwest, South, and West regions compared.

Though the South only has 38% of the US population, that region has seen 48% of the nation's COVID-19 deaths since October of 2020.Using the excess death data over that same time period, there were 895,693 excess deaths associated with COVID-19, 26% more than previously reported, the authors said.

Since May 31, 2020, the South experienced COVID-19 mortality 26% higher than the national rate, whereas the Northeast's rate was 42% lower.If every region had the same mortality rate as the Northeast, more than 316,234 COVID-19 deaths between May 31, 2020 and Sep 26, 2021 could have been avoided."Our study is the first to quantify avoidable deaths and confirm that both COVID-19 deaths and avoidable deaths disproportionately occurred in the South," said Michael Stoto, PhD, a corresponding author of the study in a press release.The authors attribute these differences to lower vaccine uptake in the South in 2021, and fewer mitigation strategies, including masking, throughout the course of the pandemic.Apr 28 PLoS One studyApr 28 Georgetown University press release Opera-led singing program eased breathlessness in long-COVID patientsAn ongoing online UK program using singing techniques helped relieve post–COVID-19 mental wellbeing and persistent breathlessness,