THE NETHERLANDS,UK, THE PHILIPPINES, KENYA,INDIA: An algorithm that can accurately predict the risk of developing severe complications due to COVID-19, including hospitalisation and death, has been developed by Dutch researchers.
The algorithm can be applied to identify persons with highest risks from data in the electronic health records of general practitioners.
The Covid algorithm performed well to predict the risk of severe complications of COVID-19 in the first and second waves of COVID-19 infections in the Netherlands, the team from VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc) wrote in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal.
The algorithm was developed from a training data set comprising 70 per cent of the patients and validated in the remaining 30 per cent. Potential predictor variables included age, sex, chronic co-morbidity score based on risk factors for COVID-19 complications, obesity, neighbourhood deprivation score, first or second COVID-19 wave, and confirmation test.
The team collected information from a database of COVID-19 diagnoses and co-morbidities in the country.
Meanwhile, U.K. Government advisers have recommended against giving a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and people over 80 because data shows that a third shot offers lasting protection against admission to the hospital.
For people over 65, protection against hospitalization remains at about 90% three months after the third dose, according to data compiled by the U.K. Health Security Agency.
Meanwhile, The Philippines ordered an increase in hospital beds and medical resources in and around the capital Manila, a senior government official said on Sunday, as the country set another record for new Covid-19 infections. Nearly 60% of the 28,707 cases came from the capital region, which has seen a steady increase in admissions in recent days, although hospital capacity in the area was still below critical levels, Government data showed.
The current COVID-19 death toll in the Philippines stands at 52,150. The country has reported a total of more than 2.96 million cases since the pandemic started, among the highest in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Africa has registered a total of more than 10 million coronavirus cases, according to figures from the African Union’s health watchdog said.
Data released by the Africa Centres for Disease Control showed that as of yesterday there had been 10,028,508 cases reported by the African Union’s 55 member states since the outbreak of the pandemic.
A total of 231,157 deaths were recorded, the CDC said.
However, vaccine uptake in Africa, home to nearly 1.2 billion people, has been low, due to poor access to jabs and some vaccine hesitancy.
Meanwhile,More than 400 staff in India’s Parliament in New Delhi have tested positive for COVID-19, news agency ANI reported, citing an unidentified official.
Samples from 402 staff members out of 1,409 individuals tested positive from Jan. 4 to 8, the report said. Lawmakers are scheduled to start discussions on the federal budget later this month.
India’s capital New Delhi is witnessing a sharp surge in daily coronavirus infections and has already imposed curbs on gatherings and movement. Still, Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday he had "no intention of imposing a lockdown,” talking at a virtual press briefing.
- IANS,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,THE MALAY MAIL, THE BANGKOK POST
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