The COVID Advisor

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is sounding the alarm after a small number of offices, hospitals, and schools reinstated mask mandates in recent days. Describing the mandates as “alarming,” Mr. Johnson told the Moms for Liberty group on Aug. 23 that they are ineffective and said he would keep fighting them. “It’s alarming that the mandates are kicking in again,” he told the group. “It’s like, OK, we noticed masks didn’t work, particularly for children. We always knew they didn’t work for kids.” The Wisconsin Republican said, “N-95 masks can have some marginal benefits—but not to deny people freedom.” Mr. Johnson has said he was always skeptical of federal vaccine mandates and has been an advocate for people who claimed to have been injured by COVID-19 vaccines. He also called on the Biden administration to admit that its COVID-19 policies didn’t work. “They’ll never admit they were wrong in how they handled COVID. I don’t see how anybody can take a look at how the federal government—really, ...

Some have heralded masks as the gold standard of protective gear against COVID-19. However, they may be causing more problems than expected. Results from a study  published in the Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety in May 2023 have indicated that masks pose significant risks to wearers due to toxins emitted by the tight-fitting face coverings. Researchers from South Korea measured the number and concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from several different masks, including cotton masks and KF94 masks—a popular type of disposable mask similar to the N95 mask. Four types of VOCs were detected in KF94 masks at 22.9–147 times higher concentrations compared to other masks comprised of fabrics like cotton. The total number of VOC particles was 14 times that in cotton masks. In some KF94 masks, numbers reached a threshold high enough to pose a serious risk to human health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc...

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause mitochondrial dysfunction in critical organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver, but doctors have some suggestions to help with recovery from the damage. This image shows a 3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. (Courtesy of NIAID/RML) COVID-Hijacked Mitochondria Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells, producing energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Researchers usually identify a decline in energy output from the mitochondria as mitochondrial dysfunction. Professor Keshav Singh, specializing in genetics and mitochondrial research at the University of Alabama,  has shown in his work  that during COVID-19 infection, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter mitochondria and hijack their energy metabolism, impairing mitochondrial energy production. ATP production goes through a series of steps. The first few steps occur outside the mitochondria ...

EG.5, a new COVID variant is  gaining ground  in the United States. You’ve probably been hearing about it  in the news , and we’ve certainly been seeing it in our patients in recent weeks. Here’s what you need to know about it, how to protect yourself, and how to treat it if you do get sick. First of all,  DO NOT PANIC . A subvariant of the omicron lineage, Eris, otherwise known as EG.5, was detected as early as February 2023. EG.5 certainly seems to be highly contagious, but from what we’re seeing it is less virulent. In other words, it’s a lot like the Omicron variants we’ve seen recently — lots of cases, but not a lot of extreme illness or hospitalization. If you’ve been exposed to the virus before, you likely have some natural ability to fight it off. We are finding that patients who have not been previously exposed are the ones hit hardest right now. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to protect yourself. The good news is that  the advice we’ve been...

According to news reports, new COVID-19 variants are on the rise and are being closely monitored for pandemic spread. In the U.S., EG.5, nicknamed Eris, has been declared a "variant of interest" (VOI), which means it is being monitored for mutations that might make it more hazardous. 1 Australian news are highlighting the BA.2.86 variant, nicknamed Pirola, 2  while Irish news are warning about an Omicron offshoot dubbed "the real deal" by World Health Organization officials 3 , 4  — just in case you decided that COVID was no big deal anymore. Seven other COVID variants are also being monitored by the WHO, and an additional three variants have been declared VOI, which calls for more extensive monitoring. 5 Considering the many variants that have come and gone since 2020, isn’t it curious that media are now all of a sudden focusing on particular COVID strains again, just as we’re moving into fall and influenza season? As prev...