Long COVID still presents a serious risk

+ what caused the global IT outage US Edition - Today's top story: Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 July 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [How Ukraine won the battle of the Black Sea]( - [Can empty churches help in the housing crisis?]( - [It’s been a week – test how much you remember]( Lead story More than four years from the onset of the pandemic, a fuller and more nuanced picture of long COVID is emerging. As the puzzle pieces fall into place, researchers are gaining a clearer understanding of how even mild cases of COVID-19 can translate into long-lasting and debilitating health effects in many organs of the body. And these are having a sizable effect on Americans’ ability to participate in the workforce. A new study by physician and long COVID researcher Ziyad Al-Aly and colleagues puts concrete numbers on [how the risks of developing long COVID shifted]( over the first two years of the pandemic. During the early stage of the pandemic and prior to the availability of vaccines, more than 10% of people infected developed long COVID. But two years in, that number shifted to about 3.5% for vaccinated adults, while among unvaccinated people, more than 7% developed long COVID following an infection. While public messaging often suggests that the risks have faded into the background, the threat of long-term health effects makes clear that COVID-19 cannot be dismissed, Al-Aly writes. “Trivializing COVID-19 as an inconsequential cold or equating it with flu does not align with reality.” [[How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.](] Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor Researchers are gaining key insights into the ways that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to long COVID symptoms. Catherine McQueen/Moment via Getty Images [Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling]( Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis A new study finds the risks of developing long COVID declined over the first two years of the pandemic. But unvaccinated adults were more than twice as likely to get long COVID compared with those who were vaccinated. Science + Technology - [Online rumors sparked by the Trump assassination attempt spread rapidly, on both ends of the political spectrum]( Danielle Lee Tomson, University of Washington; Melinda McClure Haughey, University of Washington; Stephen Prochaska, University of Washington Did you experience the rush of people expressing conspiracy theories and rumors on social media in the immediate aftermath of the shooting? - [Major IT outage brings businesses around the world to a standstill – expert explains what happened and why]( Alan Woodward, University of Surrey The problem was traced to a single Microsoft Windows update related to the firm Crowdstrike, but it could take days for companies to recover. Ethics + Religion - [What is Catholic Integralism?]( Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Catholic Integralists believe that religious values – specifically Christian ones – should guide government policies. They oppose liberalism, which they view as valuing individualism and liberty. - [Affordable housing in God’s backyard: Some religious congregations find a new use for their space]( Nadia A. Mian, Rutgers University Many houses of worship no longer need as much space as they once did, or struggle to keep up with the bills. For some, redevelopment to include housing provides a new way to live out their mission. Politics + Society - [How the Ukrainians – with no navy – defeated Russia’s Black Sea Fleet]( Brian Glyn Williams, UMass Dartmouth Deploying a series of new tactics and weapons, including the first use of sea drones in combat, Ukrainian forces have created what one military analyst called ‘a turning point in naval strategy.’ Economy + Business - [Biden’s and Trump’s ages would prevent them running many top companies – and for good reason]( Brandon Cline, Mississippi State University Research shows that companies led by CEOs over 65 tend to underperform in the stock market. - [Cutting marketing spending often backfires on businesses – new research could help investors distinguish shortsighted cuts from smart ones]( Andre Martin, University of Notre Dame Cutting marketing spending helps businesses in the short term but often backfires in the long term. Research could help investors identify those bad decisions. Environment + Energy - [Fewer bees and other pollinating insects lead to shrinking crops]( Rachel Mallinger, University of Florida Perhaps 90% of flowering plants require animal pollinators – and most of them are insects. But it’s not just bees doing this important work. - [Sports in extreme heat: How high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of practice, and the warning signs of heat illness]( Samantha Scarneo-Miller, West Virginia University An athletic trainer explains why bodies need time time to acclimatize, and the risks to watch out for. Education - [Why I turned the ‘Red Dead Redemption II’ video game into a history class on America’s violent past]( Tore Olsson, University of Tennessee A history professor recounts how being indoors during the pandemic led him to rediscover his fondness for video games – and to bring it into the classroom as well. Trending on site - [Heritage Foundation’s ‘Project 2025’ is just the latest action plan from a group with an over 50-year history of steering GOP lawmaking]( - [After more than 40 years, the federal right to free education for immigrant students finds itself in the crosshairs of conservatives]( - [Trump-appointed federal judge rules Trump’s classified document case is unconstitutional – here’s how special counsels have been authorized before]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which federal judge, appointed by Donald Trump, just blew up the classified documents case against him? - A. Aileen Cannon - B. Elizabeth Howitzer - C. Madison Trebuchet - D. Emilia Bazooka [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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