Research

COVID map shows where cases are highest across US Four states showed the highest rate of positive tests in the country in the week ended December 16. Newsweek

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In only four states in the entire country the rate was above 15 percent. Region Seven, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, had the highest rate in the country as of the week ending on December 16, 18.5 percent. For weeks the four states have been identified as the worst-hit by the virus in the country, with more people testing positive than anywhere else.

Reviews uncover no consistent link between antiviral drugs like Paxlovid and COVID rebound Igor Vershinsky / iStock CIDRAP

Two systematic reviews by US federal agencies on the possible link between antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and viral rebound—one specifically on Paxlovid—find no consistent association. The studies were published yesteray in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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XBB.1.5, BA.2.86, JN.1: How to understand the Covid-19 alphabet soup | CNN The virus that causes Covid-19 has more letters to describe its many derivatives than a bowl of alphabet soup. Jen Christensen CNN

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A virus like this one has a lot of different names because it is changing constantly, and scientists need a common language to talk about a specific version that they’re seeing in a particular community or that they’re working with to develop treatments, vaccines and tests.

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These States Have the Highest Number of COVID, Flu and RSV Cases Right Now Is yours on the list? Emily Laurence AOL

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