Denis - The COVID Info Guy

This image is a meme based on the popular "Batman slapping Robin" comic panel. In this version: Robin is saying: "COVID IS BACK" Batman is slapping Robin while responding: "IT NEVER LEFT"

Many are saying COVID is back

But the truth is, COVID never left

Is Covid back? The autumn variant leaving Brits 'messed up' 2 hrs ago Covid Health Helensburgh By Matthew Evans Senior Trending News Reporter @MTEvans1995

UK: Is Covid back? The autumn variant leaving Brits 'messed up'

"One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, said today: "I swear Covid is back in the air. It's how we are just catching the damn thing left and right. I'm literally messed up right now"

Source: archive.md/dbJgp

Source: x.com/nycHealthy/s...

The image is a public health poster from NYC Health titled “Prevent Long COVID.” It explains that the only way to prevent Long COVID is to avoid getting COVID-19, as each infection carries a risk. It lists prevention tips: Wear a well-fitting mask (N95, KN95, KF94) in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. Stay home if sick, or wear a mask if you must go out. Avoid close contact with sick people. Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer.

By nychealthy @nychealthy.bsky.social

The best way to prevent Long COVID is to prevent getting COVID-19 or getting it multiple times. That means staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and wearing a well-fitting mask, especially when indoors among crowds.

Learn more: www.nyc.gov/site/doh/cov...

Following a string of samples from Western Australia, a single sample of BA.3.2.2 was reported from New South Wales.

While the frequencies of this variant are low, it’s ongoing spread gives it every opportunity to acquire the mutations it needs to succeed.

#COVID19 #SARSCoV2 #Australia #BA_3_2
🧵

Epidemiological Surveillance of Respiratory Infections Weekly overview - Week 39/2025 (22/09/2025 –28/09/2025) SARS-CoV2 virus - COVID-19 infection • The positivity rate from all SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests across the country has increased compared to the previous week. • Since the beginning of the summer, sporadic cases of intubations and deaths have been recorded. In week 39/2025, one new intubation was recorded while no new deaths were reported. From week 01/2024 to week 39/2025, the recorded deaths among severe cases (intubated and/or admitted to ICU) amount to 406. • Throughout the summer, co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants LP.8.1, NB.1.8.1, and XFG (classified as Variants Under Monitoring by ECDC and WHO/EURO) has been observed, with XFG showing a trend for predominance. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest increased severity associated with any of these variants. • Nationally, the weighted viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in urban wastewater is currently at moderate levels compared to historical data, showing an increase compared to last week. In monitored areas, the load fluctuates depending on the city.

Greece: Weekly COVID Update - 22 Sep to 28 Sep 2025 (Week 39)

🔹Positivity rate increased nationwide
🔹No new deaths in week 39
🔹From week 01/2024 to week 39/2025, 406 deaths reported
🔹Circulating variants: LP.8.1, NB.1.8.1, XFG
🔹Wastewater levels remain moderate

Source: eody.gov.gr/en/covid-19/

Long COVID is here to stay—even in children Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC, also known as long COVID) are complex, multisystem, long-lasting complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection that profoundly impact the daily life of those...

Long COVID is here to stay, even in children, and worsened by reinfections and ongoing transmission. Governments and health systems must prioritise research, care access, and protection for kids—otherwise, the long-term social and economic costs will keep rising.

#LongCOVID

Quantum-enhanced nanodiamond rapid test advances early SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in clinical diagnostics - Nature Communications Spin-enhanced lateral flow tests use nanodiamonds for the sensitive, robust detection of disease biomarkers. Here, authors report a clinical evaluation of a test for SARS-CoV-2 antigen, finding 95.1% sensitivity (Ct ≤ 30) and 100% specificity, with detection 2.0 days earlier than conventional tests.

UCL researchers tested 103 swab samples with a new quantum nanodiamond rapid test for COVID.

It showed 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity, detecting infection about 2 days earlier than standard lateral flow tests.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Vaccinated but Still Got COVID? A New Study Helps Explains Why A Japanese study has found that one group of people lose vaccine protection more quickly than others, even though they begin with higher antibody levels. Two healthcare workers receive COVID-19 vaccin...

Vaccinated but Still Got COVID? A New Study Helps Explains Why.

"A Japanese study has found that one group of people lose vaccine protection more quickly than others, even though they begin with higher antibody levels."

Study: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Originally Published 30 September 2025 Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Highly Symptomatic Long COVID Mikael Björnson, MD https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2372-1011 mikael.bjornson@ki.se, Klara Wijnbladh, MD, Anna Törnberg, MSc https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8320-9948, Anna Svensson-Raskh, RPT, PhD, Annie Svensson, MSc, RPT https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7642-6157, Marcus Ståhlberg, MD, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0319-6240, Michael Runold, MD, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7568-2278, Artur Fedorowski, MD, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-6327, Malin Nygren Bonnier, PT, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6731-8468, and Judith Bruchfeld, MD, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-0982Author Info & Affiliations Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology New online https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.124.013629

Study: Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Highly Symptomatic Long COVID.

Published: 30 September 2025

Source: www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/...

Long COVID Linked to Surge in POTS Cases Researchers have found that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long COVID, making it far more common than in the general population. The study, the largest to date on the subject, showed that middle-aged women were most affected, with symptoms including dizziness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Long COVID Linked to Surge in POTS Cases.

"Researchers have found that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long COVID, making it far more common than in the general population."

Source: archive.md/G46Hg

Covid oggi Italia, casi in salita a fine settembre: bollettino e numeri I dati e il commento degli esperti

Italy: COVID cases still rising.

From 18 Sep to 24 Sep:

🔸Positivity rate: 12.8% (+0.1%)

🔹Reported cases: 4,256 (+15.2%)
🔹Reported deaths: 37 (+76.1%)

Genome Sequencing:

🔸XFG: 78%
🔸XFG.3: 12%

www.adnkronos.com/salute/sale-...

AUSTRALIA Weekly COVID Update: 3 October 2025 States & Territories Trend % Change Reporting notes SA ⬆️ UP +0.6% Weekly update. Sadly, 7 deaths reported TAS ⬇️ DOWN -32.2% Fortnightly update. Positivity rate: 2.2% ACT ⬇️ DOWN -27.6% Weekly update VIC ⬇️ DOWN -19% Weekly update / Fortnightly reporting. Positivity rate: 2.4% QLD ⬇️ DOWN -18.6% Weekly update. 33 in hospital WA ⬇️ DOWN -9.6% Weekly update. Avg 38 per day in hospital. Positivity rate: 1.6% NSW ⬇️ DOWN -9.9% Weekly update. Positivity rate: 2.9% NT — — COVID data is no longer published on NT Health’s website Aged care — — COVID data not published today — either delayed or missed altogether

AUSTRALIA Weekly COVID Update: 3 October 2025

SA up (+0.6%; 7 deaths reported)

TAS down (-32.2%), ACT down (-27.6%), VIC down (-19%), QLD down (-18.6%; 33 in hospital), WA down (-9.6%; 38/day in hospital), and NSW down (-9.9%)

Aged care data not released today.

#COVID19Australia

"Respiratory Infections Dashboard, 3 Oct 2025. COVID-19: 163 new cases reported this week. Year-to-date cases: 9,754 vs 15,101 same time last year. Deaths year to date: 64 vs 230 last year."

SA Weekly Respiratory Update: 27 Sep to 3 Oct 2025

Reported cases:

🔹COVID: 163 (+0.6%)
🔹Flu: 959 (-5.5%)
🔹RSV: 372 (-21.3%)
🔹Pertussis: 89 (+2.2%)

Reported deaths in 2025:

🔸COVID: 64 (+7)⚠️
🔸Flu: 25
🔸RSV: 5
🔸Pertussis: 0

@SAHealth

Source: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/conn...

COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of new-onset vascular dementia in adults ≥50 years - npj Dementia npj Dementia - COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of new-onset vascular dementia in adults ≥50 years

Study: COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of new-onset vascular dementia in adults ≥50 years.

Published: 01 October 2025

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of new-onset vascular dementia in older adults Prior COVID-19 infection was associated with a 41% increased risk of all-cause dementia.

COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of new-onset vascular dementia in older adults

New UK Biobank study found COVID survivors aged 50+ had higher risk of new-onset dementia vs controls. Among 54,757 participants followed 24.1 months, prior infection was linked to a 41% increased risk.

Thanks.

Got my Japanese princesses mixed up — it was Princess Kako, not Princess Aiko, who tested positive for COVID back in Sept 2023.

Source: english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/4...

Case notifications Laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV are notified to the Victorian Department of Health. Notified infections that are diagnosed through laboratory testing are only a subset of the total number of infections in the community. Trends in notifications may be impacted by changes in testing. Summary In the past week, COVID-19 notifications have continued to decrease (-19%), influenza notifications have continued to decrease (-17%) and RSV notifications have continued to decrease (-25%).

Victorian Weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report: 03 Oct 2025

From 21 Sep to 27 Sep 2025:

🔸COVID positivity rate: 2.4% (Stable)

🔹COVID: 411 (-19%)
🔹Influenza A: 1,974 (-8%)
🔹Influenza B: 455 (-40%)
🔹RSV: 473 (-25%)

Source: www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

"Tasmania weekly update on acute respiratory infection activity, published 3 Oct 2025 (data to 28 Sept). Overall respiratory illness: moderate. COVID-19 activity: low. Influenza: moderate, driven by influenza B and A(H3N2). RSV: moderate, with activity in infants under 6 months much lower than in 2023 and 2024. Next update due 17 Oct 2025."

1.5 COVID-19 whole genome sequencing Specimens from people with COVID-19 undergo whole genome sequencing to monitor circulating variants. As the COVID-19 virus constantly changes, new COVID-19 variants will continue to occur. From September to December 2024, a rise in activity was characterised by the emergence of XEC (a recombinant of two BA.2.86 descendants). Currently, a range of other sub-lineages (non-XEC and XEC) are being reported, including sequences of the lineage NB 1.8.1 (a descendant from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1) and its descendant PQ.2. In the four weeks to 14-Sep-25, sub-lineage was known for 11.3% (31/274) of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The sub-lineages NB.1.8.1 (16%, 5/31) and PQ.2 (19%, 6/31) were the most frequently reported during this period

Tasmania Fortnightly COVID Update: Week ending 28 September 2025

From 15 Sep to 28 Sep:

🔸COVID Positivity rate: 2.2% (-0.5%)

🔹COVID: 40 (-32.2%)
🔹Influenza A: 161 (-31.7%)
🔹Influenza B: 136 (-27.6%)
🔹RSV: 97 (-34.4%)

Source: health.tas.gov.au/health-topic...

In the past week, the number of COVID-19 notifications to the Department of Health decreased to 131 notifications (Figure 15).

In the past week, currently hospitalised cases decreased to an average of 38 per day. The 7-day average for cases currently in intensive care units decreased to one (Figure 16).

The SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater from the Perth metropolitan area decreased in the past week (Figure 17).

Genomic sequencing indicated SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineage NB.1.8.X predominated in clinical and wastewater samples (Figure 18).

WA weekly COVID update: Week ending 28 Sep 2025

🔸COVID positivity rate: 1.6% est. (-0.2%)

🔹PCR cases: 131 (-9.6%)
🔹Hospitalisation: Decreased to an average of 38 per day (-9.5%)
🔹ICU: 7-day average decreased to 1 (-50.0%)

Source: health.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I...

ACT Weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report for 26 Sept–2 Oct 2025. Table shows COVID-19 (34 cases, 7.1 per 100k), Influenza (168 cases, 35.3 per 100k), and RSV (36 cases, 7.6 per 100k). By age group: COVID-19 mostly 20–64 yrs (24 cases), Influenza mostly 20–64 yrs (69 cases), RSV mostly 0–19 yrs (14 cases). Totals in 2025 so far: COVID-19 (2,774), Influenza (7,448), RSV (2,883).

ACT Weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report: 26 Sep to 02 Oct 2025

🔹COVID: 34 (-27.6%)
🔹Influenza: 168 (-18.4%)
🔹RSV: 36 (-12.1%)

Source: www.act.gov.au/open/respira...

Frontiers | Severe COVID-19 induces prolonged elevation of the acute-phase protein pentraxin 3 IntroductionDuring the acute-phase of COVID-19, elevated levels of several acute-phase proteins, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), mannose-binding lectin (MB...

Study: Severe COVID-19 induces prolonged elevation of the acute-phase protein pentraxin 3

Published: 01 October 2025

www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...

Study identifies PTX-3 as potential marker for long COVID and tissue damage A research team working at MedUni Vienna has demonstrated that a specific component of the immune system (PTX-3) remains at significantly higher levels in the blood of patients who have suffered from ...

Study identifies PTX-3 as potential marker for long COVID and tissue damage.

Researchers at MedUni Vienna found PTX-3, an immune marker, remains at higher levels in the blood of patients who have suffered from severe COVID-19, even months after the acute infection has subsided.

Symptomatic Trends and Time to Recovery for Long COVID Patients Infected During the Omicron Phase by Hiroshi Akiyama,Yasue SakuradaORCID,Hiroyuki Honda,Yui Matsuda,Yuki OtsukaORCID,Kazuki TokumasuORCID,Yasuhiro Nakano,Ryosuke Takase,Daisuke Omura,Keigo Ueda andFumio Otsuka *ORCID Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(14), 4918; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14144918 Submission received: 14 June 2025 / Revised: 7 July 2025 / Accepted: 9 July 2025 / Published: 11 July 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Sequelae of COVID-19: Clinical to Prognostic Follow-Up)

Study: Symptomatic Trends and Time to Recovery for Long COVID Patients Infected During the Omicron Phase.

Published: 11 July 2025

www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14...

Okayama study underscores risk of long COVID, new variant | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis OKAYAMA--More than half of patients who visited Okayama University Hospital’s COVID-19 aftercare (CAC) outpatient clinic continued follow-up treatments for 180 days or more, a group of researchers sai...

Japan: "Okayama study underscores risk of long COVID, new variant"

Of the 774 long COVID Omicron patients, 370 were in the ‘early recovery group’ (within 6 months). The other 404 (52%) had symptoms 180+ days, with some lasting 2–3 years. Women made up about 60% of this persistent group.

#LongCOVID

Does anyone know if this is Princess Aiko’s second or third COVID infection? 🦠 I know she’s had it at least once before, but I wasn’t able to find any info online.

Crowded indoor school assembly. Dozens of primary-age students sit shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor, wearing bright red, green, blue, and yellow polo uniforms, clapping in unison. A black caption bar reads, “Why investment in clean indoor air is vital…” from The Conversation. Published: October 2, 2025 4.39am AEST

Why investment in clean indoor air is vital preparation for the pandemics and climate emergencies to come.

"Each day, we breathe more than 7,000 litres of air. Unsurprisingly, the quality of this air really matters."

Source: archive.md/ueB9Z

Japan: Princess Aiko tests positive for COVID-19 "The daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako underwent testing after reporting a fever of about 38.5 degrees Celsius and throat pain at noon Tuesday, according to the agency."

Japan: Princess Aiko tests positive for COVID-19

"The daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako underwent testing after reporting a fever of about 38.5 degrees Celsius and throat pain at noon Tuesday, according to the agency."

Source: archive.md/oNSrs

A tweet by Mike Hoerger reads: “Unclear whether the CDC will continue to update wastewater COVID levels during the government ‘shutdown.’ PMC will continue regardless if Biobot reports.” Attached is a CDC NWSS page with a tan banner stating that during the government shutdown only websites supporting excepted functions will be updated, so information may not be up to date. Large heading: “COVID-19 National Data — COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring in the U.S.”

By Mike Hoerger

Unclear whether the CDC will continue to update wastewater COVlD levels during the government "shutdown."

PMC will continue regardless if Biobot reports.

Source: x.com/michael_hoer...

"People are catching this thing 2, 3 times a year and acting like it’s nothing. Just a cold. Just the sniffles. Meanwhile, their blood vessels are getting shredded. Their organs are taking hits. Their brains are leaking. But sure, tell yourself it’s fine."

#COVID19 #SARSCoV2