More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, many basic questions about the virus have been answered, including how it spreads, how it responds to treatment, and how it affects the body. But even those lessons learned apply mostly to generally healthy people and those with the most common pre-existing conditions, and unknowns still abound for many population subsets—including pregnant women.
Last month, however, a wide-reaching scientific paper published in JAMA Pediatrics found thatpregnant women who test positive for the virus are indeed at a greater risk for many complications, including pre-eclampsia, severe infections, and medically-indicated preterm birth, than their COVID-negative counterparts. The research supports public health recommendations for pregnant women to be vaccinated against the virus.
This week’s COVID update explores the team’s findings, with excerpts from an interview with Robert Gunier, an author on the study and an environmental health researcher with the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at UC Berkeley.
Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot for Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties (note that some numbers may have changed between the interview and publication):
As of May 13:
- 4,857 total deaths out of 332,612 total cases
- 166 people hospitalized and 29 in ICUs
- 20 deaths reported in the last week
- 159 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,789,874 vaccine doses administered to date
As of 1 week previous, May 6:
- 4,837 total deaths out of 331,489 total cases
- 175 people hospitalized and 36 in ICUs
- 36 deaths reported in the last week
- 158 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,717,044 vaccine doses administered to date
As of 4 weeks previous, April 15:
- 4,731 total deaths out of 328,059 total cases
- 179 people hospitalized and 36 in ICUs
- 46 deaths reported in the last week
- 257 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,415,376 vaccine doses administered to date
You can always find up-to-date information for your county here.
