A. Executive summary • Two preprint studies demonstrated that SARS-CoV2 D614G substitution enhances infectivity, replication fitness, and early transmission in hamsters. Findings indicate the D614G variant exhibited significantly faster droplet transmission between hamsters and clinical evidence that the D614G mutation could enhance viral loads in the upper respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients and may increase transmission. (Pre-print, not peer-reviewed).• A retrospective, propensity score-matched case-control study reports oxygen requirements on day 14 worsened in 18% of convalescent plasma recipients versus 28% of matched controls hospitalised COVID-19 patients, although survival was improved in plasma recipients. In India, the PLACID trial reports that convalescent plasma was not associated with a reduction in mortality or progression to severe disease; it was associated with resolution of dyspnea and supplemental oxygen requirement and with early elimination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. (Pre-print, not peer-reviewed).
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