Cochrane Covid-19 News update

Cochrane provides high-quality, relevant, and up-to-date synthesized research evidence to inform health decisions. Here you will find a continued update of Cochrane’s activities in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For more information, visit the Cochrane Website 

Cochrane published:

*** Free access to all reviews of the Cochrane Library in Switzerland thanks to national licence! ***

 Updated 31 August 2021

 

5 & 16 August

In August, two new Cochrane Reviews were published, which were developed within the framework of the German CEOsys project. More than 100 researchers are working together on this "ecosystem for COVID-19 evidence"; Cochrane Germany is significantly involved.

A review published on 5 August examined the efficacy of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19. Cochrane Germany has written a press release on this. Additional information is available in the Cochrane Clinical Answers. The question of whether corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of COVID-19 was addressed in a review published on 16 August. There is also a press release on this review from Cochrane Germany and additional information in the Cochrane Clinical Answers.

26 May

The Review Group “Cochrane Haematology” has published a Living Systematic Review: Vitamin D supplementation for the treatment of COVID‐19. 

20 May

The author team of the Living Systematic Review on Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19 has published another update, the fourth within one year.

25 March
An update for the rapid review International travel‐related control measures to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic was published. Find the new version in the Cochrane Library.

24 March
The diagnostic review  Rapid, point‐of‐care antigen and molecular‐based tests for diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was updated. Accurate rapid diagnostic tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection could contribute to clinical and public health strategies to manage the COVID‐19 pandemic. Find the new version in the Cochrane Library.

18 March
A Living Systematic Review was published by Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care  -Interleukin-6 blocking agents for treating COVID-19 - Read the review in the Cochrane Library. 

16 March
The Cochrane Infectious Diseases group published an updated version of this diagnostic test accuracy review - Thoracic imaging tests for the diagnosis of COVID‐19 - including 51 studies published up to 30 September 2020. Read the review in the Cochrane Library.

11 March
The Cochrane Heart group published - COVID-19 and its cardiovascular effects: a systematic review of prevalence studies- Read the review in the Cochrane Library.

12 February

Cochrane "Infectious Diseases" group published the review - Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for prevention and treatment of COVID‐19 - Review authors found that hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19, and probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation. Read the full review on the Cochrane Library.

21 December

Cochrane publishes two COVID-19 scoping reviews to inform WHO guidance  - Care bundles for improving outcomes in patients with COVID‐19 or related conditions in intensive care -  was published. Read this review on the Cochrane Library
and - Measures implemented in the school setting to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic - Read this review in the Cochrane Library

17 December
Cochrane Public Health published - Measures implemented in the school setting to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic - a scoping review -  this is the first scoping review published on the Cochrane Library, and was commissioned by the WHO to inform their guidelines. Read this review here.

11 December
New Cochrane Supplement - Collaborating in response to COVID-19: editorial and methods initiatives across Cochrane - and accompanying Cochrane Editorial: COVID‐19: working together and making a difference for decision‐makers.

26 November
The Cochrane Group Infectious  Diseases published an update to the review -Thoracic imaging tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 - The full review is available to read in the Cochrane Library.

20 November
The Cochrane Library published an editorial - Policy makers must act on incomplete evidence in responding to COVID-19 - Read the full editorial here.

20 November
The Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group published the updated review - Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses -
Read the full review in the Cochrane Library.

19 November
The diagnostic test accuracy review - Routine laboratory testing to determine if a patient has COVID-19 -  was published by the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group. Read the full review in the Cochrane Library. 

5 November
A new systematic review - Interventions to support the resilience and mental health of frontline health and social care professionals during and after a disease outbreak, epidemic or pandemic – was published. Read the full review here.

4 November
Another Cochrane Library Special Collection  Coronavirus (COVID-19)- Coronavirus (COVID-19): evidence relevant to clinical rehabilitation - was published. It will be constantly updated.

27 October
A visual summary for an updated Cochrane Rapid Review - Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19 - was published. View the summary  and the video or read the full updated review.

13 October
New Cochrane Review was published - Interventions to reduce contaminated aerosols produced during dental procedures for preventing infectious diseases

12 October
New update of the "Living" Cochrane Review - Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobuline for people with COVID-19. Read the full review here.

2 October
Publication of the review - Prophylactic anticoagulants for people hospitalised with COVID‐19 - You can read the full review in the Cochrane Library. 

30 September
Cochrane a new diagnostic accuracy review -Thoracic imaging tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19- Learn more about what a diagnostic test accuracy review explores, and read the full review in the Cochrane Library. 

21 September
Cochrane publishes or updates three rapid reviews of the evidence on measures that aim to prevent potentially infected people from transmitting the virus to healthy people:

14 September
The Evidently Cochrane blog has summarized Cochrane’s COVID-19 evidence; read the evidence round-up 

31 August
The rapid review -  Oxygen targets in the intensive care unit during mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome - was published. This review has also been added to the Special Collection Coronavirus (COVID-19): evidence relevant to critical care. Read the Plain Language Summary and the Full Review in the Cochrane Library.

26 August
The Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review - Rapid, point-of-care antigen and molecular-based tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2  has been published. The review is already being updated. Read the Plain Language Summary and the Full Review.

18 August
A COVID-19 rapid review has been published - Digital contact tracing technologies in epidemics - Read the Plain Language Summary  and the Full Review

14 August
A podcast with the lead author of the review - Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19 - was published. Listen to the podcast and read the Full Review.

22 July
A new Cochrane Special Collection Coronavirus (COVID-19) - support for wellbeing in the healthcare workforce has been published. Read the full Special Collection

10 July
An update for the review Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19. Originally published May 15, this is the first update to this Living review. 

7 July
A new Cochrane Review : Diagnostic Test Accuracy review Signs and symptoms to determine if a patient presenting in primary care or hospital outpatient settings has COVID‐19 disease was published. Read the Plain Language Summary or the Clinical Answer.

25 June
A new Cochrane COVID-19 Rapid Review: Antibody tests for identification of current and past infection withSARS-CoV-2. This diagnostic test accuracy review shows that antibody tests could have a useful role in detecting if someone has had COVID-19, but that timing is important

22 June 
8 new Cochrane Clinical Answers were published, related to the Special Collection on optimizing health in the home workplace. Read the Cochrane Clinical Answers related to COVID-19 here.

19 June
COVID-19 Special Collection Translation: All Special Collection translations are now published in the Cochrane Library and are available in at least eight, and up to twelve, languages. 

22 May
A new Cochrane Rapid Review  
Video calls for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older people
was published.

20 May
A new Special Cochrane Collection 
Optimizing health in the home workspace  
has been published. This special collection brings together Cochrane Reviews summarizing evidence for health and wellbeing when working from home

14 May 
A new „Living“ Cochrane  Review 
Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin  for people with COVID‐19
was published. It is very uncertain whether plasma from people who have recovered from COVID‐19 is an effective treatment for people with COVID‐19. Several studies are still ongoing.

6 May  
A new Cochrane Special Collection 
Coronavirus (COVID-19) -Remote care through telehealth has been published. This Special Collection includes Cochrane Reviews that address using telehealth to support clinical management of various conditions, including asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, reproductive health, and skin cancer. It includes reviews of using telehealth to provide carer and parent support as well as empowering patient self-management of their long-term conditions.

5 May   
Cochrane Chief Executive Officer Mark Wilson announced the cancellation of the 
27. Cochrane Colloquium Toronto 
scheduled for October 4-7, 2020 because of the continued spread and impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) across the world.

28 April 
A new Cochrane Rapid Review  
Hand cleaning with ash for reducing the spread of viral and bacterial infections

21 April
A new Cochrane Rapid Review  
Barriers and facilitators to healthcare workers’ adherence with infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines for respiratory infectious diseases. 

16 April 
A new Special Collection
Regional anaesthesia to reduce drug use in anaesthesia and avoid aerosol generation 

16 April 
Fast Tracked Update of the Cochrane Review 
Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff

8 April 
A new Cochrane Rapid Review 
Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19 

7 April 
Cochrane published a  COVID-19 Study Register. Cochrane's COVID-19 is a freely-available, continually-updated, annotated reference collection of human studies on COVID-19, including interventional, observational, diagnostic, prognostic, epidemiological, qualitative and economic designs.
More information about the Study Register
Go to the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register

1 April 
A new Special Collection Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Effective options for quitting smoking during COVID-19 

March
A second  Cochrane Special Collection on Coronavirus (COVID-19) was published:
Infection control and prevention measures

March
The first Cochrane Special Collection on Coronavirus (COVID-19) was published:
Evidence relevant to critical care

6 Jun 2021