COVID–19 Headlines April 12, 2020

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Relevant all the time: An article I wrote last year for the Holy Week. I edited a bit for easier reading and toned down the medical terms.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Cellex an emergency use authorization to market a rapid antibody test for COVID-19, the first antibody test released amidst the pandemic.

“It is reasonable to believe that your product may be effective in diagnosing COVID-19,” and “there is no adequate, approved, and available alternative,” the agency said in a letter to Cellex.

A drop of serum, plasma, or whole blood is placed into a well on a small cartridge, and the results are read 15-20 minutes later; lines indicate the presence of IgM, IgG, or both antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Americans are underestimating how long coronavirus disruptions will last, health experts say

Public health experts are increasingly worried that Americans are underestimating how long the coronavirus pandemic will disrupt everyday life in the country, warning that the Trump administration’s timelines are offering many a false sense of comfort.

Coronavirus cases are expected to peak in mid-April in many parts of the country, but quickly reopening businesses or loosening shelter-in-place rules would inevitably lead to a new surge of infections, they said.

Meanwhile, other parts of the country are only now implementing restrictions and others have not yet ordered the closure of non-essential businesses, creating a patchwork response that will slow progress toward the goal of driving down transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

Deadly coronavirus comes in three variants, researchers find

Types A, B and C are all derived from the pathogen first found in bats but have evolved in different ways, according to a report by British and German geneticists

Findings show the virus has become well adapted to human transmission and mutates as it spreads, Chinese epidemiologist says

7 pm EST update. An increase of 63,283 cases and 3,636 deaths since 8 am. Case fatality rate of 6.17.%

ice_screenshot_20200412-190907 — JHU CSSE

Gamma radiation found ineffective in sterilizing N95 masks

In a study uploaded on March 28 to medRχiv, the preprint server for health sciences, researchers announced their results: N95 masks subjected to cobalt-60 gamma irradiation for sterilization pass a qualitative fit test but lose a significant degree of filtration efficiency. This form of sterilization compromises the masks’ ability to protect medical providers from Covid-19.

Coronavirus could attack immune system like HIV by targeting protective cells, warn scientists

Researchers in China and the US find that the virus that causes Covid-19 can destroy the T cells that are supposed to protect the body from harmful invaders

One doctor said concern is growing in medical circles that effect could be similar to HIV

Philippines reports highest single-day death toll from coronavirus

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines recorded 50 coronavirus deaths on Sunday, its highest in a single day, taking the toll to 297.

Global health official warns that Covid-19 may stalk “the human race for quite a long time to come”

12-noon EST update.

ice_screenshot_20200412-122359

Fears of ‘Wild West’ as COVID-19 blood tests hit the market

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blood tests for the coronavirus could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery.

More than 70 companies have signed up to sell so-called antibody tests in recent weeks, according to U.S. regulators. Governments around the world hope that the rapid tests, which typically use a finger-prick of blood on a test strip, could soon ease public restrictions by identifying people who have previously had the virus and have developed some immunity to it.

Indonesia reports 330 new coronavirus cases, 21 deaths

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia confirmed 330 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, taking its tally to 3,842, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.

United Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll is a “somber” milestone, health secretary says

“Today marks as somber day in the impact of this disease as we join the list of countries that have seen more than 10,000 deaths related to coronavirus,” Hancock said at the daily coronavirus update. “The fact that over 10,000 people have lost their lives to this invisible killer demonstrates just how serious coronavirus is and why the national effort that everyone is engaged in is so important.”

6 am EST. An increase of 16,097 cases and 1,145 deaths since 6:30 pm last night. Death rate of 6.1%

ice_screenshot_20200412-055107 — JHU CSSE

These 21 companies are working on coronavirus treatments or vaccines — here’s where things stand

A mix of legacy drugmakers and small startups have stepped forward with plans to develop vaccines or treatments that target the infection caused by the novel coronavirus. More at the link.

US should have enough testing capacity if country reopens in May, key federal health official says

Key US government official Adm. Brett Giroir, whose responsibilities include oversight of Covid-19 testing, told Bloomberg News Saturday that coronavirus testing capacity in the US should be in the “ballpark” needed to begin reopening the country by May if the President recommends lifting some social distancing guidelines.

In New York, obesity appears to raise COVID-19 risk

A new letter from researchers at New York University shows that obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization in patients under the age of 60. The letter was published yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Bluetooth signals from your smartphone could automate Covid-19 contact tracing while preserving privacy

A system that enables smartphones to transmit “chirps” to nearby devices could notify people if they have been near an infected person.

Coronavirus cases in Japan top 7,000-NHK

As of 4:00 p.m., 78 new cases had been reported across the country for the day, bringing the total to 7,001. The figure includes people found positive in airport quarantine checks, as well as those who returned to Japan on chartered planes from China.

Coronavirus: beware third wave of infections, Hong Kong doctors warn as mainland Chinese cities wake from economic slumber-SCMP

A third wave of coronavirus infections could hit Hong Kong, doctors have warned, as mainland Chinese cities wake from their economic slumber after months of lockdown.
The comments came on Sunday as Wuhan in Hubei province, thought to be the initial epicentre of the contagion, lifted its 2 ½-month lockdown on April 8. More businesses on the mainland have also resumed operations in the past weeks.

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COVID–19 Headlines April 12, 2020

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