Health Care / 37

WHO Chief: Masks alone will not protect against coronavirus

June 06, 2020

The WHO had previously said there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks. "I can not say this clearly enough: masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19". Part of the reason why mask-wearing and the messaging around it is so nuanced is because, as noted above, the mask you wear doesn't so much protect you as it does those around you.

COVID-19 Antibody Testing

June 06, 2020

Antibody based rely on the presence of antibodies to determine the presence of a disease but are not always accurate. In its new advisory concerning antibody testing, the CDC said that tests give more accurate results if the disease being tested for is common in the population, and if an infection has only affected a small percentage of people being tested, even a small margin of error in that test would be heightened.

World Health Organization recommends wider use of face masks to curb COVID-19

June 06, 2020

The announcement comes just a day after the United Kingdom government announced it would be making face coverings mandatory on public transport following months of claims the science was not clear on their effectiveness. On Monday, the largest worldwide study to-date on the benefits of wearing a mask - funded by the World Health Organization itself - found that face covering reduces the likelihood that an infected (and potentially asymptomatic) person infects someone else from more than 17 ...

Hydroxychloroquine shows no COVID-19 benefit, Oxford study says

June 06, 2020

The Lancet is not the only prominent medical journal to have to retract a major study related to the coronavirus . The observational study had found that after reviewing 96,000 COVID-19 patients across six continents, those treated with hydroxychloroquine had a higher risk of heart arrhythmia and death.

Historic levels of absentee voting ahead of West Virginia primary election

June 05, 2020

Election directors say that's an unintended outcome of both the big demand for mail-in ballots and the fact that the deadline for applying was just seven days before the election night return deadline. A tenth of those ballots were returned as undeliverable. Essentially, every voter registered in the state was sent an absentee ballot application to their registered address.

Coronavirus patients with high blood pressure twice as likely to die

June 05, 2020

New research conducted by European scientists revealed people with blood type A may be more vulnerable to severe cases of coronavirus . And patients with high blood pressure who were not taking drugs to control it were at even higher risk, the findings showed.

Two-metre distance more effective in reducing COVID-19 risk

June 05, 2020

However none of these interventions, even when properly used and combined offer complete protection from the infection. The chance of the infection was 3.1 per cent for those wearing a face mask , and 17.4 per cent for those without it. Response: Globally collaborative, well-conducted studies of different personal protective strategies are required, but recommendations in the interim aiming to curtail the current COVID-19 pandemic and future waves could be made on the basis of this ...

Use face coverings where social distancing not possible, new World Health Organization advice says

June 05, 2020

Face coverings will become mandatory on public transport by June 15. The changes will be made under legislation such as the National Rail Conditions of Travel and Public Service Vehicle Regulations for buses. "You can not travel if you are not wearing a face covering", he said. Paul Plummer, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said: "Wearing face coverings on trains will help to ensure that those who need to travel by rail can do so with confidence".

TikTok Apologizes for "Technical Glitch" That Appeared to Censor #BlackLivesMatters Posts

June 05, 2020

Cassidy, who has amassed 1.6 million followers on TikTok since joining last November, is among the millions of users who are helping to turn the go-to destination for short-form viral music videos and pranks into a first stop for youth activism as protests against police brutality spread across America.

PM Modi pledges United States dollars 15 mn to global vaccines alliance, Gavi

June 05, 2020

He said AstraZeneca would make no profit from the supply of the vaccine, adding: "We felt that there are times in life that corporations need to step up and contribute to resolving a big problem like this one, so made a decision to do it at no profit".

COVID-19 outbreak at Norfolk Country farm grows, 164 people test positive

June 05, 2020

He attributed a spike in Ontario's positive COVID-19 cases to the farms, saying more than 80 migrant workers have tested positive for the virus. "I will definitely be addressing this with public health to make sure that we get all the migrant workers tested to keep them safe, to keep the supply chain and the food safe", he said.

Inovio plans human trials for potential COVID19 vaccine in June

June 05, 2020

Collins said once a coronavirus vaccine comes on the market, there might have to be some effective communication. Preparations at national and worldwide sites are already underway, he said. Peter Hotez noted on Twitter that some studies suggest that the level of antibodies in recovered patients' plasma might be insufficient to neutralize the virus.

Blood pressure drugs linked to lower coronavirus mortality

June 05, 2020

After adjustment for factors such as age, sex and other medical conditions, the researchers said those with high blood pressure had more than a two-fold increased risk of dying from Covid-19. "We found that RAAS inhibitors, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, were not linked to an increased risk of dying from Covid-19 and, in fact, maybe protective", said study co-author Ling Tao.

Islanders MUST Wear Face Coverings On Public Transport Soon, Says Government

June 05, 2020

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, or Sage, spent weeks discussing the issue before Boris Johnson finally announced last month, as part of the initial easing of lockdown, that face coverings were recommended in crowded places. Wearing a face covering can prevent a person passing on the virus, rather than stopping someone from getting it, and can be an important way of helping stop the spread of the coronavirus .

N95 or cotton masks? The fashion wars begin

June 05, 2020

Wearing a face mask is indeed crucial anytime you leave your home, but there's actually one type of popular face mask you should never wear. Moreover, these masks are washable and can be re-used. Many commercially available masks are made from layers of plastics and are created to be single-use. "Replace if it becomes damaged or damp". He said that right now, it's safer to be outside than inside because of air circulation.

Tests reveal Australian 30-year-old did not die from Covid-19

June 05, 2020

Nurses Professional Association of Queensland assistant secretary Jack McGuire said the organisation planned to send letters to Queensland Health, Dr Young, Health Minister Steven Miles and Labour MP for Keppel Brittany Lauga calling on them to apologise for their treatment of the suspended Rockhampton nurse, who has been under fire over information provided to contact tracers.

Fauci Hoping 'Couple of Hundred Million' Vaccine Doses Available in 2021

June 05, 2020

The number of people who have died of COVID-19 in Brazil has increased by record 1,349 to 32,548 within the past 24 hours, the national Health Ministry said on late Wednesday, and the number of confirmed cases has risen by 28,633 to 584,016.

HCQ may not prevent COVID-19 illness if exposed to coronavirus

June 05, 2020

The drugs are known to have potential side effects, especially heart rhythm problems. The UK COPCOV trial, aimed at establishing if hydroxychloroquine can prevent healthcare workers from contracting COVID-19, hit pause just a week after its launch.

Gilead Coronavirus Drug Shows Early Promise

June 05, 2020

Last week, Cao said analysis of the data was still underway. A drug from the USA pharmaceutical company Gilead Science shows success in the treatment of Covid 19 patients , according to a media report. However, the trial does not include what is known as the control group, so it will be hard to confirm whether the drug is actually helping COVID-patients or not because, some participants do not receive the medication in a control group to determine whether it is the drug that is ...

Eight further Covid-19 deaths reported with six stretching back to April

June 05, 2020

There have been a further eight recorded Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Health. Among local ZIP codes, Woodstock (60098) has the highest number of cases in McHenry County with 290, followed by Crystal Lake (60014) with 230.

Phase Two of Public Restrictions to Begin Friday June 5

June 05, 2020

Swimming pools are allowed to reopen for the summer. "Gatherings will be limited to 50 rather than 10". Northern Virginia and Richmond, which each entered Phase 1 this past Friday after 2-week delays, will not be included in the move to Phase 2 on Friday.

Ibuprofen to be trialled in United Kingdom as potential coronavirus treatment

June 04, 2020

BBC reported that hospitals in the United Kingdom are now using Ibuprofen to help COVID-19 patients. As explained, a test trial called Liberate will be made to ensure the effectivity of painkillers on the human body. " The taking of anti-inflammatories could be a consider intensifying the infection", stated the French health minister, Olivier Véran. The idea that ibuprofen may lead to severe coronavirus complications was inspired by a report in March of a 4-year-old British child ...

New Ebola outbreak declared in northwest DR Congo

June 04, 2020

There have been three Ebola outbreaks since 2017 in Congo , which is now also battling a measles epidemic that has killed more than 6,700 people and the coronavirus pandemic, which infected more than 3,000 and killed 72. "The team supported the collection and testing of samples, and reference to the national laboratory for confirmation". The latest outbreak comes while the DRC and the rest of the world are fighting the Covid-19 coronavirus and creates a huge strain on the Congolese ...

Sweden's top epidemiologist admits he got COVID-19 strategy wrong

June 04, 2020

Speaking to Sveriges Radio , Andres Tegnell said the country "would settle on doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done". Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said earlier this week that the government would launch an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump administration selects five coronavirus vaccine candidates as finalists

June 04, 2020

In the worldwide race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, American biotech company Moderna Inc has now entered Phase II of its clinical trials for its prized candidate. He is optimistic, he said, because, while the number of deaths from COVID-19 are "profound", largely people recover from this disease. The company is now working on two vaccines programmes to prevent against COVID-19.

Petition to impeach NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio acquires 72,000 signatures

June 04, 2020

Trump warned in a Fox News Radio interview that if city officials "don't get their act straightened out, I will solve it". Others paused and knelt as the procession moved on toward the United States embassy, holding "Black Lives Matter" banners and raising clenched fists.

New Study Finds Hydroxychloroquine Doesn't Prevent COVID-19 Either

June 04, 2020

Since then, it has been exported globally to be tested as a preventive treatment or cure for COVID-19. But the new study, the first double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial of hydroxychloroquine , found otherwise. Emily McDonald, assistant professor of medicine at McGill University and one of the study's co-authors. While the initial infections had to be confirmed with a diagnostic test, the researchers also counted patients who had symptoms consistent with disease, in part ...

Scientists raise concern over hydroxychloroquine study

June 04, 2020

The Lancet said it had received "several questions" over the study. Hydroxychloroquine has been touted by US President Donald Trump and others as a possible treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus . "We have no control over the source of the information". Data from Australia are not compatible with government reports. Among the signatories are clinicians, epidemiologists and other researchers from around the world, from Harvard to Imperial College London.

Antibody testing: What you should know

June 04, 2020

Antibody tests , on the other hand, look for signs of previous infection. Specifically, the guidance states that, although the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when detected using a reliable antibody testing method "likely indicates at least some degree of immunity, until the durability and duration of immunity is established, it can not be assumed that individuals with truly positive antibody test results are protected from future infection".

World Health Organization resumes trial of hydroxychloroquine drug

June 04, 2020

Of those who received hydroxychloroquine, investigators said 49 developed the disease compared with 58 in the placebo group, a difference that could simply be random. However, Surgisphere , which also provided patient data for two other high-profile coronavirus papers, has come under intense online scrutiny from researchers, who've pointed out many obvious shortcomings in the Lancet paper.

Four more COVID-19 cases push county past 50

June 04, 2020

There also has been one death recorded in Ohio County. No additional prisoners have died and 175 have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Charles E. Nineteen additional positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Marshall County, according to Wednesday's report from the Indiana State Department of Health.

UK PM defends under-fire virus 'test and trace' scheme

June 04, 2020

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Johnson told MPs that 90% of Covid-19 tests are turned around within 48 hours, while all of those from 199 mobile testing sites are turned around within 24 hours. 'This is only six days old, and building trust in NHS Test and Trace is going to be absolutely critical, ' she said. Downing Street said later that figures on the performance of the test and trace scheme would only be released once they had been verified and processes had been ...

UK COVID-19 death toll surpasses 50,000 - Reuters tally

June 04, 2020

The United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll neared 50,000 on Tuesday, confirming its place as one of the worst hit countries in the world just as Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries to ease the stringent novel coronavirus outbreak. There were 1,289 excess deaths in care homes during the seven days, compared with the five-year average, and 24 fewer deaths in hospitals. In total, there have now been 11,186 Covid-19 deaths in care homes in England, according to the ONS.

Dr. Fauci cautious about durability of vaccine, remains optimistic

June 04, 2020

Francis Collins, told Reuters in an interview last month. "The real business end of this all will be the Phase III that starts in the first week of July, hopefully", Fauci said. Advertisement In the meantime, Fauci said, the United States will begin mass-producing the vaccines so it can distribute them once they gain FDA approval.

Top epidemiologist admits he got Sweden's COVID-19 strategy wrong

June 04, 2020

Earlier this week, Sweden's death rate per capita emerged as the highest in the world, according to The Guardian . What's more, there's so far limited evidence that Sweden's decision to leave much of its society open will support the economy.

Lancet study expresses concern about article against use of Hydroxychloroquine

June 03, 2020

David Boulware, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Minnesota. Among the critics of the study to sign the letter last week were several academics from the University of Oxford and Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok, which had been conducting the global "COPCOV" trial of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment of COVID-19.

Trump searching for new place to hold Republican convention

June 03, 2020

The convention will nominate Trump to seek a second term in the November 3 election. "We are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention ", Trump said. Cooper had until Wednesday to decide whether to lift all social distancing restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic for the GOP to hold its conclave August 24-27 to nominate Trump as its 2020 presidential candidate.

Tech-rights group sues Trump to stop social-media order

June 03, 2020

At least one employee has resigned in protest. "It's crystal clear today that leadership refuses to stand with us", Facebook employee Brandon Dail wrote on Twitter . The blue exclamation mark notification on May 26 prompted readers to "get the facts about mail-in ballots", and directed them to a page with news articles and information about the claims aggregated by Twitter staffers.

World Health Organization to resume hydroxychloroquine arm of Solidarity Trial

June 03, 2020

Surgisphere Corporation, an IL based company which owns the dataset behind the study published in The Lancet as well as a study in the New England Journal of Medicine , has been subject to scrutiny in recent days as clinicians and researchers challenge the likelihood of assembling the amount of data supplied by the firm in such a short period of time.

Dr. Alex George 'disappointed' by coronavirus antibodies test result

June 03, 2020

How accurate are antibody tests? The blood tests were expected to be available to large labs by late May , the company said, adding that it would be able to provide more than 25 million tests per month from June thanks to an upgrade to its manufacturing site in MA.

Republican convention won't be held in North Carolina

June 03, 2020

But the part that most Americans think about the convention - the spectacle of the speakers and the president accepting the Republican nomination itself - will be held in a different state with more relaxed COVID-19 laws. Gov. Roy Cooper , a Democrat, said in a letter to the top convention organizer and the national GOP chairwoman that 'planning for a scaled-down convention with fewer people, social distancing and face coverings is a necessity'.

When are McDonald's reopening in Stevenage and North Herts

June 03, 2020

Six of the chain's Peterborough restaurants have already reopened and the only ones left behind are the Cromwell Road and Ely Leisure Village stores in the Fens. Introducing social distancing in the kitchens and service areas to help create a safe working environment for restaurant teams. Perspex screens at Drive-Thru windows as well as screens and floor markings in specific areas in the restaurant and kitchen.

Second wave of Covid-19 'not inevitable'

June 03, 2020

The death toll now stands at 1,658. There were three new cases in recovery reported during that same timeframe. These new cases bring the statewide total to 72,894. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, when the state still had only 42 positives recorded from Ohio County, 25 of those positive cases were female, 17 were male. Eight more people have died from COVID-19 in Ireland.

Eli Lilly announces first human anti-body trial to treat COVID-19

June 03, 2020

Lilly said the antibody treatment was developed after it was identified from a blood sample taken from one of the first US patients who recovered from Covid-19. "The world urgently needs medicines that can prevent and treat COVID-19", said Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., Lilly's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories.

Two new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Clark County

June 03, 2020

On Day 94 of the pandemic, there were 22 new COVID-19 cases in Putnam, bringing the total to 1,451 positive cases since the outbreak began. Four more cases were confirmed Tuesday. The last confirmed COVID-19 case listed by the RCDHU was Thursday, May 28th, when three healthcare workers from the Renfrew area tested positive for the virus.

Trump says Republican convention will not be held in North Carolina

June 03, 2020

Trump announced the news via tweet, complaining the state's governor, Democrat Roy Cooper , and other officials "refuse to guarantee that we can have use of the Spectrum Arena" and were not "allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised".

Antiviral drug remdesivir helps moderately ill coronavirus patients in trial, maker says

June 03, 2020

Food and Drug Administration for use in severely ill COVID-19 patients , has been touted as a potentially game-changing drug in the fight against the disease. The data showed that patients in the 5-day group were 65% more likely to have clinical improvements on Day 11 compared to those in the standard care group.

Dallas County Reports New Pandemic Highs In Infections, Death

June 03, 2020

In Columbiana County, the ODH reports 881 positive cases, 133 hospitalizations and 52 deaths. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 25-May 31 is 6%. According to the department's hospital preparedness dashboard, 1,263 of the commonwealth's ventilators are being used by COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.

Confirms its second COVID-19 related death

June 03, 2020

The community now has a total of 1,245. Kane County reported 6,514 cases and 188 deaths, and DeKalb County reported 438 cases and five deaths on Tuesday. The county's total is at 309. Numbers for neighboring states are as follows: Maryland had the 10th-most reported cases with 54,175; West Virginia is 46th with 2,041; OH had the 15th-most with 6,035; New Jersey had the second-most cases with 162,925, and DE had the 34th-most with 9,685.

United Kingdom coronavirus death toll nears 50,000, latest official figures show

June 03, 2020

At the peak of the pandemic double the number were dying than expected. Earlier this month, figures showed deaths in care homes accounted for more than half of the total number of daily coronavirus deaths for the first time. The discrepancy in counting happens because DHSC counts deaths where the person had tested positive for COVID-19, while the ONS counts deaths where it was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

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