12/23/2020 12:46 GMT — AstraZeneca and Sputnik V developers to test a combined experimental vaccine
The developers of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine have signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to test a combination of both vaccines, according to the Associated Press.
Read more in our live vaccine updates article.
12/23/2020 11:26 GMT — Taiwan responds to first case of community transmission since April
On Tuesday, Taiwan saw its first domestic case of COVID-19. President Tsai Ing-wen called for calm, asking people to follow the health authorities’ increased physical distancing measures.
Taiwanese authorities have been quick to trace how the SARS-CoV-2 virus reemerged in the country. An airline pilot who had flown between the United States and Taiwan has drawn criticism for not disclosing his symptoms or movements to Taiwanese authorities. He subsequently received a positive test result for COVID-19.
A close contact of his then received a COVID-19 diagnosis, making this the first case of domestic community transmission since April 12.
So far, 170 people identified through contact tracing have had a negative COVID-19 test result, with three people still awaiting their results.
Taiwan’s authorities introduced strict containment measures in response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 earlier this year. So far, the country has seen seven deaths and fewer than 800 cases of COVID-19.
Read more here.
12/22/2020 14:20 GMT — MNT Video: How to celebrate winter holidays safely
12/22/2020 12:05 GMT — European Commission grant authorization for BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine
The European Medicines Agency have recently recommended a conditional marketing authorization for Cominarty, the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, for use in people aged 16 years and above.
The European Commission (EC) have granted this authorization, making the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine the first one to be administered across the entire European Union.
President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today, we add an important chapter to a European success story. We approved the first safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19. More vaccines will come soon.”
Read the full story here and more about vaccine updates here.
12/22/2020 11:10 GMT — First COVID-19 cases detected in Antarctica
Antarctica is no longer the only continent free of COVID-19. At the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base, operated by the Chilean Army, 36 Chilean adults tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Of them, 26 are members of the Chilean Army, and 10 are maintenance workers. The army relieved them of their duties after they tested positive, and evacuated them to the city of Punta Arenas in Chile. They are reportedly self-isolating and in good condition.
Read the full story here.
12/21/2020 09:31 GMT — Transport ties to UK severed
Scientists in the United Kingdom have identified a new, more infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2. In response, the U.K.’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined new restrictions on Saturday. Consequently, a number of countries have restricted travel to and from the U.K.
So far, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Israel, and Canada have shut down travel ties.
According to experts, the SARS-CoV-2 variant does not cause more severe disease and should not interfere with vaccines. However, it appears to spread more easily.
As the U.K. prepares to leave the European Union in the next few days, the new travel restrictions will add to the already growing chaos.
Read more here.
12/21/2020 09:05 GMT — US authorizes Moderna vaccine
The FDA have given the Moderna vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA), making it the second vaccine with EUA in the U.S. Already, the U.S. has agreed to purchase 200 million doses. Officials expect that healthcare professionals will give the first shots this morning.
Find more detail in our vaccine updates article.
12/18/2020 10:20 GMT — Johnson & Johnson announce phase 3 clinical trial
Johnson & Johnson recently announced a multicountry phase 3 clinical trial of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The company have already enrolled around 45,000 participants and, if the vaccine proves safe and effective, they will look for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2021.
Find more detail in our live vaccine updates article.
12/18/2020 09:14 GMT — Moderna vaccine nears approval
In a meeting yesterday, Food and Drink Administration (FDA) advisors endorsed the emergency use of Moderna’s vaccine. One expert abstained, but the remaining 20 experts voted that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweighed the risks in people aged over 18. The FDA are expected to grant emergency use authorization by the end of the week.
Read more in our live vaccine updates article.
12/18/2020 09:09 GMT — NICE publish guidelines on vitamin D and COVID-19
Yesterday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released a review of recent studies on vitamin D and COVID-19. Overall, they conclude that there is “not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.”
The review was conducted in collaboration with Public Health England and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
The experts reviewed data from both observational studies and randomized controlled trials. They conclude that “It was not possible to determine a direct relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19 based on the available evidence.”
However, because the primary source of vitamin D is sunlight, they advise taking the vitamin during the autumn and winter.
The report also recommends that researchers continue investigating the relationship between COVID-19 and vitamin D in high-quality randomized controlled trials. NICE will continue to review research as it is conducted.
Dr. Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health England, advises that “everyone, particularly the elderly, those who don’t get outside, and those with dark skin, takes a vitamin D supplement containing 10 micrograms [400 international units] every day.”
Read the full report here.
12/17/2020 09:33 GMT — Guidance on mandatory vaccines for employees in the US
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have issued guidance for companies that are considering making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. They explain that employers must be prepared to exempt employees with disabilities and religious objections.
Read more in our vaccine updates article here.
12/17/2020 09:14 GMT — What is the protective value of different face masks?
A recent study assessed how effective various medical and consumer-grade masks are at protecting the wearer from exposure to particles similar in size to SARS-CoV-2. The results of the study appear in the journal
The scientists found that the most effective consumer-grade mask was a washed two-layer woven nylon mask, while the least effective was a three-layer woven cotton mask.
Overall, co-first author Dr. Phillip Clapp explains that “the fitted filtration efficiencies of many consumer-grade masks were nearly equivalent to or better than surgical masks.”
Read more about the findings here.
12/16/2020 09:17 GMT — Vaccine developed by British American Tobacco approved for human trials in US
This week, the U.S. health regulator approved a vaccine developed by British American Tobacco (BAT) for human trials. The vaccine, developed by BAT’s biotech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing, derives from tobacco leaves. Enrollment for the study is likely to begin shortly. BAT expect clinical trials to start in late June 2021.
Find more on this story in our vaccine updates article.
12/16/2020 09:09 GMT — BMJ editors question UK lockdown easing for Christmas
In a rare move, the editors of BMJ have penned a joint article. They criticize the government of the United Kingdom’s decision to ease COVID-19 measures around the Christmas period. The authors are concerned that the move will overwhelm the National Health Service (NHS).
In the article, which is only the second joint editorial in 100 years of the journal’s existence, the authors explain that “The planned relaxation of restrictions over Christmas will boost [case] numbers further as the NHS also struggles with the additional demands of winter.”
They worry that the U.K. public “will see the lifting of restrictions over Christmas as permission to drop their guard.” Beyond the impact on the public, the editors are concerned about NHS staff; they write:
“Of particular concern is the effect on staff, many of whom have already worked through the hardest 9 months of their professional lives. Levels of burnout and sickness absence are likely to exceed those already experienced.”
Read the editorial
12/16/2020 09:01 GMT — How have we developed vaccines so quickly?
As countries begin rolling out vaccines, Medical News Today spoke with a number of medical experts to learn how scientists have created COVID-19 vaccines so swiftly without compromising safety.
Read the feature here.
12/15/2020 14:49 GMT — Moderna vaccine draws closer to emergency use authorization
According to Food and Drug Administration’s reviewers, the Moderna vaccine is 95% effective. Importantly, the group did not raise any safety concerns. The FDA released the data in a 54-page
Read more in our live vaccines article here.
12/15/2020 10:18 GMT — New SARS-CoV-2 variant identified in England
Yesterday, the United Kingdom’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, announced that scientists had identified a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in England. He explained that it was particularly prevalent in the South, which had recently experienced a sharp rise in cases.
Local authorities have recorded at least 60 COVID-19 cases that involve the new variant, Hancock reported, adding that there was “nothing to suggest” that the variant caused more severe disease or could limit the effects of vaccines.
During a press conference, Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty explained: “There are many variants. It just happens that this one has quite a few more mutations than some of the other variants, so that’s the reason why we’ve taken it particularly seriously.”
He continued, “But there’s nothing to suggest that the symptoms are different, that the testing is different, or that the clinical outcome is different for this variant.”
In an interview with the BBC, Prof. Alan McNally, an expert in microbial genomics at the University of Birmingham, said:
“Let’s not be hysterical. It doesn’t mean it’s more transmissible or more infectious or dangerous. It is something to keep an eye on. Huge efforts are ongoing at characterizing the variant and understanding its emergence. It is important to keep a calm and rational perspective on the strain, as this is normal virus evolution and we expect new variants to come and go and emerge over time.”
Dr. Zania Stamataki, a viral immunologist at the same institution, provided added insight: “The emergence of different coronavirus strains a year after SARS-CoV-2 first jumped to humans is neither cause for panic nor unexpected. […] This virus doesn’t mutate as fast as influenza and, although we need to keep it under surveillance, it will not be a major undertaking to update the new vaccines when necessary in the future.”
Read more here.
12/15/2020 08:57 GMT — Long COVID and periods: The impact on female well-being
A number of people with long COVID have reported an impact on their menstrual cycles. In a new feature, Medical News Today spoke with two medical experts and six individuals who have been experiencing these disruptive changes to their menstrual cycles.
Read the full feature here.
12/14/2020 15:24 GMT — First New York healthcare worker receives vaccine
Today, Sandra Lindsay became the first healthcare worker to receive the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in New York. The intensive care unit nurse received the vaccine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, one of the epicenters of COVID-19 earlier this year.
Find more vaccine updates here.
12/14/2020 09:27 GMT — FDA issue emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccine
On Friday, the
Read more on this story here.
12/14/2020 09:05 GMT — One-third of patients may experience ‘long COVID’
A new study finds that 32% of people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were still experiencing at least one symptom 6 weeks after their tests. The most common of these symptoms were fatigue, shortness of breath, and a loss of taste or smell.
Read MNT’s full coverage of the study here.
12/11/2020 14:51 GMT — Video: Spotlight on 3 vaccine frontrunners
Read the full article here.
12/11/2020 09:31 GMT — Study hints that supplements may reduce COVID-19 risk in females
A recent study found small but significant decreases in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among females who took multivitamins, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, or probiotics. The study has not yet been through the peer review process and appears on the preprint server MedRxiv.
Although the results seem hopeful, Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, in the United Kingdom, who was not involved in the research, adds some perspective:
“These are interesting results, but due to the way the study has been conducted, these data absolutely cannot tell us that taking such supplements ‘protects’ against infection [resulting in] COVID-19.”
The scientists were surprised that the effect was only significant in females. They theorize that this might be because females have more robust immune systems. Alternately, they might be more likely to wear masks or wash their hands than males.
Prof. Seif Shaheen, from Queen Mary University of London, adds further context: “A major concern is that these findings may be confounded by socioeconomic status, given that individuals of higher status are more likely to take supplements and are also less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2.”
Read MNT’s full coverage of the research here.
12/11/2020 08:59 GMT — FDA experts recommend Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine
Yesterday, a panel of experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that the organization should give the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emergency approval. The committee voted 17–4 that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for people aged 16 years and older.
Read more about this story here.
12/10/2020 09:18 GMT — Two allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccine reported in UK on first day of roll-out
Yesterday, the United Kingdom began rolling out the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. According to the head of Britain’s medicine regulator, two people had allergic reactions shortly after receiving it. Both have since recovered.
Find more information here.
12/10/2020 09:07 GMT — COVID-19: Once hospitalized, Black patients are less likely to die
Research shows that in the United States, some populations, including people who are Black, are more likely to develop COVID-19. After controlling for underlying conditions and average neighborhood income, a new study shows that once Black patients are hospitalized, they are less likely to die of the disease than white patients.
If confirmed, these findings support the idea that structural determinants of health account for a disproportionately higher rate of out-of-hospital COVID-19 deaths in in Black and Hispanic communities.
Read MNT’s full coverage of the study here.
12/10/2020 09:03 GMT — Smartphone-based device could detect SARS-CoV-2
Scientists are
Find more information about this technology here.
12/09/2020 09:21 GMT — ‘Oxford’ vaccine: Results from phase 3 trial
Yesterday,
Read more in our live vaccines update article.
12/09/2020 09:15 GMT — COVID-19 case on cruise ship
After an 83-year-old passenger tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship departing from Singapore had to return to dock. The crew had to confine all passengers to their cabins.
Each passenger required polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2 before joining the “cruise-to-nowhere.” Despite this safety measure, one passenger reported to the onboard medical center with diarrhea and tested positive for the virus.
People in close contact with the individual had also had to undergo testing, but no one else acquired the infection. All passengers will also undergo further testing before they are allowed to leave the terminal.
Read more here.
12/09/2020 09:07 GMT — Pfizer vaccine closer to authorization in US
Recently, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their vaccine candidate was 95% effective against COVID-19. They are currently working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to secure approval for emergency use. This week, the FDA released documents declaring no issues with safety or efficacy.
Read more in our live vaccines update article.
12/08/2020 09:46 GMT — UK begins mass vaccinations
Today, the United Kingdom became the first Western nation to start mass vaccinations. Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the day “V-day.” In Coventry, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person to receive the vaccine outside of clinical trials.
Find more information in our live vaccine update article.
12/08/2020 09:30 GMT — Fauci voices concerns about Christmas period
Yesterday, in an interview with CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned of another surge in cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays. He had voiced concerns before Thanksgiving and explains that over the upcoming holidays, the problem will be “compounded because it’s a longer holiday.”
He also advised that “We’re at a very critical time. […] We’ve got to not walk away from the facts and the data. This is tough going for all of us.” President-elect Joe Biden has asked Dr. Fauci to be his COVID chief medical advisor.
Read more here.
12/07/2020 09:54 GMT — South Korea experiences new wave of COVID-19 cases
Despite their initial success at controlling the pandemic, South Korea is experiencing increasing numbers of cases. As of Sunday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency report that there are 8,311 people in quarantine, which is the highest number to date.
Read more here.
12/07/2020 09:51 GMT — ‘Clear, balanced information’ important for vaccine uptake
In a recent editorial, David Phizackerley, the deputy editor of the journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, argues that clear and balanced information on the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines is important for ensuring their broad uptake.
Find more detail in our live vaccine updates article.
12/07/2020 09:46 GMT — Adapted yellow fever vaccine may protect against COVID-19
A recent study concludes that a genetically altered yellow fever vaccine is highly effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals. If it passes clinical trials, the new vaccine would have some advantages over other SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. For instance, it provided protection after just one shot.
Find more detail in our live vaccine updates article.
12/04/2020 10:15 GMT — Three former presidents willing to take the vaccine publicly
In an effort to boost public confidence, three former presidents — George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama — have all publicly stated that they would be prepared to take the COVID-19 vaccine once it receives approval.
Find more on this story in our live vaccine update article.
12/04/2020 09:40 GMT — Dr. Fauci apologizes for claiming UK rushed decision
Earlier this week, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, sparked controversy when he claimed that the United Kingdom had not acted as carefully as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when it licensed its first COVID-19 vaccine. Yesterday, he apologized and said he has “great faith” in the U.K. regulators.
Find more about this story here.
12/04/2020 09:28 GMT — Link between air pollution and COVID-19 spikes identified
The authors of a recent study conclude that temperature inversions and Saharan dust storms may be contributing to localized peaks of COVID-19. The research appears in the journal Earth Systems and Environment.
Find MNT’s coverage of the research here.
12/03/2020 09:31 GMT — Russia plans large-scale COVID-19 vaccination plan
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a large-scale vaccination program that will begin next week. Doctors and teachers will be first in line for the vaccine. Some experts are concerned as the Sputnik V vaccine is yet to complete advanced clinical trials for safety.
Read more about the Russian vaccine here.
12/03/2020 09:16 GMT — AstraZeneca’s US vaccine trial results due early 2021
Yesterday, the chief adviser for the United States government’s Operation Warp Speed program announced that results from AstraZeneca’s U.S. vaccine trials could be available early next year. If the results are encouraging, they will likely file for an emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Visit our vaccine live updates article for more information.
12/03/2020 08:53 GMT — Do SARS-CoV-2 mutations affect its transmissibility?
A recent study analyzed samples of the SARS-CoV-2 genome from 46,723 people in 99 countries. The authors conclude that no currently identified mutation of SARS-CoV-2 appears to make the virus better at transmitting. The results appear in the journalNature Communications.
Read MNT’s full coverage of the research here.
12/02/2020 08:57 GMT — UK licenses vaccine against COVID-19
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) in the United Kingdom have authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. The U.K. has already purchased 40 million doses of the vaccine, and the first 10 million doses should arrive this month.
Find more details in our live vaccine updates article.
12/02/2020 08:52 GMT — Developing an equation to predict transmission rates
In a recent study, scientists developed an equation that can help determine the likely number of people who would likely contract SARS-CoV-2 from a single person with the virus at different types of events. They also investigated which interventions would be most effective in the different scenarios.
Read more about the study here.
12/02/2020 08:49 GMT — The FDA move toward vaccine approval
On Tuesday, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn said it was possible that the FDA would approve Pfizer’s experimental vaccine before the end of the year. However, in the ABC News interview, he explained that “it’s hard to predict. […] We need everything to fall into place.”
Read more about the vaccine push in the United States here.
12/01/2020 11:49 GMT — Recommendations for vaccine allocation due
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet to make their recommendations on who will receive the first COVID-19 vaccines. The panel consists of independent experts and one consumer representative.
According to the New York Times, the members will likely recommend that healthcare staff and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will receive the first batches of vaccines, once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant emergency use approval.
Watch the live meeting
12/01/2020 11:49 GMT — A photo captures the strain on ICU patients and health workers
A photo taken on Thanksgiving inside a COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, TX, shows Chief of Staff Dr. Joseph Varon in full personal protective equipment hugging a patient.
Photographer Go Nakamura took the photo for Getty Images while documenting the work of healthcare professionals and the reality of being in an ICU with COVID-19.
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Dr. Varon has been working for more than 250 consecutive days. He found the COVID-19 patient out of his hospital bed, in tears, looking for help. He was asking for his wife.
“I was feeling sad, just like him, and I was just recollecting all the patients that I have had to do similar things with,” Dr. Varon explains. “I would go into their rooms, sit on their beds, and chat with them because they truly need somebody.”
Read more here.
11/30/2020 14:57 GMT — Moderna apply for approval for mRNA vaccine candidate in the US and Europe
Today, Moderna announced the completion of their phase 3 clinical trial primary efficacy analysis. The vaccine candidate is 94.1% effective against COVID-19 and 100% effective against severe COVID-19. The company will apply today for emergency use approval in the United States.
In addition, it will also apply to the European Medicines Agency for conditional marketing authorization.
In a press release, Moderna highlighted that 196 people enrolled in their 30,000-participant trial have now had COVID-19. Of them, 11 were in the group that had received the vaccine.
There were 30 cases of severe COVID-19, all in the placebo group. One person in this group died.
The 196 cases of COVID-19 in the study occurred among diverse participants, including older adults and those from minority ethnic groups.
The company stressed that they will submit the results of the study to a peer reviewed journal.
Read more vaccine updates here.
11/30/2020 12:55 GMT — Tuberculosis vaccine may help protect against COVID-19
A retrospective, observational study has found that the BCG vaccination — which aims to prevent tuberculosis — may protect against infection with the novel coronavirus.
The study found that among 6,201 healthcare workers, those who had had the BCG vaccination were less likely to have antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their blood and less likely to report having experienced COVID-19 symptoms compared with those who had not had the vaccine.
Read our full coverage of the study here.
11/27/2020 17:30 GMT — High blood sugar levels may predict COVID-19 death risk
New research finds that high blood sugar levels correlate with a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality, even in people who do not have a history of diabetes.
The new study — which appears in the journal Annals of Medicine — found that 41.1% of those who died from COVID-19 had very high blood sugar levels.
The risk of dying from COVID-19 rose proportionately with blood sugar levels, and the association was independent of diabetes status.
“Early glycemic control may be a suitable therapeutic option to reduce the poor outcomes in hospitalized, hyperglycemic COVID-19 patients with or without a previous diabetes diagnosis,” write the study authors.
Read the full story here.
11/27/2020 11:20 GMT — Antibleeding drug may effectively treat COVID-19
Researchers at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, led a new study showing that the antibleeding drug aprotinin (Trasylol) can stop the new coronavirus from entering healthy host cells.
The scientists conducted experiments in various types of human cell, using different concentrations of the drug, and in three different strains of the virus.
As the researchers point out, what is significant is that the drug was effective at a dose that people can realistically take — i.e., a therapeutic dose.
Senior study author Prof. Jindrich Cinatl, from the Institute for Medical Virology at University Hospital Frankfurt, says, “Our findings show that aprotinin is effective against SARS-CoV-2 in concentrations that can be achieved in patients.”
“In aprotinin, we have a drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 that is already approved for other indications and could readily be tested in patients.”
Read our full coverage of the study here.
11/26/2020 10:26 GMT — Scientists in the Netherlands plan ‘human challenge’ vaccine study
Scientists from Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands are hoping to deliberately transmit SARS-CoV-2 to participants to test vaccine efficacy. Already, 240 people have stepped forward to participate in the “human challenge” trial.
Read more about this story in our live vaccine updates article.
11/26/2020 09:03 GMT — Many parents want to celebrate Thanksgiving with others despite risk
A new poll shows that, despite the
Read more about the results here.
11/26/2020 08:50 GMT — COVID-19 has produced ‘alarming’ increase in loneliness
A recent survey shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a troubling effect on the psychological health of young adults in the United States. In the survey of 1,008 people aged 18–35, 80% of participants reported “significant depressive symptoms” during the pandemic.
The results of the study appear in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. “These young adults are the future of our nation’s social fabric,” says Dr. Viviana Horigian, the lead author of the study. “They need to be given access to psychological help, coupled with the development and dissemination of brief online contact-based interventions that encourage healthy lifestyles.”
Read MNT’s full coverage of the study here.
11/25/2020 15:15 GMT — MNT Video update: Thanksgiving and mental health
11/25/2020 08:56 GMT — NIH promise to boost COVID-19 testing in ‘underserved and vulnerable populations’
According to a
The NIH explain that they have “awarded nearly $45 million to expand the research network of the
The RADx-UP program focuses on, among other things, developing and validating point-of-care and home-based tests.
Find more detail
11/25/2020 08:51 GMT — Officials urge people to stay home at Thanksgiving
As COVID-19 case numbers reach record highs in the United States, health experts and politicians across the country are urging people to stay home this Thanksgiving. In the last month, more than half of U.S. governors have imposed or brought back statewide measures.
On Tuesday, more than 87,000 people were being treated in hospitalsfor COVID-19, which is an all-time record. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams asked people to understand “the severity of the moment. […] We just need you, the American people, to hold on a little bit longer.”
In his weekly COVID briefing, California’s top health official, Dr. Mark Ghaly, urged people to say “no” to family gatherings. He wrote, “Saying ‘no’ to people you love is never easy, […] but knowing how and when to say ‘no’ is the first step to protecting your health and the health of the people you care about.”
Read more here.
11/24/2020 09:35 GMT — US government plans to start distributing Regeneron’s antibody combination
According to U.S. officials, the government will soon begin distributing Regeneron’s antibody therapy for COVID-19. The move comes following emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The combination of two monoclonal antibodies, called REGN-COV2, helps treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and children.
Read more here.
11/24/2020 09:23 GMT — Despite warnings, many people in the US plan to travel for Thanksgiving
On Sunday, despite increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, more than 1 million passengers passed through airport security in the United States. The American Automobile Association predict that 45–50 million people will use the highways during Thanksgiving 2020, down from 55 million in 2019.
Read more here.
11/23/2020 11:44 GMT — What explains Africa’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
In an opinion piece, written for MNT, Prof. Agnes Binagwaho, M.D., MPEd, Ph.D. — vice-chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in Kigali, Rwanda — and her research associate Kedest Mathewos explain why African countries fared much better than their Western counterparts in the fight against COVID-19.
Read the article here.
11/23/2020 09:52 GMT — AstraZeneca’s ‘Oxford’ vaccine 70% effective
According to a press release, the experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca prevents 70.4% of people from developing COVID-19. Although this is lower than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, using a different dosing regimen might increase the figure to 90%.
The recent announcement is based on data from 24,000 participants in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa. Importantly, the Oxford vaccine is cheaper to produce and easier to store and transport than the Moderna and Pfizer offerings.
The trial involved two dosing regimens. One consisted of two full doses, which provided 62% protection. The other involved one half dose followed by one full dose, which provided 90% protection. Prof. Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and the chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, explains:
“These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives. Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective, and if this dosing [regimen] is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply.”
Dr. Stephen Griffin, an associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, U.K., says:
“This is yet more excellent news and should be considered tremendously exciting. The Oxford vaccine, as for the others we’ve heard about recently, is capable of generating 90% protection against COVID-19. Given the favorable stability seen for this vaccine, it has great potential to be delivered across the globe, achieving huge public health benefits.”
Dr. Griffin was not involved with the study.
Read more here.
11/23/2020 09:49 GMT — Black, Hispanic people account for half of hospital deaths
According to a recent analysis, in the first 6 months of 2020, 53% of deaths from COVID-19 in 88 hospitals across the United States were Black or Hispanic patients. The analysis results appear in the journal
Read more about the study here.
11/20/2020 09:19 GMT — UK may ease rules for Christmas
Currently, the United Kingdom is in the midst of a 4-week lockdown. According to U.K. health minister Matt Hancock, the lockdown is having the desired effect and case numbers are plateauing. He hopes that restrictions might be partially eased in time for Christmas.
Hancock explained that “There are encouraging signs that the number of cases is starting to flatten. […] It, of course, won’t be like a normal Christmas, there will have to be rules in place, but we hope that they’ll allow for a bit more of that normal Christmas.”
Read more here.
11/20/2020 09:16 GMT — WHO release statement regarding remdesivir
In an article, which appears in BMJ, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend “against the use of remdesivir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.” This change in stance is a response to results from the
The authors of the study, which investigated a number of COVID-19 interventions, conclude that “[r]emdesivir, [h]ydroxychloroquine, [l]opinavir, and [I]nterferon regimens appeared to have little or no effect on hospitalized COVID-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay.”
The authors of the recent BMJ update explain that, although they could not categorically state that remdesivir affords no benefit, “there is no evidence based on currently available data that it does improve patient-important outcomes.”
Read more here.
11/19/2020 10:31 GMT — Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 candidate vaccine 95% effective
In a press release, Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the results from their phase 3 clinical trial: their vaccine is 95% effective. These results build on preliminary results
The researchers enrolled 43,000 participants in the study and identified no significant safety concerns. The mRNA vaccine candidate is called BNT162.
According to the press release, “[t]he companies expect to produce, globally, up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.”
Read more here.
11/19/2020 09:11 GMT — In-person teaching ceases in New York City
Due to a surge in case numbers in New York City, the city’s public school system has halted in-classroom teaching. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the changes yesterday on Twitter, explaining that “[w]e must fight back the second wave of COVID-19.”
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Read more here.
11/19/2020 08:55 GMT — Arthritis drug may improve COVID-19 survival in older adults
A drug used to treat arthritis shows promising initial results for treating COVID-19 in older adults. A small study found that COVID-19 patients taking baricitinib were less likely to need mechanical ventilation and more likely to survive than individuals who were not taking the drug.
The study, which appears in the journal
Read more about the ongoing research here.