COVID-19 live updates: Total number of cases passes 97.5 million

Los Angeles, CaliforniaJan. 4, 2021--There was a long wait for testing at Dodger Stadium, where a new COVID-19 testing site was established to cut back on traffic effecting local residents.Share on Pinterest
Cars queue outside a COVID-19 testing site at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
Carolyn Cole/Getty Images
  • The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
  • Known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus has resulted in more than 97.5 million infections and more than 2 million deaths.
  • SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19.
  • COVID-19 has now been reported on every continent.
  • Keep up to date with the latest research and information about COVID-19 here.
  • For vaccine information, visit our live vaccine updates article.

01/22/2021 16:06 GMT — COVID-19: How do inactivated vaccines work?

Read the full article here.


01/22/2021 09:02 GMT — Antibody drug may protect nursing home residents

According to a recent study, bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and Co., helps prevent COVID-19 in nursing homes. The study involved 299 residents and 666 members of staff. For the residents, bamlanivimab reduced the risk of COVID-19 by 80% during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

However, when the researchers analyzed data from the residents and staff together, they found that the drug reduced the risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms by 57%. Compared with a placebo, bamlanivimab was also associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 mortality and lower viral loads.

The results are encouraging, but as vaccine rollouts focus on older adults, the need for drugs of this type will be reduced. By the time the FDA provide a new emergency use authorization, relatively few nursing home residents and staff should be left unvaccinated.

Read more here.


01/22/2021 08:53 GMT — How some people in US are receiving surprise doses of COVID-19 vaccine

If COVID-19 vaccines thaw or the seal has been punctured, they will perish without use. If shots remain at the end of the shift, healthcare workers will sometimes offer them to people who happen to be near the clinic at closing time. 

However, officials believe that as the rollout continues to ramp up and more people become eligible for the shot, fewer and fewer of these leftover doses will be available.

Find more on this story in our live vaccines update article.


01/21/2021 09:49 GMT — New SARS-CoV-2 variants may impact vaccine effectiveness

A study, which appears on the preprint server bioRxiv, concludes that the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines may be less effective against some of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, the study has not yet gone through the peer-review process.

Read more about the new variants here.


01/21/2021 09:11 GMT — Some states report running out of vaccine

As the United States ramps up its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, certain regions are reporting difficulties meeting demand. Some states are running out of vaccines and tens of thousands of appointments to receive the first dose have been cancelled.

Read more on this story in our live vaccines updates article.


01/20/2021 10:09 GMT — SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 detected in 60 countries

According to new data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the B.1.1.7 variant that scientists in the United Kingdom first reported at the end of 2020 is now present in 60 countries across the globe. Last week, this number stood at 50 countries.

Data from the U.K. suggest that B.1.1.7 is able to spread more easily from person to person. 

The WHO also state that 23 countries have reported cases of infection with a variant that they refer to as 501Y.V2, which was first identified in South Africa. A further set of variants have emerged in Brazil. At the moment, it is not clear whether these variants can spread more easily between people, and the WHO call for more research. 

Read more about B.1.1.7 here.


01/20/2021 09:00 GMT — First wave of COVID-19 linked to spike in cardiovascular deaths

According to a new study, in the United States, cardiovascular deaths that were not directly due to COVID-19 surged early in the pandemic. The postponement of procedures, the extra strain on services, and patients’ avoidance of hospitals may partly explain the increase.

Find more details on the study here.


01/20/2021 08:58 GMT — Has the pandemic shifted traditional gender roles in child care?

A recent study investigated how the pandemic has influenced traditional gender roles in child care. The researchers found that child care responsibilities tended to fall to women during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The findings appear in theJournal of Applied Psychology.

Overall, the researchers found that couples working alternating days generally had the best outcomes, with both husbands and wives in this category experiencing the most sleep and the lowest psychological distress. The scientists compared this with couples trying to work in ‘mini-shifts’ or having one parent attempting to do all the child care.

Read MNT’s coverage of the research here.


01/19/2021 10:37 GMT — WHO chief warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’

Speaking on Monday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decried the inequity in global vaccine distribution. He said that it is “not right” that young and healthy people in wealthy countries should receive vaccinations before older people and healthcare workers in poorer countries.

Read more in our live vaccine updates blog.


01/19/2021 09:16 GMT — Vaccines and COVID-19: The latest hopeful research

In a recent Special Feature, Medical News Today investigate the latest COVID-19 vaccine research. The author also asks whether currently available vaccines will be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants that scientists have identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.

Read the feature in full here.


01/19/2021 09:13 GMT — Almost 1 in 3 people treated for COVID-19 in hospitals readmitted after discharge

A recent study tracked 47,780 COVID-19 patients for almost 5 months following hospital discharge. They compared the outcomes of this group with those of matched individuals who had been admitted for reasons unrelated to COVID-19. The people who had received hospital treatment for COVID-19 were 3.5 times more likely to be readmitted.

The group treated for COVID-19 were also 7.7 times more likely to die than those treated for other reasons. The results of the study appear on the preprint server MedRxiv. Older adults and people who were not white had the greatest risk of readmission and death.

The authors conclude: “Individuals discharged from hospital following COVID-19 face elevated rates of multiorgan dysfunction, compared with background levels, and the increase in risk is neither confined to the elderly nor uniform across ethnicities.”

Read more here.


01/18/2021 09:04 GMT — UK sets lofty vaccination goals

According to officials in the United Kingdom, they aim to give every adult in the country, which is more than 51 million people, at least one vaccine dose by September. According to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, “If we can do it faster than that, great, but that’s the road map.”Find more live vaccine updates here.

Find more live vaccine updates here.


01/18/2021 09:00 GMT — SARS-CoV-2 in neurons may damage brain tissue

According to a recent study that involved brain organoids, genetically engineered mice, and human autopsies, SARS-CoV-2 may infect nerve cells and impede blood flow in the central nervous system. The results appear in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Co-senior author Dr. Kaya Bilguvar explains, “Altogether, our study provides [a] clear demonstration that neurons can become a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with devastating consequences of localized ischemia in the brain and cell death.”

Read MNT’s coverage of the research here.


01/18/2021 08:58 GMT — Most hospitalized COVID-19 patients still have symptoms after 6 months

A recent study showed that more than three-quarters of a cohort of COVID-19 patients still had at least one symptom 6 months after being discharged from the hospital. Dubbed “long COVID,” common symptoms include fatigue, coughing, muscle aches, chest pain, heart palpitations, and rashes.

The results appear in the journal The Lancet. Corresponding author Prof. Bin Cao explains that “because COVID-19 is such a new disease, we are only beginning to understand some of its long-term effects on patients’ health.” He continues:

“Our analysis indicates that most patients continue to live with at least some of the effects of the virus after leaving hospital and highlights a need for postdischarge care, particularly for those who experience severe infections.”

Read MNT’s full coverage of the research here.


01/15/2021 14:39 GMT — How do viral vector vaccines work?

Read the full article on viral vector vaccines here.


01/15/2021 12:02 GMT — Brazilian variant detected in UK

According to scientists, a new variant they believe to have first appeared in Brazil is already in the United Kingdom. Although the variant is distinct from those first spotted in the U.K. and South Africa, it shares certain mutations.

“The Brazilian variant has three key mutations in the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) that largely mirror some of the mutations we are worried about it in the South African variant, hence the concern,” explains Prof. Ravi Gupta, a professor of microbiology at the University of Cambridge in the U.K.

“The SARS-CoV-2 RBD is one of the main targets for our immune defences and also the region targeted by vaccines and changes within this region are therefore worrisome. Vaccines are still likely to be effective as a control measure if coverage rates are high and transmission is limited as far as possible.”

Read more here.


01/15/2021 09:04 GMT — Acute brain dysfunction in ICU patients

A recent study finds that in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), episodes of brain dysfunction are more common and prolonged than those normally associated with severe respiratory failure. The study appears in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Read more about the study here.


01/15/2021 09:00 GMT — COVID-19: Gut bacteria may influence severity

The authors of a recent study conclude that an individual’s gut microbiome might affect how their body responds to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. More specifically, gut bacteria might influence both the short- and long-term effects of the infection. The results appear in the journal Gut.

Overall, the authors conclude: “Associations between gut microbiota composition, levels of cytokines, and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity, possibly via modulating host immune responses.”

The scientists also believe that gut bacteria could play a role in the development of long COVID.

Read MNT’s full coverage of the study here.


01/13/2021 09:02 GMT — Large-scale study to test interferon beta

Researchers are still working hard to identify and trial drugs that can reduce the severity of COVID-19. One such drug is interferon beta. Scientists in the United Kingdom are embarking on a large-scale study to find out if it can prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms from emerging.

The experimental treatment is an inhaled version of interferon beta, which biotech company Synairgen developed at Southampton University Hospital in the U.K.

Interferon beta is one of the first cytokines to be released during an infection. The protein is the primary driver of the immune response in the lung. SARS-CoV-2 suppresses the release of interferon beta, and the researchers believe that by inhaling the cytokine into the lungs, it will produce a stronger immune response against the virus. 

Last year, a smaller study involving 101 people produced encouraging results.

As the authors concluded, “Patients who received [interferon beta] had greater odds of improvement and recovered more rapidly from SARS-CoV-2 infection than patients who received placebo, providing a strong rationale for further trials.”

The scientists say that they should be able to complete the study by the summer.

Read more here.


01/13/2021 07:56 GMT — What do we know about the new coronavirus variant?

Read the full feature here.


01/12/2021 12:35 GMT — Russia to conduct clinical trial for “Sputnik-Light” vaccine

On Monday, Russian authorities declared that, in order to ensure COVID-19 vaccine doses reach enough people, they will test out a one-dose regimen of Sputnik V.

Sputnik V is a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, which was first approved for provisional use in Russia last fall.

The experimental one-dose regimen is dubbed “Sputnik-Light,” and researchers are set to test it in 150 volunteers.

In the meantime, Russia will continue to roll out the two-dose Sputnik V vaccination regimen.

Russian officials have hinted that if the trial of Sputnik-Light is successful, they may make the modified vaccine available for export.

According to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which funds the new trial, “‘Sputnik-Light’ can serve as an effective temporary solution for many countries, which are experiencing a peak of coronavirus infection.”

Read more here


01/12/2021 10:45 GMT — Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 may last at least 8 months

In a new study published in Science, researchers found that immune responses that can fight off SARS-CoV-2 have persisted for more than 8 months after people recovered from COVID-19.

The team from La Jolla Institute in California, led by Prof. Alessandro Sette and Prof. Shane Crotty, analyzed 254 blood samples from 188 individuals who recovered from COVID-19. Of these, 43 samples were taken at least 6 months after the infection with the virus.

The researchers found antibodies, T cells, and memory B cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 to varying degrees, suggesting immunity to severe COVID-19 in most study participants. However, there was variation, and some of the volunteers did not have significant levels of immunity. 

This may be why some people can develop COVID-19 more than once.

Read our full analysis of the research here.


01/12/2021 10:11 GMT — Gorillas in San Diego Zoo have COVID-19

After tigers, lions, cats, dogs, and mink, gorillas are the latest animals to contract SARS-CoV-2 outside of lab studies. A press release from the San Diego Zoo, in California, suggests that the virus likely passed to the gorillas from a staff member with an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

After two members of the gorilla troop at the zoo started coughing last week, testing of fecal samples confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2. 

“Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well,” Lisa Peterson, the executive director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, said. “The troop remains quarantined together and are eating and drinking. We are hopeful for a full recovery.”

Read more about which animals may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.


01/11/2021 17:52 GMT — Is there a link between COVID-19 and long-term neurological problems?

Researchers studying the effects of past viral illnesses, including the 1918 flu, on cognitive function suggest that COVID-19 may have long-lasting effects on the brain. However, more research is necessary to draw any conclusions.

Writing in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Gabriel A. de Erausquin from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and collaborators share their perspective on what data from past viral infections may mean for people who recover from COVID-19.

The scientists suggest a link between a person’s risk for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and mental health problems, and infection with respiratory viruses. Among the viruses, they cite H1N1, which caused the 1918 flu pandemic, and the SARS-CoV virus, which caused the 2003 SARS epidemic.

Like the new coronavirus, these respiratory viruses are able to infect cells in the brain. The scientists suggest that even people who have had an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection may be at increased risk of lasting effects on the brain.

Scientists will need to run longer-term studies to see whether they can confirm this theory.

Read our full analysis of the work here.


01/08/2021 09:12 GMT — Pfizer study shows vaccine effective against new variant

Scientists recently identified two new strains of SARS-CoV-2 — one of which had been discovered in the United Kingdom and the other in South Africa. A new study concludes that the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine should be effective against the U.K. variant.

Find more on this story in our live vaccines update article.


01/08/2021 08:54 GMT — Travelers to England will need to present negative COVID-19 test

From next week, individuals traveling to England by boat, plane, or train will need to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. This change brings England in line with a number of other countries. Some people will be exempt, including haulers and children under 11.

According to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, “We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally, we must take further precautions.”

Britain is also extending the existing ban on visitors from South Africa. The restrictions now include all South African countries.

Read more here.


01/07/2021 08:54 GMT — EU approve Moderna vaccine

On Wednesday, the European Union approved the Moderna vaccine. The rollout is likely to begin next week. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “With the Moderna vaccine, the second one now authorized in the European Union, we will have a further 160 million doses. And more vaccines will come.”

Find more on this story in our live vaccine updates article.


01/07/2021 08:33 GMT — Study finds new evidence of SARS-CoV-2 damaging brain blood vessels

In a recent study, scientists did not find SARS-CoV-2 in the brains of people with the infection. However, in the post-mortem brains of patients who tested positive for COVID-19, they found blood vessel damage caused by inflammation. The results appear in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“We were completely surprised. Originally, we expected to see damage that is caused by a lack of oxygen,” says senior author Dr. Avindra Nath. “Instead, we saw multifocal areas of damage that is usually associated with strokes and neuroinflammatory diseases.”

Dr. Nath plans to continue investigating: “In the future, we plan to study how COVID-19 harms the brain’s blood vessels and whether that produces some of the short- and long-term symptoms we see in patients.”

Read MNT’s full coverage of the study here.


01/06/2021 08:50 GMT — Los Angeles hospitals under pressure

On Monday, health officials in Los Angeles, CA, asked first responders not to bring patients who cannot be resuscitated into hospitals. The facilities are short on both beds and staff due to the high volume of COVID-19 patients. At some hospitals, ambulances are waiting hours to unload patients.

On Monday, the state of California reported 72,911 COVID-19 cases, which is the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic.

Read more here.


01/05/2021 14:31 GMT — What is vaccine efficacy?

Read the full feature here.


01/05/2021 10:10 GMT — UK begins third lockdown

Yesterday evening, the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the U.K.’s third lockdown. Although the U.K. government decided to let pupils return to school on Monday, they reversed the decision that evening. Learning will move online, while people should work from home where possible.

Johnson said the decision is due to the rise of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in the U.K. This variant may be more transmissible, although it does not appear to increase the risk of worse disease.

For many experts, this move is unsurprising and arrived too late. Dr. Julian W Tang, honorary associate professor and clinical virologist at the University of Leicester, says:

“We sort of predicted the likely need for this post-Xmas and New Year lockdown because we knew that many people would still try to meet up over the festive season — and we cannot really blame the new variant virus for all of this.”

He continues, “Yet this brief freedom will have long-term costs for business and education — and people’s health, both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19-related.”

In his televised statement, Johnson said, “The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet, but I really do believe that we are entering the last phase of the struggle, because with every jab that goes into our arms, we are tilting the odds against [COVID-19] and in favor of the British people.”

Talking about the latest U-turn, Dr. Catherine Carroll-Meehan, Head of School of Education and Sociology, University of Portsmouth, says, “Closing schools is the right decision. What families, children, and schools need is some certainty. It is a shame that the government do not take decisions in a more certain and timely manner.”

The new lockdown will continue until mid-February.

Read more here.


01/05/2021 09:00 GMT — Is it ethical to continue COVID-19 vaccine trials?

The recent authorization of two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in the United States poses an ethical dilemma for researchers conducting ongoing clinical trials. In particular, what is their responsibility toward participants who received placebo injections? The authors of a recent opinion piece address this difficult question.

Read MNT’s full coverage of the paper here.


04/01/2021 09:04 GMT — COVID-19 pandemic 2020: The search for a vaccine

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, scientists all over the world have joined the race to develop a safe, effective vaccine. In a new feature, Medical News Today outline how the search for a vaccine progressed throughout 2020.

Read the full feature here.


04/01/2021 09:01 GMT— US might split Moderna vaccine doses in half to speed up rollout

United States officials have announced that the government is considering giving some people half doses of the Moderna vaccine to help speed up the vaccination rollout.

Read more in our live vaccine update article.


04/01/2021 08:55 GMT — UK begin rolling out AstraZeneca vaccine

This morning, officials in the United Kingdom began rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine designed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Brian Pinker, 82, was the first person to receive the shot. This is the second vaccine currently being rolled out in the U.K., following the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Read more in our live vaccines update article.


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 journalJAMA Internal Medicine.

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 here.


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 document earlier today. The organization will discuss the findings in a vaccine panel meeting on Thursday. 

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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The FDA concluded that the “potential benefits [of the vaccine] outweigh the known and potential risks […].” The first shipments of the vaccine left FedEx and UPS facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky yesterday.

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 developing a portable device that gives rapid, accurate test results with the help of a regular smartphone camera. By estimating the number of virus particles in samples, the device could also determine an infection’s progress.

Find more information about this technology here.


12/09/2020 09:21 GMT — ‘Oxford’ vaccine: Results from phase 3 trial

Yesterday, The Lancet published the results of phase 3 clinical trials investigating AstraZeneca’s so-called Oxford vaccine. The study involved people in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa. Overall, the results show that the vaccine candidate protects against the symptomatic disease in 70% of cases.

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 here at 19:00 GMT


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.

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 risks, 61% of parents who usually meet with extended family at Thanksgiving intend to meet them in person this year. The report was published by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, at the University of Michigan.

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 news release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they are providing additional funding to “enable and enhance COVID-19 testing of populations disproportionately affected by the disease.” This includes people from marginalized ethnic backgrounds, older adults, people who are incarcerated, and people who are homeless.  

The NIH explain that they have “awarded nearly $45 million to expand the research network of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program.” 

The RADx-UP program focuses on, among other things, developing and validating point-of-care and home-based tests.

Find more detail here.


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 Circulation.

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 WHO SOLIDARITY trial. The results first appeared on the preprint server medRxiv on October 15. 

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 announced last week. According to the press release, “[e]fficacy was consistent across age, gender, race, and ethnicity demographics” and in people over 65. 

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.”

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 Science Advances, involved just 83 patients with an average age of 81. To confirm the findings, scientists are already conducting larger randomized controlled trials.

Read more about the ongoing research here.


Previous COVID-19 updates available here:

September 19–December 19

August 18–September 18

June 17–August 17

April 16–June 16

March 24-April 15

March 7–March 23

Feb 22–March 6


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