World Health Organization urges for 40% in increased production on protective gear
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged manufacturers to urgently increase the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide. The scarcity of gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles and face shields are leaving frontline clinicians poorly equipped to encounter COVID-19 patients. According to WHO, PPE supplies need to be increased by 40% worldwide. “Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of WHO. “Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first.” WHO is working with governments, industry and the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to boost production and provide PPEs for critically affected and at-risk countries. More here.
Seattle feels like ‘ghost town’ business owners say
Nine people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and all of them have been in Washington state, which has reported 31 cases of the disease. Eight of the deaths were in an area of King County, WA, about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle, and one was in neighboring Snohomish County, WA. “It’s like a ghost town,” Ruby Francisco told NBC News about the famous Pike Place Market in Seattle. Francisco owns a jewelry store close by. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan proclaimed a civil emergency, which allows her to bypass regulations to increase city spending, contracting and borrowing to address the growing public health threat. It will also allow her office to close facilities and cancel events to prevent the virus from spreading further. Read more here.
Amazon employee in Seattle tests positive
Amazon said on Tuesday that an employee who works in one of its Seattle, WA, offices tested positive for coronavirus. Amazon notified its employees in a memo, stating, “The employee went home feeling unwell on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and has not entered Amazon offices since that time.” Amazon asked employees who are experiencing symptoms to stay home and seek medical care. Read more here.
Tracking every coronavirus case in the U.S.
The U.S. had at least 118 cases of the coronavirus as of Tuesday, with numbers growing. Public health officials reported the virus was spreading among people with no history of overseas travel. Schools have closed and governors have declared states of emergency. The New York Times tracks every case in maps and graphs here.
U.S. will drop limits on virus testing, says VP Pence
Vice President Mike Pence said the CDC was lifting all restrictions on testing for coronavirus and would be releasing new guidelines to fast-track testing for people who think they have the virus, even if they are displaying mild symptoms. Healthcare supply companies and public health officials have cast doubt on the government’s assurances. Public health laboratories are saying they wouldn’t be able to process close to the number of tests the federal government is promising. “The estimates we’re getting from industry right now – by the end of this week, close to a million tests will be able to be performed,” said Dr. Stephen Hahn, the head of the FDA. Read more here.
National Nurses United calls U.S. health system ‘woefully unprepared’ for coronavirus spread
In a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, National Nurses United, the largest union for registered nurses in the U.S., called the nation’s public health system ‘woefully unprepared’ for a pandemic. The union recommends action by the president’s administration to protect health workers and to ensure a vaccine for the virus is provided for free to the public. “We know that we can be successful in getting all our hospitals prepared to control the spread of this virus,” said Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of National Nurses United. “We are committed to working with hospitals and state and federal agencies to be ready. But nurses and healthcare workers need optimal staffing, equipment, and supplies to do so.” Read more here.
Death rate jumps to 3.4%, according to World Health Organization
The death rate among reported coronavirus patients is now about 3.4%, estimates the World Health Organization (WHO). That is a far higher percentage than previous estimates. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO, also said Tuesday the virus is more lethal than the flu. The death rate for the seasonal flu in the U.S. is less than 1%. Previous global mortality rate estimates for COVID-19 had been around 2%. But it remains unclear how many people have been infected. Read more here.
Iran to temporarily release 54,000 prisoners as coronavirus spreads
Iran will temporarily release 54,000 people from prisons and deploy hundreds of thousands of health workers as officials announced measures to contain the outbreak. After weeks of refusing visits to the sites, the Iranian government has now said that those trying to leave Qom, the epicenter of the outbreak in Iran, would be quarantined if they show symptoms of the virus, including a fever. Iran has been forced to implement new controls after 23 members of parliament tested positive for the virus. Iran’s health ministry will also oversee the release of prisoners but did not elaborate on where they would be kept or how authorities would keep track of them. Read more here.
2020 Tokyo Olympics delay possible
Japanese Minister Seiko Hashimoto has implied that the 2020 Olympics, set to run from July 24 to Aug. 9, could be held later in the year due to the coronavirus outbreak. “The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has the right to cancel the games only if they are not held during 2020,” said Hashimoto. “This can be interpreted to mean the games can be postponed as long as they are held during the calendar year.” However, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said the games would begin July 24. Read more here.
More coronavirus resources from Repertoire:
- FAQ/Insights – Helpful and relevant links to help you keep track of the ongoing epidemic
- More Outbreak News