Nearly 40% of Americans misused cleaning products trying to kill COVID-19, CDC finds
The CDC has released results of a survey that identified important knowledge gaps in the safe use of cleaners and disinfectants among U.S. adults. According to the report, the largest gaps were found in knowledge about safe preparation of cleaning and disinfectant solutions and about storage of hand sanitizers out of the reach of children. Consistent with current guidance for daily cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, a majority of respondents reported increased frequency of cleaning in the home. However, approximately 33% reported engaging in high-risk practices such as washing food products with bleach, applying household cleaning and disinfectant products to bare skin, and intentionally inhaling or ingesting cleaners or disinfectants.
NASA selects eight U.S. manufacturers for COVID-19 ventilator production
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has selected eight U.S. manufacturers to make a new ventilator designed for COVID-19 patients. The companies selected for licenses are Vacumed, Stark Industries, MVent, iButtonLink, Evo Design, DesignPlex Biomedical, ATRON Group and Pro-Dex. The companies were selected from more than 100 applications. Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally (VITAL), the prototype for the high-pressure ventilator, was developed by JPL engineers in 37 days with input from doctors and medical device manufacturers. It uses one-seventh the parts of a traditional ventilator and relies on parts already available in supply chains.
Sekisui Diagnostics announces FDA clearance and CLIA Waiver of the OSOM Ultra Plus Flu A&B Test
Sekisui Diagnostics received FDA clearance and CLIA Waiver of the OSOM Ultra Plus Flu A&B Test intended for the qualitative detection of influenza type A and type B nucleoprotein antigens directly from nasal or nasopharyngeal swab specimens from patients with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection. The test utilizes traditional lateral flow technology with performance near or exceeding sensitivity of other reader-based tests without using an instrument, the company says.
Beaumont Health, Summa Health call off $6.1B merger
Beaumont Health is ending partnership plans with Summa Health (Akron, OH). The two organizations had been working over the last year to create a partnership under which Summa Health would have become a subsidiary of Beaumont. The proposed deal would have created a nonprofit system with 12 hospitals and $6.1 billion in annual revenue. They had signed a definitive agreement in December 2019, and later received all necessary state and federal regulatory approvals. The organizations are now finalizing details and next steps to end the planned partnership. The health systems cited the Pandemic as the main driver behind the ending of the merger.