Three top White House officials began quarantine after two staff members test positive Three top White House officials have begun their quarantine after two administration staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. Among those who will be sequestered for two weeks is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert. So will Dr. Robert Redfield, the … [Read more...]

CDC, Trump administration differ on reopening plans The CDC guidance for reopening includes sections for childcare programs, schools and day camps, churches and other communities of faith, employers with vulnerable workers, restaurants and bars, and mass transit administrators. It recommends using disposable dishes and utensils at restaurants, closing every other row of … [Read more...]

Minnesota needs up to 4,000 more workers to track COVID-19 The state of Minnesota might need 4,000 more workers to identify and isolate the rising number of COVID-19 infections and their contacts. Contact tracers are a vital part of the test, trace and isolate strategy embraced to control the spread of the virus. “We are going to need to dramatically build up our capacity,” … [Read more...]

New genetic analysis shows coronavirus quickly spread worldwide late last year A new genetic analysis of the virus that causes COVID-19 taken from more than 7,600 patients around the world shows it has been circulating in people since late last year. Researchers in Britain looked at mutations in the virus and found evidence of quick spread, but no evidence the virus is … [Read more...]

Antibody created in the Netherlands that defeats new coronavirus in lab Scientists in the Netherlands have created a monoclonal antibody that can defeat the new coronavirus in the lab by neutralizing the virus in cell cultures. It is early in the drug development process but is a promising step in efforts to find treatments and curb the spread of the coronavirus. The … [Read more...]

Coronavirus treatment drug remdesivir to arrive in hospitals this week Remdesivir, the first possible scientifically proven treatment for battling COVID-19, will become available for U.S. hospitals in the coming week, said Daniel O’Day, CEO and chairman of Gilead Sciences (Foster City, CA), the biotech company producing the drug. Gilead Sciences has donated 1.5 million vials … [Read more...]

U.S. Congressional Democrats push for medical supply czar Congressional Democrats proposed bills this week that would require a U.S. coronavirus supply czar to oversee critical medical supplies, while the top Senate Republican doubled down on demands for business protections. Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives unveiled companion bills requiring the Pentagon … [Read more...]

‘Clear-cut’ evidence remdesivir works against coronavirus, according to Dr. Fauci Dr. Anthony Facui, the nation’s top epidemiologist, said yesterday, “The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.” The data he referred to is from a large study of more than 1,000 patients from multiple sites around the world. … [Read more...]

U.S. hits 1 million coronavirus cases, one-third of all world’s cases The U.S. crossed the 1 million case threshold Tuesday. That is nearly one-third of all the world’s known coronavirus cases. President Donald Trump has attributed the high number of cases to heightened testing and less transparency in reporting cases in countries like China. Read more. Study suggests … [Read more...]