OVERVIEW: Faster test results and 'robust' immune response may offer hope of curbing the pandemic, experts say

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Tue, 2020-08-18 22:02 — mike kraft

Faster test results and 'robust' immune response may offer hope of curbing the pandemic, experts say Faster tests combined with a "robust" immune response against Covid-19 could soon mean a slower spread, researchers said. Madeline Holcombe, CNN CNN

(CNN)Faster tests combined with a "robust" immune response against Covid-19 could soon mean a slower spread, researchers said.

Tests have been delayed and in short supply as the United States surpassed 5.4 million cases, leaving many uncertain about their risk of spreading the virus. And as researchers rush to develop vaccines, they've had little evidence to tell if antibodies that protect against Covid-19 last long enough to get the virus under control. But developments from researchers Monday brought optimistic outlooks to both fronts.

SalivaDirect, a test that does not require specialized supplies and can deliver results in less than three hours, could be available to the public in a matter of weeks, according to Anne Wyllie, an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health who was part of the team responsible for the protocol.

And though many are in early stages and have not been peer-reviewed, a recent batch of studies show that humans -- even those with mild symptoms -- have a "robust" immune response to coronavirus that could provide evidence that a vaccine could protect the public for more than just a short period of time, said Dr. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

The news comes as the White House coronavirus task force coordinator said Monday she wished the early days of coronavirus in the US looked more like it did in Italy: strict lockdowns keeping people home as infections spread.

And Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said that even if testing improves, the nation needs to stick with prevention efforts.

"We can't test our way out of this problem," Adams said. "We need to lean on prevention, and that's making sure everyone's wearing a mask, washing their hands, and watching their distance from others."

US has the worst response of any major country, expert says

The United States' response to the virus isn't just lacking, director of the Harvard Global Institute of Health Dr. Ashish Jha said Monday, it's the "worst response of any major country."

"We didn't get here overnight. This has really been one mishap after another," Jha said. "The single factor that really differentiates us from everybody else is denialism that has pervaded our entire approach." ...

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