COVID-19

First Famines of Coronavirus Era Are at World’s Doorstep, U.N. Warns

Sun, 2020-09-06 22:03 — mike kraft

The first famines of the coronavirus era could soon hit four chronically food-deprived conflict areas — Yemen, South Sudan, northeast Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo — the top humanitarian official of the United Nations has warned.

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ANALYSIS: Coronavirus: Tests 'could be picking up dead virus'

Sun, 2020-09-06 21:47 — mike kraft

Covid tests 'could be picking up dead virus' Scientists say a positive coronavirus result does not guarantee that someone is infectious. BBC News

The main test used to diagnose coronavirus is so sensitive it could be picking up fragments of dead virus from old infections, scientists say.

Most people are infectious only for about a week, but could test positive weeks afterwards.

Researchers say this could be leading to an over-estimate of the current scale of the pandemic.

But some experts say it is uncertain how a reliable test can be produced that doesn't risk missing cases.

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OPINION from UK: Political leaders are raising ‘false hopes’ about coronavirus vaccines

Sun, 2020-09-06 21:39 — mike kraft

Political leaders are raising ‘false hopes’ about coronavirus vaccines Drugs now under development are unlikely to end the pandemic, the Wellcome Trust’s Jeremy Farrar warns the Guardian

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Covid-19 Live Updates: At-Home Virus Tests Remain ‘Aspirational’

Sun, 2020-09-06 21:17 — mike kraft

As hope builds over possible frequent at-home testing, experts call the idea a long shot.

Over the past few weeks, a Harvard scientist has made headlines for a bold idea to curb the spread of the coronavirus: rolling out antigen tests, a decades-old underdog in testing technology, to tens of millions of Americans for near-daily, at-home use.

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Medical Espionage: Race for Coronavirus Vaccine Pits Spy Against Spy

Sun, 2020-09-06 06:46 — mike kraft

WASHINGTON — Chinese intelligence hackers were intent on stealing coronavirus vaccine data, so they looked for what they believed would be an easy target. Instead of simply going after pharmaceutical companies, they conducted digital reconnaissance on the University of North Carolina and other schools doing cutting-edge research.

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Death of the elderly: WHO chief says our lack of concern shows 'moral bankruptcy'

Sat, 2020-09-05 21:04 — mike kraft

It's the worst disaster of the pandemic. But WHO chief says our lack of concern shows 'moral bankruptcy' They are among the greatest victims of coronavirus, yet elderly people continue to be dismissed -- in spite of growing evidence of the devastating effects the pandemic has had on them. Emma Reynolds, CNN CNN

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India coronavirus caseload crosses 4M, stretching resources

Sat, 2020-09-05 20:40 — mike kraft

India coronavirus caseload crosses 4M, stretching resources NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s coronavirus caseload surpassed 4 million on Saturday, deepening misery in the country's vast hinterlands, where surges have crippled the underfunded health care system.... AP NEWS

...The Indian economy has shrunk faster than any other major nation’s. As many as 200 million people could slip back into poverty...

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U.S. coronavirus deaths projected to more than double to 410,000 by January

Sat, 2020-09-05 20:26 — mike kraft

U.S. coronavirus deaths projected to more than double to 410,000 by January U.S. deaths from the coronavirus will reach 410,000 by the end of the year, more than double the current death toll, and deaths could soar to 3,000 per day in December, the University of Washington's health institute forecast on Friday. Daniel Trotta U.S.

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Pharma Companies Plan Joint Pledge on Vaccine Safety

Sat, 2020-09-05 20:17 — mike kraft

A group of drug companies competing with one another to be among the first to develop coronavirus vaccines are planning to pledge early next week that they will not release any vaccines that do not follow rigorous efficacy and safety standards, according to representatives of three of the companies.

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Trump Administration Will Redirect $62 Million Owed to the W.H.O.

Sat, 2020-09-05 04:39 — mike kraft

As the United States withdraws from membership in the World Health Organization, the Trump administration will redirect $62 million still owed for this year’s dues to other health-related causes also under United Nations auspices, State Department officials announced on Wednesday.

Most of the redirected money will go to children’s immunization and influenza surveillance, officials said. But the United States Agency for International Development will continue with plans to give $68 million to the W.H.O. to support its work in Libya and Syria, and on polio eradication in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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