Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Latest Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin and abnormal heart rhythms in COVID-19 patients

A new study shows that the initially lauded combination of drugs against COVID-19 - Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine combined with azithromycin, could lead to abnormal and life-threatening heart rhythms. In patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus infection or SARS CoV-2, this combination can lead to prolonged QT interval as can be detected on ECG.

3 May 2020

Study reveals antiviral properties of glycosaminoglycans against SARS-CoV-2

Glycosaminoglycans can inhibit cell invasion by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other coronaviruses, which supports the utilization of such therapeutics in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – reports a new study available on the preprint server bioRxiv.

3 May 2020

Low molecular weight heparins inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell invasion

A recent paper available on the preprint server bioRxiv* reports preliminary data on the ability of low molecular weight heparins to interact with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), elicit structural changes in its key proteins and subsequently halt cell invasion.

3 May 2020

"Stratify-and shield" a potential alternative to COVID-19 lockdowns

Researchers in Scotland who have evaluated a “stratify-and shield” policy for combating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the UK say it is time to consider the approach as an alternative to social distancing seriously.

3 May 2020

Anti-malarial drug use for COVID-19 associated with increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias

Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a Public Health Concern of Global Interest on January 30, more than one million have tested positive for the illness in the United States, and more than 62,000 have died.

3 May 2020

Study reports cryo-EM structure of Remdesivir-bound RNA replicase complex from SARS-CoV-2

A team of Chinese scientists have reported the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of Remdesivir-bound RNA replicase complex from SARS-CoV-2, the infective virus of COVID-19.

3 May 2020

High blood pressure drugs found to be safe for COVID-19 patients

Despite concerns expressed by some experts, common high blood pressure drugs did not increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 - or of developing severe disease - in a study of 12,594 patients.

3 May 2020

Aromatherapy may alleviate nurses’ on-the-job stress, study suggests

Even under normal circumstances, nursing can be a stressful profession. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbates it.

3 May 2020

EPFL computer scientists test and refine proximity tracing app

Over the past two weeks, EPFL computer scientists have been testing and refining the smartphone-based system developed by the international Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing project, with the help of the Swiss Army.

2 May 2020

AHA awards grants to 12 teams for fast-tracked heart and brain health research related to COVID-19

Less than a month after issuing a rapid response call for scientific research proposals for fast-tracked studies of the effects of COVID-19 on the body's cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, the American Heart Association has awarded $1.2 million in grants to teams at 12 institutions across the U.S. to begin this unprecedented work.

2 May 2020

Wake Forest Baptist Health creates special respiratory isolation unit for COVID-19

In an effort to rapidly provide specialized care for patients with coronavirus-like symptoms while protecting the safety of health care workers, doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Health created a special respiratory isolation unit from an existing 24-bed medical-surgical unit in the hospital in Winston-Salem.

2 May 2020

Trump’s claim that U.S. tested more than all countries combined is ‘pants on fire’ wrong

Responding to weeks of criticism over his administration's COVID-19 response, President Donald Trump claimed at a White House briefing that the United States has well surpassed other countries in testing people for the virus.

2 May 2020

UIC joins Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes Registry

Health care workers at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, or UI Health, are now eligible to participate in a national registry of clinicians working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 May 2020

Do-it-yourself cheek swab tested as next best thing to detect coronavirus

Coronavirus testing is commonly an unpleasant, even painful experience in which a health care provider pushes a torturously long swab up your nostril. President Donald Trump declared that submitting to the process was "a little bit difficult."

2 May 2020

Avacta Group plc forms COVID-19 antigen diagnostic collaboration with Adeptrix

Avacta Group plc is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration with Adeptrix to develop a high throughput COVID-19 antigen test.

From Avacta Life Sciences Ltd. 1 May 2020

COVID-19 transmission model shows social distancing was effective in China

Most countries are at a standstill, with social distancing and physical distancing measures in place to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Now, a new transmission model of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) confirms that social distancing measures were effective in Wuhan City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and Shanghai in China.

1 May 2020

Switzerland relaxes coronavirus guidelines allowing children and grandparents to hug

Despite social distancing measures across the globe that cautions people against close contact with others, including kissing, hugging, and shaking hands, Switzerland says children below ten years old and grandparents can hug, emphasizing that children are less likely to transmit the coronavirus.

30 Apr 2020

Researchers retrofit diving snorkel mask to make reusable PPE

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in April 2020 reports an innovative adaptation of a standard snorkel mask with a few custom-built parts and a filter, for use by hospital personnel as a reusable protective mask.

30 Apr 2020

South African COVID-19 lockdown may not avert outbreak

The study investigated the effect of the various interventions in South Africa on the outbreak, analyzing trends in South Africa before and after the national lockdown, which started on March 27, 2020. Africa has so far reported over 38,000 cases, a small number compared to the 3.25 million global cases as of April 30, 2020. South Africa has reported over 5,600, with Egypt and Morocco close behind.

30 Apr 2020

COVID-19 lockdown affecting UK adult mental health

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) took a firmer hold on the UK, the government introduced a lockdown on March 24, 2020, in an all-out attempt to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections. While the number of deaths has fallen in response, a new study published in the journal medRxiv in April 2020 reports that the pandemic is also associated with increased anxiety and depression in UK adults experiencing isolation.

30 Apr 2020