In the face of rising Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the governments of both France and Germany have imposed new restrictions in the hopes of stemming a record increase in infections. In France, President Emmanuel Macron announced a new, one-month national lockdown. Meanwhile, in Germany, both federal and state governments agreed on Wednesday to shut down parts of … Continue reading France, Germany impose fresh lockdowns in the face of resurgent coronavirus cases
WHO: Lockdowns not the primary method for fighting COVID-19, governments must develop “better systems” against pandemic
An increasing number of doctors and other health professionals and experts, including members of the World Health Organization (WHO), are joining the call to warn policymakers against reimposing restrictive lockdowns. These medical professionals argue that the lockdowns do more harm than good in the fight against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). During an interview with The Spectator aired on Oct. 9, WHO doctor … Continue reading WHO: Lockdowns not the primary method for fighting COVID-19, governments must develop “better systems” against pandemic
Suicide spike in Japan linked to coronavirus pandemic; Prevention measures must be implemented immediately, experts warn
Experts in Japan are blaming the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) for an increase in the number of suicides in the country in August. The August surge was driven by an increasing number of women and school-aged children taking their lives. The alarming figures suggest that the fallout from the pandemic is harming the mental health of certain … Continue reading Suicide spike in Japan linked to coronavirus pandemic; Prevention measures must be implemented immediately, experts warn
Johnson & Johnson pauses coronavirus vaccine trial after participant contracts “unexplained illness”
Johnson & Johnson is pausing its Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trial after a study participant fell ill. The halt comes just weeks after the company announced that they were in the final stage of the trials. In its news release, Johnson & Johnson said that the trial was paused in compliance with regulatory standards after the unnamed participant developed … Continue reading Johnson & Johnson pauses coronavirus vaccine trial after participant contracts “unexplained illness”
Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody drug trial paused over safety concerns
Eli Lilly & Company are halting the enrollment of participants in a clinical trial of its antibody treatment for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) due to safety concerns. According to company spokeswoman Molly McCully, an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) had recommended pausing enrollment in the U.S. government-sponsored trials. Lilly, however, did not say what caused the panel … Continue reading Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody drug trial paused over safety concerns
Coronavirus lockdowns causing jump in suicides among middle-class workers in India
The ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the measures to slow its spread are taking a serious mental toll on people around the world. In India, suicides among professionals are on the rise as the pandemic has forced companies to cut jobs, exacerbating what has been a growing problem for the country. Even before the … Continue reading Coronavirus lockdowns causing jump in suicides among middle-class workers in India
Coronavirus can cause acute kidney damage in over a third of patients, says study
A new study conducted by New York-based healthcare provider Northwell Health found that over a third of patients treated for COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus, developed acute kidney injury. “We found in the first 5,449 patients admitted, 36.6% developed acute kidney injury,” said co-author Kenar Jhaveri in a statement. In their report, which was … Continue reading Coronavirus can cause acute kidney damage in over a third of patients, says study
Airlines looking to implement broad coronavirus testing for passengers to keep industry alive
The aviation industry is pushing for universal screening for passengers to revive demand for flights amid the coronavirus pandemic. On a recent media call, International Air Transport Association head Alexandre de Juniac said that adopting rapid antigen tests would reduce the need for quarantines that are “killing” the market. Airlines hope that implementing broad COVID-19 testing for … Continue reading Airlines looking to implement broad coronavirus testing for passengers to keep industry alive
Can the common cold help fight SARS-CoV-2?
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is markedly different from those responsible for the common cold. But a new study suggests that previous exposure to common cold coronaviruses may actually help train the immune system to recognize the novel coronavirus. The study, published in the journal Science, found that immune cells that recognize the coronaviruses responsible for the common … Continue reading Can the common cold help fight SARS-CoV-2?
Indonesia, which has the second-worst COVID-19 outbreak in Asia, is now the testing ground for a Chinese vaccine
Across the globe, countries struggle to find effective ways to fight the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and maintain their economies. For a country like Indonesia, the situation is dire enough that the country is volunteering to act as a testing ground for a Chinese coronavirus vaccine. With over 257,000 cases and around 9,900 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins … Continue reading Indonesia, which has the second-worst COVID-19 outbreak in Asia, is now the testing ground for a Chinese vaccine
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 