Category:

Facts

Latest

Historic U.S. COVID vaccine campaign launches with convoy of trucks

The federal government plans to release the nation’s first 2.9 million doses to 64 states, U.S. territories and major cities, as well as five federal agencies. Although the federal government is coordinating distribution efforts, states have the final decision over who gets the first shots. The federal government is sending the first shipments to more than 600 locations.

Companies in a range of industries are lobbying state and federal officials to give priority to their workers in the line of millions waiting for the vaccine and a return to life free from the fear of the deadly illness.

read more

COVID impact: Nearly half of Indian millennials report increased borrowing in Aug-Sep

In India, almost half (48 per cent) of millennials are saving for a major purchase like a new car or home, as compared to 28 per cent of those over 45, and 39 per cent are pursuing better investments, compared to 26 per cent of those aged over 45, it said.

Millennials are more likely to track and budget their spending, start a digital piggy bank and use a money management or budgeting app, it added.

read more

Scientists develop new inhalation delivery system for vaccines

The researchers said this method improves bioavailability and also reduces potential side effects by achieving a rapid onset of action.

The scientists believe lung delivery could protect against airborne pathogens that cause diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, Ebola, measles, and COVID-19.

However, they said this approach has not been adopted widely, partly because the underlying physiological mechanisms remain largely unknown.

read more

Study details first artificial intelligence tool to help labs rule-out Covid-19

“Nine months into this pandemic, we now have a better understanding of how to care for patients with Covid-19,” said lead author and University of Vermont Assistant Professor Timothy Plante, M.D., M.H.S., “but there’s still a big bottleneck in Covid-19 diagnosis with PCR testing.”

PCR testing is the current standard diagnostic for Covid-19, and requires specific sampling, like a nasal swab, and specialized laboratory equipment to run.

“According to data from over 100 US hospitals, the national average turnaround time for Covid-19 tests ordered in emergency rooms is above 24 hours, far from the targeted one-hour turnaround,” Biocogniv Chief Operating Officer Tanya Kanigan, Ph.D., said.

read more

How the novel coronavirus has evolved and adapted to human hosts

In Asia, the original L strain persisted for longer as several countries, including China, were quick to shut borders and curtail movement. In contrast, North America and Europe did not restrict movement as much, at least initially, which allowed the G strains to spread – and mutate – at a faster pace.

“This virus moves in superspreader events, which means the virus doesn’t have to be particularly contagious,” said Catherine Bennett, epidemiology chair in the Faculty of Health at Melbourne’s Deakin University. “We will see different patterns because of cluster transmission.”

read more