“Our research is showing that maybe if we are able to target patients with diabetes with interferon, especially early in their infection, that may actually make a big difference,” W. James Melvin, M.D. said.
Type 2 diabetes- a condition affecting more than 10 per cent of the US population– is one of the main risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness. New research from U-M uncovers why this might be and offers hope for potential therapy.
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Diet impacts COVID-19 risk, severity: Study
The results also suggest that public health strategies that improve access to healthy foods and address social determinants of health may help to reduce the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our findings are a call to governments and stakeholders to prioritize healthy diets and wellbeing with impactful policies, otherwise we risk losing decades of economic progress and a substantial increase in health disparities,” said Merino.
India reports 28,591 new coronavirus infections, 338 more deaths
India finds six cases of virus variant, to extend UK flight ban till Jan 7
Health authorities expect to start a vaccination drive for some 300 million people early next month, with the Serum Institute of India, which is making the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus shot, expecting its emergency approval within days.
UK needs tighter COVID rules to avert new “catastrophe”, epidemiologist warns
“We are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic, and we’re going to need decisive early national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February,” said Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London.
More than 71,000 people in Britain have died within 28 days of a positive test for the disease.
India’s financial sector faces challenging times ahead – RBI
The overall outlook for the Indian economy in 2021 continues to remain uncertain, the report said.“
Given the uncertainty induced by COVID-19 and its real economic impact, the asset quality of the banking system may deteriorate sharply going forward,” the RBI said.
The report also said Indian banks had written-off loans worth 2.38 trillion rupees ($32.46 billion) in the financial year 2020 that ended on March 31.
Wealthy hospitals rake in U.S. disaster aid for COVID-19 costs
Federal Emergency Management Agency has received nearly 2,200 aid requests from hospitals and thus far has approved about 15% of them, for a total of $894 million, the agency told Reuters. Hospitals can request more money as U.S. infections surge, and FEMA officials expect total aid awards to rise significantly.
Some health policy experts say that large and well-capitalized nonprofit systems – which typically pay no taxes – do not need the additional relief money. Among the aid applicants are some of the nation’s best-known health systems, including the Cleveland Clinic, Providence and Stanford Health Care.
Diplomatic headache as China struggles to get nations to trust its vaccines
China has made a global effort to reassure governments and populations about the efficacy and safety of its vaccines. In October, a group of ambassadors and diplomats representing 50 African countries toured a Sinopharm Group Co. facility amid a publicity blitz touting China’s promise to deliver vaccines to Africa. “When the coronavirus vaccine completes research and is put into use, we are willing to prioritize benefiting African countries,” said Liu Jingzhen, chairman of Sinopharm.
MHA issues fresh Covid-19 guidelines over UK virus variant, says need to be vigilant
“Strict vigil is also needed to be maintained to prevent any fresh surge in cases in wake of upcoming New Year celebrations and ongoing winter season which are favourable for the spread of the virus. In this regard, appropriate measures may be taken by the state and UT governments,” it said on Monday.
Spain to keep registry of people who refuse Covid vaccine
“What will be done is a registry, which will be shared with our European partners… of those people who have been offered it and have simply rejected it,” he said.
“It is not a document which will be made public and it will be done with the utmost respect for data protection,” he added, noting that employers or members of the general public would not have access to it.
Urgent action expected in South Africa as hospitals run out of beds, oxygen amid Covid-19 spike
Embattled doctors, nurses have pleaded with government for urgent action as they can no longer cope with the large number of patients arriving for Covid-19 treatment, with hospital administrators saying they have to make heart-breaking choices between younger people who are now being affected by the new strain and older ones with co-morbidities as priorities.
Dr Irene Boeddinghaus, an oncologist at Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town, told the weekly that patients were far sicker than in the first wave. ICU bed availability was dire and doctors and nurses were burnt out and sick with Covid, she said.
India reports six cases of new UK variant of coronavirus
All six patients have been kept in isolation, India’s health ministry said in a statement. “Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine,” the statement said.
Covid-19 pandemic will not be the last: WHO chief
“We throw money at an outbreak, and when it’s over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one. This is dangerously short-sighted, and frankly difficult to understand.” said .Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,Director General, World Health Organization’