COVID-19 Roundup: Cases Worldwide Now More Than 24.8 Million, Changes in Testing Guidelines and Latest in Vaccine
A handout photo shows vials during the production of ‘Gam-COVID-Vac’ vaccine against COVID-19, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), at Binnopharm pharmaceutical company in Zelenograd near Moscow, Russia.
According to worldometer, COVID-19 is affecting more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. To date, the website has recorded over 24.8 million confirmed cases and more than 835,000 deaths globally.
In all 213 affected countries, the United States remains the most hit by the pandemic, with more than 6 million confirmed cases and over 185,000 deaths.
The US is then followed by Brazil with more than 3.8 million cases and over 119,000 deaths; India has over 3.4 million cases and 62,713 deaths; Russia with more than 980,000 confirmed cases and over 16,000; and Peru, recording 621,997 cases and 28,277 deaths.
California, Texas, and Florida are the three most affected states in the US, with more than 697,000, over 630,000, and more than 615,000 confirmed cases, respectively.
Changes in Testing Guidelines by the CDC
On August 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly changed testing guidance for COVID-19, and scientists expressed concern about it.
The testing guidelines before, which were posted on the CDC website, indicated that "testing is recommended for all contacts" of people with COVID-19.
Due to the potential for both "asymptomatic and pre-asymptomatic transmission," the guidelines said it is essential that COVID-19 patients' contacts be identified fast and eventually tested.
However, early this week, the center updated its testing guidelines indicating that categories for diagnostic testing "have been edited to focus on" considerations of testing, and there is a need for individuals being tested to take actions.
Now, the CDC guidelines specified, if one has been in close contact of someone who has COVID-19 within a six-feet range for at least 15 minutes but does not feel the symptoms, he does not need to undergo testing unless he is a vulnerable person or his health care provider recommends him to do so.
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Research on Hydroxychloroquine Continues
According to reports, researchers published this week, "two new studies" that investigated hydroxychloroquine.
One study evaluated the long-term safety of hydroxychloroquine when used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Meanwhile, the other study examined its effect on COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized.
Even though the second research was observational, the scientists concluded that the drug was "associated with a 30-percent lower risk of mortality" in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Latest Development in COVID-19 Vaccine
Scientists around the world have been working around the clock to discover a vaccine to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection
According to an estimate by the experts, a "fast-tracked" development process of vaccine could "speed a successful candidate" to the market in roughly 12 to 18 months provided that the process continues flawlessly from its conception to availability in the market.
Presently, just one COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, has been approved. Formerly named "Gam-COVID-Vac" and formulated by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institue, Sputnik V got its approval from the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation earlier this month.
According to reports, despite the go-signal from the Ministry of Health, experts have raised a massive concern about the safety and effectiveness of the said vaccine given it has not yet gone through the Phase-3 clinical tests.
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Aug 29, 2020 07:00 AM EDT
