Fauci sees antibody-based early treatments as ‘bridge’ to vaccine
Antibodies that stop the coronavirus from spreading in the body are among promising strategies for averting severe illness from Covid-19 before vaccines arrive, according to Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Antibody-based medications, other blood products from recovered patients and antivirals are being investigated as early treatments, Fauci said. The aim is to prevent patients from developing the serious lung damage for which Gilead Sciences Inc.’s remdesivir and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone are administered.
“We are focusing very heavily now on treatment of early infection and prevention of infection,” Fauci told the Journal of the American Medical Association in an interview on Friday. “And that’s the bridge to the vaccine.”
Meanwhile, the US added 55,074 cases, a 0.8 percent gain above the average 0.6 percent increase in the previous seven days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. Total cases are now 7,032,595.
Another 948 people died, the fourth straight day over 900. Total fatalities are 203,746.
California added 4,197 new cases, bringing the total to 798,237. An additional 134 deaths were reported, with the fatality count at 15,532. The oneday increase in cases and deaths exceed the 14- day average.
The state said Friday it’s seeing early signs of rising virus case counts and emergency-room visits after several weeks of improvement, with forecasts showing that hospitalizations may jump 89 percent in a month. California has 2,717 ICU beds available— about 900 more than its low two months ago.
New York, which contained the nation’s worst Covid-19 outbreak, reported more than 1,000 new cases for the first time since early June. New US infections crept above the pace of recent days.
Key developments: Hawaii care home operator ousted after veterans’ deaths
A state - owne d health- care organization in Hawaii will take over a veterans care home where 26 residents have reportedly died of Covid-19.
Hawaii’s Health Systems Corp will become the operator of the Yukio Okutsu Veterans State Home in Hilo on the Big Island, taking over from Avalon Health Care, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Associated Press and local media reported.
The veterans home deaths comprise a large proportion of the state’s total coronavirus fatalities. Hawaii has had over 12,000 cases. A federal team from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, revealed failures to take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, Hawaii News Now reported this week.
Most of the 89 residents living at the home before the outbreak have contracted the virus, along with dozens of employees.
UK adds more than 6,000 cases for fourth day
The UK added more than 6,000 cases for a fourth consecutive day. Another 6,042 people tested positive, about 800 fewer than reported on Friday, and 34 people died. The number of people needing hospital care also increased by 266 to 1,727. Of those, 262 are on ventilators.
Dutch deaths rise by most since May
De ath s caused by Covid-19 rose by 38 on Friday in the Netherlands, the highest jump since May 15, national press agency ANP reported on Saturday.
The infection rate has also been increasing recently, with capital Amsterdam as one of the biggest contributors. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday the new surge is “worrisome” and extra regional measures in cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are likely needed. Soccer stadiums risk a ban on supporters again if visitors don’t adhere to the rules, Tamara van Ark, minister for Sport and Medical Care, said on Saturday.
Italy vows no national lockdown
Itali an Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said there won’t be a new national lockdown as the country is “in a completely different situation” compared with the beginning of the year. Saying that the government has strengthened the health system, he added that there may be more stringent measures in specific clusters or areas “but in a limited, circumscribed way.”
France cases fall again
France reported a drop in the number of new cases for the second day to 14,412, retreating from a record 16,096 set on Thursday. The seven- day average rose to 12,179. Another 39 fatalities were reported, for a total of 31,700.
Emiratis shut entertainment early
The United Arab Emirates reported 1,078 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, marking the fourth day in a row of infections rising above 1,000. The country’s fatality rate remains among the lowest globally, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Dubai, a sheikdom in the UAE, issued a circular on Thursday directing entertainment activities in the city to conclude by 1 a.m. as a new measure to curb the spread of the virus, according to a report in the Khaleej Times.