More cases and more data means more knowledge about effective treatments
Physicians and nurses have learned a ton about COVID-19, which translates into better treatments and improved survival. Meanwhile, FEMA decides masks are now ordinary, not emergency supplies.
With more cases comes more experience, which means scientists and physicians (including physician-scientists) can pin down which treatments are most likely to help COVID-19 patients. This information also helps avoid rushing to adopt unproven therapies. And, as with all medicine, what looks best today may change as new data accrues.
A National Institutes of Health expert panel says there is insufficient data to conclude whether convalescent plasma works or not, despite the FDA’s suprise Emergency Use Authorization last week. “Convalescent plasma should not be considered standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19,” the panel’s statement says.
Interesting timing: The CDC has notified state health officials to prepare for a possible COVID-19 vaccine in November, according to the New York Times. Previously, federal health leaders said the fastest possible rollout of a vaccine would be 12-18 months from the discovery of the virus last January.
Commonly used steroids recommended as the standard of care for COVID-19. As many physicians discovered over the past several months, steroids can tamp down the immune system over-response that is one of the hallmarks of severe COVID-19. The result is a dramatic reduction in COVID-19 deaths, according to an analysis by the World Health Organization and published online by JAMA. The other treatment that has proven effective is the anti-viral medicine, remdesivir.
Now that masks are considered necessary by many states and cities, as well as by nearly every prominent public health expert, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is telling schools masks are no longer considered part of “emergency” response and therefore, not covered by FEMA. The Health and Human Services Department has allocated 125 million masks for schools. This chart shows the allocation for each state.
If you thought that COVID-19 spelled the end of the cruise industry, think again. Europe-based MSC may have found a way for people to cruise safely. This is the same cruise line that barred a family from reboarding a cruise after they strayed from their shore excursion — which the cruise line was violating the “social bubble” rules created to keep all passengers safe from COVID-19. One of the cruise line’s ships, with a capacity of nearly 5,000 passengers, resumed sailing in August and so far, has recorded no COVID-19 cases.