Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
6 Feet May Not Be Enough Distance To Stop The Coronavirus
The New York Times: ‘A Smoking Gun’: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air
A research team at the University of Florida succeeded in isolating live virus from aerosols collected at a distance of seven to 16 feet from patients hospitalized with Covid-19 — farther than the six feet recommended in social distancing guidelines. ... But some experts said it still was not clear that the amount of virus recovered was sufficient to cause infection. (Mandavilli, 8/11)
CBS News: Coronavirus May Spread Much Farther Than 6 Feet In Indoor Spaces With Poor Ventilation
As students head back to school, parents and teachers are increasingly concerned about how the coronavirus could spread — especially in buildings with inadequate ventilation. John Lednicky studies viruses at the University of Florida. "There was a lot of controversy about SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted or not being transmitted through airborne routes," Lednicky told CBS News. Analyzing air samples in a hospital room, Lednicky's team found infectious virus can spread through the air — up to 16 feet away from an infected patient — through tiny droplets called aerosols. (Lapook, 8/11)
In other news —
AP: Companies Test Antibody Drugs To Treat, Prevent COVID-19
With a coronavirus vaccine still months off, companies are rushing to test what may be the next best thing: drugs that deliver antibodies to fight the virus right away, without having to train the immune system to make them. Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes antibodies and remembers how to do that if the real bug turns up. (Marchione, 8/12)
Houston Chronicle: ‘How Many Are We Missing?’: Research Shows 80,000 Missed Cancer Diagnoses This Year
According to IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, cancer screenings decreased by 90 percent in April compared to February’s numbers. The rate of colonoscopies dropped by 90 percent; Pap smears, 83 percent; prostate-specific (PSA) tests, 60 percent; and CT scans (which show lung tumors) were down 39 percent. (Garcia, 8/11)
Boston Globe: Here’s Why Boston University Had The F-Bomb In A Trademark Application For A COVID-19 Initiative
What the . . . heck? A Boston University trademark application for a phrase to promote COVID-19 safety on campus was turning heads online Tuesday for its use of a glaring expletive. According the Patent and Trademark Office’s database, the Trustees of Boston University applied last week to secure the term “[F-bomb] It Won’t Cut It.] (Annear, 8/11)
