FDA Warns Covid Infrared Temperature Scanners May Be Badly Inaccurate
Meanwhile anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin is ruled-out as a covid treatment by new research, and testing numbers worryingly fall off. And WHO continues its probe into the origins of the virus.
The Washington Post:
Infrared Fever Scanners Popular In The Covid Fight Can Be Wildly Inaccurate, Researchers Say
Temperature-scanning devices that check for fevers in schools, workplaces and public venues across the United States distort the results in a way that could overlook the telltale sign of a coronavirus infection, according to new research that casts doubt on the systems’ effectiveness in helping people resume normal life. The thermal cameras and “temperature tablet” kiosks have been heralded as a critical first line of defense against new pandemic outbreaks. But in a new study of the scanners by the surveillance research organization IPVM, researchers warn that the tools are dangerously ineffective, raising the risk that infected people could be waved through medical screening checkpoints and go on to spread the virus unchecked. (Harwell, 3/4)
The New York Times:
Ivermectin Does Not Alleviate Mild Covid-19 Symptoms, Study Finds
Ivermectin, a controversial anti-parasitic drug that has been touted as a potential Covid-19 treatment, does not speed recovery in people with mild cases of the disease, according to a randomized controlled trial published on Thursday in the journal JAMA. Ivermectin is typically used to treat parasitic worms in both people and animals, but scientific evidence for its efficacy against the coronavirus is thin. Some studies have indicated that the drug can prevent several different viruses from replicating in cells. And last year, researchers in Australia found that high doses of ivermectin suppressed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in cell cultures. (Anthes, 3/4)
AP:
Heart Problems May Be Rare In Pro Athletes After COVID-19
Heart inflammation is uncommon in pro athletes who’ve had mostly mild COVID-19 and most don’t need to be sidelined, a study conducted by major professional sports leagues suggests. The results are not definitive, outside experts say, and more independent research is needed. But the study published Thursday in JAMA Cardiology is the largest to examine the potential problem. The coronavirus can cause inflammation in many organs, including the heart. (Tanner, 3/4)
AP:
Medical Providers Reminded That COVID-19 Tests Are Free
New Mexico’s top insurance regulator is putting medical providers on notice that people cannot be charged for coronavirus testing after reports that residents have been required to pay for coronavirus rapid-result tests. Insurance Superintendent Russell Toal said Wednesday that his office is preparing an administrative bulletin to ensure testing costs are not passed directly on to consumers, as state health officials push for robust testing to track infection rates and new strains of COVID-19. Toal said the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance has received reports and complaints of people being charged in excess of $100 for testing services that should be free. The extent of the improper billing is unclear. (Lee, 3/4)
CNN:
Testing For Covid-19 Is Still Important, But The Numbers Are Dropping
Covid-19 testing numbers are dropping in the US. And that's bad news. Without testing, there's no way to keep track of where the pandemic is headed and whether vaccines are working. And there's no way to make use of one of the most important tools for fighting infectious diseases: contact tracing. (Thomas and McPhillips, 3/4)
In news from China —
The New York Times:
Some Scientists Question W.H.O. Inquiry Into The Coronavirus Pandemic’s Origins
A small group of scientists and others who believe the novel coronavirus that spawned the pandemic could have originated from a lab leak or accident is calling for an inquiry independent of the World Health Organization’s team of independent experts sent to China last month. While many scientists involved in researching the origins of the virus continue to assert that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic almost certainly began in a leap from bats to an intermediate animal to humans, other theories persist and have gained new visibility with the W.H.O.-led team of experts’ visit to China. Officials with the W.H.O. have said in recent interviews that it was “extremely unlikely” but not impossible that the spread of the virus was linked to some lab accident. (Gorman, 3/4)
Bloomberg:
Covid Origin Probe Debate Heats Up as Scientists Protest
The controversy over the investigation organized by the World Health Organization and China about the origins of Covid-19 heated up as a group of scientists called for an independent probe to consider all hypotheses and nail down whether the virus came from an animal. A group of more than 20 signatories said in an open letter published by the Wall Street Journal that the existing mission isn’t independent enough and demanded a new probe to consider all possibilities over the origin. Half of the joint team are Chinese citizens whose scientific independence may be limited, they said. The criticism comes as the mission considers delaying an interim report, which was expected soon. The investigators may instead publish that summary statement on the same day as the full report, a WHO spokesman said. (Gretler, 2/4)
CNN:
China Approves Sale Of Traditional Medicine Products To Treat Covid-19
China has approved three traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products for sale to help treat Covid-19, the government's National Medical Products Administration announced on Wednesday. The agency used a special approval procedure to green-light the three products, which "provide more options for Covid-19 treatment," it said in a statement. (Gan and Yeung, 3/4)
