Archives: Morning Breakouts

Meanwhile, Chinese officials report that at least 1,716 health care workers tested positive for the coronavirus so far, and that six of them have died. Political unrest continues to ripple through the top echelons of the Communist Party as frustration mounts against the government.

Gilead invented remdesivir several years ago and first developed it to treat Ebola. Although the treatment proved less effective than others in fighting Ebola, company researchers working with academic scientists found that remdesivir was effective in treating mice infected with another coronavirus. Meanwhile, other doctors and researchers are searching for existing drugs in hopes that they'll land on one that's effective against COVID-19.

CDC Director Robert Redfield says it's likely the U.S. is going to see human-to-human transmission and thus more cases of the coronavirus. “We’re not going to be able to seal this virus from coming into this country,” Redfield said. Meanwhile, the CDC says that some coronavirus testing kits that have been sent to states are flawed. And a 14th person tests positive for coronavirus.

Critics question WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus deferentially lauding China and calling on other countries not to cut off travel and trade. Some experts say that while praising China’s response so strongly, the WHO is compromising its own epidemic response standards and sending the wrong message to other countries that might face future epidemics. Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert says the outbreak is "just beginning" outside of China.