PROGRESS
February 16, 2021
- On Monday night, Los Angeles County reached its threshold for reopening elementary schools (grades K-6) as the number of Covid cases continues to decline and the daily case rate had declined to 25 cases per 100,000 people. Schools that have already submitted a waiver or a Covid safety plan in advance are allowed to open for in-person learning as soon as tomorrow. However, the Los Angeles teachers union has requested that teachers be vaccinated before in-person learning commences. (Sources: UTLA.net and abc7 Eyewitness News)
- The FDA approved emergency authorization use for a new Covid-19 antibody treatment created by American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly on Feb. 9. This treatment uses a combination therapy of two antibodies, amlanivimab and etesevimab, and reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in Covid patients by 70%, according to the company’s latest trial in January. (Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- A new drug against Covid-19 being developed at the Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv was administered to 30 patients with moderate to severe cases of Covid-19 and resulted in 29 out of 30 recovering within three to five days. This drug has just completed its first trial phase and works by using exosomes — small carrier sacs that transport materials between cells — to bring a protein called CD24 to the lungs. (Source: Times of Israel)
- After last week’s announcement that a company called Ellume would produce 8.5 million at-home Covid testing kits available in the U.S. by summer, the White House announced on Feb. 5 that they are finalizing contracts with six other companies which together will manufacture 60 million at-home kits by this summer. (Source: White House Covid-19 press briefing on Feb. 5)
- This week, the CDC presented new data regarding mask-wearing which confirmed that a mask protects both the person wearing it and others around them. The research also found that masks not fitted properly to the face are not nearly as effective, suggesting that people start “double masking” — wearing a surgical mask with a cloth one on top of it. Mask fitters, which attach to one’s mask to help it fit better, are available for purchase and recommended by the CDC. (Source: White House Covid-19 press briefing on Feb. 10)
- On Feb.10, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, which are mRNA vaccines, are safe for people on immunosuppressants or with autoimmune health issues. However, people with suppressed immune systems may not have a response to the vaccine that is as robust as someone in good health, Dr. Fauci said. (Source: White House Covid-19 press briefing on Feb. 10)