🔄 Click here to see the most recent entries
13 posts
6 hours ago
President Bolsonaro's son tests positive for covid-19
The eldest son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio Bolsonaro, tested positive for covid-19 this Tuesday, according to his press office.
Bolsonaro, a senator for the state of Rio de Janeiro, has reported no symptoms and currently works from his home in Brasilia.
The president's son is taking hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, according to his press office. President Bolsonaro has continuously defended the controversial drug used against malaria, although its effectiveness in treating COVID-19 has not yet been proven.
The president tested positive for the virus on July 7 and later. On July 25, he announced via Twitter that he had tested negative.
Bolsonaro's eldest son is investigated by the Rio de Janeiro justice for alleged participation in a corruption scheme by taking part of the salaries of parliamentary advisers when he was a state deputy. He denies the accusations.
8 hours ago
Paraguay's Interior Minister announces that he tested positive for coronavirus
The Interior Minister of Paraguay, Euclides Acevedo, announced on Tuesday that he tested positive for coronavirus. "Thank you all for your messages of support and taking care of yourself," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni told the media on Tuesday that Acevedo is receiving treatment in a hospital and is stable. "We are confident in his recovery, he is being assisted and at the moment in a very good mood as well," he said.
Paraguay registers 13,602 cases of covid-19 and 219 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
10 hours ago
Almost half of Spaniards believe that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come, according to a survey
The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) in Spain has published the results of the first round of the COSMO-Spain study, coordinated by the ISCIII from the National Epidemiology Center (CNE) and promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) . Study that is being carried out in another 31 countries.
In this first round, which reflects the data collected between July 27 and August 3, 1,033 Spanish residents participated.
The data show that 42% of those consulted believe that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come in Spain. 70% of people would receive the vaccine, 2 out of 3 people say they are "very" or "extremely worried" about COVID-19 and 1 in 5 people feel that it is "very difficult" to avoid contagion.
The results of the survey also indicated that Spaniards prefer localized confinements than the state of alarm as a method to stop the epidemic.
The main concerns of those surveyed are: the loss of a loved one, people who do not wear a mask, the possible saturation of health services and a new confinement.
11 hours ago
Argentina reported the highest number of new cases and deaths from covid-19 on Monday
A man rides his bicycle in front of a mural with the image of tango singer Carlos Gardel, in Buenos Aires, on August 24, 2020. - Dancers from all over the world will compete from Wednesday in an unprecedented virtual tango world organized by the Buenos Aires Aires City Hall when Argentina is confined in the worst moment of the pandemic, with more than 340,000 infections and almost 7,000 deaths per COVID-19. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths on Monday, according to figures released by the Health Ministry.
On Monday, the Ministry reported 287 new deaths from the virus, its biggest daily increase since the outbreak. The previous record was recorded on August 19 with 282 new deaths.
The death toll in Argentina from the virus is 7,366.
The ministry also reported a record 8,713 new cases on Monday, bringing the country's total number of cases to 350,867. Its previous record for new cases was on August 20 when the Ministry reported 8,225 new cases.
Argentina has the sixth highest number of confirmed cases in Latin America behind Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Brazil and the twelfth highest number of deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
11 hours ago
AstraZeneca begins clinical trial for monoclonal antibody therapy for covid-19
(Lisa Maree Williams - Pool / Getty Images)
The first participants received doses in a phase 1 trial of AZD7442, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies developed for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, AstraZeneca said Tuesday in a press release.
"The treatment has the potential to be administered as a preventive option for people exposed to the virus and to treat and prevent disease progression in patients already infected with the virus," according to a company news release.
The trial will assess the safety, tolerability of the treatment, and how it moves through the body. If it is well tolerated and appears safe, you will move on to larger Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.
The trial will include up to 48 healthy UK participants aged 18 to 55.
Other monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID-19, including those by Regeneron and Eli Lilly, are already in clinical trials.
11 hours ago
Spain deploys 2,000 soldiers to help with covid-19 contact tracing
By Laura PĂ©rez Maestro
(ANDER GILLENEA / AFP via Getty Images)
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced this Tuesday at a press conference new measures to stop the spread of covid-19 in the country, as he admitted that "the situation is worrying."
Spain will deploy 2,000 military personnel to help with contact tracing in those Spanish regions where necessary. He also asked the different regional governments to use the Radar Covid application in their territory, since "if only 20% of people download the application, we can reduce contagion levels by 30%." Only 7 of the 17 Spanish regions are now using the contact tracing application.
Sánchez also affirmed that regional presidents will be able to declare a state of emergency in parts or in all of their territory, "and the government will support them in Parliament, so that the request is approved," he added.
Sánchez insisted that, although the data is worrying, people should remain calm, since "the situation is not the same as in March."
He explained that "our health system is better prepared but we also know the virus better" and added that "diagnostic capacity has increased by 168% since the end of the state of emergency." He also stressed that “we cannot allow the pandemic to take over our lives again, we will not allow it, we need to turn this second curve. We did it before and we will do it again.
11 hours ago
Peru announces that it will join the Johnson & Johnson clinical trial for phase 3 of the vaccine
Peru will join the phase 3 clinical trials developed by Johnson & Johnson, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.
"Johnson & Johnson and its pharmaceutical group Janssen have confirmed that Peru will be a place for phase 3 of their clinical trials, when the effectiveness of the candidate vaccine for covid-19 will be evaluated," says a statement released by the Ministry.
The president of Peru, MartĂn Vizcarra, announced last week that his country will join a clinical trial of the vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm with 6,000 volunteers.
Peru is also in talks with AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford in the UK, Imperial College also in the UK, CureVac in Germany and Sinovac and CanSino Biologics from China, Vizcarra said according to Peru's state news agency Andina.
14 hours ago
Oxford coronavirus vaccine could be filed with regulators in late 2020
By Nada Bashir
A potential coronavirus vaccine that is being developed jointly by the University of Oxford and drugmaker AstraZeneca could be presented to regulators later this year, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group said on Tuesday.
"It's possible that if the cases were to accumulate quickly in clinical trials, we could have that data before the regulators this year, and then there would be a process that they would go through to do a full evaluation of the data," said Professor Andrew Pollard. .
However, speaking to BBC Radio 4, Pollard cautioned that the process could take longer depending on the amount of data scientists can collect.
“I think that over time, because the virus will continue to spread in our communities, eventually, even with a thousand people, we will have enough information to know whether the vaccine works or not, but that could take years, Pollard said.
"Having 20,000 people in our trials already means that that period of time will be shorter, but unfortunately I cannot predict the future on how many cases will occur in the next few months," he added.
15 hours ago
Recovering from covid-19 "does not mean that you are immunized for life," warns researcher
By CNN
A preliminary investigation yesterday found that a 33-year-old man in Hong Kong had contracted Covid-19 twice this year, having fallen ill 142 days after being first infected.
Ivan Hung, part of the research team at the University of Hong Kong, said the study "underscores the importance of having an annual coronavirus vaccine to boost immunity even if one recovers from infection naturally."
The second or third infection will likely be less severe than the first, unless the patient is elderly or immunosuppressed, he added.
"Even if you have recovered from a natural infection, it does not mean that you are immunized for life," he said. «This virus is very intelligent, it keeps mutating. That means that even if you have recovered from a natural infection, you still need the vaccine, you need a mask and maintain your social distancing.
Vaccine development: More than 30 potential vaccines are now in various stages of clinical development and phase 1, 2 or 3 clinical trials, according to the World Health Organization.
The race to find an effective vaccine has global implications, not only for the health of billions of people, but also for billions in revenue for the successful developer and manufacturer.
16 hours ago
The United States reports more than 38,000 new cases of covid-19
By CNN
The United States reported 38,949 new COVID-19 cases and 474 deaths related to the virus on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
That brings the country's total to at least 5,740,628 cases and 177,276 related deaths.
Totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
16 hours ago
The government of Brazil approves the medical assistance of Doctors Without Borders to indigenous peoples
By Rodrigo Pedroso
Brazil's federal government agency approved the non-profit humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to enter indigenous communities and help in the face of the increase of the coronavirus there.
On Monday, selected MSF teams were approved to enter seven towns in Terena in the Aquidauana region, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the midwest of Brazil, according to the official Brazilian gazette.
Last week, the indigenous association reported that the government did not give permission for MSF teams to enter the villages of Terena, where more than 6,000 people live, according to the organization.
The agency said that the plan presented by the organization needed to be evaluated so as not to interfere with its own work.
Covid-19 has devastated indigenous communities: As of early August, more than 22,000 indigenous Brazilians had been diagnosed with the coronavirus and at least 631 had died from it, according to the indigenous group APIB. But due to limited testing, the actual number could be higher.
The deaths included the prominent indigenous leader Chief Aritana Yawalapiti of the Upper Xingu Territory.
These indigenous communities are often far from hospitals, in areas that lack basic infrastructure. Those who move to towns or cities can end up in precarious living conditions with few public services, increasing their vulnerability to health problems.
17 hours ago
Fauci warns against advance authorization of a coronavirus vaccine
By Jim Acosta
Any attempt to license and distribute a coronavirus vaccine before it has been shown to be safe and effective in large trials could damage efforts to develop other vaccines, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Cancer, told Reuters on Monday. Allergies and Infectious Diseases.
Two sources have told CNN that White House officials have raised the possibility of early authorization for the emergency use of a vaccine, before late-stage trials end. Michael Caputo, undersecretary of Public Affairs for the US Department of Health and Human Services, denied that there was any effort to accelerate the development of vaccines for political purposes.
And Fauci said it would be a bad idea. "The only thing I would not want to do with a vaccine is to get an emergency use authorization before you have a sign of efficacy," Fauci was quoted as saying by Reuters. "One of the potential dangers if you let out a vaccine prematurely is that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the other vaccines to enroll people in your trial."
Several vaccines are being tested in the US, and companies are working to increase production while testing is in progress so that if a vaccine is shown to be safe and effective, it can be distributed immediately.
"For me, it is absolutely paramount that you definitively demonstrate that a vaccine is both safe and effective," Fauci told Reuters. "We hope that nothing will interfere with the full demonstration that a vaccine is safe and effective."
17 hours ago
Mexico reports more than 3,500 new cases of coronavirus
By Karol Suarez
The Mexican Ministry of Health reported 3,541 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing the total number confirmed in the country to 563,705.
The secretariat also reported 320 new deaths, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country to 60,800.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico on Monday warned against nonessential travel at the U.S.-Mexico border. Nonessential travel between the U.S. and its two closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico, has been suspended amid spikes in confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases.
Ambassador Christopher Landau said on Twitter that there were significant delays at some border crossings over the weekend for those attempting to enter the United States from Mexico.
“The problem is that many (US) citizens in the border region apparently do not take these travel restrictions seriously and cross the land border in both directions for NON-ESSENTIAL travel such as shopping, eating out and family visits. This irresponsible behavior is exacerbating the health crisis. Remember, the land border is open only for ESSENTIAL travel, ”said Landau.
Mexico has reported the seventh highest number of coronavirus cases and the third highest number of deaths in the world. The United States has identified more COVID-19 infections and deaths than any other country.
Minute by minute
