US officials on Wednesday voiced optimism about the drug remdesivir as a possible coronavirus treatment thanks to a promising government study.
White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci lauded research findings that the antiviral Ebola drug reduced hospitalization times for COVID-19 patients.
“Although a 31 percent improvement doesn’t seem like a knockout hundred percent, it’s a very important proof of concept. Because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus,” he said.
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Here’s what else we learned today:
New York crisis:
- Antibody testing hinted at the coronavirus’ hellish toll on FDNY/EMS and NYPD officers
- Days after the suicides of Dr. Lorna Breen and EMT John Mondello, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the military will help health care workers deal with the “combat stress” of working on the front lines of the crisis.
- The NYPD was warned that the funeral of a prominent Brooklyn rabbi would draw a “big crowd” and sent dozens of cops with barricades and light towers — despite a ban on mass gatherings.
- And major crime spiked on city subways last week — even though the platforms practically have tumbleweeds amid a severe drop in ridership.
Out of meat:
- The nationwide meat shortage is poised to worsen next month, supermarket executives warn.
- Animal activists are howling over the “evil” practice of euthanizing animals as major processing plants have closed.
Global response
- President Trump accused the World Health Organization of being a “pipe organ” for China during the coronavirus outbreak.
- WHO, meanwhile, lauded Sweden as a “model” for how to do things once countries lift lockdowns — after the nation controversially refused restrictions.
- Dr. Fauci warned that a second round of the virus is “inevitable” — predicting a “bad fall and a bad winter” if the US doesn’t make enough progress in combating the bug.
Post-lockdown world:
- Here’s how the future might look if mask-wearing is the new normal.
- Disney World could reopen as early as June, but with strict social distancing rules.
- Dr. Fauci said that without widespread testing and quick results, sports may be sidelined for the rest of 2020.
Meanwhile…
- Here’s our hero of the day: Brooklyn biker Cheryl Stewart who is delivering PPE to caregivers on her motorbike.
- And could dogs be our saviors? Pups are being trained to sniff out the coronavirus at universities in the US and UK — in what experts say could “revolutionize” screening for the deadly illness.
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