Viruses – Sector.Africa

New COVID-19 test developed in Singapore detects past infection within an hour

May 28, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAntibody, Coronavirus, Countries, COVID-19, Disease, Duke–NUS Medical School, Epidemiology, Government, Herd immunity, Immunologic tests, Immunology, Infection, Infectious diseases, Interest, Lockdown, Manufacturing, Medical specialties, Medicine, National University of Singapore, Pandemic, Patient, Serology, Vaccine, Viruses, who0 comment

A new COVID-19 test that can rapidly assess if a person has been previously infected with the coronavirus is now available to hospitals in Singapore. Launched on Friday (May 15), the cPass serology test detects antibodies – formed by the body to fight off infections – in the blood or serum of patients. It is not used to check for active infection. Its main purpose rather, is for contact tracing, detecting asymptomatic cases and assessing herd immunity. Such serological tests have been used in Singapore for contact tracing. What is different about the new…

Global North America

Cuba and Jamaica Could be the First Countries to end Their National COVID-19 Outbreaks

May 28, 2020 Sector.Africa Administrator#flattenthecurve, Animal virology, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus, Cuba, Health, In Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Middle East, Pandemic, respiratory syndrome, Viruses, Zoonoses0 comment

Jamaica and Cuba are two Caribbean countries that are close to ending their respective national COVID-19 outbreaks. The International volunteer coalition, End Covid-19 listed the two countries recently. End Covid-19 compiled data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and John Hopkins University, before they listed the Caribbean islands among the 32 countries that seem to have done exceptionally well to control the spread of the covid-19, as they are close to a gradual flattening of the infection curve. To completely control the virus, new cases per day must be at zero.…

Global South America

Coronavirus: Hospitals in Brazil’s largest city near collapse amid huge spike in cases, mayor says

May 28, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorBusiness, Chloroquine, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Death, Drugs, Economy, Health, healthcare, hospital, Jair Bolsonaro, Lockdown, Mayor, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, president, Presidents of Brazil, São Paulo, Testing, Viruses0 comment

The healthcare system in Brazil’s largest city is on the verge of collapse due to coronavirus, its mayor has said. Bruno Covas, mayor of Sao Paulo, said public hospitals in the city of 12 million people had already reached 90 per cent capacity, and could run out of space within two weeks. “It is hard to believe that some prefer the population to be subjected to Russian roulette. Indifference in the face of death is unseemly,” he said of those flouting social distancing measures, which includes the country’s far-right president,…

Europe Global

Italy sees its daily coronavirus death toll fall below 100

May 28, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAnimal virology, Brazil, Canine coronavirus, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus, Face mask, Giuseppe Conte, Government, In Saudi Arabia, Infection, Italy, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Pandemic, Spain, United States, Viruses, Zoonoses0 comment

Italy has seen its daily coronavirus death toll fall below 100 for the first time in more than two months – with new infections also at their lowest since early March. Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic climbed by 99 on Monday, against 145 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, registering the first tally of below 100 since March 9. New cases increased by just 451 against 675 on Sunday, the lowest daily figure since March 2. The decline in the daily number of deaths on Monday bucked a…

Africa Global

Coronavirus: Mauritius, Eritrea, Cambodia among countries with no active cases

May 28, 2020 Sector.Africa AdministratorAfrica, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus, Countries, COVID-19, Death, Disease, Drug, ER, Health, Infection, MIT, Plague, State of emergency, Viruses, who0 comment

Coronavirus might have plagued about 213 countries and territories in the world, but no fewer than six of these countries currently do not have any active cases. These countries have either discharged all their patients or discharged most while recording few deaths. Global coronavirus cases, this week, crossed 4.7 million, a quarter of whom have recovered, and over 300,000 have died. This has left global active cases at more than 2.6 million, with only 44,798 (2%) in serious condition, according to real time updates from online coronavirus tracker, Worldometer. But…