(HealthDay News) — As the U.S. coronavirus death toll neared 13,000 on Wednesday, federal health officials were considering new guidelines that would make it easier for those who have been exposed to the virus to return to work if they show no symptoms. Troubling statistics also emerged showing that black Americans are significantly more prone… read on >
U.S. pathology labs are now awash in COVID-19 tests, with more than two dozen rapid tests on the market thanks to expedited approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, infectious disease experts say. Despite this, laboratories are still struggling with shortages that hamper their ability to get ahead of the ever-expanding pandemic. “Early in… read on >
(HealthDay News) With U.S. deaths from coronavirus approaching 11,000 on Tuesday, signs emerged suggesting the pandemic might be peaking, experts say. New York state saw lower totals of new coronavirus patients in hospitals for the fourth day in a row, and a new modeling forecast released Monday painted a slightly more positive picture of how… read on >
What’s the best material for a do-it-yourself face mask? Yang Wang, an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has some suggestions based on initial testing. He investigated how a few common household materials — such as pillowcases, scarves and furnace filters — filtered out aerosols. The new coronavirus may… read on >
A cloth mask can help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to wear one. Used incorrectly, such masks could put you and others at risk, according to doctors at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. And remember: Masks are only a supplement — not a… read on >
If you feel like the news about coronavirus is growing worse by the hour, then it might be time to take stock: How much do you really need to know? As the pandemic unfolds, and people routinely wake up to uncertainty, it is necessary to stay informed, psychologists say. At the same time, they caution,… read on >
If more women were hired for trucking jobs, the roads would be a lot safer, British researchers suggest. That’s because men, who hold most driving jobs, are more likely to drive dangerously. This puts other road users at risk, said lead researcher Rachel Aldred. She’s a reader in transport at the University of Westminster in… read on >
Researchers are gathering data from thousands of Americans to create an “early warning system” that can identify people in the early stages of COVID-19. More than 12,000 people — including thousands of health care workers in California and West Virginia — are already wearing specially designed Oura rings that track their temperature, breathing, heart and… read on >
It’s a tough task, but parents need to keep kids away from playgrounds, shared toys and sports equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, experts emphasize. The coronavirus can stick around on surfaces for a long time, a recent New England Journal of Medicine study found. It takes 72 hours for the virus to become undetectable on… read on >
Public health officials have been warning that a COVID-19 vaccine will not be available to the public for 12 to 18 months, dampening hopes that there will be a quick end to the global pandemic nightmare. But Chinese researchers cracked the virus’ genetic code within weeks of its emergence late last year, and two vaccine… read on >
