Coronavirus Watch: This drug can save lives, data says
It's been a rough week, but here's some good news: New data on the experimental drug remdesivir confirms it can shorten the course of COVID-19 infections and suggests it also can save lives.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. of Foster City, California, which makes the drug, revealed new data Friday about nearly 400 patients in its late-stage clinical trial.
According to the new results, 74% of patients treated with remdesivir had recovered by their 14th day of hospitalization, compared to 59% of those who did not get the drug. Nearly 8% of the patients on remdesivir had died by day 14, versus more than 12% of patients who did not receive it.
It's Friday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's the most significant news of the day, as of 2 p.m. ET:
- A spiking COVID-19 case count in Florida is straining the Sunshine State's hospital system as nearly half of its intensive care units are at least 90% full, state data shows. In Mississippi, five of the largest medical centers have no ICU bed space for new patients and are being forced to turn patients away.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said Friday he has not briefed President Donald Trump in at least two months and not seen him in person at the White House since June 2.
- A dog in Texas is the first animal in the state to have the coronavirus.
- A Los Angeles Times report says that researchers are working on an upper-arm injection that would deliver antibody-rich blood plasma of COVID-19 survivors to provide potentially months of protection from the virus.
- Today's numbers: More than 3.1 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S., and more than 133,000 have died. Worldwide, more than 12.3 million people have tested positive for the virus, and more than 556,000 have died. See the numbers in your area here, and see where cases are rising here.
How did the South and Southwest become the global epicenter of the pandemic? We break it down for you in this visual story.
What we're reading: Three Arizona teachers shared a classroom for summer school. They thought they were being "very careful." All three contracted COVID-19, and one died. The teachers who survived say their colleague's death is a stark reminder of the risks teachers will face if school reopens too soon.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? You can submit them through this form, and we'll answer them.
Many of you have asked about COVID-19 symptoms. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently added four symptoms to its growing list for potential signs of the novel coronavirus: Congestion, runny nose, nausea and diarrhea.
Previously announced symptoms include chills, fever, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a new loss of taste or smell. There are now 11 symptoms in total listed on the CDC's website.
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– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck