Virus Today News

WHO tool for behavioural insights on COVID-19 A WHO tool for rapid, flexible and cost-effective monitoring of public knowledge, risk perceptions, behaviours and trust is now available to countries in the WHO European Region to make their COVID-19-related response relevant and actionable. The outbreak is placing an overwhelming burden on health systems and authorities to respond with effective and appropriate interventions, policies and messages. One of the most critical elements of reducing virus transmission is public behaviour. For crisis response measures to affect public behaviours, they need to be perceived as consistent, competent, fair, objective, empathetic or sincere. They also need to be easily understood and communicated through trusted people and accessible channels. To succeed with this, it is critical to gain an understanding of issues such as: trust in health authorities, recommendations and information; risk perceptions; acceptance of recommended behavi

Clarification of local SARS prevention methods Temporary guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), published by the Ministry of Health of Russia, contain information on the possibility of using an isotonic solution of sodium chloride as a method for preventing infection with coronavirus infection. In connection with the appeals of the media, the Ministry of Health of Russia clarifies. When acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) occur, as a rule, the mucous membrane of the nose and throat is affected. This is manifested in the form of nasal congestion, perturbation and sore throat and is called rhinitis and pharyngitis, respectively. Coronavirus infection refers to ARVI, so approaches to prevention and symptomatic treatment are similar. A standard approach to the prevention and local treatment of rhinitis and pharyngitis is the use of an isotonic solution of sodium chloride (sometimes called "saline," often it is ma

New WHO/Europe tool for behavioural insights: critical to inform COVID-19 response WHO/Europe has released a new behavioural insights tool for national and local authorities developing and coordinating interventions, policies and messages for the COVID-19 response. Understanding public levels of trust, people’s perceptions of risk, and the barriers they may face in following recommended actions is critical to the effectiveness and success of pandemic response measures. Such insights into public behaviour form the basis of effective communication and can identify issues related to stigma or conspiracy myths, for example, as they emerge, thus ensuring that they are addressed quickly and effectively. “Rapid, simple and flexible to use, this behavioural insights tool offers countries invaluable information to support and guide their COVID-19 response activities. Our success in tackling the new coronavirus depends on people being informed, willing and enabled to take the right public h

Novavax gets $ 1.6 billion for COVID-19 vaccine Vaccine production may begin at the end of 2020. Novavax has received $1.6 billion from the U.S. government to conduct trials and produce a potential vaccine for the disease-causing coronavirus COVID-19. It is planned that by January next year, Novavax will be able to produce and deliver 100 million doses of the new vaccine to consumers. Novavax received the largest cash grant from America's Department of Health and Human Services as part of the U.S. government's Operation Super Light Speed initiative, which aims to develop vaccines and therapies to combat COVID-19. As Stanley Erk, Novavax CEO, told Reuters - the US Department of Health has funded the production of 100 million doses of the vaccine, which is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2020 and can be completed by January-February next year. With funding from the federal government, the company will also be able to complete the third phase of the vaccin

Betsy Devos supported the opening of schools in the fall She also said that school districts and states would have to develop their own plans for opening schools taking into account the local situation. The US Secretary of Education expressed support for the presidential administration's desire to open schools by autumn. "We know that children become infected with the virus much less often than any other part of the population. Nothing in the available data shows that returning children to school is dangerous for them, "said Betsy Devos, speaking in the State of the Country program on CNN. The Minister of Education did not go into detail on what recommendations her ministry would make about opening schools amid an increase in coronavirus cases across the country. She also did not see a great threat of infection through the children of their parents, guardians, grandparents or grandmothers. When asked whether schools should follow the recommendations of the federa

Puerto Rico Reopening Beaches on Saturday Amid Drop in Coronavirus Cases Puerto Rico is reopening beaches, casinos, gyms and movie theaters Saturday for three weeks, following a drop in new coronavirus cases. Gov. Wanda Vázquez said the changes on the U.S. territory will be in effect until October 2. People are still required to wear masks and maintain a safe social distance, especially at the beach. The 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew for bars and nightclubs will remain in effect. Vázquez said she will lift a 24-hour lockdown on Sundays and allow restaurants to increase their capacity from 25% to 50%. Many business owners are praising the reopening, while some health experts warn if cases spike after the reopening, tighter restrictions will go into effect. So far, Puerto Rico has reported more than 36,000 coronavirus infections and more than 500 deaths. By VOA News . Read more Some US Hospitals Passing on Purchases of COVID Drug Some US Hospitals Passing on Purchases of COVID

Some US Hospitals Passing on Purchases of COVID Drug Some hospitals in the U.S. have been turning down part of their allocated supply of remdesivir, the COVID-19-fighting drug made by Gilead Sciences, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department confirmed Friday. From July 6 to September 8, state and territorial public health systems accepted about 72% of the remdesivir they were offered by HHS, a spokesperson confirmed Friday to Reuters. Hospitals then bought about two-thirds of what the states and territories accepted. The government has been leading the distribution of the drug, but that effort expires at the end of the month, and some hospitals are stockpiling remdesivir because they don’t know what the availability of the drug will be after September and want to be prepared if the pandemic flares this winter. Gilead did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Hospital say their supplies of the drug are adequate partly because they are only using it to treat the