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Remdesivir and its Power to Fight Against COVID-19
The Use of Face Shields
Remdesivir and Its Power to Fight Against COVID-19
Written By: Nayada Deevisetpunt
Recent researches have shown that remdesivir, a drug originally developed to treat Ebola, could actually recover people from the coronavirus. Hospitals around the world have tested that remdesivir could shorten the period of symptoms from 15 days down to 11 days. This drug would be very beneficial toward this outbreak as it has the potential to save lives, lessen pressure around hospitals, and even lift some parts of the lockdown.
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that could attack an enzyme a virus needs for replication inside our cells. To test this drug, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) took part with 1,063 people. While some patients received the actual drug, others received a placebo treatment. This has been done in order to test the effectiveness of the drug toward this disease. Fortunately, the results came out that this drug “can block this virus” and that it would “open the door to the fact that we now have the capability of treating” patients. Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the members running the NIAID, said, “The data shows remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.” Despite this good news, the drug’s impact on death is not a ‘clear-cut’. Patients given remdesivir had a mortality rate at 8%, while those given a placebo at 11.6%. Since this outcome was not statistically significant, scientists are not able to prove whether the difference in the percentage actually resulted from this drug or not.
Another limitation is that it is not clear who is actually benefiting from remdesivir. Scientists are still figuring out whether this drug is allowing people to recover more quickly or whether it is preventing people from needing treatment. Also, would this drug allow more benefits in younger or older people? These kinds of questions are still in consideration while awaiting for further details on this drug.
Nevertheless, after such experiments with this drug, US regulators have allowed the use of remdesivir to help coronavirus patients recover faster. On Friday at the White House, Donald Trump, along with Stephen Hahn (FDA commissioner), announced that this drug would now be available to patients with coronavirus. In fact, this is also the first drug shown to help fight patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Trump said that the approval of this drug represented a “very promising situation” while all of us are fighting against this virus. Along with that, Dr. Deborah Brix added, “I think this really illustrates what can happen in such a short time.”
The Use of Face Shields
Written By: Pimtawan Jatupornpakdee
Many countries have issued civilians to stay at home to flatten the spread of the coronavirus. This method seems to help contain the spread, but there are consequences from self-quarantine. Schools and businesses have to be in closure to avoid any form of contact, and large gatherings are also banned. People are coming out to debate about the issue of reopening businesses because the closure of businesses causes economic consequences for many business owners. It doesn’t only affect a particular individual, but it affects the world economic problems. Because of this debate, public health organizations are reconsidering the reopening of businesses back to normal. To make that possible, experts recommend the use of face shields to replace the use of face masks.
In 2020, face masks have become one of the essential things you need in order to leave your house. This causes a high demand for medical masks across the world to the point that factories could not meet those demands. To replace medical masks, people turn to using cloth masks, but many laboratory testing suggest that cloth masks cannot filter viruses 100 percent. Therefore it is not the most effective alternative. The most effective alternative that experts suggest is the face shield.
Face shields are plastic barriers that cover your face down to your chin and across to your ears. Face shields have many advantages compared to face masks. First of all, they are reusable. Medical masks have a limit of their durability, while face shields can be reused numerous times and are easy to clean since they are made of plastic. Face shields also provide more comfort for everyday usage. Sometimes, when having a conversation with your face mask on, it is difficult for others to hear you clearly. Some people would pull their masks down when speaking to avoid that problem, but face shields won’t require that.
From a simulation study, it proves that face shields can reduce 96 percent of inhaled virus from co-workers wearing it within 18 inches of a cough. Another study has been repeated and the percentage was 92 percent. With this range, a face shield is proven to be effective, but there is no study conducted to prove the same result for exhaled and coughed virus spreading outside the face shield.
Face shield is one effective and affordable way for people to use to prevent from the spreading of the COVID-19, but keep it mind that it doesn’t guarantee you 100 percent safety. In fact, no kind of intervention could promise you 100 percent effectiveness against the COVID-19, but face shields certainly can reduce the rate of transmission in a community. For safety and assurance, it doesn’t hurt to wear a face shield outside to social distance from others.
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