Covid Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today Tuesday 16th of June:
- UK: Widely available and affordable drug Dexamethasone has been found in trials by Oxford University to reduce the risk of death of victims who are medically intubated by a third, and those in hospital on Oxygen by a fifth. A warning has been issued alongside this good news that it does not appear to effect recovery time for those infected but not critically ill, no don't all rush out and do a Hydroxychloroquine panic buy on it.
- USA: Hydroxychloroquine has had its emergency use status revoked as it becomes increasingly clear that it has no effect on COVID-19. It is unclear if President Trump is still taking it as a precautionary measure and indeed it is not yet clear if it is, or is not, effective as a precautionary measure. Trials continue.
- New Zealand: First two new cases in weeks arrive in the country from the UK. They were given exemption of isolation on compassionate grounds, as their parent was dying. It has been stated that their journey in the country was performed under isolation conditions and they don't believe there was any chance of transmission, however there is now a ban on compassionate exemption from quarantine based on this event.
- China: Beijing describes new outbreak as "extremely severe" with more restrictions imposed to tackle outbreak.
- USA: Oklahoma COVID infection rate rises 7.7% ahead of Trump Tulsa rally. Attendees still required to sign a waiver.
- Chile: Reports emerge that data glitches missed 31,000 cases from official total, described as a 'Significant number'.
- Ikea: Company to return state aid from European countries and the US as their financial situation was not as strained as it was feared it may be, stating it was "the right thing to do".
- UK: Widely available and affordable drug Dexamethasone has been found in trials by Oxford University to reduce the risk of death of victims who are medically intubated by a third, and those in hospital on Oxygen by a fifth. A warning has been issued alongside this good news that it does not appear to effect recovery time for those infected but not critically ill, no don't all rush out and do a Hydroxychloroquine panic buy on it.
- USA: Hydroxychloroquine has had its emergency use status revoked as it becomes increasingly clear that it has no effect on COVID-19. It is unclear if President Trump is still taking it as a precautionary measure and indeed it is not yet clear if it is, or is not, effective as a precautionary measure. Trials continue.
- New Zealand: First two new cases in weeks arrive in the country from the UK. They were given exemption of isolation on compassionate grounds, as their parent was dying. It has been stated that their journey in the country was performed under isolation conditions and they don't believe there was any chance of transmission, however there is now a ban on compassionate exemption from quarantine based on this event.
- China: Beijing describes new outbreak as "extremely severe" with more restrictions imposed to tackle outbreak.
- USA: Oklahoma COVID infection rate rises 7.7% ahead of Trump Tulsa rally. Attendees still required to sign a waiver.
- Chile: Reports emerge that data glitches missed 31,000 cases from official total, described as a 'Significant number'.
- Ikea: Company to return state aid from European countries and the US as their financial situation was not as strained as it was feared it may be, stating it was "the right thing to do".