Study shows drug can reduce length and severity of covid-19 cases, but difference in the death rate is statistically insignificant - Health News

As news develops about the coronavirus and its covid-19 disease, this item may be updated. Official state guidance is at kycovid19.ky.gov.

• A preliminary study of the drug remdesivir shows that it can speed recovery from covid-19 and lessen its severity. "What it has proven is that drug can block this virus," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is doing the study. Dr. Sanjay Gupta said on CNN, "It's the best news in terms of a therapeutic that I think we've heard in some time." However, it made no statistical difference in the death rate.
• The Wall Street Journal reports on the race for a coronavirus vaccine, reporting that Pfizer Inc. will begin testing of its experimental vaccine in the U.S. as early next week.
• Kentucky nursing homes struggle to purchase personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, Deborah Yetter reports in detail for the Louisville Courier Journal., which published the story April 22 and in its print edition April 27. Signature HealthCare, which operates 41 nursing homes in the state, said its PPE costs have risen 200%. 
• Ben Tobin reports for the Louisville Courier Journal that the Tyson Foods plant in Robards will temporarily shut down, after 71 employees at the Henderson County plant tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Dan Horn reports for the Cincinnati Enquirer that recent studies show that Kentucky and Ohio and "not even close" to the amount of virus testing to safely reopen the economy. 
• The left-leaning Kentucky Center for Economic Policy has released a detailed report titled, "Lessons from the Great Recession: Kentucky and Other States Need More Federal Relief." Jason Bailey says the lessons are: Federal aid to states works, and should be robust and last until full recovery; without such aid, state budget cuts drag the economy further; now, such cuts can hinder the responses of Medicaid, public health, mental health, first responders and more.
• The University of Texas Health Science Center has created a covid-19 dashboard with state and global data. A news release says the site not only provides information on the number of cases and deaths, but also shows processed data instead of raw numbers. 
• New provisional death statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that total deaths are likely higher than the reported statistics capture, The New York Times reports.
• Costco Wholesale announced that it will require customers to wear masks as of Monday, and admit only one member per card. In other states, it is allowing two members per card; it did not explain the difference. It said stores would have a special hour, 9-10 a.m., for members over 60 and those with disabilities.
• The Washington Post reports that scientists know ways to help stop viruses from spreading on airplanes, but too late for this pandemic: "It is a problem of biology, physics and pure proximity, with airflow, dirty surfaces and close contact with other travelers all at play." 
• CNBC reports that JetBlue will require passengers to wear masks; American Airlines and Delta Air Lines will require employees to wear masks and will provide them for passengers; and United Air Lines requires masks for its flight attendants, as does Jet Blue and Frontier Airlines.

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