The daily coronavirus news roundup – friday, march 27th

Slowing infection rates in New York, a robot that's delivering vital supplies, and other fresh coronavirus news updates.

By Kristin Houser

March 27, 2020

The coronavirus crisis is unique. Addressing it will require new ideas, new perspectives, and new voices. That’s our mission at Freethink.

In our daily “Coronavirus News Roundup,” we’re highlighting the most important stories from the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Stories that inform, challenge, and inspire.

Here are our must reads for today, March 27, 2020.

1. New York Gov. Cuomo Says Social Distancing Efforts Are Working to Slow Coronavirus

With more than 37,000 cases, New York is by far the epicenter of the United States’ coronavirus outbreak. But CNN reports that infection rates are starting to slow — and according to Governor Andrew Cuomo, New Yorkers’ commitment to social distancing is a big part of the reason.

2. The Coronavirus Fatality Rate: Explained

Depending on your source, the percentage of people who die after contracting the coronavirus could be as low as .25% or ten times that. Freethink explains this variance in fatality rates — and what we’ll need to do to finally arrive at an accurate estimate.

3. This Method Extends Life of Critical N95 Face Masks

Disposable N95 masks provide medical staff with more protection than surgical masks, but the coronavirus outbreak has left them in short supply at many hospitals. A new method developed at Duke University could address this shortage by decontaminating the masks for reuse, Futurity reports.

4. Vir Biotechnology Reports Early Progress in Antibody Treatment for COVID-19

Good news on the coronavirus treatment front: two antibody drugs developed by Vir Biotechnology performed well in laboratory tests. STAT has all the details, including a prospective timeline for human testing.

5. Delivery Robot Distributes Supplies During Coronavirus

When Chinese company Neolix designed its delivery robot, the intended uses ranged from mobile vending machine to autonomous security guard. Freethink reveals how the delivery robot proved far more capable while contributing to China’s fight against the coronavirus.