At-home test kits, new vaccine developments, and more COVID-19 updates
The coronavirus crisis is unique. Addressing it will require new ideas, new perspectives, and new voices. That’s our mission at Freethink.
In our weekly “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 this week.
1. A Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine Advances to Phase II Trials
CanSino Bio’s in-development coronavirus vaccine was the second in the world to reach human trials — and it’s now the first to advance to the second stage of human testing.
2. The FDA Authorizes the First At-Home Coronavirus Test Kit
For the first time, people have the option of collecting their own coronavirus samples at home, a development that could both increase access to testing and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
3. We May Need Fewer Ventilators for COVID-19 Patients Than We Expected
New research suggests that healthcare workers may be overusing ventilators for COVID-19 patients — meaning there might be more of the machines to go around than previously thought.
4. Microsoft’s “Plasma Bot” Helps You Donate Plasma for COVID-19
Microsoft created an online bot to help guide coronavirus survivors through the process of donating their antibody-rich plasma — a move that could help advance COVID-19 trials and research.
5. Ghana Is Using Drones to Speed Up Its Coronavirus Testing
The African nation of Ghana is using autonomous drones to transport coronavirus test samples from rural areas to two city labs — and the devices might be flying over the U.S. in the near future.
