COVID-19 Update #1

Monterey County 05/01/20 - 05/15/20:
102 new cases (328 total; 8 total deaths)

05/02/20

Monterey County opens two new COVID-19 testing sites
- Alisal High School: 777 Williams Road, Salinas, CA, 93905
- Greenfield Branch Monterey County Library: 315 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA, 93927

05/06/20

Over 200 COVID-19 antibody tests are available or in development, but only 12 have received EUA from the FDA thus far

05/07/20

05/08/20

Monterey County institutes modification to Shelter in Place Order
- Certain retail businesses are now allowed to provide roadside pickup services for online and telephone orders only. No sidewalk merchandise allowed and social distancing protocols still apply
FDA approves use of saliva-based diagnostic test (Rutgers University)
- Samples to be sent directly from home to Rutgers University lab, with lab results available in 48 hours
New study showed that hydroxychloroquine neither elevated nor decreased the risk of intubation or death in COVID-19 patients
A phase 2 trial showed that triple therapy (interferon beta-1b, lopinavir - ritonavir, ribavirin) was more effective than lopinavir - ritonavir alone with regards to decreasing the duration of hospital stay and improving symptoms in patients with COVID-19
United States unemployment rate at 14.7%

05/11/20

05/12/20

6 new cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, marking the first new cases in over thirty days

Novel antibody test “Vyriad Immune CoV” (Vyriad Inc.) able to detect virus neutralizing antibodies (those that are able to protect against further SARS-CoV-2 infections), applies for EUA via FDA

05/13/20

First vaccine, Moderna 1273 mRNA (NIAID), has finished phase 1 trials and was assigned to the “Fast Track” program by the FDA with phases 2 and 3 to begin in the summer of 2020
Reports are showing an increased incidence (up to 30 fold in certain regions) of an inflammatory syndrome in children very similar to Kawasaki syndrome. This seems to occur in children, though not immediately, after being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, suggesting that the cause is a delayed abnormal immune hyper-inflammatory response (many patients already have IgG antibodies). Children tend to be older, have stomach pain, respiratory syndromes, neck pain, and cardiovascular anomalies. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, cracking of the lips, skin rash, swelling of the hands and feet, conjunctivitis, heart dysfunction (myocarditis). Though not certain, the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be causing this syndrome by directly infecting and damaging the blood vessels and the cardiac (myocardial) cells themselves. Treatments include steroids and IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin)

05/14/20

FDA releases an update with regards to the possible inaccuracy of the Abbot “ID NOW” test to diagnose COVID-19, suggesting higher false negative results. Offers guidance to confirm negative results with a high sensitivity authorized molecular test

05/15/20

05/16/20

New COVID-19 outbreak in the Liaoning Jilin Province, China, and around the city of Shulan. 156 new cases reported

To date, the FDA has designated EUAs to 85 molecular tests, 12 antibody tests, and 1 antigen-based test
FDA authorizes the first home use sample collection kit, which must be sent to certain designated labs across the country for processing
New studies prove that SARS-CoV-2 can be passed from humans to dogs, but was unable to prove whether infected dogs could transmit the virus to other animals or even back to humans
New study involving cats proved that a domestic cat is able to infect another cat within 3-5 days of co-inhabitation. One other report suggests human to cat transmission
Further studies have emerged proposing the lack of effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, ranging from mild to severe disease

Sources:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2012410