Our weekly update of the Corona news worldwide 27 April – 3 May 2020

New Zealand:

  1. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand claims that the country has “won the battle” against coronavirus and that there is no widespread community transmission. – NPR

 

Europe:

  1. While the lockdown has been loosened in Germany, people are now required to wear masks outside in certain settings. – BBC
  2. Social distancing in Germany will be extending to May 10. – Reuters
  3. By the end of June, Spain plans to return to a ‘new normal’ by implementing a four-phase plan. The country has begun to slowly lift some of the lockdown restrictions. Phase-zero will begin 4-11 May to allow certain businesses to reopen. – BBC

 

WHO, CDC:

  1. The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator is a new initiative by the WHO that aims to speed up the development of coronavirus medical products. A key aim of this initiative is to give product access to both rich and poor populations. – STAT
  2. The CDC has added six new potential symptoms for coronavirus: Chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell. – USA Today
  3. The WHO warns that there is no evidence that those who had been infected with COVID-19 and recovered are protected from a second infection. – UN News

 

Research & Technology:

  1. A vaccine against coronavirus might be available this year according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI). The group has been working on nine separate coronavirus vaccine projects. – Bloomberg
  2. Coronavirus Medications and Vaccine Tracker – STAT
  3. More cases are rising of COVID-19 infected young and middle aged adults having strokes. Researchers from Mount Sinai in New York City describe five patients, all under the age of 50, having suffered large vessel strokes. These five patients, surprisingly, either had mild or no symptoms of coronavirus. The underlying cause of these clots leading to strokes is still being investigated. However, doctors are suggesting the possibility of supplementing the use of a preventative anticoagulant such as low molecular weight heparin. – Forbes
  4. A recent study shows that over 70% of patients who died of COVID-19 were men, making the death rate in men 2.5 times the death rate of women. Also, being male was a significant risk factor for worse coronavirus severity. – Eureka Alert