foxnews--2020-04-13--Do face masks really reduce coronavirus spread? Experts have mixed answers

For the first time , the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has recommended that even seemingly healthy people wear masks over their mouths and noses when venturing out of their homes into places where it is difficult to maintain distance from other people .
But there is still major debate over how much masks — particularly the homemade fabric masks that the CDC recommends for the public — can slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 .
Researchers , writing in two new papers , attempt to tackle the efficacy of masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and come to differing conclusions .
One study examined the effect of masks on seasonal coronaviruses ( which cause many cases of the common cold ) and found that surgical masks are helpful at reducing how much virus a sick person spreads .
The other looked particularly at SARS-CoV-2 and found no effect of either surgical or fabric masks on reducing virus spread , but only had four participants and used a crude measure of viral spread .
The bottom line , experts say , is that masks might help keep people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
But the evidence for the efficacy of surgical or homemade masks is limited , and masks are n't the most important protection against the coronavirus .
`` Putting a face mask on does not mean that you stop the other practices , '' said May Chu , a clinical professor in epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health on the Anschutz Medical Campus who was not involved in either new study .
`` It does not mean you get closer to people , it does not mean you do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you can touch your face .
All of that still is in place , this is just an add-on . ''
Recommendations about masks can easily get confusing , because all masks are not made equal .
The N95 mask effectively prevents viral spread .
These masks , when properly fitted , seal closely to the face and filter out 95 % of particles 0.3 microns or larger .
But N95 masks are in serious shortage even for medical professionals , who are exposed to the highest levels of SARS-CoV-2 and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the virus .
They 're also difficult to fit correctly .
For those reasons , the CDC does not recommend them for general use .
Related : How are people being infected with COVID-19 ?
Due to shortages , the CDC also does not recommend surgical masks for the general public .
These masks do n't seal against the face but do include non-woven polypropylene layers that are moisture resistant .
In a surgical mask , about 70 % of the outside air moves through the mask and about 30 % travels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science .
For that reason , they do n't offer as much protection as N95s .
That leaves fabric masks , which currently are recommended for general use by the CDC .
Fabric masks also allow air in around the sides , but lack non-woven , moisture-repelling layers .
They impede only about 2 % of airflow in , Chu said .
All of this leakage in surgical and fabric masks are why public health officials generally do n't believe that wearing a mask prevents anyone from catching a virus that is already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows the path of least resistance , said Rachael Jones , an associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah who was not involved in the new research .
If viral particles are nearby , they have an easy path around a surgical or fabric mask .
And in the case of a fabric mask , wearers may well be wafting in particles small enough to flow right through the fabric .
But what about the other way around ?
When the wearer of a mask coughs or sneezes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain a lot of that initial jet of grossness — even if there are gaps in the fabric or around the sides .
That 's what the new mask studies aimed to address : Whether surgical or fabric masks did a good job of containing viruses .
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—Can people spread the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , published April 6 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine , found that they did not .
That study , led by South Korean researchers , involved asking four patients with COVID-19 to cough into a petri dish 7.8 inches ( 20 centimeters ) away .
The patients coughed without masks , while wearing a disposable surgical mask and again wearing a 100 % cotton mask .
Neither mask meaningfully decreased the viral load coughed onto the petri dishes .
But experts not involved in the study who were contacted by Live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the findings .
The researchers did n't look at distances beyond 7.8 inches to see if droplets did n't travel as far while people were wearing masks , Chu said .
`` They did n't measure 2 feet or 3 feet or 4 feet , '' she said .
Related : Is 6 feet enough space for social distancing ?
The study also returned the odd result that most swabs from the outside of patient masks were positive for coronavirus and most from the inside were negative .
The authors speculate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried the virus toward the outside of the mask , but the explanation was n't very satisfying , according to Jones .
The other study , published April 3 in the journal Nature Medicine , used a more sophisticated method of collecting the virus particles that sick people emit .
The researchers asked 426 volunteers to breathe for 30 minutes into a cone-like device that captures everything exhaled .
Of these , 43 patients had influenza , 54 patients had rhinoviruses and 17 patients had seasonal coronaviruses ( the kinds that cause colds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
This method allowed the researchers to quantify how much virus was found in droplet particles , which are greater than 0.0002 inches ( 5 microns ) in diameter , versus aerosol particles , which are 5 microns or smaller .
The participants were randomized to either wear a surgical mask or not wear a mask during the study .
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Easy drag & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first key finding was that the researchers detected virus in tiny aerosol particles in all cases : influenza , rhinoviruses and coronaviruses .
In the case of influenza , they cultured the captured particles and discovered that they were infectious .
That 's important , said study author Ben Cowling , head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at The Hong Kong University , because there is a long-running debate among health professionals about whether influenza can spread via aerosols .
The study suggests that it likely can , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal coronavirus and rhinovirus , we did n't attempt to culture the virus in the aerosols , but there is no reason to believe that the virus would not be infectious , '' Cowling told Live Science .
Related : COVID-19 may spread through breathing and talking And as for masks ?
Surgical masks reduced the amount of virus released from a sick person in the form of droplets but not aerosols for influenza ; the masks reduced coronavirus in both droplets and aerosols ; and they did n't reduce either in rhinovirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found the virus in droplets in 3 out of 10 samples from participants not wearing masks and in aerosols in 4 out of 10 samples taken without masks .
In samples taken with masks , no virus was detected in either droplets or aerosols .
The difference between viruses could have something to do with where in the respiratory tract these infectious invaders make their homes , said Cowling , who is also co-director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control .
For example , a virus that reproduces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel in smaller particles to make it all the way out into the world , while one that reproduces mostly in the nose and throat may be more easily mobilized in bigger droplets .
The results from influenza and seasonal coronaviruses suggest that surgical masks can help keep people with COVID-19 from spreading the virus , Cowling said .
SARS-CoV-2 probably behaves similarly to the viruses he and his team studied , he said , and the fact that people can spread the virus before they experience symptoms is an argument for recommending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still mixed on the potential usefulness of non-N95 masks .
`` To me , it 's not harmful to wear these masks , but it does n't look from this study like there is a whole lot of benefit , '' Jones said .
The sample size for seasonal coronavirus was small , she said , and there was a large amount of non-mask-related variation in how much virus people emitted , particularly given that the majority of samples without masks did n't have detectable coronavirus .
One thing everyone does agree on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-fitted masks do provide , homemade fabric masks are the least effective .
The recommendations that everyone wear masks are because `` any kind of impediment is better than nothing , '' Chu said .
But fabric masks are not expected to be as protective as surgical masks , she said .
That 's why public health officials are warning people to remain at least 6 feet apart from one another , even if they are wearing masks .
In other words , homemade masks are likely to be just a small piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
`` There 's been enough research done to be able to confidently say that masks would n't be able to stop the spread of infection , that they would only have a small effect on transmission , '' Cowling said .
`` We should n't be relying on masks to help us go back to normal . ''
• 11 ( sometimes ) deadly diseases that hopped across species

Editor's Note (June 2 at 11:30 a.m.): A paper discussed below has been retracted by the journal the Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors wrote that their statistical methods could not determine whether the findings were reliable, making the results of the small study "uninterpretable." The study had found that surgical and cotton masks do not effectively contain viral droplets containing SARS-CoV-2. Subsequent research has suggested that face masks are an effective method for containing the spread of the virus, used along with staying six feet apart from other people.
For the first time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that even seemingly healthy people wear masks over their mouths and noses when venturing out of their homes into places where it is difficult to maintain distance from other people. But there is still major debate over how much masks — particularly the homemade fabric masks that the CDC recommends for the public — can slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19.
Researchers, writing in two new papers, attempt to tackle the efficacy of masks, one more rigorously than the other, and come to differing conclusions. One study examined the effect of masks on seasonal coronaviruses (which cause many cases of the common cold) and found that surgical masks are helpful at reducing how much virus a sick person spreads. The other looked particularly at SARS-CoV-2 and found no effect of either surgical or fabric masks on reducing virus spread, but only had four participants and used a crude measure of viral spread.
The bottom line, experts say, is that masks might help keep people with COVID-19 from unknowingly passing along the virus. But the evidence for the efficacy of surgical or homemade masks is limited, and masks aren't the most important protection against the coronavirus.
Related: 13 Coronavirus myths busted by science
"Putting a face mask on does not mean that you stop the other practices," said May Chu, a clinical professor in epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health on the Anschutz Medical Campus who was not involved in either new study. "It does not mean you get closer to people, it does not mean you don't have to wash your hands as often and you can touch your face. All of that still is in place, this is just an add-on."
Face mask basics
Recommendations about masks can easily get confusing, because all masks are not made equal. The N95 mask effectively prevents viral spread. These masks, when properly fitted, seal closely to the face and filter out 95% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. But N95 masks are in serious shortage even for medical professionals, who are exposed to the highest levels of SARS-CoV-2 and are most in need of the strongest protection against the virus. They're also difficult to fit correctly. For those reasons, the CDC does not recommend them for general use.
Related: How are people being infected with COVID-19?
Due to shortages, the CDC also does not recommend surgical masks for the general public. These masks don't seal against the face but do include non-woven polypropylene layers that are moisture resistant. In a surgical mask, about 70% of the outside air moves through the mask and about 30% travels around the sides, Chu told Live Science. For that reason, they don't offer as much protection as N95s.
That leaves fabric masks, which currently are recommended for general use by the CDC. Fabric masks also allow air in around the sides, but lack non-woven, moisture-repelling layers. They impede only about 2% of airflow in, Chu said.
All of this leakage in surgical and fabric masks are why public health officials generally don't believe that wearing a mask prevents anyone from catching a virus that is already floating around in the environment. Airflow follows the path of least resistance, said Rachael Jones, an associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah who was not involved in the new research. If viral particles are nearby, they have an easy path around a surgical or fabric mask. And in the case of a fabric mask, wearers may well be wafting in particles small enough to flow right through the fabric.
But what about the other way around? When the wearer of a mask coughs or sneezes, the barrier might be enough to contain a lot of that initial jet of grossness — even if there are gaps in the fabric or around the sides. That's what the new mask studies aimed to address: Whether surgical or fabric masks did a good job of containing viruses.
Efficacy of face masks
One study, published April 6 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine , found that they did not. That study, led by South Korean researchers, involved asking four patients with COVID-19 to cough into a petri dish 7.8 inches (20 centimeters) away. The patients coughed without masks, while wearing a disposable surgical mask and again wearing a 100% cotton mask.
Neither mask meaningfully decreased the viral load coughed onto the petri dishes. But experts not involved in the study who were contacted by Live Science were hesitant to put much stock into the findings. The researchers didn't look at distances beyond 7.8 inches to see if droplets didn't travel as far while people were wearing masks, Chu said.
"They didn't measure 2 feet or 3 feet or 4 feet," she said.
Related: Is 6 feet enough space for social distancing?
The study also returned the odd result that most swabs from the outside of patient masks were positive for coronavirus and most from the inside were negative. The authors speculate that perhaps turbulent jets of air from coughing carried the virus toward the outside of the mask, but the explanation wasn't very satisfying, according to Jones.
The other study, published April 3 in the journal Nature Medicine , used a more sophisticated method of collecting the virus particles that sick people emit. The researchers asked 426 volunteers to breathe for 30 minutes into a cone-like device that captures everything exhaled. Of these, 43 patients had influenza, 54 patients had rhinoviruses and 17 patients had seasonal coronaviruses (the kinds that cause colds, not the kind that causes COVID-19). This method allowed the researchers to quantify how much virus was found in droplet particles, which are greater than 0.0002 inches (5 microns) in diameter, versus aerosol particles, which are 5 microns or smaller. The participants were randomized to either wear a surgical mask or not wear a mask during the study.
The first key finding was that the researchers detected virus in tiny aerosol particles in all cases: influenza, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. In the case of influenza, they cultured the captured particles and discovered that they were infectious. That's important, said study author Ben Cowling, head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at The Hong Kong University, because there is a long-running debate among health professionals about whether influenza can spread via aerosols. The study suggests that it likely can, and that colds probably can too.
"For seasonal coronavirus and rhinovirus, we didn't attempt to culture the virus in the aerosols, but there is no reason to believe that the virus would not be infectious," Cowling told Live Science.
Related: COVID-19 may spread through breathing and talking
And as for masks? Surgical masks reduced the amount of virus released from a sick person in the form of droplets but not aerosols for influenza ; the masks reduced coronavirus in both droplets and aerosols; and they didn't reduce either in rhinovirus. For the seasonal coronavirus, researchers found the virus in droplets in 3 out of 10 samples from participants not wearing masks and in aerosols in 4 out of 10 samples taken without masks. In samples taken with masks, no virus was detected in either droplets or aerosols.
The difference between viruses could have something to do with where in the respiratory tract these infectious invaders make their homes, said Cowling, who is also co-director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control. For example, a virus that reproduces deep in the lungs might need to travel in smaller particles to make it all the way out into the world, while one that reproduces mostly in the nose and throat may be more easily mobilized in bigger droplets.
The results from influenza and seasonal coronaviruses suggest that surgical masks can help keep people with COVID-19 from spreading the virus, Cowling said. SARS-CoV-2 probably behaves similarly to the viruses he and his team studied, he said, and the fact that people can spread the virus before they experience symptoms is an argument for recommending masks for everyone.
But experts are still mixed on the potential usefulness of non-N95 masks.
"To me, it's not harmful to wear these masks, but it doesn't look from this study like there is a whole lot of benefit," Jones said. The sample size for seasonal coronavirus was small, she said, and there was a large amount of non-mask-related variation in how much virus people emitted, particularly given that the majority of samples without masks didn't have detectable coronavirus.
One thing everyone does agree on is that, whatever containment provided by non-fitted masks do provide, homemade fabric masks are the least effective. The recommendations that everyone wear masks are because "any kind of impediment is better than nothing," Chu said. But fabric masks are not expected to be as protective as surgical masks, she said. That's why public health officials are warning people to remain at least 6 feet apart from one another, even if they are wearing masks. In other words, homemade masks are likely to be just a small piece of the puzzle for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There's been enough research done to be able to confidently say that masks wouldn't be able to stop the spread of infection, that they would only have a small effect on transmission," Cowling said. "We shouldn't be relying on masks to help us go back to normal."
Originally published on Live Science.


foxnews--2020-04-10--Costco’s sales up 12 percent amid coronavirus outbreak

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The long lines at Costco stores last month resulted in big sales increases at the warehouse club .
Panicked consumers fueled a 12.3 percent spike in comparable sales at the retail giant for the five weeks ended April 5 as shoppers loaded up food , paper products and cleaning supplies , the company reported .
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER But the long lines and full shopping carts were deceiving .
Wall Street had counted on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many shoppers were flocking to the stores .
Costco ’ s sales began to soften in mid-March when government restrictions addressing social distancing and non-essential merchandise kicked in , the company said .
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Management blamed the slowdown on those restrictions — which reduced store hours , limited the number of shoppers that were allowed into the stores at one time and closed non-essential departments like jewelry , optical , hearing-aids and food courts .
Customer traffic at US stores was up 5.3 percent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic likely “ helped the company on the membership front — a phenomenon that we ’ ve seen in the past , ” wrote Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom in a research note .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Costco ’ s shares were down nearly 2 percent , to $ 300 , in mid-morning trading on Thursday .
This article originally appeared on the New York Post .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The long lines at Costco stores last month resulted in big sales increases at the warehouse club.
Panicked consumers fueled a 12.3 percent spike in comparable sales at the retail giant for the five weeks ended April 5 as shoppers loaded up food, paper products and cleaning supplies, the company reported.
But the long lines and full shopping carts were deceiving. Wall Street had counted on a 24.1 percent comp-sales increase based on how many shoppers were flocking to the stores. Costco’s sales began to soften in mid-March when government restrictions addressing social distancing and non-essential merchandise kicked in, the company said.
Management blamed the slowdown on those restrictions — which reduced store hours, limited the number of shoppers that were allowed into the stores at one time and closed non-essential departments like jewelry, optical, hearing-aids and food courts.
Customer traffic at US stores was up 5.3 percent and the media attention Costco has gained during the pandemic likely “helped the company on the membership front — a phenomenon that we’ve seen in the past,” wrote Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom in a research note.
Costco’s shares were down nearly 2 percent, to $300, in mid-morning trading on Thursday.


foxnews--2020-04-09--The mysterious connection between the coronavirus and the heart

The novel coronavirus mainly attacks the lungs .
But doctors have been increasingly reporting cases of another battlefield raging within the body : the heart .
More than 1 in 5 patients develop heart damage as a result of COVID-19 in Wuhan , China , one small study published March 27 in the journal JAMA Cardiology suggested .
While some of these patients have a history of heart conditions , others do not .
So what 's going on ?
Cardiologists say several scenarios could be unfolding : The heart may struggle to pump blood in the absence of enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart cells ; or the body , in its attempt to eradicate the virus , may mobilize a storm of immune cells that attack the heart .
`` We know that this is not the only virus that affects the heart , '' said Dr. Mohammad Madjid , an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ( UTHealth ) .
The risk of developing heart attacks , for example , is thought to increase about sixfold when a person is infected with the flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine .
What 's more , during most influenza epidemics , more patients die from heart complications than from pneumonia , according to a review published March 27 in the journal JAMA Cardiology .
Viral infections can disrupt blood flow to the heart , cause irregular heartbeats and heart failure , according to the review .
So while it does n't `` come as a surprise , '' that novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 can lead to heart damage , it may be occurring more frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people infected with other viruses , Madjid , the lead author of the review , told Live Science .
The virus might be directly attacking the heart .
`` We 're seeing cases of people who do n't have an underlying heart disease , '' who are getting heart damage , said Dr. Erin Michos , the associate director of preventive cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine .
Heart damage is n't typical in mild cases of COVID-19 , and tends to occur more often in patients who have severe symptoms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus predominantly affects the lungs , it is circulating in the bloodstream ; that means the virus could directly invade and attack other organs , including the heart , Michos told Live Science .
Both heart cells and lung cells are covered with surface proteins known as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2 ) — these molecules serve as `` doorways '' for the virus to enter cells .
But this enzyme is a `` double-edged sword , '' she said .
On one hand , the ACE2 molecule acts as a gateway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and replicate , but on the other hand , it normally serves a `` protective '' function , Michos said .
When tissues in the body are damaged — either by an invading virus such as SARS-CoV-2 or by other means , the body 's natural healing response involves releasing inflammatory molecules , such as small proteins called cytokines , into the bloodstream .
But paradoxically , too much inflammation can actually make things worse .
The ACE2 enzyme acts as an anti-inflammatory , keeping immune cells from inflicting more damage on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus latches onto ACE2 proteins , these proteins get knocked out of commission , possibly reducing the anti-inflammatory protection that they give .
So the virus may be acting as a double-whammy by damaging cells directly and preventing the body from protecting tissues from inflammatory damage .
`` If the heart muscle is inflamed and damaged by the virus , the heart ca n't function , '' she said .
The novel coronavirus might also indirectly damage the heart .
In this scenario , the patient 's immune system winds up `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This scenario has played out in some really sick patients who have highly elevated inflammatory markers — or proteins that signal high levels of inflammation in the body .
This is called a `` cytokine storm , '' Michos said .
Cytokine storms damage organs throughout the body , including the heart and liver , she added .
It 's not clear why some people have such an elevated response compared with others , but some people could be genetically prone to it , she added .
And then you have patients who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 — and higher risk of mortality .
`` You can imagine , if their heart already has difficulty working … they do n't have the capacity to meet this challenge '' of not having enough oxygen because their lungs are n't working as well .
So COVID-19 can `` exacerbate '' underlying heart disease , Michos said .
A new study , published April 3 in the journal Circulation , described four cases of heart damage among COVID-19 patients in New York , some with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the editorial board for the journal Circulation . )
Cardiologists identify heart damage using a blood test for a protein called troponin .
When heart cells are injured , they leak troponin into the bloodstream .
But `` it 's sometimes not that easy , '' to figure out what kind of heart damage a patient is having , Michos said .
`` We are really seeing different cardiac involvement , '' Michos said .
So it matters `` what 's causing the heart damage because you would treat it differently . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly invading the heart , the patient may need antiviral medications .
If instead the immune system is causing heart damage , the patient might need immunosuppressants .
Right now , no direct treatments target COVID-19 , and most of the treatment being used currently involves supportive care such as providing more oxygen .
What 's more , people who have high blood pressure or other underlying heart conditions commonly take ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs ) — medications that widen blood vessels , therefore increasing the amount of blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cardiologists are hotly debating whether people should stop or start taking those medications if they 're at high risk for COVID-19 .
( One paper suggested the drugs could be harmful , while some clinical trials are assessing the use of ARBs to reduce the severity of COVID-19 , Live Science previously reported . )
It 's really hard to tease out whether having more ACE2 is helpful or harmful , as these proteins are how the virus enters the cells , but also known to protect the cells against injury , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if patients are already taking these medications , they should stay on them , she said .
`` Patients taking ACE- [ inhibitors ] and ARBs who contract COVID-19 should continue treatment , unless otherwise advised by their physician , '' according to a statement from the American Heart Association , the Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology .
Experts from Australia and New Zealand similarly said they strongly recommend patients with hypertension , heart failure and cardiovascular disease who are already on these medications keep using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published on April 3 in The Medical Journal of Australia .
Complicating matters , certain drugs that are currently under investigation for treating COVID-19 , including hydroxychloroquine — the drug that President Trump has said is a game-changer — could cause heart damage , those experts said .
Now , the goal is to figure out if there 's a genetic or biochemical reason some people are more prone to heart damage from COVID-19 — and to figure out what drugs work best `` to protect the heart from injury , '' Michos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly diseases that hopped across species

The novel coronavirus mainly attacks the lungs. But doctors have been increasingly reporting cases of another battlefield raging within the body: the heart.
More than 1 in 5 patients develop heart damage as a result of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, one small study published March 27 in the journal JAMA Cardiology suggested. While some of these patients have a history of heart conditions, others do not. So what's going on?
Cardiologists say several scenarios could be unfolding: The heart may struggle to pump blood in the absence of enough oxygen; the virus may directly invade heart cells; or the body, in its attempt to eradicate the virus, may mobilize a storm of immune cells that attack the heart.
Related: Coronavirus Live Updates
"We know that this is not the only virus that affects the heart," said Dr. Mohammad Madjid, an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). The risk of developing heart attacks, for example, is thought to increase about sixfold when a person is infected with the flu virus, according to a study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine .
What's more, during most influenza epidemics, more patients die from heart complications than from pneumonia , according to a review published March 27 in the journal JAMA Cardiology . Viral infections can disrupt blood flow to the heart, cause irregular heartbeats and heart failure, according to the review.
So while it doesn't "come as a surprise," that novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 can lead to heart damage, it may be occurring more frequently in these patients than it does in people infected with other viruses, Madjid, the lead author of the review, told Live Science.
The double-edged sword
The virus might be directly attacking the heart.
"We're seeing cases of people who don't have an underlying heart disease ," who are getting heart damage, said Dr. Erin Michos, the associate director of preventive cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Heart damage isn't typical in mild cases of COVID-19, and tends to occur more often in patients who have severe symptoms and are hospitalized, she said.
Though the virus predominantly affects the lungs, it is circulating in the bloodstream; that means the virus could directly invade and attack other organs, including the heart, Michos told Live Science.
Related: 13 coronavirus myths busted by science
Both heart cells and lung cells are covered with surface proteins known as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) — these molecules serve as "doorways" for the virus to enter cells. But this enzyme is a "double-edged sword," she said. On one hand, the ACE2 molecule acts as a gateway for the virus to enter the cell and replicate, but on the other hand, it normally serves a "protective" function, Michos said.
When tissues in the body are damaged — either by an invading virus such as SARS-CoV-2 or by other means, the body's natural healing response involves releasing inflammatory molecules, such as small proteins called cytokines, into the bloodstream. But paradoxically, too much inflammation can actually make things worse. The ACE2 enzyme acts as an anti-inflammatory, keeping immune cells from inflicting more damage on the body's own cells.
But when the virus latches onto ACE2 proteins, these proteins get knocked out of commission, possibly reducing the anti-inflammatory protection that they give. So the virus may be acting as a double-whammy by damaging cells directly and preventing the body from protecting tissues from inflammatory damage.
"If the heart muscle is inflamed and damaged by the virus, the heart can't function," she said.
The novel coronavirus might also indirectly damage the heart. In this scenario, the patient's immune system winds up "going haywire," Michos said. This scenario has played out in some really sick patients who have highly elevated inflammatory markers — or proteins that signal high levels of inflammation in the body.
This is called a "cytokine storm," Michos said. Cytokine storms damage organs throughout the body, including the heart and liver, she added. It's not clear why some people have such an elevated response compared with others, but some people could be genetically prone to it, she added.
And then you have patients who have underlying heart disease who are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 — and higher risk of mortality. "You can imagine, if their heart already has difficulty working … they don't have the capacity to meet this challenge" of not having enough oxygen because their lungs aren't working as well.
So COVID-19 can "exacerbate" underlying heart disease, Michos said. A new study, published April 3 in the journal Circulation , described four cases of heart damage among COVID-19 patients in New York, some with underlying conditions. (Michos is on the editorial board for the journal Circulation.)
Treatments and complications
Cardiologists identify heart damage using a blood test for a protein called troponin. When heart cells are injured, they leak troponin into the bloodstream. But "it's sometimes not that easy," to figure out what kind of heart damage a patient is having, Michos said.
"We are really seeing different cardiac involvement," Michos said. So it matters "what's causing the heart damage because you would treat it differently."
For example, if the virus is directly invading the heart, the patient may need antiviral medications. If instead the immune system is causing heart damage, the patient might need immunosuppressants. Right now, no direct treatments target COVID-19, and most of the treatment being used currently involves supportive care such as providing more oxygen.
What's more, people who have high blood pressure or other underlying heart conditions commonly take ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) — medications that widen blood vessels, therefore increasing the amount of blood the heart pumps and lowering blood pressure.
Cardiologists are hotly debating whether people should stop or start taking those medications if they're at high risk for COVID-19. (One paper suggested the drugs could be harmful, while some clinical trials are assessing the use of ARBs to reduce the severity of COVID-19, Live Science previously reported .)
It's really hard to tease out whether having more ACE2 is helpful or harmful, as these proteins are how the virus enters the cells, but also known to protect the cells against injury, Michos said.
The current consensus is that if patients are already taking these medications, they should stay on them, she said. "Patients taking ACE-[inhibitors] and ARBs who contract COVID-19 should continue treatment, unless otherwise advised by their physician," according to a statement from the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology.
Experts from Australia and New Zealand similarly said they strongly recommend patients with hypertension, heart failure and cardiovascular disease who are already on these medications keep using them, according to a study preprint published on April 3 in The Medical Journal of Australia .
Complicating matters, certain drugs that are currently under investigation for treating COVID-19, including hydroxychloroquine — the drug that President Trump has said is a game-changer — could cause heart damage, those experts said. Now, the goal is to figure out if there's a genetic or biochemical reason some people are more prone to heart damage from COVID-19 — and to figure out what drugs work best "to protect the heart from injury," Michos said.


foxnews--2020-04-07--Speed camera violations skyrocket on empty New York City streets during coronavirus shutdown

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With @ @ @ @ @ , more drivers are now blowing the speed limit , new data shows .
Big @ @ @ @ @ speeding drivers on weekdays between March 5 and March 24 , Streetsblog first reported Sunday @ @ @ @ @ compared to a similar period in January .
The rubber burning is happening despite significantly @ @ @ @ @ , according to former city official and traffic guru Sam Schwartz .
Schwartz ’ s @ @ @ @ @ dropped 35 to 50 percent since the first week of March — meaning the rate @ @ @ @ @ what it was before .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “ With @ @ @ @ @ getting to their destinations faster than ever — so why speed ?
” Schwartz said @ @ @ @ @ hospitals are already “ overloaded ” with COVID-19 patients .
Read more from the New @ @

With fewer vehicles on city streets, more drivers are now blowing the speed limit, new data shows.
Big Apple speed cameras caught speeding drivers 180,718 on weekdays between March 5 and March 24, Streetsblog first reported Sunday — a 12.3 percent spike compared to a similar period in January.
The rubber burning is happening despite significantly fewer cars on the road, according to former city official and traffic guru Sam Schwartz.
Schwartz’s firm estimates traffic volumes have dropped 35 to 50 percent since the first week of March — meaning the rate of speeding is possibly double what it was before.
“With less traffic, drivers are getting to their destinations faster than ever — so why speed?” Schwartz said in a release, noting hospitals are already “overloaded” with COVID-19 patients.


foxnews--2020-04-23--Flu and coronavirus will launch dual 'assault' on America next winter if we don't prepare now, CDC c

Flu and coronavirus will launch dual 'assault' on America next winter if we don't prepare now, CDC chief warns

A resurgence of COVID-19 next winter could hit the United States health care system even harder than the original outbreak has , the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has warned .
If the virus has a second wave that coincides with the start of flu season — which is responsible for thousands of American deaths per year — then the nation 's health care system will likely be even more overwhelmed and under-supplied than it has been during the current outbreak of coronavirus in the U.S. , CDC Director Robert Redfield told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
`` There 's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through , '' Redfield said .
`` We 're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time . ''
Related : Do face masks really reduce coronavirus spread ?
Experts have mixed answers The first wave of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , has already killed nearly 46,000 people across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reported in January .
The outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals and exposed huge shortages of test kits and personal protective equipment like masks and gowns for health care workers .
Fortunately , Redfield said , the epidemic arrived toward the end of flu season , which usually peaks between December and February , and creates an annual strain on the U.S. health care system .
According to official CDC estimates , the flu killed nearly 32,000 Americans in the 2018-2019 season and resulted in half a million hospitalizations .
If flu season had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 outbreak , `` it could have been really , really , really , really difficult in terms of health [ care ] capacity , '' Redfield said .
That may well be the case this winter , he cautioned , if a second wave of coronavirus hits near the beginning of flu season .
Because a widely available coronavirus vaccine is likely still 12 to 18 months away , preventing a deadly double-outbreak of respiratory viruses from ravaging the country will depend on a combination of other actions .
First , Redfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to push for social distancing this summer as more businesses and public spaces reopen .
Social distancing has had an `` enormous impact … on this outbreak in our nation '' since the pandemic began , Redfield said , and that will hold true until coronavirus vaccines are widely accessible .
Second , the country needs to massively scale up testing and contact tracing ( individuals exposed to infected people ) so that new COVID-19 cases can be identified before they become larger outbreaks .
And finally , Redfield said , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuading citizens about the importance of getting flu shots in the fall , in order to minimize the number of flu-related hospitalizations .
As Redfield puts it , getting a flu vaccination this year `` may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus .
`` Updated April 22 at 8:00 p.m .
ET : During the President 's daily coronavirus briefing , director Redfield clarified his comments to the Post , saying : '' I think it 's really important to emphasize what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't say [ the next wave of COVID-19 ] was going to be worse .
I said it was going to be more more difficult and potentially complicated because we 'll have flu and coronavirus circulating at the same time .
I want to emphasize we continue to build the nation 's public health infrastructure to ensure that we have the capacity to stay in the containment mode . ''
• Going viral : 6 new findings about viruses

A resurgence of COVID-19 next winter could hit the United States health care system even harder than the original outbreak has, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned.
If the virus has a second wave that coincides with the start of flu season — which is responsible for thousands of American deaths per year — then the nation's health care system will likely be even more overwhelmed and under-supplied than it has been during the current outbreak of coronavirus in the U.S. , CDC Director Robert Redfield told The Washington Post on Tuesday (April 21).
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Redfield said. "We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time."
Related: Do face masks really reduce coronavirus spread? Experts have mixed answers
The first wave of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has already killed nearly 46,000 people across the country since the first known U.S. case was reported in January. The outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals and exposed huge shortages of test kits and personal protective equipment like masks and gowns for health care workers.
Fortunately, Redfield said, the epidemic arrived toward the end of flu season, which usually peaks between December and February, and creates an annual strain on the U.S. health care system. According to official CDC estimates , the flu killed nearly 32,000 Americans in the 2018-2019 season and resulted in half a million hospitalizations. If flu season had peaked at the same time as the COVID-19 outbreak, "it could have been really, really, really, really difficult in terms of health [care] capacity," Redfield said.
That may well be the case this winter, he cautioned, if a second wave of coronavirus hits near the beginning of flu season.
Because a widely available coronavirus vaccine is likely still 12 to 18 months away , preventing a deadly double-outbreak of respiratory viruses from ravaging the country will depend on a combination of other actions. First, Redfield said, state and federal officials must continue to push for social distancing this summer as more businesses and public spaces reopen. Social distancing has had an "enormous impact … on this outbreak in our nation" since the pandemic began, Redfield said, and that will hold true until coronavirus vaccines are widely accessible.
Second, the country needs to massively scale up testing and contact tracing (individuals exposed to infected people) so that new COVID-19 cases can be identified before they become larger outbreaks. And finally, Redfield said, U.S. health officials must spend the summer months persuading citizens about the importance of getting flu shots in the fall, in order to minimize the number of flu-related hospitalizations.
As Redfield puts it, getting a flu vaccination this year "may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus."
Updated April 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET: During the President's daily coronavirus briefing, director Redfield clarified his comments to the Post, saying:
"I think it's really important to emphasize what I didn't say. I didn't say [the next wave of COVID-19] was going to be worse. I said it was going to be more more difficult and potentially complicated because we'll have flu and coronavirus circulating at the same time. I want to emphasize we continue to build the nation's public health infrastructure to ensure that we have the capacity to stay in the containment mode."
Originally published on Live Science.


foxnews--2020-05-19--Hackers shift ransom demand from Donald Trump to Madonna

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The hackers who stole confidential files about stars including Lady Gaga from an A-list power lawyer claim to have sold all their “ dirty laundry ” on President Donald Trump to a secret buyer , and now they ’ re demanding at least $ 1 million for details on Madonna .
Hacking group REvil cyberattacked top entertainment attorney Allen Grubman ’ s NYC law firm and stole 756 gigabytes of documents on stars including Bruce Springsteen , Mariah Carey and U2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 42 million last week after Grubman refused to pay , stating the FBI considered the hack “ an act of terrorism.
” The hackers upped the ante by posting on the dark Web , “ The next person we ’ ll be publishing is Donald Trump … We found a ton of dirty laundry.
” It was not clear why the hackers connected Grubman to Trump , who has never been a client of the lawyer ’ s firm .
CORONAVIRUS AT THE AIRPORT : HOW CAN I AVOID GERMS ?
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents were off the market , stating , “ Interested people contacted us and agreed to buy all the data about the US president …We are pleased with the deal and keep our word.
” They added , “ We are preparing to auction Madonna data … The buyer has the right to do whatever he sees fit with the data.
” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP It is not known what was in the alleged Trump trove , but sources who viewed a sample on the hackers ’ site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in e-mails from Grubman ’ s clientele .
This article originally appeared in Page Six .

The hackers who stole confidential files about stars including Lady Gaga from an A-list power lawyer claim to have sold all their “dirty laundry” on President Trump to a secret buyer, and now they’re demanding at least $1 million for details on Madonna.
Hacking group REvil cyberattacked top entertainment attorney Allen Grubman’s NYC law firm and stole 756 gigabytes of documents on stars including Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey and U2. They doubled their ransom demand to $42 million last week after Grubman refused to pay, stating the FBI considered the hack “an act of terrorism.”
The hackers upped the ante by posting on the dark web, “The next person we’ll be publishing is Donald Trump … We found a ton of dirty laundry.” It was not clear why the hackers connected Grubman to Trump, who has never been a client of the lawyer’s firm.
Then on Monday, REvil revealed the Trump documents were off the market, stating, “Interested people contacted us and agreed to buy all the data about the US president … We are pleased with the deal and keep our word.” They added, “We are preparing to auction Madonna data … The buyer has the right to do whatever he sees fit with the data.”
It is not known what was in the alleged Trump trove, but sources who viewed a sample on the hackers’ site said it related to snarky mentions of Trump in emails from Grubman’s clientele.
Brett Callow, from cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, told Page Six, “What information REvil had on Trump we may likely never know. But they were almost certainly bluffing about it being ‘presidency-ending material.’ But let’s assume this is being treated as a terrorist matter, perhaps because of Trump, so the law firm was prevented from paying the ransom or negotiating.
“The hackers were also prevented from making any money, so they went to Plan B, removing Trump from the deal and instead auctioning off the celebs’ information separately.”


foxnews--2020-05-08--Spanish police and FBI foil suspected radical Islamic terror plot to attack Barcelona

MADRID - The FBI and the Spanish police arrested a “ lone wolf ” radical Islamist suspect on Friday who was believed to be planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Barcelona .
The Moroccan man , who was not named , was detained in the Mediterranean city in a dawn raid by armed police after a surveillance operation .
The Spanish Civil Guard , who also worked on the operation with Moroccan intelligence officers , said the man had become a “ profoundly radicalized ” Islamic State follower who was looking for targets during Spain 's strict coronavirus lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LADEN 9 YEARS AGO : 'WE MET FOR A SECOND -- THAT 'S IT' The suspect could have carried out strikes this weekend , according to Spanish television channel Antena 3 .
Police said the man had been radicalized and linked to ISIS for at least four years but had kept a low profile online and offline until recently .
Investigators noted a “ striking and worrying ” change in the man 's behavior after the state of emergency was declared by the Spanish government on 14 March in response to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to carry out an attack in Barcelona in response to ISIS calls to strike in western Europe .
The suspect repeatedly broke lockdown restrictions and also employed elaborate security measures to try to throw off surveillance officers , police said .
“ Since the coronavirus began spreading across Europe , there have been a number of single-person terrorist attacks involving knives or vehicles , ” the Civil Guard said in a statement .
“ The arrested man had used social media to proclaim his loyalty to ISIS and his hatred for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had begun to disregard the lockdown rules set out in the state of emergency on a regular basis , that he was taking important security measures as he ventured around Barcelona , suggesting he was carrying out a possible search for targets.
” The man had become “ totally influenced by Isis propaganda ” and had sworn loyalty to the terrorist group , which raised security concerns .
During the investigation , the FBI and the Moroccan General Directorate of Homeland Security , provided important help to their Spanish counterparts .
The arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Barrio Gotico , an area in central Barcelona normally popular with tourists .
The suspect will appear before the National Crime Court in Madrid , which handles terrorism cases , in the coming days .
Two weeks ago , Spanish police arrested the British rapper turned Islamic State extremist , Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary , one of the most wanted militants in Europe .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP British police , who were also involved in the operation , confirmed his identity a few hours after the national police in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egyptian national , and two other men in a flat in the southern city of Almeria .

MADRID - The FBI and the Spanish police arrested a “lone wolf” radical Islamist suspect on Friday who was believed to be planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Barcelona.
The Moroccan man, who was not named, was detained in the Mediterranean city in a dawn raid by armed police after a surveillance operation.
The Spanish Civil Guard, who also worked on the operation with Moroccan intelligence officers, said the man had become a “profoundly radicalized” Islamic State follower who was looking for targets during Spain's strict coronavirus lockdown.
THIS NAVY SEAL KILLED USAMA BIN LADEN 9 YEARS AGO: 'WE MET FOR A SECOND -- THAT'S IT'
The suspect could have carried out strikes this weekend, according to Spanish television channel Antena 3.
Police said the man had been radicalized and linked to ISIS for at least four years but had kept a low profile online and offline until recently.
Investigators noted a “striking and worrying” change in the man's behavior after the state of emergency was declared by the Spanish government on 14 March in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
Officers became concerned he was preparing to carry out an attack in Barcelona in response to ISIS calls to strike in western Europe.
The suspect repeatedly broke lockdown restrictions and also employed elaborate security measures to try to throw off surveillance officers, police said.
MADRID'S CHIEF HEALTH EXPERT QUITS AMID DECISION TO EASE CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
“Since the coronavirus began spreading across Europe, there have been a number of single-person terrorist attacks involving knives or vehicles,” the Civil Guard said in a statement.
“The arrested man had used social media to proclaim his loyalty to ISIS and his hatred for the west. Surveillance officers noticed that he had begun to disregard the lockdown rules set out in the state of emergency on a regular basis, that he was taking important security measures as he ventured around Barcelona, suggesting he was carrying out a possible search for targets.”
The man had become “totally influenced by Isis propaganda” and had sworn loyalty to the terrorist group, which raised security concerns.
During the investigation, the FBI and the Moroccan General Directorate of Homeland Security, provided important help to their Spanish counterparts.
The arrest was carried out at an apartment in the Barrio Gotico, an area in central Barcelona normally popular with tourists.
The suspect will appear before the National Crime Court in Madrid, which handles terrorism cases, in the coming days.
Two weeks ago, Spanish police arrested the British rapper turned Islamic State extremist, Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, one of the most wanted militants in Europe.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
British police, who were also involved in the operation, confirmed his identity a few hours after the national police in Madrid said they detained Bary, an Egyptian national, and two other men in a flat in the southern city of Almeria.


foxnews--2020-05-19--As Trump attacks WHO in a letter, member states remain loyal amid coronavirus pandemic

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President Trump ’ s letter of warning to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) was met with dismissal from member states during the WHO Tuesday , as nations remained loyal to the organization rather than back the U.S .
In a letter to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier this week , Trump outlined how he believes the WHO failed in its response to the coronavirus and noted an “ alarming lack of independence from the People ’ s Republic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantive improvements within the next 30 days ” or the United States will expand the temporary freeze it placed on its WHO funding and “ reconsider our membership in the organization.
” Trump did not expand on the exact improvements he wanted to see in order to forego the financial freeze .
European Union ( EU ) diplomats pushed back against Trump ’ s statements and advised support for the WHO during this time .
“ This is the time for solidarity , ” said the European Commission ’ s spokeswoman , Virginie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for finger-pointing or undermining multilateral cooperation .
And French President Emmanuel Macron said : `` Only if we join forces will we beat this COVID-19 pandemic .
We need a strong WHO and WHO is us : Member States . ''
The WHO ’ s assembly passed a resolution Tuesday -- put forward by Keva Bain , the assembly ’ s president and ambassador to the Bahamas -- which called for an independent review of the international response to the coronavirus pandemic , `` including , but not limited to , WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Member States for adopting the resolution , which calls for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response , ” Tedros said in his closing remarks Tuesday .
Chinese President Xi Jinping supported the independent review and said : “ China will provide US $ 2 billion over 2 years to help with COVID-19 response , and with economic and social development in affected countries , especially developing countries.
” MORE THAN 100 MILLION PEOPLE IN CHINA FACE NEW LOCKDOWN AS SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19 CASES EMERGE Prior to the financial freeze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US was the largest contributor to the international organization .
In response to Trump ’ s attacks on China , Zhao Lijian , China ’ s foreign ministry spokesman , said that Trump should “ stop pinning the blame on others and enhance international cooperation to defeat the virus together.
” “ The U.S. arbitrary suspension of funds and contributions to an international organization is a unilateral act that violates its international obligation , ” Zhao said Tuesday .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Trump has not said whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the World Health Assembly , according to Reuters , but told reporters Tuesday : “ They have to clean up their act .
They have to do a better job .
They have to be much more fair to other countries , including the United States , or we ’ re not going to be involved with them anymore . ''

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President Trump’s letter of warning to the World Health Organization (WHO) was met with dismissal from member states during the WHO Tuesday, as nations remained loyal to the organization rather than back the U.S.
In a letter to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier this week, Trump outlined how he believes the WHO failed in its response to the coronavirus and noted an “alarming lack of independence from the People’s Republic of China.”
Trump also called for “substantive improvements within the next 30 days” or the United States will expand the temporary freeze it placed on its WHO funding and “reconsider our membership in the organization.”
Trump did not expand on the exact improvements he wanted to see in order to forego the financial freeze.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMING TO MAKE HUNDREDS OF DEREGULATIONS AMID CORONAVIRUS PERMANENT
European Union (EU) diplomats pushed back against Trump’s statements and advised support for the WHO during this time.
“This is the time for solidarity,” said the European Commission’s spokeswoman, Virginie Battu-Henriksson. “It is not the time for finger-pointing or undermining multilateral cooperation.
And French President Emmanuel Macron said: "Only if we join forces will we beat this COVID-19 pandemic. We need a strong WHO and WHO is us: Member States."
The WHO’s assembly passed a resolution Tuesday -- put forward by Keva Bain, the assembly’s president and ambassador to the Bahamas -- which called for an independent review of the international response to the coronavirus pandemic, "including, but not limited to, WHO's performance."
“I thank Member States for adopting the resolution, which calls for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response,” Tedros said in his closing remarks Tuesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping supported the independent review and said: “China will provide US$ 2 billion over 2 years to help with COVID-19 response, and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.”
MORE THAN 100 MILLION PEOPLE IN CHINA FACE NEW LOCKDOWN AS SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19 CASES EMERGE
Prior to the financial freeze Trump placed on the WHO, the US was the largest contributor to the international organization.
In response to Trump’s attacks on China, Zhao Lijian, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, said that Trump should “stop pinning the blame on others and enhance international cooperation to defeat the virus together.”
“The U.S. arbitrary suspension of funds and contributions to an international organization is a unilateral act that violates its international obligation,” Zhao said Tuesday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump has not said whether or not the U.S. supports the independent review passed by the World Health Assembly, according to Reuters, but told reporters Tuesday: “They have to clean up their act. They have to do a better job. They have to be much more fair to other countries, including the United States, or we’re not going to be involved with them anymore."


foxnews--2020-05-19--Chrissy Teigen blasts her 'rich' friends for demanding giveaways from her cooking brand

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Chrissy Teigen called out her `` rich '' and famous friends for apparently nagging her for free goodies from her cooking brand despite their ability to afford the products themselves .
The 34-year-old supermodel-turned-entrepreneur 's Cravings brand has been the subject of debate in recent weeks .
After admitting she was `` hurt '' by New York Times columnist Alison Roman 's fiery rant about her success , Teigen shot fire at another unlikely group : her close pals .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stories from her famous friends , such as Kourtney Kardashian and Shay Mitchell , for thanking her for their Cravings gift boxes .
But she pointed out that some of her other pals were becoming too demanding .
`` please do n't ask for a box , '' Teigen wrote on her own Instagram story shortly after .
`` My marketing budget is not infinite but my love for you is .
Also I see some of u asking and you 're literally rich . ''
Teigen then shared a video of herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be one of those people who would donate packages gifted to her from other celebrities touting their start-up businesses .
`` Then I started making my own and holy s -- t it 's a ton of work , '' Teigen said before praising her team for helping her .
`` It 's very curated .
It is like a labor of love . ''
She then gave her millions of followers some more insight into her rant against the `` rich . ''
She explained she was referring to her friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cravings boxes are .
`` That was honestly just meant for my friends who are literally writing , saying , 'Mine has n't gotten here yet . '
Well , that 's because I did n't send it to you .
Just kidding ... kind of , '' Teigen continued , prompting some laughter from her husband , John Legend , in the background .
Teigen then claimed her business is not as big or as `` easy '' as everyone assumes .
She followed that up with taking shots at Roman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was `` horrified '' by Teigen 's success in the food industry .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP '' Maybe that comes from someone putting it in your head that we 're just a content farm of endless money and just got so big so fast but I promise we did n't , as great as it looks , '' Teigen quipped .
Roman has since apologized to Teigen for her comments , causing the model to go on a temporary hiatus from Twitter .

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Chrissy Teigen called out her "rich" and famous friends for apparently nagging her for free goodies from her cooking brand despite their ability to afford the products themselves.
The 34-year-old supermodel-turned-entrepreneur's Cravings brand has been the subject of debate in recent weeks. After admitting she was "hurt" by New York Times columnist Alison Roman's fiery rant about her success, Teigen shot fire at another unlikely group: her close pals.
On Monday night, Teigen began reposting Instagram Stories from her famous friends, such as Kourtney Kardashian and Shay Mitchell, for thanking her for their Cravings gift boxes. But she pointed out that some of her other pals were becoming too demanding.
CHRISSY TEIGEN CRITICIZES IVANKA TRUMP'S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ON TWITTER
"please don't ask for a box," Teigen wrote on her own Instagram story shortly after. "My marketing budget is not infinite but my love for you is. Also I see some of u asking and you're literally rich."
Teigen then shared a video of herself from the couch claiming that she used to be one of those people who would donate packages gifted to her from other celebrities touting their start-up businesses.
"Then I started making my own and holy s--t it's a ton of work," Teigen said before praising her team for helping her. "It's very curated. It is like a labor of love."
SHOCKING FOOD NETWORK STAR FACTS
She then gave her millions of followers some more insight into her rant against the "rich." She explained she was referring to her friends blowing up her phone asking where their Cravings boxes are.
"That was honestly just meant for my friends who are literally writing, saying, 'Mine hasn't gotten here yet.' Well, that's because I didn't send it to you. Just kidding...kind of," Teigen continued, prompting some laughter from her husband, John Legend, in the background.
Teigen then claimed her business is not as big or as "easy" as everyone assumes. She followed that up with taking shots at Roman, who said in a recent interview that she was "horrified" by Teigen's success in the food industry.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"Maybe that comes from someone putting it in your head that we're just a content farm of endless money and just got so big so fast but I promise we didn't, as great as it looks," Teigen quipped.
Roman has since apologized to Teigen for her comments, causing the model to go on a temporary hiatus from Twitter.


foxnews--2020-05-16--New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern turned away from cafe at coronavirus capacity

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A cafe refused to seat New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern because if it had , it would have violated the country ’ s coronavirus social distancing measures .
“ Omg Jacinda Ardern just tried to come into Olive and was rejected cause it ’ s full , ” wrote one Twitter user , Joey .
Arden and her fiance , Clarke Gayford , were turned away after showing up at Olive for Saturday brunch .
They later got a table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EASTER BUNNY IS ‘ AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE ’ AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK The restaurant is in Wellington , the capital city .
But social distancing measures are still in place , requiring groups to stay three feet apart from each other .
NEW ZEALANDERS LINE UP FOR MIDNIGHT HAIRCUTS , CELEBRATE EASING OF CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Many restaurants have limited their seating to comply with the rules .
“ I have to take responsibility for this , I didn ’ t get organized and book anywhere , ” Gayford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to chase us down st ( street ) when a spot freed up .
A+ service.
” Ardern ’ s office said that waiting at a cafe during New Zealand ’ s virus restrictions can happen to anyone .
“ The PM says she just waits like everyone else , ” it said .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ardern has been widely praised for her swift and decisive response to the pandemic .
New Zealand closed its borders and instituted a strict lockdown in March , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating the virus .
Health authorities have reported just a single new case over the past five days .
The country has confirmed a total of 1,498 cases , including 21 deaths .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

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A cafe refused to seat New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern because if it had, it would have violated the country’s coronavirus social distancing measures.
“Omg Jacinda Ardern just tried to come into Olive and was rejected cause it’s full,” wrote one Twitter user, Joey.
Arden and her fiance, Clarke Gayford, were turned away after showing up at Olive for Saturday brunch. They later got a table.
NEW ZEALAND PM REASSURES KIDS THAT EASTER BUNNY IS ‘AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE’ AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
The restaurant is in Wellington, the capital city.
Arden eased New Zealand’s lockdown rules Thursday, including reopening restaurants.
But social distancing measures are still in place, requiring groups to stay three feet apart from each other.
NEW ZEALANDERS LINE UP FOR MIDNIGHT HAIRCUTS, CELEBRATE EASING OF CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Many restaurants have limited their seating to comply with the rules.
“I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organized and book anywhere,” Gayford tweeted. “Was very nice of them to chase us down st (street) when a spot freed up. A+ service.”
Ardern’s office said that waiting at a cafe during New Zealand’s virus restrictions can happen to anyone.
“The PM says she just waits like everyone else,” it said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Ardern has been widely praised for her swift and decisive response to the pandemic.
New Zealand closed its borders and instituted a strict lockdown in March, and has been largely successful in its goal of eliminating the virus.
Health authorities have reported just a single new case over the past five days. The country has confirmed a total of 1,498 cases, including 21 deaths.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


foxnews--2020-05-19--Roger Waters blasts ex bandmate David Gilmour for banning him from Pink Floyd's website

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Pink Floyd 's Roger Waters has called out David Gilmour for banning him from the rock group 's official website and social media platforms .
On Monday , Waters posted a lengthy video to his Twitter account in which he puts Gilmour on blast for assuming control of the rockers ' webpage and essentially banning him from having any part of it .
`` Nothing from me is on the website , '' the band 's original bass guitarist said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
`` I am banned by David Gilmour from the website . ''
Waters said he feels it would be `` fair and correct '' for all of the band members to post updates about their projects on the site , no matter if they 've since left the group .
`` David thinks he owns it .
I think he thinks that because I left the band in 1985 that he owns Pink Floyd , that he is Pink Floyd , that I 'm irrelevant and I should just keep my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the clip .
BRITNEY SPEARS THANKS FANS FOR 'STICKING WITH ' HER ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'OOPS !
...
I DID IT AGAIN ' RELEASE He recently released his social distancing rendition of the band 's hit `` Mother , '' which he admitted made him feel nostalgic about jamming out with his former bandmates .
`` It did make me think , one and a half million of you have viewed our new version of 'Mother . '
It really warms my heart but it does n't bring up the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a website that calls itself The Pink Floyd website , '' Waters argued .
The musician also took aim at Gilmour for not promoting Waters ' 2019 film about the band titled `` Us and Them . ''
`` We 're not allowed to even mention such a fact on the official Pink Floyd website .
This is wrong , '' Waters continued , adding , `` We should rise up and , oh , I 'll just change the name of the band to Spinal Tap and then everything will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought up this issue with the band 's `` surviving members '' last year .
He stressed in his tweet along with the video that , in addition to the band 's website , Gilmour has also blocked him from accessing the group 's `` Facebook page and all the rest . ''
The musician then vowed not to `` get all weird and sarcastic '' and concluded with some thoughts about the coronavirus .
`` We live in dark , dark desperate times and we need to find ways to communicate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the man destroying this fragile planet that we call home , '' Waters said .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Waters left the band in 1985 and pursued legal action against the group for continuing to use the band name .
He failed in court .
In 2013 , Waters admitted in an interview that he regretted taking legal action against his former band members .
A rep for Gilmour did not immediately respond to Fox News ' request for comment .

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Pink Floyd's Roger Waters has called out David Gilmour for banning him from the rock group's official website and social media platforms.
On Monday, Waters posted a lengthy video to his Twitter account in which he puts Gilmour on blast for assuming control of the rockers' webpage and essentially banning him from having any part of it.
"Nothing from me is on the website," the band's original bass guitarist said in a video filmed from inside of his home. "I am banned by David Gilmour from the website."
PINK FLOYD ROCKER ROGER WATERS BASHES DONALD TRUMP AS 'TYRANT,' 'MASS MURDERER'
Waters said he feels it would be "fair and correct" for all of the band members to post updates about their projects on the site, no matter if they've since left the group.
"David thinks he owns it. I think he thinks that because I left the band in 1985 that he owns Pink Floyd, that he is Pink Floyd, that I'm irrelevant and I should just keep my mouth shut," Waters adds later in the clip.
BRITNEY SPEARS THANKS FANS FOR 'STICKING WITH' HER ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'OOPS!... I DID IT AGAIN' RELEASE
He recently released his social distancing rendition of the band's hit "Mother," which he admitted made him feel nostalgic about jamming out with his former bandmates.
"It did make me think, one and a half million of you have viewed our new version of 'Mother.' It really warms my heart but it doesn't bring up the question of why is this video not available on a website that calls itself The Pink Floyd website," Waters argued.
The musician also took aim at Gilmour for not promoting Waters' 2019 film about the band titled "Us and Them."
"We're not allowed to even mention such a fact on the official Pink Floyd website. This is wrong," Waters continued, adding, "We should rise up and, oh, I'll just change the name of the band to Spinal Tap and then everything will be hunky-dory."
TEKASHI 6IX9INE CLAIMS ARIANA GRANDE, JUSTIN BIEBER BOUGHT BILLBOARD NO. 1 SLOT, POP STARS RESPOND
Waters said he also brought up this issue with the band's "surviving members" last year. He stressed in his tweet along with the video that, in addition to the band's website, Gilmour has also blocked him from accessing the group's "Facebook page and all the rest."
The musician then vowed not to "get all weird and sarcastic" and concluded with some thoughts about the coronavirus.
"We live in dark, dark desperate times and we need to find ways to communicate with one another so we can act cooperatively to stop the man destroying this fragile planet that we call home," Waters said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Waters left the band in 1985 and pursued legal action against the group for continuing to use the band name. He failed in court. In 2013, Waters admitted in an interview that he regretted taking legal action against his former band members.
A rep for Gilmour did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.


foxnews--2020-05-19--Global carbon emissions plummeted 17 percent amid coronavirus lockdowns, researchers say

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Daily carbon dioxide emissions worldwide dropped 17 percent , researchers reported in a study published Tuesday in Nature , going from about 100 million metric tons to about 83 million metric tons in early April compared to a year ago .
The coronavirus pandemic shutdowns emptied out airports and freeways .
Climate scientist Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia in Norwich , England , and colleagues used daily data such as electricity demand , city congestion and home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , according to the study 's abstract .
GROUP FITNESS CLASS LED TO 112 CORONAVIRUS CASES IN SOUTH KOREA , STUDY WARNS AS SOCIETIES REOPEN Scientists then created something called a “ confinement index ” based on the restrictiveness of government-imposed policies in different locations and over time .
If the world goes back to a pre-coronavirus pandemic level of activity by the middle of June , this year ’ s emissions will be about 4 percent lower than in 2019 , according to researchers .
If some restrictions remain through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could still be as much as 7 percent lower .
SIX FEET MAY NOT BE FAR ENOUGH TO STOP CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION IN WINDY WEATHER , STUDY SUGGESTS As of Tuesday afternoon , more than 1.5 million people were infected and at least 91,570 were killed in the U.S. from COVID-19 .

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Global stay-at-home orders have caused a dramatic plunge in carbon emissions.
Daily carbon dioxide emissions worldwide dropped 17 percent, researchers reported in a study published Tuesday in Nature, going from about 100 million metric tons to about 83 million metric tons in early April compared to a year ago.
The coronavirus pandemic shutdowns emptied out airports and freeways.
Climate scientist Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and colleagues used daily data such as electricity demand, city congestion and home smart-meter readings to estimate emissions for 69 countries, according to the study's abstract.
GROUP FITNESS CLASS LED TO 112 CORONAVIRUS CASES IN SOUTH KOREA, STUDY WARNS AS SOCIETIES REOPEN
Scientists then created something called a “confinement index” based on the restrictiveness of government-imposed policies in different locations and over time.
If the world goes back to a pre-coronavirus pandemic level of activity by the middle of June, this year’s emissions will be about 4 percent lower than in 2019, according to researchers. If some restrictions remain through the end of the year, 2020 emissions could still be as much as 7 percent lower.
SIX FEET MAY NOT BE FAR ENOUGH TO STOP CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION IN WINDY WEATHER, STUDY SUGGESTS
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1.5 million people were infected and at least 91,570 were killed in the U.S. from COVID-19.


foxnews--2020-05-17--WHO's exclusion of Taiwan from coronavirus assembly leads more nations to sound the alarm

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Global leaders have joined the United States ’ call for the World Health Assembly [ WHA ] on the coronavirus to include Taiwan .
In a letter to the World Health Organization sent last week , the U.S. made a bipartisan appeal to allies for support in confronting the World Health Organization over its exclusion of the island nation .
Taiwan has conducted perhaps the most effective containment of the pandemic , some analysts have said , making its exclusion particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE CORONAVIRUS “ Diseases know no borders , ” the letter read .
“ We urge your government to join us in addressing the pressing issue of Taiwan ’ s inclusion in the global health and safety organization.
” It continued , “ Given what the world has endured as a result of COVID-19 , U.N. member states joining together to insist Taiwan be invited to the upcoming virtual WHA session in May 2020 is the right place to start . ''
Over the following days , other nations have responded by joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inclusion in the video conference , set to start on Monday .
The de facto British and German embassies in Taipei also issued statements supporting Taiwan ’ s participation , Reuters reported .
TRUMP SET TO RESTORE PARTIAL FUNDING TO WHO Canadian news network Global News reported that Geneva-based diplomats from Canada , Australia , Japan and every member state of the European Union have joined the call .
“ Taiwan ’ s isolation from the global health community not only presents a serious public health concern , but also is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts , ” the letter stated .
The letter also claimed the international community was “ harmed ” when important health information was not permitted to “ flow freely and easily.
” CORONAVIRUS 'MAY NEVER GO AWAY , ' COULD BECOME ENDEMIC LIKE HIV , WHO OFFICIAL WARNS China strongly opposed Taiwan ’ s attendance ; it ’ s viewed Taiwan as a breakaway province failing to cohere with its “ one-China ” policy .
Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer from 2009-2016 as “ Chinese Taipei , ” but China blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Tsai Ing-wen , whom China has viewed as a separatist .
Taiwan has garnered international attention due to its effective measures in containing the pandemic : in addition to an incredibly low 440 confirmed cases and seven deaths , Taiwan has donated equipment to countries in need .
Meanwhile , China has struggled to maintain its place as a global leader after potentially obscuring the origins of the virus as well as data that showed the virus was far more severe than initially reported .
WHO claimed it didn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the annual meeting , and that , instead , the member states will need to vote on the issue .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP “ To put it crisply , director-generals [ DGs ] only extend invitations when it ’ s clear that member states support doing so , that director-generals have a mandate , a basis to do so , ” WHO principal legal officer Steven Solomon said .
“ Today however , the situation is not the same .
Instead of clear support , there are divergent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... no mandate for the DG to extend an invitation .
”

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Global leaders have joined the United States’ call for the World Health Assembly [WHA] on the coronavirus to include Taiwan.
In a letter to the World Health Organization sent last week, the U.S. made a bipartisan appeal to allies for support in confronting the World Health Organization over its exclusion of the island nation. Taiwan has conducted perhaps the most effective containment of the pandemic, some analysts have said, making its exclusion particularly controversial.
CLICK FOR THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS
“Diseases know no borders,” the letter read. “We urge your government to join us in addressing the pressing issue of Taiwan’s inclusion in the global health and safety organization.”
It continued, “Given what the world has endured as a result of COVID-19, U.N. member states joining together to insist Taiwan be invited to the upcoming virtual WHA session in May 2020 is the right place to start."
Over the following days, other nations have responded by joining the U.S. in its call for Taiwan’s inclusion in the video conference, set to start on Monday. The de facto British and German embassies in Taipei also issued statements supporting Taiwan’s participation, Reuters reported.
TRUMP SET TO RESTORE PARTIAL FUNDING TO WHO
Canadian news network Global News reported that Geneva-based diplomats from Canada, Australia, Japan and every member state of the European Union have joined the call.
“Taiwan’s isolation from the global health community not only presents a serious public health concern, but also is an obstacle that hampers ongoing and future efforts,” the letter stated.
The letter also claimed the international community was “harmed” when important health information was not permitted to “flow freely and easily.”
CORONAVIRUS 'MAY NEVER GO AWAY,' COULD BECOME ENDEMIC LIKE HIV, WHO OFFICIAL WARNS
China strongly opposed Taiwan’s attendance; it’s viewed Taiwan as a breakaway province failing to cohere with its “one-China” policy. Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer from 2009-2016 as “Chinese Taipei,” but China blocked further participation after the election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, whom China has viewed as a separatist.
Taiwan has garnered international attention due to its effective measures in containing the pandemic: in addition to an incredibly low 440 confirmed cases and seven deaths, Taiwan has donated equipment to countries in need. Meanwhile, China has struggled to maintain its place as a global leader after potentially obscuring the origins of the virus as well as data that showed the virus was far more severe than initially reported.
WHO claimed it didn’t have the power to invite Taiwan to participate in the annual meeting, and that, instead, the member states will need to vote on the issue.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
“To put it crisply, director-generals [DGs] only extend invitations when it’s clear that member states support doing so, that director-generals have a mandate, a basis to do so,” WHO principal legal officer Steven Solomon said.
“Today however, the situation is not the same. Instead of clear support, there are divergent views among member states and no basis... no mandate for the DG to extend an invitation.”


foxnews--2020-05-19--Does previous common cold offer coronavirus protection? Researchers find possible evidence

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Researchers investigating what may determine whether a novel coronavirus vaccine candidate proves successful say they have found evidence that suggests previous exposure to a coronavirus , like one that causes the common cold , could possibly provide some form of protective immunity against COVID-19 .
The team , at La Jolla Institute of Immunology , studied a group of 20 adults who had successfully recovered from COVID-19 and found that the body ’ s immune system is able to recognize SARS-CoV-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their research , which was published in the journal Cell .
CORONAVIRUS HAVING 'CATASTROPHIC ' IMPACT ON CHILDREN 'S HOSPITALS : LETTER TO HHS “ If we had seen only marginal immune responses , we would have been concerned , ” Dr. Alessandro Sette , one of the lead authors , said in a news release .
“ But what we see is a very robust T cell response against the spike protein , which is the target of most ongoing COVID-19 efforts , as well as other vital proteins .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development.
” The team tested whether the T cells isolated in patients who had recovered without suffering major complications were able to recognize protein fragments from the virus .
They found that almost all patients had developed a T cell response that helps antibody production .
COVID-19 PATIENTS MAY NOT BE INFECTIOUS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE A SECOND TIME , EXPERTS SAY “ We specifically chose to study people who had a normal disease course and didn ’ t require hospitalization to provide a solid benchmark for what a normal immune response looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual things in people , ” Sette said , in the news release .
Sette said the results provide researchers with a base to compare immune system responses in people who have severe outcomes versus those who are asymptomatic or can recover at home .
It also , Sette said , provides them with a baseline for determining whether the immune response in people who receive a vaccine resembles what you would see in a protective immune system response to COVID-19 .
What ’ s more , they wrote , is that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples that were collected between 2015 and 2018 , which is before SARS-CoV-2 was discovered , and saw that many also contained significant reactivity against the virus despite not having previous exposure .
The researchers say this may be caused by exposure to one of the other coronaviruses , like those that cause the common cold .
“ Given the severity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , any degree of cross-reactive coronavirus immunity could have a very substantial impact on the overall course of the pandemic and is a key detail to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out how severely COVID-19 will affect communities in the coming months , ” Dr. Shane Crotty , another study author , said in the news release .
The authors acknowledged that a lack of detailed information regarding common cold history or matched blood samples pre-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 “ prevents conclusions regarding the abundance of cross-reactive coronavirus T cells before exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and any potential protective efficacy of such cells .
”

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Researchers investigating what may determine whether a novel coronavirus vaccine candidate proves successful say they have found evidence that suggests previous exposure to a coronavirus, like one that causes the common cold, could possibly provide some form of protective immunity against COVID-19.
The team, at La Jolla Institute of Immunology, studied a group of 20 adults who had successfully recovered from COVID-19 and found that the body’s immune system is able to recognize SARS-CoV-2 “in many ways,” according to their research, which was published in the journal Cell.
CORONAVIRUS HAVING 'CATASTROPHIC' IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS: LETTER TO HHS
“If we had seen only marginal immune responses, we would have been concerned,” Dr. Alessandro Sette, one of the lead authors, said in a news release. “But what we see is a very robust T cell response against the spike protein, which is the target of most ongoing COVID-19 efforts, as well as other vital proteins. These findings are really good news for vaccine development.”
The team tested whether the T cells isolated in patients who had recovered without suffering major complications were able to recognize protein fragments from the virus. They found that almost all patients had developed a T cell response that helps antibody production.
COVID-19 PATIENTS MAY NOT BE INFECTIOUS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE A SECOND TIME, EXPERTS SAY
“We specifically chose to study people who had a normal disease course and didn’t require hospitalization to provide a solid benchmark for what a normal immune response looks like since the virus can do some very unusual things in people,” Sette said, in the news release.
Sette said the results provide researchers with a base to compare immune system responses in people who have severe outcomes versus those who are asymptomatic or can recover at home. It also, Sette said, provides them with a baseline for determining whether the immune response in people who receive a vaccine resembles what you would see in a protective immune system response to COVID-19.
What’s more, they wrote, is that they looked at T cell response in blood samples that were collected between 2015 and 2018, which is before SARS-CoV-2 was discovered, and saw that many also contained significant reactivity against the virus despite not having previous exposure. The researchers say this may be caused by exposure to one of the other coronaviruses, like those that cause the common cold.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“Given the severity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, any degree of cross-reactive coronavirus immunity could have a very substantial impact on the overall course of the pandemic and is a key detail to consider for epidemiologists as they try to scope out how severely COVID-19 will affect communities in the coming months,” Dr. Shane Crotty, another study author, said in the news release.
The authors acknowledged that a lack of detailed information regarding common cold history or matched blood samples pre-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 “prevents conclusions regarding the abundance of cross-reactive coronavirus T cells before exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and any potential protective efficacy of such cells.”