There is Optimism in Fight Against COVID-19

We mostly hear scary, sad, negative news in our fight against CODID-19/ Coronavirus. Thousands of more cases are diagnosed daily here in the U.S. with more death occurring as well. Is there any hope? Yes there is!

There’s reason to be optimistic despite a surge in coronavirus infections:

Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post saying that the news is getting better and more hopeful in our battle against the pandemic. Dozens of vaccines are in the pipeline. Large, clinical trials on nearly 30,000 volunteers will begin next month. Provided any one of these vaccines are effective and safe, they could be made available around the New Year, and this would be the fastest development of a vaccine in history.

And the other good news is that doctors have a new tool in treating COVID. Scientists cloned antibodies from recovered patients, what we call monoclonal antibodies — and they are showing to be effective both therapeutically and to prevent infection. They work by attacking the spike protein of the coronavirus, which is how this virus gets into our cells. Stop that from happening, and the virus can’t replicate inside the body.These manufactured antibodies are an effective treatment in some people.

Also, under development and on the horizon is a “home pregnancy tests but for COVID-19.” Rapid results, in a matter of minutes like an EPT, would enable schools to open.

However, until vaccinations are wide-spread, the best way to end this coronavirus pandemic is to never breathe the air from another human. In other words, keeping physically distant and wearing a mask when out in public. These are two of the best ways to avoid infection.