Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Wednesday 17-Feb-2021
By Dr. Stuart Weiss, Intelligent Crowd Solutions – Rapid Test Center of NY
Rapid Test Center of New York
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
February 17, 2021
CoViD-19 News and Information you can trust.Welcome new readers from the Rapid Test Center.
Topics: A Short Plug for Monoclonal antibodies
New Testing Centers coming Friday!We are opening testing centers in Chelsea in Manhattan and lower Westchester County. Beside rt-PCR with rapid results, we do antibody testing. We hope to give vaccinations as soon as the supply increases.
| Monoclonal antibodies This evening, Dr. David Kessler, the chief scientist for the Biden administration CoViD-19 response was on television talking about a CoViD-19 treatment that is going unused. So I want to repeat what he was talking about. Monoclonal antibody infusion is an infusion of CoViD-19 specific antibodies to help jumpstart a person’s immune system. One of the issues with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes CoViD-19, is that in people with risk factors for severe disease, the virus overwhelms the immune system and causes significant damage while their body is trying to stop it. In addition, sometimes the actual immune response itself causes damage. But what if we could infuse premade antibodies into someone to help their body begin killing the virus. Well, we can. FDA approved monoclonal antibodies are made by three different companies. The issue is that 70% of the stock of these life saving medications is apparently not being used and is just sitting on the shelf. You may have heard about monoclonal antibodies when former President Trump got them when he was extremely sick from CoViD-19. But you don’t have to be the President to get the infusion. The Federal government has provided the medication and covers its use. When used appropriately, it can prevent a high risk person from progressing to severe life threatening CoViD-19. The key is early use. You must get diagnosed quickly and infused within 10 days to have the most effect. This is not for people already sick in the hospital. This is for people at home who come down with symptoms and are high risk due to things like old age, obesity, cancer, HIV, other things that suppress the immune system. So, if you have risk factors and come down with CoViD-19, then ask you doctor about getting an infusion. It takes about an hour to be infused. Its not like a shot. There is also a special website set up by the government which can tell you places offering the infusion. The website is CombatCoViD.hhs.gov If you are eligible, get vaccinated so we can all get through this together. Dr. Stu Weiss |
COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY
| Coronavirus update for February 17, 2021 World Wide Updates Pfizer vaccine is about 95% effective against Covid-19, Israeli data shows Belgium detects first cases of P.1 variant first linked to Brazil UN secretary general calls on wealthy nations to ensure vaccines are distributed fairly across the globe EU announces bio-defense plan against Covid-19 variants South Africa begins Covid-19 vaccinations British Covid-19 variant is worrying and doubling every week, German health minister says World’s first Covid-19 human challenge study to begin within a month in the UK Italy’s Lombardy region imposes ‘red zone’ on four towns due to spread of coronavirus variants Germany reports a coronavirus outbreak in an ice cream factory Churches in Ireland provide ‘takeaway’ ashes on Ash Wednesday BioNTech to supply additional 200 million vaccine doses to the EU New Zealand to roll back social distancing restrictions El Salvador to start vaccinating citizens Australian state of Victoria to end snap lockdown South Africa receives first shipment of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine North Korea hacked Pfizer in bid to steal vaccine tech, South Korean lawmaker says Thousands of Amazon workers in UK forced to isolate after they’re wrongfully diagnosed with COVID Anthony Fauci awarded $1 million Israeli prize for ‘defending science’ Turkey to gradually loosen restrictions from March Concern in Germany over public reluctance to have Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine Switzerland to start easing lockdown in March Hospitals in Czech Republic could become overwhelmed in weeks UK hospitality sector could partially reopen in May UN chief urges global vaccination plan for Covid-19 Dominican Republic launches COVID-19 vaccination campaign Total Cases Worldwide: 110,368,599 Total Deaths Worldwide: 2,437,958 Total Recovered: 85,260,300 US Updates More than 56 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the US, according to CDC data Biden administration announces more federal funding to expand Covid-19 testing, including at schools Amusement parks and summer camps cleared to open as more mass vaccinations sites come to New York Kroger Health announces new online Covid-19 vaccine scheduling tool White House says Biden included minimum wage increase in relief bill because he “feels it’s important” New York state to open up four additional mass vaccination sites, governor says CDC’s ensemble forecast now projects up to 559,000 US Covid-19 deaths by March 13 White House says teacher vaccinations are “not a requirement to reopen” National Guard members have helped administer more than 1.2 million vaccinations The US has reported nearly 1,300 infections from Covid-19 variants Massachusetts is expanding eligibility for vaccinations, governor says New CDC reports warn that variants could lead to “rapid rise” in Covid-19 cases At least 90 Covid-19 variant cases linked to Michigan prison, state official says Two DC airports to soon have onsite Covid-19 testing White House outlines “bridge” funding to increase Covid-19 testing New York City will “run out” of vaccine doses today or tomorrow, mayor says Increased US vaccine supply will end state-to-state discrepancies in who can get a shot, Fauci says Former Biden advisers push White House to more widely recommend use of N95 masks US reports 59,598 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday Fauci says a Covid-19 vaccine could be needed annually United States could be back to normal by Christmas, Biden says New York attorney general sues Amazon over “deficient” Covid-19 response California DMV issues driver’s license to woman wearing face mask in photo New cases and hospitalizations decline for fifth consecutive week in US Michigan hospital system cancels nearly 2K vaccinations due to major shortage Minnesota governor expects all schools to offer “some form” of in-person learning by March 8 Total US cases: 28,438,566 Total US deaths: 501,879 Total Recovered: 18,565,050 Total Tested in US: 333,661,620 Total cases in CA: 3,488,196 Total deaths in CA: 47,643 Total cases in TX: 2,582,082 Total deaths in TX: 41,727 Total cases in FL: 1,844,627 Total deaths in FL: 29,311 Total cases in NY: 1,596,258 Total deaths in NY: 46,440 Total cases in IL: 1,166,717 Total deaths in IL: 22,224 Total Vaccines Administered in US: 56,281,827 |
