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The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday released new data to support the use of double masking – and more fitted face coverings – to more effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19, a concept which has been debated as more communicable variants surface around the world.
The new report offers several other options for better mask wear, including fabric masks over medical masks (which have metal pins to secure the fit), or medical procedure masks alone with earrings. tied and folded sides (to avoid gaps). He also pointed out that a tapered cut of the face coverings was effective in preventing transmission or contraction of the virus.
Double masking, as well as’ tying the earrings of a medical procedure mask where they attach to the edges of the mask, then tucking in and flattening the extra material close to the face … could improve the fit of these masks , and reduce the exposure of the receptor to an aerosol of particles of simulated respiratory droplets of the size considered most important to transmit SARS-CoV-2, ”the CDC noted.
“Receiver exposure was minimized (> 95%) when the source and receiver were fitted with modified medical procedure masks. These lab experiments highlight the importance of a good fit to optimize mask performance, ”the study said.
Also, the CDC suggests mask adjusters – which are worn over the mask and tighten behind the ears or head – or a nylon sleeve that covers the nose and mouth and hugs the neck.
“Based on experiments which measured the filtration efficiency of various fabric masks and a medical procedure mask … it was estimated that the best fit obtained by combining these two types of mask, especially one cloth mask over a medical procedure mask, could reduce exposure by [more than] 90%, ”the agency said.
The CDC’s official mask-wearing guidelines have not been updated to reflect the new data.
During a White House COVID-19 response team briefing on Wednesday, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the British strain, known as of B.1.1.7, was becoming increasingly dominant in the United States. Florida and California are leading the pack with reported cases of the variant.
Little is known about the spread of strain B.1.351, which originated in South Africa, as the country continues to struggle with the genomic sequencing of variants in many states.
More vaccination sites, more equity
As the Biden administration prepares to increase the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the response team is also adding more vaccine delivery sites to help ensure access for underserved communities.
Jeff Zients, coordinator of the response team, said Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), also known as Community Health Centers, will play a crucial role in the future. Recognized as a key asset in meeting the needs of vulnerable communities across the healthcare system in the United States, the centers offer the administration a path to a more equitable deployment – even as it contemplates mobile sites.
“Equity is at the heart of our strategy to put this pandemic behind us, and equity means that we reach everyone, especially those in underserved and rural communities and those who have been hit hardest by this pandemic. Zients said.
Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, chair of the administration’s COVID-19 health equity task force, said there are 1,300 centers serving 30 million people. Of these people, two-thirds are below the federal poverty line and 60% identify as minorities.
The addition of FQHC also serves as an indication of the administration’s confidence in increasing the vaccine supply in the future.
“So in addition to the doses that have already been allocated to states, and then through the pharmacy program, we will start shipping the doses directly to these community health centers. But we anticipate that a subset of FQHC or community health centers can start ordering vaccines as early as next week, ”Nunez-Smith said.
But one concern, with the chaos continuing as some desperately seek vaccines, remains as to how the government will prevent vaccine appointments from being booked by people outside the targeted neighborhood.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Nunez-Smith declined to comment on how the federal government, which sees it as a “top priority”, will be able to enforce those specifications.
New treatments as vaccine supply grows
As vaccine manufacturers continue to increase their offerings, other industry players are joining the effort. Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) is reportedly in talks to help produce and distribute the vaccines, but has yet to provide details on the platforms or companies it will work with, or in the regions where it will produce.
The company declined to disclose further details of the plans.
Novartis (NVS) has also made itself available to discuss potential manufacturing, and Sanofi (SNY) has already agreed to produce the Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech (BNTX) vaccines.
Meanwhile, new treatments are also arriving.
Eli Lilly (LLY) has received emergency use authorization for a combination of his monoclonal antibody therapy and another investigational therapy to treat patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 within 10 days of symptoms .
In addition, the United States Food and Drug Administration is allowing shorter infusion times for the combo and for monoclonal antibody-only treatment, following feedback from frontline health workers, according to a statement.
The infusion could be as short as 16 minutes for the solo treatment, or 21 minutes for the combination, “a significant reduction from the previously allowed time of 60 minutes,” the release said.
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