With a White House increasingly anxious to get the economy in gear and an approved vaccine for the novel coronavirus still months away at best, public health officials are hoping that tens of millions of Americans will have access to a simple blood test that can identify recovered patients who’ve developed some kind of immune response to the virus. The … Continued
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved the first antibody test for COVID-19 on Thursday. The approval comes as a number of academic laboratories and medical companies are developing blood tests to help identify people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. These tests could potentially identify those with immunity to the … Continued
One of the great uncertainties in the coronavirus pandemic is how many people have been infected without knowing it or showing symptoms. Fortunately, there are now tests for that, and broadly deploying them will be critical to saving lives and getting Americans back to work. Dozens of commercial and public health labs around the world … Continued
As the health care system strains to accommodate the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus outbreak, many medical professionals on the front lines do not have adequate protection. Some are reusing masks and gloves. Without proper covering, every new visit might prove fatal, especially for older physicians and their families. And already, dozens of health care workers across … Continued
Can wearing a face mask protect you against the new coronavirus? If it’s a regular face mask and not surgical grade, the answer is no, Dr. Bruce Eisenberg, M.D. F.A.C.P., a primary care specialist at The Medical Group of South Florida in Jupiter. Surgical grade masks and more specialized mask, known as an N95 respirator, … Continued
If you have a cough, a fever or difficulty breathing, and you are worried that you may have COVID–19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, here are recommendations on what to do, step by step. Coronavirus: What do I do if I Feel Sick? 1. Stay Home and Call a Health Care Provider Unless … Continued
It’s normal to have some questions before your first online doctor’s visit. How does it work? Will a doctor see me right away? Can all conditions be treated online? This guide will help you understand what you can expect for your first online doctor’s visit. What is an online doctor’s visit? At the Medical Group … Continued
As the COVID-19 virus wreaks havoc with the healthcare system, telemedicine is stepping up into the spotlight and helping healthcare provider organizations and caregivers better respond to the needs of Americans who have contracted the virus and Americans who need to touch base with their providers on the status of their health. Telemedicine is making … Continued
Now that the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the illness it causes, are spreading among communities in the United States and other countries, phrases such as “social distancing,” “self-quarantine” and “flattening the curve” are showing up in the media. What do they mean, and how might they apply to you, your family and your community? What … Continued
Fear plays a significant role in pandemics, but it doesn’t have to. Let’s discuss the reaction to COVID-19, which is now being referred to as an “infodemic,” and how we can better understand it. What is an infodemic? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an infodemic as “an overabundance of information — some accurate and some not — that makes it hard for … Continued
