Medical Treatments

Gilead Sciences, headquartered in Foster City, Calif., makes remdesivir, one of the experimental drugs now being investigated as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

Might The Experimental Drug Remdesivir Work Against COVID-19?

7:19am March 21, 2020

by Sydney Lupkin

It's too soon to know if the antiviral compound tested in 2014 as a potential Ebola treatment will hobble the coronavirus. Lab tests show promise, but studies in people with COVID-19 have only begun.

N95 respirator masks (left), and surgical masks are both critical for medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and already in short supply in some spots. Already, pharmacists are reusing surgical masks to conserve their supply.

Health & Safety

Mask Shortage Straps Pharmacists Who Need Them To Keep Medicines Pure

8:43am March 20, 2020

Fifteen percent of hospital pharmacists who prepare injectable drugs are going without the protective masks they typically rely on, or are using substitutes for the masks.

Health & Safety

Is It Safe To Take Ibuprofen And NSAIDs For COVID-19 Symptoms?

4:51pm March 19, 2020

by Maria Godoy

The World Health Organization and other experts say there's no real evidence that taking ibuprofen for COVID-19 symptoms has negative effects. But for fever, Tylenol is often recommended first.

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There's "currently no scientific evidence establishing a link between ibuprofen and worsening of COVID‑19," the European Medicines Agency advised Wednesday.

Advice From France To Avoid Ibuprofen For COVID-19 Leaves Experts Baffled

9:07pm March 18, 2020

by Maria Godoy

A weekend tweet by France's health minister suggesting ibuprofen might exacerbate COVID-19 doesn't have strong evidence behind it, say the WHO and other infectious disease doctors and researchers.

Health & Safety

A Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Begins Clinical Trial

4:39pm March 18, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Moderna Therepeutics' Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tal Zaks about the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, which started on Monday in Seattle.

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Health & Safety

Drive-Through Coronavirus Tests Begin To Pop Up Around The United States

4:26pm March 17, 2020

by Sarah McCammon

Around the country, drive-through testing sites are popping up to screen patients for COVID-19. The goal is to improve surveillance and reduce pressure on emergency rooms.

Workers use a tape measure mark spaces six feet apart for people to wait in line safely as they convert the outdoor plaza in front of Zaytinya, one of Chef José Andres' restaurants in Washington, D.C. Efforts to contain the coronavirus are affecting bloo

Social Distancing Leads To Blood Shortage

3:56pm March 17, 2020

by Jeff Brady

Coronavirus concerns and social distancing guidelines have prompted organizers to cancel thousands of blood drives around the country. Now officials warn there's a shortage for hospitals.

A member of the custodial staff at Los Angeles' Union Station, taking extra care in the waiting area — all part of enhanced cleaning efforts at major transit hubs in response to COVID-19.

Health & Safety

Ships, Planes And Other Spots Are Getting A 'Deep Clean.' What's That Mean?

5:00am March 17, 2020

There is no universal protocol defining "deep clean" as industries work to eradicate the coronavirus. Instead they are tailoring sanitation efforts in accordance with what makes sense for them.

Health & Safety

What Is The Treatment For COVID-19 Patients? A Doctor Explains

7:54am March 15, 2020

Most coronavirus patients recover. What is it like for those who end up in the hospital? NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Dr. James Town, who has been treating coronavirus patients in Seattle.

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Ventilators can be a temporary bridge to recovery — many patients in critical care who need them for help breathing get better.

As The Pandemic Spreads, Will There Be Enough Ventilators?

3:11pm March 14, 2020

by Patti Neighmond

In severe cases of COVID-19, as lungs become inflamed, membranes that transfer oxygen into the blood can become blocked. Some hospitalized patients need mechanical breathing support to recover.

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