(More resources and previous news at the bottom of the page!)
Medtronic commits over $1M to coronavirus efforts
Medtronic (Dublin, Ireland) and the Medtronic Foundation are committing approximately $1.2 million to coronavirus relief efforts worldwide. These encompass Medtronic Foundation cash contributions and product donations from the company. The foundation is partnering with cash contributions to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the CDC Foundation and Project HOPE. The product donations include Medtronic products to treat patients with severe respiratory illness, including ventilators, respiratory filters, and pulse oximeters and sensors. It also includes Medtronic products to support patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, including sensors and centrifugal blood pump systems. These will be sent to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital, a new designated hospital to treat coronavirus patients. Read more here.
J&J, HHS collaborate to accelerate development of potential coronavirus vaccine
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. will further expedite its investigational coronavirus vaccine program through an expanded collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at HHS. The collaborative partnership with BARDA builds on J&J’s multipronged response to the new coronavirus disease (now named COVID-19) outbreak. Janssen is working closely with global partners to screen its library of antiviral molecules to accelerate the discovery of potential coronavirus treatments and provide relief for people in China and worldwide. Janssen and BARDA will both contribute to the research and development costs and mobilize resources to rapidly advance the vaccine development program. Read more here.
CMS reminds providers to review infection control protocols amid outbreak
CMS sent a memo to state survey agency directors, encouraging all healthcare facilities to carefully review their infection control information and protocols amid the coronavirus outbreak. “Because coronavirus infections can rapidly appear and spread, facilities must take steps to prepare, including reviewing their infection control policies and practices to prevent the spread of infection,” CMS said in the memo. The memo includes information and links to resources to combat the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. It also states that healthcare staff and surveyors, including federal, state and local contractors are expected to adhere to standard infection control practices, such as CDC recommendations on standard hand hygiene practices. Read the full memo here.
Coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,100 as China’s businesses aim to return to work
The novel coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 people and infected more than 45,000 worldwide with most cases in mainland China. The country is struggling to return to work after the outbreak shutdown large swaths of the world’s second biggest economy for more than two weeks. “We have noticed difficulties in fully resuming work,” said Cong Liang, a senior official at China’s National Development and Reform Commission, listing several factors including supply chain disruption, local government restrictions and a shortage of facial masks. Dozens of Chinese cities were put on lockdown in late January while many factories and businesses were shut to prevent the spread of the virus. Read more here.
Harvard expert thinks coronavirus likely ‘gathering steam’
Harvard’s Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and head of the school’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, views the number of cases of coronavirus with suspicion and thinks it’s just a matter of time before the virus spreads widely internationally. He spoke with The Harvard Gazette here.
Two Americans aboard quarantined Japanese ship say measures have failed
Two Americans aboard the quarantined Princess Cruises ship that is docked in Japan told CNBC that containment measures to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading have failed. “Japanese government officials are letting some people who they claim are the most elderly and vulnerable off the ship,” said Gay Courter, who’s being on the Diamond Princess with her husband, Phil. “But they do it behind plastic wrap and fire engines so the press can’t see. It is proof that this whole thing has failed.” The ship’s 3,700 passengers and crew were put under a mandatory two-week quarantine last week after 10 passengers tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, a total of 174 people on board have contracted the virus. Courter said many passengers aboard the ship, including her husband and herself, haven’t been tested outside of voluntary temperature monitoring. “Frankly, it’s terrifying,” he said. Read more and watch the interview with Gay and Phil Courter here.
More coronavirus resources from The Journal of Healthcare Contracting:
- Day-by-day Timeline of major events
- FAQ/Insights – Helpful and relevant links to help you keep track of the ongoing epidemic