Hey Corona, Again

COVID-19… This is something that you are hearing everyday. It is what we revolve around right now. Everyday life as we knew it has changed immensely. Going out isn’t the same at all. Kids aren’t at school, customers aren’t at restaurants, and no one is hugging or shaking hands. All of these things are vital aspects of the South. Good ole southern hospitality isn’t here. So now the question everyone is asking is when will it end. Will there be a cure? Will there be a vaccine? How many people will die?

Vaccines. This is a controversial issue and has been for as long time. But, I sure dont see many Karens out there protesting for a vaccine to not be made for their kids. I guess the anti-vaxxers are quarantined and don’t know what to say. Is this what our life would look like everyday if there were no vaccines at all? Come on Karen, open your eyes. Well lets check in on what is happening with vaccines/treatment for COVID-19. The first thing that was done was to look and see if any existing drugs will work. Anti-Malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are at the top of the list for an anti-viral approach in the United States. If a clinical trial isn’t available, these drugs have been distributed to give to patients. The hope is that the antiviral will block the infection. So far, hydroxychloroquine has not shown to be affective in treating COVID-19. Some are even arguing this approval process was all too rushed. What do you think?

China. Oh China. We always hear how they do so much different than us. Let’s be thankful they just banned the eating and farming certain wild animals. Yay, no more bats in the markets. But, this difference isn’t cultural. What drugs are China using for COVID-19? Favilavir is the first approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19 in China. Favilavir is used to fight RNA infections by inhibiting the RNA-dependant RNA polymerase. The Ministry of Science in China has said that Favilavir has shown to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further in the patient and causing extensive damage, if caught early enough. They have had X rays showing improvement in the lungs of patients, which are attacked the most. Despite being approved for use in China, the US Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved Favilavir in the United States for an effective treatment.