UK ditches homegrown COVID-19 tracing app to use Google-Apple model
Britain will switch to the Apple and Google model for its COVID-19 test-and-trace app, ditching an attempt to develop an app by itself after the homegrown system did not work well enough on Apple's iPhone, the government said on Thursday.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 5:18 am
No date for release of test-and-trace app in UK, minister says
Britain's health minister declined on Thursday to set a date for when a smartphone app to help trace people who have been in contact with a person infected with the new coronavirus would be rolled out.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 4:40 am
Exclusive: EU in advanced talks with Johnson & Johnson on COVID-19 vaccine deal - sources
The European Commission is in advanced talks with pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson to reserve or make an up-front purchase of its COVID-19 vaccine under development, two officials familiar with the talks told Reuters.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 4:00 am
Johnson & Johnson in talks with governments on possible COVID-19 vaccine
Johnson & Johnson is in talks with multiple governments and global organizations as it seeks to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, it said on Thursday after Reuters reported that the U.S. company is in talks over a potential EU supply deal.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 3:51 am
U.S. court rules in favor of Mylan over Biogen's key MS drug patent
A U.S. district court on Thursday ruled in favor of generic drugmaker Mylan NV in a patent dispute over Biogen Inc's blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug, Tecfidera, sending Biogen's shares down nearly 6%.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 3:37 am
Filipino SFX artist seeks to ward off virus with horror-inspired face masks
With film and television productions halted in the Philippines due to lockdown, one special effects artist is maximizing his skills by making scary face masks to raise cash and a few smiles.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 3:05 am
Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus
The World Health Organization hopes hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine can be produced this year and 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 and is drawing up plans to help decide who should get the first doses once a vaccine is approved, its chief scientist said.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 3:02 am
Cuban dons full-body cardboard shield against coronavirus
Ever since the novel coronavirus reached Cuba, a tall cardboard box with arms and legs can be seen tottering around a Havana suburb, popping into the bakery or butchers, or browsing the newspaper stand.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 2:04 am
New study casts more doubt on Swedish coronavirus immunity hopes
Sweden's hopes of getting help from herd immunity in combating the coronavirus received a fresh blow on Thursday, when a new study showed fewer than anticipated had developed antibodies.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 1:39 am
WHO hopes for hundreds of millions of vaccine doses this year, 2 billion next year
The World Health Organization hopes hundreds of millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine can be produced this year and 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Thursday.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 1:22 am
Medtronic ties up with Foxconn to boost ventilator production
Medtronic said on Thursday it had partnered with Foxconn to boost production of its ventilators to 10,000 over the next year amid surging demand as the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus overwhelms hospitals.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 1:12 am
Russia says preparing for new wave of coronavirus in autumn
Russia said on Thursday it was already preparing for a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the autumn, after officials reported their lowest daily rise in new infections since May 1.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 1:07 am
Pfizer's hemophilia gene therapy shows sustained effect in early-stage study
Pfizer Inc and Sangamo Therapeutics Inc said on Thursday their gene therapy helped maintain levels of a vital protein for up to 14 months in patients with a rare genetic disorder in which blood does not clot easily.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 1:04 am
British, Australian PMs agree investigation into origins of coronavirus outbreak needed
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the need for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak with his Australian counterpart, Downing Street said on Thursday.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 12:23 am
China finds heavy coronavirus traces in seafood, meat sections of Beijing food market
China has found the trading sections for meat and seafood in Beijing's wholesale food market to be severely contaminated with the new coronavirus and suspects the area's low temperature and high humidity may have been contributing factors, officials said on Thursday.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 12:12 am
Beijing residents rush coronavirus test clinics as emergency rules expand
China's capital has mandated coronavirus tests for hundreds of thousands of people as it widens measures against a new outbreak of the disease that has sent anxious residents flooding to clinics for voluntary tests, putting a strain on the system.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 12:00 am
Beijing extends movement curbs to contain resurgent coronavirus
China's capital cancelled scores of flights, shut schools and blocked off some neighbourhoods as it ramped up efforts to contain a coronavirus outbreak that has fanned fears of wider contagion.Source: Reuters: Health News | 19 Jun 2020 | 12:00 am
Roche rheumatoid arthritis drug fails to help COVID-19 patients in Italian study
Roche's rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra failed to help patients with early-stage COVID-19 pneumonia in an Italian study, the latest instance in which an anti-inflammatory drug has fallen through in a coronavirus trial.Source: Reuters: Health News | 18 Jun 2020 | 11:21 pm
Russia revises sharply higher coronavirus death toll among medics
Russia has revised steeply higher, to nearly 500, the number of medical workers who have died after contracting COVID-19, illustrating the severe toll the pandemic has taken on its frontline doctors and nurses.Source: Reuters: Health News | 18 Jun 2020 | 11:18 pm
What you need to know about the coronavirus right now
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:Source: Reuters: Health News | 18 Jun 2020 | 10:54 pm