By Michael Hernandez
Worldwide Cases:244,000 US Cases:10,755 Ventura County Cases:13
Worldwide Death:9,324 US Death:155 Ventura County Death: 0
States: Washington, California, New York (half of all U.S. cases; in 10 counties)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald J. Trump announced at today’s White House press conference that at least one drug already on the market was now being tested as possible therapeutics (medical treatment) for patients testing positive to the Covid19 virus: Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine). Plaquenil is an antimalarial medication used to treat or prevent malaria, also used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus.
“Drugs are now in the pipeline for treatment of Covid 19,” said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Kevin Hahn.
President Trump also announced that Honeywell (Minnesota) was increasing the number of mask manufacturing to full-throttle and they are now producing 35 million masks a month with priority going to their delivery at hospitals and medical facilities to medical professionals working with coronavirus patients.
“We are in unchartered territory,” said President Trump. “We’re pulling together as a nation. People are social distancing and doing an amazing job.”
The President also announced that Carnival Cruises Chairman Micky Arison is offering four idle ships from the world’s largest cruise line for use as temporary hospitals in locations that need them to combat the coronavirus. The ships will provide an additional 1,000 hospital rooms and will join the already assigned two navy medical ships that can also be used.
“Blood centers are open now and in need of your donations,” said Surgeon General Jerome Adams. “Social distancing doesn’t mean social disengagement. So give blood today, you’ll feel good about it.” Adams said that blood donations are “safe” and that collection centers are taking extra precautions based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including placing donation beds six feet apart and encouraging donors to schedule their appointments ahead of a blood donation.
The Red Cross has estimated that because of thousand of blood drive cancellations there are more than 150,000 fewer donations right now.
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He has worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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