World Health Officials on Friday reported that they are observing signs that the coronavirus's spread is slowing in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe like Spain, Italy, Germany and France. However, W.H.O. officials clarified that now is not the time to lift stay-at-home measures.
"[We] want to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone. At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly," W.H.O. Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated during the agency's press conference.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services projected that lifting the stay-at-home measures in the United States after just 30 days would lead to an infection spike this summer.
The world has seen positive signs throughout the week that lockdowns and social distancing measures have been working to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But the slowing rate has been overshadowed by the increasing daily death tolls that are surging across the globe. Countries have shown that they are not ready to reopen too, with Italy extended their lockdown until May 3 and the United Kingdom urging citizens to not leave their homes during the Easter holiday.
Total Global Cases: Over 1.6 Million
Total Deaths: At Least 101,000
Total Recovered: At Least 376,100
Alarming Discovery
Health Officials in South Korea have reported 91 patients that have tested positive for the coronavirus a second time. Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Jeong Eun-kyeong stated that the virus may be reactivating in the patients rather then reinfecting them.
Health officials in South Korea are uncertain what is causing this trend, with epidemiological investigations currently being conducted.
Federal Guidance
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will begin distributing an initial $30 billion in relief funding to health care providers on Friday to help support medical care for Americans infected with COVID-19. This relief funding is part of the $100 billion relief prevision within the CARES Act stimulus package. The federal department is currently working with UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) to deliver the funding to where it is needed.
Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, stated on Friday that the United States is expected to have an antibody test that would determine whether someone has already been exposed to COVID-19 very soon.
"More than 2.1 million tests have been performed and we continue to work very, very closely with FDA and suppliers around the country to expand the ability of testing," Pence stated during Friday's White House press conference. "Very soon, we will have an antibody test and Americans will be able to take to determine whether they ever had the coronavirus."
Tech Intervention
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) announced on Friday that the two will be partnering to "enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design."
The pair will first in May launch APIs and system-level technology to enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices that are using apps from public health authorities. The apps will be available for users in both the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store.
The two will then work to "enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform." This would allow users to opt in under the tracing software, with both tech companies stressing that privacy, transparency and consent are of the utmost importance.
Separately, Google announced on Friday an addition to its Search and Maps programs that will help direct people looking for medical care to available doctors. The advanced search will help connect patients to telehealth options as well as available in-person medical assistance.