The coronavirus outbreak in the United States appears to be slowing down, or at least plateauing, in some hard hit states like California, Florida and Texas. However, slowing of the infection's spread does not equal containment, and the nation seems to be far away from completely eradicating the virus from the population. Coronavirus task force health officials like Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci have warned in recent days that the community spread within the nation's boarders is severe, with the virus affecting both urban and rural communities. Because the virus is so widespread, total containment of the outbreak is most likely out of reach for at least the short-to-medium-term of the virus' first wave.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington are still in disagreement with major components within the Senate's HEALS act, or the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools act. Lawmakers across the aisle have been in disagreement over issues like the extension of enhanced federal unemployment, funding for the Postal Service, and aid for Americans facing evictions. The biggest impasse, however, is the $600 per week added unemployment insurance for millions of out-of-work Americans that expired on July 31. Democrats would like the benefits to extend until at least 2021 to help unemployed workers maintain important expenses and keep the economy moving. Republicans, on the other hand, aim to lower the assistance to an added $200 per week through September, then setting the benefit at 70% wage replacement. Republicans believe that added assistance is deterring many from returning to work because they are earning more than they made while employed.
Congress is expected to continue discussions over the details of the bill for at least another week, if not more. Whatever is decided in the final massive stimulus package, it is still clear that many American citizens and businesses still need aid and this may be the last economic aid sent down from Washington before the November presidential election.
Currently, more than two million Americans who have been economically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic have also lost their health insurance, according to analysis of census data by the group Families U.S.A beginning in late June. According to The New York Times, the group estimated that 5.4 million workers also lost coverage between February and May as the pandemic led to the shutdown of various industries seemingly at once.
Treatment Testing Update
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced on Monday that the drugmaker is beginning a late-stage trial study of one of its experimental COVID-19 antibody treatment as a prophylactic, or preventative, for residents and staff in various U.S. nursing homes.
The trial will test the drugmaker's candidate LY-CoV555, a monoclonal antibody treatment the company designed in partnership with Canadian biotech AbCellera. This type of treatment is widely used in biotechnology medicines to introduce antibodies immediately into an individuals body. The experimental treatment is different from a vaccine, for a vaccine aims to train the immune system to recognize and attack an infection while a monoclonal antibody treatment gives temporary antibodies to the body to give instant immunity. While the immunity given through this method in not lasting, it can help prevent infection for at-risk groups until an effective vaccine is widely available.
The company stated that the trial is expected to enroll around 2,400 participants who live or work at a facility that has recently diagnosed someone with COVID-19. The trial is also in partnership with several nursing home networks, as well as the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.