Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Medical News And Information -- April 20-21, 2020

SCMP: Coronavirus’s ability to mutate has been vastly underestimated, and mutations affect deadliness of strains, Chinese study finds

* The most aggressive strains of Sars-CoV-2 could generate 270 times as much viral load as the least potent type
* New York may have a deadlier strain imported from Europe, compared to less deadly viruses elsewhere in the United States

A new study by one of China’s top scientists has found the ability of the new coronavirus
to mutate has been vastly underestimated and different strains may account for different impacts of the disease in various parts of the world.

Professor Li Lanjuan and her colleagues from Zhejiang University found within a small pool of patients many mutations not previously reported. These mutations included changes so rare that scientists had never considered they might occur.
They also confirmed for the first time with laboratory evidence that certain mutations could create strains deadlier
than others.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Medical News And Information -- April 20-21, 2020

What we know about the 'devious' coronavirus -- France 24
World Health Organisation says 'we are still learning' about coronavirus -- Europe bureau chief Samantha Hawley, ABC News Online
Coronavirus has mutated into 30 strains and the one ravaging Europe is more deadly than the US strain, Chinese study finds -- Daily Mail
Will there be a second wave of coronavirus? -- The Guardian
2 types of testing look for COVID-19 infections new and old -- AP
Reports suggest many have had coronavirus with no symptoms -- AP
Medics and pharmacy workers are urged to wash and disinfect their SHOES after studies show COVID-19 is carried and spread on their soles -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: US university stops using Chinese testing kits after some found to be contaminated -- SCMP
Coronavirus: Chloroquine study in Brazil aborted after deaths -- DW
Scientists say coronavirus can spread 13 FEET from sufferers - more than twice the 6ft social distancing gap demanded by government - and that isolating infected people at home is not a good strategy -- Daily Mail
Could old vaccines for other germs protect against COVID-19? -- AP
Coronavirus kills up to twice as many men as women and the reason is in our genes -- ABC News Online
Top Israeli prof claims simple stats show virus plays itself out after 70 days -- Times of Israel