Category: Covid-19

BANGOR TWP, MI Terry Watson, former Bay City police officer, Bangor Township supervisor, Bay City Fireworks Festival president, and overall promoter of Bay County, has died from coronavirus.

He died yesterday at 5:36 p.m. from complications of COVID, said Doug Clark, current president of the Bay City Fireworks Festival and good friend of Watsons, on Saturday, Nov. 7. Watson was 72 years old.

Over the years, most people who knew him know he had a lot of health issues," Clark said. "He was very, very cautious over the last six, eight, 10 months. He definitely erred on the side of being overly cautious, but unfortunately, COVID still caught up with him.

Watson was born and raised in Bay City. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam in 1968-69. After working for General Motors for a year or so upon his return to the States, Watson attended a police academy and joined the Bay City Police Department, serving with the agency from November 1971 to August 1998.

He also served as Bangor Township supervisor from 2004 to 2015, announcing his retirement from the position in May of that year.

He was, as they say, Bay Citys gem, said his widow, Peggy Watson. He was very, very cautious (regarding COVID). He had actually moved out of our house because I work every day and I work with families that provide essential services so we provide childcare for nurses and doctors and med tech people and home health care workers. Because I was going to be in that environment every day, he knew he would be exposed indirectly through me.

Watson began living outside of his family home with a sister in Bay County.

He was very strong and very tough, but he knew if he got it he probably wouldnt walk away from it, Peggy Watson said.

Terry Watson took a COVID-19 test on Oct. 26 and received word he was positive the next day, Peggy Watson said.

He thought he could battle it from home, where he was living with his sister, but his symptoms werent going away body aches and pains and a little bit of difficulty breathing, Peggy Watson said. In true Terry Watson fashion, he drove himself to the hospital and he never came back.

Watson arrived at McLaren Bay Region hospital on Oct. 31. In addition to his widow, Watson is survived by two adult sons and an adult daughter.

The annual fireworks fest that takes place across three days around the Fourth of July was started by the Bay City Fraternal Order of Police in 1962 and blossomed due largely to Watsons efforts, Clark said.

Terry Watson when he served as supervisor of Bangor Township.

Terry took over fundraising duties as a rookie (officer) and just took the ball and ran with it, Clark said. He built what you see today. Its a direct result of what he did.

In 1982, Watson grew the fireworks display grew from a one-night event to a weekend festival, bringing the event state and national recognition.

To make the event bigger and better, more money was needed, leading Watson to go to extremes to raise funds for the firework festival. He conducted a variety of fundraising stunts during a 15-year period, such as scaling cherry pickers, living in ice fishing shanties and conducting other feats to keep the festival at the caliber the community came to expect.

I needed to get publicity and give the fireworks a shot in the arm, Watson told The Bay City Times in 2012. There were a few things that were probably a little extreme.

Even after Clark took over as festival president, Watson remained close to the event he was instrumental in bolstering.

He was always my sounding board, Clark said. Id always throw ideas off him because he had seen it all and done it all. He knew what worked and what didnt.

Peggy Watson said her late husbands love for Bay City and all he did for the community will have a lasting legacy.

I think most people that knew him would agree that he devoted himself to all kinds of good things for the community, she said. "Whether it was the police department, the City Festival of Lights, crime awareness, the Fireworks Festival, the River Roar. He always devoted himself to the community, to try to improve things. That was his story.

He wanted to promote Bay City at every single opportunity.

In the late 1980s, after Bay Citys fireworks show grew in recognition, Watson was invited to and served as judge at the International Fireworks Festival in Monte Carlo. He also went to France to represent the U.S. as a veteran on anniversaries of D-Day and Operation Jubilee.

Its a devastating loss of a dear friend, added Bay County Executive Jim Barcia, Watsons friend since 1975. Its a vacuum that is going to be felt throughout the community. We were really all pulling for Terry to overcome this once he was hospitalized and we knew because of his underlying health conditions that he was vulnerable to the virus.

In Barcias eyes, the county has lost an icon.

So many thousands and thousands of Bay County residents have been impacted by Terrys efforts throughout his life to improve conditions in the community, he said. Weve lost an outstanding promoter of Bay City and Bay County with his numerous activities. Its impossible to cover in one article all the facets of Terrys involvements in the community.

Former Bay City mayor and state representative Charles M. Brunner echoed Barcias sentiments.

Terry was just somebody that really loved his community, Brunner said. He had a million ideas. Every time you talked to him, he had a different idea about something that he wanted to do. And he was one of those people who actually took those ideas and put them into practice. He led a full life. Were all just going to miss him so much.

The 2020 fireworks fest was canceled due to COVID-19. If the fest is able to resume in July 2021, Clark said some form of tribute will take place in Watsons honor.

Weve discussed some things we want to do for Terry later this year and pay tribute to him in a pretty spectacular way, Clark said.

Peggy Watson said a celebration of life is planned in her husbands honor around the Fourth of July.

Michigan on Nov. 7 recorded 6,225 new positive coronavirus cases, a one-day high for the state. Michigans total COVID-19 cases since the pandemics start in March is now at 207,794 and rising quickly.

So far, 7,578 people have died in Michigan from COVID-19. Daily deaths are at 65.

Read more:

Bay City Fireworks Festival canceled for 2020 due to coronavirus concern

50 years of fireworks: Bay City Fireworks Festival creators, organizers remember history behind one of Michigans largest fireworks shows

Michigan records a new one-day high of 6,225 coronavirus cases

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He was Bay Citys gem: Terry Watson, 72, dies of COVID-19 - MLive.com

After a Downeast Transportation Inc. employee tested positive for COVID-19, the company announced it would pause all operations through Nov. 15, resuming service on Nov. 16.

Although not required to by the Maine CDC, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution, Paul Murphy, the executive director of Downeast, said in a press release.

Murphy also said that the company is working with the CDC on contact tracing and will sanitize all buses during the shutdown.

Downeast Transportation offers commuter and scheduled bus service between and within communities throughout Down East Maine.

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Downeast Transportation shuts down after employee tests positive for COVID-19 - Bangor Daily News

On Nov. 4, Dare County Schools Superintendent John Farrelly sent a notice that Manteo High School had three laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Dare County Department of Health and Human Service identified 75 stakeholders as direct contacts. The school was closed Nov. 5 for deep cleaning and sanitizing. The stakeholders were to immediately begin quarantine.

On Nov. 5, the superintendent emailed another notice in the late afternoon that one laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 existed at First Flight High School. The health departments contact tracers identified 30 stakeholders who were to immediately begin quarantine. The school was closed Nov. 6 for deep cleaning and sanitizing.

From Nov. 3 through Nov. 6, Dare County reported an additional 55 new cases.

Residents who have contracted the virus now number a cumulative 452 with 393 recovered.

Some 55 residents are in home isolation.

On Nov. 6, Dare County reported four hospitalizations, up one patient. A non-resident is also hospitalized.

In North Carolina, new COVID-19 cases are trending upward. On Thursday, new cases totaled 2,858. On Friday, Nov. 6, new cases registered 2,908.

On Friday, across North Carolina 1,161 people are hospitalized. The number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 is very slowly inching up.

As of Nov. 6, 4,582 North Carolinians have died from the coronavirus.

Hyde County The health department reports on Nov. 6 a cumulative case total of 179, unchanged for three days. Two people have active cases. Five deaths in Hyde County are attributed to coronavirus.

Tyrrell County Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reports that Tyrrell Countys new case number as not changed and remains at 136 with 131 recovered. Two active cases exist as of Nov. 5.

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties As of Nov. 6, 2020, Albemarle Regional Health Services has published the following case information:

Camden: 145 lab-confirmed cases, up by one case. Some six cases are active, and 120 people have recovered. Three deaths have occurred.

Currituck: 240 lab-confirmed cases. Some 18 cases are active. Four deaths are recorded. Pasquotank: 916 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 28, while 35 people have died.

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Effect of pre-exposure use of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 mortality: a population-based cohort study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus using the OpenSAFELY platform  The Lancet

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Effect of pre-exposure use of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 mortality: a population-based cohort study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or...

Maine reported 184 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, setting yet another record as the disease continues to spread.

The 184 cases follows 183 cases reported on Thursday, 151 on Wednesday and 127 on Tuesday all record highs during the pandemic. Cases are climbing in Maine and nationwide.

Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine CDC director, is expected to address the media at 2 p.m. today.

As cases have soared, Gov. Janet Mills has dialed up restrictions to try to keep the virus in check, including a strengthened mask mandate on Thursday. Earlier this week, Mills reduced the maximum size of indoor gatherings from 100 to 50, indefinitely delayed the opening of bars and tasting rooms, and reinstated testing and quarantine requirements for travelers entering Maine from certain states.

Since the pandemic began, 7.444 Maine people have fallen ill with COVID-19, with 150 deaths. No additional deaths were reported Friday.

The mask mandate requires people to wear masks in almost all cases outside of their homes and yards, even when physical distancing is possible. It also requires small businesses to post signs reminding customers that they must wear masks indoors.

Masks are required in all public settings, which are defined broadly in the governors executive order. In almost all indoor public places a mask is required, and masks are required outdoors at playgrounds, parking lots, sidewalks, athletic and sports venues, and other areas such as lines for takeout service. Masks are also required on public transportation and buildings and grounds that are typically accessible to the public.

Shah said in a tweet on Thursday that This degree of community transmission means that face coverings and physical distancing are more important than ever. Why do I worry? Todays community transmission can become tomorrows outbreaks in places like nursing homes. We all need to do our part to keep them safe.

This story will be updated.

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Austin gets a warning about a high number of active COVID-19 cases  KEYE TV CBS Austin

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Austin gets a warning about a high number of active COVID-19 cases - KEYE TV CBS Austin

CHICAGO (CBS) And another one a longtime tavern in Bucktown is calling it a night for good because of COVID-19 and Chicagos restrictions stemming from the virus.

As CBS 2s Jermont Terry reported Thursday night, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a $10 million hospitality grant program for local bars and restaurants earlier in the day. But for some, its not enough and its too late.

This weeks unseasonably warm weather in November allows people across Illinois still to enjoy a meal on a patio. But the reality is that fewer people are able to dine out during the recent COVID-19 shutdown.

A lot of my employees stay home because theres nothing to do, said Mauro Mafrici, owner of Pelago Ristorante, 209 E. Delaware Pl.

At the Streeterville restaurant, the patio is set. Yet Mafrici said he has already reduced his staff from 45 to fewer than 15 on the payroll.

And when the temperatures drop next week, neither the patio nor grabbing a table inside will be an option.

I wish not too many restaurants close because Chicagos a great restaurant city, Mafrici said.

But indeed countless businesses are closing. Among the latest is Dannys Tavern, at 1951 W. Dickens Ave. in Bucktown.

It has been in business since 1986, and its doors are closing for good due to COVID-19.

And the list keeps growing. Lawrys the Prime Rib on Ontario Street off the Magnificent Mile is also closing permanently, and in Fulton Market, Maudes is also closing up.

And no one will stand again inside Standing Room Only in restaurant Printers Row, as it has also gone out of business.

Money is tight, and Mafrici said government needs to consider a rent moratorium for business owners.

This doesnt make sense, he said. If youre not allowing me to serve nobody, theyre supposed to freeze everything.

Under the plan with the emergency grant that Mayor Lightfoot announced Thursday, businesses with annual revenue of less than $3 million would qualify for up to $10,000 apiece.

But without a rent moratorium, Mafrici questions just how much that would help.

Its a lot of restaurants in Chicago, he said. I dont think if you split %10 million with all the restaurants, I think its very little.

Pelago hopes to weather this COVID-19 storm. As for those grants, the application process starts Nov. 16, and will get distributed through a lottery.

The mayor also wants the City Council to temporarily cap the fees that third-party companies can charge restaurants for their delivery services.

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More Chicago Restaurants, Bars Going Out Of Business Amid COVID-19 Restrictions, Say City Hospitality Grant Wont Be Enough - CBS Chicago

The restrictions, which took effect at midnight Thursday, will see restaurants, bars and non-essential businesses close until December 2.

England's lockdown came days after similar measures were enacted in France and Germany, and ahead of a number of Italian regions becoming "red zones" on Friday.

Speaking before the parliamentary vote Wednesday which paved the way for the new lockdown, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had been "confronted" with data projecting that the UK's National Health Service (NHS) could "collapse" in the face of increased demand because of Covid-19.

Johnson said deaths in the second wave of the pandemic could potentially exceed those recorded in the spring, with the number of coronavirus patients in some hospitals "already higher than at the peak of the first wave."

"And when I look at what is happening now amongst some of our continental friends, and see doctors who have tested positive being ordered, alas, to work on Covid wards, and patients airlifted to hospitals in some other countries simply to make space, I can reach only one conclusion: I am not prepared to take the risk with the lives of the British people," Johnson said.

The UK reported its second-largest daily increase in cases on Wednesday with 25,177 new infections recorded in 24 hours. There were a further 492 deaths, according to government data, and the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 rose to 12,320.

France, Italy and the UK reported the highest numbers of new cases in that time, although Andorra, the Czech Republic and Belgium reported the highest per population incidence.

"France accounted for the third-highest number of new cases globally, with over 275,000 cases reported in the past week ... that is a 27% increase from the previous week," WHO said.

While cases in France rose in line with much of Europe from August onwards, the country saw a significant surge in infections in October, and the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units was "rising rapidly," the report said.

France reported 854 Covid-19-related deaths in 24 hours on Tuesday -- an average of one person dying every 1 minute 41 seconds -- and the nation's highest daily tally since April 15, according to data released by the French Health Authority.

Sending in the military

The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is already putting hospitals in several European countries under severe strain.

Intensive care units in the Belgian capital, Brussels, reached maximum capacity on Monday, and military personnel have been deployed to a new emergency unit to help relieve congestion in hospitals in the Lige region of the country.

A record 877 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to Belgian hospitals in the past 24 hours, according to national health authority Sciensano. The largest number of admissions in the first wave of the pandemic was 629, on March 28.

Switzerland is also deploying its army to help manage a growing number of Covid-19 hospitalizations, the Swiss government said on Wednesday.

The government said 2,500 soldiers would be available to help hospitals treat or transport coronavirus patients in areas where local resources have been "exhausted."

Switzerland and Liechtenstein registered 10,073 new daily Covid-19 cases, 247 hospitalizations and 73 new deaths on Wednesday.

Restrictive new steps

Italy's government, which has warned it could run out of intensive care beds by the end of November, has approved measures including a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, and a new "traffic light" system of regional restrictions.

Public transport will travel at 50% capacity; museums will close; all students aged six or over must wear masks; and restaurants and bars must close at 6 p.m.

In "orange zones," people will be barred from leaving the region except for work or health reasons, and bars and restaurants close except for delivery and takeout. In "red zones," people will not be allowed to leave their town and all non-essential stores will close. The new rules will be in effect from Thursday until December 3.

The regions of Calabria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta will become "red zones" from Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday. The region of Puglia and the island of Sicily will become "orange zones."

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced further restrictions from Saturday, including remote learning for younger children, cultural institutions closing, stores reducing capacity and hotels only opening for business trips.

"A step beyond the measures that we are announcing today is only a national quarantine, that is, a total lockdown," said Morawiecki.

Poland recorded a record rise of almost 25,000 coronavirus infections and 373 deaths Wednesday.

Austria recorded 6,211 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, the first time the daily tally has topped 6,000, according to the interior ministry. It came a day after the country entered its second national lockdown, with leisure and culture facilities closed and a 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in place.

Austria has reported 125,792 coronavirus cases in total and 1,277 deaths, according to the health ministry.

Greece's Prime Minister is expected to announce further restrictions on Thursday after the country registered a record 2,646 daily Covid-19 cases, according to the country's National Public Health Organization, taking the total to 46,892 cases; there were a further 18 deaths, taking the total to 673.

Greek media outlets suggest that a national lockdown is being considered. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said earlier this week that it could not be ruled out, judging from the situation across Europe.

Hungary has reported a new daily record, with 4,219 cases and 90 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a Facebook video on Tuesday that the country was reintroducing its state of emergency, allowing the government to rule by decree for 90 days from midnight. This will involve a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew, mask-wearing at venues and nightclub closures.

He warned hospitals could exhaust their capacities by mid-December if the current trend continues.

Even Sweden is tightening restrictions. Prime Minister Stefan Lfven announced on his Facebook page that no more than eight people would be allowed to share tables at restaurants or bars.

He is also enforcing measures in more regions, meaning "seven out of ten Swedes are covered by the stricter recommendations."

Measures include asking people to avoid physical contact, busy indoor environments and gatherings; employees are being encouraged to work from home where possible.

"It is important that everyone understands the seriousness now. None of us has forgotten what spring looked like," Lfven said.

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England locks back down, Italy puts regions on red alert as Covid-19 deaths spike 43% in Europe - CNN

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) Two more Manor Independent School District campuses have reported positive COVID-19 cases, making it four within the last week.

Both Decker Elementary and Oak Meadows Elementary will have students isolate after a staff member and a student tested positive.

Those schools will join Lagos Elementary and Manor Elementary Early Learning Center, whose student bodies are currently under two-week mandatory quarantine. The district reports five active staff cases and one active student case.

Some teachers arent pleased with the districts response. They spoke to KXANs education reporter Alex Caprariello anonymously, fearing they may lose their jobs if their identities are revealed.

But they shared their concerns, saying their school administration and the district are not being transparent with its staff and the greater community.

All of us are scared, one teacher said. Nobody wants to take accountability for it.

Theres a lack of transparency between the district, admin and the community, the second teacher shared. We are struggling inside. No one is really asking us how we are doing.

The teachers say school administrators never communicated with them about the recent positive case, and that there are still important pieces of information missing that havent been disclosed, leading to rumors spreading among the staff.

One teacher shared that she first heard about the positive COVID-19 case from a family member and not from the schools administration.

When you fail to communicate, you are not giving us the right to plan for our families. For our students. You are taking away all of our freedom to decide what we want to do for ourselves, one teacher said.

The district disputed this claim, saying all staff was sent a letter explaining the circumstances at the same time family members were informed.

The teachers also questioned why in-person class is still in session. Only the third grade class at Decker Elementary has been asked to isolate. In comparison, two other schools in the district, Lagos Elementary and Manor Elementary Early Learning Center, sent the entire student body home.

Why do they get to quarantine? Why do they get to go have their entire school very cleanly shut down? It seems like a very well thought-out, processed decision. But when it comes to our campus, it just fell apart, the teacher said.

KXAN asked the district why some schools are being treated differently. A Manor ISD spokesperson said each situation is different, and the extent of the closure is determined through guidance issued from public health authorities.

Our decision is based on guidance from the Austin Public Health Department, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Manor ISD Health Services department requiring scholars and staff who were identified to have been in close contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 to self-quarantine.

This is true for all for all cases in the district. Each situation is different and the extend of a closure, whether that be a of a classroom or a campus is identified through contact tracing and guidance issued through these public health authorities.

Austin Public Health confirmed it has recently started advising the district on the best way to determine close contacts to the positive cases. However, a city spokesperson said the call to shut down the other two schools was a decision Manor ISD made on its own.

According to Austin Public Health, the positivity rate for the zip code where Decker and Oak Meadows Elementary is located is 11.59%. There are only two zip codes in the metro area with higher positivity rates.

Reach KXANs Education Reporter Alex Caprariello by emailatalexc@kxan.comor by phone at512-703-5365, or find him onTwitterandFacebook.

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LATVIA'S COVID-19 APP CONNECTS TO EU'S INTEROPERABILITY SYSTEM

Latvia's contact tracing app, Apturi Covid (Stop Covid) has connected to the interoperability system for other contact tracing apps in the European Commission.

This will allow the Apturi Covid app to warn and notify a user if they have come into contact with an COVID-19 infected person when in Germany, Italy, Ireland and Spain.

The European Commission's solution enabled interoperability of EU member states' contact tracing apps last month.

Smartphones with the app will be able to exchange "digital handshakes" via Bluetooth, which is encrypted on the user's phone.

MYONLINETHERAPY PARTNERS WITH VITALITY

UK virtual psychologyclinic, My OnlineTherapy, has announced a new partnership with life insurance company, Vitality, to develop the mental health support available to its health members.

The service, which went live this month, provides members with mental health treatments such as, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-basedCognitiveTherapy, and Schema Therapy from qualified psychologists, which is provided digitally through a video conferencing service.

Dr Keith Klintworth, group COO and managing director, VitalityHealth said: With the pandemic changing life as we know it, there has never been a more important time to look after our mental health, and offering our members the right support in an accessible way is a priority for us.

By partnering with My Online Therapy, Vitality is further extending our full package of mental health care available to our members, ensuring people are able to get the support and help when they need it.

APP TO HELP NHS PREVENT HOSPITAL ILLNESSES AMID COVID-19

NHS trusts are being offered an app aimed at reducing hundreds of deaths that are linked to two hospital-acquired conditions - acute kidney injury (AKI) and pneumonia (HAP).

Known as Compass, the mobile app provides NHS clinical staff with a tool for assessing apatients risk of developing the conditions in hospital, so that appropriate action can be taken to prevent significant numbers of AKI and HAP cases and reduce admissions to intensive care.

A study by researchers at University Hospital Southampton NHS FT, carried out between March and May this year, found that AKI was present in 31% COVID-19 hospital patients, and that AKI was associated with 27% of admissions to ICU.

The app is approved by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and is being offered to NHS hospitals free of charge for the first 90 days of use, in an effort to support hospitals in the second wave of COVID-19.

L'OREAL SIGNS LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH BIOTECH COMPANY

Netherlands-based phage and endolysin technology development company, Micreos, and L'Oral have announced the signature of a license agreement to join their expertise in biotechnology and the skin microbiome, the community of bacteria and microorganisms that live on the skin.

Under the terms of the agreement, Micreos will give L'Oral access to its endolysin, a type of active protein in the cosmetic field. With this technology, it will be able to targetunwanted bacteria in the skin flora which areresponsible for various skin problems.

Micreos CEO Mark Offerhaus: "We expect this partnership to be ground-breaking. L'Oral has been a leader in skincare for decades. Micreos is at the forefront of targeted bacterial biotechnology. We pair our strengths and millions stand to benefit."

HOSPITALS ADOPT COVID-19 TECH TO KEEP STAFF SAFE

A new digital tool is being rolled out to NHS trusts across the UK to strengthen protection for temporary staff at high risk from COVID-19.

To help hospitals adhere to new NHS guidelines around staff risk assessments, a digital solution has been built by Patchwork Health. This system allows management teams to digitise the risk profiles of their staff and operate a confidential live dashboard which shows if and when high risk staff are due to work on higher risk wards.

The technology replaces the process of relying on spreadsheets to monitor risk factors. NHS staffing management will be able to ensure the shifts booked by those with known risk factors can be monitored in real time and alternative shifts for high-risk staff can be arranged.

MENTAL HEALTH NHS TRUST IMPLEMENTS NEWPATIENT FLOW WITH SERVELEC

Servelec, a provider of digital care software, announces that South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, which serves people across five London boroughs, has gone live with an implementation of its patient management solution, Flow.

The product has replaced the trusts existing patient management processes, which involved manually calling hospitals for updates on bed availability, handwritten notes on whiteboards, and then entering it into the Electronic Patient Record (EPR).

Servelecs patient flow solution digitises this process offering an end-to-end view of the patient journey. Staff at the trust can enter information onto a digital touchscreen which displays information about all patients in the hospital wards, including status and location.

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS trust is an existing user of Servelecs Rio EPR software, which integrates with Flow.

WEARABLE MEDICAL DEVICE TO DIAGNOSE SLEAP APNOEA

Medical device company, Acurable, has announced the launch of its first product, AcuPebble SA100, a wearable device which enables an automated and remote diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

The diagnosis of OSA traditionally requires hospital visits for patients, and doctors have had to manually review and analyse data from a patients sleep study.

AcuPebble SA100 aims to automate this process, providing a clinically validated diagnosis equivalent to the current ambulatory gold standard. This is particularly important in light of COVID-19 and the NHS move to digital first and remote consultations.

AcuPebble SA100 gained CE Mark approval in September 2020.

HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST DEPLOYS DXC TECH

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS trust has deployed DXC Technologys cloud-based Clinical Aide mobile app. The platform improves secure access to electronic patient medical records and increases patient and hospital staff safety in COVID-19 wards and intensive care units.

By using a cloud-based mobile app that sits on top of the trusts electronic patient record (EPR) system, clinical teams can now securely view and use patient information from the Lorenzo EPR, part of the DXC Care Suite, via a tablet or other mobile device.

Mobile access to a patients documented information aims to reduce the need for staff to enter higher-risk hospital areas to review and update medical records directly on workstations and alsoremoves the need to transfer paper-based detailed patient information out of the hospitals COVID-19 wards.

IKTOS COLLABORATES WITH MERCK ON NEW DRUG DESIGN

AI drug design company Iktos, has announced an additional collaboration agreement in AI for new drug design with Germany-based Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, a leading science and technology company.

In this new collaboration, Iktos new generative design technology will be used to facilitate the design of an undisclosed Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany drug discovery program.

Iktos generative AI technology will be combined with structure-based modelling, with an iterative design of structures maximizing protein-ligand interaction andenabling identification of novel structures already explored in the project.

Joern-Peter Halle, global head of research for the healthcare business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany said: "AI has the potential to improve and accelerate the drug discovery process, which could mean faster access to novel treatment options for patients.

This additional collaboration with Iktos illustrates our commitment to partnerships to access the latest technology to enrich our discovery engine.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT GIVES FUNDING BOOST TO MED-TECH INNOVATION

MIME Technologies, a med-tech spin-out from the University of Aberdeen, has received248K in funding from the Scottish Government to help deliver technology that will drive new maritime med-tech solutions.

It will also support the heavily impacted aviation industry during its recovery from the pandemic.

The firm develops technology that supports non-medical professionals during first response situations in environments that are remote from immediate medical care.

Initially focused on the aviation industry, MIME Technologiessolution communicates on-scene emergency data, such as the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, to professional medical services using secure cloud technology.

Allowing aviation medical providers to see this on-scene data ensures they can make informed decisions about the passengers need for medical attention, supporting inflight diversion decisions and ensuring handover into medical care.

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Roundup: Latvia's COVID-19 app connects to EU interoperability system, Scottish government funds med-tech first response and more briefs - Mobihealth...