Today’s top 5 take home messages: 1) White House issued a grave warning: we will have 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the coming few weeks. The CDC now says that as many as 1/4 of those infected with the virus could be walking around with no symptoms and transmitting it, which makes social distancing measures all the more crucial. There are now more than 860,000 coronavirus cases worldwide and more than 42,000 deaths. 2) Shortages of COVID19 Emergency Equipment in U.S. Cities: A Survey of the Nation’s Mayors ● 91.5% of cities do not have an adequate supply of face masks for their first responders & medical personnel. ● 88.2% do not have an adeq supply of PPEs Across the survey cities able to provide estimates, needed are: ● 28.5 million face masks; ● 24.4 million PPE items; ● 7.9 million test kits; and ● 139,000 ventilators. https://www.usmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/0327-covid19_supply-report.pdf 3) “It is a surreal experience... We all need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others.” (Health care workers from the frontline) The lack of PPE for medical professionals working on the front lines of the COVID19 pandemic is unacceptable. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/plea-nation-doctors-fighting-covid-19-getmeppe 4) Sanofi begins trial of Kevzara in patients with severe COVID-19 -Too much IL-6 causes the immune system to begin attacking the patient’s own body instead of the virus and Kevzara, previously approved in rheumatoid arthritis, could be a way of treating the severe symptoms that cause complications seen with COVID-19. -The role of IL-6 is supported by preliminary data from a single-arm study in China using Actemra (tocilizumab). -Sanofi and Regeneron are throwing an already-approved drug at COVID-19, testing Kevzara (sarilumab) in patients hospitalised with severe disease. http://www.news.sanofi.us/2020-03-16-Sanofi-and-Regeneron-begin-global-Kevzara-R-sarilumab-clinical-trial-program-in-patients-with-severe-COVID-19 5) “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". Please Test, Identify Isolate & Treat!