Scientists have identified an antibody in a lab that they say can prevent the novel coronavirus from infecting cells. The team hopes the antibody could be used to create treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

The team, whose research was published in the journal Nature Communications, have been exploring whether what are known as monoclonal antibodies could help patients with COVID-19. Currently there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease. Monoclonal antibodies are a type of protein created in a lab which can bind to a specific substance in the body. These types of antibodies mimic how the immune system responds to a threat, and are used to treat some forms of cancer.

An antibody named 47D11 was found to bind to the spike protein which the novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, uses to enter the body, and block it in a way that neutralizes the pathogen.

The price of a mask is death. Not the story you expect.

A patient diagnosed with pneumonia near Paris on 27 December actually had the coronavirus, his doctor has said.
Dr Yves Cohen told French media a swab taken at the time was recently tested, and came back positive for Covid-19.
The patient, a man in his 50s who has since fully recovered, said he has no idea where he caught the virus as he hadn't been to any infected areas.
This news means the virus may have arrived in France almost a month earlier than previously thought.
Until now, the country's first three cases of coronavirus were confirmed on 24 January.
Of those, two had been to Wuhan in China - where the outbreak was first detected - and the third was a close family member.

France's first known case 'was in December'

A patient diagnosed with pneumonia near Paris on 27 December actually had the coronavirus, his doctor has said.
Dr Yves Cohen told French media a swab taken at the time was recently tested, and came back positive for Covid-19.
The patient, a man in his 50s who has since fully recovered, said he has no idea where he caught the virus as he hadn't been to any infected areas.
This news means the virus may have arrived in France almost a month earlier than previously thought.
Until now, the country's first three cases of coronavirus were confirmed on 24 January.
Of those, two had been to Wuhan in China - where the outbreak was first detected - and the third was a close family member.

Despite life-threatening low oxygen saturation, covid patients can be inexplicably untouched and alert.
- Patients can sit and text on their phones while we prepare them for respiratory care, we are not used to this, says Gustaf Edgren.
It is called silent hypoxia, a phenomenon that can cause both relatives and caregivers to underestimate the seriousness of the situation.
When the oxygen saturation in the blood drops below 90 percent in a previously healthy person, it usually leads to a huge stress surge, panic and a strong air hunger.
But the covid patients may have severe oxygen deficiency but still be relatively unaffected. Although oxygen saturation can drop to 60 percent and below.

Our knowledge of COVID-19 and its risks will hopefully improve in the near future.

It was 28% at British Airways. Now 30% of jobs will be lost at Virgin Atlantic.
The UK’s aviation sector is shrinking in size.
Virgin Atlantic was Gatwick’s ninth largest airline so it’s a blow but not a knock-out punch. However British Airways, which is Gatwick’s second biggest customer, has indicated that it also might not restart its Gatwick operation.
If BA does pull out it would carry deeper ramifications.
Just a few weeks ago, several UK airports had elaborate, expensive and very controversial expansion plans in the pipeline. The big ones were operating at or very near capacity.
But the whole aviation sector is living a new reality.
When lockdown restrictions ease and flight schedules are increased again there will be fewer passengers, fewer and probably more expensive flights and sadly thousands of cabin crew, pilots and ground staff will have lost jobs.
It will take years for the aviation sector to bounce back to where it was before the pandemic.

It won't be just the aviation industry that's going to take a big hit.

It won't be just the aviation industry that's going to take a big hit.

Not only them. The whole tourism industry is collapsing for now.

It won't be just the aviation industry that's going to take a big hit.

Not only them. The whole tourism industry is collapsing for now.

IDid Mother Nature come up with COVID-19 to kill carbon spewing tourism?

10 times Trump attacked China and its trade relations with the US
Trump has a record of attacking China in unconventional ways.

Two years before ... sent two official warnings back to Washington about inadequate safety at the lab

Dateline November 9, 2017
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/10-times-trump-attacked-china-trade-relations-us/story?id=46572567

10 times Trump attacked China and its trade relations with the US
Trump has a record of attacking China in unconventional ways.

Two years before ... sent two official warnings back to Washington about inadequate safety at the lab

Fits now doesn't it?

"Lie, Cheat & Steal in all international dealings."

I don't understand this. Why should China study animals and look for those viruses that who are potential very dangerous to us humans? Ok. Why not. I don't think any country could do it better and still getting the same result. Some accidents? Perhaps. But leave politicians out of this game!

I don't understand this. Why should China study animals and look for those viruses that who are potential very dangerous to us humans? Ok. Why not. I don't think any country could do it better and still getting the same result. Some accidents? Perhaps. But leave politicians out of this game!

Probably for the same reasons that we do with our bats, to try and stay ahead of what those little critters can throw up at us. ;-)

I don't understand this. Why should China study animals and look for those viruses that who are potential very dangerous to us humans? Ok. Why not. I don't think any country could do it better and still getting the same result. Some accidents? Perhaps. But leave politicians out of this game!

Probably for the same reasons that we do with our bats, to try and stay ahead of what those little critters can throw up at us. ;-)

My GF had a close encounter with a bat. In the Philippines or Sri Lanka. She didn't like it. Whatever. Bats are contagious with lot of viruses. What have happened now is not some mishap in some lab.