Advances in treatment

Researchers at two different studies in Israel and the Netherlands have said that they have cultivated antibodies that can stop the infection of COVID-19. In the Netherlands, researchers said they were able to stop the spread of the coronavirus in a laboratory. In Israel, the defense minister said that they developed an antibody that could "neutralize" the virus inside infected people. The antibody has not yet reached human trials.

Clinical trials

There are 26 federally-funded studies to find a vaccine, drug, or medical treatment for COVID-19, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Around the world, there are more than 1,200 studies. Researchers are testing many drugs - "medical treatment" refers to non-pharmaceutical therapies, including radiation.

Possible treatment

Respected Chinese physician Zhong Nanshan said that there is "enough evidence" that the traditional Chinese medicine lianhua qingwen is "effective" in treating COVID-19 patients" to help them recover.

Faster tests

Scientists in Edinburgh, UK have developed a new COVID-19 antibody test that can show results in 35 minutes with a 99.8% accuracy. Quotient, the company behind the new test, currently has 12 screening machines and 20 more expected by the end of the year.

More contagious strain

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have reported a new mutation of COVID-19 that is more contagious than earlier ones. The new strain has become the dominant one around the world, first appearing in Europe in February and spreading to the United States. The new mutation appears more infectious and could make people more vulnerable to a second COVID-19 infection.

Nations pledge $8B in vaccine funding

The EU hosted a virtual summit on funding a vaccine for COVID-19 that resulted in $8 billion pledged by participating nations. The United States and Russia did not participate.

Antibody tests, plasma donation

Thousands of people around the world are volunteering to have their plasma tested to see if they have antibodies against COVID-19. Many believe the antibodies will protect them, and others, from future COVID-19 infections. Recovered COVID-19 patients are also sharing their plasma in the hopes that it will aid in vaccine development.

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