The Mysterious Missing Link – Anti-Malaria Drug & Zinc

by Joseph Berry via The Conservative Woman blog,
Mystery surrounds why an anti-malaria drug is not being tested as a Covid-19 treatment in combination with zinc, which doctors say is crucial for efficacy.
As we reported recently, President Trump revealed he was taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) alongside zinc after reports that many doctors are doing the same to help ward off Covid-19.
Criticism of the President rose sharply after a non-randomised study published in the Lancet said that HCQ provided no benefit to hospitalised Covid-19 patients while being linked to increased deaths. 
What the mainstream media did not point out is that the Lancet study failed to test HCQ with zinc. Other experts have found zinc to be vital for efficacy in this context.
Zinc, available as an over-the-counter supplement, has long been seen as an immune-system booster that helps develop immune cells, or antibodies, and can strengthen the body’s response to a virus.
American infectious disease specialist Joseph Rahimian explained that, in relation to Covid-19, zinc ‘does the heavy lifting and is the primary substance attacking the pathogen’. HCQ is said to work as a delivery systemfor zinc in fighting coronavirus.
Ironically, the Lancet study came out at the same time as it was reported that India’s premier health body had expanded use of HCQ as a preventive for key workers following three studies showing positive results. 
Conflicting reports and political axe-grinding have thickened the fog of war on this, but we know a number of things:

1. HCQ has been around for decades and is a ‘safe’ treatment for malaria and other conditions including lupus and arthritis (as the BBC has acknowledged). 
2. Many doctors (and India) use HCQ as a preventive measure, as President Trump is now doing. A survey of doctors by a leading American physician staffing firm found that 65 per cent would give HCQ to their own family as a prevention or treatment. The UK is now conducting trials into whether HCQ can help prevent Covid-19. Results are not expected before the end of the year, although there will be results sooner from similar trials in the US.
3. International experience suggests HCQ can be effective in tackling Covid. Reports from France, Italy and Spain point to positive results from the use of HCQ, while a number of other countries are seeing success including Turkey, Costa Rica, Algeria, Belgium and Bahrain. This month a Shanghai-based doctor reported that, in China, a combination of zinc, hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin ‘has been able to save coronavirus patients’. 
4. Many prominent Americans are taking HCQ to treat Covid-19 (and recovering) even as opponents attack President Trump for following the lead of many doctors. Hall of Fame rock star David Bryan, best known as the keyboardist for Bon Jovi, tested positive and was treated with HCQ, among other things. By late April, he was said to have recovered. Former Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar has now admitted her husband was treated with HCQ after he contracted coronavirus. After his rapid recovery, Senator Klobuchar said (through gritted teeth): ‘I believe he did briefly take that drug.’

Sadly it doesn’t seem to be the priority of most mainstream journalists, and some in the scientific community, to report the facts on HCQ in a responsible manner. As political commentator Scott Adams recently pointed out, the corporate news (CNN, Fox News etc) has no credibility when it comes to reporting on pharmaceuticals. In this context, this may be partly due to politics, but it is also a result of their financial stake in drug advertising.
With regard to reporting of the Lancet’s finding about increased deaths, Adams asked whether this should be seen as a surprise ‘given that we know the HCQ can have some heart issues with people who already have heart issues. Do [elderly people who are dying from coronavirus] have strong hearts? Probably not’.
He added:

 ‘What they don’t do on CNN is mention that if you don’t test it with the zinc [then] I’m not sure that you’ve really tested the thing that has the most promise. Where is that [test]?’

He has a point. A number of doctors say zinc is essential.
California emergency physician Dr Anthony Cardillo said during a local television interview:

‘[HCQ] really only works in conjunction with zinc. Every patient I have prescribed it to has been very, very ill and within eight to twelve hours they were basically symptom-free and so clinically I am seeing a resolution.’

This frontline experience was backed up by a study by the New York University Grossman School of Medicine published this month. It found that those receiving the triple-drug combination (HCQ, with azithromycin and, crucially, zinc) ‘were 44 per cent less likely to die, compared with the double-drug combination (i.e. without zinc)’.
As the study notes:

‘This study provides the first in vivo evidence that zinc sulfate in combination with hydroxychloroquine may play a role in therapeutic management for Covid-19.’

The above makes the question of why zinc was not used in the Lancet study more baffling. And why don’t the media note that the combination of zinc and HCQ is crucial?
As Scott Adams put it:

‘When they say the President is taking this drug that is killing people . . . it is not true. It is basically a lie . . . Both Fox News and CNN are doing something is completely illegitimate . . . I don’t know any reason you would do that other than to mislead.’

Sadly, with a Presidential election approaching, it’s doubtful whether the barrage of fake news over this treatment will be replaced by professional reporting. We can only hope that the truth – whatever it may be – will win out in the end.
https://www.zerohedge.com/health/mysterious-missing-link-anti-malaria-drug-zinc

Verma calls out Cuomo for forcing NY nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is facing backlash from a top U.S. health official for his decision to force providers to accept COVID-19 patients after he claimed the move was inline with federal directives.
The criticism came after Cuomo over the weekend said the policy was in accord with a March directive from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cuomo said all the state did was “follow what the Republican administration said to do.”
“The issue the governor is bringing up — which I disagree with — is that somehow federal guidance said you should put people who are COVID-positive in the nursing home,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in response Wednesday during a Fox News interview.
She explained coronavirus patients can return to nursing homes if the facility is properly prepared, and federal policy dictates that if a COVID-postive nursing home resident can’t return to that facility, the government will subsidize that patient’s continued stay in the hospital.
“Under no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that is not prepared to take care of those patients’ needs,” Verma said.
In a reversal, the state announced earlier this month that it would no longer require nursing homes to admit residents, regardless of their COVID-19 status.
This isn’t the first time Cuomo and state officials have taken heat for the move. Long-term care leaders and providers assailed his directive from the start and warned that the COVID-19 death toll would rise.

Verma calls out Cuomo for forcing NY nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients

‘Major Financial Hardship’ Hits Most Patients Battling Advanced Colon Cancer

A cancer diagnosis can deliver a double blow — along with dealing with a serious health crisis, you also need to worry about how your treatment is going to affect your finances.
Nearly three out of four people with advanced colon cancer that spread to other parts of their bodies experienced major financial hardships within a year of starting treatment, a new study found.
“Major financial hardship was extremely common — nearly 75% in a year experienced a decline in income, increasing debt, new loans, or selling or refinancing their home,” explained study author Dr. Veena Shankaran. She’s co-director of the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Shankaran said she was surprised by how pervasive the financial woes were, but only to some extent. “These major financial hardships were higher than what we have observed in the past, but costs are increasingly being shifted to patients,” she noted.
There has been an increasing awareness of the “financial toxicity” associated with cancer care, Shankaran said. In this study, the researchers wanted to get a better understanding of exactly how cancer care affects patients’ overall financial health.
The study included 380 people undergoing treatment for advanced colon cancer that had spread to other areas of the body (metastasized). Their average age was 60. They were recruited from 126 centers across the United States.
Most of the patients were white (78%) and 61% were male. Nearly all (98%) were covered by health insurance.
The researchers asked about major financial hardships at three, six, nine and 12 months after treatment started. They asked about debt, new loans, whether someone refinanced or sold their home, and whether or not they had lost 20% or more of their income.
Financial woes increased at each time point. For example, at three months just 2% of these advanced colon cancer patients had lost 20% or more of their income. By six months, that number had risen to 7%, and at nine months, 12% had suffered a significant loss of income. At the 12-month mark, 27% had lost a fifth or more of their income, the findings showed.
At the start of the study, 19% had debt. By 12 months, nearly 57% had some debt. The rate of new loans, home refinancing and selling a home all rose during the study period.
Shankaran said the situation may be even more dire for patients who don’t have insurance. The researchers did find that patients with lower income and lower asset levels were more likely to have major financial hardships.
She said that treatment for advanced colon cancer may be more costly, but that costs are likely a concern in other types of cancer treatment.
Another study found that young breast cancer patients struggled financially after their diagnosis — even if they had insurance. That study was published recently in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
Shankaran said the researchers don’t know what specific aspects related to cancer care led to money troubles.
Robin Yabroff, senior scientific director for health services research at the American Cancer Society (ACS), said costs are probably a concern for most cancer patients.
“In my opinion, I think many patients are probably surprised by costs. Conversations about out-of-pocket costs to the patient are pretty infrequent,” she said, noting that an ACS study found that just one in four cancer patients discussed out-of-pocket costs with their doctor.
“Out-of-pocket costs are increasing. There is increasing cost-sharing for those with insurance. They may be responsible for 20% to 30% of the list price of treatment,” she explained.
Yabroff said it’s crucial that patients are made aware of potential financial concerns ahead of time. Many people will lose time from work and income, and it may not just be the cancer patients — spouses, parents and adult children may lose time from work, too. It’s also important to find out how your health insurance will be affected if you have trouble returning to work.
Yabroff said these discussions can be with doctors, financial navigators and social workers. Along with letting you know what to expect, they can also let you know about any resources that might be available to help you.
“This study shows the importance of having these conversations. Three out of four people experienced a major financial hardship within 12 months. Cancer centers need to have these conversations with all patients, even those that may not appear to have any financial disadvantages. The advantage of having universal discussions is that you don’t stigmatize anyone. Ideally, we want patients to be focused on their treatment and recovery,” Yabroff said.
The study was part of the virtual annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Findings from meetings are typically viewed as preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
Read more about cancer costs from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

SOURCES: Veena Shankaran, MD, co-director, Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, associate professor, public health, associate professor, clinical research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and associate professor, division of medical oncology, University of Washington, Seattle; Robin Yabroff, PhD, senior scientific officer, Health Services Research, American Cancer Society; May 29-31, 2020, American Society of Clinical Oncology virtual meeting

https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/mis-cancer-news-102/major-financial-hardship-hits-most-patients-battling-advanced-colon-cancer-758073.html

Tumors Have Their Own Bacterial Colonies That Could Guide Cancer Care

The human body is teeming with bacteria, and a new study finds the same is true of many cancers — raising questions about what role microbes might play in the diseases.
Researchers have already known that tumors in certain areas of the body — like the gut — harbor bacteria of their own. But the new research reveals that a range of cancers, including those of the breast, lungs, bones and brain, have their own bacterial communities within tumor cells.
And the makeup of those communities seems to be unique to each cancer type, the researchers report in the May 29 issue of Science.

Exactly what it all means is unclear at this point. But the study also found that the same bacteria within tumor cells were present in patients’ immune system cells. Among other things, that brings up the possibility that tumor bacteria could have an effect on patients’ responses to certain cancer therapies.
“The fact that bacteria are frequently present in human tumors raises many intriguing questions regarding their local effects on tumor cells, as well as on tumor immunity and response to immunotherapy,” said senior researcher Dr. Ravid Straussman, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
Past research has already turned up hints that bacteria may influence cancer patients’ response to treatment. A 2017 study of patients with advanced melanoma suggested that people’s own gut bacteria might play a role: Patients who responded well to immunotherapy drugs generally had a gut “microbiome” that was distinct from that of patients who did not respond.
The new findings point to a similar connection between tumor bacteria and treatment response: Among melanoma patients, there was an association between the amount of certain bacteria in their tumors and the likelihood of responding to immunotherapy.
It is too soon, though, to draw any conclusions, according to Peter Turnbaugh, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of California, San Francisco. He coauthored an editorial published with the findings.
“The current study reports an association with immunotherapy response,” Turnbaugh said. “But the causal role of bacteria within tumors, or in other body sites, remains unclear — as do the potential mechanisms that might be at play.”
The results are based on more than 1,500 tumor samples, plus samples of nearby tissue, from patients at medical centers in four countries. Straussman and his colleagues analyzed the samples for bacterial proteins and genetic material, taking measures to ensure they would not simply detect microbes that got there by contamination.
It turned out that all seven cancer types they studied harbored bacterial communities within their cells. And the composition of those communities varied by cancer type. Breast cancers, for example, had the most diverse collection of bacteria.
One of the key questions, Turnbaugh said, is where are those tumor bacteria coming from?
One possibility, he speculated, is that bacteria are able to “translocate” out of a person’s gut or other tissue and find their way into tumor cells. Other recent research has suggested bacteria can travel from the gut to tumors, Turnbaugh said.
Why would different cancer types have distinctive bacterial communities? The “microenvironment” within different body tissues and cancer types is known to vary, Turnbaugh explained. So it’s possible those conditions favor the growth of certain bacteria over others.
However, that’s not to say that all patients with a particular cancer have exactly the same bacterial makeup in their tumors. The study also found differences among individuals with the same cancer. In melanoma patients, certain differences in tumor bacterial makeup were associated with treatment response.
Straussman said it all raises many “intriguing” questions about how bacteria might interact with a patient’s cancer and own immune cells. Some bacteria, he noted, might have “anti-tumor” effects, while others could be “pro-tumor.”
If tumor bacteria do influence treatment outcomes — an area Straussman said his team is actively studying — that would lead to an obvious next step: figuring out what, if anything, can be done about it.
Straussman said ongoing research might lead to new ways of “manipulating” tumor bacteria, to improve cancer treatment.
Right now, it’s not clear how bacteria within tumor cells could be targeted. But, Turnbaugh said, if it turns out that gut bacteria do migrate to tumors, it might be possible to alter tumor bacteria by changing the gut’s bacterial environment.
In one instance of how such research is bearing fruit, a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists found that bacteria in or around colon tumors may be tied to patient survival.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that “the presence of bacteria was mostly, but not always, associated with worse overall survival.” They believe that testing for bacterial types might help guide treatment, as might the use of antibiotics against certain species.
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on the human microbiome.

SOURCES: Ravid Straussman, M.D., Ph.D., department of molecular cell biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Peter Turnbaugh, Ph.D., associate professor, microbiology and immunology, University of California, San Francisco; May 29, 2020, Science, online; Ohio State University, news release, May 28, 2020

https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/mis-cancer-news-102/tumors-have-their-own-bacterial-colonies-that-could-guide-cancer-care-758061.html

DVT Clots Strike Many Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

In a small French study, three-quarters of all COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care went on to experience a dangerous blood clot in the leg that can travel to the lungs and potentially cause death.
Known as a DVT, the condition first gained notoriety as so-called “economy class syndrome,” when passengers on long-haul flights developed them after sitting still for too long. But the clots can be life-threatening, and the frequency at which they are showing up in COVID-19 patients is cause for alarm, experts say.
The new findings “were quite astonishing,” said Dr. Maja Zaric, a U.S. cardiologist who wasn’t connected to the French study.

“Sixty-five percent of all admitted patients had evidence of lower extremity DVT upon admission, and two days later that percent increased to 79%,” said Zaric, a heart specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
She and the French researchers said the findings lend support to prompt testing of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients for signs of clotting risk, and for the use of blood-thinner medications in patients deemed to be at risk.
One of the unexpected and troubling hallmarks of COVID-19 has been its effect on clotting and the subsequent rise in stroke risk, even among younger patients. According to Zaric, what’s driving the increased “stickiness” in blood isn’t clear — it could be a byproduct of an inflammatory “storm” produced by coronavirus infection, or some abnormality in the function of the walls lining blood vessels.
The new research was led by Dr. Tristan Morichau-Beauchant, an intensive care unit (ICU) specialist at the Northern Cardiology Center in Saint-Denis, France. The study focused on 34 consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care at the center between mid-March and the beginning of April.
All of the patients were given blood thinners upon admission, and doctors also ordered leg ultrasounds, taken at admission and then again 48 hours later.
Blood tests, looking for a key marker of clotting risk called D-dimer, were also taken from each patient.
“D-dimer is a byproduct of clot activity,” Zaric explained, “and is frequently used as a screening ‘rule out’ test to exclude possibility of DVT or pulmonary embolism [lung clot].”
The team found extremely high rates of DVT — more than three-quarters of patients developed a leg clot. In some cases, the clots didn’t form until two days after hospital admission, the French researchers said.
“Such high prevalence of DVT in critically ill patients is truly staggering despite the fact that all patients have received usual DVT [preventive medications] ahead of ICU admission,” Zaric said.
Morichau-Beauchant and colleagues noted that, as is common in severely ill COVID-19 patients, many had preexisting medical issues. Nearly half (44%) had diabetes, more than a third (38%) had high blood pressure and many were obese.
Because blood levels of D-dimer were high, indicative of clot risk, outcomes for these patients “might be improved with early detection and a prompt start of anticoagulant [blood thinner] therapy,” the French team said.
Zaric agreed. “While we should continue with all available antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapies and respiratory support of those admitted with COVID-19, it appears as we ought to keep an eye on inflammatory marker trends as well, and in particular the D-dimer levels,” she said.
Early use of blood-thinning drugs in those at risk is also imperative, Zaric said, and should be continued even after patients have been discharged from hospital care.
“In our institution, we have been implementing recommendations to discharge those with high D-dimer levels on a short-term anticoagulation course of four to six weeks, even if no evidence of DVT or pulmonary embolism could be demonstrated, as long as close clinical and imaging follow-up can be established as an outpatient,” she explained.
The new study was published online May 29 in JAMA Network Open.
More information
There’s more on DVTs at the American Heart Association.

SOURCES: Maja Zaric, MD, interventional cardiologist,Lenox HillHospital, New York City; JAMA Network Open, May 29, 2020, online

https://consumer.healthday.com/infectious-disease-information-21/coronavirus-1008/dvt-clots-strike-many-critically-ill-covid-19-patients-study-758108.html

Kidneys And Covid-19: Renal Manifestations Of Coronavirus

The United States reached the solemn milestone of surpassing 100,000 lives lost from Covid-19. Sadly, community spread of this novel coronavirus continues as cases and deaths in the U.S. relentlessly rise, now reaching 1.79 million and 104,000, respectively. Multiple clinical studies have also indicated that we’re dealing with more than just a “respiratory virus”: neurological, cardiac and clotting manifestations have been documented thus far. Here, I uncover the effects of COVID-19 on the renal system, gleaning insights from three of the nation’s kidney experts.
Outside the respiratory system, the kidneys are among the most common organs targeted by SARS-CoV-2. To illustrate the magnitude of the problem, among hospital ICUs in New York City – the epicenter of Covid-19 – approximately 20-40% of intubated patients had acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis (described later). Another study conducted by Northwell Health, New York state’s largest healthcare provider, found that among 5449 patients admitted with Covid-19, 36.6% developed AKI.
What Do the Kidneys Do?
We are born with two kidneys, each made up of a million nephrons which work together to perform multiple life-sustaining tasks. One major function is to act as the body’s filtration system: kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid through the urine. In addition, according to the National Kidney Foundation, kidneys play a critical role in regulating the body’s salt, potassium and acid content. Kidneys also produce hormones such as erythropoietin which promotes red blood cell production as well as other hormones that regulate blood pressure and calcium metabolism.

How Does Covid-19 Affect the Kidneys?
Covid-19 has been shown to impair renal function in several ways, ranging from poor blood flow to the formation of tiny blood clots which can clog the kidneys and prevent urine formation.

“By far the most common injury is Acute Tubular Necrosis or ATN, which happens when the kidneys do not get enough blood flow because a Covid-19-infected patient goes into shock and has very low blood pressure,” explained Herbert Lin, MD, PhD, FASN, associate professor of medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Direct infection of the kidneys is also a possibility.
“There is likely a small subset of patients that have direct viral infections of the kidney but this is likely a rare event,” said Matthew Sparks, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke Medical Center, citing an NEJM study with “superb methodology.” In a recent paper, Dr. Sparks and colleagues emphasized that AKI can be a severe complication of Covid-19.

Unfortunately, many patients infected with Covid-19 sustained renal injuries so severe that their kidneys almost shut down completely. Dialysis, or kidney replacement therapy, is a procedure where blood is filtered by a machine to clean out the urine that builds up in the blood when the kidneys do not work well, described Dr. Lin.
At the height of the pandemic, New York City hospitals were seeing no shortage of patients requiring dialysis, according to David S. Goldfarb, MD, Clinical Director, Division of Nephrology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
“A surprisingly high proportion of the people who needed ventilators to help them breath also had kidney failure that required dialysis,” recalled Dr. Goldfarb. “In fact, when everyone was talking about running out of ventilators, the medical centers in New York were worried about running out of dialysis machines for that many people.” The NYU nephrologist went on to point out that the combination of lung and kidney failure was associated with a very high mortality rate, though a few people did recover. The good news is that when most of these very sick COVID-19 patients recover, so will their kidneys.

What Should We All Know About Kidney Health?
The optimal way to care for our kidneys is by controlling our blood pressure (healthy diet, low salt, regular exercise, quitting smoking) and staying hydrated with water, not sugary beverages or alcohol. There are other methods, too.
“Avoid taking medications such as NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) that can harm the kidneys if taken in excess,” reminded Dr. Lin. “And if you have diabetes mellitus, control your blood sugar as much as possible” as hyperglycemia can also cause long-term renal damage.
Dr. Sparks’ message to physicians: “Be cognizant of kidney function and other parameters such as proteinuria and hematuria in patients with COVID-19.” He also acknowledged confusion about management of common blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers): “Currently, there is no evidence that these medications alter the clinical course or lead to an increased risk of infection.”
The most sensible way to protect our kidneys, according to Dr. Goldfarb – don’t get the virus!
“Social distancing will prove effective, and wearing a mask cannot be underestimated.” Wise words rooted in long-standing public health from Dr. Goldfarb.

Other renal health considerations: patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease will be at increased risk for AKI. In addition, depending on location and status of local hospital staffing, individuals receiving peritoneal dialysis at home may encounter disruption in delivery of PD supplies and nursing support. Kidney transplant programs will also likely be on hold given the multiple resources required including staffing.
What’s become obvious by now is that this coronavirus has triggered multiorgan damage and has catalyzed the global medical research community to examine its plethora of effects. I remain humbled by this pathogen and by sickness in general. To quote the great Canadian physician and father of modern medicine, Sir William Osler: “Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lipiroy/2020/05/30/kidneys-and-covid-19-renal-manifestations-of-the-novel-coronavirus/#661ef0763851

Ford disinfects police cruisers by ‘roasting’ them

To help keep police safe from the coronavirus, Ford is introducing a new way to disinfect police cruisers. The company has developed software that cranks the heat in its Police Interceptor Utility vehicles until the temperature inside reaches 133 degrees Fahrenheit (56 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes. Ford believes this can reduce the viral concentration by over 99 percent on interior surfaces and materials.
The software warms the engine up to an elevated level and turns the heat and fan settings to high. It monitors the interior temperature to make sure the entire passenger compartment reaches the optimal level and that the temperature is maintained for 15 minutes. Hazard and tail lights flash in a pre-set pattern while the process is taking place and then flash in another pattern when it’s complete. A cool-down process is used to bring the temperature back to a more normal level.

Ford Motor Company ✔ @Ford

New challenges require new solutions. We developed new heated sanitization software for our Police Interceptor Utility vehicles that helps inactivate viruses like #COVID19 on interior surfaces and helps keep law enforcement safe on the job. #BuiltFordProud

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12:08 PM – May 27, 2020

Ford worked with The Ohio State University to determine the temperature range and time needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The company points out that heat has the ability to seep into crevices and hard-to-reach areas that humans and chemical disinfectants may not be able to reach. Though, the process is meant to supplement other cleaning and safety measures, not replace them.
While we’ve seen a few other novel ways to disinfect everything from subways to hospital rooms, what makes Ford’s approach that much more impressive is that it’s available now. Because this is a software solution, Ford is able to roll it out to vehicles immediately. It’s available for all 2013-19 Police Interceptor Utility vehicles in the US, Canada and beyond. Ford has already tested the system with law enforcement in New York City, Los Angeles, Michigan, Massachusetts, Ohio and Florida.
“Officers can now use this self-cleaning mode as an extra layer of protection inside the vehicle in areas where manual cleaning is prone to be overlooked,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “This virus is an invisible enemy and we are proud to provide a solution to help the law enforcement community fight it.”
https://www.engadget.com/ford-police-vehicles-heat-disinfect-coronavirus-164033329.html