Respirology

Health Canada has approved the use of remdesivir to treat patients with severe symptoms of COVID-19. The federal agency says the antiviral drug may be used to treat patients who have pneumonia and require extra oxygen to help them breathe. It's the first drug that Health Canada has authorized for the treatment of COVID-19. Health Canada approved its use in adults and adolescents.

Small study raises concerns about granting antibody-based “immunity passports,” development of herd immunity, and perhaps even vaccine durability

Summarizes pathophysiology, transmission, diagnosis and treatment, with an accompanying patient information page

A group of 239 scientists and physicians urging the World Health Organization to recognize the potential for airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus have sparked debate over how COVID-19 is spreading. But some Canadian infectious disease experts say not to get hung up on the term "airborne,'' and that the safety precautions we're already taking to slow the spread of the virus are working.

An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) provides an overview on personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care settings, including evidence on effectiveness of N95 masks, as well as the importance of including healthcare worker perspectives on usage of this equipment.