Penang Hospital infectious disease consultant Dr Chow Ting Soo , who is leading the team of 16 physicians and pharmacists, said they were gathering data and comparing the safety and effectiveness of four treatment protocols using different combinations of remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon beta, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.The team’s effort is a research initiative by the World Health Organization under the Solidarity Trial.
In an interview with The Star, Dr Chow said the main findings from all studies consistently showed that the elderly, patients with underlying chronic medical illnesses and obesity were at risk of developing severe Covid-19 that required care in the intensive care unit . “But some researchers in San Diego have reported that it has the potential to increase the number of spike proteins on the coronavirus and hence, boost the ability to infect human cells by a factor of 10.
She said her local cohort had found that the disease transmission was likely to occur a few days before and after the onset of symptoms.She said an airborne transmission could occur in healthcare settings where specific medical procedures could generate small droplets called aerosols. “In the process of data collection and procedures to deal with investigation products, everything must be thorough and complete because one single mistake will create a major catastrophe to the outcome of the study.
To help break the chain of transmission, she reiterated the importance for everyone to adhere to the new norms of avoiding confined or crowded spaces, keeping close conversation short, and using face masks and hand sanitisers.