News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2020/04/08

COVID-19 Update - Continuity of Care. rcdso.org, Apr 7: The College has received a large number of calls from patients who believe they may have a dental emergency but cannot find a dentist to see them. In some cases, their regular dentist has closed the office and left a voicemail message, directing them to a local hospital, a local dental emergency service or even the College for assistance. During this exceptional time, this is not adequate or appropriate. Read more

COVID-19: les imprimantes 3D à la rescousse de la santé. lequotidien.com, 7 avril : Grâce à des partenaires et à la collaboration de propriétaires d’imprimantes 3D de partout en province, l’entreprise de Québec produit des visières médicales. Lire plus

Here's how to get emergency dental care in Nova Scotia during COVID-19. cbc.ca, Apr 6: Those needing emergency dental work being steered toward 6 emergency dental clinics in Halifax, Sydney. Read more

Ottawa, banks near deal on coronavirus small business loans. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 5: Canada’s banks spent the weekend in intensive talks with Ottawa to iron out details of a program that will give interest-free loans to small businesses suffering due to the new coronavirus, but the length of time needed to process those loans has become a key point of discussion. Read more

Six-week wait for wage subsidy may be too long for some businesses and their employees caught in coronavirus crisis. business.financialpost.com, Apr 6: New system under Canada Revenue Agency will take weeks to hand out money, while Canadian banks could have done the job in 48 hours, say observers. Read more

How Aviva is responding to dentists’ COVID-19 claims. canadianunderwriter.ca, Apr 2: Aviva Canada is promising guidance to dentists who want to submit claims arising from provincial government orders shutting down non-essential services. Read more

Dentist: Restrictions needed given 'very serious' COVID-19 situation. thechronicleherald.ca, Apr 2: Recent legislative changes have eased restrictions around the need to see patients face to face. … dentists also can now phone in prescriptions to their patients’ pharmacies, such as antibiotics for an infected tooth. Read more

Emergency dental clinic to open in Nelson during COVID-19 shutdowns - Only people with serious pain, infection, or trauma will be admitted. nelsonstar.com, Apr 2: … a group of Nelson dentists who have created the Emergency Community Dental Clinic during the COVID-19 outbreak, which will start offering services next week. Read more

Quebec dentists work hard to keep pressure off the health system amid COVID-19. montreal.ctvnews.ca, Apr 2: Though dental offices across the province have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have taken it upon themselves to keep up with patients’ needs on their own time. Read more

Coronavirus: Are dentists open during the lockdown? bbc.com, Apr 8: The British Dental Association says dentists in England are being bombarded by calls from patients in real pain, but there is often nowhere to send them. Read more

State directs California dental practices to postpone all non-urgent dental services. cda.org, Apr 7: The guidance directs dentists to suspend providing dental care with the exception of emergencies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Read more

Smile Direct Club Provides Dental Community Tools to Maintain Patient Contact During Social Distancing. stockwatch.com, Apr 6: SmileDirectClub … announced it is opening its proprietary teledentistry platform to any licensed dentist or orthodontist in the United States to help them communicate with their patients while their physical offices are closed or limited to emergency procedures. Read more

Dentist: ‘Dental emergencies do not belong in the ER’. kxan.com, Apr 7: At present, with the coronavirus pandemic, some dentists have decided to close. That’s left some with aching mouths confused on where to turn, with some thinking an ER or urgent care is the best option. Read more

Two-thirds of US dental offices now closed, Baird survey shows. coronavirus.dental-tribune.com, Apr 6: Office closures have increased and patient volumes have declined, but there are positive signs that at least some of the cascading figures in dental demand are showing signs of bottoming out. Read more

TeleDentistry leader MouthWatch appoints TeleDent COVID-19 Advisory Board. dentistryiq.com, Apr 3: Advisors will provide guidance on teledentistry-delivered urgent care and expanding teledentistry beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

SmileDirectClub to furlough workers in response to coronavirus. marketwatch.com, Apr 3: The teeth-straightening device company said it was extending closure of its retail stores, except those in Hong Kong, until at least May 3, and pulled its guidance for the year. Read more

ADA releases interim guidance on minimizing COVID-19 transmission risk when treating dental emergencies. ada.org, Apr 1: Resources discuss how to proceed before, during, after treatment. Read more

HPI poll examines impact of COVID-19 on dental practices. ada.org, Apr 1: Data to help shape ADA response to pandemic. Read more

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world Wednesday. cbc.ca, Apr 8: Doctors, nurses demand government fill 'unacceptable' gaps in protective gear on front lines. More help on way for those not eligible for emergency aid programs. Doctors investigate rare COVID-19 symptoms in effort to move quickly from anecdotes to science. INTERACTIVE | Tracking the coronavirus in Canada, and more. Read more

COVID-19 au Canada : ce qu’il faut retenir aujourd’hui. ici.radio-canada.ca, 8 avril : Comme promis par le gouvernement fédéral, les premiers versements de la Prestation canadienne d'urgence ont été versés aux Canadiens qui ont perdu leur emploi ou qui doivent composer avec des baisses de revenu. Lire plus

University of Guelph Research Behind COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits for Patients and Surfaces. news.uguelph.ca, Apr 7: A portable, inexpensive diagnostic test kit for COVID-19 based on University of Guelph research is being used to confirm coronavirus infection in patients in Europe and to detect the virus on surfaces and products from hospitals to grocery stores in the United States. Read more

MUHC researchers to broaden hydroxychloroquine trial to all eligible candidates. montrealgazette.com, Apr 7: Researchers at the McGill University Health Centre have broadened a clinical trial to assess whether the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can prevent people from contracting COVID-19 after exposure to the novel coronavirus and decrease complications and deaths related to the disease. Read more

Jewish General set to roll out game-changing app in coronavirus battle. montrealgazette.com, Apr 8: Medical staff and patients at the Jewish General Hospital will be using a potentially powerful new tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming days — a smartphone app that will allow users to monitor their vital signs by simply staring into their phone’s screen. Read more

How a simple plastic box could protect health-care workers across Canada from COVID-19. cbc.ca, Apr 8: Clinicians, entrepreneurs teamed up to build 'COVID Box' shields for patient intubation. Read more

Ontario hospitals being asked to not throw out used face masks. ctvnews.ca, Apr 7: Ontario hospitals are being asked to stop throwing away any used personal protective equipment as the Ministry of Health investigates whether face masks can be sanitized and reused amid a province-wide shortage. Read more

Pandemic equipment snarls will rewrite Canada's definition of national security needs, say experts. cbc.ca, Apr 8: For years, there have been quiet but persistent demands coming out of the defence and acquisition sectors for successive federal governments to develop a list of "strategic industries" that do not have to rely on foreign supply chains — as insurance against the kind of procurement panic in play right now. Those calls were largely ignored. Now, defence experts are saying the COVID-19 crisis is a costly wake-up call. Read more

Coronavirus: How rapid testing kits could lead to more targeted screenings. globalnews.ca, Apr 6: Amid criticism about a lack of widespread testing for COVID-19, Ottawa and the provinces have turned to rapid testing kits to help reduce the test backlogs, and this could change how people are selected for quarantine when lockdowns are lifted. Read more

Coronavirus takes deadly toll on Canada's nursing homes. ca.reuters.com, Apr 7: With deaths in nursing homes making up almost half of Canada’s coronavirus deaths, provinces are taking control of their workforces, boosting care workers’ wages and redeploying health inspectors from hospitals to curb the virus’ spread among seniors. Read more

Experts conclude there is no evidence to support a link between COVID-19 and vaping. globenewswire.com, Apr 8: The Canadian Vaping Association is disturbed by the numerous misinformed reports that vaping is linked to COVID-19 susceptibility and complications. Read more

Anything can be COVID-19: As pandemic grinds on, doctors find early definitions of disease were too narrow. nationalpost.com, Apr 7: 'We're seeing so many strange presentations of this that basically we're in a state where almost anybody coming in with anything is a potential COVID case.' Read more

35 COVID-19 cases on First Nations: Indigenous Services Canada. globalnews.ca, Apr 7: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) says it’s aware of 35 positive tests of COVID-19 in First Nations communities as of April 6. Read more

Nearly 1M Canadians applied for emergency COVID-19 benefits on Day 1. cbc.ca, Apr 7: Nearly one million Canadians filed for income support benefits on the first day the emergency COVID-19 program was open for applications. Read more

Ottawa wants to loosen rules for the COVID-19 wage subsidy allowing more people to benefit. thestar.com, Apr 7: According to a draft of the bill, Ottawa is now willing to cover the majority of wages for businesses that lost 15 per cent of their revenue in March, instead of the steeper 30 per cent the government had proposed earlier. Read more

‘It’s mystifying’: Ontario using less than a quarter of COVID-19 testing capacity. The Toronto Star, Apr 7: Ontario is using less than a quarter of its capacity to test for COVID-19, despite the mounting death toll and calls from experts that more tests need to be done to get an accurate picture of the spread of the virus. See attached

CIBC’s Dodig says coronavirus will have a more profound global impact than 9/11. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 8: Dodig expects the Canadian economy could face a small recession, with several quarters of back-to-back GDP contraction. Read more

Canada's top doctor says non-medical masks can help stop the spread of COVID-19. cbc.ca, Apr 6: The new advice represents a reversal for Tam, who has been reluctant to recommend the use of masks. Read more

Ottawa conseille finalement de porter un masque. ledevoir.com, 7 avril : La consigne n’est pas universelle : l’administratrice en chef de la santé publique, la Dre Theresa Tam, conseille simplement de se masquer le visage lorsque la distanciation physique est impossible. Lire plus

3M makes deal with White House, says Canada will continue to receive N95 masks. ctvnews.ca, Apr 6: One of America's largest manufacturers of medical face masks rode to Canada's rescue Monday, forging an agreement with the White House that allows it to provide millions of its precious N95 respirators to the U.S. market without sacrificing supply bound for north of the border. Read more

3M faces pressure from Trump order to stop exporting N95 masks to Canada. cbc.ca, April 3: In the release, 3M also warns that any such move could actually backfire on the U.S. and impact the supply of masks and other medical equipment. Read more

Ottawa and the provinces are navigating a ‘Wild West’ in the medical supply market. theglobeandmail.com, April 6: The race to equip Canada’s front-line workers with vital protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic has become intensely competitive as government officials at all levels try to secure critical supplies. Read more

Research ramps up on blood test to screen thousands for COVID-19 immunity. newswire.ca, Apr 7: A team of researchers at Sinai Health and the University of Toronto is in the early stages of developing a blood test that can identify who is immune to COVID-19 on a mass scale. Read more

Canada begins clinical trial of experimental COVID-19 treatment using plasma from recovered individuals. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 6: A team of blood transfusion experts from across Canada is planning the world’s largest clinical trial of a potential treatment for COVID-19. Read more

Des tests prometteurs pour détecter rapidement la COVID-19. ici.radio-canada.ca, 6 avril : Grâce à un petit appareil semblable à celui qu'utilisent les personnes glycémiques et qui prélève une goutte de sang, le coronavirus serait détecté en quelques minutes. Lire et écouter 8:42

Doctors testing locally-made device to combat COVID-19 spread. princegeorgecitizen.com, Apr 6: Doctors at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. are testing a device built in Prince George that could help keep medical staff safe when intubating a patient with COVID-19. Read more

First COVID-19 case surfaces in northwestern Ontario Indigenous community. nationalpost.com, Apr 6: A military hospital is needed in a remote Ontario Indigenous community now that the COVID-19 pandemic has reached the area, the chief of the First Nation said. Read more

Why B.C. is flattening the COVID-19 curve while numbers in central Canada surge. cbc.ca, Apr 6: Luck and timing is part of the equation — but leadership at the top could also play a role. Read more

Canada may have 100,000 more COVID-19 cases than the numbers show. macleans.ca, Apr 6 [OPINION]: Yoni Freedhoff: Reporting on the estimated number of undetected, SARS-CoV2-infected and contagious individuals might impact people's behaviour when it comes to physical distancing and staying home. Read more

Domestic Violence During a Pandemic – The Agenda with Steve Paikin. tvo.org, Apr 6: Reports of domestic violence are spiking in countries around the world as people are staying indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, trapping some victims with their abusers. Listen 25:15

Consulting firm urging government for non-punitive RRSP withdrawal plan. benefitscanada.ca, Apr 6: George & Bell Consulting Inc. is calling on the federal government to allow non-punitive withdrawals from registered retirement savings plans for Canadians to meet their short-term financial needs. Read more

Firm founded by U of T alumnus to supply Ontario with nearly one million portable COVID-19 test kits. utoronto.ca, Apr 3: The Government of Ontario is purchasing nearly one million portable COVID-19 test kits from Spartan Bioscience, a biotech firm led by a University of Toronto alumnus. The portable Spartan Cubes, which drew the attention of the federal government last month, can provide results in as little as 30 minutes. Read more

Essai clinique sur l'hydroxychloroquine au CUSM. larpesse.ca, 6 avril : (Montréal) Des chercheurs de l’Institut de recherche du Centre universitaire de santé McGill ont lancé un essai clinique pour évaluer si l’hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) peut empêcher les gens de contracter la COVID-19 après une exposition au virus du SRAS-CoV2 et si elle peut réduire les complications et les décès liés à la maladie. Lire plus

UBC-led study finds trial drug can significantly block early stages of COVID-19 in engineered human tissues. med.ubc.ca, Apr 2: An international team led by University of British Columbia researcher Dr. Josef Penninger has found a trial drug that effectively blocks the cellular door SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses to infect its hosts. Read more

Canada looking to disinfect used masks, Tam asks they not be thrown away. nationalnewswatch.com, Apr 5: Canadian hospitals should not throw out used face masks and other protective equipment because public health officials are investigating whether it will be possible to disinfect and reuse them, Canada's public health chief said Sunday. Read more

Medicom to begin manufacturing N95 masks in Canada as foreign countries curb exports. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 5: AMD Medicom Inc., which is based in Pointe-Claire, Que., is aiming to open its first mask factory in Canada by July. It will supply 30 million to 50 million surgical and fine particle-blocking N95 masks a year to Ottawa under a long-term agreement, generating $10-million to $20-million in annual sales. Read more

'Mask wars' risk setting back global fight against coronavirus. cbc.ca, Apr 6: Global competition for supplies among Western nations spikes. When the crisis is over, there will be tough questions to be answered and explanations to be sought over how so many leading countries found themselves short of masks and other life-saving protective equipment. Read more

Health workers fear lack of gear. winnipegfreepress.com, Apr 6: As Canada faces a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, those working in long-term care and home care capacities are "terrified" not enough equipment is trickling down to keep both them and their clients safe. Read more

'Never felt this level of stress': Geriatric doctor on the virus' spread, treating COVID-19. ctvnews.ca, Apr 5: A Toronto hospital doctor who specializes in treating the elderly says that the rising death toll in an Ontario long-term care facility exposes how COVID-19 can “spread like wildfire,” in these facilities. Read more

How is COVID-19 affecting other medical procedures? ctvnews.ca, Apr 5: As hospitals prepare for an increase in COVID-19 cases, provinces have cancelled elective and non-urgent surgeries to free up intensive care. But some non-elective surgeries are also on hold, causing concern for patients across the country. Read more

A remote First Nation prepares for its most daunting challenge: limiting the spread of coronavirus. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 6. If the virus gets in, they are a long way from help. With crowded households, many residents in poor health and limited medical facilities, they could be devastated. Read more

Infected health-care workers the source of coronavirus outbreaks at four Ontario hospitals. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 3: Four hospitals in Ontario have declared an outbreak of the coronavirus after dozens of workers tested positive for COVID-19, just as the province braces for the full force of the pandemic. Read more

Prescription change meant to safeguard supply in COVID-19 crisis triples fees for some patients. cbc.ca, April 3: It's a change that's meant to keep prescription drug hoarding and shortages at bay, but critics say it's increasing the cost of medication for those who can least afford it. Read more

Researchers look at humidity as a weapon in the fight against airborne viruses. ctvnews.ca, Apr 3: Doctors, scientists and engineers agree that sufficient indoor air moisture levels can have a powerful but little-understood effect on the transmission of airborne diseases. Read more

Union sounds alarm after patient-care workers asked to break quarantine, return to work. cbc.ca, Apr 2: Quebec's public health institute says return to work after 7 days acceptable, for asymptomatic workers. Quebec's health minister is defending the decision by a regional health board to call patient-care workers who were exposed to COVID-19 back to work before their 14-day quarantine period was up. Read more

Nunavut needs more help from Ottawa to prepare for COVID-19, says Hickes. nunatsiaq.com, Apr 2: Nunavut Health Minister George Hickes says the federal government needs to provide more help to the territory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Ontario long-term care minister defends COVID-19 response despite outbreaks and deaths. ottawa.ctvnews.ca, Apr 2: Dr. Merrilee Fullerton says there are presently outbreaks at 37 long-term care homes in Ontario. Read more

Feds launch 'Canada COVID-19' app to educate on coronavirus. ctvnews.ca, Apr 01: The free app, known as Canada COVID-19, provides a brief rundown of what the virus is, how it spreads, prevention mechanisms, and reminds users what the primary symptoms are and how to get help when needed. Read more

London researchers testing drug to prevent COVID-19 spread in long-term care homes. london.ctvnews.ca, Apr 1: The drug is called hydroxychloroquine, a tough name that could help in the fight of a tough virus. Read more

Health-care workers make up 1 in 10 known cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. cbc.ca Apr 1: 229 lab-confirmed cases are workers in health-care sector, provincial data reveals. Read more

New COVID-19 Screening Procedures For Health Staff. steinbachonline.com, Apr 1: …the screening measures are being implemented for staff across all areas of the Manitoba Health system, beginning with those who are working in acute and long term care facilities. Read more

More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus. ctvnews.ca, Apr 1: Scientists offered more evidence Wednesday that the coronavirus is spread by seemingly healthy people who show no clear symptoms, and the U.S. government issued new guidance warning that anyone exposed to the disease can be considered a carrier. Read more

Is an 'echo pandemic' of mental illness coming after COVID-19? ctvnews.ca, Apr 1: The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 ravages the lungs in some who get infected, but it is certainly wreaking havoc with the mental health of virtually everyone, whether it touches them or not. Read more

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). who.int, Apr 8: Situation Report – 78. Read more

Coronavirus Live Updates: Democrats Call for $500 Billion in Additional Funds, Double the White House Request. nytimes.com, Apr 8: Here’s what you need to know. Read more

Coronavirus live news: global trade forecast to fall by up to a third as US sees highest one-day death toll. theguardian.com, Apr 8: Scientists predict UK will be worst-hit country in Europe; Trump threatens to stop WHO funding; Global cases pass 1.4 million, and more Read more

Advaite Deploys COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Test Kits To Chester County And Collaborates With Pennsylvania Companies To Scale Up Manufacturing. prnewswire.com, Apr 7: ... The Advaite RapCov™ Rapid COVID-19 antibody test kit was developed in collaboration with Dr. Jun Xing, Windsor, Canada using a proprietary technology (US IP pending). Read more

BioLab Sciences to Distribute Rapid Antibody Test for COVID-19. digitaljournal.com, Apr 8: BioLab Sciences announced they are now distributing tests to detect antibodies specific to 2019n-CoV in humans. Read more

The coronavirus is infecting and killing black Americans at an alarmingly high rate. washingtonpost.com, Apr 7: The emerging stark racial disparity led the surgeon general Tuesday to acknowledge in personal terms the increased risk for African Americans amid growing demands that public-health officials release more data on the race of those who are sick, hospitalized and dying of a contagion. Read more

Global sales of mental-health drugs could hit US$40B by 2025 due to coronavirus. benefitscanada.com, Apr 7: The mental-health repercussions of the coronavirus could see global sales of psychiatric drugs increase to more than US$40 billion by 2025, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. Read more

COVID-19 seems to be hitting smokers more severely, scientists warn. ctvnews.ca, Apr 6: With COVID-19 cases soaring, health care officials are trying to get ahead of the worst by looking at who is most at risk of ending up in the ICU and on ventilators if they catch the virus. High on that list is smokers. Read more

Experts urge smokers and tobacco firms to quit for COVID-19. reuters.com, Apr 6: Health experts on Monday urged smokers to quit and cigarette companies to stop producing and selling tobacco products to help reduce the risks from COVID-19. Read more

Glaxo to Develop Covid-19 Drugs in $250 Million Partnership. bnnbloomberg.ca, Apr 6: U.K. pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc is joining dozens of companies in the hunt for therapies to treat the illness caused by the coronavirus, signing a partnership with Vir Biotechnology Inc. and agreeing to invest $250 million in the U.S. company. Read more

Serological coronavirus testing could be key to economic reopening. axios.com, Apr 6: America's economy won't reopen anytime soon, despite frantic CEO whispers, but a glimmer of hope may be emerging in the form of serological testing. Read more

U.S. company poised to start COVID-19 vaccine safety test. ctvnews.ca, Apr 6: Inovio Pharmaceuticals said Monday that it has Food and Drug Administration permission for the study in 40 healthy volunteers in Philadelphia and Kansas City. Read more

Coronavirus might spread much farther than 6 feet in the air. CDC says wear a mask in public. usatoday.com, Apr 3: Air contaminated with the COVID-19 virus might travel four times farther than the 6 feet the CDC asks we distance ourselves, according to a recent study. Read more

CDC launches studies to get more precise count of undetected Covid-19 cases. statnews.com, Apr 4: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun preliminary studies to try to determine how many Americans have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, an agency official revealed Saturday. Read more

Momentum grows to change medical supply chain from China. thehill.com, Apr 5: … both lawmakers and administration officials say the virus has exposed just how vulnerable the country is as it leans on China and other nations to help provide the tools necessary to combat the pathogen. Read more

Trump promotes use of drug for coronavirus: 'I'm not a doctor. But I have common sense'. thehill.com, Apr 5: President Trump on Sunday forcefully touted the use of hydroxychloroquine as a potential means to combat or even prevent the onset of symptoms from the coronavirus, wading further into a medical debate that has put him at odds with some of his top health experts. Read more

Experts tell White House coronavirus can spread through talking or even just breathing. cnn.com, Apr 2: His letter explains that research at a hospital in China shows the virus can be suspended in the air when doctors and nurses remove protective gear, or when floors are cleaned, or when staff move around. Read more

COMMENTARY: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data. cidrap.umn.edu, Apr 1: In response to the stream of misinformation and misunderstanding about the nature and role of masks and respirators as source control or personal protective equipment (PPE), we critically review the topic to inform ongoing COVID-19 decision-making that relies on science-based data and professional expertise. Read more

New York State Dental Association Coordinates Personal Protection Equipment Donations. prnewswire.com, Apr 2: The New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) is working directly with emergency management leaders across the state to coordinate efforts to collect donated personal protection equipment (PPE). Read more

COVID-19: Global tech experts come together to develop contact tracing apps. nationalpost.com, Apr 1: European scientists and technologists will launch a joint initiative on Wednesday to support the use of digital applications in the fight against coronavirus while complying with the region’s tough privacy laws. Read more

Hackers ‘without conscience’ demand ransom from dozens of hospitals and labs working on coronavirus. fortune.com, Apr 1: At a time when they are struggling to handle an influx of patients suffering from COVID-19 … health-care providers and medical facilities in the U.S. and Europe have seen a surge of ransomware attacks, as criminal groups seek to exploit the crisis to hit the sector when it’s at its most desperate, according to several cybersecurity experts. Read more

COVID-19 update: coronavirus and the pharmaceutical supply chain. europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com, Apr 1: With concerns rising about medicine availability during the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, European Pharmaceutical Review explores how the pharmaceutical supply chain is faring. Read more

White House pressures FDA on unproven Japanese drug. politico.com, March 31: The Trump administration is encouraging regulators to allow a decades-old flu drug to be administered as a possible coronavirus treatment, despite career officials’ concerns about the risks and limited evidence that the drug would work as a coronavirus treatment. Read more

Millions of N95 masks keep surfacing. So why is there still a shortage? vox.com, Apr 1: While global production is ramping up, the shortage of N95 masks is so great that companies, unions, and even average people are scrambling to fill the need. And now, after a number of fortuitous events, millions of N95 masks are appearing in mysterious or unexpected places. Read more

Researchers unraveling role of fungi in early childhood dental health. medicalxpress.com, Apr 6: The research team identified 139 species of fungus that live in human dental plaque, and of those, nine were strongly associated with dental health—in other words they could be contributing to keeping teeth healthy. Read more

Some donor clinics close due to COVID-19, though Canada’s blood agency says inventory is sound. ipolitics.ca, Apr 7: Canadian Blood Services (CBS) has had to shutter some of its clinics because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and experienced an early dip in donations, but the agency claims to have since rallied to sustain its stockpile as it monitors for sudden outbreak-caused changes. Read more

Doctors threaten to leave Alberta after government cuts to fees. cbc.ca, Apr 6: Some doctors in rural Alberta are threatening to leave the province when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, blaming the Alberta government for cuts to fees for hospital and clinic visits. Read more

Coronavirus has sped up Canada’s adoption of telemedicine. Let’s make that change permanent. theconversation.com, Apr 5 [OPINION]: Almost overnight, patients have stopped walking into their doctors’ offices and are instead receiving medical care through online platforms. Read more

Prescription change meant to safeguard supply in COVID-19 crisis triples fees for some patients. cbc.ca, Apr 3: Pharmacies across the country are now filling prescriptions monthly, instead of once every three months; but they're still charging the same dispensing fees per prescription — leaving patients to pay the fees three times as often. Read more

Time to re-think seniors’ housing and long-term care in Canada. Ipolitics.ca, Apr 3 [OPINION]: "Once this disaster is over, it will be high time to rethink the whole model of senior living. Read more

Minister frustrated by Ottawa’s modest compensation for medical travel. nnsl.com, Apr 2: After fighting for years with the federal government to get greater reimbursements for extremely expensive Non-Insured Health Benefits medical travel, Finance and Health Minister George Hickes is threatening to dump the problem in Ottawa’s lap. Read more

John Ivison: Canadians had better brace themselves for an alarming new post-COVID economic world. nationalpost.com, Apr 3 [COMMENT]: Canada needs to become more secure by becoming more self-sufficient. In a new series, the Post examines how a country made wealthy by globalization and trade can also protect itself against pandemics and other unknown future shocks to ensure some of our immense resources and economic power are reserved for our own security. Read more

City reports spike in overdose deaths amid COVID-19 service cuts. nowtoronto.com, Apr 2: Self-isolating requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic and a reduction of services at supervised consumption sites are exacerbating the city's response to the overdose crisis. Read more

COVID-19 pandemic could lead to shortages of drugs, medical devices in Canada for other conditions. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 1: Canadians should brace for drug shortages as COVID-19 disrupts global supply lines, the federal Health Ministry’s top public servant says. Read more

Canadian insurance companies predict changes to premiums, virtual care after COVID-19. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 1: On Tuesday, Sun Life rolled out access to Lumino Health Virtual Care, a platform that allows users to connect with medical professionals digitally by giving them the ability to connect with medical professionals. It’s being offered free of charge until June to group benefits clients enrolled in extended health care benefits — just one sign of how Canada’s most prominent insurance companies are ramping up their virtual care offerings, which they expect to be a boon beyond COVID‑19. Read more

Surge in health-tech innovation could be silver lining in COVID-19 crisis. business.financialpost.com, March 30 [Innovation]: Pandemic already spurring major changes in health care system. Read more

New clinical dental licensure examination to launch in June. ada.org, Apr 6: The Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination, or DLOSCE, is expected to launch in June, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations announced April 2. Read more

New EPA Report: Dental Amalgam Fillings Are Largest User Of USA's Elemental Mercury. prnewswire.com, Apr 2: The data collected shows that dental amalgam accounts for 46.8% of the total elemental mercury used to make products in the USA. Read more

Multiple US health groups have banded together to urge the federal government to relax opioid production limits during the coronavirus crisis. thehill.com, Apr 2: The organizations said hospitals are struggling to obtain enough controlled substances that “are necessary to mechanically ventilate patients safely and effectively.” Read more

FDA Requests Removal of All Ranitidine Products (Zantac) from the Market. fda.gov, Apr 1: FDA Advises Consumers, Patients and Health Care Professionals After New FDA Studies Show Risk to Public Health. Read more

Align Technology Completes Acquisition of exocad, A Global Dental CAD/CAM Software Leader. globalwire.com, Apr 2: Align Technology, Inc. (Align) announced that it has completed the acquisition of privately-held exocad Global Holdings GmbH (exocad), a global leader in the dental CAD/CAM software market. Read more

Polio immunization suspended amid coronavirus pandemic. ctvnews.ca, Apr 2: Health officials attempting to eradicate polio say they are being forced to suspend their mass immunization efforts amid the surging coronavirus pandemic. Read more

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