You don’t say

On October 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control finally said that it recommends masks be worn on all public transportation. No, it won’t mandate them — but after seven months of consideration, the agency is now recommending them.

Most U.S. airlines, Amtrak, and many other transport companies already require passengers and staff to wear masks.

But wait, there’s more!

The CDC has also changed its guidance about what constitutes “close contact” with an infected person.

Then: Spending 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone who was infectious.

Now: Spending a cumulative 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone who was infectious in the past 24 hours, even if the time isn’t consecutive.

No more “allegedly”

Purdue Pharma plead guilty to the criminal charges of how it marketed Oxycontin even as the opioid epidemic spread. The penalty*: $8.3 billion. And the Sackler family will pay $225 million as part of a civil settlement.

But this is just one case — the company is still on the hook (and yes, criminal charges may yet be filed against Purdue executives or individual Sacklers).

This federal case against Purdue is distinct from thousands of opioid-related lawsuits against other drug manufacturers, as well as distributors and pharmacy chains, still pending in federal and state courts.

* Or “the cost of doing business,” if you’re cynical

The 1% solution

Penn State researchers have found that diluted baby shampoo (1%) used as a nasal rinse kills the SARS-CoV-19 virus. Most mouthwashes (used orally, not in the nose!) also do the trick if you use them long enough — like, for two minutes.

• Useless against viruses: Neti pot and saline.
• Most useful: Crest Pro‐Health, Listerine Antiseptic
• Also OK, but require more time to work: CVS Antiseptic Mouth Wash, Equate Antiseptic, Listerine Ultra, anything using hydrogen peroxide

WellStar’s ounce of prevention

The supply chain’s been an issue since Covid-19 started spreading (think toilet paper and Lysol). But WellStar wasn’t hit so badly, and doesn’t plan to have issues during a second wave, either. Becker’s Hospital Review has an interview with the guy who oversaw the planning — Michael McCullough, senior vice president of supply chain.

Lilly’s bad week continues

First its Covid vaccine test was halted. Now FDA inspectors didn’t like what they saw at the company’s Branchburg, N.J. plant that’s making bamlanivimab. It recommended that Lilly receive a Strongly Worded Letter™ about the conditions.

In an Oct. 2 memo, Food and Drug Administration compliance officers wrote that findings from an inspection of the facility in July and August “support a major failure of quality assurance.” They noted that Lilly planned to make its antibody therapy at the plant and said the inspection group “feels it is still imperative that FDA take action.”

Yikes

Georgia has 159 counties, and 159 probate judges. One in 10 has contracted Covid-19, and three have died so far.

This won’t get the conspiracy theorists yappin’

Penn State researchers are working on on-skin printing of sensors that could monitor vital signs. And once every American submits to this electronic tattoo, it can be used to warn of, say, Covid-19 symptoms.

Almost as cool as a barcode on the forehead

Something is wrong with 38 percent of Americans

“[American Psychiatric Association] poll shows 62% of Americans more anxious now vs. this time last year“.

Stat of the day, from the CDC

From 2017 through 2019, 65.3 percent of women used contraception. Of note: That broad term includes female sterilization (18.1%), oral contraceptives (14.0%), long-acting reversible contraceptives (10.4%), and condoms (8.4%).