COVID-19 is still a significant challenge for medical experts around the world as they conduct different trials to develop an effective vaccine.
According to Fox News' latest report, more than 20,000 people will be exposed to COVID-19 in human trials. Meanwhile, medical experts are confirming if UV light can effectively repel the virus.
Also Read: COVID-19 Update: Researchers Have Developed a Fabric That Can Block The Coronavirus
A yet-to-be formulated "human classified trial" will be led by a group called 1Day Sooner which will be used to speed up the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. The company clarified that the trial is not linked to any entities that are also developing a vaccine.
1Day Sooner is looking for healthy volunteers who have no underlying conditions, between ages 20 and 45. After their call-out, more than 20,000 individuals have already signed up to voluntarily be exposed to the novel coronavirus.
20,000 people signed up to be exposed to COVID-19 in a "human classified trial": UV light can potentially block COVID-19 infection according to experts
According to Fox News, 1Day Sooner co-founder Josh Morrison said that they want to recruit as many volunteers as possible who are willing to participate in the human trials. He also clarified that the public policy decisions will be better informed if people's voices who are willing to participate will be highlighted.
Volunteers for the human challenge trials will be deliberately exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus to help medical experts study the virus and possibly create treatments and vaccines.
Each year, similar trials are also conducted to further study the seasonal flu. St. Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development looked for volunteers who were willing to be exposed to the influenza virus after receiving a placebo of the vaccine, offering them $3,500.
Thirty-five members of the House of Representatives supported the human challenge trials, stating that the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services should allow the human trials.
1Day Sooner gathered 20,000 volunteers from 102 countries for the hypothetical trial. There are no potential dates yet for the trial and could take up to two years to formulate, according to experts. The company clarified that they are aiming to enroll individuals who are already infected by the coronavirus, isolating them in "highly controlled environments under constant observation."
Meanwhile, a new device was developed by experts that could potentially prevent COVID-19 infections using UV light. According to another report of Fox News, a patent-pending system using ultra-violet light developed by Oracle Lighting can be worn under face masks to sanitize the air and neutralize COVID-19.
Oracle Lighting clarified that the current personal air filtrating masks are designed to prevent people from inhaling the particles of COVID-19 using a cloth material to trap the novel coronavirus. However, these masks cannot disinfect or sanitize the particles in the air allowing live viruses, bacterium, and pathogens, or other microorganisms to linger on the fabric surfaces.
A new device called "Antimicrobial Irradiation Respirator" or AIR device was developed which can repel 5% of particles that manage to penetrate N95 masks.
The AIR device, which can be worn on the face and attached with straps just like a traditional face mask, is composed of a small cover made of anti-microbial polymer. The device will be powered by a rechargeable battery pack which can be manually turned on and off.
It will also contain UV-A LEDs in addition to its anti-germicidal LEDs, to provide a wider light spectrum and visible light. UV-A LED will also serve as an indicator if the device is on and working.
