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A nursing home in Texas has been using an unproven drug to treat people who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to NPR.
A doctor at The Resort at Texas City, a nursing home in Texas City, reportedly distributed the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to many of the elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The drug, which has not been officially approved for the treatment of the coronavirus, is being used by the physician and he is tracking the outcomes in what he’s calling an “observational study.”
The drug has been mentioned several times by President Donald Trump as a game-changer, yet, the nation’s leading health experts don’t yet agree with the assessment Trump has levied about the drug in its fight against COVID-19. As reported by NPR, “Some of the nation’s most respected health officials have said there is insufficient evidence showing that the 80-year-old drug, which is typically used to stave off malaria or treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, is a viable treatment in battling the new virus.” In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
Robin Armstrong, a physician and the medical director of the nursing home, has made the controversial decision to administer hydroxychloroquine last week. “It’s actually going well. People are getting better,” Armstrong told NPR, stating that after just a couple of days, some of the 39 patients on the medication are showing signs of improvement.
Scientists and health officials are concerned about the drug as it is known to have serious negative health impacts. “To be clear, no one is worse than when they started,” Armstrong said emphatically. “From my perspective, it’s irresponsible to sit back and do nothing. The alternative would have been much much worse.”
People are also concerned about the political connections Armstrong had in getting the drugs. Armstrong called Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and he reached out to Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, also a Republican, who knew someone on the board of the New Jersey-based company Amneal Pharmaceuticals. The company, which makes and distributes the drug, has donated more than a million tablets nationwide, including to the states of Texas and Louisiana.
Armstrong has also acknowledged that some of the families were not aware their relatives were being given the drug, saying that “for the most part,” he consulted with each nursing home resident prior to giving them the tablets.
On Easter, Jennifer Lopez and Sean “Diddy” Combs kept us entertained with a light-hearted dance competition, and spoke to the heroism of those on the front lines.
Since the novel coronavirus broke, there have been DJs and singers holding concerts and helping us get through social distancing. We’ve had comedians making us laugh and Andrea Bocelli performing a live stream Easter concert from the Duomo di Milano. Yesterday, Lopez and Combs, both 50, joined in on the fun, showing us their best dance moves in an Instagram Live dance-a-thon, which raised money for Direct Relief, a charity that brings critical medical equipment to poorer communities.
Diddy’s dance-a-thon, which later featured Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Shaq, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Kelly Rowland, Maluma, according to Billboard, brought in more than $3.4 million in donations for Direct Relief. Direct Relief is a non-profit coordinating the distribution of protective equipment (masks, gloves, and gowns,) to healthcare personnel across the country.
While the dancing and celebrity faces brought levity to those quarantined around the world due to the coronavirus, Lopez and her fiancé, Alex Rodriguez, 44, along with Combs paused for a moment to talk about those on the front line.
“Our whole life is about being committed to something, about having drive, about inspiring other people,” Lopez shares during her segment. “I can’t think of anybody right now who is doing that better than the health care workers, who are literally inspiring everybody to just think bigger. And to put yourself on the line to help others is the ultimate sacrifice.”
“It’s just a beautiful thing and it’s almost unimaginable what they are doing with their lives.” She continues. “It is hard to explain… I’m having trouble trying to find the words.”
At that moment, Puff jumped in and offered the words the triple threat entertainer was searching for, “It’s like heroic. The courage is something that I have to ask myself would I…”
Then the two, while A-Rod watched on in agreement, marveled about the conditions that these medical professionals are exposed to, even without the proper protective gear to execute their jobs safely.
“… and it’s so many health care workers who are going risking their lives, not seeing their families… they haven’t been tested… It’s like sending them out there detonating a bomb without a bomb suit.”
Lopez chimed in with disbelief, “Without no protection!”
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Actress/recording artist Jennifer Lopez (L) and Sean Combs attend Jennifer Lopez’s 2015 American Music Awards After Party hosted by CÎROC with Cross Pens (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for ABA)
The two also recognized that many of the places that workers are being pulled from are areas heavily populated with Black and Brown working-class people like their hometowns, Harlem or the Bronx. Combs stressed that this is why they are donating. Direct Funds will make sure that the funds go to the inner-city communities and those most impacted on multiple levels by this pandemic.
A-Rod offered his thoughts on their roles as celebrities to bring attention to the social justice element regarding health care professionals that often gets overlooked.
“The three of us all come from New York. We come from the bottom. These people, they are the real heroes. Sometimes they get it twisted saying that athletes or entertainers [are], but they are the heroes on the frontline protecting us and doing God’s work.”
After speaking about the crisis, A-Rod and Diddy had a moment that was cool for fans to see: A-Rod told the mogul that he liked his hat. Combs was rocking a Yankees fitted, the team that the 14 times All-Star helped win The Championship in 2009. That’s when Lopez dropped a bomb on her old ex about her new love. She revealed that A-Rod is one of the biggest Bad Boy fans around.
“Puffy, Puffy… You have to know this,” Lopez says. “This guy right here is your biggest fan from the Bad Boy era. You and Mase are his heroes.”
“Every party we do, he is like put on Puffy and Mase.”
That’s when Diddy recommends that they throw on a jam from that era, selecting the “Been Around The World” Remix. Rightfully so. In the video, Lopez makes an extraordinary appearance, making Diddy dazzle as a dancer.
“Hey, I love you guys, I can’t wait until we can see each other again. May God bless y’all, and I just love you guys!” Combs said to Lopez and Rodriguez.
“Love you, buddy!” the former Yankees star shot back. Lopez also said, “We love you! We love what you’re doing, we love everybody out there. We want to send you all the love in the world, from our family to yours.”
While his children exchanged cordialities to Lopez and Rodriguez, Combs exclaimed, “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Combs and Lopez once dated before calling it quits in 2001. Since then, they have remained friendly and even reunited in 2018 when Lopez wrapped up her All I Have Las Vegas residency.
Meanwhile, Lopez also hit up Instagram to post pictures as she celebrated Easter with her family.
“Just want to wish everybody an amazing and happy Easter. I know these are challenging times,” Lopez said in an IG video clip that showed her in a selfie and a picture of her, Rodriguez and their kids using a bunny filter.
A nursing home in Texas has been using an unproven drug to treat people who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to NPR.
A doctor at The Resort at Texas City, a nursing home in Texas City, reportedly distributed the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to many of the elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The drug, which has not been officially approved for the treatment of the coronavirus, is being used by the physician and he is tracking the outcomes in what he’s calling an “observational study.”
The drug has been mentioned several times by President Donald Trump as a game-changer, yet, the nation’s leading health experts don’t yet agree with the assessment Trump has levied about the drug in its fight against COVID-19. As reported by NPR, “Some of the nation’s most respected health officials have said there is insufficient evidence showing that the 80-year-old drug, which is typically used to stave off malaria or treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, is a viable treatment in battling the new virus.” In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
Robin Armstrong, a physician and the medical director of the nursing home, has made the controversial decision to administer hydroxychloroquine last week. “It’s actually going well. People are getting better,” Armstrong told NPR, stating that after just a couple of days, some of the 39 patients on the medication are showing signs of improvement.
Scientists and health officials are concerned about the drug as it is known to have serious negative health impacts. “To be clear, no one is worse than when they started,” Armstrong said emphatically. “From my perspective, it’s irresponsible to sit back and do nothing. The alternative would have been much much worse.”
People are also concerned about the political connections Armstrong had in getting the drugs. Armstrong called Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and he reached out to Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, also a Republican, who knew someone on the board of the New Jersey-based company Amneal Pharmaceuticals. The company, which makes and distributes the drug, has donated more than a million tablets nationwide, including to the states of Texas and Louisiana.
Armstrong has also acknowledged that some of the families were not aware their relatives were being given the drug, saying that “for the most part,” he consulted with each nursing home resident prior to giving them the tablets.
He’s been laying low for a minute, but Q-Tip is coming back to the solo music scene. In fact, the rapper/producer is gearing up to release not one, not two...but three new projects.
