COVID-19 is constantly evolving, which led Denver’s newspaper to compile what scientists have learned in the last few months. UTMB’s Vineet Menachery explains that the virus is found both in the upper airway and deep in the lungs, which mean the virus, spreads relatively easy and can also cause severe pneumonia. According to Menachery, it is relatively rare for a virus to do both. The Boulder Daily Camera and The Loveland Reporter-Herald also published this story.

The COVID-19 Drug Discovery Consortium, an international team of computational scientists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, and virologists have come together quickly to identify drug-like molecules that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. “We are uniquely positioned for this,” said UTMB’s Stan Watowich. “We’ve done it for a long time. We know lots of players.”

A local photographer has been going around Texas and photographing first responders fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently met up with first responders in League City where he spoke with UTMB’s Christine Wade and Ken Harkey.

Researchers at UTMB have determined that it is possible to disinfect single-use surgical masks and N95 filtering masks, allowing health care workers to reuse the PPE. UTMB’s Miguel Grimaldo and his team used an autoclave to clean the masks. Even after a third cleaning, the masks were still found to be 99 percent as effective as new masks. Houston’s 93.7 The Beat radio also published this information along with other iHEART stations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has health care professionals dealing with long hours and many unknowns. In this local story, UTMB’s Shawn Nishi and Susan McLellan discuss what their lives have been like as they treat patients battling the illness One of McLellan’s patients who participated in the Remdesivir drug trial was also interviewed for the story.

A $2.5M donation from The Moody Foundation will help UTMB continue making advances in core mission areas: research, patient care and education. “These generous gifts come at a crucial time for the medical branch and will help us to continue making progress in many different and important fields while also dealing with a worldwide pandemic,” said president ad interim, Dr. Ben Raimer. The Houston Business Journal also reported the Moody Foundation’s donation.

In this interview with the Brazoria County newspaper, Katrina Lambrecht discusses UTMB’s reopening of non-COVID related clinical services. “We understand now that we are going to be living with COVID for some time to come,” said Lambrecht. “We just want to make sure that people are also taking care of their other regular health care needs – that they aren’t afraid to get care.”

Brazoria County residents quickly gathered to show their appreciation for all of the hard work and care provided by nurses, doctors and first responders at UMTB’s Angleton-Danbury Campus, by participating in a parade at the campus. “We wanted to do something special,” said UTMB’s Tonya Visor, who helped organize the parade. “This is about honoring our heroes.”

UTMB’s Thomas Ksiazek is one of the experts providing advice in this story. Ksiazek recommended hand washing as one of the best tools to prevent illness, and noted that commuting on a packed train during rush hour is the antithesis of social distancing. MSN also distributed the tips.

In the midst of the pandemic, there has been an increase in single-use disposable items, but experts say those items are not always safer. Some are even questioning sanitation procedures in their own home, but UTMB’s Vineet Menachery says that is an unnecessary concern, as plain old soap and water does the trick.