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Vaccine Tech 30 Years in the Making Is Getting Put to the Ultimate Test

Emily Mullin

August 21, 2020 |

Medium |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

A key set of entrants in the race to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine use a genetic approach that has shown promising but preliminary results in human safety trials. Genetic vaccines, which have been in development for 30 years but have never undergone large-scale clinical trials or been used widely, differ from traditional vaccines, which inject a form of an actual pathogen to trigger an immune response. DNA and RNA vaccines can be developed much more quickly by using a small piece of genetic code to instruct a body's response. Initial human safety trials worked enough to move to large-scale tests.

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For Quick Coronavirus Testing, Israel Turns to a Clever Algorithm

David Halbfinger

August 21, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Israel, Beersheba

The Israeli government is preparing to roll out a new form of pooled testing as the count of COVID-19 cases continues to increase. The methodology, which has already shown promise as a successful pilot project, works more efficiently than other pooled-testing efforts by using a combinatorial algorithm that was "developed a decade ago to speed the detection of rare genetic mutations."

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Why did 77 Ohio prisoners die of COVID-19, but just 10 in Pennsylvania?

Brie Zeltner Cid Standifer

August 21, 2020 |

Eye On Ohio |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania prisons' relatively uncrowded conditions and approach to releasing people early when the pandemic hit have limited deaths in its prisons, making people incarcerated in Pennsylvania less than half as likely to die of COVID-19 as free Pennsylvanians. In neighboring Ohio, where COVID cases appeared simultaneously, the prison death rate has been nearly seven times higher than Pennsylvania's. Ohio's prisons are far more crowded, they rely much more on dorm-style housing, and their early-release rules were much more restrictive.

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How Ashland SWCD uses art to teach stormwater management

Katie Ellington

August 21, 2020 |

Richland Source |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ashland, Ohio

As a way to raise funds and awareness for stormwater education, some cities are turning rain barrels into an art exhibit. Rain barrels catch water as it runs off rooftops, which can be used later for watering plants. It also reduces the amount of water that picks up pollutants and is carried into waterways. The Ashland Soil and Water Conservancy District in Ohio featured 10 rain barrels painted by local artists, allowing residents to vote and bid on their favorite design. Their efforts were inspired by a similar event in Indiana where they’ve auctioned 100 barrels for residents to use at home.

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Can an Army of Feral Cats Solve New York City's Rat Problem?

Brendan Crowley

August 14, 2020 |

InsideHook |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York's Hard Hat Cats turns feral cats into working animals, deploying teams in outdoor spaces and indoor workplaces with rat infestations. Breweries, a prison, and other buildings have seen their rat populations plummet once cats are welcomed and cared for. The feral cats come from colonies of rehabilitated animals who have been trapped and neutered. The colonies prove less annoying to people once they are fed. Despite a lack of help from city officials, the working cats have earned their keep by addressing a problem that New Yorkers often complain about.

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On Native American Land, Contact Tracing Is Saving Lives

Gina Kolata

August 13, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

As coronavirus spread throughout the White Mountain Apache tribe in Arizona residents on the reservation turned to contact tracing – not to slow the spread, but to identify those who were high risk and may be infected with the virus, before they became too ill to recover. This strategy focused on testing blood oxygen levels and has resulted in a far lower mortality rate among the tribe as compared to the state. Now, researchers think it could serve as a model for other "hard-to-reach" communities.

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The faces behind the Apthamitra helpline for COVID-19 in Karnataka

Vinay B.S.

August 13, 2020 |

The News Minute |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Karnataka

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, with its medical care system already overwhelmed, the government of Karnataka collaborated with businesses to start the Apthamitra helpline. More than 7,000 people per day could connect via a mobile app to doctors on call. A triage system determined if people could be helped remotely, or if they needed higher-level care. Though no substitute for an adequate healthcare infrastructure, the helpline provided immediate counseling and connections to services for people fearful of getting infected or getting sicker.

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Aquarium Fish, Hold the Cyanide

Stephenie Livingston

August 13, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Bali

LINI for Reef to Aquarium, works with local villagers to implement sustainable fishing practices and restore reef habitats damaged by neurotoxins used to catch fish for the saltwater aquarium fish trade. LINI, with the community’s help, installed cement domes to provide refuges for ornamental fish in 2008. These alternative spots for collecting fish effectively removed pressure from natural reefs and by 2011, live coral cover had increased by 35% and continues to do well today. Villagers also started a land-based breeding program to take pressure off of the coral reefs.

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Childcare centers see low COVID-19 transmission

Shaun Griswold

August 12, 2020 |

New Mexico In Depth |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Mexico

Although the pandemic has brought on its own unique challenges, childcare centers in New Mexico have developed safe and effective techniques to keep children and workers safe. At the UNM Children's campus, children are limited to small groups, which reduces the risk of transmission if anyone tests positive. Other centers have implemented multiple screening levels during a child's arrival, before joining their groups. “Masks are not a political issue for 3 and 4-year-olds. Nor are they a threat to their freedom or anything else," said Kathrine Freeman, director of Santa Fe’s United Way Early Learning Center.

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Could Mecklenburg County learn from a New Jersey city's contact tracing success?

Nate Morabito

August 07, 2020 |

WCNC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Paterson, New Jersey

Paterson, NJ became a national leader using contact tracing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Health department employees persistently and “aggressively” tracked down as many people as possible who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus. To reach those who hung up on contact tracers or wouldn’t return calls, the health department coordinated with community police officers who left letters at their homes or workplaces urging them to return calls and take precautions. The program is credited with significantly reducing the virus’ spread and is seen as a model for other locations to achieve success.

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