COVID Deaths Drop in the Hospitalized; Miracle Mouthwash? New Organ Discovered

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COVID-19 death rates are going down in hospitalized patients, suggesting that doctors are learning more about how to treat the virus. (NPR)

A woman in her 30s died from COVID-19 while on a plane from New Mexico to Texas. (BuzzFeed)

The pandemic has resulted in nearly 300,000 more deaths than would be expected in a typical year, according to a CDC report.

As of 8:00 a.m. ET Wednesday, the estimated U.S. COVID-19 toll reached 8,275,093 cases and 221,083 deaths — up 59,488 and 949, respectively, since the same time a day ago.

The FDA has successfully pushed back against President Trump on a few of the issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. (New York Times)

Eli Lilly hired an independent advisor to review problems at its New Jersey plant producing an investigational COVID-19 treatment; federal inspectors identified quality control issues there last week. (Reuters)

Mouthwash and oral rinses can inactivate some forms of coronavirus, researchers found — although the study didn’t look specifically at SARS-CoV-2. (Fox News)

AstraZeneca may resume its U.S. trial of a coronavirus vaccine as early as this week. (Reuters)

Ten people have died at a Kansas nursing home in a COVID-19 outbreak in which all of the home’s 62 residents were infected. (CNN)

A 28-year-old physician’s death exposes the harsh realities of medical training. (Forbes)

Even in places where COVID-19 has diminished, hospitals remain empty. Why? (New York Times)

What’s the best way to persuade someone to take preventive measures against COVID-19? Telling stories often works better than “pretty please.” (CBC)

And how about getting them to take a vaccine? Learning about vaccine efficacy, adverse effects, and duration of protection will persuade them, researchers found. (USA Today)

Which should the Senate focus on: coronavirus relief or confirming Amy Coney Barrett as the next Supreme Court justice? The former, say two-thirds of American voters. (CNBC)

First Lady Melania Trump stayed away from the campaign trail on Tuesday, citing a lingering cough from her bout with COVID-19. (CBS News)

More than three dozen COVID-19 cases have been linked to a fellowship rally held at a Maine church. (NBC News)

In other news:

• A woman figured out she had breast cancer by looking at a viral photo of breast cancer symptoms on lemons. (Yahoo News)
• Looked inside your head lately? You might find a new organ in there. (Science)
• In South Korea, deaths in patients who received flu shots over the past week have sparked concerns, but authorities there found no link to the vaccine. (Reuters)
• The city council in Washington, D.C., approved a bill that would allow kids age 11 and up to receive routine vaccinations without parental consent. (Washington Post)
• New York State regulators filed charges against Trinity HealthShare and Aliera, accusing them of misleading customers into thinking that Trinity’s “health sharing ministry” would provide comprehensive healthcare coverage. (New York Times)