Results from a survey released today show 74% of Tennesseans support mask mandates in their local communities. It is the first time that the survey, conducted by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, found that the majority of Tennesseans were more concerned about their health than the economic impact of [...]
On Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for the Tennessee General Assembly to convene on Monday, August 10, for a special session to address COVID-19 liability protections, telehealth services, and laws governing the Capitol grounds. This comes as the virus is spreading more rapidly in rural counties in Tennessee. According to a report from the Vanderbilt Department of [...]
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee rejected White House advisor Dr. Deborah Birx's recommendation that bars should close and restaurants should reduce dining capacity to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state, which officials warn is on the precipice of a crisis. Meanwhile, Phase 3 clinical trials began this week for both Pfizer's and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines. Each trial aims to enroll [...]
Despite the continued spread of the coronavirus in the U.S., researchers are making incredible strides in diagnostics and treatment. Today, we're going to focus on a few efforts from LST members. First, Pfizer and partner BioNTech released data Monday from a German study of their vaccine BNT162b1 that showed it stimulated a virus-specific response from immune cells as well as [...]
Cases of the COVID-19 continue to climb in Tennessee and other hot spots throughout the U.S. with bleak projections from the director of the CDC Dr. Robert Redfield. Still, the innovation and diligence of the life science industry brings treatment and cures closer each day. Moderna announced promising results from their latest vaccine trial and plans to begin a Phase 3 [...]
The second installment in our series "Through the Lens of” features the story of how one company navigated the market volatility brought on by the pandemic to develop and launch a COVID-19 test. Dr. Jonathan Peat, Business Development Manager of QuantuMDx, describes their journey and predicts future testing needs. Read the first installment from Ted [...]
Updates about the coronavirus are a balance between terrible, no good news and hopeful developments. Positive cases of the virus continue to grow in the U.S., with Arizona, Florida and South Carolina having the most confirmed new cases of the virus than anywhere else in the world. If you're looking for the latest COVID-19 transmission [...]
It is clear that the coronavirus still poses great risk with new cases, hospitalization rates, and deaths continuing to rise. But let's share some good news. Today, Pfizer and partner BioNTech announced early positive data from their ongoing study of a mRNA-based vaccine to help prevent COVID-19 infections. The BNT162 vaccine program, dubbed Project Lightspeed, is evaluating at least four experimental [...]
While some states continue to see progress, coronavirus cases are surging in parts of the South and West as well as in other countries. This rise comes as more cities and states reopen restaurants and businesses. In Tennessee, reporting shows the virus is worse than at any previous point in the pandemic. According to the Tennessean, "As of [...]
A new modeling report from Vanderbilt University Medical Center finds that hospitalization rates in the state have risen since early June and are currently at their highest point in the pandemic. According to the report, "Tennessee has seen increases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients concentrated in particular regions, namely the Memphis Delta and Southeast Tennessee region that includes [...]
