New coronavirus strain B.1.1.7 to be dominant by March, CDC says

By Amit Syal | 01/18/2021 11:43pm

Just over one year ago, scientists around the world began to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the aim of finding out more about the novel and enigmatic coronavirus. A few months ago, experts began to notice mutations in the virus' genome that have led to a new round of lockdowns and increased concern around the globe.

Is the new coronavirus variant cause for concern?

By Amit Syal | 12/23/2020 4:25pm

Across the pond, in the United Kingdom, a new variant of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus was first identified. As an RNA virus, the novel coronavirus is more susceptible to mutations, given its weaker proofreading capabilities. The variant, called B.1.1.7., has a handful of mutations — 23, in total — in its genetic code.

Frontline workers reflect nine months into COVID-19 pandemic

By Amit Syal | 12/16/2020 9:36am

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a "pandemic." Since then, the world has documented 75 million infections and 1.7 million deaths, and the U.S. is currently seeing its worst days in terms of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

FDA issues emergency use authorization for first over-the-counter coronavirus test

By Amit Syal | 12/16/2020 10:38pm

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the country’s first prescription-free at-home coronavirus test. According to the press release, the test is instructed to be used by any individual two years of age or older, both with and without symptoms and costs about $30.

FDA approves Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, distribution begins

By Amit Syal | 12/14/2020 1:56pm

On Friday, Dec. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine as the country is currently seeing record numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This action will pave the way for millions across the U.S. to start receiving the vaccine this week.

Personalized vaccines: The new frontier in cancer treatment

By Udbhav Venkataraman | 12/08/2020 2:30am

Exciting results from a new clinical study showed that a personalized vaccine combined with an immunotherapy drug had a promising response rate in patients with advanced incurable head and neck cancer. Dr. Julie Bauman, chief of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Tucson, led a phase one clinical trial with the pharmaceutical company, Moderna, to test the combined use of personalized vaccines created from tumor DNA with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab.

OPINION: Vaccine skepticism needs to stop before more people die

By Payton Toomey | 12/02/2020 8:00pm

As coronavirus cases surge, so does the spread of false information. Being informed and listening to top health officials is the best way to navigate out of the pandemic and keep people alive.

Tips and tools for succeeding in STEM courses

By Briana Aguilar | 12/02/2020 3:46pm

As the semester comes to an end, many may be thinking about what they would have done better to receive the grade that they wanted in a course. People work hard to achieve the grades they earn, yet the key is to identify early on what tools will be most beneficial for you.

How students are responding to a new online learning environment

By Johnnie Mitchell | 12/01/2020 12:09am

With the University of Arizona recommending that students remain at home since the Thanksgiving holiday, the question regarding how students respond to studying online on campus versus an at-home environment comes into play. 

OPINION: Stop saying 'third wave,' we never got through the first one

By Lauren Borelli | 11/30/2020 7:44pm

As coronavirus case numbers surge higher than what top officials defined as a "worst-case" scenario back in March, we have to ask, why are we pretending that these are waves when the numbers never significantly lowered?

Knocking down the COVID-19 disparities through university community partnerships

By Udbhav Venkataraman | 11/19/2020 4:57pm

The University of Arizona, in partnership with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, made Arizona one of the 11 states that are participating in the National Institute of Health’s Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities. With a $1 million-a-year grant, the Arizona CEAL COVID Consortium is working with over 30 community leaders and organizations to identify and combat COVID-19-related health disparities.

FDA authorizes first at-home coronavirus test as cases surge across the country

By Amit Syal | 11/19/2020 4:56pm

The U.S. is averaging upwards of 150,000 new coronavirus cases per day this week as major cities around the country, including New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, have implemented new restrictions. Yesterday, the country passed the grim milestone of 250,000 deaths from the coronavirus as winter approaches.

Moderna releases interim coronavirus vaccine data, over 94% effective

By Amit Syal | 11/18/2020 9:32am

The pandemic, which has resulted in over 55 million infections and 1.3 million deaths worldwide, has started to result in major fatigue, demonstrated by daily case counts across the U.S. touching 200,000. About a week after Pfizer released early coronavirus vaccine data, Moderna — a biotechnology company based in Massachusetts — released its early results. The data shows that the vaccine is more than 94% effective.

Should professors be more lenient with assignments due to stress and anxiety?

By Briana Aguilar | 11/12/2020 11:50am

It should come as no surprise that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has stated that anxiety disorders are affecting approximately 40 million adults in the United States. This translates to having 18.1 percent of the United States population being diagnosed, with only 36.9 percent of that cohort receiving treatment.

Pfizer releases early coronavirus vaccine data: 'Great day for science and humanity,' CEO says

By Amit Syal | 11/17/2020 9:56am

As the entire globe anxiously waits for an end to the pandemic that has infected over 51 million people and taken over 1.2 million lives worldwide, Pfizer — the pharmaceutical company centered in New York City — released early data from phase three of its coronavirus vaccine trials. The data shows that the vaccine is more than 90% effective.

Amidst presidential election, the U.S. reports record-setting days of coronavirus cases

By Amit Syal | 11/05/2020 3:29pm

As the country remains eager to find out who will become the next president, concerns of a "deadly phase" of the pandemic loom over public health officials and frontline workers. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the country reported over 107,000 new coronavirus cases, an all-time record since the beginning of the pandemic, according to The New York Times.

Comparing and contrasting the influenza virus and coronavirus

By Vivek Aking | 10/27/2020 9:54am

With COVID-19 cases now on the rise across the United States, worries of flu season have also come up, especially with it being right around the corner. Their striking similarities may be hard to point out from each other; however, telltale signs can easily differentiate them.

EDITORIAL: Cancelling Spring Break was not the right move

By Daily Wildcat Opinions Board | 10/22/2020 11:41pm

On Oct. 14, Provost Liesl Folks sent an email officially cancelling Spring Break for the 2021 spring semester. Citing efforts to “limit the spread of COVID-19,” the university replaced the week-long break with a series of five reading days spread out throughout the semester, with one in February, two in March and two in April, with only March 9 and 10 being on consecutive days. This development has sparked the Opinions Board at the Daily Wildcat to put together a statement on not only the Spring Break decision, but also health in the time of online school in general. 

Antiviral drug remdesivir becomes first approved treatment for COVID-19

By Amit Syal | 10/22/2020 5:56pm

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the antiviral drug, remdesivir, received a full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, making it the first official and approved treatment for COVID-19. The drug, sold under the brand name Veklury, has been used under an emergency use authorization which was issued back in May.