The bitter truth about new Covid-19 treatments

The news about dexamethasone – a potential new Covid-19 treatment – is great, but it doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Not by a long shot. While it's natural for us to be enthusiastic about any positive Covid-19 news, whether it's a new treatment option or a possible vaccine, we also need to be realistic about the ongoing need to slow the spread of the virus. As South Africa reopens amid a rapidly accelerating outbreak, it's more important than ever that people do everything they can to flatten the curve. And a big part of that is accepting that we're going to be living with Covid-19 for a long time to come. In this episode, featuring content from the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast, we look at the state of the fight against Covid-19, new treatments, testing, and the reality of the new normal. – Felicity Duncan.The most exciting news in the world of Covid-19 last week was the drug dexamethasone. This cheap and widely prescribed steroid was found to reduce deaths among the sickest Covid-19 patients by around 20-30%. Naturally, the news generated a great deal of excitement – one of our biggest challenges in the fight against Covid-19 has been our lack of effective treatment options..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.However, a treatment is not a cure. And as we discuss in this episode, which features content from the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast, better treatment doesn't mean that we can relax our vigilance against the spread of the virus. Rather, fighting Covid-19 will require us to use all the weapons in our arsenal, from face masks and hand washing to quarantines and temperature checks. New drugs can help the sickest patients, but the uncontrolled spread of the virus could still mean overwhelmed hospitals and widespread devastation..As the pandemic in South Africa gains speed, everyone must be vigilant in doing their part. A new treatment option is great news – just like advances in the hunt for a vaccine are encouraging and should be a source of hope – but that doesn't mean you can stop washing your hands. We all need to pull together to win this fight.

The bitter truth about new Covid-19 treatments

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