As each state develops plans to reopen its economies, testing is in the spotlight.
Abbott Laboratories' ID Now, a quick-result diagnostic test which has reportedly been used in the White House, came under scrutiny earlier this month for the accuracy of its testing, specifically the rate of false negatives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would work with Abbott to investigate.
On Wednesday, the company released interim results. Phil Ginsburg, Abbott's Head of Infectious Disease, told Cheddar, "We found remarkable results."
Interim results revealed that, when used as intended, test sensitivity was around 94 percent, which means that 94 percent of the time the test will correctly identify those patients who have the virus. As for patients who do not have COVID-19, 99 percent of the time the test reportedly identifies them correctly.
"The test works very well where it is meant to be, and the setting that we use it in is in the earliest stages of the disease when the patient is infected and likely to spread the disease," said Ginsburg. If the tests are able to produce such quick results, the early-stage patients are able to be taken care of quickly and the ability to slow the spread of the virus to other people can be greatly increased.
"I would like to put this in perspective," Ginsburg said. "As a physician, I remain so confident in the performance of ID Now. When it's used in the way that its meant to be used, it's working as intended."
Testing has greatly increased in the United States from the beginning of the pandemic. The CDC says that over 15 million tests have been performed thus far, which will be key for reopening, but people still need to do their part in keeping each other safe.
"I think its negligent of people who take the attitude of its all passed us," Ginsburg warned. "What's dangerous is it could come back — we don't know yet."
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Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
