Following up on the end of [this thread](https://www.synapse.org/#!Synapse:syn20545111/discussion/threadId=6919), here is what I have been reading about COVID-19. WARNING: I am not a doctor, these are not recommendations. Just what I've been reading. NY Times has some [up to date notes on COVID-19](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus.html): For people self-treating COVID-19 at home, these devices are cheap and good to have: * [Pulse oxymeter](https://www.fox5ny.com/video/673296) * [Spirometer](https://www.today.com/health/nbc-news-s-kate-snow-updates-husband-chris-bro-coronavirus-t178577) * [Blood pressure monitor](https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-health-automatic-wrist-blood-pressure-monitor-one-size-fits-all-prodid-1170157) * [Boost oxygen canisters](https://www.boostoxygen.com/) [Aerobic exercise](https://nypost.com/2020/04/17/regular-exercise-can-help-protect-from-severe-coronavirus-complication/) prior to infection reduces complications. We often hear about people put on a respirator lying on their backs in an induced coma. This is often a fatal treatment. The lung area is mostly in back. COVID-19 is more like high altitude sickness than pneumonia. Field experience is to do oxygen therapy keep people standing and doing breathing exercises. If they are on a respirator, to expose more lung area, patients should be kept on their stomachs. * [Doctor at Queens Hospital in the UK advises on potential lifesaving corona virus breathing technique](https://youtu.be/HwLzAdriec0) * [Oxygen therapy](https://greatgameindia.com/whistleblower-covid-19-patients-need-oxygen-therapy-not-ventilator/) * [Position on stomach](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/health/coronavirus-prone-positioning/index.html) Many doctors recommend a combination of lower-dose hydrochloroquine and either azithromycin combined with zinc and vitamin C. * Science magazine has [this update](https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/04/11/the-latest-hydroxychloroquine-data-as-of-april-11) * Anecdotal evidence is [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/technology/doctor-zelenko-coronavirus-drugs.html) and [there](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/texas-elderly-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus-treatment-texas-city/287-7383185c-940c-4cb2-82ea-c4a5ffad3ffb) * One [controlled study](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3080055/anti-malarial-treatment-hailed-trump-has-no-benefit-coronavirus) was negative. * Substitute [doxycycline or calithromycin for azithromycin in older patients](https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/rapidly-managing-pneumonia-in-older-people-during-a-pandemic/). * [High doses](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/health/chloroquine-coronavirus-trump.html) are counterproductive or [fatal](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1678465/) [Convalescent plasma](https://time.com/5819965/coronavirus-treatments-research/) therapy is good if you can get it. Maybe horses can be used to produce the antibodies. [Auranofin](https://www.atlantamagazine.com/health/georgia-state-university-uncovers-a-promising-treatment-for-covid-19/) is effective in reducing viral load. In case of [cytokine storm](https://www.newscientist.com/term/cytokine-storm/), Actemra may be helpful * [Cytokine crash](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-04-13/coworkers-save-coronavirus-doctor) * [Actemra](http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/fda_approves_roches_actemra_covid-19_trial_1329887) * [Immune system overreaction](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/07/828091467/why-some-covid-19-patients-crash-the-bodys-immune-system-might-be-to-blame) It takes a [long time to recover from COVID-19](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/13/833412729/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-covid-19-and-how-long-are-you-infectious). [Permanent damage](https://nypost.com/2020/04/11/coronavirus-patients-can-suffer-lasting-bodily-damage/) may result, including [brain damage](https://nypost.com/2020/04/10/nearly-half-of-severe-covid-19-cases-showed-neurological-symptoms/), presumably as a result of oxygen deprivation. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include [fixing sensations](https://nypost.com/2020/04/10/coronavirus-patients-report-strange-new-symptom-fizzing/), [cutaneous symptoms](https://www.sortiraparis.com/news/coronavirus/articles/214066-frostbites-red-patches-nettle-rashes-covid-19-cutaneous-symptoms-according-to-de/lang/en) and [toe bruises](https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/15/bruises-feet-sign-coronavirus-12557291/). [Imaging studies](https://www.nytimes.com/video/health/100000007056651/covid-ards-acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome.html) show how the disease attacks the lungs. You can use Python to [gin up SIR models](https://towardsdatascience.com/simulating-compartmental-models-in-epidemiology-using-python-jupyter-widgets-8d76bdaff5c2). In terms of drug discovery and [vaccine development](https://nypost.com/2020/04/14/newly-found-coronavirus-mutation-could-threaten-vaccine-race-study-says/), there are [many challenges to come](https://www.foxnews.com/science/researchers-find-6-new-coronaviruses-in-bats) after COVID-19 is solved. Scripps discovered a [binding site](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/02/science.abb7269) providing a nice target for [drug discovery](https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/04/14/antibody-points-to-possible-weak-spot-on-novel-coronavirus/). My colleague @ikedim has produced a video showing [how to make a cheap and effective mask out of a T-shirt and a sheet of paper towel](https://youtu.be/DXVJV1W6lZY).