Researchers, health workers further vaccine development, drive thru testing

Canadian researchers are making multiple breakthroughs in the fight against COVID-19, as a biotech firm take the firsts steps towards a vaccine and a hospital in Ottawa opened a drive-thru screening centre.

Quebec City-based Medicago said it has taken the first step towards a vaccine by producing a virus-like particle of the novel coronavirus.

The biopharmaceutical company said the virus-like particle will now undergo testing for safety and efficacy.

It said reaching this stage of the vaccine development process had taken them 20 days.

Medicago said it could begin human trials of a vaccine as soon as July or August after being approved by appropriate health agencies.

Meanwhile, a research team comprising of clinical microbiologists and infectious disease specialists from Sunnybrook Hospital, McMaster University and University of Toronto has isolated the virus responsible for causing COVID-19.

A release from Sunnybrook said Dr. Samira Mubareka and Dr. Rob Kozak of Sunnybrook and University of Toronto, along with Dr. Arinjay Banerjee and Dr. Karen Mossman of McMaster University, collaborated to isolate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused the current outbreak.

It adds that they were able to “culture the virus from two clinical specimens in a Level 3 containment facility.”

Sunnybrook also said that isolating the virus, which took “a few short weeks,” will help researchers around the world develop vaccines, treatments and tests for the novel coronavirus.

The World Health Organization has said that a vaccine for COVID-19 could take as long as 18 months to develop.

In the meantime, health agencies have stressed the importance of reducing the spread of the virus in the short term through measures like isolating patients and consistently washing your hands.

In Ottawa, Queensway Carleton Hospital and Foundation has developed a drive-thru testing centre that will be located outside its emergency department and will help minimize wait times for patients.

The hospital said the station, which opened Thursday night, is open to patients who’ve been directed by Ottawa Public Health to receive screening for the novel coronavirus.

“We will keep it open for as long as we deem necessary,” the hospital said in a tweet. “We hope this will help our community and ensure their safety.”

Experts have pointed to drive-thru testing centres in South Korea as a system that Canadian health workers could mimic.