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Developing Rapid Breath Test for COVID-19 Screening

A Dallas biotech company and the University of Texas at Dallas are developing a hand-
held rapid breath test that may screen patients for COVID-19 by detecting certain
chemicals in their breath. SOTECH Health applied the device for emergency use
authorization to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently and expects regulatory
approval in Europe by November. Officials say the device isn’t a diagnostic test for
COVID; rather, it detects indicators of the body’s response to the virus. Craig Micklich,
SOTECH Health’s CEO, said the company has conducted over 29,000 breath tests in
clinical studies. They have shown that the test has a high level of sensitivity of 98.9%
and a similar predictive value in detecting those who received negative test results and
were truly diagnosed as negative. Researchers say it’s imperative that the device
measures a combination of chemicals of which (quote) are at extremely trace
concentration levels. Once authorized, SOTECH Health and UT Dallas are planning to
sell the device to businesses first.

U.S. to Lift Land Border Restrictions for Vaccinated Travelers

The U.S. government next month will lift travel limits along the Canadian and Mexican
borders set during the pandemic for vaccinated travelers for non-essential activities.
Senior Biden administration officials said during a call Tuesday that starting early next
month, the Department of Homeland Security will allow travelers who are fully
vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the U.S. from Mexico or Canada for tourism and
family visits. U.S. citizens, green card holders, and individuals traveling for medical care
are exempted from the non-essential restrictions since they were instituted. Starting
January of next year, all travelers -- including truck drivers -- will be required to show
proof of vaccination before crossing U.S. borders. According to officials, U.S. Customs
and Border Protection will accept paper or digital proof of vaccination, but the CDC has
not yet determined which vaccines the U.S. will recognize. Last month, the Biden
administration announced that the U.S. will require travelers coming by plane to be fully
vaccinated and test negative for COVID starting in November. Officials stress that this
recent announcement will not affect a separate border policy that expels migrants and
asylum-seekers from the U.S. who don’t have legal permission to be in the U.S.. They
say that this separate policy was enforced for the safety of the migrants themselves as
Border Patrol facilities cannot enforce social distancing.

Governor Greg Abbott Bans Vaccine Mandates by “Any Entity” in Texas

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order last Monday banning (quote)
“any entity” in the state from enforcing a vaccine mandate. Those who violate the order
will be fined. The governor previously banned government officials and entities from
creating mask mandates. Abbott also announced that this new policy will be added to
the agenda of the next special session of the state’s legislature. He says the order will
be repealed once legislation is passed. The decision came after President Biden issued
a national vaccine measure last month that requires all federal workers and contractors
to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Texas has filed lawsuits against multiple school
districts that have defied Abbott’s previous ban on mask mandates.

Texas Officer Shot in back during ambush attack and needs a kidney

A Texas deputy will need a kidney transplant following an ambush that left him shot in
the back over the weekend. 28-year-old Darryl Garrett, deputy from Harris County
Constable Precinct 4, has undergone multiple surgeries to remove bullet fragments from
his organs, but during surgery doctors had to remove his gallbladder and both kidneys
resulting in him now needing a kidney transplant. Garett and his fellow Deputy Kareem
Atkins were responding to a possible robbery and attempting to arrest the suspects
when one suspect opened fire with an AR-15 rifle. The shots fired struck both deputies,
and Deputy Atkins died of a gunshot wound. A third deputy, Juqaim Barthen, following
hearing the shots fired responded to the scene but was immediately shot and
immobilized. Barthen also remains in the hospital, but is expected to make a full
recovery. The Houston Police are continuing to investigate, but no arrests have been
made.

High School Swim Team Mother suing

The mother of an Oregon high school swim team member who drowned after becoming
trapped underneath a pool cover following practice is suing for $70 million dollars.
Nabila Maazouz, 14, had just finished a practice with the team at Liberty High School on
Nov 20, 2019. The coaches instructed the team to cover the large outdoor pool with
heavy ThermGard pool covers according to the Mother. The students including Nabila
grabbed the first cover and swam to pull it across the pool, they then swam under the
cover to get the next one, but Nabila never resurfaced. No students or coaches noticed
her disappearance until after practice when Nabila’s mother came looking for her.
Nabila was found dead underneath the pool covers in the deep side of the pool. The
mother is suing the city of Hillsboro, the school district, and the city’s park and
recreation department for wrongful death and negligence. As the pool covers were
unreasonably dangerous because they did not allow the team to cover the pool without
getting into the water under the covers which created a dark and disorienting
environment for the swimmers.
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Miracle return of three year old Texas Boy

The mother of a 3-year-old Texas boy who was found alive after being missing for
four days in a wooded area near his home on Monday called his safe return a
"miracle." The child had wandered off while playing with the family's dog and was
found not too far from where authorities had been searching by a good samaritan.
The child is okay and it is not believed that he was taken by anybody during his
disappearance. Following a brief hospital visit to a Houston area hospital the child
was escorted from the hospital by a procession of police vehicles after authorities
learned that he wants to be an officer when he grows up.

Article Links

A Dallas biotech company and UT Dallas are developing a rapid breath test for COVID-
19 screening (msn.com)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-us-to-reopen-borders-with-canada-
mexico/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-mandate-texas-ban/

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-mom-says-safe-return-of-3-year-
old-son-a-miracle/2763997/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mother-high-school-swim-team-member-
found-dead-under-pool-n1281339

https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-officer-shot-ambush-attack-transplant-kidneys