pot Cannabis extracts may help to prevent coronavirus, preliminary study suggests Canadian researchers are studying the potential for marijuana to be used to prevent coronavirus infections. Researchers at the University of Lethbridge in Calgary are studying more than 400 strains of cannabis and have determined that at least a dozen may offer potential as part of treatments to prevent coronavirus from infecting a host. According to the researchers, the effective strains have, in some instances, managed to reduce virus receptors, which reduces the chance for an individual to catch coronavirus. texas Federal judge says all Texas voters can apply to vote by mail during pandemic A federal judge opened a path for a massive expansion in absentee voting in Texas by ordering Tuesday that all state voters, regardless of age, qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Days after a two-hour preliminary injunction hearing in San Antonio, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery agreed with individual Texas voters and the Texas Democratic Party that voters would face irreparable harm if existing age eligibility rules for voting by mail remain in place for elections held while the coronavirus remains in wide circulation. Under his order, which the Texas attorney general said he would immediately appeal, voters under the age of 65 who would ordinarily not qualify for mail-in ballots would now be eligible. Biery's ruling covers Texas voters "who seek to vote by mail to avoid transmission of the virus."

seychelles Seychelles virus-free with full recoveries, no death Another island nation, Seychelles, has attained virus-free status after the Health Ministry announced full recoveries as of Monday May 18. The country becomes the third in recent times to achieve the feat behind Mauritius and Eritrea. The last cabinet meeting held on May 13 largely focused on COVID-19 containment efforts in the country as a resumption of life was being rolled out. The country’s case tally stood at 11 confirmed cases all of who have been successfully treated and discharged, 74 others remained in quarantine. The same was the case with Eritrea where all 39 patients fully recovered, they have in turn rolled out random extensive testing starting in the capital Asmara and border towns as well as for frontline health workers. Over in Mauritius, out of the 332 cases, 10 deaths were recorded whiles the remaining 322 all recovered as of May 11, the government portal dedicated to the pandemic announced. Meanwhile cases continue to rise across Africa as governments continue to roll out measures to contain spread of the virus.