Medical

VPM's daily newscast for April 8, 2020.

Researchers at the University of Virginia say doctors can now use genetic data to improve their abilities to treat cancer and many other diseases.

As scientists around the world rush to stop the spread of COVID-19, they will be aided by pioneering genetic breakthroughs discovered a few short years ago. A Virginia native, Dr. Francis Collins, led an international effort to map the human genome. And now, as Director of the National Institutes of Health, he is playing a key role in developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Before the coronavirus outbreak spread in the US, he spoke with VPM’s Charles Fishburne.

During the coronavirus outbreak, VPM is running a daily newscast of our reporting, hosted by Benjamin Dolle. Episodes are recorded at 6 p.m. and released at 7 a.m. the next day, Tuesday through Friday.

Distillers across Virginia are responding to COVID-19 by ramping up production of free hand sanitizer.

In Tuesday's briefing, Gov. Ralph Northam spoke about new business restrictions and school closures, and addressed statements by President Trump about reopening the country.

School districts across the Commonwealth are setting up free meal distribution, so kids can still get breakfast and lunch while classrooms are shut down. But there are some federal guidelines that limit participation.

The City of Richmond is calling on restaurants to limit their table service as part of an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus. Many area businesses were already taking precautions or closing.

A new law will protect Virginians from surprise medical bills incurred after seeing out-of-network providers.

The Senate just passed an $8 billion emergency spending bill for coronavirus, but Sen. Tim Kaine says cuts to public health funding are coming "at the worst possible time."