Smart Talk Friday: Pitt researchers find new antibody that may prevent and treat COVID; HS football begins; POW/MIA Remembrance Day

Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC say they have discovered antibodies that may be able prevent and treat COVID-19.

The antibodies have worked in laboratory animals but human trials may not begin until early next year.

We’ll learn more on Friday’s Smart Talk from UPMC Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Goldman, MD.

Meanwhile, on a typical Friday night in the fall, high school football stadiums would be packed with students and fans rooting on their hometown teams. Of course, 2020 is anything but typical with the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting every aspect of our lives, but especially those that involve crowds gathering.

Even though Gov. Tom Wolf recommended against schools competing in sporting events until 2021, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association decided to move ahead with sports.

Some sports have already begun their seasons, but Friday night many high school football teams will take the field for the first time this year.

A federal judge struck down the governor’s mitigation orders this week which included crowds of no more 250 people outdoors.

Will there be fans at games?

PIAA Associate Executive Director Melissa Nash Mertz is on Friday’s Smart Talk to discuss fall sports.

Also, Friday is POW/MIA Remembrance Day. “You Are Not Forgotten” – that’s the central phrase behind the POW/MIA remembrance movement which honors America’s prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families.

More than 140,000 American service men and women were held as prisoners of war during World War II, Korea, Vietnam and in conflicts since 1991.

Another 83,000 are still missing from those wars.

On Friday’s Smart Talk, we hear from Tom Engkilterra, Regional Coordinator with The National League of POW/MIA Families and League of Families member, Major Ashlock, whose brother Carlos Ashlock is MIA in Vietnam.