COVID-19

[crazydoc]

"Focused Protection."

https://gbdeclaration.org/

Lock down the old and other high risk, and leave everybody else free to go about their business. Yeah, that's going to work, people will comply. The health system won't be completely overwhelmed.  :

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/herd-immunity-strategy-endorsed-by-white-house-a-ridiculous-way-to-stop-covid-say-scientists-it-will-just-kill-people/ar-BB1a1Wwn?ocid=bingcovid

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/white-house-embraces-a-declaration-from-scientists-that-opposes-lockdowns-and-relies-on-herd-immunity.html

 

[living sounds]

For some new Covid drama the first reinfection case in the US has been confirmed. For now these seem very rare.

Reportedly two slightly different variant strains of the virus so unclear to me if reinfection by same virus or virus evolving to be different enough to escape existing immune response. (The common cold is also a coronavirus and not preventable by a single vaccine.)

The reinfected US patient reportedly got sicker the second time around (not good).

Some of the vaccines in development report a stronger immune response than our natural immune response to actual infection (a good thing). Older people have weaker immune system responses.

JR

A few days ago I read about a reinfected patient dying...

There are reports that antibodys seem to wane quickly, too:

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/14/health/quest-covid-recovery-antibodies-intl/index.html

 

[JohnRoberts]

"Focused Protection."

https://gbdeclaration.org/

Lock down the old and other high risk, and leave everybody else free to go about their business. Yeah, that's going to work, people will comply. The health system won't be completely overwhelmed.  :

Can I ASSume the emoticon means you are being satirical, and you don't believe people will comply with guidance? People will generally act in their own self interest, but there may be problems with communicating clear direction in this environment, and getting good information. 

At the store today I saw one man not wearing a mask. (I didn't ask him why).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/herd-immunity-strategy-endorsed-by-white-house-a-ridiculous-way-to-stop-covid-say-scientists-it-will-just-kill-people/ar-BB1a1Wwn?ocid=bingcovid

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/white-house-embraces-a-declaration-from-scientists-that-opposes-lockdowns-and-relies-on-herd-immunity.html

Those scientists...  :

JR

 

[hodad]

So at the moment North Dakota is clocking 1 positive test per 1,000 residents per day.  Leading the nation handily right now, with their only real competition being their downstairs neighbor South Dakota.  Grim.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I just found out that my plan to donate my body to science to avoid expensive burial, doesn't work during COVID...

JR

 

[Winston OBoogie]

I just found out that my plan to donate my body to science to avoid expensive burial, doesn't work during COVID...

JR

Hey!  I've been thinking about the expense of funeral/burial costs myself recently as I have no current plan and wouldn't wish to put that burden on loved ones. 
If the UK has a similar scheme then I think you just solved my dilemma.

On not being valid during COVID then that's easy, we just won't die until it's all over. 
Sorted.

 

[iturnknobs]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/27/politics/white-house-ending-covid-19-pandemic-accomplishment-record-cases-spike/index.html

Good news, folks. Covid is over.

 

[Bo Deadly]

Reportedly two slightly different variant strains of the virus so unclear to me if reinfection by same virus or virus evolving to be different enough to escape existing immune response. (The common cold is also a coronavirus and not preventable by a single vaccine.)

The reinfected US patient reportedly got sicker the second time around (not good).

Most viruses can reinfect. That's really not surprising at all. After long enough, it will be very possible to get it again.

However, it's still not clear what the second infection will be like. It may be that the reason symptoms were worse the second time was because they only got a small does of less virulent virus the first time leaving them ripe to get it a second time. The body has multiple mechanisms to fight an infection so lots of antibodies are not always necessary to stave it off.

Also, after a couple of years, when enough people have had it and when vaccines are commonplace, the R value could become low enough that it will not sustain transmission like we're seeing now. But of course it will never completely go away of course because there will always be someone somewhere to pass it along and perpetuate it. So it could be just another one of those things that you don't want to get like Listeriosis or Meningitis and such.

 

[JohnRoberts]

Some medical experts (?) are already suggesting a need for annual COVID vaccines not unlike flu vaccines now. 

JR

 

[Winston OBoogie]

From research and trials based at Oxford in the UK, the implication I heard on the news yesterday was that the vaccine may even be needed, initially at least, every 6 months or so.

 

[scott2000]

So it could be just another one of those things that you don't want to get like Listeriosis or Meningitis and such.

Don't forget H1N1...That's still a nasty one for some I'd imagine....

Small sample but still......

Interim Estimates of 2018–19 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, February 2019

"Seventy-four percent of influenza A infections for which subtype information was available were caused by A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated to be 46% (30%–58%) against illness caused by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. "

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6806a2.htm?s_cid=mm6806a2_e

 

[living sounds]

At least some rapid testing appears to be pretty useless:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/05/operation-moonshot-rapid-covid-test-missed-over-50-of-cases-in-pilot

 

[ruffrecords]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/best-states/utah/articles/2020-10-05/thousands-of-minks-dead-in-covid-outbreak-on-utah-farms%3fcontext=amp

Could this be more deadly among humans? Weird result, nonetheless. Seems to exceed 3.3% mortality rate... near zero medical intervention.

Gross, is there really a demand for real Mink thee day?. I thought the barbaric practice of rearing mink for their fur had died out.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Script]

This 'research' has found that even a simple cotton mask can reduce viral transmission by 50 percent on the coughing side.

And a simple cotton mask worn by the receiver end can reduce viral uptake by up to 40 percent.

Together there is good synergy.

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-japan-masks/japan-researchers-show-masks-do-block-coronavirus-but-not-perfectly-idUKKBN2770DF

More detailed article here
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201022_02/

In Japan, almost everybody, literally, is wearing some sort of face mask or covering these days. Nobody here would consider wearing one as infringing on their liberty (whereas lockdowns certainly would).

 

[scott2000]

Together there is good synergy.

That's great. Who would've thought a tee shirt would be nearly/as effective as a vaccine....

With everyone wearing face coverings and having a shot, should be pretty minimal numbers of flu even....

Not sure what Japan's seasonal numbers are like but, they can be pretty bad here...bad enough what they count.... any synergy is good...

 

[JohnRoberts]

This 'research' has found that even a simple cotton mask can reduce viral transmission by 50 percent on the coughing side.

And a simple cotton mask worn by the receiver end can reduce viral uptake by up to 40 percent.

Together there is good synergy.

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-japan-masks/japan-researchers-show-masks-do-block-coronavirus-but-not-perfectly-idUKKBN2770DF

More detailed article here
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201022_02/

In Japan, almost everybody, literally, is wearing some sort of face mask or covering these days. Nobody here would consider wearing one as infringing on their liberty (whereas lockdowns certainly would).

40-50% reduction is significant but not absolute. There is a tendency to look at everything in binary terms.

Reportedly there is hoarding of n95 masks in anticipation of colder months, and many of the KN95 masks submitted for approval failed testing.

Hard to imagine that this is still being questioned....  now that spit masks are cheap and widely available it is just common sense to use one as appropriate.

In the early days of dealing with the pandemic here health leaders dragged their feet about advocating for wider use of masks because they feared health professionals would not have enough to protect themselves. Hopefully we are in better shape now. The professionals have learned a lot since then, the public seems to still be lagging behind WRT acquiring that understanding.

JR

 

[living sounds]

Yes, it's not binary at all.

While "absolute" is always nice, it may not necessarily be needed to get rid of the virus over time. As long as every person infects less than one other person (statistically speaking) the virus will eventually be gone (might take a hundred years though).

Plus, the viral load (amount of virus that infects someone) seems to play a role in the severity of an infection. Masks might prevent many people from serious illness or even death despite not preventing them from getting infected in the first place.

 

[living sounds]

And here's good news regarding immunity:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/05/covid-immune-response-much-faster-and-stronger-post-infection-coronavirus-scientists-say

 

[ruffrecords]

Gross, is there really a demand for real Mink thee day?. I thought the barbaric practice of rearing mink for their fur had died out.

Cheers

Ian

Gross and super yuk! I read today that Denmark? (I think) is to slaughter its 17 MILLION Minks because they have a more virulent stain of Covid.

The BBC has shown a video of a LIVE MINK being chucked into a shredder. What is the matter with these people?

Cheers

Ian

 

[living sounds]

I've read that Covid-19 could put an end to fur in many countries. If so, good riddance.