General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[Pushka]

A very interesting article on how to effectively stop a pandemic.

Please don't open it if you are offended by strong language.

COVID Underdogs: Mongolia

The best COVID-19 response in the world

medium.com

That's incredibly interesting. They managed to hit hard and early. My thoughts though, how long can this be sustained given it looks like Russia is about to him them hard. And likely will need much foreign aid to recover given the poverty to start with.

 

[drron]

A very interesting article on how to effectively stop a pandemic.

Please don't open it if you are offended by strong language.

COVID Underdogs: Mongolia

The best COVID-19 response in the world

medium.com

Yes impressive but always I come back to Taiwan-7.5 times the population of Mongolia but only 2.5 times the number of Covid cases done without the lockdowns Mongolia used.
But then Taiwan began it's response on December 31st when planes from China were met by health teams checking temperatures and for respiratory symptoms.The didn't wait until January.

The thing they had in common was that Mongolia and Taiwan were the worst effected countries outside China in the SARS epidemic.Mongolia had 447 cases with a mortality rate of 8.7%.Taiwan only had 346 cases but a mortality rate of 21%.Both learnt their lessons then.

 

[p--and--t]

Yes impressive but always I come back to Taiwan-7.5 times the population of Mongolia but only 2.5 times the number of Covid cases done without the lockdowns Mongolia used.
But then Taiwan began it's response on December 31st when planes from China were met by health teams checking temperatures and for respiratory symptoms.The didn't wait until January.

The thing they had in common was that Mongolia and Taiwan were the worst effected countries outside China in the SARS epidemic.Mongolia had 447 cases with a mortality rate of 8.7%.Taiwan only had 346 cases but a mortality rate of 21%.Both learnt their lessons then.

One respondent alleged that Mongolia read their lessons from a playbook designed by Russia during the Bubonic Plague

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes impressive but always I come back to Taiwan-7.5 times the population of Mongolia but only 2.5 times the number of Covid cases done without the lockdowns Mongolia used.
But then Taiwan began it's response on December 31st when planes from China were met by health teams checking temperatures and for respiratory symptoms.The didn't wait until January.

The thing they had in common was that Mongolia and Taiwan were the worst effected countries outside China in the SARS epidemic.Mongolia had 447 cases with a mortality rate of 8.7%.Taiwan only had 346 cases but a mortality rate of 21%.Both learnt their lessons then.

Taiwan has been impressive yes. Their key is that they were ready and waiting for a virus just like this to emerge from China or nearby. The only country in the world to have that it was only matter of WHEN, rather than IF. So they were actively looking for it with a gameplan already worked if it did.


Mongolia is extremely impressive as they had no such monitoring and no such ready to go gameplan. But once the threat was known acted with extreme speed, decisiveness and commitment.

 

[drron]

Well they got ready well before any infection arrived so that suggests there was a plan.As I said Mongolia and Taiwan were the 2 countries outside China most affected by SARS.They first acted in January and the first case was on March 10.
.

And here is what they did.

Mongolia Travel Restrictions - Updated

Latest info for Mongolia Travel Restrictions 2023 and Mongolia entry requirements including the daily information about Mongolia Coronavirus situation ...

www.amicusmongolia.com

So closing air and land borders,cancelling all public gatherings and closing kindergartens on January 27th just 4 days after Wuhan went into lockdown suggests they had a plan.

 

[p--and--t]

Well they got ready well before any infection arrived so that suggests there was a plan.As I said Mongolia and Taiwan were the 2 countries outside China most affected by SARS.They first acted in January and the first case was on March 10.
View attachment 218813.

And here is what they did.

Mongolia Travel Restrictions - Updated

Latest info for Mongolia Travel Restrictions 2023 and Mongolia entry requirements including the daily information about Mongolia Coronavirus situation ...

www.amicusmongolia.com

So closing air and land borders,cancelling all public gatherings and closing kindergartens on January 27th just 4 days after Wuhan went into lockdown suggests they had a plan.

I'd list Mongolia and Taiwan as two clearly different model examples perhaps with a similar good outcomes.

One poor country (third world?) with poor infrastructure and very weak healthcare system and Taiwan a much richer country with respect to technology, infrastructure and health care system but both reacting and responding quickly and decisively.

So perhaps one could argue, the size (health) of the economy, population, and geography shouldn't be excuses for not being able to handle a pandemic and produce a good outcome.

 

[blackcat20]

Got tested today; I've got a mild cold and figured it was sensible. The swab up the nose is mighty unpleasant

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So closing air and land borders,cancelling all public gatherings and closing kindergartens on January 27th just 4 days after Wuhan went into lockdown suggests they had a plan.

Though none of the reports I have read refer to such a plan. Whereas the reporting on Taiwan's approach is quite clear that not only that they had a plan but they were actively waiting for such a virus to occur.

Mongolia appears from the reports to just have been very quick to act and importantly this was in response to the WHO recommendation of 22nd Jan, rather than like Taiwan waiting to act, and who acted of their own accord.

Taiwan for example sent a team to Wuhan to gather their own intelligence.
Two experts from Taiwan visit Wuhan to understand and obtain information on severe special infectious pneumonia outbreak; Taiwan CDC raises travel notice level for Wuhan to Level 2
In response to the ongoing severe special infectious pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China, Taiwan sent the Commander Chuang Yin-ching (莊銀清) of the Communicable Disease Control Medical Network and the medical officer Hung Min-nan (洪敏南) from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) to visit Wuhan, China to obtain more comprehensive information of the outbreak. In the morning of January 16, 2020, the two experts hosted a press conference after their return to Taiwan.


Early reports on the approach that Mongolia took:
19th May

The Mongolian government’s strategy was to adopt decisive preventative measures. These steps have helped immensely to contain the spread of COVID-19. They have also had the added benefit of reducing the number of flu infections.
Dr. Gendengarjaa Baigalimaa

Lessons from Mongolia’s COVID-19 Containment Strategy

fsi.stanford.edu

13th April
Mongolia’s Measures against COVID-19

Mongolia’s Measures against COVID-19 – MongolInk

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The swab up the nose is mighty unpleasant

Yes everyone I know who have had the test remark on this.

 

[drron]

Shhh.Don't tell Renato 1.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

A twitter graph from the economist.article behind a pay wall.
/

So there is a quick fall off in viral numbers on various surfaces.How much virus do you have to have for the surface still be able to spread the disease.

And more confirmation that there is probably more than one way of combating this disease.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Japan COVID-19 Coronavirus Tracker

Live updates of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in Japan

covid19japan.com

 

[jakeseven7]

It is quite funny, scary reading through the first few pages of this thread and then cutting to the last two, seeing the first post (from a banned AFF contributor nonetheless!) through to today where we are talking about the testing being unpleasant! I look forward to watching in a few years on 4 corners a 45 minute summary of this pandemic as we all shudder and remember things like SOCIAL DISTANCING

 

[lovetravellingoz]

With Japan, another theory in addition to what was in the article on what may have helped them is that the vaccination for Tuberculosis is commonly given there. And secondly that while it may or may not prevent infection it is also thought a possibility that it may lesson the affects of being infected.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes everyone I know who have had the test remark on this.

It felt a bit like they were trying to do the throat swab via the nose...

Hoping to get the result quickly. Obviously can't go to work tomorrow but I'm not too fussed about that.

 

[Flashback]

Yes everyone I know who have had the test remark on this.

It really makes you question the ability to self test - do you think enough people would push through the pain barrier and do it right? Instead they'll think.... ohhh... that is a bit uncomfortable, I must be doing it wrong and only get a half sample.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hoping to get the result quickly.

With 33,426 tests (a new daily high in Victoria) just done you may have to wait some days if you are not from a likely to have it group, or are an aged care worker etc.

 

[JohnM]

Got tested today; I've got a mild cold and figured it was sensible. The swab up the nose is mighty unpleasant

I wouldn't worry - your university or one near you will have some 'Centre for Pandemic Preparedness Innovations' or suchlike that will have a heap of 'world-first' 'breakthroughs' at the ready to remedy anything that discomforts you...

It's the Australian way...

 

[blackcat20]

It really makes you question the ability to self test - do you think enough people would push through the pain barrier and do it right? Instead they'll think.... ohhh... that is a bit uncomfortable, I must be doing it wrong and only get a half sample.

We have a self-testing asymptomatic clinic at work, no way did I want to do it myself.

With 33,426 tests (a new daily high in Victoria) just done you may have to wait some days if you are not from a likely to have it group, or are an aged care worker etc.

Miss TC got her results in about 10 hours. Hopefully mine don't take too long...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We have a self-testing asymptomatic clinic at work, no way did I want to do it myself.



Miss TC got her results in about 10 hours. Hopefully mine don't take too long...

After the Blitz started BIL was 2 days and daughters partner 4 days. Daughter a respiratory nurse was 1 day.

Numbers per day have varied a lot, and the labs have bee upping their processing capacity as well.

 

[oz_mark]

Though none of the reports I have read refer to such a plan. Whereas the reporting on Taiwan's approach is quite clear that not only that they had a plan but they were actively waiting for such a virus to occur.

Mongolia appears from the reports to just have been very quick to act and importantly this was in response to the WHO recommendation of 22nd Jan, rather than like Taiwan waiting to act, and who acted of their own accord.

It's interesting. On paper, a lot of countries has a pandemic plan. In practice, a lot of countries weren't really prepared. Something that will need to be looked at some point.

 

[kyle]

Got tested today; I've got a mild cold and figured it was sensible. The swab up the nose is mighty unpleasant

Why can't they do the throat one, or the new one up the nose but doesn't go as far in?