General Discussion/Q&A on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[drron]

Good grief. Can the ATO stoop any lower than this?

Absolutely yes.

 

[drron]

Some experts are now researching the end of the pandemic.

Science | AAAS

www.science.org

Cross-reactive memory T cells associate with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 contacts - Nature Communications

While cross-reactive immunity between human coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to host protection, validating evidences are still scarce. Here the authors assess a cohort of 52 donors with immediate-early contact with SARS-CoV-2 to correlate higher frequency of cross-reactive T cells with...

www.nature.com

 

[Quickstatus]

ATO stoop any lower than this?

Absolutely yes.

See ABC article

The power of the ATO is immense. You are not innocent until proven guilty when the ATO thinks you are wrong.

 

[drron]

A controversial article on Long covid from France. They found the incidence was highest in those who thought they had covid but no positive test.

Association of Self-reported COVID-19 Infection and SARS-CoV-2 Serology Results With Persistent Physical Symptoms

This cross-sectional study of individuals from the French CONSTANCES cohort assesses whether the belief in having been infected with SARS-CoV-2, having serological test–confirmed COVID-19 infection, or both are associated with persistent physical symptoms often attributed to long COVID in the...

jamanetwork.com

 

[Flashback]

A controversial article on Long covid from France. They found the incidence was highest in those who thought they had covid but no positive test.

Association of Self-reported COVID-19 Infection and SARS-CoV-2 Serology Results With Persistent Physical Symptoms

This cross-sectional study of individuals from the French CONSTANCES cohort assesses whether the belief in having been infected with SARS-CoV-2, having serological test–confirmed COVID-19 infection, or both are associated with persistent physical symptoms often attributed to long COVID in the...

jamanetwork.com

Ah, so that means doing a test is really quite important, because then it confirms it, you self isolate, and it saves you from long COVID

 

[Lynda2475]

Ah, so that means doing a test is really quite important, because then it confirms it, you self isolate, and it saves you from long COVID

I hope that is sarcasm.

One would expect a difference in outcomes between those who seek early treatment and those who seek treatment later or not at all.

But given vast majority of positives you are just told to stay home for 7 days and aren't given any actual medical treatment i.e. covid specific drugs, how is outcome of an assumed positive different to a confirmed positive unless you are lucky enough to be deemed eligible for actual treatment.

 

[Quickstatus]

covid specific drugs

For the vast majority its a panadol, lemsip and a lie down.
Though chicken soup might also quality.

It is interesting most cultures have their Version of chicken soup or food they give to the sick
We have a significant Chinese population in our hospital
Congee is now on the menu and qualifies as a "full fluids"

When someone goes from not eating to eathing in a hospital it is basically:
Nil by mouth - clear fluids - full fluids - light diet - normal diet.

 

[ethernet]

Covid lateral flow tests don't work as well on children

A new study from UK and German experts found commonly used lateral flow devices only find 64 per cent of Covid cases in children casting doubt on the ability of testing to curb Covid in schools.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Spain caps prices of COVID test kits amid surge in demand

Recent surveys have found that some home test kits were being sold for up to €10.

www.euronews.com

2,92 Euro = aud $5.60

Stocking up on home-testing kits? Doctors believe the pricier RT-PCR test is a better option

There has been a surge in demand for self-testing kits as Covid-19 cases rise across the nation.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

So in India a RAT test costs AUD $6.52 Max. Meanwhile ACCC has not yet shamed or prosecuted anyone. And the test kits sold in Australia are not marked with TGA effectiveness? 80, 90 or 95+% well...

Should I mix or match my booster? Here's what the science says

For many Australians, it’s now time for a COVID booster – but which one should you be getting? Read our handy guide to find out.

www.abc.net.au

Preliminary research from the UK suggests that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine provide almost no protection against Omicron infection or mild illness four to six months after vaccination.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-18/can-you-catch-omicron-covid-twice/100750178
For people who received two doses of Pfizer, that protection falls to about 35 per cent.

Before you get upset - that is infection requiring hospitalization - two jabs up to 80-90%, so it is still a no brainer to get vaccinated.

 

[drron]

You keep knocking AZ but here is the results with 2 doses of Moderna against Omicron.
.

Very little effect at 3 months and zero at 6 months.This is from the Kaiser Group in the USA.

 

[Lynda2475]

Some new mask innovations:

"a laboratory at Harvard in the US has found a cheap way of putting a COVID test in an N95 mask." and costs about $5.

"The button-activated mask gives results within 90 minutes at levels of accuracy comparable to standard nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests like polymerase chain reactions (PCR)."

Face mask design hasn't changed in decades. These devices bring them into the 21st century

The pandemic has seen a lot of changes, but one thing that's remained the same for the past two years is face mask technology: we're still using old designs. But that might be about to change.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

Covid lateral flow tests don't work as well on children

A new study from UK and German experts found commonly used lateral flow devices only find 64 per cent of Covid cases in children casting doubt on the ability of testing to curb Covid in schools.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Spain caps prices of COVID test kits amid surge in demand

Recent surveys have found that some home test kits were being sold for up to €10.

www.euronews.com

2,92 Euro = aud $5.60

Stocking up on home-testing kits? Doctors believe the pricier RT-PCR test is a better option

There has been a surge in demand for self-testing kits as Covid-19 cases rise across the nation.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

So in India a RAT test costs AUD $6.52 Max. Meanwhile ACCC has not yet shamed or prosecuted anyone. And the test kits sold in Australia are not marked with TGA effectiveness? 80, 90 or 95+% well...

Should I mix or match my booster? Here's what the science says

For many Australians, it’s now time for a COVID booster – but which one should you be getting? Read our handy guide to find out.

www.abc.net.au

Preliminary research from the UK suggests that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine provide almost no protection against Omicron infection or mild illness four to six months after vaccination.
It happened, you got COVID. Is immunity the consolation prize?
For people who received two doses of Pfizer, that protection falls to about 35 per cent.

Before you get upset - that is infection requiring hospitalization - two jabs up to 80-90%, so it is still a no brainer to get vaccinated.

Lateral flow tests picked up Covid infection in our sons step-son in UK this Monday. All he had was a headache. He'd had the first Pfizer, he's 12 but there's a longer gap between them in the UK for kids.

 

[Lynda2475]

Problem with that study is it didn't do the same analysis for adults, so we don't really know whether the problem is with the kit for everyone or just kids.

 

[drron]

And a possible reason why men are more likely than women to get severe covid.

Mucosal-associated invariant T cell responses differ by sex in COVID-19

Sexual dimorphisms in immune responses contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, but the mechanisms governing this disparity remain …

www.sciencedirect.com

 

[Quickstatus]

men are more likely than women to get severe covid.

It reinforces the argument that the Manflu is always severe

Did I miss anything otherwise?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Any comments about this article?

Morgan had mild COVID. Four weeks later he's cancelled sport, cut down on the gym and is often in bed by 8pm

US researchers are finding patients with mild COVID-19 are developing long COVID, and they suggest "pushing through" the illness — even if it's mild — could be part of the problem.

www.abc.net.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There are many good people in the world..

Lifesavers take the wheel in volunteer surge workforce to help Victoria's overworked ambos

Lifesavers moonlight as ambulance drivers during the peak of Victoria's COVID crisis.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drron]

Now there have been lots of reports on how effective simple remedies are. i take those claims with a grain of salt. However I really believe this one.

Drinking red wine can reduce risk of catching Covid, new research suggests

Can alcohol prevent Covid? Drinking red wine could reduce your risk of catching Covid, new research has found. Here’s what you need to know about the new claims

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Lynda2475]

ABC blog reports

Trial of Omicron vaccine to start by Pfizer in US

Pfizer says it has started a clinical trial for its Omicron vaccine.

They will be testing the new jab as a three-shot regimen in unvaccinated people and as a booster for those who have received their original vaccine.

Pfizer is also testing a fourth dose of the current vaccine against a fourth dose of the Omicron-based vaccine.

The company plans to study the safety and tolerability of the shots in more than 1,400 people in the US.

 

[Flashback]

Now there have been lots of reports on how effective simple remedies are. i take those claims with a grain of salt. However I really believe this one.

Drinking red wine can reduce risk of catching Covid, new research suggests

Can alcohol prevent Covid? Drinking red wine could reduce your risk of catching Covid, new research has found. Here’s what you need to know about the new claims

www.mirror.co.uk

It's true, you should also include champagne and white wine. At a Christmas do I went to, 5 people who sat directly around me at the table all tested positive within 3 days of the event. I was drinking champagne and white wine all evening (albeit in moderation) and I didn't contract the virus

 

[drron]

It's true, you should also include champagne and white wine. At a Christmas do I went to, 5 people who sat directly around me at the table all tested positive within 3 days of the event. I was drinking champagne and white wine all evening (albeit in moderation) and I didn't contract the virus

Or maybe you actually had covid early in 2020 so have some natural protection.