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

[tgh]

This is written by a Democrat Apparatchik….. but very very sad nevertheless

the biggest story remains the coronavirus. Today the U.S. had more than 68,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day, the seventh single-day record in the last 11 days. Yesterday’s number—also a record—was 59,886. Our death toll has topped 136,000, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a top advisor to the president on the coronavirus, says he hasn’t briefed the president in two months, and is not being allowed on television because of his dire warnings about the pandemic.
The Republican governors of Florida, Arizona, and Texas, where infections are spiking, are caught between the reality of the virus and Republican ideology.
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has been refusing to release data on hospitalizations, but the state today revealed that there are almost 7000 Floridians in Florida hospitals, sick with Covid-19. Florida is now one of the world’s epicenters for the disease, but DeSantis says he will not slow the state’s reopening.
In Arizona, now leading the U.S. in the growth of new Covid-19 cases with 4,221 new cases today, Governor Doug Ducey has ordered bars, movie theaters, gyms, and water parks closed to stop the spread of the virus. Bar owners are suing him.
And in Texas, where Houston hospitals have run out of room for more patients and are turning them away, county Republican parties have voted to censure Governor Greg Abbott for requiring face masks to slow the spread of the virus. They say such an order is government overreach.

 

[drron]

Then there are also the fraudsters in the USA.Fraudulent contact tracers to get your private details.

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

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Returning (international) travellers will need to fork out $3000 for NSW hotel quarantine

International travellers flying into NSW will pay $3000 for their two-week stint in hotel quarantine from midnight on Saturday, no matter where they ordinarily reside in Australia.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the decision to charge all returning travellers, including Australian citizens, after national cabinet announced caps on the number of people arriving in Australia on Friday.

Returning travellers will need to fork out $3000 for NSW hotel quarantine

International travellers flying into NSW will pay $3000 for their two-week stint in hotel quarantine from midnight Saturday.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drron]

And a casualty across the ditch.The Sofitel Viaduct Auckland is closing.The building seems cursed.

Up to 140 jobs go at top Auckland hotel as associate in liquidation

Jobs lost as Viaduct Quays Hotel goes into liquidation, company vows to re-open.

www.nzherald.co.nz

And only in Japan.Theme parks are re opening but guests are asked to please refrain from screaming.

Theme parks in Japan are discouraging screaming on roller coasters to slow coronavirus spread, with one park urging riders to 'Please scream inside your heart'

Guidelines set forth by Japan's theme-park associations recommend that thrill-seekers practice physical distancing, wear masks, and avoid screaming.

www.businessinsider.com.au

 

[VPS]

Interesting article

Mystery surrounds car with 'COVID 19' number plate parked at Adelaide Airport

A BMW with a striking number plate has set tongues wagging at Adelaide Airport, with one staffer saying the car has been parked there since before Australia's coronavirus lockdowns began.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

Interesting article

Mystery surrounds car with 'COVID 19' number plate parked at Adelaide Airport

A BMW with a striking number plate has set tongues wagging at Adelaide Airport, with one staffer saying the car has been parked there since before Australia's coronavirus lockdowns began.

www.abc.net.au

I'm off to check it out tomorrow.

 

[Hvr]

I'm off to check it out tomorrow.

Too late, it's gone viral.

 

[Pushka]

Too late, it's gone viral.

I shall wear a mask and PPE and maintain appropriate social distance.

 

[drron]

Monoclonal antibody trials are now well underway.An interesting one using the antibodies in close contacts of covid to try and prevent disease as well as it's use to treat hospital patients with Covid.

Specifically the release noted that a Phase 3 trial of the drug will assess its ability to prevent coronavirus infection among uninfected people who have had close contact to an infected person, such as a patient's housemate. The Phase 3 prevention trial is happening at around 100 sites and expected to include 2,000 patients across the United States, according to Regeneron.
The drug also has moved into the Phase 2/3 portion of two trials testing its ability to treat hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with Covid-19, according to Regeneron. These trials will involve 1,850 hospitalized patients and 1,050 non-hospitalized patients, and they are expected to be conducted at 150 sites in the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Chile.

Regeneron starts Phase 3 trial of Covid antibody drug that might treat and prevent infection, company says

An antibody coughtail is now beginning late-stage clinical trials to evaluate the drug's ability to prevent and treat coronavirus infection.

journalstar.com

Singapore should be releasing the results of their Phase 1 trial of a monoclonal antibody in a couple of weeks.

Singapore company to start clinical safety trials in humans for potential COVID-19 treatment

SINGAPORE: A Singapore-based company will start human clinical trials next week for a treatment that could slow down the progression of COVID-19 in patients, help them recover faster, and provide temporary protection against the coronavirus.In a media release on Wednesday (Jun 10), Tychan, a Sing

www.channelnewsasia.com

The Chinese are also trialling their monoclonal antibody.

Clinical trials begin on neutralizing antibody treatment for coronavirus

New drug co-developed by Shanghai Junshi Biosciences and the Institute of Microbiology under the Chi

www.shine.cn

 

[Gremlin]

Monoclonal antibody trials are now well underway.An interesting one using the antibodies in close contacts of covid to try and prevent disease as well as it's use to treat hospital patients with Covid.

I like this line of thinking. Strictly speaking it won't give a definitive picture on suitability as a vaccine, as you don't have an unbiased population and proper double-blind trials, but good analysis is about finding solutions to the most critical problems. Whilst the lack of vaccine is a problem and lack of a cure is a problem, the most crippling aspect of COVID economically is uncontrolled spread. If you can solve, or partially solve, for uncontrolled spread, then some of the worst economic and health consequences can be mitigated, which changes the dynamic for how the world manages its way out of the pandemic.

 

[drron]

The virus is going to change many things about travel.next year was to see us travel to Spain and Portugal with a cruise as well.The cruise has already been cancelled as the ship isn't going to be ready.however Portugal is suffering.Hotels not doing well.

Algarve hotel occupancy falls by almost 70% in June

The hotel industry in the Algarve recorded in June a global average occupancy rate per room of 10.3 percent, a drop of 68.9 percent in relation to the same month of 2019, announced the largest hotel association in the region.

www.theportugalnews.com

As well the Portugese government is using this opportunity to try and convert as many AirBnb properties as they can to affordable accommodation for locals.

What a Shrinking Airbnb Could Mean for the Future of Travel | Frommer's

Portugal is using the pandemic to reset its tourist industry, specifically how much housing stock will be given over to short term rentals. Will it be the first of many countries and municipalities attempting to break the hold of Airbnb and other rental companies? | Frommer's

www.frommers.com

And we can all shed a tear for Robert De Niro who has hit hard times.

Robert De Niro says Nobu, Greenwich Hotel are struggling

Robert De Niro, who has stakes in restaurant chain Nobu and the Greenwich Hotel, said that both have strained his finances because of coronavirus-related losses.

therealdeal.com

 

[VPS]

There are still people writing on the Seabourn Facebook page - do you think my Mediterranean cruise in October will be going ahead? Yeah nup

 

[TheRealTMA]

There are still people writing on the Seabourn Facebook page - do you think my Mediterranean cruise in October will be going ahead? Yeah nup

No way. Americans seem to think all cruises will be back on in October. Completely stupid.

 

[get me outta here]

Just watching Americans say that it is their responsibility to look after their health so they’ll only wear a mask when they feel like it. It’s unbelievably selfish.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Seems as though it’s from the Chef Pete Evans school of COVID cures
“Lorna Jane Anti-virus Activewear


“The only thing that will be 'terminated' by the 'shield particles' is the money in your bank account," said the head of the Royal Australian College of GPs.

 

[get me outta here]

Vacations to go are selling cruises from Sydney in September.

No way. Americans seem to think all cruises will be back on in October. Completely stupid.

 

[p--and--t]

Interesting article on aussies overseas and covid travel difficulties

"Since 13 March, 360,000 Australians have returned to Australia, of which the Government has assisted over 26,600 Australians and permanent residents on over 321 flights," a spokesman said.

Things are a lot more complicated than the PM and Premiers would make out with simplistic slogans of "well you had three months"

'We're trying to get home and we seem to be being punished for it', say Australians overseas

Australians struggling to get home from abroad say they are being treated like second-class citizens, as a reduction on international flight numbers kicks in and states and territories move to charge for hotel quarantine arrangements.

www.abc.net.au

 

[get me outta here]

After criticising Fauci and undermining him as he now openly disagrees with the lies coming out of the White House, the ‘“Administration”, has worked out how to improve the reported numbers of infections and deaths.
They have ordered that the virus figures be reported straight to the White House and not to the CDC. Queue the right wing press reporting the President’s better numbers.

 

[Gremlin]

Interesting article on aussies overseas and covid travel difficulties

"Since 13 March, 360,000 Australians have returned to Australia, of which the Government has assisted over 26,600 Australians and permanent residents on over 321 flights," a spokesman said.

Things are a lot more complicated than the PM and Premiers would make out with simplistic slogans of "well you had three months"

'We're trying to get home and we seem to be being punished for it', say Australians overseas

Australians struggling to get home from abroad say they are being treated like second-class citizens, as a reduction on international flight numbers kicks in and states and territories move to charge for hotel quarantine arrangements.

www.abc.net.au

Adding to that, earlier this week the Federal Govt announced sixty positions will go at DFAT. At a time when international trade and foreign affairs are in complete turmoil and demand for consular services are at an all time high. So if you thought it might have been difficult before...

 

[drron]

And by the end of the month there may be quite a few Australians that might have to return from Thailand.There was a visa extension granted until 31/7 but sources say it is unlikely to be extended.

Thailand’s Visa Amnesty For Visitors Is Running Out, Immigration And Embassies Advising Foreigners To Prepare For Departure

Thailand Visa Amnesty Ends on July 31, 2020.

loyaltylobby.com

It can be extended if the Embassy issues a certificate saying there are no flights home though there are QR flights via Doha so might not be possible.

That article gives a link to the twitter page of richard barrow who is a good source of info on Thailand.He reports that from yesterday diplomats or their staff and families returning to Thailand must wait at the airport until the result of their Covid test is available.A great idea.
.