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

[p--and--t]

I've been doing my bit! As has everyone I know.
This is all that is stated
"In an analysis by the University of South Australia, South Australians consumed around 1047 standard drinks a day for every 1000 people in February this year. In April, the rate dropped to 698 standard drinks for every 1000 people."

Pubs closed. No restaurant meals. No lunchtime or after work drinks. Many more unemployed

 

[p--and--t]

How is iso working for you?

He/she was asking for a "friend"

 

[Pushka]

He/she was asking for a "friend"

As long as it isn't my brother she is asking for - they do know each other It's Adelaide. You know the drill.

 

[VPS]

As long as it isn't my brother she is asking for - they do know each other It's Adelaide. You know the drill.

And we do work together but whatever

 

[OZDUCK]

Finland are trialing "coronavirus" sniffing dogs to check the health of arriving passengers.

The Nose Needed for This Coronavirus Test Isn’t Yours. It’s a Dog’s. (Published 2020)

Several animals now working on a trial at Helsinki’s airport have been trained to detect the virus by scent on arriving passengers.

www.nytimes.com

 

[drron]

So a few assorted articles.First the good news.
If a pregnant women gets Covid 19 it is unlikely her baby will be severely infected.

Infants born to women with SARS-CoV-2 infection show few adverse outcomes: Study

Infants born to women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection showed few adverse outcomes, according to early findings from a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.“Among 263 initial infants enrolled in the Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry...

dgalerts.docguide.com

Roche has announced a new antibody test.The antibodies are against the Covid 19 spike protein so this test would be useful in assessing vaccine trials.But in the article is this statement.
As of September 17, 2020, the FDA had authorized 248 coronavirus diagnostic tests under EUAs, which include 198 molecular tests, 46 antibody tests, and 4 antigen tests.

Quantitative Antibody Test Measuring SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Announced

Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology test targets antibodies which are directed against the particular region of the viral spike protein

www.coronavirustoday.com

But there are some articles that you just scratch your head about.This one from South Africa about an infant with TB meningitis who developed a known complication of this disease but was found to be Covid positive.They then make the jump to saying Covid made this condition worse.But really there is no way you can separate the 2 conditions as to which is the most important contribution.On top of that TB meningitis in the developed world is extremely rare.

Child with tuberculous meningitis and COVID-19 coinfection complicated by extensive cerebral sinus venous thrombosis

A case of a child with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) coinfection complicated by hydrocephalus, arterial ischaemic stroke and extensive cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) was described in BMJ Case Reports.A 2  year and 7-month-old girl presented with acute...

dgalerts.docguide.com

 

[tgh]

France is suffering a quite spectacular second wave, far worse than the first

The death rate is equally spectacular.. it is extremely low

This change may be an aberration or a far more serious change in the virus , ie more infective but less lethal...

We have become a tad complacent I fear, a small mutation/ adaption can have massive consequences.

Vaccine development mostly relies on a static target, a moving target may present insurmountable difficulties.

 

[p--and--t]

France is suffering a quite spectacular second wave, far worse than the first

The death rate is equally spectacular.. it is extremely low

This change may be an aberration or a far more serious change in the virus , ie more infective but less lethal...

We have become a tad complacent I fear, a small mutation/ adaption can have massive consequences.

Vaccine development mostly relies on a static target, a moving target may present insurmountable difficulties.


View attachment 228649View attachment 228650

I think we can't infer too much from the death figures, particularly with respect to the virus morphing without more study and information.

My uneducated guessimate is that where there has been a significant outbreak the most vulnerable will be hit hard and a significant number will die. As the virus works its way through the population there will be less and less highly vulnerable over time and those with the most tolerance to the virus will be the last to be effected. The virus does not need to evolve for that scenario to be observed.

 

[tgh]

A moving target….

Molecular Architecture of Early Dissemination and Massive Second Wave of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in a Major Metropolitan Area

We sequenced the genomes of 5,085 SARS-CoV-2 strains causing two COVID-19 disease waves in metropolitan Houston, Texas, an ethnically diverse region with seven million residents. The genomes were from viruses recovered in the earliest recognized phase of the pandemic in Houston, and an ongoing...

www.medrxiv.org

 

[TheRealTMA]

Amusing, if it wasn't so sad.

Italian president rebuts Johnson's 'freedom' remarks over restrictions

Pushback comes after PM’s suggestion UK’s Covid-19 infection rate was worse than Italy because Britons loved their freedom more

www.theguardian.com

 

[p--and--t]

Amusing, if it wasn't so sad.

Italian president rebuts Johnson's 'freedom' remarks over restrictions

Pushback comes after PM’s suggestion UK’s Covid-19 infection rate was worse than Italy because Britons loved their freedom more

www.theguardian.com

I liked the bit alluding to "if it's raining use an umbrella or raincoat" in reference to masks. Pretty obvious rebuttal to many online posts complaining about loss or their freedom or why should I wear a mask.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I liked the bit alluding to "if it's raining use an umbrella or raincoat" in reference to masks. Pretty obvious rebuttal to many online posts complaining about loss or their freedom or why should I wear a mask.

There was another quite from similar article from the Italian PM along the lines "What? The country that invented manicured English gardens and tidy lawns, and queuing, can't follow the rules to wear masks."

 

[Flashback]

France is suffering a quite spectacular second wave, far worse than the first

The death rate is equally spectacular.. it is extremely low

This change may be an aberration or a far more serious change in the virus , ie more infective but less lethal...

We have become a tad complacent I fear, a small mutation/ adaption can have massive consequences.

Vaccine development mostly relies on a static target, a moving target may present insurmountable difficulties.


View attachment 228649View attachment 228650

I think we can't infer too much from the death figures, particularly with respect to the virus morphing without more study and information.

My uneducated guessimate is that where there has been a significant outbreak the most vulnerable will be hit hard and a significant number will die. As the virus works its way through the population there will be less and less highly vulnerable over time and those with the most tolerance to the virus will be the last to be effected. The virus does not need to evolve for that scenario to be observed.

I think a bit of context is important here, while number of cases may seem high, it's likely more so due to increased testing. For example, the UK recently had it's highest number of cases in a single day (6,500 or so). That's higher than when we had the peak back in March. However, testing is more prevalent. Had the same amount of testing been carried out back in March for example, then the case number would have been far higher I dare say. So it may not be a case of the virus getting weaker, but more so a case of it just being detected more i.e. the case to death ratio may not be any different, it's just that many cases were going undetected earlier this year.

 

[drron]

Genomics used to identify the US outbreaks.

How COVID-19 Took Hold in North America and Europe

It was nearly 10 months ago on January 15 that a traveler returned home to the Seattle area after visiting family in Wuhan, China. A few days later, he started feeling poorly and became the first l…

directorsblog.nih.gov

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I think a bit of context is important here, while number of cases may seem high, it's likely more so due to increased testing. For example, the UK recently had it's highest number of cases in a single day (6,500 or so). That's higher than when we had the peak back in March. However, testing is more prevalent. Had the same amount of testing been carried out back in March for example, then the case number would have been far higher I dare say. So it may not be a case of the virus getting weaker, but more so a case of it just being detected more i.e. the case to death ratio may not be any different, it's just that many cases were going undetected earlier this year.

Plus I believe this time around the proportion of younger infected people is up. ie Younger age groups probably more willing to take the risk. Whereas the elderly, and anyone else who now know that they are in a high risk category, probably take a lot more precautions to not get infected.

 

[jeza]

One for the Medical fraternity.

Over the last few days I have seen a couple of news articles mention that having Covid may lead to higher chances of contracting Parkinson Disease. They also mention that after the Spanish Flu, survivors had a higher incidence of Parkinson's.

Just wondering if this is more theorising or is backed up by scientific evidence? I'm guessing it's probably at the too early to tell stage.

Reason for asking, my Dad had Parkinsons & having seen the effects I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

 

[Flashback]

Feels a little bit late in the game, but the UK GOV have just issued this e-mail overnight....

This is a public health message from NHS Test and Trace As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace has developed the new NHS COVID-19 app. It is now available for download to all residents of England and Wales. We strongly recommend that everyone over the age of 16 downloads and uses it. Download the ‘NHS COVID-19’ app from the App Store or Google Play. There is more information at The NHS COVID-19 app support website - NHS.UK The app will help you to understand and manage your personal risk and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The more people who use it, the more effective it will be. The app requires operating system 13.5 or above if you have an Apple iPhone. It requires Android 6.0 or above if you have an Android phone. If your smartphone is not compatible, you can still access full support from the NHS Test and Trace service. NHS Test and Trace ​ All individuals over the age of 16 who are registered with a GP in England and have provided an email address to the NHS are receiving this email. Some people will receive a text message instead, if an email address has not been provided. NHS Test and Trace Privacy Notice

 

[DC3]

Feels a little bit late in the game, but the UK GOV have just issued this e-mail overnight....

And I thought that Oz had been a bit slow off the mark.

 

[VPS]

Feels a little bit late in the game, but the UK GOV have just issued this e-mail overnight....

​ This is a public health message from NHS Test and Trace As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace has developed the new NHS COVID-19 app. It is now available for download to all residents of England and Wales. We strongly recommend that everyone over the age of 16 downloads and uses it. Download the ‘NHS COVID-19’ app from the App Store or Google Play. There is more information at The NHS COVID-19 app support website - NHS.UK The app will help you to understand and manage your personal risk and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The more people who use it, the more effective it will be. The app requires operating system 13.5 or above if you have an Apple iPhone. It requires Android 6.0 or above if you have an Android phone. If your smartphone is not compatible, you can still access full support from the NHS Test and Trace service. NHS Test and Trace ​ All individuals over the age of 16 who are registered with a GP in England and have provided an email address to the NHS are receiving this email. Some people will receive a text message instead, if an email address has not been provided. NHS Test and Trace Privacy Notice

but didn't I read somewhere that NHS results don't go into that app only Serco labs

 

[Flashback]

but didn't I read somewhere that NHS results don't go into that app only Serco labs

That's being / has been addressed now.