Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #48

[The Night Watchman]

ABC 20/20
JUST IN The first large-scale community test of 3,300 people in Santa Clara County found that 2.5 to 4.2% of those tested were positive for antibodies—a number suggesting a far higher past infection rate than the official count. https://abcn.ws/3bhpLFD

Based on the initial data, researchers estimate that the range of people who may have had the virus to be between 48,000 and 81,000 in the county of 2 million -- as opposed to the approximately 1,000 in the county's official tally at the time the samples were taken.

“Our findings suggest that there is somewhere between 50- and 80-fold more infections in our county than what’s known by the number of cases than are reported by our department of public health," Dr. Eran Bendavid, the associate professor of medicine at Stanford University who led the study, said in an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

So, wait? The actually number of CV cases in the U.S. may be actually between 40,000,000 and 65,000,000 people.

Did we just destroy our economy for the seasonal flu?

 

[jjenny]

I am wiping my canned goods with chlorox wipes. However, pretty soon I am going to run out of chlorox wipes. And they are nowhere to be found.

 

[KALI]

They're letting thousands out in California.

“This is absolutely shocking,” said absolutely no one.

Inmates in Houston, TX who were released over coronavirus fears and told “Toodles!” go back to terrorizing the community.

Judge Hidalgo’s order to release 1,000 nonviolent criminals amid Coronavirus fears was halted, but not before 12 criminals were released unto the streets of Houston.

Only 12 criminals were released and two are back in jail!

In one case, Timothy Single was given a $50 bond while the state wanted 100x that amount. He has multiple violent convictions, his latest violent crime was pulling a gun on his neighbor’s aunt.



I’m surmising that his ex-girlfriend had no idea her punk violent ex was out terrorizing the streets again, this sounds like a sneak retribution attack to me.



This loony judge has since been thwarted again after trying to release 4,000 more criminals!

Man let out of jail for $50 accused of beating his ex and her grandma
ABC-13: Harris County Inmates Released Over Coronavirus Fears Accused Of New Crimes | NewsRadio 740 KTRH | Michael Berry
Federal judge rejects motion to release up to 4,000 Harris County Jail inmates

 

[Tadpole12]

Bruises on feet 'could be sign of coronavirus', Spanish doctors claim | Metro News

Ty, tgy, have already sent this article to a couple of friends.

"But by March 29, five weeks after the first Italian case of Covid-19, the first official report of lesions in children with Covid-19 symptoms occurred.

Now one in five patients at Italian hospitals are presenting with the same dermatological condition."

...

"These are purple-colored lesions (very similar to those of chickenpox, measles or chilblains) that usually appear around the toes and that usually heal without leaving marks on the skin."

"... Covid-19 can 'feature signs of small blood vessel occlusion' - clotting of the blood -"

 

[roche.analisa]

Thank you, off and on free pockets of time (it varies widely due to caregiving) and have been using them to check on here for news/etc or managing things from miles away. It’s hard to read a book because I can’t really concentrate fully, so need to see what I can do when things are quiet for a few minutes around here.

Regarding reading, I usually read nonfiction but I have found that right now, the lower concentration required for fiction (a delicious Stephen King, to be more specific) is doable.

 

[Inthedetails]

I'm going nuts with my eyeglasses/sunglasses fogging up when wearing a mask. I haven't tried this technique yet, but will the next time I go out:

"Immediately before wearing a face mask, wash the spectacles with soapy water and shake off the excess. Then, let the spectacles air dry or gently dry off the lenses with a soft tissue before putting them back on. Now the spectacle lenses should not mist up when the face mask is worn.....Washing the spectacles with soapy water leaves behind a thin surfactant film that reduces this surface tension and causes the water molecules to spread out evenly into a transparent layer."

A simple method to prevent spectacle lenses misting up on wearing a face mask

 

[jjenny]

Based on the initial data, researchers estimate that the range of people who may have had the virus to be between 48,000 and 81,000 in the county of 2 million -- as opposed to the approximately 1,000 in the county's official tally at the time the samples were taken.

“Our findings suggest that there is somewhere between 50- and 80-fold more infections in our county than what’s known by the number of cases than are reported by our department of public health," Dr. Eran Bendavid, the associate professor of medicine at Stanford University who led the study, said in an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

So, wait? The actually number of CV cases in the U.S. may be actually between 40,000,000 and 65,000,000 people.

Did we just destroy our economy for the seasonal flu?

It's not the flu. It's been explained numerous times that it's much more infectious and much more deadly than the flu.
As for numbers, it's not surprising. For community transmission to be occurring, at least 1 % population has to be infected. Yes, we have many more infected than official numbers because many people were not able to get tested. But if we didn't practice self-isolation, instead of 1 % of population being infected, 50 to 60 % of population would have likely become infected. Now calculate how many people would have died then. We would have lost more than one million people.
Some flu.

 

[NuttMegg]

Based on the initial data, researchers estimate that the range of people who may have had the virus to be between 48,000 and 81,000 in the county of 2 million -- as opposed to the approximately 1,000 in the county's official tally at the time the samples were taken.

“Our findings suggest that there is somewhere between 50- and 80-fold more infections in our county than what’s known by the number of cases than are reported by our department of public health," Dr. Eran Bendavid, the associate professor of medicine at Stanford University who led the study, said in an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

So, wait? The actually number of CV cases in the U.S. may be actually between 40,000,000 and 65,000,000 people.

Did we just destroy our economy for the seasonal flu?

So what would be the remaining argument against a coordinated, standardized, federal testing program?

 

[Sundog]

Older workers can’t work from home and are at a higher risk for COVID-19

Older workers among the least likely to be able to telework. Share of workers who can telework, by age, 2017–2018
Age Percent of total workers
15 to 24 years 6.7%
25 to 34 years 31.4%
35 to 44 years 36.2%
45 to 54 years 32.5%
55 to 64 years 32.2%
65 years and older 25.5%

Edited to add chart


ChartData
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Flexibilities and Work Schedules — 2017–2018 Data from the American Time Use Survey

 

[BHughes]

This is interesting, NHK uses powerful cameras to detect droplets from sneezing, coughing and talking loudly

Thank you for posting this.... Visuals are better for some to understand, so this needs to be a commercial or something. Although, they are very gross visuals.
I'm sure the first guy sneezing was glad to wipe his face

I've always taught to sneeze into elbow bc sneezing out is just nasty without this virus. Then when the dance came out, it was DAB it and children were were to do this!

 

[Gardenista]

Thank you for posting this.... Visuals are better for some to understand, so this needs to be a commercial or something. Although, they are very gross visuals.
I'm sure the first guy sneezing was glad to wipe his face

I've always taught to sneeze into elbow bc sneezing out is just nasty without this virus. Then when the dance came out, it was DAB it and children were were to do this!

I second the grossness. I turned it off after a few seconds because it made me gag

 

[KALI]

Wonderful news!!!!!

Here's an article that is informative about Remdesivir, although it is a more than a month old. I'll see if they have an update.

Hopes rise over experimental drug's effectiveness against coronavirus

Wow this is today.


Stocks jump as US drugmaker Gilead raises hopes of Covid-19 treatment - business live

More details about the Gilead Sciences trial that is boosting stock markets, from my colleague Rob Davies.

Optimism surrounding a potential new treatment for Covid-19 has boosted the FTSE100 stock index, amid claims that a drug called remdesivir has spurred rapid recovery in 113 patients.

A University of Chicago hospital participating in a study of the antiviral medication, made by US firm Gilead Sciences, reportedly found that nearly all patients suffering fever and respiratory symptoms were discharged within a week. The report, by healthcare publication Stat News, spurred hopes among investors that lockdowns around the world could be eased.

The University of Chicago recruited 125 people into a clinical trial, according to the report, 113 of whom tested positive for Covid-19, with all of them receiving daily remdesivir doses. Two patients died but most of the rest have already been discharged after their symptoms eased significantly.

In a video obtained by Stat News, Kathleen Mullane, the infectious disease specialist overseeing the study, said it was hard to draw conclusions because remdesivir is not being compared against results from a group taking a placebo drug.

But certainly when we start [the] drug, we see fever curves falling.

We have seen people come off ventilators a day after starting therapy. So, in that realm, overall our patients have done very well.

Most of our patients are severe and most of them are leaving at six days, so that tells us duration of therapy doesn’t have to be 10 days. We have very few that went out to 10 days, maybe three.

You can read the full story here:

FTSE 100 boosted amid optimism over potential coronavirus drug

Read more


This is even more interesting. A Chinese drug company copying the API of Remdesivir two months ago (12th Feb 2020) before WHO had even declared it a pandemic.

Coronavirus: China's BrightGene Manufactures APIs of Gilead's Remdesivir


Chinese drug developer BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology Co., said it has successfully manufactured the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of remdesivir (GS-5734), the Gilead Sciences antiviral candidate being tested in China human clinical trials as a treatment for 2019-nCoV novel coronavirus. [BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology]


A publicly traded Chinese drug developer, BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology Co., said today it has successfully manufactured the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of remdesivir (GS-5734), the Gilead Science antiviral candidate being tested in China human clinical trials as a treatment for the 2019-nCoV novel coronavirus.

“[BrightGene] actively responded to the national call to fight the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic, and recently successfully developed and synthesized the technology and preparations for the drug synthesis of [remdesivir] technology,” the company stated today.

“The company successfully imitated the development and production of [remdesivir] APIs by virtue of its technical accumulation in the development of high-end APIs and special injections,” BrightGene added in its statement, issued through the Shanghai Stock Exchange. “The company has produced [remdesivir] bulk drugs, and the batch production of Remdesivir preparations is in progress.”

BrightGene acknowledged that its marketing of remdesivir “still needs to be authorized” by Gilead, adding, “There are many uncertainties in this process, such as drug approval.” BrightGene did not discuss in its statement what if any efforts the company has undertaken to pursue authorization from Gilead for the imitation product: “If the product can be approved for marketing, it will be supplied to relevant patients mainly through donations during the epidemic.”

“Therefore, considering production costs, pricing, sales volume and other considerations, this product is not expected to have a significant impact on the company’s operating performance in 2020,” BrightGene’s statement continued.

Shares of BrightGene closed 20% higher today on the news, rising to RMB 52.12 ($7.48) a share. The company has a market cap of RMB 21.369 billion (about $3.1 billion), according to Bloomberg.

BrightGene’s acknowledgement was the company’s second statement in recent weeks related to coronavirus. On January 28, BrightGene and its Founder and Executive Chairman Jiandong “J. D.” Yuan each donated RMB 1 million ($143,426) to the Wuhan Red Cross toward “urgently needed medical material procurement and personnel material protection.”

“The epidemic is a common enemy,” BrightGene stated, adding that the company “has always been with the people of the whole country, especially the people in Wuhan, where the epidemic situation is most severe, to overcome the difficulties.”

More at link.

 

[Teche]

I'm hearing challenged due to loud 1960s music and construction equipment. My Audiologist recommended CaptionCall due to my poor hearing even with hearing aids. You read a screen display of what the person you're talking to is saying. Free in US. Requires an internet connection.

Is it possible to do a 3 way phone call, zoom or FaceTime appt?

 

[10ofRods]

I bought 10 cans of tuna yesterday, I dumped them in the sink with water/dish soap, and washed each one carefully, then dried before putting in the cupboard. No way I'm going to suddenly quit cleaning food containers. Given that I'm so busy these days, lol. Even the chicken, I left the plastic out in the burning barrel, washed the chicken itself and froze it in a new plastic bag. I don't like these articles that suggest loosening up....Sanjay Gupta said to clean the packaging, and he taught his own kids how, with sparkle glitter.

Glitter is so bad for the environment, I can't believe he chose that method. SMH.

You can teach someone to clean a package without glitter (which should be banned, IMO).

Glitter is terrible for the environment. Here's why scientists want you to stop using it.

I suspect that one day the amount of microplastic found inside people (from childhood) will be linked to many health problems.

This whole CoVid situation has made me more outspoken about this type of thing. As for me, my approach to viruses has been worked out over many years of childhood illness, and wanting to remain in my field of study (which has involved international travel to places where there are unusual viruses).

We just let the bags sit outside for a couple of hours. Today was the first day we got groceries where the person wore a mask. The store that the groceries came from has a strict social distancing policy and the workers wear masks.

We didn't order anything in a metal container. We didn't order vegetables that we'll eat raw (except cucumbers, which we will scrub or peel).

After handling groceries, we scrub up. I realize there's some small risk of CoVid remaining on refrigerated items. We do live in an area with very few CoVid cases - my strategies would be different if I were in Louisiana or Florida or New York or...central Los Angeles.

 

[NuttMegg]

I am wiping my canned goods with chlorox wipes. However, pretty soon I am going to run out of chlorox wipes. And they are nowhere to be found.

"To make your own disinfecting wipes, simply take a paper towel or tissue, dab it in rubbing alcohol (or any type of solution that is at least 60% alcohol), and wipe down whatever surface you'd like to clean." How to make your own hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes

 

[bluedivergirl]

I am curious about the super seniors ~ those over 90 and even 100 ~ who have recovered. Statistically, they shouldn't have. Did their bodies know the coronavirus from decades of colds? I am amazed and grateful for their resiliency.

 

[Sundog]

80 million people received stimulus checks this week - information on how others need to update or provide the IRS with their direct deposit information

Still no stimulus check in your bank account? Here's why it may be delayed

 

[Inthedetails]

"To make your own disinfecting wipes, simply take a paper towel or tissue, dab it in rubbing alcohol (or any type of solution that is at least 60% alcohol), and wipe down whatever surface you'd like to clean." How to make your own hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes

Not to be a simpleton, but couldn't groceries be washing with soap & water and a cloth?

jmo

 

[The Night Watchman]

It's not the flu. It's been explained numerous times that it's much more infectious and much more deadly than the flu.
As for numbers, it's not surprising. For community transmission to be occurring, at least 1 % population has to be infected. Yes, we have many more infected than official numbers because many people were not able to get tested. But if we didn't practice self-isolation, instead of 1 % of population being infected, 50 to 60 % of population would have likely become infected. Now calculate how many people would have died then. We would have lost more than one million people.
Some flu.

I said the flu for effect only, not because it is like the flu. But wondering aloud how much more dangerous it is than the flu.

There are currently 700,000 confirmed CV cases in the U.S. The tests were targeted towards those with symptoms and those on the front line with a higher risk of exposure. The actual case number is much higher.

So what if the actual case number is 80x higher per the quoted article? That is 56,000,000 actual cases, meaning the CV death rate is incredibly low and the number of 1 million deaths is way off.

I'm not debating, but pointing out that we need to keep our eyes open for relevant evidence. At the advice of epidemiologists, our economy has been crushed. They may be slow to correct themselves if there is any correcting to do.

 

[squareandrabbet]

I'm not sure what you're asking. Antibodies are present, that means the person had the disease. Antibodies do not tell us when they had the disease (and in the Santa Clara County study, it's not antibodies specific to CoVid-19, but to a related virus - which may be useful information in gathering plasma for treatment).

It also appears that people who have had any form of CoVid before (CoVid-2 got to the US) may not be showing up in ER's for testing due to symptoms. Perhaps they have immunity? That would be good to know. This type of study is a first step. No study can do all of the steps at once, as that will confuse us even more.

The antibody rate in the article IS the antibody rate they found. Naturally, the production of the antibodies was in the past - resulting in that PRESENT rate.

Based on the initial data, researchers estimate that the range of people who may have had the virus to be between 48,000 and 81,000 in the county of 2 million -- as opposed to the approximately 1,000 in the county's official tally at the time the samples were taken.

“Our findings suggest that there is somewhere between 50- and 80-fold more infections in our county than what’s known by the number of cases than are reported by our department of public health," Dr. Eran Bendavid, the associate professor of medicine at Stanford University who led the study, said in an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

So, wait? The actually number of CV cases in the U.S. may be actually between 40,000,000 and 65,000,000 people.

Did we just destroy our economy for the seasonal flu?

The latter is why I'm asking about the former.

IMO, there have been very few people anywhere willing to lean publicly on any type of answer that results in anyone even hinting that it's possible, that people have been fighting this since minimum last fall and because people were asymptomatic (in what quantity we don't know; could be thousands, could be hundreds of thousands), large quantities of them didn't know enough to worry about the rate of infection, and thus didn't worry about it.