Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #49

[Gardener1850]

If doing it themselves, I doubt the results will be accurate. I understand you have to swab painfully deep to get an accurate result.

This may be the less invasive test.

I wasn’t aware there was a less invasive test. I don’t understand how one test can only get results by cramming the swab halfway to your brain while there’s another test that only requires a tickle.

Right. I read that if it didn’t bring tears to your eyes, it wasn’t done right. So I’m very confused.

This is the sheet I got at GA Tech when I was tested. I went deep. It was not pleasant, but what's the point of testing if the instructions are not correct?
I thought it was supposed to be a nasopharyngeal swab. Not a nostril swab.
I was neg.

Moo
View attachment 243840 View attachment 243839

The FDA recently changed the testing procedures and type of swabs that are acceptable in order to ramp up testing ability. It was addressed in one of the White House press conferences a few days ago. I looked but couldn't find which presser had it but I found this article that explains the changes: To speed coronavirus testing, FDA greenlights a new type of nasal swab

From the link:

On Thursday [Apr 16, 2020], the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would allow a broader range of swabs to be used in tests, including some made of polyester that should be far easier to manufacture.

[...]

The FDA also announced that US Cotton, the country’s largest manufacturer of cotton swabs, has developed a polyester-based swab fully compatible with Covid-19 testing. The firm plans to manufacture the swabs in “large quantities,” the FDA said.

[...]

The FDA on Thursday [Apr 16, 2020] took other steps that could help speed up diagnostic testing. It now says that a sample can be collected simply by circling the swab in the nose, instead of sticking a longer swab much deeper into the throat through a nostril. That process is deeply uncomfortable and causes patients to sneeze, meaning that health care providers need to be wearing full protective gear.

The agency also said the swab can be done by a patient, instead of by a health care professional. And instead of being stored in viral transport media, a special solution that is in short supply, the FDA also now said that it is OK to use saline solution, which is much more readily available, if necessary.

*Date in brackets added by me for clarity

ETA: It might have been covered in this presser from Apr 16th:

My DH and I were tested with the nasopharyngeal swab and it was very unpleasant to say the least. I was really happy to see they are accepting use of nasal swabs because I don't want to go through that again. MOO.

 

[Teche]

ADVOCATE: Central pastor who defied stay at home order nearly hit protester with bus

Thank you for linking.

Go to
Get My Payment | Internal Revenue Service

Thanks, but we try daily but the site does not allow us to input our information.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Global Times[URL='https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews']@globaltimesnews[/URL]
A shocking discovery from health authority in NE China's Heilongjiang showed a superspreader, a student returned to China from New York on Mar 19, spread the #COVID19 to at least 60 people, putting the province back on high alert. Check out the graphics to find out how.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Leatherback sea turtles were so scarce around the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, conservationists hadn't found any nests in the past five years. These turtles also face risks from fishing gear, pollution, climate change and severe weather, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Leatherbacks are the largest living turtle on record. They live all over the world (except for the polar regions) where they dive deep underwater while migrating from nesting areas to feeding hot spots to chow down on jellyfish, the IUCN reported.

In a single reproductive season, mature females can lay between three and 10 clutches of 60 to 90 eggs, the IUCN reported. However, most females wait two years or more between reproductive bouts. And a tiny percentage of these babies — just one in 1,000 — survives.

In late March, park staff in Thailand's southern province of Phang Nga found 84 hatchlings after monitoring the area for two months, The Guardian reported.

Less human traffic on beaches gives several advantages to these giant turtles, said David Godfrey, the executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Florida.

"The chances that turtles are going to be inadvertently struck and killed will be lower," Godfrey told West Palm Beach's local CBS 12 news. "All of the reduced human presence on the beach also means that there will be less garbage and other plastics entering the marine environment. Ingestion and entanglement in plastic and marine debris also are leading causes of injury to sea turtles."
Baby leatherback sea turtles thriving due to COVID-19 beach restrictions | Live Science

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Looks like they have plasma trials here in MI.

Family says COVID-19 plasma trial may have saved Michigan man's life

 

[nhmemorymaker]

thanks. however, have saved so I can review twice or thrice...I really appreciate the view directly from a dr. of pulmonology.

Video provided by Dixiegirl:

I'm back! This was fabulous. I have saved and sent to many friends. I truly "unlearned" and "so learned" some things... thanks again.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Yesterday's transcript of the WHO presser is up. I would cut and paste some of it, but when I try to do such from their PDF, it comes out wonky. Good thing we have our wonderful poster here who works magic and can do so when she gets to it.

https://www.who.int/docs/default-so...ss-conference-20apr2020.pdf?sfvrsn=b5656a70_2

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Leatherback sea turtles were so scarce around the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, conservationists hadn't found any nests in the past five years. These turtles also face risks from fishing gear, pollution, climate change and severe weather, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Leatherbacks are the largest living turtle on record. They live all over the world (except for the polar regions) where they dive deep underwater while migrating from nesting areas to feeding hot spots to chow down on jellyfish, the IUCN reported.

In a single reproductive season, mature females can lay between three and 10 clutches of 60 to 90 eggs, the IUCN reported. However, most females wait two years or more between reproductive bouts. And a tiny percentage of these babies — just one in 1,000 — survives.

In late March, park staff in Thailand's southern province of Phang Nga found 84 hatchlings after monitoring the area for two months, The Guardian reported.

Less human traffic on beaches gives several advantages to these giant turtles, said David Godfrey, the executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Florida.

"The chances that turtles are going to be inadvertently struck and killed will be lower," Godfrey told West Palm Beach's local CBS 12 news. "All of the reduced human presence on the beach also means that there will be less garbage and other plastics entering the marine environment. Ingestion and entanglement in plastic and marine debris also are leading causes of injury to sea turtles."
Baby leatherback sea turtles thriving due to COVID-19 beach restrictions | Live Science

Excellent! We have to find a new balance as we emerge back into the world. We have to be more thoughtful.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Looks like they have plasma trials here in MI.

Family says COVID-19 plasma trial may have saved Michigan man's life

The Red Cross is mentioned as collecting plasma in that article. Info:

Plasma Donations from Recovered COVID-19 Patients

This is another reason we need more testing. It's kind of hard to know if you're recovered from CV19 if you weren't actually tested. Jmo

 

[Teche]

https://nypost.com/2020/04/20/can-the-coronavirus-be-spread-through-farts/

During Friday’s episode of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Coronacast,” podcast, producer and host Dr. Norman Swan made a cautionary suggestion when it comes to particles of feces set adrift within a fart and the spread of COVID-19.

“No bare-bottom farting,” Swan advised about posterior pandemic panic, in a measured, mildly amused tone.

“Luckily, we wear a mask, which covers our farts all the time,” Swan said, referring to the protective aspects of pants, shorts, dresses, underwear and other garments. “I think that what we should do in terms of social distancing and being safe is that … you don’t fart close to other people, and that you don’t fart with your bottom bare.”
...

It must have been difficult to discuss this fact without major belly laughs.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Some people in the government in the UK have lost there jobs by travelling to their second homes.

Calderwood resigns over coronavirus lockdown trips

i know-w. not in our government.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

The FDA recently changed the testing procedures and type of swabs that are acceptable in order to ramp up testing ability. It was addressed in one of the White House press conferences a few days ago. I looked but couldn't find which presser had it but I found this article that explains the changes: To speed coronavirus testing, FDA greenlights a new type of nasal swab

From the link:

On Thursday [Apr 16, 2020], the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would allow a broader range of swabs to be used in tests, including some made of polyester that should be far easier to manufacture.

[...]

The FDA also announced that US Cotton, the country’s largest manufacturer of cotton swabs, has developed a polyester-based swab fully compatible with Covid-19 testing. The firm plans to manufacture the swabs in “large quantities,” the FDA said.

[...]

The FDA on Thursday [Apr 16, 2020] took other steps that could help speed up diagnostic testing. It now says that a sample can be collected simply by circling the swab in the nose, instead of sticking a longer swab much deeper into the throat through a nostril. That process is deeply uncomfortable and causes patients to sneeze, meaning that health care providers need to be wearing full protective gear.

The agency also said the swab can be done by a patient, instead of by a health care professional. And instead of being stored in viral transport media, a special solution that is in short supply, the FDA also now said that it is OK to use saline solution, which is much more readily available, if necessary.

*Date in brackets added by me for clarity

ETA: It might have been covered in this presser from Apr 16th:

My DH and I were tested with the nasopharyngeal swab and it was very unpleasant to say the least. I was really happy to see they are accepting use of nasal swabs because I don't want to go through that again. MOO.

I wish they gave us reasons to believe this is just as accurate.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Leatherback sea turtles were so scarce around the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, conservationists hadn't found any nests in the past five years. These turtles also face risks from fishing gear, pollution, climate change and severe weather, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Leatherbacks are the largest living turtle on record. They live all over the world (except for the polar regions) where they dive deep underwater while migrating from nesting areas to feeding hot spots to chow down on jellyfish, the IUCN reported.

In a single reproductive season, mature females can lay between three and 10 clutches of 60 to 90 eggs, the IUCN reported. However, most females wait two years or more between reproductive bouts. And a tiny percentage of these babies — just one in 1,000 — survives.

In late March, park staff in Thailand's southern province of Phang Nga found 84 hatchlings after monitoring the area for two months, The Guardian reported.

Less human traffic on beaches gives several advantages to these giant turtles, said David Godfrey, the executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Florida.

"The chances that turtles are going to be inadvertently struck and killed will be lower," Godfrey told West Palm Beach's local CBS 12 news. "All of the reduced human presence on the beach also means that there will be less garbage and other plastics entering the marine environment. Ingestion and entanglement in plastic and marine debris also are leading causes of injury to sea turtles."
Baby leatherback sea turtles thriving due to COVID-19 beach restrictions | Live Science

Sometimes...i dunno... feels as if we are getting a big fat warning to how damaging our regular lifestyle is.. wonder if we will see any real real changes as to polution, the oceans, the environment.. we are learning much.

 

[tresir2012]

Global Times@globaltimesnews
A shocking discovery from health authority in NE China's Heilongjiang showed a superspreader, a student returned to China from New York on Mar 19, spread the #COVID19 to at least 60 people, putting the province back on high alert. Check out the graphics to find out how.

So they weren't still locked down in China on March 22nd? Also most infections seem to be from Patient B at the hospital.

The link doesn't seem to take me to the correct tweet, but just to various political tweets.

 

[Gardener1850]

Interesting story out of India: India rescues broke tourists living in cave

It's not clear to me- why were they living in a cave? It says it happened because they were stuck there and running out of money but why didn't they instead go to their respective embassies and try to get help to get home after that? Were they trying to avoid being deported or quaratined? Do none of these tourists have family and friends back home that could have sent them money to help? I really want to understand how they came to live in a cave for 25 days... Feels like there must be more to the story we are not hearing. MOO.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Video provided by Dixiegirl:

I'm back! This was fabulous. I have saved and sent to many friends. I truly "unlearned" and "so learned" some things... thanks again.

YVW. If I hadn't been following Dr. Seheult on MedCram, I would have needed to watch it at least 5 times lol. Hopefully, your friends will have some background to understand. But I really liked how he built on Dr. Seheult's messages to us, and then expounded upon the normal cascade that happens at ACE2, and the interference of the virus at the ACE2 receptors which prevent vasodilation needed, and increases the inflammatory response - the normal response is blocked and rerouted to a dangerous alternate pathway.

This video..... It was a final AHA! moment that I had never really understood COMPLETELY until this video. Glad I found as YouTube algorithm must have sent my way. I only found today in my "home" link at YouTube, as most every day, I just click on my "subscribed" Youtubes. Food for thought, algorithms are good for such. I'm slowing going through his other videos.

In another of his videos, He's on board with the vitamin D need/impact as is Dr. Sehult and Dr. Campbell. (love how Dr. Campbell pronounces vitamin lol). I think many in the scientific community really want the word out about vitamin D, as both Dr. S and Dr. Campbell has said again and again it's so simple and effective, yet Dr. C is continuing to be concerned that no one is speaking to as not politically correct perhaps to speak to that it is more of an issue of a person of color due to their skin color not allowing sufficient production of vitamin D (his words, not mine)

 

[mickey2942]

@sillybilly can we have a "News that makes you Smile" thread for Coronavirus? A place for the so many tasteless but funny jokes and stories about "Stay at Home"? I think that we all need some happy stories.
‐‐-‐‐----------------------------------------------

Anyway, I really don't like the whole "Report on your neighbors" going around lately. Some kids were playing soccer at the park, and the police were called on them. Apparently the kids were just having fun, and being appropriately "Social Distancing".

Talk about living in a "Police State". This whole situation is becoming out of control.

 

[tresir2012]

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Mode of transmission: Current data suggest person-to-person transmission most commonly happens during close exposure to a person infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, primarily via respiratory droplets produced when the infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes. Droplets can land in the mouths, noses, or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close proximity. Transmission also might occur through contact with contaminated surfaces followed by self-delivery to the eyes, nose, or mouth. The contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely. Recent experience with outbreaks in nursing homes has reinforced that residents with COVID-19 frequently do not report typical symptoms such as fever or respiratory symptoms; some may not report any symptoms. Unrecognized asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections likely contribute to transmission in these and other healthcare settings. Source control, which involves having the infected person wear a cloth face covering or facemask over their mouth and nose to contain their respiratory secretions, might help reduce the risk of transmission of SARS CoV-2 from both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.

( My comment: Nothing in here about bottom burps. Info about masks is interesting though.)


Below are changes to the guidance as of April 13, 2020:

• To address asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, implement source control for everyone entering a healthcare facility (e.g., healthcare personnel, patients, visitors), regardless of symptoms.
  • This action is recommended to help prevent transmission from infected individuals who may or may not have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Cloth face coverings are not considered PPE because their capability to protect healthcare personnel (HCP) is unknown. Facemasks, if available, should be reserved for HCP.
  • For visitors and patients, a cloth face covering may be appropriate. If a visitor or patient arrives to the healthcare facility without a cloth face covering, a facemask may be used for source control if supplies are available.
• Actively screen everyone for fever and symptoms of COVID-19 before they enter the healthcare facility.
• As community transmission intensifies within a region, healthcare facilities could consider foregoing contact tracing for exposures in a healthcare setting in favor of universal source control for HCP and screening for fever and symptoms before every shift.
• Added links to updated guidance for:
  • Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and other Equipment
  • Interim Guidance for Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
  • Interim Guidance on Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19.
  • Strategies to Mitigate Staffing Shortages

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Tuesday 21 April, Ethnicity and Sex

Again, he is going into ethnicity which I just posted about before and vitamin D etc.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

YVW. If I hadn't been following Dr. Seheult on MedCram, I would have needed to watch it at least 5 times lol. Hopefully, your friends will have some background to understand. But I really liked how he built on Dr. Seheult's messages to us, and then expounded upon the normal cascade that happens at ACE2, and the interference of the virus at the ACE2 receptors which prevent vasodilation needed, and increases the inflammatory response - the normal response is blocked and rerouted to a dangerous alternate pathway.

This video..... It was a final AHA! moment that I had never really understood COMPLETELY until this video. Glad I found as YouTube algorithm must have sent my way. I only found today in my "home" link at YouTube, as most every day, I just click on my "subscribed" Youtubes. Food for thought, algorithms are good for such. I'm slowing going through his other videos.

In another of his videos, He's on board with the vitamin D need/impact as is Dr. Sehult and Dr. Campbell. (love how Dr. Campbell pronounces vitamin lol). I think many in the scientific community really want the word out about vitamin D, as both Dr. S and Dr. Campbell has said again and again it's so simple and effective, yet Dr. C is continuing to be concerned that no one is speaking to as not politically correct perhaps to speak to that it is more of an issue of a person of color due to their skin color not allowing sufficient production of vitamin D (his words, not mine)

I follow Dr. Campbell every day now.. do love his pronunciations as well. resp-I-ratory... vitamin... for sure! I will have to go find more of Dr. Sehult...i think I viewed him once but not sure... I will and then maybe will send that to friends as well..since you indicate it is a good prelim before Dr. Hansen....