Coronavirus - COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #23

[Herat]

2-minute COVID-19 test results? Denver-area company wants to deliver that promise
The FDA would have to give a small pharmaceutical company emergency clearance before it can distribute the rapid COVID-19 test

“A small pharmaceutical company just south of Denver is making news after announcing it secured exclusive rights to distribute a COVID-19 test that takes only minutes to get results.

“It’s a 2 to 10 minute result," Josh Disbrow, CEO of Aytu BioScience, said. "It’s a very simple test that can be performed at the point of care, so in a doctor’s office. A small drop of blood is dropped onto a disposable device. It senses the COVID-19 antibody,

The test was developed in China and has been in use for the past six weeks, Disbrow said.

The company’s stock is up more than 200% after announcing the distribution rights, however Disbrow still needs to get emergency approval on the testing kits from the Food and Drug Administration.”

I think this test will not likely be approved by the FDA as an emergency approval. It needs to have rigourous validation done by the US laboratory testing programs and likely would require a second confirmatory test. It might get approved, but I think it's more likely for something like November.

Considering major testing laboratories (Quest, LabCorp, Mayo Medical Labs, Cleveland Clinic) are not pursing blood testing for this disease, it tells me this is not a reliable test.

 

[gregjrichards]

STILL IN DENIAL...

Tokyo Olympics will go ahead, says Japan's PM Shinzo Abe, despite coronavirus concerns https://t.co/0FkFXqfNHp BBC News (World) on Twitter


STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES

They are kidding themselves. There will be no Olympics this year.

 

[Elley Mae]

Coronavirus: Newborn believed to be youngest COVID-19 patient in the UK

Doctors are trying to establish whether the baby was infected during the birth or whether it caught the virus in the womb, the newspaper added.

Coronavirus: Newborn believed to be youngest COVID-19 patient in the UK

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

They are kidding themselves. There will be no Olympics this year.

I agree, there is no way the Olympics are happening.

 

[Henry2326]

During Italy's quarantine, Italian tenor Maurizio Marchini wanted to do something to spread joy amid all the sadness in Florence.
So climbed on to his balcony and serenaded the entire town.
Wow.
Goodable on Twitter
Muhammad Lila on Twitter

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES.

 

[margarita25]

They are kidding themselves. There will be no Olympics this year.

Yeah it ain’t happenin’. No way. Moo. (Of course I’ve said this since January...)

The only way it miiight happen is remotely via TV and internet. Jmo.

 

[rodneymullenmg]

Apparently on social media, teenagers have nicknamed covid-19 as the Boomer Remover

social media is nuts

 

[gitana1]

I hope they could actually continue to serve food at the schools. Sometimes kids don't get food at home not just because the family can't afford food, but also can't provide meals for whatever reason - whether it's because parents are working a couple of jobs and don't have time to shop and cook, have drug or mental/physical health issues, have an inability to cook, etc.

Also some low-income areas are food deserts, where it simply isn't easy to find groceries, even if you have more vouchers to spend. I volunteered at a food pantry and once had to run out to get some milk. I had to walk to a few different stores before I found some! This is a real issue.

When kids are hungry and need school meals, it sometimes (not always) is a result of many issues, beyond budget.

I'm hoping the people making decisions are getting good input.

jmo

They’re also talking about delivering the food directly to the kids via the bus system. That could work.

 

[Herat]

The Italian Air Force came up with this video, set to Pavarotti singing the Triump finale to Nessun Dorma to buoy up Italiian spirits during their quarantine. It's absolutley gorgeous and amazing.

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[Henry2326]

Senior DHS official confirms this. Travel restrictions will apply to flights departing AFTER the deadline.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs on Twitter

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES

 

[CoverMeCagney]

A basic but interesting explanation of WHY national lockdown is not yet happening in the UK

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[LadyL]

I might have to try if there's nothing on the shelves tomorrow!

if there's nothing on the shelves, you won't be able to order it online either - those services shop at the same grocery stores

 

[Elley Mae]

I think this test will not likely be approved by the FDA as an emergency approval. It needs to have rigourous validation done by the US laboratory testing programs and likely would require a second confirmatory test. It might get approved, but I think it's more likely for something like November.

Considering major testing laboratories (Quest, LabCorp, Mayo Medical Labs, Cleveland Clinic) are not pursing blood testing for this disease, it tells me this is not a reliable test.

https://irdirect.net/prviewer/release/id/4256204

Aytu BioScience Secures Exclusive U.S. Distribution Agreement for Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Point-of-Care Rapid Test

ENGLEWOOD, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / Aytu BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:AYTU), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing novel products that address significant patient needs announced today that it signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the right to commercialize a clinically validated and commercially used coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) IgG/IgM Rapid Test. The test has been licensed from L.B. Resources, Limited (a Hong Kong Corporation), which licensed North American rights from product developer Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd. The test is intended for professional use and delivers clinical results between 2 and 10 minutes at the point-of-care. This exclusive agreement grants Aytu the exclusive right to distribute the product in the United States for a period of three years, with additional three-year autorenewals thereafter.

 

[fred&edna]

During Italy's quarantine, Italian tenor Maurizio Marchini wanted to do something to spread joy amid all the sadness in Florence.
So climbed on to his balcony and serenaded the entire town.
Wow.
Goodable on Twitter
Muhammad Lila on Twitter

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES.

I love seeing (and hearing) wonderful goodness in humanity.

 

[Henry2326]

THREAD: NY will remain perhaps the only big city school system to stay open after sustained community transmission has been identified in city limits. LA, SF, Chicago, Philly are all closing. So are private NYC schools. The NYC decision just affect public school teachers and kids.

https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1238909265802379265?s=19

Right answer may not be to keep schools open, but instead offer cash assistance and services to blunt impact of closing schools for those who can’t get by easily. Schools can remain sites for offering services to kids who have no option to stay home. We need a tailored approach.

STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES

 

[gitana1]

Dr. Nancy used the word “year” / “years?” in one of her CDC briefings. Transcript upstream, I’ll look for the quote again.

There could also be waves, different communities getting infected in different intervals, etc.

The difference with China IMO is they had strict containment measures. (Understatement)

They’ve been dealing with this since early December that we know of. That’s 3 1/2 months.

I’m not sure if we’ll fare better or worse than China.

Gitana, here is a link of the worst case scenario which talks about what I’ve mentioned above / reposting for @gitana1 to answer her question:

Worst-Case Estimates for U.S. Coronavirus Deaths

BBM:

“Between 160 million and 214 million people in the United States could be infected over the course of the epidemic, according to one projection. That could last months or even over a year, with infections concentrated in shorter periods, staggered across time in different communities, experts said. As many as 200,000 to 1.7 million people could die.”

I was hoping that we can get a vaccine fast tracked so that we can start inoculating sooner rather than later. If people can get vaccinated starting in May, do you think we can get a handle on this?

 

[Inthedetails]

As we prepare our pantries and personal hygiene supplies, please prepare for your mental health too, my dear WS friends.

Get outside if you can, even if it's just sitting on your front step or in your yard. Walk o the end of the driveway or around the block if you're nervous about venturing further than that. If you have a park nearby, go. The outdoors can refresh your spirits.

Spend time doing something you enjoy - cooking, reading, puzzles....whatever! I know all of us here love our WS threads, but take some breaks. Netflix, youtube, social media, etc are great for at-home entertainment, but also think about changing the pace of what you do as this situation goes on.

We're likely in this for the long haul, so prepare.

Mental health is just as important as TP and it's worth thinking about and planning for.

(I am not a professional. Just my opinion only. I care about our WS community.)

jmo

 

[x_files]

fools
how can anyone not be aware of the virus?

Lots of my musician friends are either clueless or do not care.
Live fast. Die young.

 

[gregjrichards]

Dubai said on Saturday it was temporarily suspending operations at four major theme parks and tourist attractions until the end of March amid coronavirus concerns.

The emirate’s government media office said in a statement that Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Waterpark Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai would be closed to ensure the health and safety of guests and employees.

In addition

Morocco has suspended flights to and from 21 countries including Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Norway and Turkey, according to Reuters.

Coronavirus latest updates: Trump extends travel ban to UK and Ireland

 

[Herat]

I was hoping that we can get a vaccine fast tracked so that we can start inoculating sooner rather than later. If people can get vaccinated starting in May, do you think we can get a handle on this?

There is no sense in "fast tracking " a vaccine that may not be effective or a vaccine that is dangerous.

There is a darn good reason the Phase 2 clinical trials take something like 10 months. The vaccine trial participants have to be monitored regularly to assure they are developing antibodies that actually prevent the infection.

For example, despite the immensely good science and huge funding by Bill and Melinda Gate's foundation, there is still no vaccine for Malaria. And Malaria infects between 300,000,000 and 6,000,000 people a year, killing more than 1,000,000.

We may be all panicky here over 50 COVID-19 deaths, but honestly, Malaria is a far far more dangerous disease and those of us who live in Malaria-free zones don't realize how fortunate we are.