Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #59

[katydid23]

I am very, very interested. At this point, there are so many places to try and keep track of. While L.A. was mostly peaceful demonstrations last night, there were three huge crowds, with people mixing from all over the city. Some wore masks.

Paris had unrest last night and today's photos from Parisian newspapers show hundreds of people along the Seine, unmasked.

Seattle and Portland are another two cities to watch (especially as Oregon has had CV pretty much under control).

But Louisville, Houston, Birmingham and Montgomery - wouldn't those all be on the list too?

The protests in New York were in particular boroughs whose names I can't remember.

It's true they are outside, but they are doing a lot of yelling and standing very close to each other. I'm curious what people observed about masks.

It seemed to me that about 80% of the marchers had masks. Not necessarily because of the virus but it is a positive thing.

At the very least, these nationwide marches may have a big impact upon the herd immunity percentage, even if we see a surge in new cases. Luckily, the majority of participants seemed to be younger and healthier than the overall population.

 

[tmar]

Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star


Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star

Christine Estera
1 hour ago
The wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero is holding onto faith as her husband's health crisis hits an all-time low.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on June 4 (US time), Amanda Kloots said she is still praying for a miracle despite doctors telling her to say goodbye to Cordero, who is losing his battle against coronavirus-related complications.

 

[tmar]

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases account for 15pc of COVID-19 infections: study

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases account for 15pc of COVID-19 infections: study


Sophie Scott and Specialist Reporting Team's Celina Edmonds
1 hour ago
COVID-19 symptoms never develop for some
Researchers now believe about 15 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 will never show any symptoms, like the Kables.

Bond University medical professor Paul Glasziou, along with colleagues from the universities of Sydney and NSW, compared data from nine international studies to determine what proportion of people with COVID-19 were likely to be asymptomatic.

"The concern has been that there may be some people without symptoms but [who] are infectious and are spreading it without knowing it," Professor Glasziou said.

Some studies had previously suggested almost half of people with COVID-19 didn't show symptoms, but the review by the Australian team found the rate was much lower.
"About one in six or one in seven will not have any symptoms for the whole of the illness," Professor Glasziou said.
Fortunately, the scientists also found people who did not have symptoms were about a third less likely to spread the disease.

"The reason for that is you're not sick as long, and also you're not doing things like coughing or sneezing," he said.
High risk of 'presymptomatic' spread
People without symptoms may also be in the 'presymptomatic' stage of COVID-19, before symptoms develop.

"The highest amount of infectiousness that you have is in the two days before you develop symptoms," Professor MacIntyre said.

 

[10ofRods]

The C.D.C. Waited ‘Its Entire Existence for This Moment.’ What Went Wrong?

CDC fell down on the job---

It was gutted by the hiring freeze brought about by the most recent administration. Its budget was slashed, research dried up. Even before that, NIH was struggling. The top officials there are well-respected, but the CDC just doesn't have the budget it used to have - nor the personnel.

Same thing happened at the National Parks and at the Department of the Interior. Accreditation processes have been weakened by cuts at the Department of Education.

Etc.,. etc.

I wonder what will happen next. I don't think we have more funds now, we have less. Where did all the money that used to go to the CDC end up going? Perhaps it got cost of living increases? Lots of agencies didn't - but one wonders how the leaders of the CDC can feel proud of how the lab was run (!) and what has happened with CoVid.

 

[10ofRods]

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases account for 15pc of COVID-19 infections: study

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases account for 15pc of COVID-19 infections: study


Sophie Scott and Specialist Reporting Team's Celina Edmonds
1 hour ago
COVID-19 symptoms never develop for some
Researchers now believe about 15 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 will never show any symptoms, like the Kables.

Bond University medical professor Paul Glasziou, along with colleagues from the universities of Sydney and NSW, compared data from nine international studies to determine what proportion of people with COVID-19 were likely to be asymptomatic.

"The concern has been that there may be some people without symptoms but [who] are infectious and are spreading it without knowing it," Professor Glasziou said.

Some studies had previously suggested almost half of people with COVID-19 didn't show symptoms, but the review by the Australian team found the rate was much lower.
"About one in six or one in seven will not have any symptoms for the whole of the illness," Professor Glasziou said.
Fortunately, the scientists also found people who did not have symptoms were about a third less likely to spread the disease.

"The reason for that is you're not sick as long, and also you're not doing things like coughing or sneezing," he said.
High risk of 'presymptomatic' spread
People without symptoms may also be in the 'presymptomatic' stage of COVID-19, before symptoms develop.

"The highest amount of infectiousness that you have is in the two days before you develop symptoms," Professor MacIntyre said.

When CoVid sweeps through the school age population, I think the number of asymptomatic cases will go way up. So far, I don't know of any widespread studies of how many children test positive for antibodies vs. their reported symptoms. Because it takes a blood draw, most researchers are going on test results from adults seeking antibody tests (although 1000's of adults have been tested as part of randomly-chosen groups in several nations).

Australia's finding that the asymptomatic "are not sick as long" has not been replicated - but if true, that's good news.

The US doesn't have a lot of data on this particular topic (but we have the most cases). The records in the US are still skewed by the fact that for at least a month, people without symptoms weren't getting tested (and in some places, still aren't - and in many places, overall testing is so low that it's hard to know just how many have had CoVid). Antibody testing rates in the US are even lower.

It's interesting that this team of Oxford scientists found otherwise.
Their findings, tbf, were from March.
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj...ampaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

 

[musicaljoke]

I remember, on about March 11th, sitting with my mom in her living room, waiting to watch an NBA game with her. She LOVES watching basketball...and as we watched, 2 hours of on air confusion led to the announcement that the game was postponed because one of the players tested positive....then an hour later, the sudden announcement that ALL NBA GAMES WERE SUSPENDED...

It was the first time my 89 yr old mom really understood what Covid19 was. That same night we received a call from the front desk of her retirement complex---all visitors had to leave w/in next 24 hours.

Wow, that's a dramatic memory. Perhaps you should copy and paste this into a memory book to pass on to your grandchildren.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star


Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star

Christine Estera
1 hour ago
The wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero is holding onto faith as her husband's health crisis hits an all-time low.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on June 4 (US time), Amanda Kloots said she is still praying for a miracle despite doctors telling her to say goodbye to Cordero, who is losing his battle against coronavirus-related complications.

Oh no.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I stopped at a well known chain gas station/convenience store to get gas.
This was in SC around lunchtime.

It was extremely busy. I had to wait for a gas pump to become available.

I saw only TWO other people wearing masks of ANY type. And both were guys in a vehicle with Arkansas plates.
I left and found another gas station.

 

[mickey2942]

That is sad about Mr. Cordero. And he is only 41 years old. A beautiful new baby son.

Interesting, that he is in a coma. And his wife never got the virus? This disease is such a mystery.

 

[zecats]

That is sad about Mr. Cordero. And he is only 41 years old. A beautiful new baby son.

Interesting, that he is in a coma. And his wife never got the virus? This disease is such a mystery.

And it seemed like just recently and despite all his setbacks, he was improving and was going to recover. It really is a mystery. And so sad for him and his family.

 

[mickey2942]

I wish I could find a study that discusses the efficacy of an acrylic "sneeze shield". Does anyone think that really makes a difference?

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Well, we are now gong for the same experiment here in US. Virus has not been contained, but everything is opening up. And add to that, people are gathering together in large numbers and protesting. We are in for a bumpy ride.

We were told today that we could opt in to participating in interlibrary loan at the end of the month, when our state system is willing to resume transport service. My boss asked us what we thought. Basically, we all want to wait and see what happens after others resume service. We halfway expect another outbreak and 1 - dont want more of our books stuck out in transport limbo indefinitely if the transport system shuts down again, and 2 - don't really want to be handling books sent to us from the bigger cities. I didn't have a good feeling about this prior to the protests. But now, even less.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star


Nick Cordero's wife praying for a miracle despite being 'told to say goodbye' to Broadway star

Christine Estera
1 hour ago
The wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero is holding onto faith as her husband's health crisis hits an all-time low.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on June 4 (US time), Amanda Kloots said she is still praying for a miracle despite doctors telling her to say goodbye to Cordero, who is losing his battle against coronavirus-related complications.

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. Truly heartbreaking.

 

[LadyL]

Well some (unexpected) good has come out of all this, re face masks! rbbm.
COVID-19 face mask provided DNA to solve 2018 child rape case, police
''KING CITY, Calif. - DNA swabbed from a California man’s face mask, which he was wearing to protect himself from the coronavirus, has led to his arrest in connection with a 2018 child rape, authorities said.''

“MCU personnel arranged to meet with Leonardo Ramirez to discuss an unrelated matter at the King City Police Department,” the news release said. “When Leonardo Ramirez arrived, he was offered a disposable mask to comply with the ongoing Monterey public health order as investigators were to be in close proximity as they spoke.

“Upon receiving the mask, Leonardo Ramirez discarded a mask he had been wearing, which MCU staff collected at the conclusion of the interview.”

The mask was sent to the California Department of Justice for DNA testing, police officials said. Genetic material found on the mask matched DNA evidence from the girl’s rape.''
''Ramirez was taken into custody Sunday afternoon''.

oh wow
thank goodness!

 

[Auntie Cipation]

We were told today that we could opt in to participating in interlibrary loan at the end of the month, when our state system is willing to resume transport service. My boss asked us what we thought. Basically, we all want to wait and see what happens after others resume service. We halfway expect another outbreak and 1 - dont want more of our books stuck out in transport limbo indefinitely if the transport system shuts down again, and 2 - don't really want to be handling books sent to us from the bigger cities. I didn't have a good feeling about this prior to the protests. But now, even less.

In California, rural libraries have a program called Zip Books, which has replaced interlibrary loan (which was costing too much postage, since there is no transport service in the remote rural areas). Zip lets a patron request a book, and it gets sent directly to them, via postal mail, from Amazon. The patron reads the book and then return it to the library, who [usually] adds it to the collection.

Zip Books is funded by the California State Library (but they get some federal funds for it, I think). I wonder if the COVID-19 safety issues might make other states implement a similar program.

 

[MajorHoople]

George Floyd autopsy report reveals he had tested positive for coronavirus | Daily Mail Online

"George Floyd's final autopsy report has revealed the 46-year-old had tested positive for coronavirus, but died from 'cardiopulmonary arrest' following his altercation with a Minneapolis police officer last Monday.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office released its official findings on Wednesday which showed Floyd was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 3.

The report notes that the positive result is likely from an old infection and it is believed the father-of-two was asymptomatic at the time of his death.

'The decedent was known to be positive for 2019-nCoV RNA on 4/3/2020. Since PCR positivity for 2019-nCoV RNA can persist for weeks after the onset and resolution of clinical disease, the autopsy result most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent PCR positivity from previous infection,' the report states."

 

[squareandrabbet]

I am pages behind on this thread as I have been AWFK...and now catching up.

So wierd that three folks have talked about their hair falling out. I've been in the last few months WTF! as to the amount of my hair falling out in my comb every day.

Stress? Beans and rice diet since February? (I am taking daily multivitamins since Feb, in addition to vitamin D suggested by Dr. Campbell and Seheult.)

Hmmmm.

Interesting as I just thought it was me, but catching up on thread over last few days others mentioned.

I would share a photo of what my daily comb looks like, but it would be too gross.... but hmmmmmmmmmmm... it must be stress? I have lost over 10 pounds in just two months.. bad eating from pantry plus stress = not good?

I don't know if it will help, but #1: Once upon a time, I heard that human beings can lose up to 100 hairs a day from their head, without its being noticeable on the overall crop.

#2: I have noticed that dry shampooing will cause my hair to "fall out" faster. Scuttlebutt appears to say that this is because the "dry shampoo" will dry your hair out somewhere upon the hair shaft; and thus, it will break off in the middle and not just at your root;

#3: Brush your hair while hanging your head over the tub/shower stall. It's much easier than having it clog up your carpets.

My husband and I have already discussed the possibility of me quitting my full-time job at the end of this year because of insurance increases. DH is retired with SS and a couple of small pensions, but with my salary, we make too much for me to qualify for an insurance subsidy of any kind. And I just work in a church office! Right now I'm paying $730 a month just for me and that's for a bottom-of-the-line bronze plan with a $6,700 deductible. A silver plan would cost more than half of my take home pay. And that's this year's rate. If I wasn't working, that same $730 plan would cost me $40.

I was hoping to work full-time until 62 (3 years away), but I read that insurance rates might go up 40% next year. That is not sustainable. I'll have to quit my job in order to afford insurance!

I currently pay $1130 (!) for a platinum plan. It's overall IMO not worth it; it's got a $2,000 deductible, but also some other goodies (my GP is basically required to service me for free, as is my shrink - the insurance plan is Oscar). I'm pushing 50, so I thought it wasn't necessarily safe to go with a cheaper plan...

Aside: I also noticed that IMO, it seems like each insurance company is offering only a certain number of plans on "the exchange"; after which quota is filled and you cannot elect to take them on as a purveyor. In 2019 I was trying to run out my COBRA before the 2020 plan year started, my having already met my in-network deductible at my former employer - the Cigna cost to me was $1,220/mo.; so the current plan is a marvelous savings of $90/month, lol. Well, I tried to log onto the NYS exchange and choose the prior United plan I had flagged as worth more study, at the rate of something like $890/month; it was gone as an option.

And it seemed like just recently and despite all his setbacks, he was improving and was going to recover. It really is a mystery. And so sad for him and his family.

My friend and I are obsessed with wee Elvis (he's got a lot of personality, which is a good thing for a tot named Elvis - can you imagine living up to expectations if he were boring?); and we are very distraught at the prospect of the poor boy becoming fatherless. . You cannot imagine how much (or maybe you can!).

 

[MajorHoople]

Economist claims 'the COVID-19 recession is over' after 2.7million jobs were cut in May | Daily Mail Online

"The worst of the COVID-19 recession is over after May job losses were less than Wall Street had predicted, according to a new economist report.

On Wednesday, ADP National Employment Report revealed that companies lost 2.76million jobs last month. While that number is startling, it’s well below the 8.75 million jobs estimated to be lost for the month.

'The good news is I think the recession is over, the COVID-19 recession is over, barring another second wave, a major second wave, or real serious policy errors,' Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics said to CNBC."

 

[dixiegirl1035]

He speaks to why he thinks that the WHO is still saying on it's website that "if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with COVID". His theory is that the WHO has to take into consideration third world countries (no money, and if everyone went out and got them, no facemasks for health care providers). He also reviews the website that tracks all of the vaccines and their progress through phases (to be updated weekly) at COVID-19 vaccine tracker

"The CDC and WHO have conflicting recommendations on some aspects of the use of face coverings and masks, and Dr. Seheult reviews a NEJM article showing respiratory droplet spread with and without a mask. There are many COVID-19 vaccine trials in the works and "RAPS" appears to be a nice website to track vaccine progress."
Coronavirus Pandemic Update 78: Mask Controversy; Vaccine Update for COVID-19

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[katydid23]

wow---I thought that Lancet study trashing hydroxychloroquine was a bit suspect....I remember posting about some of the issues I saw in their explanations and outcomes.
Looks like my concerns were warranted...



Governments and WHO changed Covid19 policy based on suspect data from tiny US company


Surgisphere, whose employees appear to include a sci-fi writer and adult content model, provided database behind Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine hydroxychloroquine studies


The World Health Organization and a number of national governments have changed their Covid-19 policies and treatments on the basis of flawed data from a little-known US healthcare analytics company, also calling into question the integrity of key studies published in some of the world’s most prestigious medical journals.

A Guardian investigation can reveal the US-based company Surgisphere, whose handful of employees appear to include a science fiction writer and an adult-content model, has provided data for multiple studies on Covid-19 co-authored by its chief executive, but has so far failed to adequately explain its data or methodology.

Data it claims to have legitimately obtained from more than a thousand hospitals worldwide formed the basis of scientific articles that have led to changes in Covid-19 treatment policies in Latin American countries. It was also behind a decision by the WHO and research institutes around the world to halt trials of the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine. On Wednesday, the WHO announced those trials would now resume.

Two of the world’s leading medical journals – the Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine – published studies based on Surgisphere data. The studies were co-authored by the firm’s chief executive, Sapan Desai.
Late on Tuesday, after being approached by the Guardian, the Lancet released an “expression of concern” about its published study. The New England Journal of Medicine has also issued a similar notice.

An independent audit of the provenance and validity of the data has now been commissioned by the authors not affiliated with Surgisphere because of “concerns that have been raised about the reliability of the database”.



https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...oxychloroquine