Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #64

[10ofRods]

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Oxford vaccine is not a neutralized virus vaccine. It's an old school vaccine that uses adenovirus and a gene coding for a spike protein. I would actually be comfortable with an old school technology, since it has been tried and true for other diseases. But I don't know if US will end up getting any of the vaccine.
"ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, now known as AZD1222, was developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, working with the Oxford Vaccine Group. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold (adenovirus) virus that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack COVID-19 if it later infects the body."
AstraZeneca to supply Europe with up to 400 million doses of Oxford University’s vaccine at no profit

Ah. Yep, it's a non-replicating DNA vaccine (as opposed to the several in China that are attenuated or neutralized virus vaccines).

We've already paid for 300,000,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine so I expect we'll get it. It would be a huge thing if we didn't. UK has only ordered 30,000,000 but that is sufficient to innoculate a vast majority of the adult population.

 

[JerseyGirl]

TOTAL CASES: California just moved into the #2 spot, moving New Jersey down to #3. Pretty soon Texas will move up and New Jersey will fall to #4.

Global COVID-19 Tracker & Interactive Charts | Real Time Updates & Digestable Information for Everyone | 1Point3Acres

 

[jjenny]

Yes, you are right. But you also have to know how to wear it correctly. I don't know anyone right now, other than health care workers, who has one. And then there are also scam imitation masks on the market that may be of little use. Also, those who do have the N95 need to know how to disinfect it, or have plenty on hand to discard or rotate. But they would be a good idea if we had the education to use them correctly and the resources to provide them to everyone. MOO

As far as I can tell, correctly just means air shouldn't be leaking around it. It has to form a tight seal to the face. There is no way to form that tight seal with a surgical mask or homemade cloth mask. N95 masks are supposed to be disposable, but even health care worker were forced to reuse them. One idea if you have 4 or 5, you rotate them, because virus eventually just dies with time. So you wear one, but in a brown bag labeled with first day, wear second, put in a brown bag (labeled with 2nd day) and so on. Then when you get to #1 again, it's been 5 days or more and virus should presumably be dead. Some hospital are using UVC lights to disinfect them masks, which one can do at home if one buys a UVC box.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

Newsom is speaking in 20 minutes. Given today's totals, I expect he won't be his jovial self.

 

[jjenny]

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Ah. Yep, it's a non-replicating DNA vaccine (as opposed to the several in China that are attenuated or neutralized virus vaccines).

We've already paid for 300,000,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine so I expect we'll get it. It would be a huge thing if we didn't. UK has only ordered 30,000,000 but that is sufficient to innoculate a vast majority of the adult population.

Old school. I like old school right now. The more modern technology are RNA vaccines, which are also being developed by several US companies. But I would kind of worry of using new technology, especially with them rushing to market.

 

[tresir2012]

Wearing a mask also means not around your neck or chin only or exposing your nose or just hanging off one ear. I constantly see people like that in photos of the protests and at gatherings so they might as well not have one on at all.

 

[anneg]

RSBM for focus:

He also spoke of the UK’s successful clinical trials of the steroid dexamethasone, saying that the government task force made the decision to gather supplies weeks before a successful outcome to put the UK “in the best possible position.”

Van-Tam called the dexamethasone trials “the most dramatic success in terms of active success and rapid recruitment,” hailing the drug as an “extremely cheap” and “accessible” form of treatment.

I have been using a liquid form of dexamethasone as a mouth rinse to treat lichen planus for years. (Think I may have mentioned this before on this thread.) It works well to keep inflammation and pain in my mouth under control.

I needed to renew my prescription and contacted the dentist who prescribes it. He sent a prescription for a 6-month supply to my pharmacy, and will need to see me before prescribing more. The 6-month supply will cost me $377! I agreed to pay this rather shocking amount because I need this medication. I'm sure the price has gone up considerably since the last time but not sure how much.

 

[margarita25]

Many people are contracting it. I've seen advice to wear glasses or goggles. You can ear sunglasses in the summer. I've even seen advice to wear face shields.

I saw a Johns Hopkins scholar on TV talking about his prediction that face shields are going to become the new thing, moo.

Eta / quick reference:

“Plastic face shields offer another means of deterring COVID-19 that some might find easier, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in Baltimore.”

[...]

“"Face shields may supplant these masks, eventually," Adalja said. "I think there's much more evidence supporting their use.”

Could Face Shields Replace Masks in Preventing COVID-19?

 

[KALI]

Definitely a concern of mine. I did check San Diego's weather forcast. Thankfully, just a high of 76 f is forcast.

I'm wondering if we will see an uptick in 4th of July fires with the larger shows being cancelled.

 

[jjenny]

Face shields are not likely to be good enough by themselves. Doctors wearing them on top of masks, not instead of masks. Considering they tested masks and bandanas, and bandanas did much worse in preventing spread of droplets because they have an opening at the bottom, I don't see faceshields preventing covid well enough.

 

[TravelingBug]

So, yes, that is happening.

Kali, don't know if this is what you guys applied for or if it'd be worth contacting them, but KNSD is looking for local business owners who had applied for assistance earlier on during the pandemic.

Given how much publicity and needing help to stay afloat did for Cali Comfort BBQ in Spring Valley, and all the traffic their restaurant got for to-go orders, etc. early on as a result, I wonder if some local press might do the same for you guys?

Because of what I used to do when I still lived there, I still follow most of the media people in SD and it was amazing to see how many of them were purposely going to Cali Comfort once the story first got out, even those from other stations, and they were all putting it on social media and then showing their followers getting food from there also.

I know you're up in North County, but if they got that many out to East County, maybe it'd have a similar effect for you guys?

Anyway, just a thought!

https://twitter.com/MariNBCSD/status/1278392825336475651

 

[TravelingBug]

Wearing a mask also means not around your neck or chin only or exposing your nose or just hanging off one ear. I constantly see people like that in photos of the protests and at gatherings so they might as well not have one on at all.

Considering all the video going around today of Fauci doing the same with his mask shortly after the camera was off him, I'm afraid the mask campaign may have just taken a hit with the general public.

 

[SleuthBee]

"My wish for Websleuthers is to remain informed, act with awareness and to stay safe."

• Virus transmission rates will decline in warmer months - not so.
• The protests will result in massive transmissions - not so.
• Reopening bars and restaurants will be safe - not so.

Sparing you the physics, aerodynamic and gas law lectures, I ask you to please consider the information within this study ... please

"Droplet transmission occurs by the direct spray of large droplets onto conjunctiva or mucous membranes of a susceptible host when an infected patient sneezes, talks, or coughs." [source]

• Droplets in exhaled breath is 0.7 to 1.0 μm [source]
  
• Virus laden droplet is 0.07 - 0.90 microns. [source]
• Cigarette smoke particle size is 0.1 to 1.0 micron [source]

Hospital respiratory isolation rooms are equipped with specialized negative pressure ventilation. And policy mandates staff to wear gloves, gown, a mask, and eye protection. Bars and restaurants are not safer.
I have no confidence in indoor HVAC systems. And I remain baffled at people that refuse to wear masks in indoor public places

Worth consideration ...

My area reopened today and I am sad to have no intentions of going out to a bar or restaurant anytime soon. And here is my reason:

The COVID-19 is transmitted via respiratory droplets. We exhale about 100,000 microscopic droplets per minute.

In my many years of healthcare experience, I've known that patients with airborne transmitted infections were admitted to negative pressure respiratory isolation rooms. Upon entry, we gowned, gloved and put on a mask. And upon exit, those items were disposed of at the door.

All of that said, it's unlikely these establishments will resist the temptation of earning a larger profit and abide by strict social distancing practice, and adequately sanitize the area between patrons. And, I don't even want to think about the possibility of infectious droplets making their way through HVAC systems.

Sources:
Negative pressure room
Droplets in exhaled breath

I would love to go out to eat, but my knowledge and my gut is telling me that it is too much of a risk. So I am open to any information that points to the contrary.

You forgot to mention the danger posed by employees. No way to know for certain if they have the virus or are carriers. Five restaurants closed in Phoenix; one died in Tucson - virus employees.

Please be safe

eta: clarification

 

[jjenny]

Considering all the video going around today of Fauci doing the same with his mask shortly after the camera was off him, I'm afraid the mask campaign may have just taken a hit with the general public.

If there are no people around you can pull your mask off and let it hang.

 

[margarita25]

Germany the the Czech Republic do not want US citizens either

The German interior ministry and the Czech foreign ministry have published a list of countries outside the European Union whose citizens will be allowed entry.

The set of countries for Germany is:

• Australia
• Georgia
• Japan
• Canada
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Uruguay
• China

The Czech Republic also published its travel list, which is down to eight countries:

• Australia
• Canada
• Japan
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• Serbia
• South Korea
• Thailand

Coronavirus pandemic: The latest updates from around the world

Remember @JerseyGirl when I was all worried about Japan and created that “Japan file” Lol

Well, according to Doc T, Japan seems to have nailed it, as have South Korea and some other nations.

There is sooo much I need to bring forward here from the most recent WHO conferences....

Doc T said something about contact tracing which was sooo intense beyond words...I can’t even begin to paraphrase what he said but it was INTENSE, especially when you hear him talking and the way he said it. There was also an incredible WHO conference on vaccines last week that is also must read, which I referenced yesterday. I’ll try to bring these forward as soon as I can, as it’s A LOT.

 

[jjenny]

I don't think anybody believed opening of restaurants and especially bars is going to be perfectly safe. You can't eat with a mask on, so even if restaurant requires mask, eventually people are going to have to take the mask off to eat. And bars, don't even start me on those.

 

[SleuthBee]

Face shields are not likely to be good enough by themselves. Doctors wearing them on top of masks, not instead of masks. Considering they tested masks and bandanas, and bandanas did much worse in preventing spread of droplets because they have an opening at the bottom, I don't see faceshields preventing covid well enough.

Neither do I. In fact, the mask must be fit well enough that you don't need to en-train room air from around the sides. Entrained room air has a higher speed and pressure to pull in viral particles.

I just bought a box of masks to keep in my car, and I found them to be worthless as protection from the virus. Ideally, I'd wear a face shield over a well fitted mask. Our eyes are so vulnerable.

 

[margarita25]

National mask mandate could help US economy, Goldman Sachs says

 

[Lilibet]

When we first opened up everyone wore masks. That's stopped. As each week goes by I see less and less wearing them. Our numbers were level for quite some time. They are now skyrocketing. We won't know for a few weeks how that pans out death wise. But we are sure as heck not doing a good job here containing anything.

Surely you know by now how the CFR lags? Our numbers basically tripled daily in only the last week or two. If it's over all less fatal here now that would be amazing! But I am personally not thrilled with how this is spiraling out of control here number wise.

That’s so discouraging for GA! Our daughter and her husband are trying to decide what to do about their move from San Diego to Atlanta, postponed from April to September by her corporate employer. She can wait until January if she wants to, but they’re excited about the move and eager to get there. And San Diego cases are increasing, plus with L.A. bars closed, she’s sure they will come to San Diego to their bars, adding to their cases. They’re almost 50 and she said they’re trying not to make a “silly” decision and asked for “Mom advice.” Awwwwww...

I told her that I knew they would weigh all the issues carefully and assess their risk...and to pour a glass of wine and breath (unless corporate needs a decision yesterday!). I suggested a list of questions to ask themselves, but said that if they decide they are comfortable going in September and dealing with whatever is happening then (so unpredictable), realizing it could be worse than it is now, that they wouldn’t get any flack from us. I haven’t heard yet what they’ve decided.

Thoughts?

 

[jjenny]

Neither do I. In fact, the mask must be fit well enough that you don't need to en-train room air from around sides. Entrained room air has a higher speed and pressure to pull in viral particles.

I just bought a box of masks to keep in my car, and I found them to be worthless as protection from the virus. Ideally, I'd wear a face shield over a well fitted mask. Our eyes are so vulnerable.

I bought a visor off amazon. It's dark purple in color so you can't even see what underneath it. So I can wear all kind of masks under it.