Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #75

[tresir2012]

Schools were supposed to start taking students, but that's been pushed back - in some districts all the teachers called in sick to prevent it. So it's all remote, at present.

Maybe my view is very narrow, but I've talked to restaurant owners, and driven by some places that are bars with restaurant licenses. Bars that are open are doing huge business and there is no oversight, so to say that "bar closures" had anything to do with AZ's numbers is false. This is what has me vexed - bars are open, cases are dropping, authorities tout the closure of bars for the decline. They are either lying, or have no idea why cases are dropping, and just want the credit.

This article was posted earlier by Tmar. It is about a more infectious but less lethal strain D614G. Maybe that is why there are not so many deaths in Az and In?

More infectious coronavirus mutation may be 'a good thing', says disease expert

"Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, said evidence suggests the proliferation of the D614G mutation in some parts of the world has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal.

"Maybe that's a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly," Tambyah told Reuters.

Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate."

 

[ilovewings]

Nearly 1 million Americans plan to fly to Florida over Labor Day weekend. An epidemiologist warns they could undo efforts to contain COVID-19 just before schools reopen.

• “About 6 million Americans plan to fly this Labor Day Weekend, according to data from travel management app TripIt, and compared with TSA figures from 2019.
• That's far below 2019 numbers, but an unusually high proportion of those who have decided to fly are headed to Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and the Caribbean, all of which are struggling to rein in the COVID-19 pandemic
• An epidemiologist says we're at a critical stage in the pandemic, and that coronavirus outbreaks linked to travel could undo the progress that's been made just as schools are set to reopen.”

Very disappointing and scary---darn

 

[Satchie]

Those are really great points.

Deaths and cases are down in the past 3-4 days in the US. This is after waiting for various data corrections, etc. Still down. In fact, deaths are way down. And new cases are significantly down - which is great news.

It's alarming to see which states are still carrying a larger load of the cases, but even California has come down significantly. Missouri, OTOH, is struggling.

Those studies showing as many as 50% of some populations having antibodies are intriguing. I believe there was one in Canada and another on the East Coast.

Pretty sure not in Canada, all the antibody testing I've heard of has found only 1-2% of the population has been infected.

 

[ilovewings]

Why though?

Do they think Covid is a hoax? That it's gone? That it won't affect them?

Or do they just not care?

All of the above!!!!

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Notre Dame traces more than 50 coronavirus cases to off-campus party, official says

An off-campus party has led to a spike in coronavirus cases at the University of Notre Dame, which is now reporting more than 50 total cases since classes resumed just two weeks ago.

Notre Dame reported 58 Covid-19 cases as of Sunday, a sudden uptick in infections about a week since students returned to campus for the fall semester, according to its coronavirus dashboard last updated on Monday. Half of the 30 tests processed on Sunday alone were positive.

At a party for which most were newbies to the school and don't even know the names of whom they met, difficult to do contact tracing for sure - unless a call out identifying the party and folks self report.

 

[Satchie]

Just speaking for myself, it's a combination of factors but it mostly comes down to Risk/Reward. Back in May I decided, for better or worse, that I wasn't going to put my life on hold for this. It's really that simple. So when it comes to Labor Day, I don't see it as a "one off" event - it's just the end of a summer that started with Memorial Day and included 4th of July.

I know everyone approaches this differently, but I see many questions asking why people do thus and such and, as one of those people, I thought I'd try to shed some light.

So you have not modified your behaviour at all? Do you live in a place where there are high case counts?

 

[SouthAussie]

A study has been conducted to work out the differences between the order of appearance of Covid symptoms as compared to flu symptoms. There seems to be a specific order in which symptoms appear, in most people, and this may help people to determine the likelihood of having covid or flu.

Covid symptoms - order of appearance
1.Fever
2.Coughing
3.Equal likelihood of sore throat, headache or muscle aches
4.Nausea/vomiting
5.Diarrhoea

Flu symptoms - order of appearance
1.Cough or muscle aches
2.Headache
3.Sore throat
4.Fever
5.Equal likelihood of vomiting/nausea and diarrhoea

Scientists find the order that COVID-19 symptoms will most likely appear in

 

[they'll get you]

I’m predicting the anti-vaxers refusing and protesting the vaccine.
In Australia there’s been near zero numbers of the common flu due to masks, lockdowns, a rise in flu injections and better hygiene.


Free COVID-19 jabs for all Australians

7news Sunrise.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

CVS in my area now have this seasons' flu shots available, regular and high dose.

And after I got my shot, I was reminded that I could have gone to Publix and gotten a $10 gift card. Drats!

 

[tmar]

Every Australian will secure a COVID-19 vaccine for free under a deal to be announced by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison to manufacture millions of doses here in Australia.

News.com.au can reveal that the Morrison Government will confirm the landmark agreement on Wednesday with drug giant AstraZeneca to manufacture one of the world’s most promising coronavirus vaccines currently being developed by Oxford University researchers.

If it’s proved safe to use, the Prime Minister believes the agreement will ensure Australians will be among the first countries in the world to secure the jab.

The UK Government has already ordered 100 million doses


Free COVID-19 jabs for all Australians

Australia locks in coronavirus vaccine deal to produce Oxford University-AstraZeneca candidate if approved

Australia locks in coronavirus vaccine deal to produce Oxford University-AstraZeneca candidate if approved

Stephanie Dalzell

2 hrs ago
Australians are a step closer to accessing a coronavirus vaccine for free, after the Federal Government secured a major international deal to produce a vaccine frontrunner locally, should trials succeed.

Amid rising pressure to lock in supply of a coronavirus vaccine, the Government has signed an agreement with UK-based drug company AstraZeneca to secure the potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University, if its trials prove successful.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if the vaccine succeeded, the Government would manufacture it immediately and make it free for all Australians.

"The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian," he said.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I just saw the article upthread that mentions 43% could be effective for herd immunity. Are Az or In anywhere near that?

Indiana population 6.7 million roughly.

82,000 cases roughly.

If the undetected cases are 10X that, that's just a bit over 10% of the population.

 

[they'll get you]

Why though?

Do they think Covid is a hoax? That it's gone? That it won't affect them?

Or do they just not care?

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Well, you know what they say, dont look a gift horse in the mouth.

It could be a few things - older people staying home and protecting themselves, young asymptomatic people not getting tested, general testing lower, figures being distorted, AZ has reached its peak for now (and maybe for all time).

Restart of schools and/or winter coming could change things. Winter - and complacency - changed things for areas of Oz. It may be a wait-and-see situation.

Yeah, I think it’s a bit early to get excited about lower numbers over only a few days, especially when the schools are fixin’ to explode with it.

Not a pessimist. Just a realist.

 

[Sundog]

CVS in my area now have this seasons' flu shots available, regular and high dose.

And after I got my shot, I was reminded that I could have gone to Publix and gotten a $10 gift card. Drats!

Last year I waited until the end of September to get my flu shot, so that it would have a longer lasting effect into January and February. Does anyone know the ideal time frame for getting the flu shot and how long it will be effective? I need to do some research on this.

ETA article that answers my own question, on when is the beset time of year to get a flu shot

What’s the best time of year for a flu shot? - Harvard Health

ETA

 

[SouthAussie]

I’m predicting the anti-vaxers refusing and protesting the vaccine.
In Australia there’s been near zero numbers of the common flu due to masks, lockdowns, a rise in flu injections and better hygiene.


Free COVID-19 jabs for all Australians

7news Sunrise.

I think I likely wouldn't care who chose not to have a covid jab.
Bit like the flu vaccine ... heaps of people have the jab, heaps of others dont.
You measure the risks you are willing to take for yourself. As long as you are not putting others in jeopardy through your choice. imo

 

[tmar]

COVID-19 symptoms are most likely to appear in a specific order, research finds

COVID-19 symptoms are most likely to appear in a specific order, research finds

By health reporter Paige Cockburn

8 hrs ago
There are many reasons why coronavirus is difficult to control, but the fact it mimics the symptoms of other common viruses, including the flu, presents a major hurdle.

But new evidence suggests there is a certain order in which COVID-19 symptoms appear, and researchers hope their findings will enable earlier testing.

The paper, published in the journal, by researchers from the University of South California (USC), is based on the symptoms of more than 55,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The researchers found the initial symptoms often appear in the following specific order:

1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Nausea and/or vomiting
4. Diarrhoea

The researchers hypothesise that if you have contracted influenza (the flu), the first symptom you will observe is a cough, not fever.

The ability to discern between the flu and coronavirus early on cannot be overstated, as COVID-19 is two to three times more contagious than influenza.

"This order is especially important to know when we have overlapping cycles of illnesses like the flu that coincide with infections of COVID-19," said researcher Peter Kuhn, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at USC.

There is also a subtle difference in the timing of COVID-19 symptoms when compared to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract seems to be affected before the lower GI tract in COVID-19 cases which is the opposite to MERS and SARS.

This is why nausea/vomiting often presents before diarrhoea among some COVID-19 patients.

 

[roche.analisa]

Moo...

• Good news rarely sells. Cases are declining daily in the US, but rarely do we see this reported. When cases increase its front page news.
• CDC send teams into AZ to target counties with high positivity rate.
• Bars open, YUP, but these folks may not experience symptoms or they may be mild. They may experience mild symptoms and put it off as a hangover, staying up to late and partying. Young folks don't want to test, quarantine messes up going out, partying and puts a stop to fun.
• Hospital admissions could be down due to younger population with less complications.

These are just thoughts. After searching media I can't find one single article for why cases are down, in any of the states reporting declines. But one things for use hospitals can't fudge the number of admissions, required to be sent to HHS daily. The admission report controls the disbursement of emergency drugs and plasma.

Cases down in Texas is definitely due to the mask mandate, IMO.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I noticed tonight our local Kroger affiliate pharmacy clinic is doing Covid tests.

 

[tresir2012]

Indiana population 6.7 million roughly.

82,000 cases roughly.

If the undetected cases are 10X that, that's just a bit over 10% of the population.

82k cases but how many tested and negative? I.e. what's the positivity rate?

 

[MimosaMornings]

Just speaking for myself, it's a combination of factors but it mostly comes down to Risk/Reward. Back in May I decided, for better or worse, that I wasn't going to put my life on hold for this. It's really that simple. So when it comes to Labor Day, I don't see it as a "one off" event - it's just the end of a summer that started with Memorial Day and included 4th of July.

I know everyone approaches this differently, but I see many questions asking why people do thus and such and, as one of those people, I thought I'd try to shed some light.

I was talking to a friend the other day along these lines and she takes risks and questioned why I am strict in what I do.

Perhaps if it was only myself that I had to worry about, I would take precautions to the best of my ability but I would fly and visit places avoiding inside venues or crowds, see my friends (masked), do a lot more things, etc.

I have parents that live at home and we have a rotating system where one of us is there all the time. I am the healthiest of the bunch and lost my job so I have primary responsibilities now. Siblings have different multiple health issues, type 1 diabetes, immune compromised, cancer survivor, etc.

It’s because I have loved ones in my life who most likely would not survive or possibly recover with serious life changing pulmonary, cardiac, etc issues.

God willing, I hope to have many years to do the things I long to do and had worked so hard to accomplish in my career.

I know they don’t.

(My apologies if OT)