Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #75

[Simply Southern]

I agree with the article that people like Gates, Zuckerberg, Bezos and drug companies have profited during the pandemic. But they do employ a lot of people too so for the stock market to rally, I see people's jobs and pensions could be safer IMO.

All of the above have donated heavily, millions for research, vaccine, dashboards, food banks, the list is endless.

Gates Foundation is fully funding IHME modeling and dashboard for the World.

In addition 350 million to distribute vaccine to developing countries.

Gates Foundation Donates $150 Million To Distribute Covid-19 Vaccine To Developing Nations As They Struggle With Accelerating Pandemic

Covid-19 cases continue to increase in developing countries, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $150 million to the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India, to provide up to 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to poorer nations priced at less than $3 a dose.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $350 million to fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

 

[Simply Southern]

Agree, that little people have a plan, but in US, it is 401K in the US vs. "pension".

Most companies in the US no longer have pensions as perhaps you do in UK. We have moved to another investment which is called a 401k. No longer the company invests for the employees whereby they get an annuity as pensions gave the option, the employees decide on straight investments in the markets - whether it be stocks/bonds or just interest bearing accounts on their plans. "Today, only 17% of private-sector workers have access to one, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 National Compensation Survey.1 "

The Demise of the Defined-Benefit Plan

That said, many folks in the US may be working for small companies which don't even offer that? What are the % of folks that don't have 401ks? I didn't look into numbers, but I get where you are coming from.
MOO

We also provide a means for private individuals to save for retirement, with tax being deferring on contributions.

https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/retirement-accounts-you-should-consider

 

[303gmf]

Most little people have a pension that depends on the stock market though. And these companies employ millions so it certainly is the economy.

We do? I have no pension and can’t recall any in my circle that does unless retired from public service jobs.

 

[Simply Southern]

We do? I have no pension and can’t recall any in my circle that does unless retired from public service jobs.

In the US, all persons that work and meet the minimum requirements, do collect a monthly pension from Social Security. Designed to give us an income, though for some it may be small. Some would have no income without SS. Taking time off work for what ever reason, pandemic, raising children, taking care of adult parents will affect our monthly pension amount.

3 Income Sources that Earn You Social Security Credits (and 2 that Don't) | The Motley Fool


Work credits are the measuring stick that the Social Security Administration uses to decide whether you've accrued enough earnings to qualify for benefits. It takes a minimum of 40 work credits to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. In 2017, you need $1,300 in earnings to qualify for a single credit, and you can earn up to four credits per year. However, not all types of income count for earning work credits. That's why it's important to make sure you're getting at least enough income from the following sources to accrue your four credits per year.

 

[303gmf]

In the US, all persons that work and meet the minimum requirements, do collect a monthly pension. Taking time off work for what ever reason, pandemic, raising children, taking care of adult parents will affect our monthly pension amount.

3 Income Sources that Earn You Social Security Credits (and 2 that Don't) | The Motley Fool


Work credits are the measuring stick that the Social Security Administration uses to decide whether you've accrued enough earnings to qualify for benefits. It takes a minimum of 40 work credits to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. In 2017, you need $1,300 in earnings to qualify for a single credit, and you can earn up to four credits per year. However, not all types of income count for earning work credits. That's why it's important to make sure you're getting at least enough income from the following sources to accrue your four credits per year.

Yes, that’s social security most of us do qualify for. It seems to be in danger from the powers that be...The OP was referring to pensions

 

[tresir2012]

We do? I have no pension and can’t recall any in my circle that does unless retired from public service jobs.

Do you have an employer? Like Amazon or other large company that is quoted on the stock market? Or a mortgage or borrowings from Banks or credit card companies? Or car finance or anything that uses public companies could also be affected. In 2008 many people lost there homes due to the crash. I am glad there is an improvement as it means many jobs too will be safe. But MOO of course. If the cases continue to fall that can only help too.

 

[CSIDreamer]

We do? I have no pension and can’t recall any in my circle that does unless retired from public service jobs.

I've had the ability to invest in retirement funds even with part time jobs. It wasn't employer matching or anything. Jmo

 

[SouthAussie]

In the United States, which has seen the world's highest number of confirmed cases, infections among children are reaching critical levels.

Nearly half a million children have contracted COVID-19 since April, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics, with 75,755 new cases reported between July 30 and August 13 alone.

Recent observations by researchers in the United States indicated young children can harbour an equivalent viral load to adults.

Some even have up to 100 times more genetic material from the coronavirus in their noses compared to samples taken from older children and adults.

Ms Culligan's primary fear is that the virus will leave lasting psychological and physical damage in her daughters.

Five months after her initial symptoms, her seven-year-old daughter suffers from recurring nosebleeds and nasal congestion, as well as a sense of anxiety.

"It's instilled that something was wrong with [my daughters] and they couldn't be near anybody," Ms Culligan said.

'Not even a sniffle': As Jessica's COVID-19 symptoms worsened, her 4yo remained asymptomatic

 

[303gmf]

Do you have an employer? Like Amazon or other large company that is quoted on the stock market? Or a mortgage or borrowings from Banks or credit card companies? Or car finance or anything that uses public companies could also be affected. In 2008 many people lost there homes due to the crash. I am glad there is an improvement as it means many jobs too will be safe. But MOO of course. If the cases continue to fall that can only help too.

Self employed

 

[Sundog]

Coronavirus pandemic creates ‘perfect storm’ for addiction in United States

Isolation and uncertainty amid the pandemic compounded by the limited access to treatment have led to a rise in suspected overdoses and an increase in substance use nationwide.

“There's absolutely no doubt that the distress caused by COVID-19 is shifting people more into having addiction disorders, is worsening those that have it and is blocking people from being able to maintain recovery,” Dr. Paul Earley, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, said.

Roughly 13% of Americans have started or increased substance use, including legal or illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription drugs, to “cope with stress or emotions related to COVID-19,” according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A report from the Washington Post citing data from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program, a federal initiative that collects data from ambulance teams, hospitals and police, found that suspected overdoses have spiked 18% in March, 29% in April and 42% in May compared with last year.


Coronavirus pandemic creates ‘perfect storm’ for addiction in United States

 

[Tillicum]

Central Ohio families pool resources to create learning pods | NBC4 WCMH-TV

 

[CSIDreamer]

Here's a preprint on saliva testing:

SalivaDirect: Simple and sensitive molecular diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance

Regardless of our tested combination of reagents and instruments from different vendors, we found that SalivaDirect is highly sensitive with a limit of detection of 6-12 SARS-CoV-2 copies/μL. When comparing paired nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva specimens using the authorized ThermoFisher Scientific TaqPath COVID-19 combo kit and our SalivaDirect protocol, we found high agreement in testing outcomes (>94%). Being flexible and inexpensive ($1.29-$4.37/sample), SalivaDirect is a viable and accessible option to help alleviate SARS-CoV-2 testing demands.

 

[Niner]

snipped...

The whole vaccine thing scares me. Unless I KNOW it’s safe, I will be hesitant. No way I’d take that Russian vaccine that didn’t even go through the imperative Phase 3 clinical trials.

 

[Sundog]

Here's a preprint on saliva testing:

SalivaDirect: Simple and sensitive molecular diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance

Regardless of our tested combination of reagents and instruments from different vendors, we found that SalivaDirect is highly sensitive with a limit of detection of 6-12 SARS-CoV-2 copies/μL. When comparing paired nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva specimens using the authorized ThermoFisher Scientific TaqPath COVID-19 combo kit and our SalivaDirect protocol, we found high agreement in testing outcomes (>94%). Being flexible and inexpensive ($1.29-$4.37/sample), SalivaDirect is a viable and accessible option to help alleviate SARS-CoV-2 testing demands.

In Ohio, we have a consortium of colleges and universities who have joined together to lower costs and use saliva tests, beginning this week, to do randomized testing of students, faculty and staff to gauge the infection rate on their campuses. It is not from SalivaDirect, but it is FDA authorized. We also have a limited supply of these saliva tests for campus constituents who are asymptomatic, who are not included in the randomized test, but want to be tested. It will be first come, first served.
There is no cost to the people being tested.

 

[CSIDreamer]

In Ohio, we have a consortium of colleges and universities who have joined together to lower costs and use saliva tests, beginning this week, to do randomized testing of students, faculty and staff to gauge the infection rate on their campuses. It is not from SalivaDirect, but it is FDA authorized. We also have a limited supply of these saliva tests for campus constituents who are asymptomatic, who are not included in the randomized test, but want to be tested. It will be first come, first served.
There is no cost to the people being tested.

I'm interested in hearing the results.

 

[MimosaMornings]

We do? I have no pension and can’t recall any in my circle that does unless retired from public service jobs.

The plant stopped the employee matching part on hubs 401k several months ago and hope to restart by mid year 2021.

 

[weepingangel]

FDA issues alert of false COVID-19 test results from Massachusetts-based company
More at link
The federal government issued an alert this week about a coronavirustest kit manufactured by a Massachusetts laboratory equipment company that may provide false results.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted laboratory staff and health care providers Monday that there is a risk of inaccuracies with the TaqPath genetic test produced by Thermo Fisher Scientific due to issues with the centrifugation equipment used to quickly spin samples before they get processed as well as the company’s testing platform.

 

[mickey2942]

View attachment 260482

I will be first in line. 151 please.

 

[slowpoke]

COVID-19 hits U.S. mink farms after ripping through Europe | Science | AAAS

In Utah, the trouble started on 6 August, when farmers called the state’s Department of Agriculture and Food. At issue: “deaths in numbers they’d never seen before,” said Bradie Jones, the department’s public information officer.

Researchers are now trying to determine whether these workers gave the virus to the mink, or vice versa. The two farms are under 30-day quarantines, as USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state authorities investigate further.

 

[ilovewings]

What happened when children went to school during the 1918 pandemic - CNN

Very interesting article about opening schools in 1918 and how the situation really
differs from now