Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #92

[dmac55]

Or an Eddie mask.

It scared me when I looked it up

 

[SouthAussie]

It scared me when I looked it up

Ooh .. yes, the Eddie masks that google shows are scary! But I think Gibbo might have meant this guy ... the now-former president of Collingwood football club. He is a you-love-him-or-hate-him kinda guy. Very opinionated, and always heavily botoxed (not a thing that most Aussies like in a guy).

Eddie McGuire - Wikipedia

 

[dmac55]

Ooh .. yes, the Eddie masks that google shows are scary! But I think Gibbo might have meant this guy ... the now-former president of Collingwood football club. He is a you-love-him-or-hate-him kinda guy. Very opinionated, and always heavily botoxed (not a thing that most Aussies like in a guy).

Eddie McGuire - Wikipedia

The Eddie reference went whoosh right over my head
Now I understand
Thank you!

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I have been been setting my cell phone alarm for 2am to check for vaccine appointments at different places.

groan............. geez Mimosa.... I hope you get some satisfaction soon....

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Iowa numbers and news for Sunday, Feb. 14: As of 10:00-11:00 a.m., we had 458 new confirmed cases for a total of 329,098 confirmed cases of which 301,733 are recovering (+599). Those who have passed remains at 5,236. 54 were hospitalized in the last 24 hrs. for a total of 240 (+15). Feb. 14: In Iowa, 458 new positive cases, and 0 additional deaths reported
access
Planning, weather, and staffing cited amidst Iowa’s COVID-19 vaccination struggles
CDC director says Iowa made a mistake when lifting COVID-19 mitigation efforts
In interview Reynolds talks education, reprimanding some large school districts

from one of the articles posted......
"DES MOINES, Iowa —
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky called out Iowa for lifting mitigation efforts in an interview Sunday morning with "Face the Nation."

I find Dr. Rochelle Walensky to be more "glass half empty", as Osterholm is..... but it does look as if she has put Minnesota and Iowa "on notice" for weak mitigation response. We shall see over this next month......

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I get what what you’re saying. Yet even if we do assume most of the Type 2 patients are obese, they are less prone to hospitalisation and death from the virus than the Type 1 patients.

From the quoted article :

However, a string of studies released over the past six months suggests that Type 1 diabetics are equally, if not more, vulnerable to COVID-19 as those with Type 2.

One study found that people in England with Type 1 diabetes had 3.5 times the odds of in-hospital death relative to people without diabetes, while Type 2 diabetics had twice the odds. Another found that people with Type 1 diabetes had 3.9 times the risk hospitalization and 3.35 times the risk for greater illness severity, “which was similar to risk in type 2 diabetes.” And a third study of those hospitalized with COVID-19 in Scotland found the risk of hospitalization or death more than double for Type 1 diabetics and less than 1.5 times more likely for those with Type 2 diabetes.

eta: If you have 2 of the following conditions you are in group2 for the vaccine. If you have only one, you are in group4. In the state being discussed (may be different in others)

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

So if you are T2 & obese or other on the list you are in group2, but if you are T1 & obese or other on the list you are in group4

I have found this issue to be confusing. Thanks for posting the article from the Lancet. It is very clarifying.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Covid-19: The U.S. Has Its Own New Worrisome Variants

“As Americans anxiously watch the spread of coronavirus variants that were first identified in Britain and South Africa, scientists are finding a number of new variants that seem to have originated in the United States — and many of them may pose the same kind of extra-contagious threat.

In a study posted on Sunday, a team of researchers reported seven growing lineages of the coronavirus, spotted in states across the country. All have gained a mutation at the exact same spot in their genes.

“There’s clearly something going on with this mutation,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and a co-author of the new study.“

—-

New Covid variant and children: CDC doesn't know if variants cause rare complication in kids - CNN
January 27, 2021

“The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it does not know if the new Covid-19 variants are causing more cases of a rare complication in children called multisystem inflammatory syndrome.“

Thanks Margarita, for keeping us up to date on the effects with children.... with these new variants originating here... whoosh, could be such a totally different picture.

The US is so far behind on tracking the variants, because much of this work is done at poorly funded State labs. Hopefully the stimulus package will finally get money to the states to ramp up the research.

 

[weepingangel]

MIS-C: COVID-linked syndrome in children is growing, and cases are severe | Boston.com
More at link
Doctors across the country have been seeing a striking increase in the number of young people with the condition Braden had, which is called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or MIS-C. Even more worrisome, they say, is that more patients are now very sick than during the first wave of cases, which alarmed doctors and parents around the world last spring.

“We’re now getting more of these MIS-C kids, but this time, it just seems that a higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” said Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, chief of infectious diseases at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. During the hospital’s first wave, about half the patients needed treatment in the intensive care unit, she said, but now 80-90% do.

The reasons are unclear. The surge follows the overall spike of COVID cases in the United States after the winter holiday season, and more cases may simply increase chances for severe disease to emerge. So far, there’s no evidence that recent coronavirus variants are responsible, and experts say it is too early to speculate about any effect of variants on the syndrome.

The condition remains rare. The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 2,060 cases in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, including 30 deaths. The median age was 9, but infants to 20-year-olds have been afflicted. The data, which is complete only through mid-December, shows the rate of cases has been increasing since mid-October.

 

[tabitha111]

Interesting story from Wisconsin - social distancing
wasn't practiced and masks weren't used, especially when eating or
drinking... need I say more...(bbm & sbm)

......Home - ProMED - ProMED-mail

USA (Wisconsin): ice fishing

Date: Mon 15 Feb 2021

From: Blaise Vitale <[email protected]> [edited]

Ice fishing is a popular pastime in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Makeshift villages show up on area lakes every winter and remain there

most of the winter. This may be the 1st documented outbreak of

COVID-19 associated with ice fishing.

During my regular clinic on Friday [29 Jan 2021], I was assigned to do

COVID-19 testing. Our small clinic at a Critical Access Hospital

allows asymptomatic people to be tested by laboratory personnel but

symptomatic people are supposed to be seen by a provider. The 1st 2

patients were a couple in their 30's who requested testing as they had

found out on [28 Jan 2021] that someone with whom they had been ice

fishing during a family outing on [23 Jan 2021] with 3 ice houses on a

lake in northern Polk County, Wisconsin, had tested positive. Both of

the members had started to develop mild upper respiratory symptoms on

[27 Jan 2021]. Rapid antigen testing (Quidel) was positive for both

patients. The family then brought multiple other members to our clinic

over the course of the day and 9/9 tests were positive. The patients

ranged in age from 4 to 67. No one reported sharing beverages but

several meals were consumed in the ice houses. In total, 11 people

were affected [snip]

While preparing this report, our clinic subsequently found a 2nd

outbreak associated with ice fishing on a Burnett County lake.
[snip]
As demonstrated by this report, while ice fishing is

usually thought of as a safe outdoor activity, fishing within the more

comfortable ice houses currently on the market does represent a

potential unrecognized hazard.

Additional information

On follow-up, 40 people participated in 7 different ice houses. Most

of these were very nice RV [recreational vehicle) like structures with

heaters and several of them had bathrooms. About half of the people

had been there the night prior. There was food in most of the houses

but individual meals were largely served within family groups. There

were a total of 14 new positive cases traced back to this event. 5

people at the event had already been infected and recovered from

COVID-19. One person had already been vaccinated. The older couple

described were there only for about 3-4 hours. The index case worked

at a dental office and was thought to have been infected at work. When

she became mildly symptomatic, she was tested, but because she didn't

think she had it, she did not quarantine.
[snip]

I was told that everyone visited multiple houses and socialized

throughout the day. The 10 patients I saw were associated with 3 ice

houses and the index case apparently visited all 3.

I do know that

masks were not worn as they thought this was a safe "outdoor"

activity. The only other information was that 2 additional children

did have mild flu-like symptoms around the time of this outbreak but

their parents elected to not get them tested.


Blaise Vitale, MD

<[email protected]>

 

[anneg]

Broad spectrum antiviral proves highly effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 infection

Broad spectrum antiviral proves highly effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 infection - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise in many parts of the world, with the highest incidence in the United States. There are many signs of hope, however, including a new study published in Nature that found the orally administered drug EIDD-2801 to be extremely effective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and treating cases of COVID-19.

Scientists at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the UNC School of Medicine tested EIDD-2801 in a new in vivo model containing human lung tissue. Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials are currently evaluating the safety of the drug in humans and its effect on viral shedding in COVID-19 patients.

(More at link and in the Nature article, an "accelerated article preview")

Note: this drug was discussed on this thread last April! The first post about it was by @cass523:
Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #45

 

[ilovewings]

Broad spectrum antiviral proves highly effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 infection

Broad spectrum antiviral proves highly effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 infection - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise in many parts of the world, with the highest incidence in the United States. There are many signs of hope, however, including a new study published in Nature that found the orally administered drug EIDD-2801 to be extremely effective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and treating cases of COVID-19.

Scientists at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the UNC School of Medicine tested EIDD-2801 in a new in vivo model containing human lung tissue. Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials are currently evaluating the safety of the drug in humans and its effect on viral shedding in COVID-19 patients.

(More at link and in the Nature article, an "accelerated article preview")

Note: this drug was discussed on this thread last April! The first post about it was by @cass523:
Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #45

This drug sounds so promising. I hope it turns out to be what we would all hope for from a safety perspective as well.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

MIS-C: COVID-linked syndrome in children is growing, and cases are severe | Boston.com
More at link
Doctors across the country have been seeing a striking increase in the number of young people with the condition Braden had, which is called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or MIS-C. Even more worrisome, they say, is that more patients are now very sick than during the first wave of cases, which alarmed doctors and parents around the world last spring.

“We’re now getting more of these MIS-C kids, but this time, it just seems that a higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” said Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, chief of infectious diseases at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. During the hospital’s first wave, about half the patients needed treatment in the intensive care unit, she said, but now 80-90% do.

The reasons are unclear. The surge follows the overall spike of COVID cases in the United States after the winter holiday season, and more cases may simply increase chances for severe disease to emerge. So far, there’s no evidence that recent coronavirus variants are responsible, and experts say it is too early to speculate about any effect of variants on the syndrome.

The condition remains rare. The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 2,060 cases in 48 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, including 30 deaths. The median age was 9, but infants to 20-year-olds have been afflicted. The data, which is complete only through mid-December, shows the rate of cases has been increasing since mid-October.

Still 2000 cases. ..... horrible.

 

[anneg]

Eric Ding has a thread on #B117 and talks about the variant in Florida
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1361740824673996808

Just posted this in the no-discussion thread on variants.
SARS-CoV-2 Variants - Coronavirus COVID-19 **NO DISCUSSION**

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Just posted this in the no-discussion thread on variants.
SARS-CoV-2 Variants - Coronavirus COVID-19 **NO DISCUSSION**

Florida continues to outpace rest of country with new mutant COVID-19 cases

We have double the UK cases (380) than California. We are "#1". I guess we will have to see what happens. Beaches are already so crowded right now. Spring break is coming.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Second variant in the UK, closer to the South African.

Another new coronavirus variant seen in the UK

 

[SouthAussie]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

I can only imagine what condition Australia would be in now if we didn't have strict quarantine. About 100 cases of the UK variant have now entered the country - and this is with us severely limiting flights and arrivals, and requiring negative covid tests within 72 hours of those arrivals even getting on the planes.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Interesting story from Wisconsin - social distancing
wasn't practiced and masks weren't used, especially when eating or
drinking... need I say more...(bbm & sbm)

......Home - ProMED - ProMED-mail

USA (Wisconsin): ice fishing

Date: Mon 15 Feb 2021

From: Blaise Vitale <[email protected]> [edited]

Ice fishing is a popular pastime in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Makeshift villages show up on area lakes every winter and remain there

most of the winter. This may be the 1st documented outbreak of

COVID-19 associated with ice fishing.

During my regular clinic on Friday [29 Jan 2021], I was assigned to do

COVID-19 testing. Our small clinic at a Critical Access Hospital

allows asymptomatic people to be tested by laboratory personnel but

symptomatic people are supposed to be seen by a provider. The 1st 2

patients were a couple in their 30's who requested testing as they had

found out on [28 Jan 2021] that someone with whom they had been ice

fishing during a family outing on [23 Jan 2021] with 3 ice houses on a

lake in northern Polk County, Wisconsin, had tested positive. Both of

the members had started to develop mild upper respiratory symptoms on

[27 Jan 2021]. Rapid antigen testing (Quidel) was positive for both

patients. The family then brought multiple other members to our clinic

over the course of the day and 9/9 tests were positive. The patients

ranged in age from 4 to 67. No one reported sharing beverages but

several meals were consumed in the ice houses. In total, 11 people

were affected [snip]

While preparing this report, our clinic subsequently found a 2nd

outbreak associated with ice fishing on a Burnett County lake.
[snip]
As demonstrated by this report, while ice fishing is

usually thought of as a safe outdoor activity, fishing within the more

comfortable ice houses currently on the market does represent a

potential unrecognized hazard.

Additional information

On follow-up, 40 people participated in 7 different ice houses. Most

of these were very nice RV [recreational vehicle) like structures with

heaters and several of them had bathrooms. About half of the people

had been there the night prior. There was food in most of the houses

but individual meals were largely served within family groups. There

were a total of 14 new positive cases traced back to this event. 5

people at the event had already been infected and recovered from

COVID-19. One person had already been vaccinated. The older couple

described were there only for about 3-4 hours. The index case worked

at a dental office and was thought to have been infected at work. When

she became mildly symptomatic, she was tested, but because she didn't

think she had it, she did not quarantine.
[snip]

I was told that everyone visited multiple houses and socialized

throughout the day. The 10 patients I saw were associated with 3 ice

houses and the index case apparently visited all 3.

I do know that

masks were not worn as they thought this was a safe "outdoor"

activity. The only other information was that 2 additional children

did have mild flu-like symptoms around the time of this outbreak but

their parents elected to not get them tested.


Blaise Vitale, MD

<[email protected]>

“The index case worked
at a dental office and was thought to have been infected at work. When
she became mildly symptomatic, she was tested, but because she didn't
think she had it, she did not quarantine.”
——-
It’s not like it’s last spring and they can plead ignorance of how Covid spreads.

I’m wondering if every primary care doctor needs to do a zoom call with each patient and go over the basics plus vaccine information. For the deniers, just mail them a DNR bracelet.

Works at a dental office.
She tested and went anyway before she got her results?
No wonder I’m afraid to go to the dentist.

JMO

 

[tabitha111]

BAD NEWS-Exclusive: Two variants have merged into heavily mutated coronavirus | New Scientist

Health 16 February 2021
By Graham Lawton

Two variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes covid-19 have combined their genomes to form a heavily mutated hybrid version of the virus. The “recombination” event was discovered in a virus sample in California, provoking warnings that we may be poised to enter a new phase of the pandemic.

The hybrid virus is the result of recombination of the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant discovered in the UK and the B.1.429 variant that originated in California and which may be responsible for a recent wave of cases in Los Angeles because it carries a mutation making it resistant to some antibodies.
(continued at link) bbm

 

[SouthAussie]

Dr. Anthony Fauci said vaccines won't be available to the "general public" before mid- to late May or early June, he told CNN's Jim Sciutto on Tuesday.

"If you start talking about when the vaccine would be more widely available to the general population, I was hoping that that would be by the end of April, namely, have gone through all the priorities and now say, OK anyone can get it," Fauci said. "That was predicated on J&J, the Johnson product, having considerably more doses than now we know they're going to have."

The US has administered more than 55 million vaccine doses so far and is averaging about 1.7 million doses administered every day, a number that has been steadily increasing.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden's administration is again increasing its weekly Covid-19 vaccine supply being sent to states, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Tuesday.

Jeff Zients informed the officials that the administration is "increasing the vaccine supply to 13.5 million doses per week to states"

US Coronavirus: Dr. Fauci shifts the timeline on when the general public will be able to get a vaccine - CNN

 

[SouthAussie]

Victoria's snap lockdown seems to be working.

In the last 24 hours, zero new cases. 39,258 test results completed on the many, many good people who did the right thing and went to get tested.
Victorians, we love you.


New Zealand, too. No new cases in the last 24 hours. Talks happening about lifting their snap lockdown.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Cabinet decides today on lockdown, alert levels - NZ Herald