Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #50

[Alathea]

None of us can tell, without scrolling back, which article you are referring to. If you posted it yourself, then maybe direct people to your profile?

That "reply button" would have included what you were responding to, it would be really helpful.

Good point! That's what happens when I reply to a reply of my post. I should then repost the article when I'm replying to a repy - it would be helpful indeed, and --here it is!

Special Report: Former Labradoodle breeder was tapped to lead U.S. pandemic task force

 

[Inthedetails]

I was just looking for a list of when stay at home orders expire in each state. Illinois hasn't been updated yet here.

List: When stay-at-home orders are set to end in 50 states

It looks like Wisconsin has extended its order until May 26th. Illinois has done so through May 30. It will be interesting to see what happens with the rest of the states that have joined together in a loose coalition with these two.

And this is the list of the relax estimates for each state.

Chart: When will each state lift stay-at-home orders?

Thank you for this! I will keep it handy. I was in the habit of watching my state's governor every day, but have slipped out of the habit - and it occurred to me when I read your post that I don't know if our stay-at-home date has changed or not!

I'm in a May 15 state (as of now).

jmo

 

[10ofRods]

I thought it was a pretty big deal, too. We have to start analyzing why this happened the way it happened in our country. This is part of that puzzle.

Are you both referring to the dog breeder article?

I really can't read those articles yet. I know what it's been like in every other scientific endeavor in our nation, not just now, but since 2017 or thereabouts.

No one should be surprised. And, of course, all the people who think we should just go Survival of the Fittest and Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead - are fine with this.

People who think that having 5% of the population die, are fine with this. It makes me rethink, altogether, why we put resources into rare disease research or MS or CF or diabetes. If people are content with lowered life expectancy and large numbers of death, we can go on the way the Federal Government wants us to go on.

 

[10ofRods]

Good point! That's what happens when I reply to a reply of my post. I should then repost the article when I'm replying to a repy - it would be helpful indeed, and --here it is!

Special Report: Former Labradoodle breeder was tapped to lead U.S. pandemic task force

Thank you! - yes, this is horrifying (see my last post). I think a lot of people simply do not care.

I'm getting tired shouting in the wind. Like most people my age, we're getting close to the end in any case - if no one sees the problem and we continue to do as we have done for the last 4 years, our population will decrease. That's not an overall bad thing - and the fact that this time, it's 1/3 old people is something that makes many voters complacent.

The fact that ⅔ of the deaths are in essential professions and people with other serious illnesses makes me think that most Americans really don't care about medical interventions, that we should revise levels of care downwards, and just spend our money elsewhere.

The states are on their own. I think we're going to see a disintegration of the "United States" as we know it, with firmer boundaries (of various kinds) between/among the states and greater differences in how they spend their funds. I think we'll see more people refusing to pay federal tax, if their state taxes take care of their local needs.

That's already happening, so it's not like I just thought it up.

 

[margarita25]

Does Covid-19 Infection Equal Immunity?
Apr 19

“So far, most medical researchers who have studied coronaviruses related to the pathogen that causes Covid-19—including SARS, MERS and the common cold—are confident that people who do recover gain some immunity to SARS-CoV-2, based on preliminary studies and case reports of the new virus. They don’t know yet whether that protection will last a few months, a few years or a lifetime.

“The arguments are that a protective response to SARS-CoV-2 will last somewhere between 6 months and 60 years,” said Martin Hibberd, a specialist in emerging infectious diseases at the U.K.’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.”

[...]

“SARS-CoV-2 has a mutation rate of less than 25 mutations per year, compared with influenza’s mutation rate of almost 50 mutations per year, according to an analysis by computational biologists of the Nextstrain consortium, based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and the University of Basel in Switzerland. That gives researchers hope that any natural immunity or vaccine would offer more lasting protection, said Pamela Bjorkman, a virologist at the California Institute of Technology who studies viruses that cause AIDS, influenza and Zika.”

 

[otto]

Watching the President Press conference right now. Really interesting information today.

Apparently the Coronavirus doesn't like warm environments. This is interesting. Because hospitals are usually kept cooler, to reduce bacteria and viruses.

Nice, the sun will kill the virus, UV rays. Like on playground equipment. Yay! Kids can play again at the park.

William Bryan, DHS Under Secretary of Science.

It sounds a bit too easy - UV rays kill the virus, take malaria drugs if you get sick. Everyone back to work!

 

[10ofRods]

If one reads the article they'll find that it's not, as I stated, just that he's a dog breeder. That's not a big deal. One can be a dog breeder AND understand infectious disease, of course. There are many more major issues; if you read the article they will be quite clear.

The main fact is that he has NO understanding of science at all. He is interested in politics.

Scientists and doctors are not being consulted. When there is a pandemic, we need folks who understand disease, disease spread, and public health. Hopefully that is obvious.

I totally disagree. Even people with medical degrees and doctorates and 30 years of study are not all qualified to "understand infectious diseases," especially of the modern Zoonotic diseases. To be able to understand the many different types of drug studies, the person should be able to communicate readily with the best scientists and doctors in our nation. The various kinds of studies for approval of drugs need to be understood, statistically and topically, by any such person.

If not, then that person has to know the actual names in the fields, as academics do, to be able to call on the proper experts.

But that's not going to happen, so a dog breeder is certainly a bit better than a barrista.

 

[otto]

So, at the press conference, it was stated that the virus hates light, humidity, heat, etc.

So, maybe we will have a good summer at the beaches?

It's long been said that transmission may be reduced during Summer months, and that a second wave will come in Sept/Oct.

 

[margarita25]

Coronavirus’s ability to mutate ‘has been vastly underestimated’
Apr 20

• “The most aggressive strains of Sars-CoV-2 could generate 270 times as much viral load as the least potent type
• New York may have a deadlier strain imported from Europe, compared to less deadly viruses elsewhere in the United States”

 

[Trino]

We might say "soft reopening" and also point out that IMHE itself now acknowledges that it was wrong in its algorithms in many areas (it's completely off for California - we are now following IMHE's original curve, not the one that's currently up on its site).

Thankfully, IMHE has also encouraged each region to use its own data and algorithms, which works for larger states with major research teams. It's especially great if there are several different scientific viewpoints, and if they are closely tailored by local region. Bakersfield is very different from San Francisco. Ojai is very different from Huntington Beach.

It's the same where ever you live. Actual human beings with knowledge, intelligence and common sense are going to have to work this out locally, in conjunction with the availability of state and local resources. If you're in a state where all the bail-out money just went to hotel chains, that's very different than if you're someplace where the State is filling the gap with actual small business loans.

If I lived somewhere dependent on small businesses, I'd be wanting local groups and authorities to be helping out - the Feds are reaching the end of their largesse.

"Pandemics such as the 1918 influenza offer one key takeaway: Clear communication from the federal government is key."
What the 1918 influenza pandemic can teach governments about coronavirus

 

[KALI]

I've heard via multiple media, that in California, they are not accepting new applications as the already have a ton in their pipeline.
I'm not worried about the ppl loan. I really don't care if we get that one.
The $10,000. Grant is the one I want, I applied for that the first day.
that would put a good rent in what's owed to landlord.
also the $1,200. Each, which neither hubby or I have received.

Kali...in our area, community banks are gathering the applications/paperwork for the PPP funds. Once the paperwork is complete and verified, it’s forwarded on to SBA. I just spoke to the director of the credit department at our community bank and she said that there is a significant amount of documents needed for approval. Much of this has to be handled via emails and records provided by CPAs/bookkeepers pertaining to payroll distribution, utilities payment, rent etc. It’s not an easy task for so good to help save small businesses.

 

[JaneEyre]

Thank you for this! I will keep it handy. I was in the habit of watching my state's governor every day, but have slipped out of the habit - and it occurred to me when I read your post that I don't know if our stay-at-home date has changed or not!

I'm in a May 15 state (as of now).

jmo

Unfortunately, they haven't updated it for a couple of days. But I haven't yet found anything better.

 

[BHughes]

Yep, a nicotine patch stuck on one arm, and a pork chop taped to the other arm, my Costa sunglasses covering my eyes, and my Spongebob Squarepants mask on my face, and I will be "good to go" to the grocery store.......moo

I would seriously be watching my back if I were you. You'll probably get maimed over that pork chop AND that mask!

 

[margarita25]

So, at the press conference, it was stated that the virus hates light, humidity, heat, etc.

So, maybe we will have a good summer at the beaches?

Scientists had to bring temperature to almost boiling to kill virus
Apr 14

“The new coronavirus can survive long exposure to high temperatures, according to an experiment by a team of French scientists.
Professor Remi Charrel and colleagues at the Aix-Marseille University in southern
France heated the virus that causes Covid-19 to 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) for an hour and found that some strains were still able to replicate.
The scientists had to bring the temperature to almost boiling point to kill the virus completely, according to their non-peer-reviewed paper released on bioRxiv.org on Saturday. The results have implications for the safety of lab technicians working with the virus.”

[...]

“For the new coronavirus, this temperature may be enough for samples with low viral loads because it could kill a large proportion of the strains. But it may be dangerous for samples with extremely high amounts of the virus, according to the researchers.”

[...]

““The transmissibility of Sars-CoV-2 showed no signs of weakening in warm and humid conditions,” the peer-reviewed paper said.”

 

[JaneEyre]

It's long been said that transmission may be reduced during Summer months, and that a second wave will come in Sept/Oct.

Yeah, I'm not sure we learned anything new today.

I wish I could find a breakdown, just a summarization, of each state's daily pressers. Things change every day and it's hard to keep up.

 

[TJtennispro]

Georgia is opening back up tomorrow. I’m glad. Stay at home if you need too. I just don’t believe that people that need to stay home should force the ones that don’t need to into doing so.

How is me going back to work going to effect someone at their house... it’s not. I’ve worked everyday the past month though.

I was just looking for a list of when stay at home orders expire in each state. Illinois hasn't been updated yet here.

List: When stay-at-home orders are set to end in 50 states

It looks like Wisconsin has extended its order until May 26th. Illinois has done so through May 30. It will be interesting to see what happens with the rest of the states that have joined together in a loose coalition with these two.

And this is the list of the relax estimates for each state.

Chart: When will each state lift stay-at-home orders?

 

[JaneEyre]

Scientists had to bring temperature to almost boiling to kill virus
Apr 14

The new coronavirus can survive long exposure to high temperatures, according to an experiment by a team of French scientists.
Professor Remi Charrel and colleagues at the Aix-Marseille University in southern
France heated the virus that causes Covid-19 to 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) for an hour and found that some strains were still able to replicate.
The scientists had to bring the temperature to almost boiling point to kill the virus completely, according to their non-peer-reviewed paper released on bioRxiv.org on Saturday. The results have implications for the safety of lab technicians working with the virus.”

[...]

“For the new coronavirus, this temperature may be enough for samples with low viral loads because it could kill a large proportion of the strains. But it may be dangerous for samples with extremely high amounts of the virus, according to the researchers.”

[...]

““The transmissibility of Sars-CoV-2 showed no signs of weakening in warm and humid conditions,” the peer-reviewed paper said.”

Well, I'm certainly not wishing for temperatures that high.

We have known it will probably lessen somewhat over the summer. But that may be due less to temperature and more to people being outdoors more.

 

[jjenny]

did they really suggest injecting cleaning agents into lungs??? omg

If by "they" you mean Trump, then yes.
"But then Trump even went further, connecting the household bleaching agents in most surface disinfectants to a possible internal treatment for humans, which would be toxic and possibly fatal. “Then I see the disinfectant, one minute. Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it’d be interesting to check that so that you’ll have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds interesting to me. So we’ll see, but the whole concept of the light, where it goes in one minute. That’s pretty powerful.”"
Trump Suggests Injecting Disinfectant to Kill Coronavirus

 

[BUF]

Alicia Keys Honors Unsung Heroes on 'Good Job'

“Whether you’re on the frontlines at the hospitals, balancing work, family and homeschool teaching, delivering mail, packages, or food, or facing other personal difficulties because of COVID-19, I feel you,” Keys said in the statement. “You are seen, loved and deeply appreciated.”

 

[10ofRods]

Coronavirus’s ability to mutate ‘has been vastly underestimated’
Apr 20

• “The most aggressive strains of Sars-CoV-2 could generate 270 times as much viral load as the least potent type
• New York may have a deadlier strain imported from Europe, compared to less deadly viruses elsewhere in the United States”

Thank you for this. I wish everyone would read this (and not the crazy "sunshine") stuff. I wonder how many people know what "viral load" means? There have been several robust discussions here, but those are often buried under all kinds of other posts.

I do think NY has a faster replicating form. That's one of the most common viral mutations. It doesn't have to change its mechanism of death (in fact, that's a bad idea from the virus's point of view) but to be a successful virus, it does have to reproduce very, very quickly.

The second bullet will be all that most people read. It isn't the mechanism of CV that attacks the body that makes it worse, it's the fact that it can multiple to vast levels very quickly, thereby infecting millions (and killing...whatever the percentage is).

So far people posting here that they don't think 5% is "all that bad" are almost never countered.

5% is quite a lot, especially as the median age in the US appears to have dropped to about 48-50. That means a lot of 30 and 40 somethings will die (probably 1% of 30 year olds, to balance the 20% of 80+ people who die).

If WSers were okay with a 5% death rate, I'm curious as to why everyone is so interested in murder and missing people...800,000 missing people annually (of which only a fraction are discussed so earnestly here) is quite a few.

800,000 is only 0.2%

5 per cent is a lot more than that. 1 in 20 people. Not 2 in 1000. Of course, some of the missing return or are found.

1 in 20 people is a lot of people. And many will be doctors, nurses, professors, lab scientists, and others who would have otherwise taught the next generation what they know.