news Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news

[Mister Funsky]

Having relatives and friends scattered all over the globe, I am getting an overload of input (some on the record and some off the record).

My intention for this thread is for community members from around the world to post first hand stories and/or links to information sources that, for the most part, should be reliable.

In my community, just outside a major southeastern city, 'assets' have been placed. Only because I have friends in both high and low places have I heard about some of this. At this point it is only some basic medical supplies that should be equally distributed anyway in preparation for a natural emergency (hurricane/wildfire/etc.).

I will start with posting a link to a site with current data that seems to come from an aggregate of sources and hope others will do the same as they come across similar sites/pages.

Because of the 'typhoid Mary' spread-ability of this disease, I feel we may be in for a really large spread globally which will impact the global economy and through extension, retail domain prices.

One thing is for sure...things will get worse before they get better.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa-coronavirus/

 

[Mister Funsky]

one gave it to the other

About 6 weeks ago my class had a reunion...it was a decade event so many of those that do not attend the minor events decided to come.

The class secretary is an old girlfriend and she and I are the only ones that keep in touch on a regular basis. I asked her how 'safe' the event was going to be as far as distance, venue, etc. and she let me know that 0 precautions were being taken due to a small survey they took prior (I was not consulted although I was the class/school cutup).

I let her know I would not attend...about 175 showed up and had a big time. One woman, that was the happiest person in our class and was a sheriffs deputy, was adamant about hugging and speaking to everyone (just like the old days when we were in school). The day after the event, she missed church due to a cold. 4 days later she was admitted to the hospital with covid. 3 days after that she died.

As of now they have traced 15 cases of covid to her and that event. 4 people are hospitalized and two will likely not make it. Good times.

 

[J Sokol]

As of now they have traced 15 cases of covid to her and that event. 4 people are hospitalized and two will likely not make it. Good times.

Reminds of the old Peter, Paul & Mary song: "When will they ever learn, when will they e-e-e-ver learn."

 

[Cal2]

Reminds of the old Peter, Paul & Mary song: "When will they ever learn, when will they e-e-e-ver learn."

I wonder what the vaccine status was of those hospitalized and dead people in Mr Funsky's story.

I have to admit to getting a little too cavalier with covid safety at times, now that I and those close to me have had their shots - those old enough to get them. My nurse's and Mr. Funsky's stories are a reminder to not get casual about it.

 

[J Sokol]

Flu, cancer, HIV: after Covid success, what next for mRNA vaccines?

It is one of the most remarkable success stories of the pandemic: the unproven technology that delivered the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in record time, helping to turn the tide on Covid-19. The vaccines are based on mRNA, the molecule that instructs our cells to make specific proteins. By injecting synthetic mRNA, our cells are turned into on-demand vaccine factories, pumping out any protein we want our immune system to learn to recognise and destroy.

Pre-pandemic, the technology was viewed with scepticism – a clever concept, but not guaranteed to deliver. Now there is growing confidence that mRNA vaccines could have far-reaching applications in tackling diseases from flu to malaria.

https://www.theguardian.com/science...ter-covid-success-what-next-for-mrna-vaccines

 

[Cannuck]

UK becomes first country in world to approve Merck's at-home pill for Covid

The first at-home pill to treat Covid has been approved by Britain's medicines watchdog.

Antiviral molnupiravir was shown in clinical trials to slash the risk of hospitalisation by half in vulnerable and elderly patients.

The tablet - which will be sold under the brand name Lagevrio - will be given twice a day to people within a week of testing positive.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10164917/First-pill-treat-Covid-19-approved-UK.html

 

[Cal2]

Pfizer Says Its New COVID Wonder Pill Can Prevent Nine Out of 10 Hospitalizations​

Pfizer’s new antiviral pill dramatically reduces the chances of getting seriously sick or dying from COVID-19 if it’s taken right after a patient first shows symptoms, the drug maker announced Friday morning. In what could be a major step forward the treatment of the disease—especially in vulnerable or immunocompromized people—Pfizer said its pill cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 percent when given within three days of the onset of COVID symptoms. In its statement, the drug maker said the antiviral pill will be sold under the brand name Paxlovid. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourlasaid: “Today’s news is a real game-changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic. These data suggest that our oral antiviral candidate, if approved or authorized by regulatory authorities, has the potential to save patients’ lives, reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, and eliminate up to nine out of 10 hospitalizations.” The company said it will now submit its data as soon as possible to the Food and Drug Administration to seek authorization.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pfize...ine-out-of-10-covid-hospitalizations?ref=home

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 9:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 5,048,499
United States: 772,315
Brazil: 608,715
India: 459,875
Russia: 244,447
United Kingdom: 141,395
France: 117,849
Italy: 132,283
Spain: 87,477
Mexico: 289,131
Poland: 77,547
South Africa: 89,251
Indonesia: 143,519
Netherlands: 18,497
Canada: 29,115
Chile: 37,794
Belgium: 26,105
Philippines: 44,085
Japan : 18,296
Bolivia: 18,942
Australia: 1,795
Peru: 200,350

 

[Cal2]

A ‘smoke detector’ for COVID-19? It’s here​

Imagine sitting at your desk when you get a Slack alert from your building manager. You’re told that, while no one appears sick, COVID-19 has been detected near your cubicle.


You calmly pack up your things and head home. Over the next few days, you get tested for COVID-19. Luckily, the results are negative. But it ends up that your manager was positive—and with a heads up, she was able to get onto antivirals before the infection worsened and someone else got sick.

This is not the future of COVID-19 detection. It is the present.

https://www.fastcompany.com/9069494...ass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:11/10/2021_fc

 

[Mister Funsky]

Covid live: Germany reports record 50,000 new cases; Dutch experts recommend lockdown amid record cases​

Germany reported a record-high number of more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases on Thursday as lawmakers mulled legislation that would pave the way for new coronavirus measures.

The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s national disease control center, registered 50,196 new cases, up from 33,949 daily cases a week earlier. Infections have multiplied so quickly in recent days that hospitals in the hardest-hit regions cancelled scheduled surgeries to allow medical personnel to focus on Covid patients.

The institute also reported 237 daily Covid deaths, bringing Germany’s pandemic death toll to 97,198. One of the country’s top virologists, Christian Drosten, warned on Wednesday that another 100,000 people could die in the coming months if the country’s vaccination rate didn’t accelerate quickly.

Unlike some other European countries, Germany has balked at making vaccinations mandatory for certain categories of workers and has struggled to persuade more people to voluntarily get shots.

At least 67% of the population of 83 million is fully vaccinated, according to official figures.

“In Germany, I must say, unfortunately, that our vaccination rate isn’t high enough to prevent the fast spread of the virus,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said late on Wednesday.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...alse&page=with:block-618d59e08f08f6be4a84d2ae

 

[J Sokol]

Covid rates seem to be picking up worldwide. So sad.

Lockdown protests and fears of overwhelmed morgues: New Zealand faces up to Covid peak​

Fears of overwhelmed morgues, record Covid cases, anti-lockdown protests – the headlines this week in New Zealandmight evoke deja-vu for anyone who lived through the pandemic in Europe, Asia or America.

New Zealand has recently generated a series of news stories that could have been a year-old dispatch from the opposite side of the globe. National radio announced that hospitals had been buying portable refrigerators to prepare for the possibility of growing Covid deaths. In the capital, Wellington, a crowd of thousands of “pro-freedom” anti-vaccination protesters gathered in front of parliament – one of the first organised, medium-scale expressions of dissatisfaction from a country that had held on to extraordinarily high levels of social support for its Covid response.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ed-morgues-new-zealand-faces-up-to-covid-peak

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

Mental midget anti vaxxers in Kelowna, the hate capital of Canada are making news in their own special way.
Such a small world, I have spent a fair amount of time chatting with someone that looks very similiar to her. This one been taking that horse stuff, trying to play me as her 4th string quarterback. At a rally last weekend.. No we haven't met, but I did video her dating profile, just in case i am correct. I hope i am wrong.
These anti vaxxers have been protesting around schools including elementary schools lately. Now.
Sorry any vetran had to see this

 

[Mister Funsky]

Sorry any vetran had to see this

The subject of covid (or ANTHING) should not disrupt any event honoring Veterans.

Had this waste of space disrupted the event I attended, she would have been assisted into her vehicle (whether the door was open or not).

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

I concur, she has a bullseye on her forehead for sure.
Cottonwoods senior home, I drive by daily, maybe they have seen the end of this? Unfortunately 15 residents really have seen the end of covid

Longest Kelowna care home COVID-19 outbreak finally ends; 17 lives lost​

As for the woman who disrupted the rememberance day service

They say it is Laura Lynn
https://twitter.com/LauraLynnTT?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
You tell me. I dont know why anti vaxxers pick kelowna, sad place. 17 year old kid got rolled by 2 transients on rail trail this week, stole his shoes, phone and cell. His surgery went well.

I have not been keeping up to this thread, or covid, as life is what i see.
Here still have to wear masks to go into any building like McPukes but you can gather at a table of 20 and laugh the morning away.
Buddy had family member in Kelowna hospital. They started asking for covid passport, last week. He had it but not uncle. So he sent him picture of his. No id required until2 days ago to enter kelowna general. Now like casino has been for months, the hospital requires vaccine passport and id. Thanks interior health, good job

We laid off all health care workers that are not double vaccinated, real shortage now at the hospital. Unpaid leave
Booster shots coming soon.

Medical update for anti vaxxer wingnuts. My gf had some thing stuffed in her to stop the menstrating, as she loses to much iron when Aunty Flow shows up.
One week after her second shot,Aunty Flow returned for first time in year.
She is still glad she got the shots, and so am I
Brain is the second most washed body part according to recent survey
Have great day tgif serious Thank God eh @Rob Monster

 

[Mister Funsky]

Austria orders lockdown for those not vaccinated against COVID-19​

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria is placing millions of people not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in lockdown as of Monday to deal with a surge in infections to record levels, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Sunday.

© Reuters/LISI NIESNERCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown continues in Vienna
Europe has become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns.

Roughly 65% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.

While the Netherlands is dealing with its surge in infections by imposing a partial lockdown that applies to all, Austria's conservative-led government says it wants to avoid imposing further restrictions on those who are fully vaccinated.

"We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low," Schallenberg told a news conference announcing the new measure after a video call with the governors of Austria's nine provinces.

Those aged 12 and under will be exempt from the lockdown, under which the unvaccinated can only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons like going to work or shopping for essentials, Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein told the news conference, adding that it would initially last 10 days. (more...)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...d-against-covid-19/ar-AAQGGKL?ocid=uxbndlbing

 

[J Sokol]

A friend of mine is on her way to Athens to embark on an 18-day cruise. From there she'll go to the Dubai Expo for another two weeks. She is about 70 and has COPD. I'm pretty sure she's had all three vaccines, but being confined on a cruise ship in Europe during a Covid outbreak doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[Cal2]

Experimental RNA therapy harnesses immune system to fight COVID-19​

Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have developed a new kind of COVID-19 treatment designed to stimulate the body’s immune defenses and fight off a coronavirus infection at its earliest stages. In preclinical animal tests an experimental RNA molecule helped immunocompromised mice completely clear the virus from their system. ....

The researchers also tested the treatment in an immunocompromised mouse model. Here the animals were suffering from chronic long-standing SARS-CoV-2 infections and treatment with SLR14 was enough to stimulate an immune response that completely eradicated the virus. .....

Iwasaki also points out these kinds of RNA therapeutics are much cheaper and easier to manufacture than more complex biologic therapies currently used, such as monoclonal antibodies. ....

“SLR14 therefore holds great promise as a new class of RNA therapeutics that can be applied as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2,” Iwasaki says. “Moreover, because this RNA-based therapeutic approach is simple and versatile, our study will facilitate pandemic preparedness and response against future respiratory pathogens sensitive to type I interferons.”

https://newatlas.com/medical/synthe...ail&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-d3bcb6b47f-90628689

 

[Mister Funsky]

Current Covid19 death numbers as of 9:00 am EST are below, primarily from the source in the original post (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus). If your country of interest is not listed below, simply go to the link above to do a search for relevant information.

Total: 5,125,897
United States: 784,779
Brazil: 611,384
India: 463,852
Russia: 257,837
United Kingdom: 142,945
France: 118,224
Italy: 132,819
Spain: 87,716
Mexico: 291,204
Poland: 79,161
South Africa: 89,489
Indonesia: 143,685
Netherlands: 18,750
Canada: 29,384
Chile: 38,001
Belgium: 26,403
Philippines: 45,808
Japan : 18,327
Bolivia: 19,022
Australia: 1,898
Peru: 200,672

 

[.X.]

You folks are still going at it strong in this thread .. everything is gonna be ok .. aside from the months you people have wasted going at it everyday in this forum .. life is precious … live it

 

[Cal2]

You folks are still going at it strong in this thread .. everything is gonna be ok .. aside from the months you people have wasted going at it everyday in this forum .. life is precious … live it

lol

Let me help you back to your thread. It needs your message more:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/the-usa-political-thread.764342/

 

[Sutruk]

FDA expected to authorize Pfizer booster for all adults this week​

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...authorize-pfizer-booster-adults-week-rcna5783

"The Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 booster shot for all adults within days, according to a person familiar with the plans.

Pfizer requested emergency use authorization for the booster last week, citing results from a Phase 3 clinical trial with more than 10,000 participants, which found that the third dose was safe and effective.

Still, with case numbers once again rising in the U.S. as winter approaches, several states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado and New Mexico, along with New York City, chose not to wait for the FDA’s official signoff, moving on their own to allow boosters, including Moderna’s, for all adults in the past week."

 

[J Sokol]

Coronavirus spreads in deer and other animals. Scientists worry about what that means for people​

(CNN)Scientists have found SARS-CoV-2 spreads like, well, a virus among white-tailed deer and other wild animals in the United States.

People are the likely source, but that doesn't mean the virus can't evolve among these animals and then spill back into humans, and researchers are worried about what this spread means for the risk of future pandemics.

There's little doubt SARS-Cov-2, the virus that caused the ongoing pandemic, came from an animal -- almost certainly a bat. And the prevailing scientific opinion is that there as an intermediate host, an animal of some sort, that was infected by a bat or bats and then infected people.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/17/health/covid-deer-animals/index.html

 

[Mister Funsky]

First known case of Covid was a female seafood vendor at a Wuhan market - NOT accountant who lived miles away, report claims​

• A new report claims the first known case of COVID-19 occurred in a female seafood vendor at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan on December 11
• Previous reports have stated that the first case was in a 41-year-old male accountant who lived 20 miles away from the market
• He first reported feeling ill on December 8 but did not come down with COVID-19 symptoms until December 16
• The scientist who wrote the report says the earliest illness came from dental problems, specially baby teeth he had retained into adulthood
• Experts say the report reconstructs the early timeline of the pandemic well but does not explain whether the virus originated the market or escaped from a lab

The first known case of COVID-19 was in a vendor at a live animal and seafood market in Wuhan, China - not someone who lived miles away, a new report claims.

Dr Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, says the World Health Organization (WHO) misconstrued the early timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He says he believes the first confirmed infection to be in a female seafood vendor at the Huanan Seafood Market who fell ill on December 11, 2019.

Previously, the earliest case of the virus was believed to have been a 41-year-old male accountant who lived 20 miles south of the market.

The report is bound to reinvigorate the debate about whether the COVID-19 pandemic started at the market or accidentally escaped from a laboratory in the same city. (more...)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/...Covid-female-seafood-vendor-Wuhan-market.html

 

[Mister Funsky]

First it was going to be a lockdown for the unvaccinated...now it is going to be for everyone. Other countries will likely have to do the same as the winter progresses (especially after the 'holidays')

Austria to go into full lockdown as Covid surges​

Days after Austria imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated, it has announced a full national Covid-19 lockdown starting on Monday.

Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said it would last a maximum of 20 days and there would be a legal requirement to get vaccinated from 1 February 2022.

He was responding to record case numbers and one of the lowest vaccination levels in Western Europe.

Many other European countries are imposing restrictions as cases rise.
"We don't want a fifth wave," said Mr Schallenberg after meeting the governors of Austria's nine provinces at a resort in the west of the country.

For a long time, there had been a consensus over avoiding mandatory vaccinations, the chancellor said.

However, too many people had been incited not to get the jab, because of "too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news", he added. The measures are yet to be finalised. (more...)

 

[Sutruk]

Because of this:

because of "too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news", he added. The measures are yet to be finalised. (more...)

They will need to do this:

"there would be a legal requirement to get vaccinated from 1 February 2022."

And they are going to do that with a full vaccination rate of 65%.

 

[Cal2]

Doctors are often unaware of the only treatment for early Covid-19​

An investigation by CNN shows Arana is not alone in her challenge to find monoclonal antibodies. Many patients who qualify for the drugs say their doctors never mentioned them, even though it has been nearly a year since antibodies were first authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration, they're the only treatment for early Covid, and studies have shown they can dramatically reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
The federal government has made efforts to educate doctors, including a presentation by Dr. Anthony Fauci at a White House briefing in August, but still problems have persisted.

At a White House briefing at the end of August, Fauci, President Joe Biden's senior medical adviser, implored doctors to use monoclonal antibodies more frequently, noting that they can reduce the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization or death by 70 to 85%.

"This is a very effective intervention for COVID-19.  It is underutilized, and we recommend strongly that we utilize this to its fullest," Fauci said. "We want people out there, including physicians, as well as potential patients, to realize the advantage of this very effective way of treating early infection."
When asked by CNN why more doctors and health centers aren't getting antibodies to their Covid-19 patients, Fauci said, "I can't explain that."

"They work. We've just got to get people to realize that they work," Fauci said. "I've been trying to get attention paid to how easy it should be to get this done, but I understand that a lot of doctors don't fully appreciate that."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/25/health/covid-antibody-treatment-doctors/index.html

I'm pretty sure we've had similar monoclonal issues in Canada. Maybe same in other countries.