Coronavirus

[stlouie_lipp]

[heyzeus]

Any decrease in deaths is good news, but deaths are also a lagging indicator. The huge upturn in new cases has been over the past 2 weeks, hospitalizations lag behind new cases, and deaths usually occur about 2 weeks after hospitalization. Deaths are likely to go up.

The counterpoint, of course --- and the part I'm cautiously optimistic on -- is that new medications and treatments that have been discovered and proven out over the past few months might be cutting down the mortality rate. There are a few - plasma treatments, remdemesvir, dexamethasone. Covid is still quite nasty if you're in the hospital and on a ventilator, but the death rates for such patients are apparently much lower with these medications.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

In an interview Friday, CNN asked Fauci whether a vaccine with 70% to 75% efficacy taken by only two-thirds of the population would provide herd immunity to the coronavirus.

"No -- unlikely," he answered.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/28/health/f ... index.html

The way I understand this is that Covid will be around forever and not just in a way that measles or whatever is around. But, in a way that flu is around only with the increased mortality, possibly....who knows.

[thrill]

Gonna need an mRNA vax.

[GeddyWrox]

Gonna need an mRNA vax.

In layman's terms?

I imagine this has to do with the design of the vaccine? Is this the kind that binds to the virus and causes a change to the way it reproduces itself?

[thrill]

Gonna need an mRNA vax.

In layman's terms?

I imagine this has to do with the design of the vaccine? Is this the kind that binds to the virus and causes a change to the way it reproduces itself?

It creates an inert version of a virus before infection, so your body already has the antibody recipe on deck and ready to rock if/when you get infected. It's more nimble and qucker to adapt to mutations and what not.

Disclaimer: I'm dumb and am just parroting articles I've read.

[mikechamp]

To borrow a quote from The Hobbit: "Ohhhh.... you've got to be joking."

Haven't we been through enough illness already this year?

Flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in China

A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in China by scientists. It emerged recently and is carried by pigs, but can infect humans, they say. The researchers are concerned that it could mutate further so that it can spread easily from person to person, and trigger a global outbreak.

While it is not an immediate problem, they say, it has "all the hallmarks" of being highly adapted to infect humans and needs close monitoring. As it's new, people could have little or no immunity to the virus.

The scientists write in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that measures to control the virus in pigs, and the close monitoring of swine industry workers, should be swiftly implemented.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53218704

[CardsofSTL]

To borrow a quote from The Hobbit: "Ohhhh.... you've got to be joking."

Haven't we been through enough illness already this year?

Flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in China

A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in China by scientists. It emerged recently and is carried by pigs, but can infect humans, they say. The researchers are concerned that it could mutate further so that it can spread easily from person to person, and trigger a global outbreak.

While it is not an immediate problem, they say, it has "all the hallmarks" of being highly adapted to infect humans and needs close monitoring. As it's new, people could have little or no immunity to the virus.

The scientists write in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that measures to control the virus in pigs, and the close monitoring of swine industry workers, should be swiftly implemented.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53218704

Thanks a lot China

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement or guidance that can be read at the link. The bolded part is theirs, not mine, and its something I'm sure parents have all thought about and struggled with. Having just filled out a survey last week from the local school district, I wish this guidance had been issued earlier. It's a lot to digest.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019- ... n-schools/

With the above principles in mind, the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020. Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation. This, in turn, places children and adolescents at considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. Beyond the educational impact and social impact of school closures, there has been substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families.

Policy makers must also consider the mounting evidence regarding COVID-19 in children and adolescents, including the role they may play in transmission of the infection. SARS-CoV-2 appears to behave differently in children and adolescents than other common respiratory viruses, such as influenza, on which much of the current guidance regarding school closures is based. Although children and adolescents play a major role in amplifying influenza outbreaks, to date, this does not appear to be the case with SARS-CoV-2. Although many questions remain, the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection. Policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within schools must be balanced with the known harms to children, adolescents, families, and the community by keeping children at home.

[GeddyWrox]

I only read the quoted section in your post, not the article. But I'm left wondering what about the educators? Are they not still at risk? My wife is a preschool teacher for our district. So far I think they are planning on having in session classes. I want what's best for everyone, but I'm worried that she's going to bring it home with her.

I also have a freshman and a senior in the high school. My freshman daughter has asthma and a few other health issues that put her at higher risk if she were to contract it. But she is a very social person and is dying to go back. Ugh. This all makes me very uncomfortable.