Corona thread. No politics please

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gk4ever2 said:
"The coronavirus has mutated and appears to be more contagious now, new study finds"
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/05/the...o-be-more-contagious-now-new-study-finds.html

(The link will not work in Internet Explorer - try Chrome instead)
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The scientists and those whose adult lives have been consumed by studying pathogens and pandemics had been warning us about COVID-19's mutation and next phase(s) to come. I am a believer belonging in this camp and further I believe that this virus is the beginning of something life altering or at least life as we knew it in the preceding decade, which by and large was a cushy and comfy decade once we passed 9/11/2001 and the financial melt-down of the first decade after Y2K.

I rather stick with my somewhat dystopian beliefs and then be pleasantly surprised by being proven wrong as opposed to just mindlessly joining the rah-rah crowd. I do get it though, Summer is almost here, the weather is warming up and people have had enough of their cabin fever in addition to many, many, many Americans being in a very BAD place financially, even prior to this COVOD-19 mess. As negative as I am, I believe in the resiliency of the American people and I also believe in the ability of humans to survive as a species. I also know that I may not be around to witness that eventual triumph for myself but I will give it my best shot by listening and heeding to the professionals in the field, i.e, the scientists. In the meantime let's see how this new venture into developing herd immunity shapes up after things ease up in lieu of effective therapeutics and/or proven vaccines.
 
The graphs showing the differences between the D vs G clade, tell quite a story, especially in comparing WA and CA vs NY, NJ, MI and MA. The first 2 states predominantly saw the D clade. The latter 4 with far higher outbreaks (and deaths) have far higher G clade spread.

At this time, still anecdotal and unconfirmed, but there is appearing to also be a pretty distinct difference in % severe cases/symptoms seen in the West coast vs East Coast between the 2 mutations.

One of the East coast mutations seen in the strain that hit Italy really hard, appears to also result in significantly higher viral loads.

I'd urge anyone interested to read the BioRxIV paper linked in the article posted above. Some technical stuff, but it should be clear enough for the average person to follow.

Be careful and stay safe, folks.
 
It will be interesting to see how this mutation aspect pans out.
I know mutations are to be expected but hopefully it does not have a profound impact in the long run.
IMO my/the biggest concern is people thinking that we are through the worst of it and start letting down their guard.
Stay safe!
 
Just found out my previous boss (worked for him for six years), and one of the nicest people I've ever known just passed away from Covid-19 a couple of days ago. He was in his mid 50's and had mild diabetes so they were trying to hold off on intubating him and by the time they tried, it was too late. He had been staying at the General Manager level for several years so he could avoid relocating until his son graduated high school. His son just graduated last year so he finally accepted a District Manager position and bought a new house. This just sucks.

My work (Costco) has just put a mandatory mask policy in place and some people have been throwing a fit and refusing to wear a mask. I'm going to have trouble not freaking out on the next person that refuses to inconvenience themselves for 30 minutes by wearing a mask when it can literally prevent them from killing someone. I think I'm going to take a leave of absence.

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Has anyone posted the article about the security guard at the Dollar Tree in Flint getting murdered because some animal didn't like being told they had to wear a mask to enter the store (by Governor Whitmer's orders)?
 
untytled said:
https://www.rutgers.edu/news/fda-approves-first-home-saliva-collection-test-coronaviruest
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Don't have time to check right now, but hopefully they'll release the sensitivity and especially, specificity specs on the test.

With an rt-PCR test, it's most important to tailor it to minimize false negatives (avoid telling people they don't have it, when they actually do).

For an antibody/serology test, it's vital to minimize false positives (avoid telling people they've had it, and theoretically may have immunity, when they actually don't).
 
bluemax_1 said:
Don't have time to check right now, but hopefully they'll release the sensitivity and especially, specificity specs on the test.

With an rt-PCR test, it's most important to tailor it to minimize false negatives (avoid telling people they don't have it, when they actually do).

For an antibody/serology test, it's vital to minimize false positives (avoid telling people they've had it, and theoretically may have immunity, when they actually don't).
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https://www.fda.gov/media/136875/download
 
Casinostocks said:
If you belong in the pasty-arse, milk-toast and tidy-whitey type of bracket, please pay attention:

https://news.northwestern.edu/stori...ars-to-play-role-in-covid-19-mortality-rates/

Go out in the Sun for a few minutes a day if you have access to sunshine. If for naught else, it will be very good for your demeanor, mood and spirit :)
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Low Vitamin D levels can contribute to a lot of issues, from depression to depressed immune systems and a host of other things that can add up.

Thing is, it takes a decent amount of skin exposure to sunlight, to maintain good Vitamin D levels, and that's something that's not so easy to do in the Northern hemisphere.

The recommendation for full upper body exposure to direct sunlight is 15-30 minutes daily, but if you're not keen on being shirtless outdoors, that time interval for an adequate dosage increases the less skin you have exposed to direct sunlight, and you're trying to balance under vs overexposure, as UV does accelerate aging of the skin (and we're all aware that too much will increase the risk of skin cancer).

Here's more info I'm too lazy to type out:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2018-07-18/how-much-time-in-the-sun-do-you-need-for-vitamin-d?context=amp

Vitamin D supplements may be the easier option (especially for the colder months of the year, when we're the most prone to being exposed to respiratory illnesses). YMMV. Consult your Primary Care Physician.
 
Things are starting to reopen up in Canada; however, this news + nicer weather = people being way too relaxed. I went to Costco and Home Depot yesterday and noticed MANY people without masks.

From what I've personally seen:
  • 6 weeks ago: ~60% mask usage
  • 3 weeks ago: ~95%+ mask usage
  • Yesterday: ~65% mask usage + unmasked woman coughing directly into her hands.
This past weekend's weather was shit so things were quiet but the weekend before was gorgeous. Apparently our local lakeshore/boardwalk was PACKED.

We are going to be so screwed in the second wave.
 
^ I am no scientist but I read about such historical pasts; COVID-19 will eventually become an endemic which is not a matter of if but when. That said, I have a "feeling" that COVID-19 will see more of our demise as a species than that of its own demise and if so, I think that we did fully earn it.

I have been going back and forth on this one over the past few days and came to the conclusion that if & when possible, it is best for one's own sanity and a way forward, to adapt a very libertarian attitude toward the current pandemic. What brought me to this farm of mind, is seeing the same cabal of assholes who deny climate change and poo-poo vaccination (both on the right & the left) have started to repurpose their debunked arguments toward COVID-19 which means that more and more of those with the handicap to think for themselves will be following suit.

Granted that life will have to get back to a form of normalcy post COVID-19 and that people will have to be gainfully employed and make a living. Any other alternative to these facts will be unfathomable and IMHO a lot more dangerous to the survival of our collective societies. As an individual, all that I can do is to assume personal responsibilities and also to afford people the same choices. Just don't get too close to me and I think that we will be good; get way too close and I may have to kill you, either figuratively with my words or literally using my hands aided with some other cool killing tools.

I think that it is easier for me to say this because I have lived a decent amount t of life, my Kids are all grown up and supposedly adults plus I really don't wish to see any grandkids under the current environment of stupidity and ignorance. #sayzme
 
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