Corona Virus and Disclosure - Public Reactions

[calikid]

I heard an interesting rebuttal to comments that "More testing is the reason we are reporting more COVID19 cases".
I always figured Full hospitals beds/ICU beds, and respirator shortages, were a clue.
But a recent good analogy was: "How many pregnancies would there be if we did not do so much pregnancy testing?"

[calikid]

On the rare "good" COVID19 news front.
As most everyone knows, antibiotic/antiviral treatments are different from vaccines.
Vaccines (also in Stage3 testing, by Moderna) prevents a healthy person from catching the infection.
Treatment is medication for people already sick, trying to "get over it".

Eli Lilly testing possible coronavirus treatment at nursing homes
By Alexandria Burris

Eli Lilly and Co. is turning to skilled nursing home and assisted living facilities for late-stage testing of a potential new antibody drug that could prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus among residents and caregivers.

The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company announced Monday the initiation of Phase 3 testing for a drug known as LY-CoV555, a neutralizing antibody that appears to attack the spike protein of the coronavirus, blocking viral attachment and entry into human cells.

A dose of the drug is delivered through an IV. The goal is to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, at long term care facilities, said Nicole Hebert, a Lilly spokesperson. The company's scientists developed the antibody in less than three months after it was discovered by Vancouver-based AbCellera and tested by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Vaccine Research Center.
Story Continues

[pontificator]

NZ entering COVID19 lockdown again, level 2 for most of the country, and level 3 for Auckland. So far they are aiming for Wednesday noon until midnight Friday (NZ time, 12th to 14th August.) Due to the speed at which this is happening, I bet most people won't know what is going on tomorrow. As an essential worker, I'll be able to get out and about to work.

[calikid]

NZ entering COVID19 lockdown again, level 2 for most of the country, and level 3 for Auckland. So far they are aiming for Wednesday noon until midnight Friday (NZ time, 12th to 14th August.) Due to the speed at which this is happening, I bet most people won't know what is going on tomorrow. As an essential worker, I'll be able to get out and about to work.

Last I heard NZ had kicked it. Zero new cases.
Second wave?
Guessing that flare up in Au migrated?

[Garuda]

Last I heard NZ had kicked it. Zero new cases.
Second wave?
Guessing that flare up in Au migrated?

Suddenly 4 members of the same family in Auckland tested positive.
It is not known how they got it.
So, Auckland is in level 3 lockdown again.

[pontificator]

It's now up to 13 cases, most of them relatives of the infected and their co-workers. They're trying to get onto this fast to work out where it came from specifically. Genetic analysis suggests UK/OZ variant and they're looking into the possibility of tracing it to a normal quarantine facility, but that's still a work in progress.

[epo333]

Looks like we're in for the long haul! (We are our own worst enemies)


Synthetic Biology: The Ongoing Technology Revolution Series Emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, and synthetic biology—drive security and economic competition and are increasingly shaping national strategies. To develop an effective strategy for synthetic biology, policy makers and the general public need a better understanding of synthetic biology’s underlying capabilities, state of development, and diverse applications. Through a series of four symposia, CSIS will explore synthetic biology’s wide-ranging applications—from advanced microelectronics and materials to nutrition and cosmetics —and opportunities to shape its future development in support of U.S. security and economic interests.



Part 2

[pontificator]

Looks like I'll be out of level 3 lockdown after the upcoming weekend. Level 2 will still be reasonably restricted though. The Mask rule is changing, however, as they confirmed one individual was infected while on a bus and following distancing rules (about 2 meters in this case. It appears his really put the wind up the health ministry.)

I'm noticing people are having greater problems as time goes on, especially monetarily. In NZ, there is a wage subsidy that will end during early September, I suspect that it's going to be terrible from that point on.

[calikid]

Looks like I'll be out of level 3 lockdown after the upcoming weekend. Level 2 will still be reasonably restricted though. The Mask rule is changing, however, as they confirmed one individual was infected while on a bus and following distancing rules (about 2 meters in this case. It appears his really put the wind up the health ministry.)

I'm noticing people are having greater problems as time goes on, especially monetarily. In NZ, there is a wage subsidy that will end during early September, I suspect that it's going to be terrible from that point on.

Good news that the lockdown will ease up a bit for you.
Understand cabin fever, but if COVID gets a break you'll have a much worse fever to worry about.

Here in California, we have 58 counties. Last week 40 of them were under lock down, but this week only 35.
Getting off the hot spot list means things like opening restaurants to indoor dining with social distancing, barber shops, nail salons, etc., so getting off the list is a major milestone.
Not sure but suspect the wild fires causing mass evacuations may have something to do with decrease in hot spots counties on the list. Empty county not going to have many new cases.
Criteria is, of all tests for COVID within each individual county, the infection rate must not exceed 5% for a two week period.
Right now, statewide average is closer to 6.5%.

We did have a generous salary subsidy here called PUA Act (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act) for the first few months ($600USD/week), it was attached to most ppls unemployment checks. It was coupled with a one time $1200 "stimulus" check for each family. $3T price tag.
It took some of the sting from the shocking lock-down we were forced into.
It also bought us time by keeping ppl home and slowing the virus spread so that our health care providers would have time to stock up on badly needed resources like PPE, ventilators, etc.
But the PUA act expired after about 4 months (July 31st). Politicians are considering a new extension, but probably not nearly as generous (the figure of $300 was mentioned) and it is going to be awhile before an agreement/compromise is reached.

Hopefully you can get back to work and not have to deal with the paperwork.
Best of luck to all of us.

BTW, just to make you feel better. We/California saw 4,946 new coronavirus cases on Monday... that's one day. Your totals looking better? Your welcome.

[epo333]

Big Pharma's are not going to like this!!!
No needles, syringes, and very promising . . .


Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a COVID-19 vaccine delivered via the nose that protects mice from the virus. Shown is mouse lung tissue infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On the left is lung tissue from a mouse that received a control vaccine that produced no protective effects. It shows a large number of inflammatory cells. On the right is lung tissue from a mouse that received a nasal vaccine encoding the virus' spike protein. The vaccine protected against infection, and large numbers of inflammatory cells are absent.

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can be given in one dose via the nose and is effective in preventing infection in mice susceptible to the novel coronavirus. The investigators next plan to test the vaccine in nonhuman primates and humans to see if it is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection.

The study is available online in the journal Cell.

Unlike other COVID-19 vaccines in development, this one is delivered via the nose, often the initial site of infection. In the new study, the researchers found that the nasal delivery route created a strong immune response throughout the body, but it was particularly effective in the nose and respiratory tract, preventing the infection from taking hold in the body.

“We were happily surprised to see a strong immune response in the cells of the inner lining of the nose and upper airway — and a profound protection from infection with this virus,” said senior author Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD, the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine and a professor of molecular microbiology, and of pathology and immunology. “These mice were well protected from disease. And in some of the mice, we saw evidence of sterilizing immunity, where there is no sign of infection whatsoever after the mouse is challenged with the virus.”

To develop the vaccine, the researchers inserted the virus’ spike protein, which coronavirus uses to invade cells, inside another virus – called an adenovirus – that causes the common cold. But the scientists tweaked the adenovirus, rendering it unable to cause illness. The harmless adenovirus carries the spike protein into the nose, enabling the body to mount an immune defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus without becoming sick. In another innovation beyond nasal delivery, the new vaccine incorporates two mutations into the spike protein that stabilize it in a specific shape that is most conducive to forming antibodies against it.

“Adenoviruses are the basis for many investigational vaccines for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, such as Ebola virus and tuberculosis, and they have good safety and efficacy records, but not much research has been done with nasal delivery of these vaccines,” said co-senior author David T. Curiel, MD, PhD, the Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology. “All of the other adenovirus vaccines in development for COVID-19 are delivered by injection into the arm or thigh muscle. The nose is a novel route, so our results are surprising and promising. It’s also important that a single dose produced such a robust immune response. Vaccines that require two doses for full protection are less effective because some people, for various reasons, never receive the second dose.”

More at link:
https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/nasa...ction-in-mice/