1derpalm
Son Montuno
But are they as unruly about their BREADSTICK designations?
Thoughts about Covid-19 and the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
- Thread starter kootsie
- Start date
RogueBlader
Son
The UK have announced a road map for reopening the economy (assuming the vaccination process runs to plan). The key date is June 21, when the full economy, including nightclubs, is allowed to open up. So salsa dancing may return by July this year. Maybe. Here's hoping....
Boris Johnson roadmap revealed: Key dates for reopening of schools, pubs, hospitality, travel and weddings
Boris Johnson roadmap revealed: Key dates for reopening of schools, pubs, hospitality, travel and weddings
SoFloW
Son Montuno
Where to dance in Broward these days?
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
The Unlikeliest Pandemic Success Story
How did a tiny, poor nation manage to suffer only one death from the coronavirus?
Some excerpts:
"On January 7, a 34-year-old man who had been admitted to a hospital in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, with preexisting liver and kidney problems died of COVID-19. His was the country’s first death from the coronavirus. Not the first death that day, that week, or that month: the very first coronavirus death since the pandemic began.
"In fact, what can the U.S. and other wealthy countries learn from the array of resource-starved counterparts that have better weathered the coronavirus pandemic, even if those nations haven’t achieved Bhutan’s impressive statistics? Countries such as Vietnam, which has so far logged only 35 deaths, Rwanda, with 226, Senegal, with 700, and plenty of others have negotiated the crisis far more smoothly than have Europe and North America.
These nations offer plenty of lessons, from the importance of attentive leadership, the need to ensure that people have enough provisions and financial means to follow public-health guidance, and the shared understanding that individuals and communities must sacrifice to protect the well-being of all: elements that have been sorely lacking in the U.S.
"America has “the world’s best medical-rescue system—we have unbelievable ICUs,” Asaf Bitton, executive director of Ariadne Labs, a Boston-based center for health-systems innovation, told me. But, he said, we have neglected a public-health focus on prevention, which socially cohesive low- and middle-income countries have no choice but to adopt, because a runaway epidemic would quickly overwhelm them.
“People say the COVID disaster in America has been about a denial of science. But what we couldn’t agree on is the social compact we would need to make painful choices together in unity, for the collective good,” Bitton added. “I don’t know whether, right now in the U.S., we can have easy or effective conversations about a common good. But we need to start.”
"While President Donald Trump was railing against coronavirus surveillance, Bhutan launched a huge testing and tracing program, and created a contact-tracing app. Last fall, the health ministry rolled out a prevention initiative called “Our Gyenkhu”—“Our Responsibility”—featuring influencers such as actors, visual artists, bloggers, and sports personalities. When, in August, a 27-year-old woman became the first Bhutanese in the country to test positive for COVID-19 outside of quarantine, a three-week national lockdown followed, with the government ramping up testing and tracing even more, and delivering food, medicine, and other essentials to every household in the land. In December, when a flu clinic in Thimphu turned up the first case of community transmission since the summer, the nation again entered strict lockdown—and again, a full-throttle campaign prevailed against the virus, which has been all but snuffed out for the time being.
In tandem with this rigorous public-health response came swells of civic compassion from every level of society. In April, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck launched a relief fund that has so far handed out $19 million in financial assistance to more than 34,000 Bhutanese whose livelihoods have been hurt by the pandemic, a program extended until at least the end of March. The government created a country-wide registry for vulnerable citizens, and has sent care packages containing hand sanitizer, vitamins, and other items to more than 51,000 Bhutanese over the age of 60. The Queen Mother gave a frank address to the nation, calling on the authorities to ensure services for sexual and reproductive health, maternal, newborn, and child health care, and services for gender-based violence, which she deemed “essential.” Thousands of people signed up to leave their homes and families for extended periods of time to join the national corps of orange-uniformed volunteers known as DeSuung. Bhutan’s monastic community—highly influential in a Buddhist and still largely traditional culture—not only pointedly reinforced public-health messaging but also prayed daily for the well-being of all people during the crisis, not just the Bhutanese.
Government officials modeled the same altruism. During the country’s summer lockdown, Wangmo, the health minister, slept in ministry facilities for weeks, away from her young son. Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a highly respected physician who continued to perform surgeries on Saturdays during most of the crisis, slept every night during the lockdown on a window seat in his office—a photo in the newspaper The Bhutanese showed his makeshift bed’s rumpled blankets and an ironing board standing nearby. Members of Parliament gave up a month’s salary for the response effort; hoteliers offered their properties as free quarantine facilities; farmers donated crops. When lights in the Ministry of Health’s offices burned all night, locals brought hot milk tea and homemade ema datshi—scorching chilies and cheese, the national dish.
“I have complained about ‘small-society syndrome’ and how suffocating it can get. But I believe it is this very closeness that has kept us together,” Namgay Zam, a prominent journalist in Bhutan, told me. “I don’t think any other country can say that leaders and ordinary people enjoy such mutual trust. This is the main reason for Bhutan’s success.”
SoFloW
Son Montuno
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Heard on NPR today an interview that I dialed in the middle of it.
Interesting tidbits. Though known generally, specifics are interesting:
1. Ghana has had only few hundred deaths. People very lax about wearing masks and social distancing.
2. On per capita basis Nigeria’s death rate among those who had Covid is one hundredth that of USA.
3. Dharvai in Mumbai is also perplexing case. It is Asia’s largest slum smack in the middle of Mumbai. (Some of the “Slumdog millionaire” shots are from it).There are one million people who are packed together unlike anything you will see anywhere in 2 sq km area ( 0.8 sq miles or 520 acres). Multigenerational families live in very small packed places. Which themselves are stacked right next to each other and on top of one another. With narrow street, extremely poor sanitation, if there is an ideal place for an infection to spread this is it. The servo-surveillance points to 56% people being exposed to Covid virus. The closest stats I can find are from early last month.
According to BMC data, so far Dharavi has reported 3,904 cases of which only 10 are active. 3,582 persons have recovered and been discharged from Covid centres. So far, 312 people have died due to Covid-19 in Dharavi.
4. Mexico has same median age as India (both are around 27, Spain for relative comparison is 44). However Mexico has fared far worse than sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) or India. (Africa is youngest continent with 20 years as median age).
Interesting tidbits. Though known generally, specifics are interesting:
1. Ghana has had only few hundred deaths. People very lax about wearing masks and social distancing.
2. On per capita basis Nigeria’s death rate among those who had Covid is one hundredth that of USA.
3. Dharvai in Mumbai is also perplexing case. It is Asia’s largest slum smack in the middle of Mumbai. (Some of the “Slumdog millionaire” shots are from it).There are one million people who are packed together unlike anything you will see anywhere in 2 sq km area ( 0.8 sq miles or 520 acres). Multigenerational families live in very small packed places. Which themselves are stacked right next to each other and on top of one another. With narrow street, extremely poor sanitation, if there is an ideal place for an infection to spread this is it. The servo-surveillance points to 56% people being exposed to Covid virus. The closest stats I can find are from early last month.
According to BMC data, so far Dharavi has reported 3,904 cases of which only 10 are active. 3,582 persons have recovered and been discharged from Covid centres. So far, 312 people have died due to Covid-19 in Dharavi.
4. Mexico has same median age as India (both are around 27, Spain for relative comparison is 44). However Mexico has fared far worse than sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) or India. (Africa is youngest continent with 20 years as median age).
1derpalm
Son Montuno
They're proud of being a super spreader state.
1derpalm
Son Montuno
Probably a better immune system from living in squalor
The growing evidence that the Covid-19 vaccines can reduce transmission, explained
Here’s what we know about how the vaccines protect against spread of the virus.
www.vox.com
bailar y tocar
Son Montuno
This just in from BBC World News: 70% reduction in transmission due to Pfizer vaccine..... YEAH!!!!
SoFloW
Son Montuno
The Pfizer vaccine doesn't stop transmission/infection, they know it and admit it. Neither does Moderna. That's why Fauci is now saying you have to continue wearing a mask even if you got the vaccine, see 30 seconds into the video.
FAUCI IN HOT WATER
FAUCI IN HOT WATER The one-time hero of the pandemic, Tony Fauci, is losing the trust of mainstream America after flip flopping on critical #Covid19 information one too many times. His latest admission is the final straw for many public figures, including avid pro-vaxxers. #TonyFauci...
www.bitchute.com
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1derpalm
Son Montuno
What is your cross referenced, scientifically peer reviewed proof? I'm open to intelligent thoughtful discourse with agenda-free evidenceThe Pfizer vaccine doesn't stop transmission/infection, they know it and admit it. Neither does Moderna. That's why Fauci is now saying you have to continue wearing a mask even if you got the vaccine, see 30 seconds into the video.
FAUCI IN HOT WATER
FAUCI IN HOT WATER The one-time hero of the pandemic, Tony Fauci, is losing the trust of mainstream America after flip flopping on critical #Covid19 information one too many times. His latest admission is the final straw for many public figures, including avid pro-vaxxers. #TonyFauci...
All the vaccines seems to be doing a good job. Earlier this week there was news about effectiveness of Pfizer based on results in Israel.
Now comes news and results from AstraZenca-Oxford. It really is Oxford vaccine for all practical purposes. Though the news says it is outperforming Pfizer, I think they are both equally effective.
www.cbsnews.com
Now comes news and results from AstraZenca-Oxford. It really is Oxford vaccine for all practical purposes. Though the news says it is outperforming Pfizer, I think they are both equally effective.
One of the strongest weapons against COVID-19 variants may be a vaccine the FDA hasn't approved yet
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine's "plug and play" platform means it's easy to modify, and scientists expect an update to fight new, troubling variants by the fall.
www.cbsnews.com
USA is set up for some natural experiments this months. A number of states are lifting restrictions fully and others are trying to lift as much as they can. With so many different approaches it will be interesting to see what next two months brings.
Biden admin now also promising availability of vaccine to every adult in the USA by the end of May.
The press reports keep quoting health experts that British variant will be dominant strain in USA in two weeks. But I don’t think anyone knows what that means. Especially as the vaccinations are ramping up at the same time.
Biden admin now also promising availability of vaccine to every adult in the USA by the end of May.
The press reports keep quoting health experts that British variant will be dominant strain in USA in two weeks. But I don’t think anyone knows what that means. Especially as the vaccinations are ramping up at the same time.
The vaccine race against the coronavirus variants, explained
Covid-19 vaccines are here. So are new mutations. Here’s what you should know.
www.vox.com
If the vaccine efficacy drops to 64% or 50% against the South African variant, I don’t know why press has to make so much noise about it. To me it is fairly effective. Given WHO’s benchmark is 50%.
To know a real efficacy rate against a particular variant, there would have to be a phase III trial against that variant only. When the data is being derived out of single trial which took place in different countries, I doubt how accurate it will be. I haven’t read anywhere if the trials determined which particular variant each person in the trial contacted. The results seem to be based on general efficacy in UK vs SA?
California now has its own variant which if I understand correctly is a mutation of British variant.
bailar y tocar
Son Montuno
An fb friend of mine just got the vaccine. He is relatively young, no health problems. The north Florida region where he lives seems to have excess doses so they are vaccinating anyone who wants it. Might be worth my trouble to drive 4 hours north of here and get it done.
I assume you have antibodies as well by now?
My mom just got the Pfizer vaccine. All things considered, it was quite late given that she works in a long term care facility, but it's done now and I can breathe a bit easier.
Recently read a post from a FB dancer friend who said that she brought the virus home - not sure if from dancing - and infected everyone in her family except her mom who had already been vaccinated, so I'm taking that as evidence that there's high efficacy.
Recently read a post from a FB dancer friend who said that she brought the virus home - not sure if from dancing - and infected everyone in her family except her mom who had already been vaccinated, so I'm taking that as evidence that there's high efficacy.
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
Important not to take anti-inflammatories (e.g. painkillers like aspirin, paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen) for 1-2 days before getting the vaccine, as they might diminish the immune response. It's also best not to take them after the vaccine either for the same reason.
From what I have heard, many people are not aware of this/not given this advice before getting the vaccine.
Also, soreness/pain in the arm after the vaccine is actually a good sign, as it means the vaccine is working & there has been a good immune response. It's for this reason that arm pain is more common after the second dose (stronger immune activation).
From what I have heard, many people are not aware of this/not given this advice before getting the vaccine.
Also, soreness/pain in the arm after the vaccine is actually a good sign, as it means the vaccine is working & there has been a good immune response. It's for this reason that arm pain is more common after the second dose (stronger immune activation).
1derpalm
Son Montuno
A toronto dancer?