International COVID-19 Updates & Discussion 2

[Polymathic]

Beijing officials describe new virus outbreaks as 'very severe'

Authorities in Beijing have described new outbreaks in the Chinese capital as "very severe" and warned residents not to travel outside the city unless absolutely necessary.

In a press conference reported by state media, City officials also said they had raised the virus risk level to their second highest category and would therefore strengthen infection controls and reinstate lockdown measures. These have included reducing passenger numbers on buses and trains and sealing off the districts considered highest risk.

In such districts, security checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to residential compounds, vehicle registrations are being recorded, while close contacts of people who test positive for the virus are now disallowed from leaving the city, the Beijing News reported. Half of Beijing’s districts reported new coronavirus cases on Monday in the country’s most serious upsurge in infections for months. Authorities announced that 79 people had been hospitalised and there were 36 new infections in the Chinese capital, a day after more than 75,000 tests were conducted in the city of 20m.

The cluster of infections linked to Beijing’s largest seafood and vegetable market has become the most serious outbreak since China said it had largely succeeded in controlling the pandemic. Life in Beijing had mostly returned to normal after more than 50 days without a confirmed case.

What if this isn't Covid-19

 

[dualmeister]

 

[yebocan]

Brazil ignored the warnings. Now, while other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, it can’t get past its first.

So Carlos Machado, a senior scientist with Brazil’s prestigious Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, wanted the language to be strong. At the request of Rio officials, his team was assembling a list of recommendations. He needed to make clear what would happen if they didn’t immediately impose a complete lockdown.
“It would result,” the team warned in the early May report, “in a human catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/brazil-bolsonaro-coronavirus-cases-deaths-reopening-second-wave/2020/06/15/3282d27e-ae4b-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html

 

[yebocan]

Brazil ignored the warnings. Now, while other countries fret over a second coronavirus wave, it can’t get past its first.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/brazil-bolsonaro-coronavirus-cases-deaths-reopening-second-wave/2020/06/15/3282d27e-ae4b-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html

we watching that "human catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.” playing out in real time...
30 000 new cases a day !
Brazil is on a trajectory to register more than 4,000 deaths per day !!

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Is it perhaps another indication of the virus not spreading readily in open spaces?

Possibly the combination of being outdoors, a lot of mask wearing and vigorous hand sanitising. I read something a week or so back about all the efforts organisers made to help mitigate the risk.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

 

[Napalm]

we watching that "human catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.” playing out in real time...
30 000 new cases a day !
Brazil is on a trajectory to register more than 4,000 deaths per day !!

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch.... South Africa is opening up the market as much as possible. People all over the place. Kids back at school, Bringing the infection back to mom and pops.

All of this when Western Cape, Eastern Cape going into it's peak in the next 2 weeks ...and Gauteng & KZAN just behind us.

And even more talks about going down to Level2 soon...

Look we all know, economy's around the world is taking a hit. People are struggling. But sending people to work in a pandemic... telling them to go back because of economy. That is just wrong.

Look all over the world, they also taking hits.. same like we do. We not special. Yet. China / Beijing talking of lockdown again and Brazil have to do hard lockdown again. USA not out of the woods either.

 

[Napalm]

What if this isn't Covid-19

Maybe Covid-20 ?
The Beta version Covid-19 test completed?

 

[Paulsie]

Coronavirus: 'Major breakthrough' as UK scientists find £5 steroid cuts COVID-19 deaths

The drug, dexamethasone, reduced death rates by a third for patients on ventilators, and by a fifth for patients needing oxygen.

news.sky.com

Some promising news out of the UK

View attachment 861235

So they use steroids to reduce inflammation. Interestingly enough there has also been research done into nicotine having anti-inflammatory properties.

Do you remember the claims that smokers showed lower incidence in the severity of symptoms???

 

[tetrasect]

As many as half of coronavirus patients with NO symptoms may silently suffer 'disturbing' lung damage that leaves them oxygen-deprived without knowing it, study finds

Half of coronavirus patients with NO symptoms may have lung damage

A new study from Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, found that among 76 asymptomatic coronavirus patients on the Diamond Princess, 54% had lung damage indicated on CT scans.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[noxibox]

As many as half of coronavirus patients with NO symptoms may silently suffer 'disturbing' lung damage that leaves them oxygen-deprived without knowing it, study finds

Half of coronavirus patients with NO symptoms may have lung damage

A new study from Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, found that among 76 asymptomatic coronavirus patients on the Diamond Princess, 54% had lung damage indicated on CT scans.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Glad to see the Daily Mail is maintaining its tradition of hysterical headlines.

 

[TribbleZA]

So for the rest of time you're just not going to go anywhere?

For a while yes. Only place I go to is the shops - and only for necessities. That may change when the infection rate drops

 

[noxibox]

Yeah, I really don't get it. There are literally signs all over, markings on the floors but yet some people still stand close enough to lick the back of your neck.

So you want physical distance? Then call it that.

I have noticed that the introduction of masks altered people's behaviour. To be expected. That's the problem with overselling safety equipment.

people are still arguing they have no effect when there are literally about 10 - 20 recent studies I've come across saying they have a dramatic effect.

Not no effect, but certainly a questionable degree of efficacy. All manner of variables involved hence the questioning. And rightly so. Then there is the question of when they're appropriate and when requiring them makes no sense.

But are there literally 10, or is it literally 20?

The economy cannot and will not survive another lockdown

Hence there won't be one.

just do these simple things and it will be ok.

Sure, and we'll all have our own pet unicorns too.

Mutation in new coronavirus increases chance of infection: study

A specific mutation in the new coronavirus can significantly increase its ability to infect cells, according to a study by U.S. researchers.

www.reuters.com

So it's already circulating and has been for months?

Is it perhaps another indication of the virus not spreading readily in open spaces?

It would be surprising if it did spread easily outdoors.

If ever one needed proof that, just because information comes from reliable sources or experts, such information cannot necessarily be trusted, here is such proof.

Politics and self-preservation always trumps truth, facts and public interest.

Edit: not only did they hold off promoting wearing a mask, they were actively promoting NOT wearing a mask. That's a huge difference.

So you believe them about masks now? Actually they were right about masks then and they're right about them now.

Fauci was actually quite honest regarding the risks associated with masks.

 

[noxibox]

As neither is related - they do not compare. Both deaths are tragic and unnecessary though. The one doesn't negate the other. Both should be prevented.

But let's face it the only reason there is a fuss about this virus is because it is hitting developed countries. The only reason there is a fuss in South Africa is because it doesn't almost exclusively hit and kill the poor.

That's a clever way to get the psychopaths to wear masks

Of course they'll know that. So they won't wear masks. Or maybe they will.

 

[TribbleZA]

But let's face it the only reason there is a fuss about this virus is because it is hitting developed countries. The only reason there is a fuss in South Africa is because it doesn't almost exclusively hit and kill the poor.


Of course they'll know that. So they won't wear masks. Or maybe they will.

Are you turning this into a class thing? I actually thought we were making a fuss because people were dying in a horrible way, and infecting those around them. I had no idea diseases could tell if you were rich or poor - and would know to avoid those that can afford medical treatment. Sneaky little disease.

 

[chrisc]

It turns out that several people I know may have had covid-19 and not been aware of it. One fellow, who is an alarm service technician found he was getting short of breath and by 3.00 in the afternoon, was so tired he could not get out of a chair without falling over

Tests found that his lung capacity has reduced by 15% and although he was tested negative for co-vid (on Monday) was told that he almost certainly had a mild form in the past few weeks but this affected his lung function

His lungs ability re-oxygenate blood has been compromised. It is as if he were transported 6000 metres above sea-level

He may recover, but doctors will not give a prognosis

He is 29 years old and a non-smoker and no-one in his family smokes. A little overweight at 80kg

 

[pinball wizard]

But let's face it the only reason there is a fuss about this virus is because it is hitting developed countries. The only reason there is a fuss in South Africa is because it doesn't almost exclusively hit and kill the poor.

Did you get a G in woodwork?

 

[MiW]

I am all for euthanasia , but that is on Nazi level...
Older people and 'sick' , should not be given oxygen , but morphine (which will speed up death)

 

[thestaggy]

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch.... South Africa is opening up the market as much as possible. People all over the place. Kids back at school, Bringing the infection back to mom and pops.

All of this when Western Cape, Eastern Cape going into it's peak in the next 2 weeks ...and Gauteng & KZAN just behind us.

And even more talks about going down to Level2 soon...

Look we all know, economy's around the world is taking a hit. People are struggling. But sending people to work in a pandemic... telling them to go back because of economy. That is just wrong.

Look all over the world, they also taking hits.. same like we do. We not special. Yet. China / Beijing talking of lockdown again and Brazil have to do hard lockdown again. USA not out of the woods either.

The lockdown was never intended to - nor will it - stop COVID. It was to slow the initial spread so it did not overwhelm the health system and buy time for preparations to be made, including worst case scenario contingencies. If we are not ready now then we never will be and we cannot stay at home for 6, 10, 12 or 18 months until this stuff burns out or a vaccine arrives.

As for Brazil and the USA, they both - arrogantly - downplayed it and reacted slowly. China ignored it before it became impossible to deny that something was up. If anything we jumped the gun. We went in to lockdown early and until now have got off pretty lightly in terms of deaths if you compare us to the likes of Italy, the UK, France and Spain, all of whom have similar population sizes. A lot of these countries waited until the schit hit the fan before they shut down. I distinctly remember football fans travelling between Italy and France whilst northern Italy was going up in flames.

 

[flippakitten]

Still some time to go before they're out of the woods, but let's hope the trend holds.

Similar situation in Philadelphia, St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Protests in Philly haven’t meant a spike in COVID-19 cases so far, health officials report

Both hospitalizations and rates of COVID-19 positive tests remain low two weeks after major demonstrations began in Philadelphia.

www.inquirer.com

It's way to early to claim that. I've no doubt that the riots and protests have set off a bunch of new transmission chains

So you want physical distance? Then call it that.

I have noticed that the introduction of masks altered people's behaviour. To be expected. That's the problem with overselling safety equipment.


Not no effect, but certainly a questionable degree of efficacy. All manner of variables involved hence the questioning. And rightly so. Then there is the question of when they're appropriate and when requiring them makes no sense.

But are there literally 10, or is it literally 20?


Hence there won't be one.


Sure, and we'll all have our own pet unicorns too.


So it's already circulating and has been for months?


It would be surprising if it did spread easily outdoors.


So you believe them about masks now? Actually they were right about masks then and they're right about them now.

Fauci was actually quite honest regarding the risks associated with masks.

There is no question that wearing masks in closed public settings is highly effective. This has been proven and the vaiables taken into consideration hence the guidelines.

You're mixing up policy with science.