COVID-19 Thread [V2.0]

[LouisEly]

So it was pure coincidence that this all happened 48 hours or so after the election? I don't buy it.

You mean 144 hours after the election? The election was November 3rd, the data was released on November 9th.

 

Obviously, had this news broken before election day, it would have been a big plus for the Trump campaign, and possibly detrimental to Biden.

So, with millions of people's lives at stake they deliberately delayed releasing the data until after the election?

 

And can you imagine the backlash if they deliberately delayed releasing the data until after the election and that was leaked to the public (much less the money it would cost them in lawsuits)?

 

ummm k then...

 

I don't believe it was coincidental, but people will believe what they want to believe.

How ironc.

 

Let's let others check facts:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/11/18/fact-check-pfizer-received-covid-vaccine-data-after-election-day/6267242002/

 

As a result, the soonest the independent monitoring committee could analyze the data from the 94 cases was on Nov. 8, after Biden had been declared president-elect.

 

"The independent experts’ committee, independent from Pfizer, that unblinded the data and reviewed, they met at 11 and they finished their meeting at 1:30," Borula said.

 

Bourla himself then learned of the results on at 2 p.m. Pfizer announced the news to the public the following morning.

[homer]

I think we're good on the big pharma election conspiracies. Let's move on from that topic. Thanks.

[MrTPlush]

AstraZeneca has announced their coronavirus vaccine is up to 90% effective when administered as a half dose and then a full dose. AstraZeneca's can be stored like more typical vaccine, which would be massive for developing/poor countries and distribution in general. The downside is there are lots of questions on why the full dose trial run was so much worse (about 60%).

 

They claim that they have been ramping up production capabilities and believe they can roll out hundreds of millions starting in the first quarter next year.

 

Truly hope their vaccine continues to have a promising outlook and be able to get into distribution soon. It is the vaccine that not only could be life changing for the people in the U.S., but the entire world in the early half of next year.

[homer]

AstraZeneca has announced their coronavirus vaccine is up to 90% effective when administered as a half dose and then a full dose. AstraZeneca's can be stored like more typical vaccine, which would be massive for developing/poor countries and distribution in general. The downside is there are lots of questions on why the full dose trial run was so much worse (about 60%).

 

They claim that they have been ramping up production capabilities and believe they can roll out hundreds of millions starting in the first quarter next year.

 

Truly hope their vaccine continues to have a promising outlook and be able to get into distribution soon. It is the vaccine that not only could be life changing for the people in the U.S., but the entire world in the early half of next year.

 

Johnson & Johnson is also working on one that is a single dose. The test results won't be known until end of the year I believe.

[3and2Fastball]

Any concerns about the safety of mRNA vaccines? As I understand it, they’ve never been utilized in humans before, right? Are any of the upcoming vaccines the traditional inoculation type?

 

Meanwhile, what’s with the millions Americans traveling for Thanksgiving? We truly seem to be a nation of “it won’t happen to me” types.

 

Finally, why aren’t more scientists and doctors talking about the obesity problem in the USA? It seems like a majority of people with life threatening symptoms are the elderly and the obese. In addition to all the talk about masks and social distancing, it might have been wise for scientists to tell Americans, over the last 8 months, to lay off the bacon cheeseburgers and beer and walk around the block a few times.

[MrTPlush]

Any concerns about the safety of mRNA vaccines? As I understand it, they’ve never been utilized in humans before, right? Are any of the upcoming vaccines the traditional inoculation type?

 

AstraZeneca is not mRNA I believe...I think it is more traditional in nature, but I won't pretend I am a huge expert in vaccines.

 

I also don't think the attitude is people don't think they will get it...I think people just aren't concerned if they do.

[Machu Peach]

Any concerns about the safety of mRNA vaccines? As I understand it, they’ve never been utilized in humans before, right? Are any of the upcoming vaccines the traditional inoculation type?

They've been tested extensively in humans, though I don't believe any have been licensed. Mechanistically they're much simpler than traditional vaccines.

 

All vaccines, including these, are, by definition, inoculations.

 

Finally, why aren’t more scientists and doctors talking about the obesity problem in the USA? It seems like a majority of people with life threatening symptoms are the elderly and the obese. In addition to all the talk about masks and social distancing, it might have been wise for scientists to tell Americans, over the last 8 months, to lay off the bacon cheeseburgers and beer and walk around the block a few times.

I guess I don't see how scientists and doctors aren't talking about the obesity epidemic. Is there anyone that doesn't know that the US has an extreme problem with obesity? Something like 300,000 deaths per year are due to obesity, independent of COVID.

 

AstraZeneca is not mRNA I believe...I think it is more traditional in nature, but I won't pretend I am a huge expert in vaccines.

AZ's vaccine is a rAdenovirus platform. I don't think they've ever been licensed, but they have been tested for decades. My PhD thesis was on rAds.

[reillymcshane]

Got an email from my friend this morning. Him and his wife have COVID. They are pretty good about stuff - small circle of people, etc., but they still got it. His wife has rheumatoid arthritis, and it's really hit her hard. Not enough to go to hospital, but he said she is miserable.

 

His words: "I wouldn't wish this crap (not his word choice) on anyone."

 

So please, everyone, take care.

[TURBO]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

[stoutdude04]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

[jerichoholicninja]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

 

Europe is exploding and people are protesting lockdowns. All the Asian countries that had beat it back in spring had cases go right back up as soon as they opened up. This is not simply an "American" problem.

[wallus]

"You can't tell me what to do!"- tons of Americans during this.

 

I shutter to think about how this current US population would have done during WW2.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

"You can't tell me what to do!"- tons of Americans during this.

 

I shutter to think about how this current US population would have done during WW2.

 

We'd all be speaking German.

[owbc]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

An economist would probably argue that most people are acting rationally given the incentive system put in place by the restrictions. It's a situation where you need both a coherent national/continental) plan and near-100% compliance. If you are just asking everyone to voluntarily impose very strict restrictions on themselves, it's not going to work.

 

Yeah, the US has somewhat of an individualism complex, but I suspect that is a second-order effect relative to national policy, geography, and weather.

[tmwiese55]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

 

Europe is exploding and people are protesting lockdowns. All the Asian countries that had beat it back in spring had cases go right back up as soon as they opened up. This is not simply an "American" problem.

 

True. Difference is they at least did do it once and that led them to try reopening, but now don't want to go back to it. America essentially never did it outside of the NY area.

 

ETA: As stout pointed out I don't think it's quite the same

[stoutdude04]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

 

Europe is exploding and people are protesting lockdowns. All the Asian countries that had beat it back in spring had cases go right back up as soon as they opened up. This is not simply an "American" problem.

 

I have friends living in both Europe and Asia and both have said it is nothing like in the states. Also, I am not referring to the outbreak itself, but the attitude of many Americans throughout. I am not sure how anyone can look at the way 50ish percent of the American population is behaving and think - nope, these people aren't selfish. Or are we thinking other countries populations are as selfish as ours? I just dont see it.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

 

Don't confuse selfish with free to make our own choices - even in the midst of a year where individual's options to make their own choices have been severely curtailed in the spirit of public health. Footage from China recently showing an entire airport being herded like cattle in incredibly crammed spaces to get tested because a couple of airport workers tested positive, plus those same people all being forced to quarantine for 14 days, makes me feel incredibly fortunate to live in the country I do. To me it's terrifying just how many people are comfortable trying to justify those iron-fisted, forced compliance "measures" to prevent a virus this infectious from spreading at all.

 

In looking around the developed world, there isn't a right or wrong way for societies to try and limit the risk associated with the inevitable spread of this virus, and at some point it would be great for people to stop blaming others for getting infected. There is no failsafe approach to avoiding being infected with Covid-19 unless you want to crawl in a hole indefinitely and never come into contact with the public - any choice that differs from that is taking a risk.

 

Countries and even individual states here in America that had really hard/prolonged lockdowns early still see spread as soon as any sort of reopening begins. If the only way for populous countries to limit the virus is to impose gulag-style lockdowns of its own people (i.e., china), that should be a non-starter in terms of actual policy.

 

"You can't tell me what to do!"- tons of Americans during this.

 

I shutter to think about how this current US population would have done during WW2.

 

Apples to Oranges, but basically the half of the country that's crowing "you can't tell me what to do!" about COVID measures would be pissed at the rest of the country who would be crowing "you can't tell me what to do!" related to the military draft, war machine buildup/manufacturing, and personal sacrifices that would be required to avoid having to learn how to speak German and/or Japanese.

[wallus]

Nah, people that can't do things like wearing a mask, washing their hands more often, and keeping a distance from others are selfish.

 

Now if you want to talk about lockdowns, that is a different story.

[stoutdude04]

Nah, people that can't do things like wearing a mask, washing their hands more often, and keeping a distance from others are selfish.

 

Now if you want to talk about lockdowns, that is a different story.

 

This is my feelings as well.

 

I will say though, without getting too off topic, I personally am okay with leadership trying to be proactive instead of reactive. We can talk all day about whether it was effective or not, but I would say Evers made the decisions he thought were best to keep people safe before things got out of control.

[homer]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I think you could maybe change that to Americans. Americans are pretty selfish. Myself included. I fall into the 'pretty good about stuff' group, but I have also done/gone to some dumb places during all of this.

 

Europe is exploding and people are protesting lockdowns. All the Asian countries that had beat it back in spring had cases go right back up as soon as they opened up. This is not simply an "American" problem.

 

Many places in Europe seem to be past their peak. Cases have been dropping steadily in many countries and plateaued in others. I'm sure there are outliers (e.g. Russia)

[Machu Peach]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19802-w

 

A new study indicates that asymptotic spread is quite rare. This makes a lot of sense to me.

[igor67]

Mostly on the other side of a big fraction of my close family (but not household) finishing their recovery. Mostly mild cases despite significant risk factors, on the other hand the sickest people out of that group were some of the lowest risk. Good example of the high degree of variability in the illness.

[stoutdude04]

Mostly on the other side of a big fraction of my close family (but not household) finishing their recovery. Mostly mild cases despite significant risk factors, on the other hand the sickest people out of that group were some of the lowest risk. Good example of the high degree of variability in the illness.

 

It is interesting, I have had quite a few friends get it, but no family(that I know of). The worst symptoms my friends have had was the loss of taste and smell. One of my friends actually debated about going to hockey while still in quarantine because he had tested positive but had such minor symptoms- had to scold him for that.

[JackNicholson1974]

The problem is, "pretty good about stuff" isn't really enough. Everyone claims to be pretty good about stuff, as long as it isn't an inconvieneince to them...

 

I do know this, this pandemic has made me realize just how weak we are as humans, and how very few people are willing to do what's right for the greater good.

 

I could not agree more. Well said.

[tmwiese55]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19802-w

 

A new study indicates that asymptotic spread is quite rare. This makes a lot of sense to me.

 

Thanks. Seems a positive sign as well. Especially along with some people's posts about how even after vaccine some people will get it but just not get sick.

 

Quick question though. I hope I didn't miss it if it was mentioned in there but this wouldn't be showing people who are 'presymptomatic' as not being able to spread? I struggled with the phrasing there so hopefully what I'm asking makes sense. Basically, getting at the issue of folks who don't know they have it for 4-5 days being spreaders before realizing it taking proper precautions, etc. I would read this study as being a separate issue than that?