Merged Covid Megathread

[kcbob79clone]

Something we talked about here earlier

Testing sewage for Covid could detect outbreaks early, scientists say

Scheme piloted in south-west England shows positive results while transmission via sewage system remains debatable

www.theguardian.com

 

[kcbob79clone]

Saliva test available by Christmas, 15 minute results

Covid saliva test which gives result in 15mins could be ready by Xmas

A GAME-changing £5 Covid saliva test which gives results in 15 minutes is odds-on to be available before Christmas, it was claimed last night. Officials say the rapid, on-the-spot swabs will help k…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[kcbob79clone]

In UK NHS staff could get Covid-19 vaccine in weeks

NHS staff ‘set to get Covid jab in WEEKS with mass roll-out before Christmas’

NHS staff are set to get a coronavirus vaccine within weeks as the Government prepares a mass roll-out before Christmas, according to reports. An NHS Trust chief is said to have sent his staff an e…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[MeowingCows]

Vaccines and rapid testing are the keys to defeating this thing. The advances in these two areas are crucial and great to see.

 

[simply1]

Saliva test available by Christmas, 15 minute results

Covid saliva test which gives result in 15mins could be ready by Xmas

A GAME-changing £5 Covid saliva test which gives results in 15 minutes is odds-on to be available before Christmas, it was claimed last night. Officials say the rapid, on-the-spot swabs will help k…

www.thesun.co.uk

In UK NHS staff could get Covid-19 vaccine in weeks

NHS staff ‘set to get Covid jab in WEEKS with mass roll-out before Christmas’

NHS staff are set to get a coronavirus vaccine within weeks as the Government prepares a mass roll-out before Christmas, according to reports. An NHS Trust chief is said to have sent his staff an e…

www.thesun.co.uk

The Sun?

Anyways, the saliva test people should read the vaccine article. Do we need tests if we have a vaccine? All of these testing companies seem to be wasting money developing the tests.

 

[simply1]

Vaccines and rapid testing are the keys to defeating this thing. The advances in these two areas are crucial and great to see.

pffft, who needs tests if we have a vaccine?

 

[madguy30]

The Sun?

Anyways, the saliva test people should read the vaccine article. Do we need tests if we have a vaccine? All of these testing companies seem to be wasting money developing the tests.

Are you talking tests like drive up access?

Won't we need tests until vaccines are readily available and/or if someone feels symptoms a few months after vaccination? I'd guess we would need to know how infectious someone is if they're reinfected or get it post-vaccine.

 

[simply1]

Are you talking tests like drive up access?

Won't we need tests until vaccines are readily available and/or if someone feels symptoms a few months after vaccination? I'd guess we would need to know how infectious someone is if they're reinfected or get it post-vaccine.

The story I quoted said 15 minute tests ready around Christmas for context, with another article posted directly after it talking about rolling out a vaccine at Christmas.

I'm just surprised there are so many companies pushing the testing given the notion we're on the short path to a vaccine.

 

[simply1]

Hospitalizations can flare up really quickly

El Paso officials ask residents to stay home for two weeks as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge

"Please continue to exercise your right to vote," said El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, who announced a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

www.texastribune.org

 

[Angie]

Intentionally political posts deleted (as well as ones quoting them), and 3-day ban given for repeated political posts despite a huge number of warnings.

Next time we will ban for two weeks.

 

[kcbob79clone]

The story I quoted said 15 minute tests ready around Christmas for context, with another article posted directly after it talking about rolling out a vaccine at Christmas.

I'm just surprised there are so many companies pushing the testing given the notion we're on the short path to a vaccine.

We're not safe until everyone is safe.

As we have talked about before it will take a while to vaccinate everyone (approx. 8B). Plus there are some that will not take the vaccine.

For these reasons I believe, in my opinion, that rapid testing and therapeutic treatment will be necessary for the foreseeable future.

 

[Cyientist]

The story I quoted said 15 minute tests ready around Christmas for context, with another article posted directly after it talking about rolling out a vaccine at Christmas.

I'm just surprised there are so many companies pushing the testing given the notion we're on the short path to a vaccine.

From what I've read, it seems like best case scenario is that we start getting vaccines approved between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then a limited distribution Q1 of 2021 with wider distribution Q2. Basically they were stating not to expect enough vaccinations to occur to start impacting infection rates for another 6-8 months.

It is depressing to learn that we are still 8 months away from things resembling normalcy, but it is nice to have realistic timeline put forth.

 

[madguy30]

From what I've read, it seems like best case scenario is that we start getting vaccines approved between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then a limited distribution Q1 of 2021 with wider distribution Q2. Basically they were stating not to expect enough vaccinations to occur to start impacting infection rates for another 6-8 months.

It is depressing to learn that we are still 8 months away from things resembling normalcy, but it is nice to have realistic timeline put forth.

I'll wonder if antibody tests are still available after getting the vaccine. I'd like to find out antibodies are still detectable before I get revaccinated. OR if there will be advancements in knowing what the levels need to be generally for immunity.

 

[simply1]

We're not safe until everyone is safe.

As we have talked about before it will take a while to vaccinate everyone (approx. 8B). Plus there are some that will not take the vaccine.

For these reasons I believe, in my opinion, that rapid testing and therapeutic treatment will be necessary for the foreseeable future.

I understand that, however I’m struggling to see why this test in December is still being pursued when we already have 15 minute rapid testing available. Spinning up tests for everyone (approaching 8B) must certainly take a long time as well, given you need to repeat it so often.

 

[simply1]

From what I've read, it seems like best case scenario is that we start getting vaccines approved between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then a limited distribution Q1 of 2021 with wider distribution Q2. Basically they were stating not to expect enough vaccinations to occur to start impacting infection rates for another 6-8 months.

It is depressing to learn that we are still 8 months away from things resembling normalcy, but it is nice to have realistic timeline put forth.

I agree that it’s depressing and encouraging at the same time. I have no doubt testing will still be needed, I just wonder what a company hoping to have something for December is banning in when other companies already have a 15 minute test deployed.

 

[madguy30]

I agree that it’s depressing and encouraging at the same time. I have no doubt testing will still be needed, I just wonder what a company hoping to have something for December is banning in when other companies already have a 15 minute test deployed.

It's at least a way to know where we stand and if it works out where that time comes sooner, great.

Some other advancements in treatment I'd think would also add in to help the situation.

 

[kcbob79clone]

Vaccine hopes rise as AstraZeneca vaccine prompts immune response in both old and young

Vaccine hopes rise as Oxford jab prompts immune response among old as well as young adults

One of the world's leading COVID-19 experimental vaccines produces an immune response in both young and old adults, raising hopes of a path out of the gloom and economic destruction wrought by the novel coronavirus.

www.reuters.com

 

[kcbob79clone]

El Paso Southwest Texas area Receives Support From Federal COVID-19 Care Teams

Governor Abbott Announces Additional HHS Resources To Mitigate COVID-19 In El Paso

gov.texas.gov

 

[Jer]

From what I've read, it seems like best case scenario is that we start getting vaccines approved between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then a limited distribution Q1 of 2021 with wider distribution Q2. Basically they were stating not to expect enough vaccinations to occur to start impacting infection rates for another 6-8 months.

It is depressing to learn that we are still 8 months away from things resembling normalcy, but it is nice to have realistic timeline put forth.

All good points. I think something worth adding is the discussion around what the future looks like once it’s rolled out in 6-8 months. Below is a paraphrasing of what I’ve heard experts talks about.

Assume the vaccine is 50% effective (current belief off limited data, but could be up to 70%). If only 50% of the US gets it (currently under that in polls), that means 25% effective herd immunity via immunization. In order to get to a combination (aka effective) herd immunity from natural + unnatural methods, you’d need roughly 35-45% of the population infected by then.

Point is, social distancing and masks are probably here for at least a year if not longer to get immunity built up, vaccines deployed, public convinced they’re safe, etc.

Add in that you don’t know if the vaccines was effective on somebody until they do or don’t get sick at some point.

That’s why therapeutics, rapid testing, etc are still critical to develop and deploy.

 

[Cyientist]

All good points. I think something worth adding is the discussion around what the future looks like once it’s rolled out in 6-8 months. Below is a paraphrasing of what I’ve heard experts talks about.

Assume the vaccine is 50% effective (current belief off limited data, but could be up to 70%). If only 50% of the US gets it (currently under that in polls), that means 25% effective herd immunity via immunization. In order to get to a combination (aka effective) herd immunity from natural + unnatural methods, you’d need roughly 35-45% of the population infected by then.

Point is, social distancing and masks are probably here for at least a year if not longer to get immunity built up, vaccines deployed, public convinced they’re safe, etc.

Add in that you don’t know if the vaccines was effective on somebody until they do or don’t get sick at some point.

That’s why therapeutics, rapid testing, etc are still critical to develop and deploy.

Great points. The messaging really needs to start getting out there on how vaccine effectiveness and vaccination rates actually gets us to a herd immunity level. The public needs to understand why there will be cases even though a vaccine is available.

I think we should be optimistic that we will be above the 50% effectiveness level on the vaccine. For some reason I had 70-80% in my head, may have been from an Andy Slavvit interviewee. Next we need to get the public confident in receiving the vaccine. The last thing we need is a person being vaccinated, then coming down with COVID and then multiple people hear of that and decide it isn't worth being vaccinated.