2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2594097 30-Oct-2020 18:53

This radio interview by a Newstalk ZB breakfast host, and a UK correspondent annoyed me. https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/rod-liddle-britain-under-pressure-amid-warning-hospital-cases-may-triple/

The ZB host said that COVID is looking like the Flu, and then the UK correspondent reinforcing this by saying that there have been no excess deaths in the UK over the last 6 months, and they have the same death rate thy have had every year.

They failed to mention that that is ONLY because the UK has been locked down and social distancing and mask wearing for the last 6 months, which has prevented mass infection and death from Covid. London for example is almost empty of people compared to normal. But their numbers and death rates could be increasing significantly in the next few months looking at their graph below as their second wave could be huge compared to their first wave, so what they have been doing isn't working anymore.

I am sick of hearing this sort of thing from NZ media.

The problem is that the public hears this sort of thing and then believes it, and that is one cause of compliancy, where they may believe it is no worse than the flu, when it is significantly worse. This is proven by the fact that hospitals will get overwhelmed , then causing mass death, when it is left to spread, without masks and social distancing. eg New York

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#2594115 30-Oct-2020 20:07

New York Times: An unproven Covid-19 drug is turning out to be a proven moneymaker for its manufacturer.

The United States reached a milestone, of sorts, when last week the Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for Covid-19: Veklury, better known by its scientific name, remdesivir.

But the F.D.A.’s decision to grant the drug full approval — which means its manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, can begin marketing it broadly to doctors and patients — has puzzled several outside experts. They say that it may not deserve the agency’s stamp of approval because it is, at best, a mediocre treatment for the disease caused by the coronavirus.

One large, government-run trial found that the drug shortens patients’ recovery times, but the two other studies the F.D.A. used to justify its approval — sponsored by Gilead — did not compare the treatments with a placebo, the gold standard for evaluating a drug. No studies have shown that it significantly lowers death rates. And a large study sponsored by the World Health Organization found that remdesivir provided no benefit to hospitalized patients.

Experts have also questioned whether Gilead deserves to pocket potential billions from the drug when the government has played a significant role in its development. On Wednesday, the company said that remdesivir, which has been authorized for emergency use since the spring, had brought in $873 million in revenue so far this year.

“The F.D.A. doesn’t exist to give monetary prizes to drug companies,” said Dr. Peter B. Bach, the director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “The F.D.A. exists to help inform doctors as to what drugs they should give patients in front of them today.”

cshwone

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#2595394 31-Oct-2020 13:39

Another unfortunate milestone according to Worldometer and that is the USA with >100,000 new cases today. The optimist in me says surely they will do something about it. The pessimist/realist thinks its a forlorn hope.

I have travelled extensively for work in the US and even lived there for a while. With only a couple of years until I retire I cannot see me ever visiting the US again. That sounds a bit melodramatic but it's just the current facts of life, and unfortunately, death

mattwnz

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#2595572 31-Oct-2020 17:18

cshwone:

Another unfortunate milestone according to Worldometer and that is the USA with >100,000 new cases today. The optimist in me says surely they will do something about it. The pessimist/realist thinks its a forlorn hope.

I have travelled extensively for work in the US and even lived there for a while. With only a couple of years until I retire I cannot see me ever visiting the US again. That sounds a bit melodramatic but it's just the current facts of life, and unfortunately, death

And then we get Donald Trump jr saying today that COVID deaths in the USA are down to almost nothing https://news.yahoo.com/day-over-1-000-americans-070843317.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=ma

Some states seem to be taking it seriously. CA seems to be very locked down for the last 6 months, and even Disneyland is still closed. They won't allow things to open up until their case numbers have reduced. New York also took it seriously, but it is apparently a ghost town.

America is a mess, the amount of fake news and information is astounding, and many Americans seem to be sucked in by it all. I hope for the worlds sake, there is a change in President, because at least then there can be some real leadership.

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#2595593 31-Oct-2020 19:00

mattwnz:

And then we get Donald Trump jr saying today that COVID deaths in the USA are down to almost nothing https://news.yahoo.com/day-over-1-000-americans-070843317.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=ma

Some states seem to be taking it seriously. CA seems to be very locked down for the last 6 months, and even Disneyland is still closed. They won't allow things to open up until their case numbers have reduced. New York also took it seriously, but it is apparently a ghost town.

America is a mess, the amount of fake news and information is astounding, and many Americans seem to be sucked in by it all. I hope for the worlds sake, there is a change in President, because at least then there can be some real leadership.

There will be. Wednesday this week. Showbiz court sessions probably, so allow for that.

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#2595614 31-Oct-2020 20:05

Wednesday NZ time ...

Maybe, maybe not.

Batman

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#2595615 31-Oct-2020 20:08

mattwnz:

cshwone:

Another unfortunate milestone according to Worldometer and that is the USA with >100,000 new cases today. The optimist in me says surely they will do something about it. The pessimist/realist thinks its a forlorn hope.

I have travelled extensively for work in the US and even lived there for a while. With only a couple of years until I retire I cannot see me ever visiting the US again. That sounds a bit melodramatic but it's just the current facts of life, and unfortunately, death

And then we get Donald Trump jr saying today that COVID deaths in the USA are down to almost nothing https://news.yahoo.com/day-over-1-000-americans-070843317.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=ma

Some states seem to be taking it seriously. CA seems to be very locked down for the last 6 months, and even Disneyland is still closed. They won't allow things to open up until their case numbers have reduced. New York also took it seriously, but it is apparently a ghost town.

America is a mess, the amount of fake news and information is astounding, and many Americans seem to be sucked in by it all. I hope for the worlds sake, there is a change in President, because at least then there can be some real leadership.

I recall that the White House issues a special order to gather numbers directly and bypassing the CDC ... IIRC ...

So where do the news outlet get their numbers from?

Do democrat states test more than Republican states?

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#2595699 31-Oct-2020 22:25

Not certain how much credence this has but the Daily Mail(!) are reporting that NZ will 'open to Australians within weeks' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8897385/New-Zealand-open-Australians-weeks-states-finally-open-coronavirus-closures.html

Seems to have been triggered by an article in The West Australian (behind a paywall), citing West Australian government sources. The sources expect Ardern to make an announcement when she swears in her new cabinet next week, with travel arrangements in place by Christmas at the latest.

However, NZ Government sources appear to be saying talks between the two countries are still ongoing and that no firm date has been set for a travel bubble.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-new-zealand-australia-bubble-claims-transtasman-travel-to-resume-before-christmas/KYUOHMICL5QFOLNE2Y5EGM4CIU/

WA itself is set to move to a 'controlled interstate border regime' on 14 Nov. Travellers from 'very low risk areas' (currently QLD, ACT, Tas, SA & NT) will have to fill out a border pass and take a temperature check on arrival but will not need to undertake quarantine or self isolation. To meet the 'very low risk' classification requires no community transmission in the last 28 days

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#2595809 1-Nov-2020 09:02

@Batman:

I recall that the White House issues a special order to gather numbers directly and bypassing the CDC ... IIRC ...

So where do the news outlet get their numbers from?

Private institutions like the Johns Hopkins Hospital and New York Times keep tracking the information.

Batman:

Do democrat states test more than Republican states?

You are very close to the non-political discussion rule on this thread. I'd suggest don't go there.

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#2595810 1-Nov-2020 09:04

"Boris Johnson announces four-week national Covid lockdown in England"

A second national lockdown will be imposed across England from midnight on Thursday with all nonessential shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure facilities to close for at least four weeks, Boris Johnson has said.

The prime minister dramatically escalated the country’s response to the pandemic in a press conference on Saturday evening, telling the public that “we must act now to contain this autumn surge”, with measures due to remain in place until 2 December.

People have been told to “stay at home” where possible, but will be allowed to leave their homes for education, medical appointments, to shop for essential goods, and to work if they cannot work from home.

Outdoor exercise will also be permitted, with members of the same household or one person from another household.

People leaving home to care for vulnerable people, or to escape injury or harm, will be exempt from the rules. Takeaways and deliveries will continue to be allowed.

So not quite New Zealand's COVID Alert Level 4 but a Level 3.5 - education being and work (which doesn't seem to be essential only) the biggest problems I see here.

Sideface

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#2595835 1-Nov-2020 10:32

In our Wellington street, Halloween was much quieter than usual last night.

The children seemed to avoid any house that didn't display Halloween decorations.

Is this a COVID effect?

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#2595849 1-Nov-2020 11:02

Sideface:
In our Wellington street, Halloween was much quieter than usual last night.

The children seemed to avoid any house that didn't display Halloween decorations.

Is this a COVID effect?

Yes

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#2595853 1-Nov-2020 11:11

freitasm:
"Boris Johnson announces four-week national Covid lockdown in England"

A second national lockdown will be imposed across England from midnight on Thursday with all nonessential shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure facilities to close for at least four weeks, Boris Johnson has said.

The prime minister dramatically escalated the country’s response to the pandemic in a press conference on Saturday evening, telling the public that “we must act now to contain this autumn surge”, with measures due to remain in place until 2 December.

People have been told to “stay at home” where possible, but will be allowed to leave their homes for education, medical appointments, to shop for essential goods, and to work if they cannot work from home.

Outdoor exercise will also be permitted, with members of the same household or one person from another household.

People leaving home to care for vulnerable people, or to escape injury or harm, will be exempt from the rules. Takeaways and deliveries will continue to be allowed.

So not quite New Zealand's COVID Alert Level 4 but a Level 3.5 - education being and work (which doesn't seem to be essential only) the biggest problems I see here.

I wonder if sports is allowed to continue

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#2595886 1-Nov-2020 14:07

Sports can carry on in UK https://www.goal.com/en/news/premier-league-to-continue-despite-new-uk-lockdown-confirms/1mw6ckr8l0bvi1kk2s4cfigum0

kingdragonfly

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#2595902 1-Nov-2020 15:33

Batman:
Sports can carry on in UK https://www.goal.com/en/news/premier-league-to-continue-despite-new-uk-lockdown-confirms/1mw6ckr8l0bvi1kk2s4cfigum0

Some superficial appeasement: “Two things only the people anxiously desire — bread and circuses.”

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