2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2591255 24-Oct-2020 12:41

Quaranteen in Vietnam is a bit different.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/vietnams-war-against-covid-19/
""
Khoa knew about the mandatory quarantine. What he did not expect was to wake up at 7 a.m. to the Vietnamese national anthem playing through loudspeakers. He would soon learn that in an effort to raise spirits and cultivate solidarity among the quarantined travelers, Vietnamese quarantine zones often play war-themed patriotic songs.
""

Being in a less stable part of the world does mean you have military barracks with facilities of a size to handle isolation.
7am might be considered a luxurious lie in for the military :-)

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freitasm

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#2591626 25-Oct-2020 11:58

"Researchers discovered the second ‘key’ used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter into human cells"

Balistreri reveals that “when the sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome became available, at the end of January, something surprised us. Compared to its older relative, the new coronavirus had acquired an ‘extra piece’ on its surface proteins, which is also found in the spikes of many devastating human viruses, including Ebola, HIV, and highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza, among others. We thought this could lead us to the answer. But how?”

The turning point of the research was when Ari Helenius, Professor emeritus at the ETH Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, and a former mentor of Balistreri, discussed the matter with two colleagues, Estonian cancer biologists Professor Tambet Teesalu ,University of Tartu, Estonia and Professor Erkki Ruoslahti, University of California, the USA. Professor Teesalu knew that the same sequence acquired by the new coronavirus is also present in certain cellular proteins and hormones that use Neuropilin receptors. Already in 2009, Dr Teesalu and co-workers had suggested that “perhaps, similar to our hormones, viruses that have this key can use neuropilin receptors to gain access into human tissues”.

Together, the team of scientists looked at whether neuropilins were important for infection by SARS-CoV-2. The experiments performed by Simons, Teesalu and Balistreri teams, together with colleagues from the University of Queensland, Australia, and other research institutions now¨´support this hypothesis. Interestingly, an independent team of scientists at the University of Bristol , UK, has obtained similar results and confirmed that the virus spike binds directly to neuropilin-1 (Ref. DOI: 10.1126/science.abd3072).

By specifically blocking neuropilin-1 with antibodies, the researchers were able to significantly reduce infection in laboratory cell cultures. “If you think of ACE2 as a door lock to enter the cell, then neuropilin-1 could be a factor that directs the virus to the door. ACE2 is expressed at very low levels in most cells. Thus, it is not easy for the virus to find doors to enter. Other factors such as neuropilin-1 might help the virus finding its door”, says Balistreri.

Since disorders in smelling are among the symptoms of COVID-19 and neuropilin-1 are known to be localized in the cell layer of the nasal cavity, the scientists examined tissue samples from deceased COVID-19 patients. “We wanted to find out whether cells equipped with neuropilin-1 are really infected by SARS-CoV-2, and found that this was the case, says Mika Simons, Professor of molecular neurobiology at the Technical University of Munich and co-leader of the study.

Additional studies in mice suggested that neuropilin-1 enables transport from the nasal mucosa to the central nervous system. The animals were administered tiny, virus-sized particles via the nose. These nanoparticles were chemically engineered to link to neuropilin-1. It turned out that after few hours the nanoparticles reached neurons and capillary vessels of the brain, whereas control particles without affinity for neuropilin-1 did not. “We could determine that neuropilin-1, at least under the conditions of our experiments, promotes transport into the brain, but we cannot make any conclusion whether this is also true for SARS-CoV-2. It is very likely that this pathway is suppressed by the immune system in most patients”, Simons says.

"Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and infectivity" (same study)

The causative agent of coronavirus induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For many viruses, tissue tropism is determined by the availability of virus receptors and entry cofactors on the surface of host cells. Here, we found that neuropilin-1 (NRP1), known to bind furin-cleaved substrates, significantly potentiates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, an effect blocked by a monoclonal blocking antibody against NRP1. A SARS-CoV-2 mutant with an altered furin cleavage site did not depend on NRP1 for infectivity. Pathological analysis of human COVID-19 autopsies revealed SARS-CoV-2 infected cells including olfactory neuronal cells facing the nasal cavity positive for NRP1. Our data provide insight into SARS-CoV-2 cell infectivity and define a potential target for antiviral intervention.

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#2591972 26-Oct-2020 10:40

All hopes for these people are gone... "White House chief of staff: 'We are not going to control the pandemic'"

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday that the US is "not going to control" the coronavirus pandemic, as cases surge across the country and nearly 225,000 Americans have died from the virus.

"We are not going to control the pandemic. We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas," Meadows told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."

Pressed by Tapper on why the US isn't going to get the pandemic under control, Meadows said: "Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu." He added that the Trump administration is "making efforts to contain it."

"What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it's therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don't die from this," Meadows said.

The US reported its second-highest day of new cases on Saturday, with nearly 84,000 Americans contracting the deadly virus. As of Sunday, there were at least 8,575,000 total cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 224,800 Americans have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, things aren't going well in Melbourne, with the Victoria government pausing the lockdown exit while waiting for a few thousand results from testing in the Northern suburbs - so far no positive results in over 2000 tests. Today is the first day of no new cases reported in four months.

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#2591979 26-Oct-2020 11:17

freitasm:

Meanwhile, things aren't going well in Melbourne, with the Victoria government pausing the lockdown exit while waiting for a few thousand results from testing in the Northern suburbs - so far no positive results in over 2000 tests. Today is the first day of no new cases reported in four months.

From The Age:

In the past 24 hours, there have been no new cases confirmed and no more deaths. The PM led a chorus of criticism after Daniel Andrews delayed an announcement about the next stage of Melbourne’s reopening but the pause won the support of top epidemiologists

Messy Aussie state vs federal politics. At least Morrison didn't go full scorched-earth / pro-business on Covid.

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#2591987 26-Oct-2020 11:39

freitasm: White House chief of staff: 'We are not going to control the pandemic'".... We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas," Meadows told CNN

Classic American quick-fix short-term thinking. Why encourage people to avoid sickness, when it's much more profitable to create a pill?

In this case it's worse. It's cheaper financially and politically easier to kill people rather than try to contain the virus.

Just look at the money spent on treating obesity and manufacturing low-calorie products rather than educating people about eating more veggies and exercising.

mattwnz

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#2592023 26-Oct-2020 15:31

freitasm:

All hopes for these people are gone... "White House chief of staff: 'We are not going to control the pandemic'"

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday that the US is "not going to control" the coronavirus pandemic, as cases surge across the country and nearly 225,000 Americans have died from the virus.

"We are not going to control the pandemic. We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics and other mitigation areas," Meadows told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."

Pressed by Tapper on why the US isn't going to get the pandemic under control, Meadows said: "Because it is a contagious virus just like the flu." He added that the Trump administration is "making efforts to contain it."

"What we need to do is make sure that we have the proper mitigation factors, whether it's therapies or vaccines or treatments to make sure that people don't die from this," Meadows said.

The US reported its second-highest day of new cases on Saturday, with nearly 84,000 Americans contracting the deadly virus. As of Sunday, there were at least 8,575,000 total cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 224,800 Americans have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, things aren't going well in Melbourne, with the Victoria government pausing the lockdown exit while waiting for a few thousand results from testing in the Northern suburbs - so far no positive results in over 2000 tests. Today is the first day of no new cases reported in four months.

IMO These people are brainless or they just don't care about hundreds of thousands more dying. Controlling it works and saves lives.

The whole point of controlling the spread in Covid infested countries like the US, is to not overwhelm the health system. Once overwhelmed then people who need hospital treatment with ventilators etc will miss out, and people won't be able to be treated properly and then the death rate rockets. I understand some states in the US are now close to maximum hospital capacity for treating it.

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#2592076 26-Oct-2020 16:54

The New York Times - European Nations Return to Restrictions as Virus Surges

today

... in Italy, which still has the highest death toll in continental Europe, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tightened restrictions on Sunday, ordering early closures of bars and restaurants and the total shutdown of gyms, swimming pools, theaters, cinemas and concert halls. ...

Italians, Mr. Conte said, must be willing to make “small sacrifices” like eating dinner at home and giving up on theaters or concerts. ...

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Fred99

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#2592131 26-Oct-2020 17:53

mattwnz:

The whole point of controlling the spread in Covid infested countries like the US, is to not overwhelm the health system. Once overwhelmed then people who need hospital treatment with ventilators etc will miss out, and people won't be able to be treated properly and then the death rate rockets. I understand some states in the US are now close to maximum hospital capacity for treating it.

It's actually worse than that. Merely controlling spread so as to not overwhelm the health system assumes that " natural herd immunity" is a certain or probable end game. This is scientifically unproven and an unprecedented tactic - it's a gamble with unknown odds.

We need a vaccine or affordable "miracle" treatment.

In the meantime, the only ethically acceptable solution is to try to save as many lives as possible now.

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#2592237 26-Oct-2020 22:17

child test negative in Napier then test positive in Japan

article says potentially historical case. but Napier?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/child-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-japan-despite-testing-negative-in-nz/HYM4A2J4IFO323SCGC32ZCJQPI/

wellygary

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#2592267 27-Oct-2020 09:06

Batman:

child test negative in Napier then test positive in Japan

article says potentially historical case. but Napier?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/child-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-japan-despite-testing-negative-in-nz/HYM4A2J4IFO323SCGC32ZCJQPI/

Japan requires a Negative test before any travel to there,

The child ( and presumably the family) had returned to NZ early in the year( pre lockdown ?) , so I'm guessing the infection may have been even before NZ....

GV27

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#2592283 27-Oct-2020 09:28

Feeling increasingly positive about the Auckland community spread, given nothing detected so far, but with the significant caveat that a big chunk of Auckland wasn't in it for the last few days.

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#2592308 27-Oct-2020 10:09

Fred99:

In the meantime, the only ethically acceptable solution is to try to save as many lives as possible now.

"Saving lives" is a fallacy. At best, we can prevent premature deaths i.e. extend lives. Nevertheless, I agree.

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#2592418 27-Oct-2020 13:46

Second day of zero cases in Victoria.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-27/victoria-records-zero-coronavirus-cases/12816406

But two local cases in NSW

mattwnz

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#2592431 27-Oct-2020 14:15

DS248:

Second day of zero cases in Victoria.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-27/victoria-records-zero-coronavirus-cases/12816406

But two local cases in NSW

They have had the longest lockdown in the world, and it has taken them a very long time to get to this stage. If they had done a harder lockdown like NZ, I wonder if they could have had a far shorter one like NZ. But maybe the problem is that too many people were ignoring the rules?. I remember all the people, including some hosts on radio and TV shows in NZ complaining about NZs lockdown being too tough and comparing ourselves to Australia. When any city in Australia could have become another Melbourne.

tdgeek

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#2592433 27-Oct-2020 14:33

They were harsher than us with flouters. But its harder staying put when you live somewhere where the weather is generally great day in and day out.

Lockdowns where you can get your nails done and hair cut, is hardly a lockdown IMHO, its more like a cheap effort that inevitably got a cheap result. Hard work always pays off, there are no shortcuts

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