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*** OFFICIAL *** COVID-19 CoronaVirus Thread. Fresh epidemic fears as child pneumonia cases surge in Europe after China outbreak. NOW in USA (17 Viewers)

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... the info on Merck's covid pill ...
Speaking of:

Is anyone reputable reporting this? Yahoo! Finance (yeah, Finance) did a video piece but there doesn't seem to be a "there" there. What does "mutations linked to molnupiravir" even mean? The virus mutates constantly anyway. Methinks the underlying science is either lacking or misunderstood by the popular press.
 
... the info on Merck's covid pill ...
Speaking of:

Is anyone reputable reporting this? Yahoo! Finance (yeah, Finance) did a video piece but there doesn't seem to be a "there" there. What does "mutations linked to molnupiravir" even mean? The virus mutates constantly anyway. Methinks the underlying science is either lacking or misunderstood by the popular press.
I think there was some noise a while back about the antiviral treatments for Covid causing mutations, but I don't think there was ever any substantiation.

That video may be referring to this preprint: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.26.23284998v2.full-text
 
... the info on Merck's covid pill ...
Speaking of:

Is anyone reputable reporting this? Yahoo! Finance (yeah, Finance) did a video piece but there doesn't seem to be a "there" there. What does "mutations linked to molnupiravir" even mean? The virus mutates constantly anyway. Methinks the underlying science is either lacking or misunderstood by the popular press.
There's no question that the pill's purpose is to alter the genetic code of the virus. That's by design. So it doesn't really surprise me that you find evidence of the drug's existence in new variants. I think it's still a bridge too far to jump immediately to "it's making worse versions (or going to make worse versions)".....this seems to be right up conspiracy theory alley. And China cleared the drug for use, so there's that for our resident conspiracy guys.

I never thought this approach to be a good one though. While this specific alteration hasn't shown to be a problem, it's never a good idea to allow opportunity for virus to change on it's own, much less help it change. Never know how that "help" is going to go long term.
 
The next generation of coronavirus vaccines: a graphical guide (Nature, 2/1/2023)

New technologies might provide more potent or broader immunity — but will have to fight for market share.

Vaccines against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have been given to billions of people to protect them from COVID-19, and have saved more than 20 million lives. But viral variants can evade some of the immunity provided by the original vaccines. As a result, vaccine developers around the world are working on dozens of ‘next-generation’ COVID-19 vaccines: not just updates of the first versions, but ones that use new technologies and platforms.

These vaccines are a diverse group, but the overarching aim is to deliver long-lasting protection that is resilient to viral change. Some could protect against broader classes of coronavirus, including ones that have yet to emerge. Others might provide more potent immunity, might do so at lower doses, or might be better at preventing infection or transmission of the virus.

Here’s what to expect of this next generation of vaccines.

Just getting started on this article. The graphics detailing how the immune system fights off viruses are worth checking out even if you skip all the text.
 
From that Nature article:

One thing I just learned -- from the graphic titled "Broader Protection?" -- was that the immune system's B cells multiply in greater numbers if they better latch on to whatever pathogen is currently attacking the body. Probably not a great analogy, but it's almost like a right-now pathogen is "food" for a certain number of our B-cells primed to already at least partially (or fully) recognize that same pathogen. B-cells that can't recognize the pathogen don't "eat" enough and get outcompeted ... and I guess they stay around in some quantity, but the ones that can bind to the right-now pathogen just "feed" and go hog-wild in numbers.

I also didn't know that existing B-cells that counter one pathogen can "mature" to be able to counter another pathogen (see graphic titled "Updated Vaccines").
 
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From that Nature article:

One thing I just learned -- from the graphic titled "Broader Protection?" -- was that the immune system's B cells multiply in greater numbers if they better latch on to whatever pathogen is currently attacking the body. Probably not a great analogy, but it's almost like a right-now pathogen is "food" for a certain number of our B-cells primed to already at least partially (or fully) recognize that same pathogen. B-cells that can't recognize the pathogen don't "eat" enough and get outcompeted ... and I guess they stay around in some quantity, but the ones that can bind to the right-now pathogen just "feed" and go hog-wild in numbers.

I also didn't know that existing B-cells that counter one pathogen can "mature" to be able to counter another pathogen (see graphic titled "Updated Vaccines").
It saddens me that you've ignored my plea for people to get familiar with the complement (yes, with an E) process GB :(
 
This link is SO worth the click.

By the same author:

- COVID Claus Is Coming To Town
- Coronavirus Vs Monkeypox : A Sexual Showdown


There's more, but many of the titles are NSFW. Gotta hand it to the author ... they're prolific.
It's amazing how rapidly the author has been able to spin off variants and propagate their ideas
 
It saddens me that you've ignored my plea for people to get familiar with the complement (yes, with an E) process GB :(
I read as much as I can take in ... but without formal training in the field, I'll only ever have a layman's understanding.
It is absolutely fascinating but hits directly at the "B cell" comments you made above. Our immune systems are going to react how they are going to react when they see an antigen in the body. They don't give a **** if the antigen is introduced via virus or via vaccine.

The only viable "concerns" with side effects from vaccines specifically come from the ingredients used to make the vaccines. These concerns are reduced by about 97% with mRNA vaccines because of the fragile nature of the payload. They aren't laced with aluminum, formaldehyde, ethylmercury, MSG etc. NONE of the mRNA vaccines I've seen thus far have any of these toxins in them.
 
Reading the last few pages tonight. If you think I am chest thumping because I have been right the last two years (or at least more right than wrong), you are mistaken.

I am here to learn and inform, though with this group, I find myself doing a lot more of the latter a lot more often than not. Whatever. (Young) people are still getting boosted and shaming others for not doing so. I am here to ask people to fully consider all angles.

Meanwhile all around us, the drumbeat grows. The people KNOW.
 
”The drumbeat grows” is the most conspiratorial saying I could ever imagine … back on topic, I just got boosted.
It's just how social media works...the more you click on the links you want to be true, the more you are presented with links that you want to be true. Social media is the perfect echo chamber. Perception is reality for way too many people unfortunately.
 
I am here to learn and inform, though with this group, I find myself doing a lot more of the latter a lot more often than not. Whatever. (Young) people are still getting boosted and shaming others for not doing so. I am here to ask people to fully consider all angles.
Respectfully, I think you only hurt your credibility when you push the "died suddenly" stuff. There's no base rate to compare it to. You see the same thing with shark attacks, "weird" weather, etc. Unless you have some past metric as a baseline, it's just too prone to confirmation bias to prove anything.

Looking at large data sets collected by reputable sources across several timescales (e.g., looking at all cause mortality over time between different countries that employed different vaccine strategies) is a much more scientifically valid endeavor if you're trying to figure out whether there is anything unsettling going on.
 
Confirmation bias is one of our society's biggest problems currently. Much of social media and clickbait online is purely there for confirmation bias. It takes effort to overcome our own biases, but few people are willing to give that effort.
 
Looking at large data sets collected by reputable sources across several timescales (e.g., looking at all cause mortality over time between different countries that employed different vaccine strategies) is a much more scientifically valid endeavor if you're trying to figure out whether there is anything unsettling going on.
All filters back to the "we have a bunch of theories, but no proof" philosophy. Going this route is going the opposite direction of the confirmation bias route and there is NO meaningful point those philosophies intersect. It's basically squeezing a bunch of oranges and expecting apple juice. It just doesn't work.
 
Confirmation bias is one of our society's biggest problems currently. Much of social media and clickbait online is purely there for confirmation bias. It takes effort to overcome our own biases, but few people are willing to give that effort.
Same can be said for only listening to the drug companies too. Reality is, we don't have to listen to either the social media loons or the money making machine drug companies. The studies and results done independently from any of them is where the good info's at.
 
Confirmation bias is one of our society's biggest problems currently. Much of social media and clickbait online is purely there for confirmation bias. It takes effort to overcome our own biases, but few people are willing to give that effort.
Same can be said for only listening to the drug companies too. Reality is, we don't have to listen to either the social media loons or the money making machine drug companies. The studies and results done independently from any of them is where the good info's at.

I agree, wholeheartedly and did not single out any side of the political spectrum or vaccine debate. It's pervasive.
 
@Terminalxylem

Here's a link to our paper that was published today that outlines our therapeutic approach to treating long covid. This study was only 18 patients but it still returned a statistically significant p-value and will form the basis of our submission to the FDA requesting a double blind placebo controlled trial which could begin later this year. We have another paper that's presently being peer reviewed that shows the results from ~300 patients.

If anyone is suffering from long covid, I may be able to help--PM me.
 
Anecdotally, I am seeing more covid cases again. What’s waste water data like right now?

In other news, my kid has a norovirus. Yay.
Has fallen but seems to be trying to plateau a bit: https://biobot.io/data/


CDC transmission map has cooled a bit on the west side of the U.S. but everywhere roughly mid-country and east are still in moderate to high rates of transmission:
 
In other news, my kid has a norovirus. Yay.
Apparently there's an outbreak

I read the same thing today. We have been up since 2:30am. Was not a fun day. Barely kept liquids down and ate literally one cracker.
 
In other news, my kid has a norovirus. Yay.
Apparently there's an outbreak

I read the same thing today. We have been up since 2:30am. Was not a fun day. Barely kept liquids down and ate literally one cracker.
Gotta get that ORS, dawg.
 
Along with biobot, may be one of the few decent monitoring tools left when JHU shuts down in a few weeks.
(Note: Bottom left under the map, click Current View radio button to toggle to current positivity %. The default is % change from previous week.)
 
It's been a run, but i feel like we're getting to the "best of the bad options" phase of the program, which is probably for the best honestly. We've worked this thing down to where its outcomes are much more predictable and acceptable via the vaccines.
 
So what do these charts mean for the current status of COVID in the US?
I suppose that depends on what your goals are. If your only goal is to just not die from Covid, and you're vaccinated, I'd say you're back to normal life. If your goal is to not roll the dice on getting long Covid for potentially weeks, months, etc., then, IMHO, you'd be vigilant as you can on whatever data is available for your area, and adjust your behavior accordingly when transmission levels and/or test positivity rates are high. Again, just my opinions. YMMV. We are using population level data to make individual level decisions, so there will always be nuance per individual.
 
Flew from Orange County to Knoxville (through Chicago) today. I'd guess less than 5% mask usage at the three airports & two planes.

Strangely enough I think I saw more mask usage at Disneyland on Monday.
 
So what do these charts mean for the current status of COVID in the US?
I suppose that depends on what your goals are. If your only goal is to just not die from Covid, and you're vaccinated, I'd say you're back to normal life. If your goal is to not roll the dice on getting long Covid for potentially weeks, months, etc., then, IMHO, you'd be vigilant as you can on whatever data is available for your area, and adjust your behavior accordingly when transmission levels and/or test positivity rates are high. Again, just my opinions. YMMV. We are using population level data to make individual level decisions, so there will always be nuance per individual.
Right. Im masking on transit and certain other public shopping type stuff. But not in work settings or meetings in office or in public. Heading to office and gym unmasked too.

Where are we for comparison though vs other times during pandemic? Seems decidedly less prevalent vs this time last year. Are we settling into a pattern of less spread and severity?
 
Are we settling into a pattern of less spread and severity?

I actually think we're in a pattern of much more spread (akin to ordinary cold-causing viruses) but far less severity from a top-of-the-mountain perspective.

At the individual level, it can - of course - be very different. The percentages given are spitballs, but: I'd say that right now, something like 95% of the U.S. can contract COVID "safely". "Safely" meaning nearly all that 95% will skate through and that at very worst (maybe 1 in 500-5,000 cases, age-dependent) they'll be sick as eff for a spell, but they'll make it out the other side and not have lingering symptoms for more than a few weeks. That 95% includes more old people than one might think -- I'd bet at this point at least 75% of even 80+ year-olds skate through their COVID cases.

I believe that right now ... there are A LOT of people walking around with "silent" -- but "safe" -- COVID ("safe" in that without having severe 'expressive' symptoms that get a lot of viral load into the air, they're not going to be major spreaders to non-intimates in public). Almost all other respiratory viruses are the same way -- at virtually all times there are loads of no-symptom influenza carriers out in public. Rhinovirus carriers, enteroviruses, legacy coronaviruses, etc. Been that way for millennia and it's hard to imagine that COVID is not heading in the same direction.

But again ... at the individual level, it can be very different. Just like there are many terrible flu stories about the very worst of 1-in-500,000 outcomes ... there will be terrible COVID stories for generations to come. And yes, the data still shows that, right now, the worst outcomes of COVID present more frequently than those of influenza (spitballing maybe 10-20 times as often?). But COVID is nevertheless gradually dropping back to "the pack" with the other respiratory illnesses. COVID is not going to remain (and probably isn't now) this society-wrecking public-health sledgehammer that keeps taking swings at humanity over and over and over.
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks? This is insanity. Ive been to the doctor 3 times in the last week and nobody is wearing masks anymore, patients, doctors, nurses, receptionist...

I think its time to get past your fears man. This is some PTSD youre suffering from.
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks? This is insanity. Ive been to the doctor 3 times in the last week and nobody is wearing masks anymore, patients, doctors, nurses, receptionist...

I think its time to get past your fears man. This is some PTSD youre suffering from.
I'm sitting at a local hospital where my wife has a doctor's visit. First time wearing a mask in over a year.
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks? This is insanity. Ive been to the doctor 3 times in the last week and nobody is wearing masks anymore, patients, doctors, nurses, receptionist...

I think its time to get past your fears man. This is some PTSD youre suffering from.

It's not about fears anymore. I haven't been sick with anything since 2019. I used to get colds multiple times a year, now I don't. Wearing a mask is not a big deal for me, never has been. It's totally worth the benefits.

I don't wear it in every situation, but I will on transit, at the grocery store, etc. Won't wear it anywhere outdoors unless it's somewhere crazy crowded.

Asian cultures have been doing this for a long time. I think they're on to something.

Why do you even care?
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks? This is insanity. Ive been to the doctor 3 times in the last week and nobody is wearing masks anymore, patients, doctors, nurses, receptionist...

I think its time to get past your fears man. This is some PTSD youre suffering from.

It's not about fears anymore. I haven't been sick with anything since 2019. I used to get colds multiple times a year, now I don't. Wearing a mask is not a big deal for me, never has been. It's totally worth the benefits.

I don't wear it in every situation, but I will on transit, at the grocery store, etc. Won't wear it anywhere outdoors unless it's somewhere crazy crowded.

Asian cultures have been doing this for a long time. I think they're on to something.

Why do you even care?
I dont really care. Just think its ****ing really weird and bordering on hypochondriac.
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks?

Join this forum and tell them what's up. There's a cohort of about 10-12 people over there who plan to mask in public for life (admittedly, all elderly and most have a close-family COVID death looming large).
Elderly dont give two ****s about what I think and they earned that right.

Neither does anybody else.
It seems like you do
 
Wait some of you guys are still wearing masks? This is insanity. Ive been to the doctor 3 times in the last week and nobody is wearing masks anymore, patients, doctors, nurses, receptionist...

I think its time to get past your fears man. This is some PTSD youre suffering from.
Here in Oregon the only place I have worn a mask in the past year is at my Dentist office where it is still required. I have taken several flights over the past year and not once have I thought to wear a mask. Back to normal and it is fantastic!
 
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