Coronavirus Thread V: A Shot in the Arm (READ OP)

[San Lumen]

A corona virus treatment appears to have a near 100% success rate in florida.
https://bgr.com/2020/09/26/coronavirus- ... l-florida/

Apparently Florida man has become stronger than covid with the proper treatment of immune boosters, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories he can survive.

Hopefully its true and its the cure we are looking for.

[Evil Dictators Happyland]

A corona virus treatment appears to have a near 100% success rate in florida.
https://bgr.com/2020/09/26/coronavirus- ... l-florida/

Apparently Florida man has become stronger than covid with the proper treatment of immune boosters, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories he can survive.

Will the treatment work on people without the infinite endurance of Florida Man, though?

[Greed and Death]

A corona virus treatment appears to have a near 100% success rate in florida.
https://bgr.com/2020/09/26/coronavirus- ... l-florida/

Apparently Florida man has become stronger than covid with the proper treatment of immune boosters, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories he can survive.

Will the treatment work on people without the infinite endurance of Florida Man, though?

Possibly not but to toughen up the endurance of nonfloridans Trump has ordered alligators be placed in people's homes over night. Don't worry we will start with 6 footers for the first week.

[Glorious Hong Kong]

Do masks not only shield against virus, but also help boost immunity?

Unproven hypothesis suggests face coverings expose some wearers to small doses of coronavirus, sparking immune response, but not serious illness
By Paul RICARD Today, 3:07 am 1

285 shares

A woman walks past a banner encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
A woman walks past a banner encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

AFP — Could the mask — already seen by many scientists as the most effective shield against COVID-19 — have yet another benefit?

Some researchers now believe that maks expose wearers to smaller, less harmful doses of the virus, which spark an immune response.

This unproven theory suggests that masks could help inoculate people while we wait for a vaccine.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories
Free Sign Up

Non-medical fabric or disposable masks have been recommended across the world, mainly as a way to help stop infected people from spreading the new coronavirus.

While they do not offer full protection, masks may potentially reduce the amount of virus inhaled by a wearer, according to a recent paper published this month in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

“We hypothesize that the higher a dose (or inoculum) of virus you get into your body, the more sick you get,” one of the authors, Monica Gandhi, a specialist in infectious diseases at the University of California San Francisco, told AFP. “We think that masks reduce that dose of virus that you inhale and, thereby, drive up rates of asymptomatic infection.”

Gandhi, director of the UCSF-Gladstone Center for AIDS Research, said that asymptomatic infection was linked to a strong immune response from T lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell — that may act against COVID-19.

“We think masks can act as a sort of ‘bridge’ to a vaccine by giving us some immunity,” she said, adding that researchers were launching several studies to try and test the theory.

These would include looking at whether the requirement of a mask in certain cities had reduced the severity of the disease there.

They are also looking at antibody studies in Taiwan, where masks are ubiquitous but there are very few restrictions.

“Of course, it’s still a theory, but there are many arguments in its favor,” Bruno Hoen, director of medical research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told AFP.

He said we should “take a different look at the use of masks,” which were initially deemed unnecessary by health authorities, against the backdrop of shortages.

Today, they are widely recommended to slow the spread of infection.
Jerusalemites wearing face masks for fear of the coronavirus in the Old City on September 2, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Lessons from smallpox

The theory echoes “variolation,” a rudimentary technique used before the appearance of vaccines that involved giving people a mild illness to try to inoculate them against more serious forms of a disease.

In Asia, early variolation often meant blowing dried scabs from smallpox patients up the noses of healthy people, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

When it reached Europe and America in the 18th century, the practice — which sometimes killed the patient — commonly involved inserting smallpox under the skin.

The NEJM article suggests a parallel in the idea that being exposed to small doses of virus boosts immunity.

“It is an interesting theory with a reasonable hypothesis,” Archie Clements, Vice-Chancellor Faculty of Health Sciences at Australia’s Curtin University, told AFP.

But others expressed reservations.

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, said she was “pretty skeptical of this being a good idea.”

She noted that we do not yet know if a lower dose of virus does mean a milder illness.

We do not know if masks reduce exposure to the virus, she said, adding that the duration and level of immunity are also still poorly understood.

“This is an interesting idea, but there are too many unknowns to say that masks should be used as a tool for ‘variolating’ people against SARS-CoV-2,” she added.

A key stumbling block to answering these questions is that testing the UCSF researchers’ hypothesis is difficult.

“It is true that such a hypothesis in humans using gold standard methods [of experimental design] can never be proven given that we cannot expose humans deliberately to the virus,” Gandhi said.

But some studies have proved useful, she said, including research conducted in Hong Kong on hamsters.

Scientists simulated mask-wearing by placing one between the cages of infected rodents and healthy ones.

They found that hamsters were less likely to catch COVID-19 if they were “masked,” and even if they did catch it, their symptoms were milder.

There have also been a few accidental real-world experiments.

In one case, a cruise ship that departed from Argentina in mid-March issued everyone on board with surgical masks after the first sign of an infection.

Researchers found that 81% of those who caught the virus were asymptomatic, which Gandhi said compared to around 40% on other vessels where masks were not worn systematically.

Everyone should wear a mask in public.

[Forsher]

We're now approaching a million tests in NZ. That's about a fifth of the population... although obviously a lot of people have had multiple tests (e.g. myself... I've had three, all negative... it's a great scam incidentally: if you have similar symptoms and go to the doctor and they offer you a test the visit is free. Saved $19 so far.).

We're mostly concerned, at this stage, about Long Isolation Guy... i.e. a dude who went through managed isolation for the full two weeks and then tested positive after developing symptoms on what sounds like Day 19 after having been on a charter flight back to Auckland... and the Family Trio, i.e. two family members who are (as far as I can tell) thought to have caught Covid from Long Isolation Guy on the flight back to Auckland (plus a household contact who caught it from them) at which point in time they enjoyed their freedom and had a family reunion in Taupo, meeting family members from all over the country. Thus far, there haven't been any further positive tests from this event.

[Pilipinas and Malaya]

A corona virus treatment appears to have a near 100% success rate in florida.
https://bgr.com/2020/09/26/coronavirus- ... l-florida/

Apparently Florida man has become stronger than covid with the proper treatment of immune boosters, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories he can survive.

I am entirely convinced that Florida men and women are an entirely different species more superior than us.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

A corona virus treatment appears to have a near 100% success rate in florida.
https://bgr.com/2020/09/26/coronavirus- ... l-florida/

Apparently Florida man has become stronger than covid with the proper treatment of immune boosters, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories he can survive.

I am entirely convinced that Florida men and women are an entirely different species more superior than us.

Floridaman is not bound by quaint notions of rationality. He can probably exist in the vacuum of space, without oxygen. Florida has tempered him in such a way.

[Neanderthaland]

I am entirely convinced that Florida men and women are an entirely different species more superior than us.

Floridaman is not bound by quaint notions of rationality. He can probably exist in the vacuum of space, without oxygen. Florida has tempered him in such a way.

Anoxic brains would explain quite a bit about Floridaman.

[The Rich Port]

Do masks not only shield against virus, but also help boost immunity?

Unproven hypothesis suggests face coverings expose some wearers to small doses of coronavirus, sparking immune response, but not serious illness
By Paul RICARD Today, 3:07 am 1

285 shares

A woman walks past a banner encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
A woman walks past a banner encouraging people to wear face masks in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

AFP — Could the mask — already seen by many scientists as the most effective shield against COVID-19 — have yet another benefit?

Some researchers now believe that maks expose wearers to smaller, less harmful doses of the virus, which spark an immune response.

This unproven theory suggests that masks could help inoculate people while we wait for a vaccine.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories
Free Sign Up

Non-medical fabric or disposable masks have been recommended across the world, mainly as a way to help stop infected people from spreading the new coronavirus.

While they do not offer full protection, masks may potentially reduce the amount of virus inhaled by a wearer, according to a recent paper published this month in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

“We hypothesize that the higher a dose (or inoculum) of virus you get into your body, the more sick you get,” one of the authors, Monica Gandhi, a specialist in infectious diseases at the University of California San Francisco, told AFP. “We think that masks reduce that dose of virus that you inhale and, thereby, drive up rates of asymptomatic infection.”

Gandhi, director of the UCSF-Gladstone Center for AIDS Research, said that asymptomatic infection was linked to a strong immune response from T lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell — that may act against COVID-19.

“We think masks can act as a sort of ‘bridge’ to a vaccine by giving us some immunity,” she said, adding that researchers were launching several studies to try and test the theory.

These would include looking at whether the requirement of a mask in certain cities had reduced the severity of the disease there.

They are also looking at antibody studies in Taiwan, where masks are ubiquitous but there are very few restrictions.

“Of course, it’s still a theory, but there are many arguments in its favor,” Bruno Hoen, director of medical research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, told AFP.

He said we should “take a different look at the use of masks,” which were initially deemed unnecessary by health authorities, against the backdrop of shortages.

Today, they are widely recommended to slow the spread of infection.
Jerusalemites wearing face masks for fear of the coronavirus in the Old City on September 2, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Lessons from smallpox

The theory echoes “variolation,” a rudimentary technique used before the appearance of vaccines that involved giving people a mild illness to try to inoculate them against more serious forms of a disease.

In Asia, early variolation often meant blowing dried scabs from smallpox patients up the noses of healthy people, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

When it reached Europe and America in the 18th century, the practice — which sometimes killed the patient — commonly involved inserting smallpox under the skin.

The NEJM article suggests a parallel in the idea that being exposed to small doses of virus boosts immunity.

“It is an interesting theory with a reasonable hypothesis,” Archie Clements, Vice-Chancellor Faculty of Health Sciences at Australia’s Curtin University, told AFP.

But others expressed reservations.

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University in New York, said she was “pretty skeptical of this being a good idea.”

She noted that we do not yet know if a lower dose of virus does mean a milder illness.

We do not know if masks reduce exposure to the virus, she said, adding that the duration and level of immunity are also still poorly understood.

“This is an interesting idea, but there are too many unknowns to say that masks should be used as a tool for ‘variolating’ people against SARS-CoV-2,” she added.

A key stumbling block to answering these questions is that testing the UCSF researchers’ hypothesis is difficult.

“It is true that such a hypothesis in humans using gold standard methods [of experimental design] can never be proven given that we cannot expose humans deliberately to the virus,” Gandhi said.

But some studies have proved useful, she said, including research conducted in Hong Kong on hamsters.

Scientists simulated mask-wearing by placing one between the cages of infected rodents and healthy ones.

They found that hamsters were less likely to catch COVID-19 if they were “masked,” and even if they did catch it, their symptoms were milder.

There have also been a few accidental real-world experiments.

In one case, a cruise ship that departed from Argentina in mid-March issued everyone on board with surgical masks after the first sign of an infection.

Researchers found that 81% of those who caught the virus were asymptomatic, which Gandhi said compared to around 40% on other vessels where masks were not worn systematically.

Everyone should wear a mask in public.

Wishful thinking prolly but I'ma wear a mask anyway and dream TuT

... And protect myself and others from the virus but wutever. That part goes without saying =3=

[Kannap]

Do masks not only shield against virus, but also help boost immunity?

Everyone should wear a mask in public.

Wishful thinking prolly but I'ma wear a mask anyway and dream TuT

... And protect myself and others from the virus but wutever. That part goes without saying =3=

I wear my mask anytime I'm around people in public, especially when indoors or when I can't ensure I'll always been able to maintain six feet of distance.

The only time I won't wear the mask in public is when I go for my runs and I'm outdoors - but I am usually able to move six feet away from people as I pass them - or if I can't then I'm only within six feet of them for less than a second before I've passed them.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Floridaman is not bound by quaint notions of rationality. He can probably exist in the vacuum of space, without oxygen. Florida has tempered him in such a way.

Anoxic brains would explain quite a bit about Floridaman.

Also Floridaman's love of the ocean which actually want to kill him.

[The Rich Port]

Anoxic brains would explain quite a bit about Floridaman.

Also Floridaman's love of the ocean which actually want to kill him.

Did you know who else is a Florida Man but doesn't suck.

ME

VOTE RICH PORT 2020 FOR FLORIDA MAN. BEAT UP CORONAVIRUS. FRIENDSHIP ENDED WITH PUTIN AND XI. NOW DALAI LAMA IS BEST FRIEND.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Wishful thinking prolly but I'ma wear a mask anyway and dream TuT

... And protect myself and others from the virus but wutever. That part goes without saying =3=

I wear my mask anytime I'm around people in public, especially when indoors or when I can't ensure I'll always been able to maintain six feet of distance.

The only time I won't wear the mask in public is when I go for my runs and I'm outdoors - but I am usually able to move six feet away from people as I pass them - or if I can't then I'm only within six feet of them for less than a second before I've passed them.

Proximity isn't the only factor, it's proximity and time. Brushing past someone is bad even if it's only short. Being six feet away is fine for a short time, but definitely not for 8 hours. Being 30 feet away, in the open, is fine for any amount of time.

I don't know this for sure. But it would be good if government-approved scientific modelling was available, so everyone could judge the risk of distance/duration/masked-or-not for themselves. The six foot rule (or here, 1.5 metre rule which is less) is fine for starters, and clearly it's still hard for some people to reckon, but there should be some well publicized public guidance for the many people who currently obey the guidelines and would happily keep a greater distance where possible ... if they were told that is OK.

For years I have charted a course between people which minimizes proximity ... among other interests like not being rude (I don't cross the street to avoid particular people for instance) and actually getting where I'm going. And it never seemed to bother people, they just thought I was asocial or a bit paranoid (which I kind of am: never comfortable when strangers are within arm's reach, something I learned in pre-school perhaps). Now, though, when I steer away from others, they notice and they're either offended or apologetic, also veering away from me!

It seems to me that there is a social movement which government (at least my government) has not recognized and affirmed. It's the "maximum distance possible from others" ethos that some people have adopted voluntarily. Knowingly or not, they are voluntarily and with sacrifice of nothing but their own time and convenience, maximizing the principle of social distancing. These people should be affirmed and actually applauded by government. Affirming the best in people would do a whole lot more than just drawing a line and saying "you must not fall below this".

Bear in mind though, it's from the perspective of someone who prefers distance and is quite freaked out by physical contact. To me, physical contact is either hostile, or sexual. I was a hippy for a couple of years (it was my dream, it was a bummer) and that meant hugging everyone I had social contact with. It never became casual, it was a freak out every time. I missed many lovely girlfriends because of this phobia, I would just freak out "wow, sexual already, I don't even know your name". Yeah, mock me. Wait and think though, maybe this over-reaction to being touched is a psychiatric thing. Well anyway, it's made me very sensitive to the changes in "personal space" rules the epidemic has wrought, and particularly appreciative of the people who go out of their way to give more space than government recommends.

[Salandriagado]

I wear my mask anytime I'm around people in public, especially when indoors or when I can't ensure I'll always been able to maintain six feet of distance.

The only time I won't wear the mask in public is when I go for my runs and I'm outdoors - but I am usually able to move six feet away from people as I pass them - or if I can't then I'm only within six feet of them for less than a second before I've passed them.

Proximity isn't the only factor, it's proximity and time. Brushing past someone is bad even if it's only short. Being six feet away is fine for a short time, but definitely not for 8 hours. Being 30 feet away, in the open, is fine for any amount of time.

I don't know this for sure. But it would be good if government-approved scientific modelling was available, so everyone could judge the risk of distance/duration/masked-or-not for themselves. The six foot rule (or here, 1.5 metre rule which is less) is fine for starters, and clearly it's still hard for some people to reckon, but there should be some well publicized public guidance for the many people who currently obey the guidelines and would happily keep a greater distance where possible ... if they were told that is OK.

For years I have charted a course between people which minimizes proximity ... among other interests like not being rude (I don't cross the street to avoid particular people for instance) and actually getting where I'm going. And it never seemed to bother people, they just thought I was asocial or a bit paranoid (which I kind of am: never comfortable when strangers are within arm's reach, something I learned in pre-school perhaps). Now, though, when I steer away from others, they notice and they're either offended or apologetic, also veering away from me!

It seems to me that there is a social movement which government (at least my government) has not recognized and affirmed. It's the "maximum distance possible from others" ethos that some people have adopted voluntarily. Knowingly or not, they are voluntarily and with sacrifice of nothing but their own time and convenience, maximizing the principle of social distancing. These people should be affirmed and actually applauded by government. Affirming the best in people would do a whole lot more than just drawing a line and saying "you must not fall below this".

Bear in mind though, it's from the perspective of someone who prefers distance and is quite freaked out by physical contact. To me, physical contact is either hostile, or sexual. I was a hippy for a couple of years (it was my dream, it was a bummer) and that meant hugging everyone I had social contact with. It never became casual, it was a freak out every time. I missed many lovely girlfriends because of this phobia, I would just freak out "wow, sexual already, I don't even know your name". Yeah, mock me. Wait and think though, maybe this over-reaction to being touched is a psychiatric thing. Well anyway, it's made me very sensitive to the changes in "personal space" rules the epidemic has wrought, and particularly appreciative of the people who go out of their way to give more space than government recommends.

This might be of interest: it's a modelling study of the probability of aerosol transmission in school settings, but you can fairly easily tweak the coefficients to account for any other indoor scenario you like. Note that this only considers aerosol transmission, so in situations where other transmission routes dominate (close face-to-face conversations, most notably), you'll need to do more work.

[Fartsniffage]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip6nz2E ... e=youtu.be

How does the electricity feel Karen?

And she wasn't arrested for not wearing a mask. She was arrested for failing to follow a lawful order to put on a mask or leave.

[The Black Forrest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip6nz2Eh1_k&feature=youtu.be

How does the electricity feel Karen?

And she wasn't arrested for not wearing a mask. She was arrested for failing to follow a lawful order to put on a mask or leave.

Saw that one

I like how they all have a breathing problem and yet have no problems screaming....

[The Hindustani State]

There’s running jokes here that lockdowns cause the spread of the virus, because the states with the least restrictions have the least cases, coincidentally

Random but interesting fact, India is an odd place

[-SARS-]

We're now approaching a million tests in NZ. That's about a fifth of the population... although obviously a lot of people have had multiple tests (e.g. myself... I've had three, all negative... it's a great scam incidentally: if you have similar symptoms and go to the doctor and they offer you a test the visit is free. Saved $19 so far.).

We're mostly concerned, at this stage, about Long Isolation Guy... i.e. a dude who went through managed isolation for the full two weeks and then tested positive after developing symptoms on what sounds like Day 19 after having been on a charter flight back to Auckland... and the Family Trio, i.e. two family members who are (as far as I can tell) thought to have caught Covid from Long Isolation Guy on the flight back to Auckland (plus a household contact who caught it from them) at which point in time they enjoyed their freedom and had a family reunion in Taupo, meeting family members from all over the country. Thus far, there haven't been any further positive tests from this event.

It's pretty common for symptoms to take longer than two weeks to appear, so if you're using a two week isolation, then you should be testing people during the 2nd week to catch presymptomatic cases.

I believe I had the virus back in March, I have a good idea of where I caught it, and I got sick 17 days later. More like 19 days before it was clear that it was an infection and not just pollen or something.

[The Black Forrest]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

[Ethel mermania]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

Even Satan is wearing his mask. That is brilliant

[Vetalia]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

This is way better than cardboard cutouts of actual people, that's just depressing. Injecting some humor into the situation keeps in mind it'll be over soon and to relax about it all.

[San Lumen]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

This is way better than cardboard cutouts of actual people, that's just depressing. Injecting some humor into the situation keeps in mind it'll be over soon and to relax about it all.

I hope it is. Im beyond sick of all of this.

[The Black Forrest]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

Even Satan is wearing his mask. That is brilliant

The Mrs said they are going to have a covid episode. That should be fun!

[Fartsniffage]

This is way better than cardboard cutouts of actual people, that's just depressing. Injecting some humor into the situation keeps in mind it'll be over soon and to relax about it all.

I hope it is. Im beyond sick of all of this.

Oh well. I guess we just let a bunch of people die. Can't be upsetting San Lumen. People should just lay down and die for your convenience....

We're all sick of this. No one is having fun. Just stop bitching about what we have to do to make this go away as quickly as we can.

[Kannap]

Humor in the time of the plague.

Many sports teams are playing without the facs.

The Denver Broncos decided to partially fill the stands with cutouts..........of people from South Park. 5000 in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bron ... uccaneers/

This is way better than cardboard cutouts of actual people, that's just depressing. Injecting some humor into the situation keeps in mind it'll be over soon and to relax about it all.

Even if the situation isn't over soon, humor is a nice distraction at times.