Is a COVID-19 pandemic about to be declared?

dorian · Guru

Is a COVID-19 pandemic about to be declared?

Whenarewethere · Guru

I'm sure plenty will remember the transport strikes in the 1970s, quite a few empty shelves.

A few extra supplies for babies, most of us are probably beyond that problem!

Dr Norman Swan has said if you want to get an illness through the community send children to school.

Tony Bev · Guru

As a responsible person, if a COVID-19 pandemic, is declared

I will try and make sure, that I have enough stored tinned food, for the isolation period

I will try my best to avoid others, in case I become an unknowingly carrier

I see no sense in panicking today, when I had plenty of time to panic yesterday

Whenarewethere · Guru

We try to mostly buy food on special rather than what we need that week other than fresh food unless cooking & freezing.

On average there is roughly 3 days of food in supermarkets, so no need to panic.

dogbox · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:

We try to mostly buy food on special rather than what we need that week other than fresh food unless cooking & freezing.
On average there is roughly 3 days of food in supermarkets, so no need to panic.

3 days of food in supermarket wont last long if a panic starts it could be survival of the fittest. you only have to see what happens overseas

Possum3 · Guru

25 million people living off the land - would solve the rabbit and carp problems.

Tony Bev · Guru

Not wanting to spread panic

But...

There is a lady in Japan, tested positive in January, cleared February 1, and is now tested positive again
She was a tour bus guide

Link below

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japanese-woman-reinfected-with-coronavirus-weeks-after-initial-recovery

dorian · Guru

14% of recovered coronavirus patients in China's Guangdong tested positive again:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/14-of-recovered-coronavirus-patients-in-chinas-guangdong-tested-positive-again

If a person who has just recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be reinfected soon afterwards, what does this imply about the potential efficacy of vaccinations? AIUI, both scenarios rely on the same (?) antibody response.

And speaking of vaccinations, we already have at least two labs reporting that they have developed a vaccine, but we are being told that it will be between 12 to 18 months before one is rolled out. What level of crisis does it take for the authorities to bypass the more stringent aspects of testing and approval?

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 28th of February 2020 07:03:41 AM

Possum3 · Guru

dorian wrote:
What level of crisis does it take for the authorities to bypass the more stringent aspects of testing and approval?

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 28th of February 2020 07:03:41 AM

Since Thalidomide in the 60's and the Russian Polio vaccine in the 70's (likely origin of AIDS) - What level of testing should we accept?

Whenarewethere · Guru

dorian wrote:
What level of crisis does it take for the authorities to bypass the more stringent aspects of testing and approval?

When it is politically advantageous to do so!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Invocare share price is one of the few that have increased in the last week.

Funeral services!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Geneva Motor Show canceled.

The Swiss government has banned all events of 1,000 people or more, fearing the events increase the risk of spreading COVID-19

Simply_Susan · Member

I so doubt this younger generation would have the slightest idea how to live off the land let alone fish or trap a rabbit and kill and skin it ...

Simply_Susan · Member

Must admit it is not food which worries, me it is that our immune systems are in full working order without having to resort to anti-biotics which aggrevate and not improve this situation. So I can achieve my goals I have a medications list ready to fill, when next I shop, and keep topped up.

That this will spread and will affect most people is beyond a doubt.
That most people will recover is also, I believe true.
That the older individuals and the youngest individuals will be the main mortalities is also to me indesputable
So I say take care of your immune system and you will be fine :)

Whenarewethere · Guru

Simply_Susan wrote:
I so doubt this younger generation would have the slightest idea how to live off the land let alone fish or trap a rabbit and kill and skin it ...

Yoghurt trees!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Monty Python bring out your dead

MORTICIAN: Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead![ clang] Bring out your dead!

CUSTOMER: Here's one -- nine pence.

DEADPERSON: I'm not dead!

MORTICIAN: What?

CUSTOMER: Nothing -- here's your nine pence.

DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!

MORTICIAN: Here -- he says he's not dead!

CUSTOMER: Yes, he is.

DEADPERSON: I'm not! MORTICIAN: He isn't.

CUSTOMER: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.

DEADPERSON: I'm getting better!

CUSTOMER: No, you're not -- you'll be stone dead in a moment.

MORTICIAN: Oh, I can't take him like that -- it's against regulations.

DEAD PERSON: I don't want to go in the cart!

CUSTOMER: Oh, don't be such a baby.

MORTICIAN: I can't take him...

DEAD PERSON: I feel fine!

CUSTOMER: Oh, do us a favor...

MORTICIAN: I can't.

CUSTOMER: Well, can you hang around a couple of minutes? He won't be long.

MORTICIAN: Naaah, I got to go on to Robinson's -- they've lost nine today.

CUSTOMER: Well, when is your next round?

MORTICIAN: Thursday.

DEADPERSON: I think I'll go for a walk.

CUSTOMER: You're not fooling anyone y'know. Look, isn't there something you can do?

DEAD PERSON: I feel happy... I feel happy. [whop]

CUSTOMER: Ah, thanks very much.

MORTICIAN: Not at all. See you on Thursday.

CUSTOMER: Right.

Simply_Susan · Member

HAHAHAHA well sung if you ask me.

dorian · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Monty Python bring out your dead

MORTICIAN: Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead! [clang] Bring out your dead![ clang] Bring out your dead!

The local ice cream van no longer plays Mr Whippy's Greensleeves tune. Instead it rings a bell at intervals of 3 seconds or so. Whenever I hear it, I immediately think of that Monty Python scene.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I suppose with all the sugar in icecream, it's going to kill you, so the 3 second bell is appropriate!

dorian · Guru

COVID-19 appears to be killing 15% of over-80s, and 8% of 70-79 year-olds. Stay safe, people.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51674743

-- Edited by dorian on Monday 2nd of March 2020 10:00:25 AM

dorian · Guru

Israel says COVID-19 vaccine is only weeks away:

https://www.chron.com/science/article/COVID-19-coronavirus-vaccine-Israel-15093659.php?cmpid=hpctp

Israel is only weeks away from developing a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, according to its science and technology minister.

"In a few weeks, if it all works, we would have a vaccine to prevent coronavirus," Katz said.

The new vaccine, which would be orally administered, faces pre-clinical trials and clinical trials before mass production begins. But MIGAL thinks development could be fast-tracked to receive safety approval in 90 days. Akunis reportedly has ordered his ministry's director-general to accelerate the process.

Israel got a jump on the coronavirus crisis because researchers had already created a vaccine against avian coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), which affects poultry, according to the Jewish Press. The IBV vaccine has already passed clinical trials at Israel's Veterinary Institute.

By "pure luck," the MIGAL team selected a poultry coronavirus to test their new vaccine technology, which doesn't target any specific virus, according to Dr. Chen Katz, biotechnology group leader at MIGAL. Katz told the Press and Post that after the current COVID-19 virus broke out in China, the researchers studied the new virus and realized it was genetically similar to IBV and that the infection mechanism was the same. They now are confident they can adjust the system to combat COVID-19.

-- Edited by dorian on Monday 2nd of March 2020 08:13:46 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

I only heard part of what Dr Norman Swan said this morning on ABC Radio National. Will listen to the Health Report at 5:30pm Monday this afternoon.

The American health system has been gutted in recent years & things could be a lot worse there than the Americans are aware of.

-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Monday 2nd of March 2020 09:27:45 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Yesterday & today I been to all the supermarkets in our area 4 Coles, 2 Aldi & 1 Woolworths. Not a sheet of toilet paper between then.

Tony Bev · Guru

dorian wrote:
14% of recovered coronavirus patients in China's Guangdong tested positive again:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/14-of-recovered-coronavirus-patients-in-chinas-guangdong-tested-positive-again

If a person who has just recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be reinfected soon afterwards, what does this imply about the potential efficacy of vaccinations? AIUI, both scenarios rely on the same (?) antibody response.
And speaking of vaccinations, we already have at least two labs reporting that they have developed a vaccine, but we are being told that it will be between 12 to 18 months before one is rolled out. What level of crisis does it take for the authorities to bypass the more stringent aspects of testing and approval?

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 28th of February 2020 07:03:41 AM

I was unaware that 14% of the people, who were supposed to have been cured, had tested positive again

This puts another slant, on the story

Thanks for that info, Dorian

Whenarewethere · Guru

The last toilet paper in Australia is in the public toilets in Camooweal in Queensland, you can easily read a map through the paper, one would be game to use it for its intended purpose!

20180517095216~2.JPG

Whenarewethere · Guru

Due to the toilet paper shortage in New Zealand they have now found a new opening for Australian possum fur!

dorian · Guru

Family accidentally buys 2,300 toilet rolls prior to national supermarket sell-out:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-06/queensland-toilet-paper-accidental-purchase/12031070

Toowoomba's Janetzki family have thousands of rolls of Australia's most sought-after product, after mistakenly ordering 48 boxes of 48 rolls instead of their usual box of 48 rolls from online delivery service Who Gives A Crap (WGAC).

They received 2,304 rolls and were charged $3,264 instead of $68, something that went unnoticed until the two-pallet order showed up on their doorstep days later.

The family estimate it is enough to last them 12 years.

The accidental hoarders made the purchase in early February, weeks before fears relating to coronavirus sent the country into a toilet paper-buying frenzy.

Simply_Susan · Member

Holy****.png OK who is heading to Qld for the winter... and whilst your there can you pick me up some ..... please

-- Edited by Simply_Susan on Friday 6th of March 2020 03:40:41 PM

the rocket · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
25 million people living off the land - would solve the rabbit and carp problems.

Thats true. Had not thought of that. Positives.

dorian · Guru

Why are no local news sources reporting the announcement by Israel's MIGAL lab?

ISTM that an announcement of an oral vaccine which can be approved in 90 days should be world beating news. Such a vaccine could be self administered and delivered to each householder without risk of person-to-person transmission.

Breakthrough From Israels MIGAL Research Institute in Development of Corona virus (COVID-19) Vaccine (27 February, 2020):

http://www.migal.org.il/Migal.covid

Commenting on the news, David Zigdon, CEO of MIGAL GALILEE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, said, "Given the urgent global need for a human coronavirus vaccine, we are doing everything we can to accelerate development. Our goal is to produce the vaccine during the next 8-10 weeks, and to achieve safety approval in 90 days. This will be an oral vaccine, making it particularly accessible to the general public. We are currently in intensive discussions with potential partners that can help accelerate the in-human trials phase and expedite the completion final product development and regulatory activities".

-- Edited by dorian on Sunday 8th of March 2020 10:08:56 AM