shape
carat
color
clarity

Coronavirus updates October 2020...please add yours too.

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
Greg and I spoke to our good friend who is a pulmonologist and he says (and we know this already but sharing it for anyone who is interested) that this Coronavirus is here for at least a few more years. And he also said a vaccine is relatively useless in his opinion due to the fact the virus keeps mutating. He is an expert in this area and I trust what he says comes from the most up to date info.

What might happen and what might change is at best an educated guess and it is unfolding before our eyes.





Friday September 18, 2020, the CDC posted updated COVID-19 guidance on its "How COVID-19 Spreads" page that, for the first time, mentioned aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, saying "this is thought to be the main way the virus spreads."31

It also noted that aerosolized viruses can travel farther than 6 feet — which is logical seeing how aerosolized viruses can remain suspended in the air for hours — and that "indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.

As reported by Forbes:

"Before Friday's update, the CDC said large respiratory droplets (like from coughing or sneezing) at close range transmitted the virus, but now the now-deleted guidance added that 'small particles, such as those in aerosols' could infect people.
'There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet,' the now-removed guidance stated … Scientists say the new CDC guidance is important because cloth masks aren't designed to protect the wearer from aerosols."


The World Health Organization updated its COVID-19 guidance back in July to include aerosolized (i.e., airborne) transmission, at the urging of more than 200 scientists.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
Update for the tristate area for those who are interested.


LAST UPDATED: OCTOBER 8, 2020 AT 2:30 PM
What You Need to Know
  • Governor Cuomo has partnered with New Jersey Governor Murphy and Connecticut Governor Lamont to create a joint travel advisory for individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of COVID-19, requiring a quarantine for 14 days when visiting their states.
  • Based on each region's infection rate, schools across New York State are permitted to open this fall but must have a testing and tracing plan; a COVID Report Card hosted by Department of Health will show COVID-19 positive case data for every school district in the state.
  • Indoor dining in New York City will be allowed to reopen starting September 30 with a 25 percent occupancy but will be subject to strict safety protocols.
  • New York City restaurant patrons who observe violations can report issues by calling 833-208-4160, or by texting 'VIOLATION' to 855-904-5036.
  • To report violations of health and safety restrictions and requirements for businesses, gatherings and individuals, please choose the appropriate link below:
  • Go to forward.ny.gov to find: Industry guidance on re-opening; regional dashboards for monitoring how the virus is being contained; and information on loans for small businesses.
  • New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through December 31, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.
  • Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. Any New Yorker can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.



 

dk168

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
12,492
I fully expect it to be like flu and is here to stay with us, and a new version of the vaccine would need to be made every year etc...

DK :))
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
More about potential vaccines.




An approved vaccine will likely require two doses, several weeks apart, which will stretch out the time before it is effective in recipients. The duration of immunity from the vaccine is also unclear at this point. “It’s possible people will need boosters before we’re done with all this,” Goodman adds.

Finally, future coronavirus vaccines could be more effective, both at saving lives and in slowing the spread of the virus, compared to the first few approved. “The best of them, which may not be in the first slot, are those that also prevent people who are infected from transmitting to everyone else,” Bloom says. “And if we have such vaccines, and they’re available to the world, we can stamp out this COVID-19 epidemic worldwide.”
 

sunandsky

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
Messages
204
Greg and I spoke to our good friend who is a pulmonologist and he says (and we know this already but sharing it for anyone who is interested) that this Coronavirus is here for at least a few more years. And he also said a vaccine is relatively useless in his opinion due to the fact the virus keeps mutating. He is an expert in this area and I trust what he says comes from the most up to date info.

What might happen and what might change is at best an educated guess and it is unfolding before our eyes.




Hi @missy :wavey:!

With respect, I disagree with your friend about coronavirus vaccines, and think there's good data to back up a different position. I hope you don't mind me replying, as I think it's important to be able to have fact-based discussions. I also think vaccine-hesitancy is an enormous threat to public health, so I think it's particularly important regarding vaccines. I'm a neuroscientist, not a pulmonologist :).

1. The virus is actually mutating particularly slowly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection:

"Despite the virus’s sluggish mutation rate ...":

2. Even if they happen, most mutations don't matter to vaccines, as they don't change what the virus does or how it "appears" to things like our immune system or vaccines. Vaccines generally only need a certain part (not even the whole thing) of the virus to be "recognizable" (which is different than perfectly the same). Vaccine makers spend a lot of time on what part of the vaccine they're targeting for this "recognition" - they can pick parts that contribute to the severity of the disease (so if that part mutates, while the vaccine may be less effective, at the same time the disease becomes less severe), or parts that are less susceptible to mutation.

3. Even if the virus mutates quickly, vaccines almost always still offer some (and often significant) immunity. The flu vaccine is at the other end of the spectrum of the coronavirus as it mutates quickly, which is why new vaccines are needed every year, and why those vaccines are mixes of different flu strains. However, even in the worst-matched years, flu vaccines offer ~10% efficacy.

{PSA: Vaccines work, and are safe! Please get vaccinated, everyone :).}
 

YadaYadaYada

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
11,840
Vaccines are not safe for everyone and until there is protocol to establish what individuals may be at risk of a severe vaccine reaction then it is prudent to approach vaccination with some degree of care, especially a brand new rushed vaccine.

I love how they say the chance of a reaction is “one in a million”. Guess we were the unlucky ones, too bad I don’t have those same odds in the lottery!
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
Hi @missy :wavey:!

With respect, I disagree with your friend about coronavirus vaccines, and think there's good data to back up a different position. I hope you don't mind me replying, as I think it's important to be able to have fact-based discussions. I also think vaccine-hesitancy is an enormous threat to public health, so I think it's particularly important regarding vaccines. I'm a neuroscientist, not a pulmonologist :).

1. The virus is actually mutating particularly slowly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection:

"Despite the virus’s sluggish mutation rate ...":

2. Even if they happen, most mutations don't matter to vaccines, as they don't change what the virus does or how it "appears" to things like our immune system or vaccines. Vaccines generally only need a certain part (not even the whole thing) of the virus to be "recognizable" (which is different than perfectly the same). Vaccine makers spend a lot of time on what part of the vaccine they're targeting for this "recognition" - they can pick parts that contribute to the severity of the disease (so if that part mutates, while the vaccine may be less effective, at the same time the disease becomes less severe), or parts that are less susceptible to mutation.

3. Even if the virus mutates quickly, vaccines almost always still offer some (and often significant) immunity. The flu vaccine is at the other end of the spectrum of the coronavirus as it mutates quickly, which is why new vaccines are needed every year, and why those vaccines are mixes of different flu strains. However, even in the worst-matched years, flu vaccines offer ~10% efficacy.

{PSA: Vaccines work, and are safe! Please get vaccinated, everyone :).}

Believe me I hope you’re right! :)
 

Karl_K

Super_Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
14,633
I believe hardly anything the government is saying about it.
The Clumsy Dimwit Clowns(CDC) is very not trustable and has not been worth anything for years.
WHO is corrupt and beyond salvage.
Dr farce lied about masks. Either he lied at first or he is lying now.
FDA is corrupted, look how bad the Boeing 737max was with self certification and all the corruption. It certainly looks like the FDA is just as bad.
State governors by acting like tyrants are violating state and federal constitutions.
Americans can be lead by good leaders where it makes sense but will rebel against tyrants.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
Vaccines are not safe for everyone and until there is protocol to establish what individuals may be at risk of a severe vaccine reaction then it is prudent to approach vaccination with some degree of care, especially a brand new rushed vaccine.

I love how they say the chance of a reaction is “one in a million”. Guess we were the unlucky ones, too bad I don’t have those same odds in the lottery!

Exactly. Statistics are meaningless when they happen to you. You have to do what is best for you and your kids!

I believe hardly anything the government is saying about it.
The Clumsy Dimwit Clowns(CDC) is very not trustable and has not been worth anything for years.
WHO is corrupt and beyond salvage.
Dr farce lied about masks. Either he lied at first or he is lying now.
FDA is corrupted, look how bad the Boeing 737max was with self certification and all the corruption. It certainly looks like the FDA is just as bad.
State governors by acting like tyrants are violating state and federal constitutions.
Americans can be lead by good leaders where it makes sense but will rebel against tyrants.

Karl I agree many of the very organizations deemed to protect us are not trustworthy. It is always good to approach these things with a healthy dose of cynicism and a critical eye. But also not to dismiss out of hand what might be true. It is important to be safe above all else when it comes to a life and death issue such as this one. I hope you are taking care of yourself and you and your wife are doing well.
 

GliderPoss

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
2,936
I agree it’s here to stay similar to seasonal flu. Bearing that in mind, we’ll need to learn to live with it rather than frantically shut down borders and the economy every time it rears it’s head! In Oz we need a better balance between lives and livelihoods... even my elderly parents think this is the case! I sincerely hope for a quick & effective vaccine.
 

Karl_K

Super_Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
14,633
Exactly. Statistics are meaningless when they happen to you. You have to do what is best for you and your kids!



Karl I agree many of the very organizations deemed to protect us are not trustworthy. It is always good to approach these things with a healthy dose of cynicism and a critical eye. But also not to dismiss out of hand what might be true. It is important to be safe above all else when it comes to a life and death issue such as this one. I hope you are taking care of yourself and you and your wife are doing well.
We are being as careful as we can.
Wifey has to go out and about for work but not large groups.
But we are taking basic precautions.
Wearing masks
hand sanitizer
Avoiding large crowds
generally stay home
Not just because the government says so because right now its in my opinion the the smart thing to do as we both are high risk.
We went out and about a bit more while the raw numbers for my area were down, but they are going up so we tightened up.
I do my own research and do what makes sence and right now that makes sence to me.
For example the officials have been downplaying spreading by lingering aerosol but I have assumed it was aerosol ever since I heard about choirs being super-spreader events.
I was just logical.
 

Daisys and Diamonds

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
22,510
My country is back to no community transmission with no new cases excluding boarder cases from people in quareteen
All the people from the latest Auckland cluster have recovered
I don't know how long we can keep the boarder closed
we need people on work visas to harvest crops and to keep the economy ticking over
We are not even letting in yatches who would normally come here to shelter from cyclone season
i cannot say more without getting political but the powers at be are enabling xenophobia
 

Tartansparkles

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
928
Our schools opened in August and 'the country' has reached the milestone of the school October break. DS was a close contact of a child who tested positive and we all had to self isolate. Over the eight week term 2/3 children tested positive from a population of 1700 children. The school seems much more on the ball now with short term online learning and teacher check-ins for kids who are isolating. But cases are on the rise again and our latest restrictions are: no visiting anyone in their home, no more than groups of 6 outside (max. of 2 families). Hotels and restaurants have just been closed for two weeks. I think it's getting harder to strike the balance between not allowing Covid patients to overwhelm the system versus continuing to treat other sick people and keeping the jobs losses to a minimum. The job losses on the high street are publicised and visible but I now have colleagues in unrelated sectors who are being made redundant too. The long term societal effects worry me more than the virus itself.
 

Tartansparkles

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
928
Our schools opened in August and 'the country' has reached the milestone of the school October break. DS was a close contact of a child who tested positive and we all had to self isolate. Over the eight week term 2/3 children tested positive from a population of 1700 children. The school seems much more on the ball now with short term online learning and teacher check-ins for kids who are isolating. But cases are on the rise again and our latest restrictions are: no visiting anyone in their home, no more than groups of 6 outside (max. of 2 families). Hotels and restaurants have just been closed for two weeks. I think it's getting harder to strike the balance between not allowing Covid patients to overwhelm the system versus continuing to treat other sick people and keeping the jobs losses to a minimum. The job losses on the high street are publicised and visible but I now have colleagues in unrelated sectors who are being made redundant too. The long term societal effects worry me more than the virus itself.

To clarify, two to three children tested positive from a population of 1700. Just in case my text reads as two thirds.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978


 

Arcadian

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Messages
9,086
I don't have a lot to add here. My next study appt is Oct 21. Its now roughly 2 weeks after the last shot so pretty sure blood is going to be taken.

regardless, of any outcomes I think its safe for me to continue doing what I'm doing (social distancing, cleaning everything within an inch of its life) because its not just me to think about. Still have to make sure the dog dosen't get it (she gets pets from certain people) then there's my other half because he still does volunteer work. He hasn't had covid-19 thankfully.

And of course halloween is coming up (I'll know more by next appt) Also, I have not yet gotten a flu shot. They asked that I wait until after blood test (which means I will get flu shot next day)

New masks are being made, though slowly. There's a level of parity thats been reached so I can back off, relax a little and concentrate on my family/friends. I'm having some fun with the ones I've made for myself.

I've been told at the grocery store Ive got the best looking masks they've ever seen..lol I figure I better enjoy wearing them because they're going to be around a while.
20201005_101748.jpg
 

Ally T

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
8,507
I am in Cheshire, UK, so we are on the boarder of Liverpool, Manchester & Lancashire, which are under heavy restrictions. Imagine Cheshire as the face, Liverpool & Manchester are ear muffs & Lancashire is the hat. We are pretty surrounded, but thankfully we are a mostly very rural area, so we have more restrictions than some to prevent us socialising too much, but we are not too horrendously hit. Yet.

We have another week of the school term left, then a break for Halt Term. In England this is only for a week, but I have heard whispers that they may decide to make it 2 weeks nationwide to act as a circuit break.

Whatever they decide I am happy to go along with. Apart from school, work & the supermarket, we don't do anything else. It's become normal life, it seems.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
@Arcadian good luck! We’re all rooting for you! And yes you have made beautiful masks. ❤️
 

lyra

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
5,249
They are prioritizing flu shots here so strongly that I can't get one, despite being immune compromised. So I have to stay at home until it's available for me. I hear that people were really participating strongly this year, so we have a bit of a supply issue.:shock:
 

Calliecake

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 7, 2014
Messages
9,229
Another beautiful mask @Arcadian!!! They are works of art.

Cases are increasing in our area. I wish there was a mandatory mask requirement for everyone who left the house. It’s rare to see anyone wearing a mask outside of a store in our area. There are 3 teacher in our extended family . Two feel it won’t be long before they go back to everyone teaching online in the state we live in.
 

Tekate

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
May 11, 2013
Messages
7,570
Are you able to say which vaccine caused a reaction? how severe? my sister had Guillan Barre syndrome after a respiratory virus, she ended up paralyzed and had to be in an iron lung, heart stopped beating, trach scar, quite a mess, she, from then on, could not have any flu vaccine because of the fear the GBS could happen again.


Vaccines are not safe for everyone and until there is protocol to establish what individuals may be at risk of a severe vaccine reaction then it is prudent to approach vaccination with some degree of care, especially a brand new rushed vaccine.

I love how they say the chance of a reaction is “one in a million”. Guess we were the unlucky ones, too bad I don’t have those same odds in the lottery!
 

AGBF

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
22,143
I do not have the same views of all government officials that Karl does. I trust Dr. Fauci, for example. I believe that his view on wearing masks evolved as his experience with this pandemic grew; I do not believe he waffled so much as took in new evidence and responded to it.

My stance on how I respond to the pandemic is similar to Karl's, however. I try not to go out unless it is necessary. I use a mask and gloves in public places. Now that numbers of cases in my area are rising again, I will.not make more non-emergency dental and doctor appointments than I already have scheduled. I will try to go back to how I behaved in March. Now I do not have my daughter's fiancé living here, so I have one less worry (his bringing it home). My daughter wants to date all kinds of men and travel to visit a friend in a place with a lot of covid19, though. I have told her she cannot. These will be challenges.
 

Myshinybestlife

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
293
I do not have the same views of all government officials that Karl does. I trust Dr. Fauci, for example. I believe that his view on wearing masks evolved as his experience with this pandemic grew; I do not believe he waffled so much as took in new evidence and responded to it.

My stance on how I respond to the pandemic is similar to Karl's, however. I try not to go out unless it is necessary. I use a mask and gloves in public places. Now that numbers of cases in my area are rising again, I will.not make more non-emergency dental and doctor appointments than I already have scheduled. I will try to go back to how I behaved in March. Now I do not have my daughter's fiancé living here, so I have one less worry (his bringing it home). My daughter wants to date all kinds of men and travel to visit a friend in a place with a lot of covid19, though. I have told her she cannot. These will be challenges.

You are definitely right on evolution of recommendations as more evidence/ information becomes available. At the beginning of the COVID saga. There was so much confusion, worse for many infectious disease physicians, because we were the blind leading the ' blind'. We had to change our recommendations as more information became available. Its has certainly been a learning curve for everyone.
 

YadaYadaYada

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
11,840
@Bayek, my oldest son had a reaction to the DTAP shot at 4 months, he was inconsolable for hours with a terrible high pitched cry and ran a very high fever. It’s worth noting that he was low birth weight (4lbs 15oz). I never reported it because it didn’t occur to me that it wasn’t normal.

I remember after he would get his shots he would sleep extremely long periods, like from 2pm to 7am. Looking back I should have spoken up but we got through it and despite some issues (tic disorder/sensory disorder) he is pretty healthy now.

So sorry about your sister, that is just terrible and scary, I’m sure your parents were absolutely terrified!
 

AGBF

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
22,143
Are you able to say which vaccine caused a reaction? how severe? my sister had Guillan Barre syndrome after a respiratory virus, she ended up paralyzed and had to be in an iron lung, heart stopped beating, trach scar, quite a mess, she, from then on, could not have any flu vaccine because of the fear the GBS could happen again.

I am so sorry this happened to your sister, Bayek.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,978
Are you able to say which vaccine caused a reaction? how severe? my sister had Guillan Barre syndrome after a respiratory virus, she ended up paralyzed and had to be in an iron lung, heart stopped beating, trach scar, quite a mess, she, from then on, could not have any flu vaccine because of the fear the GBS could happen again.


@Bayek I am so sorry. Terrifying reaction. And statistics are just that. Numbers. When a reaction happens to an individual statistics are meaningless IMO. If you or your loved one happen to have that reaction outside of the "norm" of the numbers what comfort is that?
 

susiegrneyes

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 4, 2008
Messages
302
I live in the US and from March until now I didn't know anyone outside of New York under the age of 65 who had covid. In the last 2 weeks though, my sister in law got it (40's) and was hospitalized requiring oxygen and a friend caught it (30's) and recovered at home. My daughter is still going to daycare and I do very much fear someone will bring it to school despite all the precautions. She was home from daycare with us from March to June and I really struggled with being a mom and employee at the same time. On the flip side, I have reactive airway disease, which means a covid infection would most likely require a trip to, if not admission to, the hospital.
 
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top