Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[davek]

It;s not compulsory to wear a mask outside in most European countries Dave, not being the UK is not a guarantee of competence.

Mandatory in Germany.
Mandatory in France.
Mandatory in Spain on public transport and shops, Spain now looking to change that to everywhere.
Mandatory in Austria.
Mandatory in Poland.
Mandatory in Italy on public transport and shops.
Mandatory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mandatory in Czech Republic on public transport and shops.


....UK: 'wear a mask in small shops and public transport...if you like'.

 

[Barnfred 55]

In the short term, tax rises may be counter-productive as they could slow the economy with people having less money to spend: especially income tax or VAT.

In the medium to long-term, I think we've got to expect some moderate rises, however in the short-term I suspect it'll be debt.

Stamp duty is a huge part of the government income now so they need to get the housing market moving very quickly. That's why I think they'll change the stamp duty to sellers rather than buyers. The vast majority will be first times buyers or those moving upwards in value, so they'll benefit from the change. The losers will be those at the top of the chain, many of who will have to sell (inherited property, second home they can no longer afford, and those in financial difficulties and perhaps repossessions.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I work in a chocolate factory and we are all given face masks
We can largely social distance
Teachers should be a priority for PPE

Can Oompa Loompa's get covid?

 

[mahermi1]

I'm fat, fifty and diabetic...so I am in trouble if I get it (something I need to remind my employer who is 60 with diabetes type 1 but has no fear and mocks mine). but b4 the outbreak I was doing well in going to the gym and walking. now I'm at home and walking up and down the stairs to exercise is no good for the knees I can tell ya.
I know I should go out but I think I'll wait until month end to see if there is a second wave.

Close I'm fat 60 and diabetic, like you still in work.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Can Oompa Loompa's get covid?

Donald Trump has so far largely been unaffected. I'd like to see immediate testing on people of Orange colour to see if there is any data to suggest that they have heightened immunity.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I was listening to the radio before and it claimed that research estimates that 25% of COVID-19 deaths in the UK have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.

The data shows that you're 20% more likely to be admitted if you're obese, and if you are admitted then you're approximately 40% more likely to die.

Here are a couple of links exploring the relationship with diabetes, the second is a speculative idea (especially fhe Hydroxychloroquine bit) but it has given me extra motivation skip the sugary breakfast and to do my morning exercise!

Association of Blood Glucose Control and Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 and Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major comorbidity of COVID-19. However, the impact of blood glucose (BG) control on the degree of required medical interven…

www.sciencedirect.com

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major comorbidity of COVID-19. However, the impact of blood glucose (BG) control on the degree of required medical interventions and on mortality in patients with COVID-19 and T2D remains uncertain. Thus, we performed a retrospective, multi-centered study of 7,337 cases of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China, among which 952 had pre-existing T2D. We found that subjects with T2D required more medical interventions and had a significantly higher mortality (7.8% versus 2.7%; adjusted hazard ratio

---

, 1.49) and multiple organ injury than the non-diabetic individuals.

Further, we found that well-controlled BG (glycemic variability within 3.9 to 10.0 mmol/L) was associated with markedly lower mortality compared to individuals with poorly controlled BG (upper limit of glycemic variability exceeding 10.0 mmol/L) (adjusted HR, 0.14) during hospitalization. These findings provide clinical evidence correlating improved glycemic control with better outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing T2D.

Blood sugar levels may influence vulnerability to coronavirus, and controlling them through conventional means might be protective

What does high blood sugar have to do with vulnerability to COVID-19? And is there a role for the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine in lowering blood sugar in COVID-19 patients?

theconversation.com

The new coronavirus infects cells by attaching to the surface through a receptor called the angiotensin converting enzyme 2, or ACE2. Both the ACE2 and the virus need sugar molecules bound to their protein for this to work properly.

My idea, which I have described in a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Medical Virology, is that COVID-19 infection and its severity is influenced by the concentration of sugar-coated virus and the concentration of sugar-coated ACE2 receptors in the lung tissues. The degree and control of the lungs’ immune response may also depend on how much sugar is attached to virus’s spike protein approximately eight to 10 days after symptoms start, which may vary depending on your age and se
...
High blood sugar increases the number of sugar-coated ACE2 receptors in the lungs of diabetic mice. So not only are the number of receptors greater, but also there are more sugars attached to them. This makes it easier for the virus to infect cells. When there is more insulin, or through diet or exercise, there is less sugar, so there are fewer ACE2 receptors and less sugar on each one, and this may reduce the amount of virus getting into the cell.

 

[Moomin]

What has she been working on, if you don't mind me asking?

Safegaurding , making sure vulnerable kids are ok and arranging contact to check up on them.

 

[Nymzee]

Has anyone found/got a very simplistic article they've found that explains how the daily death figures reported aren't the number of people that actually died that day? Trying to explain it to someone.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Mandatory in Czech Republic on public transport and shops.

They're also allowing you to visit your elderly babicka in her retirement home at the end of the month. Presumably that's not a policy you advocate?

 

[Barnfred 55]

As with the school staff here, and I actually appreciate the need because restarting the economy is important when you look at the cost to the treasury.

Nevertheless, I personally feel the relaxation in all sectors is far too soon when you consider the infection and death rate; a little more caution is required.

This is applicable to schools as well because I simply can't see how this won't have an impact to the wider population: staff; families; parents etc.

If the rate is low enough come June 1st or soon after then great, but I get the impression that this initiative is being pushed regardless of the science and numbers.

Fully agree with your comments re the death rate, and I would also add the new infection rate. In fairness they haven't really opened up any of the economy yet apart from garden centres, and I've never really understood why they were closed when they are so important to the mental health of the population and it is SO easy to socially distance than in other retail outlets.

They say that certain scientific conditions need to be met for the next phase of relaxation to kick in, but my issue is they haven't said what that criteria is and I'd like to know that. All they have mentioned is the RO factor being lower than 1, but any relaxation needs to be accompanied with an effective TTI system and there's no way that can be implemented with new infections as high as they are now.

I also agree that the returning of schools is more of an economic measure than an educational one. Do you work in education Phil or am I mistaken? The impression given is that the schools are being asked, rather than ordered to open up. Who would make the decision on that?, the heads, governors or local education departments.

 

[Hickson9]

Has anyone found/got a very simplistic article they've found that explains how the daily death figures reported aren't the number of people that actually died that day? Trying to explain it to someone.

You've explained it as simply as you can right there.

It takes time for deaths to be reported, so there is a lag.

If the person can't understand something this simple, just give up and give them some crayons to draw with.

 

[peteblue]

I’ve followed this quite closely from the outset. Even before most knew about Wuhan.

As you see I started the thread and I knew what was coming.

Please don’t insult my intelligence. If you don’t agree with my opinion then fair enough.

You did indeed......

 

[Nymzee]

You've explained it as simply as you can right there.

It takes time for deaths to be reported, so there is a lag.

If the person can't understand something this simple, just give up and give them some crayons to draw with.

I sent them this: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-daily-deaths/

They said because the last two days were 400ish it's getting better and they should stop lockdown. Tried explaining the number reported isn't the number of people that specifically died that day.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I work in a chocolate factory and we are all given face masks
We can largely social distance
Teachers should be a priority for PPE

That's just too stop you eating all the chocolate! lol

 

[mahermi1]

Donald Trump has so far largely been unaffected. I'd like to see immediate testing on people of Orange colour to see if there is any data to suggest that they have heightened immunity.

That's it now look what you've started, all the spray tan is going to vanish from the shelves innit, lol