Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Billy Dean]

I really hope the death toll starts to slow down in Italy but if it doesn't any time soon (say in the next week)... then isn't that really, really worrying for the assumption that locking down will stop this?

There's loads of factors which need to be considered obviously.

Still think having people locked in their homes to the extent which Italy are is actually counter-productive. They're not even allowing people out for walks or bike rides in some areas now. It's not healthy at all.

There's also the fact that I suppose as a general rule of thumb more elderly people live with the rest of their families in Italy than here. So I suppose that could be having an impact too – especially if they're all locked in together.

Up until recently the German government hasn't wanted to keep people in their homes because the weather is starting to warm up and if you can get outdoors in the open air you're less likely to catch it. The big caveat to that is that you have to go outdoors but not gather in large groups, which people here are not adhering to, so they might have to enforce it.

First time I've heard that. How on earth do they learn these things?

So the chances are, presumably when we get infected it's airborne

This doctor said to me that yes the chances are you'll get it after sustained contact face to face with an infected person, or if you're unlucky enough that an infected person you don't know gets too close and breathes/coughs/sneezes droplets your way.

 

[Paris]

 

[Nymzee]

If it's wrong, it's hardly a correction.

But it's not wrong?

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

TBF - and this is a complete guess - but I'd say the number of people infected worldwide is closer to 171 million than it is 171000.

Agreed. The true extent of this virus is like an iceberg. 7/10ths of it are invisible and unknown to us.

Its spreading like wildfire, but we only see stats relating to tested cases.

 

[degsy]

Even the flour is disappearing......

My local white goods store has seen a run on chest freezers and breadmakers.

 

[Billy Dean]

First time I've heard that. How on earth do they learn these things?

So the chances are, presumably when we get infected it's airborne

Oh and how they learn these things I don't really know. A few days back I posted a quote from a German Doctor working with corona cases where he said that they had managed to ascertain when the virus stops being contagious. It was something like when the number of viruses per *some unit of measurement that I've forgotten* gets lower than a certain amount then it's no longer contagious, even though it's still in the body. Maybe it's the same principal as that, but I don't really know.

 

[Bluerover]

...no, the masks do help prevent catching the virus. I think they shield from spray droplet’s, which is why NHS staff need to undertake a ‘fit test’ to ensure they fit securely.


As I said earlier, though, they do not provide a 100% barrier. You are right, I understand the virus can be contracted through the eyes (not something I’ve confirmed with my daughter, just my understanding).

Eggs we agree. Mrs BR and Miss BR are both nurses. Believe me I understand the stress experienced by healthcare professionals at the moment. Live and prayers for all of them, everywhere!!

 

[daza_1973]

To be fair - I just nipped into my local Tesco superstore after dropping the wife off at work to pick up some Mothers day cards and I was quite surprised how orderly things were running - plenty of milk, bread and even paracetamol.
Hopefully the majority of the selfish people are starting to come to their senses, either that or they can't fit anymore food in their houses.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Oh and how they learn these things I don't really know. A few days back I posted a quote from a German Doctor working with corona cases where he said that they had managed to ascertain when the virus stops being contagious. It was something like when the number of viruses per *some unit of measurement that I've forgotten* gets lower than a certain amount then it's no longer contagious, even though it's still in the body. Maybe it's the same principal as that, but I don't really know.

The logical side of my brain is telling me the only way to learn such things is by testing, on humans presumably

 

[BlueToff]

Up until recently the German government hasn't wanted to keep people in their homes because the weather is starting to warm up and if you can get outdoors in the open air you're less likely to catch it. The big caveat to that is that you have to go outdoors but not gather in large groups, which people here are not adhering to, so they might have to enforce it.

Really?

As in the UK or in Germany?

At least where I am, there has been lots of people out and about now the weather is nicer but not in any 'big groups' – there's nothing to gather for.

In fact, the only big groups I've seen are all the kids outside school and the supermarket next to it at about 3 - 5 yesterday.

 

[Billy Dean]

The logical side of my brain is telling me the only way to learn such things is by testing, on humans presumably

Yes so this doctor I quoted said that he had corona patients in his hospital who were testing negative from 2 throat swabs on different days a certain point after their symptoms had stopped, but the virus was still showing up in stool and blood tests, so they were doing studies on what they found there.

 

[Paris]

What is Japan doing that is keeping this virus so benign to them?

Whatever it is, we should be doing that.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Just off to the village shop for some fresh air, a couple of pasties and some eggs. Wish me luck

 

[PhilM]

First time I've heard that. How on earth do they learn these things?

So the chances are, presumably when we get infected it's airborne

They're doing a mass amount of testing on the virus, especially in the University of Cambridge. It can survive on many surfaces for up to three days.

However as @Billy Dean mentioned, the outer shell of the virus, which is fat-based with specific protein enzymes, starts to degrade over this period of time.

It therefore loses its effectiveness to attach itself to specific cells in the lung where the virus takes hold because it's these protein enzymes which are key.

Well, that's what my friend, who is a doctor.

 

[Tubey]

Yeah all usual processes will be torn up in the race for this, but you're still looking at 12 months for one to come to market IMO.