How superspreading is fueling the pandemic – Vox

>6 Minute Podcast: What We Should Learn From The White House Coronavirus Cluster : NPR

“Any one of us could unknowingly be a superspreader.”

View full story at Source: >How superspreading is fueling the pandemic – Vox

“We now know that, on average, most people with the novel coronavirus pass the virus to just one other person, or to no one else at all. But some go on to infect many, many more, often before they even experience symptoms. Many of these transmission chains begin with “superspreading” events, where one person (usually in a crowded indoor space) passes the virus to dozens of others. Early contact tracing studies suggest these events have been a large driver of transmission around the world. By some estimates, 10 percent of people have been causing 80 percent of new infections. This is one of the reasons experts worry about large indoor gatherings— more so than outdoor ones — causing large spikes in case numbers.

Why is the coronavirus so good at superspreading? Find out at source link above.

“Some individuals seem to develop higher amounts of the virus in their system, upping their odds of transmitting it to others. And given that the amount of virus in the body tends to shift over the duration of infection — rising until around the onset of symptoms, then declining — the chance that someone is a likely superspreader changes over time.

“But what we have been learning is how individuals’ behavior could increase the chance they spread the virus to many others — or not. “We do know that wearing masks, keeping up physical distancing, avoiding crowds, and isolating upon becoming sick or testing positive can prevent superspreading,”

Figure A shows a large superspreading event that spiraled out from a cluster of bars in Hong Kong. Epidemiology

“These findings line up with other preliminary research that calculated closed environments to be almost 20 times more likely to spur additional coronavirus infections than open-air ones. There was concern that the massive protests across the US, which started in late May after the killing of George Floyd, would become superspreading events. So far the data suggests that wasn’t the case, with no large surge in cases in cities that had the largest demonstrations.

“This lines up with the science. “Outdoor events like the protests are inherently less risky than indoor events, given greater airflow (outside),” “It is also easier to spread out and maintain physical distancing.” And photographs of the protests have shown that a large number of people have been wearing masks. Still, no massive gathering is guaranteed to stay Covid-19-free. “There will still be increased risk of transmission given the large number of people present,” she says. It also appears that not all indoor venues and events are equally risky when it comes to starting a large cluster of new cases.

“A first step is following the lead of infectious disease experts, who know well what potential superspreading situations to avoid. “I might dine outside, if the tables were spaced apart, and I felt like the customers and restaurant staff were taking precautions.” Earlier this summer, she went camping with her family, but she chose campgrounds following CDC guidelines. “For other places, like parks and beaches, my advice is to be prepared to leave if they get crowded and you cannot safely distance,” she says.

Back to Ants? America Trapped in a Pandemic Spiral – The Atlantic

>Why the Pandemic Is So Bad in America – The Atlantic

>(12 Minute Podcast) How The U.S. Is Caught In A “Pandemic Spiral” : Short Wave : NPR

As the U.S. heads toward the winter, the country is going round in circles, making the same conceptual errors that have plagued it since spring.

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >America Is Trapped in a Pandemic Spiral – The Atlantic

“Army ants will sometimes walk in circles until they die. The workers navigate by smelling the pheromone trails of workers in front of them, while laying down pheromones for others to follow. If these trails accidentally loop back on themselves, the ants are trapped. They become a thick, swirling vortex of bodies that resembles a hurricane as viewed from space. They march endlessly until they’re felled by exhaustion or dehydration. The ants can sense no picture bigger than what’s immediately ahead. They have no coordinating force to guide them to safety. They are imprisoned by a wall of their own instincts. This phenomenon is called the death spiral. I can think of no better metaphor for the United States of America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many Americans trusted intuition to help guide them through this disaster. They grabbed onto whatever solution was most prominent in the moment, and bounced from one (often false) hope to the next. They saw the actions that individual people were taking, and blamed and shamed their neighbors. They lapsed into magical thinking, and believed that the world would return to normal within months. Following these impulses was simpler than navigating a web of solutions, staring down broken systems, and accepting that the pandemic would rage for at least a year.

“The country is now trapped in an intuition nightmare: Like the spiraling ants, Americans are walled in by their own unhelpful instincts, which lead them round and round in self-destructive circles. ..Here, then, are nine errors of intuition that still hamstring the U.S. pandemic response, and a glimpse at the future if they continue unchecked.

Continue reading at source link above

One Chart Shows The Best And Worst Face Mask Types, Based on The Latest Research

Does Wearing a Mask Protect Me? Some Evidence Says Yes – The New York Times

Growing Body Of Evidence Suggests Masks Protect Those Wearing Them, Too : NPR

Mask Hack: How to Create a More Form-Fitting Level 3 Mask

A User’s Guide To Masks: What Types Offer The Best Protection? : Goats and Soda : NPR

There’s one mask type you really should avoid.

Read full story of excerpts below at Source: >One Chart Shows The Best And Worst Face Mask Types, Based on The Latest Research

“Disposable surgical masks are also made of non-woven fabric. A 2013 study found that surgical masks were about three times as effective at blocking influenza aerosols than homemade face masks (that was true, at least, when air flow was slower than a cough but faster than a human breathing during light work).

“Mask studies should be taken with a grain of salt

“Although research is coalescing around the idea that a few types of masks offer the best protection, it’s not always easy to simulate how a mask will perform in real life. That’s because only some tests directly mimic the size of novel coronavirus particles, while others evaluate performance based on viruses like influenza. Researchers also still aren’t sure about the degree to which the virus gets transmitted via aerosols, since those tiny particles are extremely hard to trap and study without killing the virus.

“Some scientists even have different ideas of what constitutes an aerosol – the generally accepted cutoff is less than 5 microns (that’s roughly the size of a dust particle) – and many experts think the delineation is arbitrary altogether.

“Different studies also test masks under different circumstances: Some mimic the heavy air flow produced when a person coughs, while others mimic the air flow when a person is talking or breathing normally. And of course, masks perform differently depending on how they’re worn. That’s why it’s better to stick with more protection over less.

Continue full story at source link above.

Pros and Cons of Shields for Protection from COVID-19

Are face shields more effective protection against the coronavirus than face masks? AARP asked the experts to explain the pros and cons of each.

Read full story of excerpts below at Source: >Pros and Cons of Shields for Protection from COVID-19

“One of the benefits of face shields is that they protect the entire face, including the eyes, which along with the nose and mouth can be a gateway for the coronavirus and other germs to enter the body. The plastic panel that hangs from the top of the forehead and extends below the chin prevents large respiratory droplets that are thought to carry the virus from reaching these areas of potential infection. Face shields also reduce the likelihood that you’ll introduce virus-packed particles on your own …They keep you from touching “your hands to your eyes and nose and mouth. If you’re wearing one, it’s pretty hard to do that” 

“A recent JAMA report found that when community health workers added face shields to other protective equipment (face masks and gloves), COVID-19 infection rates among the workers dropped to zero. Similar findings have been published in The Lancet: Researchers looked at studies evaluating the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic interventions and found that eye protection was associated with a lower risk of virus infection. “Eye protection is typically underconsidered and can be effective in community settings,” the report’s authors write.

“It’s double protection,” Perencevich says about layering a face shield over a cloth face covering. “The face shield will protect the mask from being contaminated and then block additional droplets from your whole face, including your eyes.”

Continue full story with pros and cons at source link above.

VIDEO: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus That Can Linger In The Air : Goats and Soda : NPR

Scientists say it’s increasingly clear that airborne virus particles help the coronavirus superspread. Here’s what they recommend to reduce the risks.

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >VIDEO: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus That Can Linger In The Air : Goats and Soda : NPR

In some settings — especially poorly ventilated indoor rooms where many people are gathering — researchers increasingly believe that clouds of the virus expelled when someone speaks are able to stay aloft in the air and potentially infect people farther away than the recommended 6 feet of social distance.

In these settings, an infectious person shouting or laughing or coughing can release clouds containing the virus that can build up, linger and waft in the air — and then be inhaled by passersby and settle in their lungs.

“You limit aerosol transmission by increasing ventilation and increasing air circulation,” says Seema Lakdawala, a flu researcher at University of Pittsburgh, which means opening the windows that surround you and putting fans in them, facing inward, to draw outside air in. That fresh air will scatter any clouds of virus that might exist. That way, you’re less likely to breathe in a big infectious dose.

When you can, move your get-together outside to a location where fresh air is all around you — a backyard, for example. Lakdawala’s neighborhood hosts happy hours, “where everybody brings a lawn chair and we sit on someone’s lawn. Everyone is spatially distanced and brings their own drink.”

Much of this is common knowledge by now, but make sure you wear your mask correctly — making sure that it fits snugly over your nose and mouth while not obstructing your ability to breathe — and that you keep a personal space bubble of at least 6 feet between you and other people.

The mask will catch a lot of the droplets that come out when you speak or laugh or cough — and also block some of other people’s droplets from getting into your nose and mouth.

Continue with full story at source link above.

Scam Alert: A Real COVID Contact Tracer Won’t Ask You For Money : Shots – Health News : NPR

A loved one’s health could depend on the truth if you get a call from a real contact tracer about your exposure to the coronavirus. But beware impostors who ask you for payment or to click on a link.

3 minute podcast and full story at Source: >Scam Alert: A Real COVID Contact Tracer Won’t Ask You For Money : Shots – Health News : NPR

“State officials and federal agencies warn there’s a new phone scam circulating: Callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers are trying to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims…Legitimate contact tracers don’t ask for payment or seek other financial information.

“Be discerning, but don’t avoid real tracers

“Legitimate tracing calls might be preceded by a text message, notifying patients of an upcoming call from the health department. Then, in that initial call, the legitimate tracer will seek to confirm an address and date of birth, especially if you are the COVID-positive patient, Watson says.

“They ask about your identity,” Watson says, “to make sure you are the person they are trying to reach so they don’t disclose potentially private information to the wrong person.”

“Anytime someone calls you for information, you should be concerned about who is calling,” says Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “If they are legitimate, you can say, ‘Give me your name and phone number’ and you can always call them back” after doing some checking.

“Be concerned if you get an initial text asking you to click on a link, which might be spam and could download software onto your phone, the Federal Trade Commission warns.

“Unlike a legitimate text message from a health department, which only wants to let you know they’ll be calling, this message includes a link to click,” the FTC says. And contact tracers in most regions do not ask your immigration or financial status.

“Another clear red flag: being asked for your Social Security number. Don’t ever divulge that. And beware of any caller who gives you names of the COVID-19 patients they say led them to you — that’s a sign of a scammer.

Continue with full story at source link above.

Superspreading Is A Hallmark Of The Coronavirus : Goats and Soda : NPR

>Superspreader News Last 20 days

That’s the word that one disease researcher uses to describe COVID-19. And now scientists are discovering the reasons that this virus is readily transmitted at “superspreader events.”

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >Superspreading Is A Hallmark Of The Coronavirus : Goats and Soda : NPR

“A person with a high viral load walks into a bar. That, according to researchers who study the novel coronavirus, is a recipe for a superspreading event — where one person or gathering leads to an unusually high number of new infections.

“And that kind of occurrence is increasingly considered a hallmark of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. “There are some really good estimates out there that suggest that between 10% and 20% of cases are responsible for about 80% of transmission events.

“And two of the main reasons, say researchers, are the way this coronavirus spreads and the behavior of infected individuals. A key feature that helps this virus superspread is its ability to transmit through the air in closed indoor settings,

“It appears to spread efficiently from people who don’t yet know they’re sick. Leung says research shows that 40% of coronavirus transmission is taking place before a patient shows symptoms. And people may actually be most contagious the day or two before they start feeling sick.

“Viral load actually increases a couple of days before symptoms show up...The virus is spreading from one person’s respiratory tract to another’s — even though the person who’s spreading it may feel totally fine. It may come down to differences in biology, such as how much virus a person sheds in sighs and coughs and sneezes — or even how the virus comes out from the respiratory tract. That’s “bad news,” says Leung, and means that containing the coronavirus requires more intensive interventions than past disease outbreaks like SARS.

“So when a person with a high viral load walks into a crowded bar — one with poor ventilation and where nobody is wearing masks or social distancing — that’s a superspreading cocktail.

Continue with full story at source link above.

 

 

CDC guidance does NOT imply immunity to coronavirus for 3 months. All channels of today’s news snap judged the CDC guidance comments.

What??? I turned on the TV news this morning and they were all happy to state new reports from the CDC that we get 3 months free ride from coronavirus after quarantine!

“The CDC clarified on Friday that people who are infected with the coronavirus are not immune to reinfection in the following three months.

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >CDC guidance does not imply immunity to coronavirus for 3 months

• “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarified on Friday that its updated quarantine guidance does not imply people who are infected with the coronavirus are immune to reinfection.
• It was reported in the news about CDC guidelines on quarantining, updated on Aug. 3, (seemed to) indicate that people who were once infected with the coronavirus are protected from reinfection for at least three months afterward.
• The agency said it simply suggests retesting someone in the following three months after their initial infection is unnecessary unless that person shows symptoms that can’t be associated with another illness.

“Contrary to media reporting today, this science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection,” the CDC said in a statement.

I think this shows how easy it is for the public (and pundits) who do not carefully, logically approach science and data continually misinterpret the facts.

Continue with full story at source link above.

 

 

 

Why Herd Immunity Won’t Save Us : Short Wave : NPR

>Fact Check: Johns Hopkins Graph Misinterpreted, Shared With Claim Of Herd Immunity Attained In USA Against COVID-19

>Coronavirus Today: The costs of herd immunity – Los Angeles Times

>Dr. Fauci On COVID ‘Herd Immunity’ | Moms.com

>Herd Immunity to COVID-19 Fails to Materialize in Sweden

“This pandemic has upended our world. It’s cost millions of people their jobs, closed schools, taken a lot of lives. It’s had such a huge effect in such a short period of time, so it’s understandable that many people comfort themselves by thinking this will pass; sooner or later, this virus will just go away.

13 minute podcast and Read full story of excerpts below at Source: >Why Herd Immunity Won’t Save Us : Short Wave : NPR

“as good as herd immunity might look on paper, the real world is turning out to be a lot more complicated. All over the globe, millions are being infected, but the coronavirus is still here… “I think it’s going to be with us probably forever at this point. I mean, at a global scale, it’s going to be with us, and it’s how we decide to live with it… “herd immunity – what it is, why it became so popular in this pandemic and why it probably just isn’t going to happen.

“as soon as governments start floating these ideas of letting the virus pass through the population, scientists start projecting astronomical death counts that would result. And so herd immunity as an official policy basically dies before it ever gets started. There is just no way politically to embrace the strategy

“But the idea of natural herd immunity doesn’t really die. And this is what I find interesting. There’s still this sort of idea that somehow, the virus will eventually just vanish. And you’ve been hearing this a lot in recent weeks

Sweden never officially pursued a herd immunity approach, but they got kind of as close as any country has. They had this really light lockdown. They limited gatherings to 50 people or less, kept everything open with minor restrictions, like table-only seating at restaurants. And in the spring, Swedish officials were bragging that Stockholm might effectively reach herd immunity by the end of May.

“Blood tests showed not that many people in Sweden have been infected with the coronavirus. It’s maybe 5%. And for natural herd immunity for this virus, that number has to reach more like 50% to 80%. Meanwhile, Sweden has had higher death rates than its Nordic neighbors like Norway, and their economy is suffering badly. So this has not worked well in practice.

Continue with full story at source link above.

Fauci Says Coronavirus Temperature Checks ‘Notoriously Inaccurate’

>Why Temperature Checks Are ‘Doing More Harm Than Good,’ Doctor Says

>Covid-19 cases could be missed because temperatures are more common in the evening than the morning | Daily Mail Online

>VERIFY: Can being outside impact your temperature? | cbs8.com

>Infrared thermometers may give false fever readings in the summer | wusa9.com

Businesses big and small have been using infrared thermometers to screen patrons for fever, a symptom of Covid-19.

Read full story at Source Link: >Fauci Says Coronavirus Temperature Checks ‘Notoriously Inaccurate’

“We have found at the [National Institutes of Health] that it is much, much better to just question people when they come in and save the time, because the temperatures are notoriously inaccurate many times,” Fauci said.

“Prior to Fauci’s comments, measures like temperature screenings—along with spraying disinfectant in public transportation, or walking through hand sanitizer showers—had been criticized as “safety theater,” meaning they are not proven to stem the spread of the virus.

“According to The Atlantic, temperature checks can backfire because not everyone who has the coronavirus will have fever as a symptom, so contagious people could be cleared to enter a business or other space where they could infect more people.

Continue with full story at source link above.

Does Wearing a Mask Protect Me? Some Evidence Says Yes – The New York Times

>13 min podcast Wearing A Mask Could Be Even More Important Than We Thought : NPR One

People wearing face coverings will take in fewer coronavirus particles, evidence suggests, making disease less severe.

Full story of excerpts below at Source >Masks May Reduce Viral Dose, Some Experts Say

“as cases continue to rise across the country, experts are pointing to an array of evidence suggesting that masks also protect the people wearing them, lessening the severity of symptoms, or in some instances, staving off infection entirely.

“two researchers formally noted that mice exposed to larger quantities of germs were more likely to die. More recently, scientists have gone as far as to puff different amounts of a flu virus up the noses of human volunteers. The more virus in this nasal plume, they found, the likelier the participants were to get infected and experience symptoms.

Continue full story at source link above

 

Watch Out for Little Superspreaders. Children May Carry Coronavirus at High Levels, Study Finds – The New York Times

>Risk of COVID-19 for kids: “The science is constantly evolving,” doctors say – CBS News

>97,000 children reportedly test positive for COVID-19 as schools gear up for instruction – CBS News

>Black And Hispanic Children At Risk For ‘Severe’ COVID-19 Symptoms, CDC Finds : NPR

Continue reading from excerpts below at source: >Children May Carry Coronavirus at High Levels, Study Finds

“Infected children have at least as much of the coronavirus in their noses and throats as infected adults, according to the research. Indeed, children younger than age 5 may host up to 100 times as much of the virus in the upper respiratory tract as adults, the authors found.” (And its hard to keep them wearing masks)

“But one takeaway from this is that we can’t assume that just because kids aren’t getting sick, or very sick, that they don’t have the virus…experts were alarmed to learn that young children may carry significant amounts of the coronavirus.

“The results are consistent with those from a German study of 47 infected children between the ages 1 and 11, which showed that children who did not have symptoms had viral loads as high as adults’, or higher. And a recent study from France found that asymptomatic children had C.T. values similar to those of children with symptoms. C.T. values are a reasonable proxy for the amount of coronavirus present, said Dr. Kindrachuk, who relied on this metric during the Ebola outbreaks in West Africa.

Continue full story at source link above.

 

 

Scientists Test Which Masks Work Best by Filming People Coughing And Sneezing in Them

The results are clear, surgical masks are superior

>Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >Scientists Test Which Masks Work Best by Filming People Coughing And Sneezing in Them

A surgical mask was the most effective at blocking droplets and aerosols from talking, coughing and sneezing. But if you can’t get hold of one, a cloth mask is the next best thing, and the more layers the better.

We confirmed that even speaking generates substantial droplets. Coughing and sneezing (in that order) generate even more.

In practice, we don’t yet know which has a greater effect — wearing masks to prevent infected people spreading to others or protecting well people from inhaling infected aerosols. Probably both are equally important.

Continue reading full story at source link above

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

Covid-19 can be a prolonged illness, even for young adults, CDC report says – CNN

Covid-19 can be a prolonged illness, even for young adults, CDC report says

>I can’t shake Covid-19: Warnings from young survivors still suffering

Full story of excerpts below at Source: >Covid-19 can be a prolonged illness, even for young adults, CDC report says – CNN

“(CNN) Covid-19 can be a prolonged illness, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed by the agency said they still weren’t back to their usual good health even two to three weeks after testing positive for the disease.

“Earlier studies have shown that hospitalized patients can have lengthy recovery times. One survey of patients in Italy done two months after they became ill, found that more than 87% still had at least one symptom and more than half said they still had three or more symptoms.

“Some doctors have expressed concern that the symptoms could linger for years and some may never fully recover. There are studies underway to gauge the long-term effects and some clinics have started to set up programs that help people with long-term Covid-19 symptoms.

“The authors of the new CDC study argue that public health leaders need to remind people who may not take Covid-19 seriously that even younger, healthier adults who get a milder form of the disease can have symptoms for weeks.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

 

Covid-19 Patients No Longer Need Tests to End Isolation – The New York Times

“Under new guidelines from the C.D.C., recovering coronavirus patients should be free to resume normal activity after 10 days, if they have no fever or other symptoms.

Continue full story of excerpts below at source >Covid-19 Patients No Longer Need Tests to End Isolation

“Most Americans recovering from Covid-19 can come out of isolation without further testing to show they no longer carry the coronavirus, federal health officials said on Wednesday. Instead, patients may be judged to have recovered if 10 days have passed since they first felt ill; they no longer have any symptoms, such as shortness of breath or diarrhea; and they have not had a fever for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.

The new recommendations are not rules but guidelines intended for patients, doctors and health policymakers. The revisions should help relieve the burden on the country’s testing system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Continue full story at link above.

“We’re all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.”
― Rudyard Kipling, The Light That Failed

Covid-19 cases by age: Why more young people are getting sick – Vox

Mixed public health messages and misunderstandings of risk haven’t helped.

Full Story at Source: >Covid-19 cases by age: Why more young people are getting sick – Vox

“Nationwide, “the average age of people getting infected is now a decade and a half younger than it was a few months ago,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a July 6 press briefing.

“This seems to already be happening, with assisted living facility cases climbing in Houston and Phoenix, as well as in Florida now. “We first see it in the community, and then we see it in the residents and staff, and then you see the deaths,” David Grabowski, a health care policy expert at Harvard Medical School, told the Wall Street Journal.

“A higher percentage of young people — and a lower percentage of elderly people — getting infected could seem like a good thing. For one, it should mean fewer deaths. It also should mean less strain on the health care system and its workers. But in the states with larger outbreaks, including Arizona and Texas, hospitals are already getting overwhelmed with young and old alike.

“The social isolation of shutdowns also seems to be taking a much higher psychological toll on younger than older adults, and is potentially driving them to gather in risky indoor settings. A CDC study in May found that nearly half of all 18- to 29-year-olds surveyed had been feeling at least some symptoms of anxiety or depression — a higher proportion than for other age groups (which was closer to one-third for those 30 to 59). (The CDC now also offers specific guidance for teens and young adults who might be struggling.)

Read much more at source link above.

“It is only when I am alone that I really feel connected to the entire universe.”
― Nurudeen Ushawu

The wonderful mountain skyline of Austria, partly hidden in clouds and mist.

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Go To A ‘Covid Party’ or ANY Party

“A 30 year old male died after recently attending a ‘Covid party’ in San Antonio, Texas. The motivation for holding such parties appears to be a curiosity if the virus is real, and to see if anyone gets infected.

>Wikipedia on Coronavirus party

See Full Story at Source: >Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Go To A ‘Covid Party’

“Do you still believe that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, is a hoax? Well a 30 year old male in San Antonio, Texas who recently attended a “Covid party” believing that the virus might be a hoax is now dead. He reportedly told nurses before he died this week at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.”

“Dr. Jane Appleby, the Chief Medical Officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital, released a statement indicating that the man had attended a gathering with an infected individual to determine if the coronavirus was real. He wanted to see whether he could get infected after attending the event. Appleby shared the story as a warning to others throughout the US, where coronavirus cases are surging in a majority of states:

“The basis for holding Covid parties, so the thinking goes, is similar to the concept of holding a “chicken pox party” in order to get the disease and just “get it over with,” in order to gain immunity. But the two diseases are quite different and “getting it over with” likely holds a higher degree of uncertainty with respect to Covid-19.

“The CDC has warned that people infected with the coronavirus should not attend gatherings or parties. Simply put, any event where people do not practice social distancing and do not consistently wear face coverings represent significant risk for transmission. Such is also the case with congregating at bars— due to alcohol’s ability to reduce inhibitions, encouraging people to gather closer while speaking, spreading virus-laden droplets which may become airborne, existing as aerosols for up to 3 hours.

Continue with full story at source link above.

EPA approves first surface disinfectant products tested on the SARS-CoV-2 virus | U.S. EPA News Releases | US EPA

“EPA News Release: EPA approves first surface disinfectant products tested on the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Full press release at Source: >EPA approves first surface disinfectant products tested on the SARS-CoV-2 virus | U.S. EPA News Releases | US EPA

EPA’s previous releases approved disinfectants for “coronaviruses” but this is the first tested on the new pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes Covid-19 worldwide this year.

“WASHINGTON (July 6, 2020) — Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked to provide the American public with information about how to safely and effectively kill the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, on surfaces. Last week, EPA approved two products, Lysol Disinfectant Spray (EPA Reg No. 777-99) and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist (EPA Reg No. 777-127), based on laboratory testing that shows the products are effective against SARS-CoV-2.

“This week, EPA updated the entries for two products on List N to show they have now been tested directly against SARS-CoV-2. These are the first List N products for which the agency has reviewed laboratory testing data and approved label claims against SARS-CoV-2. EPA expects to approve such claims for additional List N products in the coming weeks.

“All products on EPA’s List N meet the agency’s criteria for effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2. When using an EPA-registered disinfectant, follow the label directions for safe, effective use. Make sure to follow the contact time, which is the amount of time the surface should be visibly wet. Read the agency’s infographic on how to use these products.

Complete news release at source link above

“Anytime you’re swept away in thoughts about the past or future, notice that your mind has drifted off and gently bring your attention back to the present moment by focusing on an anchor such as your breath, a specific part of your body, or sounds. ” >I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal

>DrumSoul Meditation and Mindfulness

Texas Doctors Create Coronavirus Activity Risk Guide: ‘The Public Needs More Directed Guidance’ – CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

The Texas Medical Association put together a guide to help people navigate the pandemic with a 1-9 scale that measures the risk from low to high.

Read full story at Source: >Texas Doctors Create Coronavirus Activity Risk Guide: ‘The Public Needs More Directed Guidance’ – CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

>PDF Guide Chart

“A group of Texas doctors have created a guide to help people measure the risk of COVID-19 from nearly 40 daily activities.  the guide focused on 37 activities covering everything from hugs and handshakes to attending stadium-sized events. They are ranked as a guide to help people decide which ones elevate the danger of contracting COVID-19.

“The lowest risk on the 1-9 scale comes from opening mail which some people worry will carry the virus. Grocery shopping, restaurant take out and activities like jogging, golf and tennis are all considered low risk. But hair salons, dine in restaurants, air travel, fitness centers and even hugs or handshakes are ranked as moderately high risk or above. Engaging in contact sports and visiting a movie theater are also identified as a lot less safe than sitting in a doctors waiting room or swimming in a public pool.

Continue with full story at source link above

The Pandemic Is Pushing Scientists To Rethink How They Read Research Papers – NPR

>Factcheck – A Guide to Our Coronavirus Coverage

>Guide to Online Health Information 16 minute learning activity

>Snopes Factchecking Medical Section

>Newsguard COVID-19 Misinformation Resources

>Health Feedback Scientists Sorting Fact from Fiction

>Patient Advisor posts tag: Misinformation

“The coronavirus pandemic has posed a special challenge for scientists: Figuring out how to make sense of a flood of scientific papers from labs and scientists unfamiliar to them.

Read full story at source: >The Pandemic Is Pushing Scientists To Rethink How They Read Research Papers

“More than 6,000 coronavirus-related preprints from researchers around the world have been posted since the pandemic began, without the usual peer review as a quality check. Some are poor quality, while others, including papers from China from early in the course of the epidemic, contain vital information.

“It takes a large investment of attention and effort to really dig deeply into a manuscript to scrutinize the methods, the claims and the relationship between the methods and the claims

“In the case of the hydroxychloroquine study… the reported results had veered significantly from their previously stated experimental plan. “Those struck me as a lot of major red flags…It probably took me something between 15 minutes and 30 minutes to come to the conclusion that this paper wasn’t worth the time of day. Sure enough, the promise of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment eventually crumbled, as several larger studies failed to show any benefit.

“One way researchers are working to overcome bias is by coming together to form international research teams... Motivated by a desire to address “a common threat to humanity”

Read full story at source link above.

Coronavirus can float in air — and experts say WHO and CDC should tell people that | KTLA

>NPR 10 minute podcast: Scientists Debate How Coronavirus Spreads, Experts Push For Mask Mandate

>The Scientists Debate: Is COVID-19 transmitted by airborne aerosols?

>Major News Outlets: Is COVID Airborne? 239 Scientists Say Evidence Shows It Is, Urge WHO, CDC To Alter Recommendations

“Most public health organizations, including the World Health Organization, do not recognize airborne transmission except for aerosol-generating procedures performed in healthcare settings. Hand washing and social distancing are appropriate, but in our view, insufficient to provide protection from virus-carrying respiratory microdroplets released into the air by infected people,”

‘They don’t want to talk about airborne transmission because that is going to make people afraid’

Read full story at Source: >Coronavirus can float in air — and experts say WHO and CDC should tell people that | KTLA

“Studies by the signatories and other scientists have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 meters (yards) from an infected individual,”

“For example, at typical indoor air velocities, a 5 nanometre droplet will travel tens of meters, much greater than the scale of a typical room, while settling from a height of 1.5 metres (about five feet) to the floor.” What’s not clearly understood is how important droplet size is to coronavirus transmission,

“A lot of people crowded close together indoors where it is poorly ventilated — that is what drives the pandemic,” … A loud bar, where people must raise their voices to be heard, is a perfect storm of close contact, poor air circulation and people generating a lot of virus-carrying particles by talking, laughing and shouting.

Advice to avoid coronavirus transmission:

“I am very much concerned about the general public and schools and ventilation in school buildings and in dorms on college campuses and in bars and in churches and where people sing and where people congregate,” 

• Provide sufficient and effective ventilation (supply clean outdoor air, minimize recirculating air) particularly in public buildings, workplace environments, schools, hospitals and age care homes.

• Supplement general ventilation with airborne infection controls such as local exhaust, high efficiency air filtration, and germicidal ultraviolet lights. (These would be placed high up in the ceiling to avoid damage to people’s eyes and skin)

• Avoid overcrowding, particularly in public transport and public buildings.

“Such measures are practical and often can be easily implemented; many are not costly, For example, simple steps such as opening both doors and windows can dramatically increase air flow rates in many buildings…In buildings, carbon dioxide monitors can help managers know if the air is being refreshed properly.

“In a car, open windows and make sure the air conditioning or heat is not recirculated but set to include outside air.

Continue reading full story at source link above.

Quarantine or Social bubbles – when done right – limit coronavirus risk and help fight loneliness

>A guide to negotiating a covid “bubble” with other people

>Is it safe to have family or friends in your Covid-19 ‘bubble’? What you need to know

People are turning to quarantine bubbles as a way to see friends and family while limiting the risk from the coronavirus. Research shows that this can work, but it’s not easy to be in a quaranteam.

>The Dos and Don’ts of ‘Quarantine Pods’

>Creating ‘Social Bubbles’ With Clear Rules Can Help People Socialize

>Search Results for Quaranteam

Full story at Source: >Quarantine bubbles – when done right – limit coronavirus risk and help fight loneliness

“After three months of lockdowns, many people in the U.S. and around the world are turning to quarantine bubbles, pandemic pods or quaranteams in an effort to balance the risks of the pandemic with the emotional and social needs of life.

“When done carefully, the research shows that quarantine bubbles can effectively limit the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 while allowing people to have much needed social interactions with their friends and family.

“Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for depression and anxiety and can also lead to increases in the risk for serious physical diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke and premature death.

“Quaranteams, therefore, are not simply a convenient idea because they let people see their friends and family. Isolation poses serious health risks – both physically and mentally – that social bubbles can help alleviate while improving social well-being and quality of life.

Read much more at the full story link above, how to build a quarantine bubble and the risks at the link above

A User’s Guide To Masks: What Types Offer The Best Protection? : Goats and Soda : NPR

They’re made of cotton. Or polyester. Or paper. Or polypropylene. Here’s what researchers say about the effectiveness of the different types of face masks during this pandemic.

>Widespread Use Of Face Masks Could Save Tens Of Thousands Of Lives, Models Project

>Fabric Masks Need 3 Specific Layers to Effectively Block Coronavirus, WHO Says

>Visualization shows exactly how face masks stop COVID-19 transmission

Read full story at source: >A User’s Guide To Masks: What Types Offer The Best Protection? : Goats and Soda : NPR

“Face masks can also offer the wearer some protection — though how much varies greatly, depending on the type of mask. No mask will offer full protection, and they should not be viewed as a replacement for physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others, frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds. When you combine masks with those measures, they can make a big difference.

“…consider the fabric itself. The tightness of the weave is really important. … To check your fabric, hold it up to a light: If you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers, it’s not going to make a great filter. Researchers say a thick 100% cotton weave is a good bet. That’s because at the microscopic level, the natural fibers in cotton tend to have more three-dimensional structure than synthetic fibers, which are smoother…That 3D structure can create more roadblocks that can stop an incoming particle

“Think multiple layers. Several studies have found that masks made of multiple layers are more effective at blocking small particles. A good option: a mask made of two layers of a thick-weave fabric with a built-in pocket where you can place a filter...The best bet for the material to slip in as a filter is polypropylene, which is derived from plastic.. “If you go to Walmart, you look for Oly-fun, which is the brand name of that fabric. It’s also called spunbond

“polypropylene is great as a physical filter but has another benefit: It holds an electrostatic charge. In other words, it uses the power of static electricity. Think of the static cling that can happen when you rub two pieces of fabric together, …That’s basically what’s happening with this fabric: That “cling” effect traps incoming — and outgoing — droplets. “That’s what you want — the cling is what’s important…And unlike other materials, polypropylene keeps its electrostatic charge in the humidity created when you breathe out

“Avoid masks with exhalation valves. Some cloth and disposable masks come with an exhalation valve at the front. The valve makes it easier to breathe out, but it also releases unfiltered air, so it doesn’t protect others if you’re contagious. And protecting others is the primary reason to wear a mask.

Continue reading much more of full story at link above.

 

A Nation Of Magical Thinkers | Blog For Iowa

I first heard the term “magical thinking” on ‘What you need to know” ABC news daily series yesterday from Dr. Jenifer Ashton. The term is a medical term in psychology to describe illogical thought patterns which ignores new evidence that challenges current non-scientific theories that are really beliefs. — DH

Full story at Source: >A Nation Of Magical Thinkers | Blog For Iowa

“COVID-19 has revealed our societal failure to understand what evidence is and to respect how it works. National and local political leaders have made decisions that ignored the evidence. Members of the general public have proved slow to accept the evidence. Measures adopted to help flatten the curve have been met with virulent protests, despite the evidence that they are working.”

“We have become a nation of magical thinkers, making decisions based on what we hope is the case and whom we want to believe.  When confronted with opposing evidence, we do not engage with it. We dismiss it and stick a label on it: “fake,” “phony,” “biased,” etc. And then we mistake that label for evidence.”

 

Older Adults and Covid-19 | CDC

“Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.

Full story at Source: >Older Adults | CDC

“your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19 increases as you get older. In fact, 8 out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the United States have been among adults aged 65 years and older.

“The best way to protect yourself and to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is to:

• Limit your interactions with other people as much as possible.
• Take >precautions to prevent getting COVID-19 when you do interact with others.

“If you start feeling sick and think you may have COVID-19, get in touch with your healthcare provider within 24 hours

“the more people you interact with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction, the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

• If you decide to engage in public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions.
• Keep these items on hand and use them when venturing out: a cloth face covering, tissues, and a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible.
• If possible, avoid others who are not wearing cloth face coverings or ask others around you to wear cloth face coverings.

For full extensive details continue at CDC site source link above

COVID-19 Contact Tracing | CDC

>After COVID-19 Contact Tracing Comes Quarantine. Here’s How That Works : Shots – Health News : NPR

Contact tracing is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and helps keep you, your family, and your community safe.

Full CDC site on contact tracing at Source: >COVID-19 Contact Tracing | CDC

“Contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious disease. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have an infectious disease (cases) and people who they came in contact with (contacts) and working with them to interrupt disease spread. This includes asking people with COVID-19 to >isolate and their contacts to >quarantine at home voluntarily.

“To prevent the further spread of disease, people who had contact with someone with COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others until 14 days after their last exposure to a person with COVID-19. Contacts should monitor themselves by checking their temperature twice daily and watching for symptoms of COVID-19.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, a public health worker may call you to check-in on your health, discuss who you’ve been in contact with, and ask where you spent time while you may have been infectious and able to spread COVID-19 to others. You will also be asked to stay at home and >self-isolate, if you are not doing so already.

Continue at CDC source link above for full details.

Parties — Not Protests — Are Causing Spikes In Coronavirus : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR

Erika Lautenbach, director of the Whatcom County Health Department in Washington state, says protests against police violence aren’t among the catalysts for the spread of COVID-19.

4 Minute podcast and full story at Source: >Parties — Not Protests — Are Causing Spikes In Coronavirus : Coronavirus Live Updates : NPR

As the U.S. begins to open back up, coronavirus clusters — where multiple people contract COVID-19 at the same event or location — are popping up all over the country. And despite drawing massive crowds, protests against police violence and racial injustice in Washington state weren’t among those clusters.

“We did have a rally in Bellingham, which is our county seat, and there was also a protest, and we have not been able to connect a single case to that rally or to the protest, and what we’re finding is in large part that’s due to the use of masks

14 cases were associated with a party of 100 to 150 people in early June. Subsequently, 15 more cases were associated with the original 14. So that one event spread to 29 people and 31 related employers,

“We’re finding that the social events and gatherings, these parties where people aren’t wearing masks, are our primary source of infection, …And then the secondary source of infection is workplace settings

“The concern is that because these younger people are having more mild symptoms, they are going to work sick, they are visiting with their parents and grandparents sick and they’re continuing to go to social events where they expose more and more people

New amendment? Right to selfish ignorance: Arizonans see big jump in coronavirus cases, but don’t see reason to wear masks

Arizonans see big jump in coronavirus cases, but don’t see reason to wear masks

View video news report and full story at Source: >Arizona seeing big jump in coronavirus cases – CNN

“Tempe, Arizona (CNN) Walking along the streets this week in Tempe, Arizona, it was rare to see anyone wearing a mask. Patrons at a bar packed the entire space, as if the pandemic had suddenly dissipated. This despite the news that the state is one of the growing coronavirus hotspots in the country.

“The Arizona Department of Health Sciences on Friday announced there were 3,246 new Covid-19 cases, a record number reported on one day.
Arizona was one of the first states to reopen but the impact of the virus is everywhere in Tempe as some businesses are still shut down.

“When asked why he wasn’t wearing a mask, he replied, “I think masks are good, but they act as a placebo. I have family personally lost to coronavirus, so like, I should be wearing a mask, but not when I’m out with my friends.”

“Please keep yourself and your family safe. Always wear a mask in public even if you do not feel sick. Maintain physical distancing. Let’s work together to slow the spread of COVID-19. #MaskUpAZ,” the Arizona Department of Health Sciences said in a tweet on Friday. Phoenix has ordered residents to wear masks, one of more than a dozen cities across the state to announce local mask ordinances.

“Alarmed by the rapid increase in cases, more than 3,000 doctors and nurses sent a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey this week urging him to mandate masks. Ducey said he would not order a state mandate, instead leaving it up to local governments.

“To tell the whole world that basically I’m a social Darwinist if you die, I don’t care, I just want my beer and burger is, is really … I mean even kindergarteners have more empathy for other people.”

Big WHO Mixup: Asymptomatic Vs Presymptomatic: How The Virus Spreads : NPR

“Scientists at the World Health Organization were having a virtual press conference, a normal thing they do, just giving updates on the virus and how it’s moving around the world. And then something kind of confusing happens.

10 minute podcast and read full transcript of podcast at Source: >Asymptomatic Vs Presymptomatic: How The Virus Spreads : Short Wave : NPR

“Maria Van Kerkhove, who’s one of WHO’s top epidemiologists…

“listening to Van Kerkhove, you’d think – well, why did we lock down? Why do we wear masks? She left listeners with the impression that anyone without symptoms had a low chance of spreading the virus. And that’s wrong. We know – and there’s documented evidence for this – that the virus can be spread by people without symptoms.

“So this statement was reported on by news outlets. You know, the WHO is a major global health organization. What they say matters. And that scientist, Maria Van Kerkhove had to kind of walk this back.

“There was a lot of reaction and pressure from researchers and the public. People were saying that it was confusing at best or actually wrong at worst.

“this mix-up with the WHO was partly about a distinction between asymptomatic people and what scientists are calling pre-symptomatic people.

“Asymptomatic, which is the group that Van Kerkhove was referring to, these are coronavirus carriers who are infected but they never end up showing any symptoms. They feel fine the whole time. And then there’s another group called pre-symptomatic. And these are people who’ve been infected. They haven’t gotten sick yet, but they will. And they can definitely spread the virus, we think, up to three days before they start showing symptoms. There’s plenty of evidence for this.

“But here’s the catch. You can’t tell if someone is asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic until one of them starts showing symptoms. And even if there are asymptomatic people out there that seem to be transmitting the virus less, there are documented cases where it’s happened. So what Van Kerkhove says she meant to say is that she has not seen evidence that people who are truly asymptomatic are out there effectively spreading the virus to a lot of other people.

“if you’re not actively sick, if you’re not running your nose everywhere – spreading coronavirus seems to require situations where people are hanging out really close together, mostly indoors, and doing things that project their voice and breath and spread respiratory droplets. So it’s situations like singing in a choir or panting during a dance class at the gym or shouting to be heard in a nightclub. These are all activities that have reportedly led to virus transmission.

 

Coronavirus Lockdowns Saved Millions Of Lives, Journal ‘Nature’ Reports : NPR

“When it comes to controlling the spread of the coronavirus, stay-at-home orders work. Two new studies published in the journal Nature say millions of lives have been saved worldwide.

Listen to 3 minute podcast and read full story at Source: >Coronavirus Lockdowns Saved Millions Of Lives, Journal ‘Nature’ Reports : NPR

“Samir Bhatt from Imperial College London, who worked on one of the papers published in Nature. His team analyzed infection and death rates across 11 European nations through early May. They estimate that 3 million more people in those countries would’ve died if lockdowns had not been put in place.

“Nature also just published a separate study from the Global Policy Lab at the University of California, Berkeley. That study analyzed lockdowns in China, South Korea, Iran, France, Italy and the United States. It found that the lockdowns in those six countries averted 62 million cases. In the U.S., for example, there were 360,000 cases by early April. Without lockdowns and other interventions, the researchers at Berkeley calculate that the U.S. would’ve had 14 times that number by April 6. Solomon Hsiang from Berkeley says these unprecedented shelter-in-place orders came at an extreme cost. And when governments ordered them, it was unclear exactly how great the social benefits would be.

Bhatt says this pandemic is far from over. And as much as people want to get back to normal, he cautions that people need to understand how much of a positive impact the lockdown measures have been having.