Coronavirus Updates

[Innula Zenovka]

Evernote link

 

[Beebo Brink]

In search for covid origins, Hubei caves and wildlife farms draw new scrutiny

Western Hubei is home to at least seven types of horseshoe bats, according to the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, a research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. One type, Rhinolophus affinis, has been found farther south in China carrying a virus 96 percent identical to SARS-CoV-2.

 

[Free]

In search for covid origins, Hubei caves and wildlife farms draw new scrutiny

 

[Beebo Brink]

As if life wasn't exciting enough already.

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK

Scientists are studying it to better understand how much of a threat it may pose.

www.bbc.com

 

[Romana]

As if life wasn't exciting enough already.

Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK

Scientists are studying it to better understand how much of a threat it may pose.

www.bbc.com

SSDD.
The virus mutates, like viruses do; the scientists test the vaccine against it, and tweak it if they have to. They can get out new boosters very quickly if needed. So far the vaccines, particularly Moderna, I am told, are holding their own against Delta.
I do hope, however, that whoever decides what is a valid "sincerely held belief" doesn't hand or exemptions like they were candy.
Since that's a BBC article, in going to assume that in thus case, based on Innula's accounts of the NHS, that the British have more sense about that.

 

[Free]

Meanwhile, Ivermectin is still flying off shelves.

 

[Romana]

Meanwhile, Ivermectin is still flying off shelves.

Let them have their sheep dip.
It means there's a better chance of me getting some of those to keep on hand if COVID gets me.
Seriously, of course they'd be as suspicious of this pill as they are of the vaccine. "It was rushed. It's still experimental. I'm not going to be a guinea pig." etc. Probably wilder stuff, too.

 

[danielravennest]

So Fulton County, GA, where Atlanta is, just blew away their daily COVID case numbers. The high point in January was 1,020 in one day, and today it is 1,763. Atlanta and surrounding counties have more cases now than the rest of Georgia, which is the reverse of the total cases over the pandemic. The only explanation is we have a very busy airport, so we imported a lot of Omicron infections. If that is the case, the numbers will reverse once the rest of the state catches it.

Omicron is spreading so fast, that if you rush now to get your first shot, the wave will be over before you can get your second. So all the unvaxxed are screwed.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Parosmia from Covid: Coping with distorted smell and taste at Christmas

Sufferers of parosmia - a long Covid side-effect that ravages taste and smell - gear up for Christmas.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Romana]

Parosmia from Covid: Coping with distorted smell and taste at Christmas

Sufferers of parosmia - a long Covid side-effect that ravages taste and smell - gear up for Christmas.

www.bbc.co.uk

Scary that you can have a mild case and still end up with that.

 

[Romana]

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[Clara D.]

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Arg. I've been tested a few times, and do the drive-through ones.

I get to tickle the back of my eyeballs with a swab all by myself!

 

[Romana]

I'm going to a Doctor Who convention in February, assuming it happens.
They recommend getting a test "within three days of arrival". I'm sure as shit not getting it once I'm out there ; I've got other things I want to do with that time, and I won't have a car anyway,
So I hope things aren't too crazy (or snowy) around here then. I might buy a home test to keep handy; my brother says they're actually pretty good. The convention says "any test is better than none ". It better be.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Thread :

What's so odd is someone came into our dr office with symptoms and was told she'd have to go to a covid clinic. At least here and her spouse had their masks on, but....

 

[Lexxi]

You know all those negative tests that turn out to be false-negatives? Well, at least in that Cate Eland thread: apparently Omicorn variant is harder to detect.

The FDA said its recent studies with the National Institutes of Health showed that although the antigen tests detected the Omicron variant, they did so with less sensitivity -- meaning they'll spot an infection less often.

FDA says at-home Covid-19 antigen tests may be less sensitive to picking up the Omicron variant, but they remain an important tool - CNN
FDA says antigen rapid COVID tests less accurate at detecting Omicron variant | Fortune

FDA earlier this month warned that molecular tests from Applied DNA Sciences, Meridian Bioscience and Tide Laboratories were not able to detect the omicron variant, causing false negative results, and should not be used by clinical laboratory staff and healthcare providers.

However, FDA on Dec. 27 issued an update in which it said Tide's test has been modified and is now expected to detect omicron.

FDA in update says 2 COVID-19 tests fail to detect the omicron variant | MedTech Dive

 

[Romana]

You know all those negative tests that turn out to be false-negatives? Well, at least in that Cate Eland thread: apparently Omicorn variant is harder to detect.



FDA says at-home Covid-19 antigen tests may be less sensitive to picking up the Omicron variant, but they remain an important tool - CNN
FDA says antigen rapid COVID tests less accurate at detecting Omicron variant | Fortune


FDA in update says 2 COVID-19 tests fail to detect the omicron variant | MedTech Dive

Well, now I has a real confuse, because I was going to get a couple of the at-home ones. My brother said they were something like 85% accurate ; not enough to rely on, but better than no test at all, if it's not possible for whatever reason at the time.
I just texted him those links and he's going to check for me.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Thread


Evernote link

 

[Romana]

Thread


Evernote link

I asked my brother about long COVID, because that's my biggest fear about getting it now, what after effects might it have? His response, "Long COVID usually needs a full inflammatory response Mostly in unvaccinated people. Stop it. Just stop." So that's something, I guess.
Also, I came across this today about B.1.640.2.

Not all variants are concerning, or even very successful. It looks like this is an example of one that doesn’t compete very well against other things that are out there. If nothing else, it should serve to reassure you that not every variant is cause for concern.

 

[Romana]

Thread:

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Covid loses 90% of ability to infect within 20 minutes in air – study

Exclusive: Findings highlight importance of short-range Covid transmissionCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage

www.theguardian.com

Evernote link