Coronavirus

[Leroy]

He said that business intelligence pointed to a problem in Wuhan in November, when output from that area was going down noticeably. He then said that truck drivers were refusing to go to that area. Truck drivers there are for the most part independent I guess and can pick and choose where and when they do routes. Apparently, they were refusing to go there because people were getting sick.

And? what is the point of this?

I guess no point other than some people saw this as a problem before it was widely recognized. I mean the first day I heard about it was the day Kobe died.

[mikechamp]

This is a... curious decision.

Coronavirus in Kenya: Pubs to reopen but schools stay shut

Pubs in Kenya will reopen on Tuesday, six months after they were shut to curb the spread of coronavirus. Hours, however, have been restricted and bars will have to close by 22:00.

The announcement was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta as he addressed the nation on the government's latest initiatives to tackle the pandemic. But against expectation the president did not reopen schools, saying pupil safety had to be guaranteed.

Mr Kenyatta has extended a night-time curfew for a further 60 days, but said it would start two hours later - now lasting from 23:00 to 04:00.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54330840

[heyzeus]

I mean, that's the way it's been in a ton of states in the South for months now. I would trust Kenya more than the U.S. in virus response currently.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Given it's about that time of year, if you typically do it, I'd highly encourage everyone to get their flu shots. And, get the little ones their flu shots as well. I've seen some information where 'exposure to covid' is the third highest reason listed as a reason to not get the flu shot. And, while it's a valid concern, I think at this point we can accurately say the flu is more deadly to those under 18 and likely more dangerous overall.

Further, you can find a local pharmacy that offers flu shots and you can call in and do all the paperwork in advance. The only exposure is to a masked pharmacist/technician for a minute or so. Exposure to covid can be greatly minimized.

[GeddyWrox]

Given it's about that time of year, if you typically do it, I'd highly encourage everyone to get their flu shots. And, get the little ones their flu shots as well. I've seen some information where 'exposure to covid' is the third highest reason listed as a reason to not get the flu shot. And, while it's a valid concern, I think at this point we can accurately say the flu is more deadly to those under 18 and likely more dangerous overall.

Further, you can find a local pharmacy that offers flu shots and you can call in and do all the paperwork in advance. The only exposure is to a masked pharmacist/technician for a minute or so. Exposure to covid can be greatly minimized.

Yep. I got mine. Had to take my kid to a minute clinic for a clogged ear and we both got one while we were there.

[sighyoung]

I get free flu shots from my university, so I got mine yesterday. My daughter got hers a week or so ago, and my wife is getting hers today.

[Freed Roger]

The only entity that can satisfactorily prove to US citizens that China manufactured and unleashed this virus on the world is the US govt agencies. And by god I hope we can all agree that said US agencies currently have zero credibility with Trump malfeasance. Any armchair analysist or CPE conference attendee grasping at theories should at least acknowldedge this - or STFU unlesss they've flown their arses to China and conducted their own libertarian research.

[Leroy]

Umm, I don't think I said China created it. I simply said a guy said people knew about it 2 months before it was common knowledge.

I dont know why that grinds your gears so much

If anything I would be disappointed in our govermenment intelligence for not knowing about it sooner.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Back on topic.

Not sure if we've talked about any of these study results. But, Vit D has been shown to have a lot of positive effects. In particular, it may decrease the probability of getting covid and it decreases the severity/mortality of the disease. Something to keep in mind as we go into the fall/winter months where we can't get it from the summer sun.

https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/2020/09/25 ... -patients/

The lymphocytes they mention in this study I believe refer to the natural killer/innate cells we talked about a few pages ago that are important in keeping the virus in check early on.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were vitamin D sufficient, with a blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of at least 30 ng/mL (a measure of vitamin D status), had a significant decreased risk for adverse clinical outcomes including becoming unconscious, hypoxia (body starved for oxygen) and death. In addition, they had lower blood levels of an inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein) and higher blood levels of lymphocytes (a type of immune cell to help fight infection).

“This study provides direct evidence that vitamin D sufficiency can reduce the complications, including the cytokine storm (release of too many proteins into the blood too quickly) and ultimately death from COVID-19,” explained corresponding author Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics and molecular medicine.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... ub#bib0100

Of 50 patients treated with calcifediol, one required admission to the ICU (2%), while of 26 untreated patients, 13 required admission (50 %) p value X2 Fischer test p < 0.001.
...
Our pilot study demonstrated that administration of a high dose of Calcifediol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a main metabolite of vitamin D endocrine system, significantly reduced the need for ICU treatment of patients requiring hospitalization due to proven COVID-19. Calcifediol seems to be able to reduce severity of the disease, but larger trials with groups properly matched will be required to show a definitive answer.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamane ... le/2770157

Question Is vitamin D status, reflecting vitamin D levels and treatment, associated with test results for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Findings In this cohort study of 489 patients who had a vitamin D level measured in the year before COVID-19 testing, the relative risk of testing positive for COVID-19 was 1.77 times greater for patients with likely deficient vitamin D status compared with patients with likely sufficient vitamin D status, a difference that was statistically significant.

Not going to go through all the pros/cons of the trials. Some are randomized I think and some are retrospective. There may have been confounders particularly in the last one, I don't know. But, the results are pretty unanimous and there are multiple studies available all saying the same thing. It's good to have Vit D. Plus there's a scientific reasoning behind why it helps (and why it has been recommended basically since march by a plethora of medical professionals).

Lastly, Vit D deficient iirc is defined as less than 20 or 25 or 30 ng/mL but a lot of the evidence suggests benefits increase up to 40 ng/mL. Above that, it's not known. There's a big gap though because I think you can be all the way at 100 before considered too high. But, I'm not all that sure about what is too high.

[GeddyWrox]

Very encouraging. Thanks AW!