Everything COVID-19

[MightyGiants]

Rich: It's not clear to me whether the "rise" is due to the disease itself, or a side-effect of the treatment (i.e., medicines) being given to treat the disease.  Maybe they still don't know for sure.  Bob

Clotting was an issue before the use of various drugs.  Plus, I am not aware of any of the drugs being used for treatment having clotting as a side affect

[Painter]

I separate them into two groups


Good patriotic Americans who care about their nation.  Since they care about their nation they will do what it takes to protect our nation and our people

Bad self centered people-  These are the ones that often wrap themselves up in our flag but in reality hate our nation.  Their philosophy is, "ask not what I can do for my Country, as what my country can do for me"

I'm with you Rich.  We should stop rationalizing the motives of selfish, meanspirited fools, and draw a line in the sand. While perhaps we all share the blame for an electoral system which allowed a vile, certifiable sociopath to occupy the Presidency and thus to do serious and enduring harm to the physical and psychological health of our people, and to the honor, respect and integrity of our Nation, it has come to this: Anyone who voted for Trump is to be pitied while anyone who continues to support him is to be despised. 


As far as I'm concerned, those who voted for Trump

[LennG]

The CDC has modified it's virus testing scenareos

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/c-d-c-now-says-people-without-covid-19-symptoms-do-not-need-testing/ar-BB18mUoD?ocid=msedgdhp

Seems now if you have, or show, no symptoms, there is no reason for you to get tested.

[MightyGiants]

The CDC has modified it's virus testing scenareos

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/c-d-c-now-says-people-without-covid-19-symptoms-do-not-need-testing/ar-BB18mUoD?ocid=msedgdhp

Seems now if you have, or show, no symptoms, there is no reason for you to get tested.

This goes against every known public health practice.   On the other hand, a certain man in charge has been saying that he wanted less testing...


Less testing will lead to more cases and more deaths.   

[MightyGiants]

Trump is LITERALLY killing Americans!  For those of you who support Donald Trump, think about how you are supporting the killing of Americans (less testing = more cases = more deaths)


CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says

A sudden change in federal guidelines on coronavirus testing came this week as a result of pressure from the upper ranks of the Trump administration, a federal health official close to the process tells CNN.

"It's coming from the top down," the official said of the new directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html

[MightyGiants]

While not as bad at Trump deliberately killing Americans by cutting back on testing, his FDA LIED about the plasma treatment (although they claim it was just a coincidence that they did that right before Trump's convention)

After several days of rumors with ever-growing hype, the Trump administration announced on Sunday that the Food and Drug Administration was granting an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a COVID-19 treatment. The move was controversial from the start, with reports indicating that the EUA was opposed by a number of health experts, including National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. The press conference didn't settle matters, with a growing chorus of scientists saying that the data presented in support of the EUA had been misrepresented.


Trump announces a COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorization for blood plasma
On Monday night, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn acknowledged that he had made a significant error in presenting the benefits of the treatment, and he followed that statement with an apology on Tuesday. But Hahn pushed back against indications that the approval of the treatment on the eve of the Republican National Convention was motivated by political pressure.

MORE

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/08/fda-commissioner-botched-risk-numbers-when-talking-about-post-covid-plasma/

[LennG]

I am healthy (I hope) and have no symptoms of the Virus, haven't been in contact with anyone who may have the virus, so why would I even consider being teated?

[MightyGiants]

I am healthy (I hope) and have no symptoms of the Virus, haven't been in contact with anyone who may have the virus, so why would I even consider being teated?

1)  much of the Covid spread is from people who are infected by having no symptoms

2)   If I had a nickel for every person who was infected but said they haven't been in contact with anyone who may have the virus...

[Bob In PA]

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-requesting-data-governors-states-issued-covid-19-orders-may-have-resulted

[MightyGiants]

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-requesting-data-governors-states-issued-covid-19-orders-may-have-resulted

Bob,

You really seem to enjoy Barr's unethical and often illegal use of America's Justice Department for Trump's political gain.    You seem to feel that any criminal or unethical action is okay as long as it furthers your political agenda.  That is not a value, I can get behind and I think it's why we don't agree on all that much.   I guess that is why you are okay with Trump killing Americans by reducing testing

[MightyGiants]

Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
American Medical Association: "Months into this pandemic, we know COVID-19 is spread by asymptomatic people. Suggesting that people without symptoms, who have known exposure to COVID-positive individuals, do not need testing is a recipe for community spread and more spikes."

[Bob In PA]

[Abbott labs' new rapid results covid test]

https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-08-26-Abbotts-Fast-5-15-Minute-Easy-to-Use-COVID-19-Antigen-Test-Receives-FDA-Emergency-Use-Authorization-Mobile-App-Displays-Test-Results-to-Help-Our-Return-to-Daily-Life-Ramping-Production-to-50-Million-Tests-a-Month

[MightyGiants]

[Abbott labs' new rapid results covid test]

https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-08-26-Abbotts-Fast-5-15-Minute-Easy-to-Use-COVID-19-Antigen-Test-Receives-FDA-Emergency-Use-Authorization-Mobile-App-Displays-Test-Results-to-Help-Our-Return-to-Daily-Life-Ramping-Production-to-50-Million-Tests-a-Month

Certainly welcome news, but I am not sure it will be a game-changer.  Here are the key points


In data submitted to the FDA from a clinical study conducted by Abbott with several leading U.S. research universities, the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card demonstrated sensitivity of 97.1% (positive percent agreement) and specificity of 98.5% (negative percent agreement) in patients suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset.

Under FDA EUA, the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card is for use by healthcare professionals and can be used in point-of-care settings that are qualified to have the test performed and are operating under a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) Certificate of Waiver, Certificate of Compliance, or Certificate of Accreditation. Within these settings, the test can be performed by doctors, nurses, school nurses, medical assistants and technicians, pharmacists, employer occupational health specialists, and more with minimal training and a patient prescription. 


The "within the first 7 days of symptom onset" limits it's usefulness as the ideal test would catch infections in the 2 days prior to symptoms and those who are infectious but never have symptoms.   



Still, with cold and flu season coming soon this could be critical to help mitigate future problems

[uconnjack8]

The combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin significantly increased mortality in COVID-19 patients (relative risk=1.27), finds a new systematic review and meta-analysis. (Clinical Microbiology and Infection Journal, 26 August 2020)


Conclusion
Hydroxychloroquine alone was not associated with reduced mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients but the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin significantly increased mortality.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X2030505X

[uconnjack8]

Another HCQ study.


  https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2016638