Coronavirus Q&A

This is cool dogs can be trained to detect Coronavirus. In this study the dogs were 94% accurate is detecting the virus in human saliva. I know dogs have been trained to sniff out other diseases so it makes sense. This would be a useful tool for crowds. Or what if a friendly dog made rounds in classrooms.

Thought this picture was appropriate in a couple of Forum strings.

My thoughts right now go right along with this teacher. We are tired....this has not been a vacation for us since March.

Hi comicfan, sorry to hear about your situation. Being immunocompromised, the virus is indeed a severe danger for you and your father.

Your precautions sound pretty airtight. One thing I might point out though is you mention changing gloves. Be sure to wash/disinfect your hands between changing gloves. That applies to masks as well, also avoid touching face as much as possible when removing mask. Other than that sounds like you’re doing the best you can given what you have. Stay safe and good luck

Australia has achieved "flattening the curve" and is on our way to riding out the crisis, so good news for me.
However I'm aware the situation is still pretty bad in the US, so, my best wishes for everybody, stay safe. I hope all will be well, both in terms of health, and the financial impacts from the outbreak.

OK, let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let things unfold before making predictions.

Certain things / personal restrictions might start to be lifted as the spring turns to summer and the general first wave plateau is reached on a global scale. This does not mean that the disease or its ramifications is over and done with. Not by a long shot. This beastie will be around in force until a vaccine and effective treatment is achieved. This may be anywhere from a year to four years down the road.

Expect at least a second, potentially more deadly second wave to appear when the winter season starts. There might also be a third wave. No one really knows until it's completely burned itself out.

If people have a look at the trajectory (three waves) of the 1918-20 Spanish Flu, we're in the same wheelhouse. The only difference is the advances in medicine and overall technology since then. This might mitigate the overall severity and toll the disease takes, but all levels of society have to be prepared to ride the storm out.

Also note: The Spanish Flu was ultimately H1N1 and this new (novel) coronavirus is an entirely different kettle of fish.

Generally not one to debate political views here, not that we're allowed to either, but I'd say probably worry about the conspiracies after the pandemic is over.

For now, at least the science looks bright. I'm glad a drug is working out.

In other news, our University's vaccine has made great progress in pre-clinical testing. I know some members on this project, so huge congratulations to them.

https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2020/04/uq-covid-19-vaccine-shown-induce-potent-protective-response-pre-clinical-trials?fbclid=IwAR1E7BGPGxxY48l3QpKWc1HNgzhJF4BwyHfmQHDXiEWlTBPdrWFu6cdYMIU

I am here to offer a contrasting view on this. First off, Corona, Covid, you name it, the virus IS REAL. But all the hype surrounding it, including the recent posters which look like photoshops, is a hidden scare tactic with the goal of getting rid of our freedoms, delivered by propaganda from China.

From The Federalist last May

And the same outlet last month.

In theory of all the CW superheroes, I think Supergirl could withstand the virus the most as the earth's yellow sun gives her powers a charge and the sun is a source of vitamin D. The Flash too could survive given his sped up metabolism.

Now ironically, I have to wear a mask when I go places with my mom or myself...but I do not like wearing a mask. It's like wearing a hijab for the power elites and the mega money media and Hollywood that backs them. And that goes also for Bill Gates who wants to control human population through forced vaccines, like one for this virus. And the media like CNN or even Fox, will not give you that.

And I am sick to death of seeing Dr. Doom, Anthony Fauci on my TV; Deborah Birx too.

Go ahead, hate on me all you want, but I want Truth Justice and the American Way in this country. This virus is killing those things as well as Hope Help and Compassion for All. The People's Republic of China, the source of this virus, and the communists running it, do not believe any of these things. What's next, tracking people??

Frankly I'd rather listen to Infowars.

I’m at a loss as to how to respond to this.

Fedguy, I'm a little late in commenting here however thank you for doing this. Although it may not be directly TV show related, we are a community and what you are doing is important for this community.

I've been working from home for the past few months and bringing a mask everywhere I go, wearing it regularly. I also keep a box of gloves in the car for when I'm using a petrol pump etc. In Ireland the population has gotten use to maintaining safe hygiene practices and social distancing. The vast majority of the population displaying compassion for all in the hope that we can help others.

Hi guys. With the new outbreak there's quite some misinformation going around, and since my major is Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (and having studied virology as part of my degree), I thought I might help out the community on this site, if you have any questions regarding the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, or just viruses in general.

Not giving medical advice though, not qualified for that. More than happy to talk science.

This is cool scientist at UCSF are working with something called nanobodies and a synthetic molecule that stops mechanisms within the virus that allow it to infect human cells. They’re calling it AeroNabs and it’s stable enough to be put in an aerosol spray so it could be administered as an inhaler or nasal spray.

It’s not a cure or vaccine. They think it’s most viable as a preventative measure or as one that could help people who may have been exposed but are not yet symptomatic. However they expect it will be tested for efficacy on the sickest coronavirus patients so possibly a tool in treatment.

With regards to RobertAnthony's statement about disliking wearing a mask, I'll just briefly address again why one should.

Earlier in this thread I did mention masks were not very effective at preventing one from catching the virus. That's still true. But they are highly effective at preventing one from spreading the virus. The virus has a 14 day incubation period where symptoms do not occur, but is infectious. Hence, one's never really sure who has it, whether it be yourself or others. Hence with everyone wearing a mask transmission is reduced, but the catch is, emphasis on everybody.

It's like a little bit of a self sacrifice for the greater good. But it's not comparable to what you say, a hijab. One's a cultural custom. The other is a protection measure. And no, no one controls you by getting you to wear a mask. Even if some shady "new world order" exists, what do they get out of you having fabric around your face? That's like saying we're being controlled by having to wear clothes.

Additionally, Bill Gates is just some guy who got rich because he invented Windows. That's all.

I see many examples of bell curves, one showing no social distancing and causing high deaths and one flattening the curve and allowing the hospitals not to be over run. With both curves there is a decline. Will we see a potential end to this outbreak when infections start to decrease?

I would like to offer my assistance, too. As many of you are already aware, I am a chemistry and physics teacher (and have been for 40 years!).And I've also taught biology a number of times. I've already answered a number of question about the novel Coronavirus for my friends, family, and students recently.

So far Stewart’s been doing an amazing job answering...cheers mate haha

I’d like to add community transmission in China is already halting due to strictly enforced distancing/isolation. If it’ll work in the most populous country, certainly it’ll help in others.

The following study is about Australia but I believe should be relevant globally.

https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/03/25/greater-social-distancing-could-curb-covid-19-in-13-weeks.html

My question is about masks and gloves, which I understand there’s shortages of. Obviously medical personal and people with compromised immune systems should use them as necessary. It’s my understanding that Coronavirus is transmitted in much the same ways as flu and cold viruses so it makes sense that for people who are sick (confirmed or suspected) wearing a mask and gloves lowers the risk of transmission to others that they must have contact with.

I’m healthy and only going out as needed but without any type of protection except wipes. For a healthy person, when I do go out, does wearing a mask and gloves actually do more harm than good because I’m using a resource that someone else critically needs? Besides staying home, washing my hands when I do go out and of course helping others what can a healthy person do?

Hi Brierrose

Regular surgical masks are not considered by scientists to be effective at preventing yourself from being infected, and indeed the official advice here in Australia from the government is masks should only be worn if you yourself are sick. N95 masks can prevent transmission but aren't practical for daily use.

One issue with wearing masks is, you could make your risk of being infected higher due to having to touch your face when wearing and removing them. Hence, regular surgical masks at least are not recommended to normal healthy people, and you're absolutely right as in they're better reserved for the actual medical personnel.

If you keep your distance, stay home mostly and wash your hands often, sounds like you're on top of this.

Brierose,

I agree with what Fedguy said. Also, avoid touching surfaces in public places with your hands, if at all possible. Push doors open with your elbows or shoulders. Push elevator buttons with your elbow, too.. Push flush handles in public restrooms with your foot, and open the door (if it has a knob or handle) with the same paper towel you used to dry your hands. I'm sure there are a lot of other examples that I could easily think of. Then wash your hands as soon as you get home. This quickly becomes second nature after you've done it for a few days.

I've been getting some questions about why the medical folks on TV are using the terms "novel coronavirus" and "COVID-19" for the virus causing the pandemic. They're actually conforming to standard practice in nomenclature in virology. From the CDC:

"On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”.
There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused be a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. The name of this disease was selected following the World Health Organization (WHO) best practice external icon for naming of new human infectious diseases."

Stewart has inspired me to give some general info:


Why "corona" virus?
- Corona is latin for crown. Under high magnification the spike proteins on the viral surface (used for recognition and attachment onto host cells) make the virus look like a crown. There are many coronaviruses as Stewart has pointed out, the most notable human coronaviruses other than the recent one being SARS-CoV, which caused SARS, and MERS-CoV, which caused Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Also, has nothing to do with the beer , which is also named after crown.

What's a virus?
- A virus is a self-replicating infectious macromolecule. Unlike bacteria and other pathogens, viruses are not living, although they are composed of molecules commonly found in life, namely proteins and nucleic acids. Generally viruses have a protein shell (capsid), which contains its genes inside. Once inside a host cell, it will use the host cell's own proteins to copy the viruses's genome and manufacture more viral proteins, assembling a new virus.

Why no treatment yet?
- Unlike with bacteria and antibiotics, general-purpose antiviral drugs are hard to achieve. Normally drugs are specific for each virus, targeting its unique proteins or replicative mechanism. Coronaviruses are Baltimore class IV, meaning their genome is made of positive-strand RNA. Due to how gene replication works, Class IV viruses don't need to carry their own replicative proteins (unlike some other viruses) as the cell autonomously transcribes their genome. The lack of viral-specific replicative proteins means fewer viable drug targets. That doesn't mean we have no solution, but it's harder to design such a drug.

When's vaccine coming?
- The world is working faster than its ever been trying to create a vaccine. Scientists believe a vaccine can be achieved in a year, which is considered incredibly fast. Often, the science component of vaccine research is not why it takes so long. After conceptually realising a vaccine, it would need to undergo numerous in vitro testing, purification, animal testing, and numerous clinical trials, before being approved, not to mention commercial aspects such as finding funding sources and manufacturers.

Vaccine for the new coronavirus is already being fast tracked in most cases. My university, the University of Queenland, is one of the few places actively researching a vaccine for COVID-19, and has recently received a massive grant from the state government to speed up development.