D&D and the rising pandemic

[Imaculata]

This may have been shared before, but it is still interesting to check out to have an idea how easily germs can spread. This is why you need to be extra careful around others. Social distancing and not touching surfaces with your bare hands, and of course washing your hands thoroughly, all help a lot.

My country has not decided to have everyone wear masks, and I wonder what a difference that would make...

 

[abirdcall]

Yes. Wasn't very clear soz.

Sometimes the choice is clear what you have to do but humans are very good at coming up with reasons not to do it.

Ideology, blind optimism, faint hope, incompetence etc.

Always got a choice. Don't always have good options.

Someone said 'is a good idea if you don't have any other options'

I made a tongue in cheek remark meant to be humourous that said 'well if you don't have options it's not really an idea, it's just what is happening'

And now you're going on about choices and ideology? and hope? and whatever?

I actually have no idea what you're trying to say or why it's relevant to me.

 

[Eltab]

Herd immunity via inoculation is a good idea.

Herd immunity via exposure is a good idea if you don’t have other options.

A vaccine is one form of exposure, in tightly controlled conditions that give the person's immune system the best chance to come out on top.*

The earliest smallpox innoculations involved bringing over somebody who had it, popping a poc, and rubbing the crud that oozed out on somebody else's skin. Icky and less controlled but it worked.

As a temporary stopgap, we may have to expose otherwise-healthy persons to small quantities of the virus (via a pin-scratch?) and send them home with two weeks' worth of general immuno-boosting stuff (vitamin & mineral pills, instructions to get exercise and eat lots of fresh fruit / veggies, the things that make infecting you a tough proposition for every other virus). It's scary barely-controlled but it is what we can do while we work on much better.

I'd be really happy if authorities could keep an updated list: these conditions make Coronavirus weak and you strong against it. Right now the list would almost all have to be marked 'hypothesis' and 'studies under way' but eventually we can mark items 'Proven Effective' ... if such work IS indeed underway.

* I used to work in a hospital. I had to get a bunch of booster shots for my childhood vaccinations. After two bad experiences, I scheduled the other shots on Fridays before my weekends off. So I could be sick and achy at home, not at work. I always did get on top of it after a day or two. Campbell's Soups probably loved me, too.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The problems we’re facing, of course are:

1) Coronaviruses are notoriously resistant to the efforts of virologists. So far, no vaccine has made it through clinical trials for approval for ANY of them.

2) post-exposure immunity/resistance to coronaviruses in general can be limited in strength and duration, and there’s already preliminary indications people might not gain long lasting or strong post-exposure immunity/resistance to Covid-19 in particular.

That all leads to discussions like this:

Scientists fear the hunt for a coronavirus vaccine will fail and we will all have to live with the 'constant threat' of COVID-19

No vaccine for any other form of coronavirus has ever been approved for use, leading some scientists to fear none will be found for COVID-19 either.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Zardnaar]

The problems we’re facing, of course are:

1) Coronaviruses are notor resistant to the efforts of virologists. So far, no vaccine has made it through clinical trials for approval for ANY of them.

2) post-exposure immunity/resistance to coronaviruses in general can be limited in strength and duration, and there’s already preliminary indications people might not gain long lasting or strong post-exposure immunity/resistance to Covid-19 in particular.

That all leads to discussions like this:

Scientists fear the hunt for a coronavirus vaccine will fail and we will all have to live with the 'constant threat' of COVID-19

No vaccine for any other form of coronavirus has ever been approved for use, leading some scientists to fear none will be found for COVID-19 either.

www.businessinsider.com

If true back to the 1930s. No mass travel, and survival of the fittest if you have preexisting conditions.

Or you hope like hell this works.

Vanquish the Virus? Australia and New Zealand Aim to Show the Way (Published 2020)

The two countries, led by ideological opposites, are converging on an extraordinary goal: eliminating the virus. Their nonpolitical approach is restoring trust in democracy.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Umbran]

1) Coronaviruses are notoriously resistant to the efforts of virologists. So far, no vaccine has made it through clinical trials for approval for ANY of them.

... for humans.

But, there's coronaviruses that infect canines, felines, and bovines, and there are working vaccines for some of them, for use in animals. These vaccines are not useful for humans for covid-19, but it isn't like the entire class of coronaviruses have been impervious to the technique.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

... for humans.

But, there's coronaviruses that infect canines, felines, and bovines, and there are working vaccines for some of them, for use in animals. These vaccines are not useful for humans for covid-19, but it isn't like the entire class of coronaviruses have been impervious to the technique.

Right, exactly.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Anyone remember this from Season 3 of The Last Man on Earth in 2017?

 

[Azzy]

Well, that aged better than expected.

 

[Imaculata]

Southern California beaches right now. They should be posting someone dressed as the grim reaper near the entrances of these beaches. Are people this disconnected from reality?