[News] The Coronavirus Good News thread

[nicko31]

Lots of good news today:

A new study shows the*rate of coronavirus infections in England significantly reduced*before lockdown eased in May.

The government-commissioned research by Imperial College showed there were on average 13 positive cases for every 10,000 people and the reproduction number - or R - was 0.57.

At the time, the R number had been estimated to be between 0.7 and 1.

The study of 120,000 volunteers suggested young adults aged 18 to 24 and people of Asian ethnicity were more likely to test positive.

Researchers also found care home workers were at greater risk of being infected during lockdown than the general population.

And the study showed 69% of those who did test positive reported no symptoms on the day of their test or the previous week, though they may have developed symptoms later.
‐--------
More than one million people in the UK have*given up smoking since the pandemic hit,*a survey for charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) suggests.

Of those who quit in the previous four months, 41% said it was in direct response to coronavirus.
‐-----------
US infectious disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci has welcomed the news a vaccine trial is about to enter its final phase.

The vaccine, developed by the US pharmaceutical company Moderna, has already proved safe and provoked immune responses in all 45 volunteers in phase-one trials.

The last stage of the trials is expected to begin later this month and will involve recruiting 30,000 participants in the US.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-53413107

Probably the best news day we've had since March...

 

[Mellotron]

We're getting there. A lot more slowly than we would've hoped no doubt, but we are getting there. Every day is another day closer to COVID-19 being over.

 

[Billy the Fish]

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-15/positive-news-is-coming-on-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-writes-robert-peston

Peston reckons there's good news incoming about the Oxford vaccine.

Was reading about all the countries who've placed early orders for this. If it gets approved it sounds like it'll be rolled out really quickly to most of the World. *touches wood*

 

[Mellotron]

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-15/positive-news-is-coming-on-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-writes-robert-peston

Peston reckons there's good news incoming about the Oxford vaccine.

Was reading about all the countries who've placed early orders for this. If it gets approved it sounds like it'll be rolled out really quickly to most of the World. *touches wood*

That article is very promising.

So glad we're hearing T Cells mentioned with far more seriousness and regularity now, and delighted that the vaccine seems to potentially cover production of both antibodies and T Cells.

 

[highflyer]

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-15/positive-news-is-coming-on-oxford-covid-19-vaccine-writes-robert-peston

Peston reckons there's good news incoming about the Oxford vaccine.

Was reading about all the countries who've placed early orders for this. If it gets approved it sounds like it'll be rolled out really quickly to most of the World. *touches wood*

Wood being well and truly touched here (hmmmm...not sure that came out right)

But this is what I've been waiting and hoping for. They did say hoping for mid-July to begin getting some initial indicative results.The Oxford group getting good outcomes would be good news in so many ways. And as Peston has generally been a right old Eeyore recently (not blaming him, it's his job), it being him saying this makes it particularly positive in my view.

 

[Bozza]

The Moderna vaccine is also still looking good, with a Phase 3 study on 30,000 participants starting in the near future...

The study, which was run by the National Institutes of Health, showed that volunteers who received the vaccine made more neutralizing antibodies than have been seen in most patients who have recovered from Covid-19. But a second injection, four weeks after the first, was required before the vaccine produced a dramatic immune response.

“The hallmark of a vaccine is one that can actually mimic natural infection and induce the kind of response that you would get with natural infection. And it looks like, at least in this limited, small number of individuals, that is exactly what’s happening,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the NIH branch that conducted the trial. “The data really look quite good,” he added. “There were no serious adverse events.”​

https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/14/moderna-covid19-vaccine-first-data-show-spurs-immune-response/

 

[Notters]

The Moderna vaccine is also still looking good, with a Phase 3 study on 30,000 participants starting in the near future...

The study, which was run by the National Institutes of Health, showed that volunteers who received the vaccine made more neutralizing antibodies than have been seen in most patients who have recovered from Covid-19. But a second injection, four weeks after the first, was required before the vaccine produced a dramatic immune response.

“The hallmark of a vaccine is one that can actually mimic natural infection and induce the kind of response that you would get with natural infection. And it looks like, at least in this limited, small number of individuals, that is exactly what’s happening,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the NIH branch that conducted the trial. “The data really look quite good,” he added. “There were no serious adverse events.”​

https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/14/moderna-covid19-vaccine-first-data-show-spurs-immune-response/

Curious, as I've read several times that actually the response from a vaccine may be quite different and 'better' than that from the disease itself, and may last much longer.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Thought this was a great article detailing the development of the Oxford vaccine.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...id-19-vaccine-is-the-coronavirus-front-runner

 

[Poojah]

Thought this was a great article detailing the development of the Oxford vaccine.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...id-19-vaccine-is-the-coronavirus-front-runner

Came here to post the very same article. Really interesting, Sarah Gilbert sounds like a truly incredible woman.

Still many ‘ifs’ to be resolved, but what a phenomenal achievement it would be if a viable vaccine can be delivered this calendar year. Would have to be up there as one of the greatest and most important feats in human history.

 

[The Wizard]

22 NHS England hospital deaths, down from 42 last Wednesday.

 

[LamieRobertson]

22 NHS England hospital deaths, down from 42 last Wednesday.

Thanks for keeping us up to date with the numbers

 

[LamieRobertson]

That article is very promising.

So glad we're hearing T Cells mentioned with far more seriousness and regularity now, and delighted that the vaccine seems to potentially cover production of both antibodies and T Cells.

Agreed...often not mentioned when people worry about lack of anti bodies

 

[The Wizard]

538 new cases down from 632 last week, considering pubs and other stuff opened I think it’s very positive this is still decreasing. Total deaths in all settings 85, down from 126 last Wednesday. Important to remember every number is a loved family member lost and equally important to remember that we are making progress.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Something to ponder from Italy

[tweet]1283445152934252546[/tweet]

 

[highflyer]

Confirmation of what was reported yesterday.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...uld-provide-double-protection-report-12029406

Long way to go and if this one doesn't work, plenty of others in the pipeline. But still going in the right direction, and this comment was interesting:

"Nobody can put final dates... things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on."
.

 

[blue-shifted]

Confirmation of what was reported yesterday.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...uld-provide-double-protection-report-12029406

Long way to go and if this one doesn't work, plenty of others in the pipeline. But still going in the right direction, and this comment was interesting:

"Nobody can put final dates... things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on."
.

If true, big pharma will have redeemed many of their sins

 

[Mellotron]

Confirmation of what was reported yesterday.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...uld-provide-double-protection-report-12029406

Long way to go and if this one doesn't work, plenty of others in the pipeline. But still going in the right direction, and this comment was interesting:

"Nobody can put final dates... things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on."
.

They keep mentioning September, and you’d hope even more support and money would pour in if it continues to prove successful. I’m hopeful for Sept but preparing myself for more Oct-Nov-Dec.

 

[LamieRobertson]

They keep mentioning September, and you’d hope even more support and money would pour in if it continues to prove successful. I’m hopeful for Sept but preparing myself for more Oct-Nov-Dec.

Would give so many people hope

 

[Yoda]

642 new cases (644 last Thursday)

66 new deaths (85 last Thursday)

 

[The Wizard]

118 ventilated patients in the whole of England, down from a peak of nearly 3000 in April

1226 patients in hospital down from a peak of 17000 in April

66 deaths today, down from the highest Thursday total of 1078 in on Thursday April 7th

53 daily new admissions to hospital, down from 141 last Thursday and down from 3000 per day at peak.

All of these are for England only, except the deaths which are U.K. all settings. Good progress.