[News] The Coronavirus Good News thread

[CheeseRolls]

The vaccines only really need to be for the elderley and highly vulnerable for life to get back to normal . Hoping the roll out for those groups can be pretty quick.

That would be the common sense approach. I expect the opposite will happen.

The elderly and vulnerable stand a much higher chance of having an adverse reaction to a vaccine, particualrly because of the range of drugs they will likely already be taking. If instead you take the approach of vacinating those most likely to pass on the virus, you can rapidly bring down the R rate with fewer complications. We got close in the summer, before everyone scattered to the four corners on their summer holidays and strangely the infection cycle kicked in again.

It is counter intuitive but my theory is that the most effective way to protect the vulnerable will be to ensure they don't come into contact with the virus.

 

[beorhthelm]

That would be the common sense approach. I expect the opposite will happen.

good news is theres is already an efficient process for rolling out vaccines to elderly and other groups, as we do so every year for flu vaccine.

 

[wehatepalace]

The vaccines only really need to be for the elderley and highly vulnerable for life to get back to normal . Hoping the roll out for those groups can be pretty quick.

I’ve read reports that vaccinating the elderly and vulnerable could be done as quickly as six weeks from roll out !

 

[Marshy]

Operational update

We at BSUH are currently caring for 15 patients with COVID-19, 2 of whom are in critical care.

This week we participated in a virtual meeting with city leaders and members of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board along with other partners, to discuss the current number of COVID-19 cases and the new three-tier system. Collectively we will work together to ensure all sectors are keeping residents safe and communicating clearly and consistently to prevent the spread of the virus. Please support these efforts by setting an example and adhering to our infection prevention and control measures

Numbers are no higher than last week which is encouraging. Keep vigilant people

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Virgin/Delta are trialling Facial recognition systems instead of boarding cards - starting with Vegas

Less touch points and less paper - which is always good

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Operational update

We at BSUH are currently caring for 15 patients with COVID-19, 2 of whom are in critical care.

This week we participated in a virtual meeting with city leaders and members of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board along with other partners, to discuss the current number of COVID-19 cases and the new three-tier system. Collectively we will work together to ensure all sectors are keeping residents safe and communicating clearly and consistently to prevent the spread of the virus. Please support these efforts by setting an example and adhering to our infection prevention and control measures

Numbers are no higher than last week which is encouraging. Keep vigilant people

Can I ask how is the current morale is? Is PPE sufficient at present? Keep up the good work.

 

[Mellotron]

Rapid one-hour Covid tests begin at Heathrow airport

Passengers flying from London Heathrow to Hong Kong and Italy will now be able to get rapid coronavirus tests before checking in.

The test, which can be booked online from Tuesday, costs £80 ($104), and results will be available within 60 minutes.

The aim of the test is to help people traveling to destinations where proof of a negative result is needed on arrival.

Authorities in Hong Kong require passengers to provide a negative COVID-19 test result before they are allowed in, while those arriving in Italy from the U.K. need to either show that they have had a negative coronavirus test before departure or take a test on arrival at an airport.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/h...hour-covid-19-tests-it-isnt-cheap-11603193070

 

[Mellotron]

This could help explain some of the positive comments of late re: the Oxford vaccine.

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine 'behaves as desired', analysis finds

The COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been shown to work as planned by new analysis.

A method to check the inoculation contains all the correct parts was developed by a team at Bristol University, providing greater evidence that the vaccine works.

Even though the research has not yet been peer reviewed, it has been hailed as a "wonderful example of cross-disciplinary collaboration".

The vaccine is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials to further establish the safety of the treatment.

It comes after confirmation the trials will continue after a man taking part died in Brazil. It is understood that the man was taking a placebo and not the active vaccine.

The new method of analysis allowed scientists to check that the vaccine was properly designed to replicate the parts of the COVID-19 make-up needed to train the immune system to fight the disease.

The study proved that the vaccine is correctly programmed to replicate the "spike protein" associated with COVID-19 that has been inserted into the immunisation shot.

"Until now, the technology hasn't been able to provide answers with such clarity, but we now know the vaccine is doing everything we expected and that is only good news in our fight against the illness."

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford and lead on the Oxford vaccine trial, added: "This is a wonderful example of cross-disciplinary collaboration, using new technology to examine exactly what the vaccine does when it gets inside a human cell.

"The study confirms that large amounts of the coronavirus spike protein are produced with great accuracy, and this goes a long way to explaining the success of the vaccine in inducing a strong immune response."

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ne-behaves-as-desired-analysis-finds-12111085

 

[Marshy]

Can I ask how is the current morale is? Is PPE sufficient at present? Keep up the good work.

HI, I am not in any way medical, I merely post the operational updates that get mailed to all staff in the trust.

However I do work in the hospital, do work on wards and all areas.

Morale seems ok, like for everyone its hard work, and for those working on the Covid wards it must be unbearable at times.

What I can say is the doctors and nurses here are awesome and we are all in good hands.

PPE is also fine as far as I am aware.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

HI, I am not in any way medical, I merely post the operational updates that get mailed to all staff in the trust.

However I do work in the hospital, do work on wards and all areas.

Morale seems ok, like for everyone its hard work, and for those working on the Covid wards it must be unbearable at times.

What I can say is the doctors and nurses here are awesome and we are all in good hands.

PPE is also fine as far as I am aware.

Excellent, I suppose that is all we can hope for. We are all in our own little bubbles at present so every circumstance will be different, but it's always good to hear, positive things from people who are at the spearhead of this nasty virus.

 

[The Wookiee]

Good news if you fancy a winter break- Canary Islands now on the safe list with no quarantine on your return

 

[Springal]

Good news if you fancy a winter break- Canary Islands now on the safe list with no quarantine on your return

Bad news is , a lot have shut up for the year so not a lot going on. And the airlines clearly had a heads up as price dramatically increased to pre COVID levels late morning today [emoji849]

 

[dazzer6666]

Bad news is , a lot have shut up for the year so not a lot going on. And the airlines clearly had a heads up as price dramatically increased to pre COVID levels late morning today [emoji849]

Returns available for a little over £100 in Dec/Jan when I looked yesterday.

Useful (positive) summary of vaccine progress from Barclays

Full report


https://www.investmentbank.barclays...te-card-image_emea-ii_covid-vaccine_284112804

 

[Mellotron]

Latest ONS survey suggests R is falling.

 

[Mellotron]

£5 Covid saliva test which gives result in 15 minutes could be ready by Christmas

A £5 Covid saliva test which gives results in 15 minutes is odds-on to be available before Christmas, it was claimed last night.

Officials say the rapid, on-the-spot swabs will help keep offices and schools open during the second wave.

A negative result may also allow restricted Brits back to the footie, pub or theatre, according to a well-placed government source.

They could even help ease strict shielding guidelines and let families visit relatives who have been isolated in care homes.

Field trials of several swabs have begun across England after passing strict checks at government labs.

Students at De Montford and Durham universities are already using them, as well as children at three schools in the South.

Scientists claim they are on course to hit their target of trialling each swab test on 10,000 people in a matter of weeks.

A government source said: “They are pretty exciting. Rapid-turnaround, relatively inexpensive tests are the future. We have something that’s 15 minutes which is pretty close to being ready.

“These are not complicated. They are tests you can do at a university, school or workplace with no specialist training or equipment.

“I’d be very surprised if we were not in good shape by Christmas for these tests.”

 

[LamieRobertson]

£5 Covid saliva test which gives result in 15 minutes could be ready by Christmas

£5 seems a bit steep....I’d be prepared to go as far as £4.95

 

[Mellotron]

NHS staff ‘set to get Covid vaccine in weeks as Government prepares mass roll-out before Christmas’

NHS staff are set to get a coronavirus vaccine within weeks as the Government prepares a mass roll-out before Christmas, according to reports.

An NHS Trust chief is said to have sent his staff an email which outlines how a national vaccination programme could start in “early December”.

Glen Burley, chief executive of George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Warwickshire, told staff that a “coronavirus vaccine should be available this year”, according to the Mail on Sunday.

He added that NHS staff are set to be “prioritised prior to Christmas”.

In his memo, he wrote: “Our Trust, alongside NHS organisations nationally, has been told to be prepared to start a Covid-19 staff vaccine programme in early December.

“The latest intelligence states a coronavirus vaccine should be available this year with NHS staff prioritised prior to Christmas.

“The vaccine is expected to be given in two doses, 28 days apart.”

 

[Yoda]

I don't think this video from Dr John Campbell last week was ever posted.

Showing the IFR is much lower than first feared.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Just to know all of these things are being put in place feels really, really encouraging.

Can I ask from where?

Update on this

USA/Asia atm

 

[Mellotron]

Update on this

USA/Asia atm

Pfizer perhaps? Or not being told which?