[rdst_1]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Let's understand this in detail first.

-Dr. Vivek

Thank you. I have relayed this information. Hope it calms the family down. The procedure is totally different in our state though. Yes, the testing is being done 3-4 days after the onset of symptoms for the main patient but once verified, all direct contacts have been traced and samples taken the very next day irrespective of whether they are showing symptoms or not.

[am1m]

US-centric but quite interesting nonetheless:

https://time.com/5831740/polio-coronavirus-parallels/

[DigitalOne]

Two positive news for today.


Study results from China of Indoor vs Outdoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Quoted below is the abstract of the study (All emphasis mine):

Background: By early April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had infected nearly one million people and had spread to nearly all countries worldwide. It is essential to understand where and how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted. Methods: Case reports were extracted from the local Municipal Health Commissions of 320 prefectural cities (municipalities) in China, not including Hubei province, between 4 January and 11 February 2020. We identified all outbreaks involving three or more cases and reviewed the major characteristics of the enclosed spaces in which the outbreaks were reported and associated indoor environmental issues. Results: Three hundred and eighteen outbreaks with three or more cases were identified, involving 1245 confirmed cases in 120 prefectural cities. We divided the venues in which the outbreaks occurred into six categories: homes, transport, food, entertainment, shopping, and miscellaneous. Among the identified outbreaks, 53.8% involved three cases, 26.4% involved four cases, and only 1.6% involved ten or more cases. Home outbreaks were the dominant category (254 of 318 outbreaks; 79.9%), followed by transport (108; 34.0%; note that many outbreaks involved more than one venue category). Most home outbreaks involved three to five cases. We identified only a single outbreak in an outdoor environment, which involved two cases. Conclusions: All identified outbreaks of three or more cases occurred in an indoor environment, which confirms that sharing indoor space is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk.

--------

Israel and Netherlands studies claim progress in Covid-19 antibody trials.

(All emphasis mine).

Separate studies in Israel and the Netherlands claim to have created antibodies that can block the coronavirus infection, a potential future treatment touted as a game-changer until a vaccine becomes available.

Both efforts, which are in their initial stages, hope to eventually treat or prevent the development of the Covid-19 respiratory disease caused by coronavirus and stall the spread of the pandemic.

[Miyata]

My relatives from UK had first mentioned this to me a few days ago, and here it is reported from different places as well -

15 children hospitalized in New York City with rare condition that could be linked to COVID-19

the illness has features of Kawasaki disease, a serious illness first noted in children with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.

symptoms vary among the children depending on which organ system is affected, but "include features of Kawasaki disease or features of shock." All of the children experienced a persistent fever, more than half reported rash, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea, and less than half experienced respiratory symptoms.

Kawasaki disease is associated with fever, skin rashes, swelling of glands, and in severe cases it can inflame blood vessels within the heart.

Kawasaki could pop up "weeks to months later" after experiencing some kind of viral infection or "multiple viral infections."

Regardless of a coronavirus test result, the health department has urged doctors with patients under 21 years old and symptoms consistent with Kawasaki to immediately report those suspected cases to the health department. Doctors are also instructed to immediately refer such patients to a "specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology, and/or critical care."

At my apartment complex, I do see lot of mixing up of kids in the play area towards the evening. Many parents are talking in clusters (no face masks, not enough social distance) and kids are together playing.

I hope they take the necessary responsible precautions for a while till there is better control over the situation.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Miyata

At my apartment complex, I do see lot of mixing up of kids in the play area towards the evening. Many parents are talking in clusters (no face masks, not enough social distance) and kids are together playing.

I hope they take the necessary responsible precautions for a while till there is better control over the situation.

Please contest this with your apartment RWA. Most apartments including ours are still not allowing kids to venture out and play in the common area. This is too early to allow them after all.

Kids will be last community you want to get infected with this virus and hence staying indoors as much as possible is the way to go.

Additionally, make masks compulsory for adults too as common areas of apartment will be treated as "Public Places" and you can be penalized too.



The fine amount is revised after the above news article was published but that doesn't take away the fact that common areas within apartment are public areas.

[msdivy]

How States of US compare with Countries of the World:

[JithinR]

'Silent Hypoxia' is this something that has been reported in India amongst the COVID-19 patients.

My understanding is that the median age for our patients is relatively less and from the last few days I have seen a few videos and now this report https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/06/h...ess/index.html which offers one possible explanation for the sudden deaths of seemingly healthy young individuals.

[srishiva]

There have been some novel efforts in the monitoring of covid cases. In Karnataka, some specialists sit together and do e-rounds of hospitals around the state.

There is also a remote ICU monitoring that is being done to avoid medical personnel actually having to go near the patients.

These dont require a huge investment and should be deployed for improving health care in rural areas. A hospital where e-rounds can be done should come up for a given number of population. This increases exposing patients to specialists who need not spend too much of time for such endeavours. Ofcourse with remote surgeries etc coming in the future, it should provide a means to move towards them. My cancer surgeon friend already does such things across countries. Govt should look into these tele options to enable healthcare to all and reduce travel time for serious cases which kills most of people in our country.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by srishiva

There have been some novel efforts in the monitoring of covid cases. In Karnataka, some specialists sit together and do e-rounds of hospitals around the state.

There is also a remote ICU monitoring that is being done to avoid medical personnel actually having to go near the patients.

These dont require a huge investment and should be deployed for improving health care in rural areas. A hospital where e-rounds can be done should come up for a given number of population. This increases exposing patients to specialists who need not spend too much of time for such endeavours. Ofcourse with remote surgeries etc coming in the future, it should provide a means to move towards them. My cancer surgeon friend already does such things across countries. Govt should look into these tele options to enable healthcare to all and reduce travel time for serious cases which kills most of people in our country.

Yes, off the top of my head RayIoT and Stasis Labs are offering inexpensive remote monitoring solutions which are being appreciated by doctors.

[lapis_lazuli]

Japanese are not known to resort to sensationalism, so I tend to believe what this news has to say. It seems a Japanese firm Kao and an University have been able to create artificial antibodies that are clearly fighting the nCOV in "lab environments"

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200507_27/

"This antibody denies viruses entry into human cells by blocking them from latching onto proteins called receptors on the surface of human cells. The group says it has artificially engineered this antibody against the coronavirus through a genetic analysis of the proteins on the surface of the virus. The group says laboratory tests have confirmed that the artificially created antibody prevented the coronavirus from infecting most of the cells in test samples."

Let's see how far this goes....

[DCEite]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

Japanese are not known to resort to sensationalism, so I tend to believe what this news has to say. It seems a Japanese firm Kao and an University have been able to create artificial antibodies that are clearly fighting the nCOV in "lab environments"

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200507_27/

"This antibody denies viruses entry into human cells by blocking them from latching onto proteins called receptors on the surface of human cells. The group says it has artificially engineered this antibody against the coronavirus through a genetic analysis of the proteins on the surface of the virus. The group says laboratory tests have confirmed that the artificially created antibody prevented the coronavirus from infecting most of the cells in test samples."

Let's see how far this goes....

Good to hear that.

But the fact is yesterday Israel and Italy have come up with something on similar lines.

The problem is that vaccine development will take a long time. And cases are rising exponentially.

By the time vaccine is fully available for commercial use in India, it might just be too late.

[DCEite]

Happy to see government showing some faith in India's traditional healthcare system - Ayurveda.

Clinical trials to start on Ashwagandha herb as a preventive intervention among healthcare professionals and high risk COVID-19 population, in comparison to allopathy drug HCQ.

https://www.businessinsider.in/india...w/75603217.cms

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/...836776744.html

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by DCEite

Happy to see government showing some faith in India's traditional healthcare system - Ayurveda.

Clinical trials to start on Ashwagandha ... ... ...

When people slam alternative medicines outright, I remind them that one of the main allopathic treatments for malaria comes from ancient Chinese herbal medicine. Also that many, many of our allopathic drugs have natural origins.

I'd be delighted if an easily-sourced, cheap herbal remedy was found, either as a preventative or treatment. But it must be subject to the same rigour as allopathy. I'm quite concerned that, at the moment, a homeopathic remedy is being touted on the basis of, what, a hunch?

Occasionally I take a drink of that famous anti-viral, nilavembu kudineer. Look, it tastes so disgusting, it must be good for you, right? (Actually I've come to like the flavour). Whether it does any good or not, I really don't know. Taking it when I've had flu, I'd say the answer is the old tale...

"Doctor, when will I get better?"

"With medicine, one week: without medicine, seven days."

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I'd be delighted if an easily-sourced, cheap herbal remedy was found, either as a preventative or treatment. But it must be subject to the same rigour as allopathy.

Reminds me of Tim Minchin's quote

"You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine."

[mvadg]

Interesting video from WSJ on how the immune system fights the virus
https://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/...B-9E5E2E03691E

There's also news now about how SARS-COV2 has been found in semen, which brings up another question - what is happening with human trafficking and other criminal activities? Such criminals are not going to be bothered about social distancing and other restrictions. Will those infected reveal their contacts?