Posted on 03/27/2020 4:09:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
From coronavirus cases exponentially multiplying across the U.S. to doctors falling sick, the daily headlines are gut-wrenching and overwhelming. But there are some positive signs of progress that can help keep things in perspective.
Despite all the dire updates, Americans have come together during this tumultuous time and promising experimental drugs have been identified to help treat some of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Researchers are working around the clock to develop the vaccine that will be safe and effective.
1) There is a promising recovery rate
For many who contract the virus, approximately 80%, the symptoms may be mild and resemble those from cold or flu. Those individuals with mild symptoms may be able to treat their illness without entering the hospital. More than 120,000+ have now recovered from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins Resource Center’s tracker.
2) Strategies like self-quarantine, lockdowns and social distancing have stemmed the spread
In China, Singapore and some cities in Italy, quarantine and social distancing have played a pivotal role in stemming the tide of infections. A small town in Italy called Vo Euganeo saw a cluster of cases due to the novel coronavirus in late February. After its first death, town officials immediately implemented a lockdown, according to LiveScience. This move drastically reduced infections, reaching zero cases after the aggressive strategy.
Taiwan also effectively fought the outbreak of the coronavirus by case identification and air and sea border control. On December 31, when China informed the World Health Organization that it had several cases of the unknown pneumonia, Taiwan's Center for Disease Control began the inspections of travelers on flights from Wuhan, China.
3) Existing antiviral drugs could significantly help coronavirus patients
The experimental antiviral drug, Remdesivir is a promising candidate to treat coronavirus. On March 23, the drug received the orphan drug destination from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Remdesivir is delivered through intravenous infusion and was first used to treat Ebola. This is one of the several drugs now investigated as a potential life-saving therapy. The drug works by incorporating itself into the genetic code of the virus, interrupting reproduction. According to the FDA, the agency has been working with Gilead Pharmaceutical to potentially provide Remdesdivir to patients under emergency "compassionate use" program.
Other drugs, hydroxychoroloquine and chloroquine are also being investigated as possible candidates, although infectious disease experts say the claims of their effectiveness are premature.
4) The development of a vaccine is in its final phases in Israel
Researchers at Israel's Institute for Biological Research are expected to announce that they have completed the final phases of a vaccine for the new coronavirus COVID-19. Although Israel's defense ministry claims that it is not a "breakthrough," scientists have begun to understand the characteristics of the virus, including the production of antibodies for those who have recovered from the illness.
5) There is significant progress in the development of a vaccine in Seattle
The first U.S. clinical trials for a potential vaccine candidate began on March 16, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced. Biotech pioneer, Moderna uses genetic material, messenger RNA to make vaccines. The infectious disease institute has been working with Moderna because the RNA strategy promises to create a vaccine more quickly.
6) The FDA is now allowing plasma therapy treatment of life-threatening COVID-19 cases
The FDA has now updated its protocol regarding the use of experimental treatments in the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 24, the agency is now allowing the use of "convalescent" plasma from recovering patients in severe cases where a patient's life is immediately threatened.
7) Countries around the world are pledging support to their citizens during this pandemic
As part of the $2 trillion stimulus package, the U.S. is preparing to give most American adults $1,200 and $500 to children. The U.S. package includes loans to business and local and state government as well as funds for hospitals and more unemployment insurance. Italy is also offering help for families and one-time 500 euro payments to self-employed people. Spain has also rolled out a $200 billion euro rescue package in loans for small businesses and is freezing mortgages and utility bills for individuals.
8) Air pollution has dropped in key areas where quarantines and lockdowns are in place
China's lockdown led to a 25 percent decrease in CO2 emissions when compared with the same period in 2019, according to a recent study. Lauri Mylllyvirta, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland outlined how industrial operations were reduced by 15 to 40 percent in some sectors and that China's coal consumption at power plants dropped by 36 percent.
9) Testing is improving on a global scale
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a coronavirus screening test that entails taking nasal or oral swabs and analyzing as many as 1,000 people in a day. The results often come back in 24 hours, but scientists are expecting to shorten that to a few hours.
10) Families, communities are coming together
"We'll get through this together." That's often the one defining message of encouragement that you'll hear punctuated at the end of almost conversation right now. Friends and family are staying in touch using Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp. Now that parents are at home with their kids, families are finding unique moments to have true quality time, whether it's going on afternoon bike rides or going for walks. Families previously distracted by their busy, full schedules are now sinking into the home routine, with family dinners making a comeback.
11) Companies are stepping up to create masks, respirators in the wake of the crisis
Ford is now partnering with 3M and GE Healthcare to make respirators and ventilators. The company also announced that it will use its 3D printers to print disposable respirator masks. According to Space.com, Elon Musk said he would have 1,200 ventilators ready to deliver this week.
12) Extensive testing program implemented South Korea potentially helped save lives
In South Korea, the spread of coronavirus dramatically slowed due to widespread testing, which also included drive-thru testing hubs. The infection rates have been falling for two weeks because of a rigorous testing regime. According to Science magazine, South Korea has seen a general decline in new coronavirus cases since March 11. The numbers have dropped to 74 each day, which is a dramatic reduction from its peak of 909 cases on February 29.
13) Temporary coronavirus hospitals in Wuhan are now shut down due to lack of cases
On March 14, medical workers removed their masks in this viral video after the city closed its last temporary hospital that was constructed to handle the overflow of coronavirus patients. China has shut down all of its 16 makeshift coronavirus hospitals in Wuhan on March 10.
redfish @redfishstream Chinese medical workers who have been fighting the #coronavirus day and night in Wuhan celebrated the closing of the last temporary hospital in Wuhan.
The reported #covid19 cases went from a surge in February of 15,000 in one day to only 15 this week.
Embedded video 387K 9:31 AM - Mar 13, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 93.3K people are talking about this 14) People are extending kind gestures of compassion in the wake of the crisis
From a phone call to check in on good friends or grabbing groceries for elderly neighbors, people all across the nation are stepping up to help out in this time of need. For example, the social media app NextDoor provides a map of people offering help right in your neighborhood. Some are helping pick up groceries, go to the post office and providing non-perishable foods to those in need.
15) More countries are containing the spread of coronavirus
China is reporting a dramatic reduction in new cases. On March 25, Beijing's city zoo and parts of the Great Wall of China have reopened to visitors who book in advance, after a sharp drop in the number of new coronavirus cases. After the deadly outbreak in Wuhan, at the center of the epidemic, people in several Chinese cities were told to stay at home. Some 760 million people, roughly half of the country's population were confined to their homes, according to the medical journal, Nature
According to the World Economic Forum, Singapore only reported 96 cases and no deaths, with recoveries eclipsing the actual rate of infection. Many experts believe the country's success is due to the top-notch healthcare system, strict travel restrictions and home quarantine regimen.
Barnardt has this....
people are happier now that they have no jobs and no retirement savings and can stay home and watch "Days of our Lives"...
Ping
its all Hippa unless they want you to believe some other farce....
Out neighbor is a nurse and she is seeing a lot of 20-30 year Olds coming in....their chronic condition? Vaping....she didn’t know the exact amount but a very high percentage either still or used to vape.
YEP....VAPING, especially with things added into it!!
Guess where that vaping crap comes from. China. The same with the aromatherapy/essential oils crap, which gives my sister a horrible dry cough.
The BEST thing that going to come from this is that we will NOT be buying so much CRAP from China....AND best of all our Meds will be made here or in Friendly countries! But HOPEFULLY HERE IN THE USA!
L8r
One more: It stopped the annoying hugging practice.
For weeks the medical and news profession have been stating there has not been sufficient time to test Hydroxychloroquine on Covid 19. Other countries keep saying how great it has been working in the treatment of Covid19. I have seen several positive reports from all over the world. What is the American medical profession missing? Do the American Pharmeceutical companies have that much control over the distribution of meds and their useage?
mikelets456 wrote:
“Out neighbor is a nurse and she is seeing a lot of 20-30 year Olds coming in....their chronic condition? Vaping....she didn’t know the exact amount but a very high percentage either still or used to vape.”
Many thanks for that info!
Tracking the Coronavirus:
How Crowded Asian Cities Tackle an Epidemic (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan) New York Times ^ | March 17 2020 | Hanna Beech Posted on 3/17/2020, 10:16:30 PM by rintintin
Two hours. That’s all the time medical teams in Singapore are given to uncover the first details of how patients contracted the coronavirus and which people they might infect.
The NYS (slimes) expectedly in reporting did not go into what Singapore was doing which is not responding to the CComWuVi (Chinese Communist Wuhan Virus) by shutdowns wrecking its economy by closing shops and these postings do and explain what and how Singapore and other cities are doing which is well worth a look.
edited, My sister in law lives in Singapore. This is for real. They have people assigned at entrances with hand held infra-red heat guns. She said she was scanned 5 times just today. Anyone who displays a high body temp are isolated and asked who they have been with? How long they felt like this? If they ever coughed in public ?. The shelves in stores are full and there is no panic. From what she says. This is a very effective and organized way to handle the crisis.
. Trump I love him Maybe we could learn a lot from Singapore.
7 posted on 3/17/2020, 10:40:11 PM by Bommer
Since Then Singapore to shut bars, limit gatherings to counter coronavirus spread
The Star (Malaysia) ^ | Wednesday, 25 Mar 2020 7:01 AM MYT | The Star (Malaysia)
Posted on 3/25/2020, 6:57:41 AM by Zhang Fei
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3828087/posts
HOWEVER SINCE THAT ST PAT’S DAY POSTING THIS ANNOUNCED
SINGAPORE: Singapore will close bars and entertainment venues including discos and cinemas among new measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Tuesday. The regulations - including limits on gatherings outside work and school to 10 persons or fewer - will take effect from 11:59 p.m. local time on March 26, and will be in place at least until April 30, the ministry added.
Singapore confirmed 49 new cases of the infection on Tuesday, taking its tally to 558. The country reported its first two fatalities from the virus on Saturday. Singapore will allow malls, museums and restaurants to stay open - but with additional precautions such as reduced operating capacity
Meanwhile a key modeling study from Singapore has found that putting multiple social lockdowns in place - including school closures - will have the biggest impact on curbing COVID-19, the pandemic disease caused by the new coronavirus. Quarantining infected people and their family members, closing schools, and imposing workplace distancing and homeworking can all limit the spread, the study found, but a combination of all three is most effective in reducing cases.
Singapore, which according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data had reported 455 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths as of March 22, has imposed some social distancing recommendations but has not closed its schools.
Griffin wrote: Wait, what? I thought Singapore had already successfully handled their outbreak?
So did I and really urged this approach and it seemed to be supported until this development. But even now according to this account its not as all encompassing by shutting everything down as what we’re doing here.
One gal quipped that if the virus jumped to fish, she'd be safe because after 2 hours, she hadn't caught anything...
16} The international MSM/Deep State cabal is back in charge and leading the Orange Man around by the nose AND LOVING IT.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.