General Discussion/Q&A on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Flashback]

I find it strange "she's obviously not had that option since being forced to WFH".

I print stuff out occasionally and have no issue directly printing at home simply by sharing resources on standard CITRIX RDP or VPN connection sessions.

In other circumstances I have simply emailed myself a PDF forprinting.

As far as needing a printout, hardcopy needs no batteries to read.

Various solutions are in place around DLP so not an option unfortunately. I have printing facilities here of course, but I'm still on the original toner it came with when I bought it 9.5 years ago. Goes to show how much printing I do!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Interesting facts.

Opinion | The Infection That’s Silently Killing Coronavirus Patients (Published 2020)

This is what I learned during 10 days of treating Covid pneumonia at Bellevue Hospital.

www.nytimes.com

Science | AAAS

www.sciencemag.org

 

[VPS]

It will be interesting to see the impact this has on ways of working once things return to some sense of normality. For example, I know Mrs FB often prints documents out to work from, writes on them/edits etc. but she's obviously not had that option since being forced to WFH. I wonder if people will finally snap out of the need to print docs and work in a more e-friendly way. For example, I can't think of how many years it was since I printed a document out for work purposes, choosing to just use electronic versions instead.

I try and read as much as possible on screen but sometimes there are things where I print and I find editing easier but then I'm many years older than Mrs FB and my eyes aren't as good so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

 

[TheRealTMA]

looks like the truth will out. Non peer reviewed yet but seems to support the original views that HCQ is useless for Coronavirus.

Study finds no benefit, higher death rate in patients taking hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19 | CNN

Coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine, a treatment touted by President Trump, were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation and had higher deaths rates compared to those who did not take the drug, according to a study of hundreds of patients at US Veterans Health Administration...

edition.cnn.com

 

[Pushka]

looks like the truth will out. Non peer reviewed yet but seems to support the original views that HCQ is useless for Coronavirus.

Study finds no benefit, higher death rate in patients taking hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19 | CNN

Coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine, a treatment touted by President Trump, were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation and had higher deaths rates compared to those who did not take the drug, according to a study of hundreds of patients at US Veterans Health Administration...

edition.cnn.com

It really needs a properly controlled study and with dosage of HCQ outlined because the drug is toxic if used at a high level dose. Also beware of correlation V causation.

 

[TheRealTMA]

It really needs a properly controlled study and with dosage of HCQ outlined because the drug is toxic if used at a high level dose. Also beware of correlation V causation.

Oh I agree. There's been so much non-evidence based hype of HCQ (including some here) promoted that one needs to not jump in and prescribe it before the peer-reviewed studies are published.

 

[Pushka]

Yowsers. Virus?

 

[VPS]

Yep is happening to me too - happened last week as well = just refresh page

 

[p--and--t]

Interesting facts.

Opinion | The Infection That’s Silently Killing Coronavirus Patients (Published 2020)

This is what I learned during 10 days of treating Covid pneumonia at Bellevue Hospital.

www.nytimes.com

Science | AAAS

www.sciencemag.org

Hmmmm, if that first article goes viral, please note I hereby register my forecast of the next panic buying item.

 

[mrsterryn]

Any suggestions as to when pools would reopen ? I realise it is a piece of string type question however curious what people think

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hmmmm, if that first article goes viral, please note I hereby register my forecast of the next panic buying item.

I bought one a while back as I have watched Chris Cuomo (The Governor's brother) on CNN who is a CV19 Victim (as is his wife now) who has continued broadcasting including documenting his struggles with CV 19. He got one on the recommendation of Dr Sanjay Gupta and they have had some discussions on monitoring safe oxygen levels yourself.

I also saw another interview where a doctor was suffering at home and realised on checking herself with the device that her levels had dropped below safe levels and so went to hospital.

 

[nutwood]

My concern with the app is that it might be perceived as a crutch, whilst actually being a very average walking stick. Listening to the pollies, you would definitely think it'll help the lame walk.
The reality is that Bluetooth wasn't designed for this sort of usage. The intent, as reported, is to detect anyone who has spent 15 minutes within 1.5 m of you. That detection is going to vary hugely and can only be taken as an indication. Nice supplement to other data but no panacea.
If they want to be serious about it, design a purpose built device to do the task. The technology is there, it wouldn't be hard. Each device has a unique code. Supply free and ask people, very nicely, to carry it with them. If a person is diagnosed +ve, their device transmits this and any other device registering contact with that code sounds an alarm. Design it right and there'd be huge export potential at the moment!

 

[Flashback]

So London (TFL) busses are pretty much free to travel on now; entry is only through the middle door and therefore no need to tap in. I wonder if that's the case with the new routemaster busses they rolled out which offer middle/back boarding anyway which do support card readers at those egress points.

 

[Flashback]

Dob in your mates!

Breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures

Report a breach of Coronavirus (Covid-19) rules.

www.met.police.uk

 

[p--and--t]

My concern with the app is that it might be perceived as a crutch, whilst actually being a very average walking stick. Listening to the pollies, you would definitely think it'll help the lame walk.
The reality is that Bluetooth wasn't designed for this sort of usage. The intent, as reported, is to detect anyone who has spent 15 minutes within 1.5 m of you. That detection is going to vary hugely and can only be taken as an indication. Nice supplement to other data but no panacea.
If they want to be serious about it, design a purpose built device to do the task. The technology is there, it wouldn't be hard. Each device has a unique code. Supply free and ask people, very nicely, to carry it with them. If a person is diagnosed +ve, their device transmits this and any other device registering contact with that code sounds an alarm. Design it right and there'd be huge export potential at the moment!

Good idea.

But same problems with adoption, bigger problem with time-frames, costs and inability to update/keep current.

How many people would be willing to carry another item with them at all times without incentive (like their phone)

 

[mrsterryn]

Bayside council NSW has lifted beach restrictions however car parks will still be closed . The lifting occurs from this weekend

 

[JohnM]

Thank goodness WA didn't close beaches. That would have been the living end for me.

 

[nutwood]

Good idea.

But same problems with adoption, bigger problem with time-frames, costs and inability to update/keep current.

How many people would be willing to carry another item with them at all times without incentive (like their phone)

I think the problems with adoption would be different. Would not need to be physically large. I'd reckon pedometer size would cover it. Good publicity campaign based on totally free choice. You don't enter any information in, it records nothing about you. Just beeps/flashes if a code # it's been near is transmitted (via phone network) as a positive. Could easily do several levels of alarm, based on exposure. You call a number if you're concerned.
It's a basic fact of evolution that most people are interested in self preservation. I don't think many would disagree with the premise that it'd be nice to know that the coughing person behind you in the queue was actually incubating a virus rather than wondering if hay-fever causes coughing? Don't compel people to carry it. Make available and leave it up to personal choice.
As you highlighted though, biggest problems would be time frame and cost, although I reckon the latter could be hammered down very low through smart design.

 

[RooFlyer]

The reality is that Bluetooth wasn't designed for this sort of usage. The intent, as reported, is to detect anyone who has spent 15 minutes within 1.5 m of you. That detection is going to vary hugely and can only be taken as an indication. Nice supplement to other data but no panacea.

Its not claimed the app will detect 1.5m as such. The strength of the bluetooth signal will be a proxy for proximity. For instance, someone above or below you in an apartment block, or 4+ metres away 'should' have its signal degraded enough for it not to be a 'detection'. A stranger standing right behind you in a check-out queue for 10-15 mins certainly will be 'pinged'.

And with a hoped-for 40% uptake rate, its certainly not being seen as a 'panacea'. When its implemented, regular manual tracing will still occur, but ANY way to get some quicker detection will be a help, especially when the 'proximity' is to someone you don't know (and therefore untraceable by the usual methods). As you say, a nice supplement.

 

[Flashback]

Its not claimed the app will detect 1.5m as such. The strength of the bluetooth signal will be a proxy for proximity. For instance, someone above or below you in an apartment block, or 4+ metres away 'should' have its signal degraded enough for it not to be a 'detection'. A stranger standing right behind you in a check-out queue for 10-15 mins certainly will be 'pinged'.

And with a hoped-for 40% uptake rate, its certainly not being seen as a 'panacea'. When its implemented, regular manual tracing will still occur, but ANY way to get some quicker detection will be a help, especially when the 'proximity' is to someone you don't know (and therefore untraceable by the usual methods). As you say, a nice supplement.

Although that being said if someone in a block of flats you lived in had COVID-19, you probably would want to know because they may have left traces on common areas, door handles, etc.!