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

[Princess Fiona]

And in Sweden despite a high number of cases the death rate has fallen and remaining steady on the 7 day rolling average.
View attachment 230917.

And the excess mortality has turned negative.
View attachment 230918.

Covid-19 in Sweden - charts and statistics

Current data on Covid-19 focused on information that is interesting from a Swedish perspective

www.covid19insweden.com

I suspect there will be some lag over the deaths.
Meanwhile Sweden has seen half of their cervical cancer screening centers shut and lung cancer referrals at 50% of baseline
Radio Sweden

And they are now switching away from their no lockdown strategy due to the rising case numbers


Business Insider October 18th

 

[Flashback]

Wales going into a 2 week "circuit breaker" / lockdown. Will it just be 2 weeks or longer? We'll see.

Covid: Wales to go into 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday

People in Wales told to stay home from Friday, with pubs and restaurants ordered to close.

www.bbc.co.uk

Discussions are happening re: England, but I think until the financial assistance piece is sufficiently answered there won't be any movement here. As always, England continues to lag in its decision making and lack of assertiveness.

 

[Flashback]

Well it's all looking very grim over here in Europe.

Covid-19: Italy tightens rules after coronavirus cases surge

PM Giuseppe Conte targets public gatherings, hospitality and recreation "to avoid a new lockdown".

www.bbc.co.uk

Italy's extending their restrictions, Ireland is set to announce tighter restrictions tomorrow, etc.

Going to be another fun few months.

Republic of Ireland in full lockdown (again) for 6 weeks.

Will England get its head out of its butt and do similar, even if only 2 weeks like Wales etc.? Probably not.

We continue to fall behind the trend and make decisions too late and do things too late ......

 

[JessicaTam]

And many might think this is the best news of 2020.

Well there has to be a silver lining somewhere.

 

[JohnK]

So we got the travel exemption within 12 hours of applying Sunday night.

Didn't realise needed to obtain arrival permission from Thai Embassy to return to Thailand and that is proving very difficult. Thai Embassy in Brisbane closed, Canberra not taking calls but there is a 24 hour emergency number that I may try. Apparently there is an online form to submit but I cannot find it anywhere.

Called Tourism of Thailand in Sydney and they were a little more helpful with some links. They also mentioned Thai repatriation flight on 26 October is full and need to register for next one. Really? Another snag? I don't want to book repatriation flight. I just want to book the cheap flights I found via Singapore.

My goodness this is turning into mission impossible. I can sympathise with many Australians trying to return home. This is not the time to take advantage of people for the sake of profit.

The pandemic is bad enough without added burdens.

 

[Flashback]

My goodness this is turning into mission impossible. I can sympathise with many Australians trying to return home. This is not the time to take advantage of people for the sake of profit.

Unfortunately it's par for the course with the current environment, with a lot of countries closed (in essence), normal flights aren't running. With Singapore for example, will she be able to enter / transit there without any issue? That's more so what is making things difficult, as opposed to any particular airline for example. Thailand is essentially closed still, excepting their massively complex 500 step scheme for tourists to enter; so that also then has an impact on flights into the country etc.

I'm between a rock and a hard place too, Europe is going into winter, numbers are rising, everything is pretty much shutdown and locked down now and those that aren't, will be soon. I can't get down to Australia either as flights are like hens teeth plus the cost of quarantine is prohibitive. Damned if you do, damned if you don't........ but we live to fight another day.

 

[Pushka]

Didn't realise needed to obtain arrival permission from Thai Embassy to return to Thailand and that is proving very difficult. Thai Embassy in Brisbane closed, Canberra not taking calls but there is a 24 hour emergency number that I may try. Apparently there is an online form to submit but I cannot find it anywhere.

Just work with it. My son had to travel from Adelaide to Brisbane simply to get his biometrics done for his UK visa as the Adelaide office was closed due to Covid. Brisbane opened to SA just the week before. Then his return flight got cancelled and he had to pay for a hotel overnight. Everything is messed up right now, no point in bemoaning it and wasting time and energy but just deal with it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So we got the travel exemption within 12 hours of applying Sunday night.

Didn't realise needed to obtain arrival permission from Thai Embassy to return to Thailand and that is proving very difficult. Thai Embassy in Brisbane closed, Canberra not taking calls but there is a 24 hour emergency number that I may try. Apparently there is an online form to submit but I cannot find it anywhere.

Called Tourism of Thailand in Sydney and they were a little more helpful with some links. They also mentioned Thai repatriation flight on 26 October is full and need to register for next one. Really? Another snag? I don't want to book repatriation flight. I just want to book the cheap flights I found via Singapore.

My goodness this is turning into mission impossible. I can sympathise with many Australians trying to return home. This is not the time to take advantage of people for the sake of profit.

The pandemic is bad enough without added burdens.

Thailand Travel Restrictions & Quarantine Requirements. Can I Travel To Thailand & When Will Its Borders Reopen? *Updated 1 July 2022* - Wego Travel Blog

This content is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure it’s up to date and accurate. Find out exactly if you can travel to Thailand from your country of residence, using the following travel planner widget. Input the full details of your trip (origin, arrival & departure date...

blog.wego.com

It seems to be that only repatriation flights are allowed in (see above, plus confirmed on a couple of other sites as well. Apparently the Thai Embassy will refer you to a repatriation flight during the process of applying for the certificate of entry.)

 

[dajop]

With Singapore for example, will she be able to enter / transit there without any issue?

Speaking in relation to Singapore government rules, yes - anyone arriving on an approved (SQ/MI/TR) flight from Australia can transit the airport. The catch is that they are herded into a dedicated gate area and cannot roam the airport at will (or alternatively they can pre-book transit hotel and be escorted to/from the hotel).

Now for those who've spent the last 14 days in Australia outside of Victoria, they can also apply for a permit to enter Singapore, and will be granted permission to enter (if their nationality would normally allow them to do so) , but the catch is they need to take a $180 COVID test on arrival (and of course test negative) before being granted entry. So no popping landside for a 12 hr transit!

 

[drron]

So we got the travel exemption within 12 hours of applying Sunday night.

Didn't realise needed to obtain arrival permission from Thai Embassy to return to Thailand and that is proving very difficult. Thai Embassy in Brisbane closed, Canberra not taking calls but there is a 24 hour emergency number that I may try. Apparently there is an online form to submit but I cannot find it anywhere.

Called Tourism of Thailand in Sydney and they were a little more helpful with some links. They also mentioned Thai repatriation flight on 26 October is full and need to register for next one. Really? Another snag? I don't want to book repatriation flight. I just want to book the cheap flights I found via Singapore.

My goodness this is turning into mission impossible. I can sympathise with many Australians trying to return home. This is not the time to take advantage of people for the sake of profit.

The pandemic is bad enough without added burdens.

A report on the first tourists allowed in to Thailand-from China.But it does say any tourist granted permission to enter will have to arrive by charter or private flight.

Thailand Sees First Arrival Of Chinese Tourists Post Covid-19 Outbreak & Border Shutdown

Chinese Tourists arrive in Thailand under the STV Special Tourist Visa Scheme.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[drron]

A mixed bag of reports.
First as has been reported before but another study saying the virus may still be shed even in not infective.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

It seems that some mouth washes may reduce the Covid load.Fortunately I use one of those that did.

Virucidal Efficacy of Different Oral Rinses Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Several oral rinses show significant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inactivating properties in vitro, supporting the idea tha

academic.oup.com

And those taking regular low dose aspirin seem to have less severe disease.

Aspirin may reduce risk of mechanical ventilation, death in hospitalised patients with COVID-19

By Denise BaezNEW YORK -- October 23, 2020 -- Among hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), aspirin use was associated with a significantly lower rate of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality, according to an observational...

dgalerts.docguide.com

The problems in the USA in the early days of the pandemic.

Study Highlights Need for Continued Care of COVID-19 Survivors

The past several months have shown that most people hospitalized with COVID-19 will get better. As inspiring as it is to see these patients breathe on their own and converse with their loved ones a…

directorsblog.nih.gov

This one I am not sure about.Deliberately inoculating Covid 19 to test vaccines.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

 

[JohnK]

Just work with it. My son had to travel from Adelaide to Brisbane simply to get his biometrics done for his UK visa as the Adelaide office was closed due to Covid. Brisbane opened to SA just the week before. Then his return flight got cancelled and he had to pay for a hotel overnight. Everything is messed up right now, no point in bemoaning it and wasting time and energy but just deal with it.

Not easy and for now we've given up

- approval from Australian government
- approval from Thai Embassy which is not as easy as it sounds
- covid test 3 days before departure
- fit to fly certificate from doctor before flying
- choosing and paying for quarantine hotel up front
- forget trying to book on TG repatriation flight at exhorbitant cost although SQ via SIN is a 15 hour connection in a holding pen

I think best to wait as this exercise is throwing money away.

 

[drron]

And the best way to test for Covid 19.

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See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

www.facebook.com

 

[drron]

Another grab bag of Covid news.
First the WHO has authorised simple,fast tests for Covid which will be very important in Africa.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

Not surprising those with HIV are more at risk of severe disease.

HIV-positive status associated with increased mortality risk among patients hospitalised for COVID-19: Study

A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases showed that HIV-positive people hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had an age-adjusted 47% higher risk of day-28 mortality compared with HIV-negative individuals. In addition, among people aged

dgalerts.docguide.com

But surprisingly in Type 2 Diabetes who are hospitalised have a higher mortality if using statins.Non diabetics have a trend to less severe disease if using statins.

HIV-positive status associated with increased mortality risk among patients hospitalised for COVID-19: Study

A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases showed that HIV-positive people hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had an age-adjusted 47% higher risk of day-28 mortality compared with HIV-negative individuals. In addition, among people aged

dgalerts.docguide.com

Basic science is being used to suggest other possible treatments.

Protein Mapping Study Reveals Valuable Clues for COVID-19 Drug Development

One way to fight COVID-19 is with drugs that directly target SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease. That’s the strategy employed by remdesivir, the only antiviral drug currently…

directorsblog.nih.gov

And the US buying up a stock of a monoclonal antibody being trialled for treatment of Covid.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

 

[dajop]

- forget trying to book on TG repatriation flight at exhorbitant cost although SQ via SIN is a 15 hour connection in a holding pen

This is probably the most minor of the overall inconveniences but travellers arriving from Australia (except Victoria, and even including Vic after Nov 6) can use the normal transit facilities, they aren’t required to stay in the holding pen.

Transiting through Changi | Covid-19 Information Hub | Singapore Changi Airport

www.changiairport.com

 

[Pushka]

I went to the rheumatologist yesterday and she asked if I had found hydroxychloroquine hard to source. Yes, in late April and she had heard of many issues. I commented that I took it religiously in case Trump was right . She did say that the coughtail of steroi_s he was on when he contracted it had sent him to the fairies at the time as the drugs given to him were very potent.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I went to the rheumatologist yesterday and she asked if I had found hydroxychloroquine hard to source. Yes, in late April and she had heard of many issues. I commented that I took it religiously in case Trump was right . She did say that the coughtail of steroi_s he was on when he contracted it had sent him to the fairies at the time as the drugs given to him were very potent.

How would one tell.

 

[drron]

Things that don't seem to work.

Convalescent plasma in the management of moderate covid-19 in adults in India: open label phase II multicentre randomised controlled trial (PLACID Trial)

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of using convalescent plasma to treat moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) in adults in India. Design Open label, parallel arm, phase II, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Setting 39 public and private hospitals across India...

www.bmj.com

Vitamin D deficiency may mean a worse outlook.

Study finds more than 80% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 are vitamin D deficient

By Denise BaezNEW YORK -- October 29, 2020 -- Vitamin D deficiency was found in 82.2% of patients admitted to 1 hospital with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.“We have found that serum 25OHD...

dgalerts.docguide.com

 

[tgh]

Dear Drron ……. …. could you please update us on current Covid treatments ?
Reports say that a lot of v stuff doesn't work and yet there appears 2b anecdotal evidence that treatment has improved/evolved.. how?
Donalds_tump was reportedly off with the fairies on steroi_s.. is that the go ?

 

[Pushka]

Vitamin D deficiency may mean a worse outlook.

For years I’ve been deficient in Vit D. Every time I’m tested. So yesterday the rheumatologist gave me the script for the mega Vit D syringe because she’s given up me taking another tablet with all the ones (now 7) I’m currently on.

Post automatically merged: Oct 30, 2020

Dear Drron ……. …. could you please update us on current Covid treatments ?
Reports say that a lot of v stuff doesn't work and yet there appears 2b anecdotal evidence that treatment has improved/evolved.. how?
Donalds_tump was reportedly off with the fairies on steroi_s.. is that the go ?

The specialist I spoke to yesterday said she thought the antibody treatment and high dose steroi_s did the trick for him. Even though they sent him (even more) flakey, they worked. For a normal person - not an issue.