Do you need to vent about things COVID-19?

[Dafadilia Wayfarer]

9 hours ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

There has been tons of beatchin over the last few months about Trump not wearing a mask out in public...... and I have agreed with those complaints.   Biden and Harris have both also commented on it.

Thus I was totally blown away by this picture in the news tonight -- currently front page of https://www.usatoday.com/

I agree. Everyone should be wearing a mask. When he was at the podium speaking I understood why he wouldn't. Stepping into any crowd for a photo, a mask should of been worn. 

Everyone should be wearing a mask no matter who they are when in crowds. Trying to respectfully social distance when one is able to should also be done. Everyone should be doing these things.

Calling it out was more than fair. I don't want anyone getting this virus. 😣

[Jordyn McGregor]

On 11/7/2020 at 10:57 AM, Seicher Rae said:

I hate hand sanitizers

AGREED!  I have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell and the overly flowery or sickly citrus scents were KILLING me until I FINALLY found a scent free sanitising spray!  It's made my life so much more pleasant as I no longer smell like a super flowery fruit salad!!!. 

Now if only they would close the damn borders again and stop letting infected people into the country!  I don't think I could handle a third lockdown!!!

[Cindy Evanier]

1 minute ago, Jordan Whitt said:

AGREED!  I have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell and the overly flowery or sickly citrus scents were KILLING me until I FINALLY found a scent free sanitising spray!  It's made my life so much more pleasant as I no longer smell like a super flowery fruit salad!!!. 

Now if only they would close the damn borders again and stop letting infected people into the country!  I don't think I could handle a third lockdown!!!

You know when you go into an establishment that has those hand sanitizers at the entrance?   Try doing it when you are wheelchair height.  I get a face full of the bloody stuff or an earful if I turn my face in time.  HATE HATE HATE. 

(I quite like the smell of my Aloe Vera handbag sized one though.)

[Rowan Amore]

9 minutes ago, Jordan Whitt said:

AGREED!  I have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell and the overly flowery or sickly citrus scents were KILLING me until I FINALLY found a scent free sanitising spray!  It's made my life so much more pleasant as I no longer smell like a super flowery fruit salad!!!. 

Now if only they would close the damn borders again and stop letting infected people into the country!  I don't think I could handle a third lockdown!!!

I've made my own recently, adding my own essential oils.  If you can find the ingredients, it's rather easy.  I use 90% alcohol and aloe Vera gel plus essential oil.

There are a fee recipes online for it.  The aloe seems to counteract the drying effect of the alcohol.  I keep a bottle in my purse for when I do have to go out.  I currently smell like basil but I've used lavender and tea tree oils also.

[Luna Bliss]

16 hours ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

 

@Luna Bliss - Pray tell, Sweetie, what are you confused about?  Biden not wearing a mask after everyone in this country, including him, blasted Trump and other people for not wearing one at events or the fact that I decided to add it to the "vent about Covid" thread, or maybe something else entirely has befuddled your mind. 

He is no more immune to criticism as anyone else holding public office and since he is standing in the middle of a crowd of people wearing masks, he should be criticized. 

You're comparing apples to oranges here, and when you do that your conclusions become invalid because your comparison is inaccurate.
Sure, on a personal level, if I knew of a Democrat neighbor biching about Republicans not wearing masks yet saw him going maskless I'd cry 'hypocrite'!
But when we consider meta-levels, or the big picture, like politics, we have to take more into consideration when crying 'foul', as there are more variables to take into consideration. When you don't include the more complex variables you're not making valid comparisons as the situation you're trying to portray is not so simple.

In the age of Trump, refusing the mask has been a form of sacrament, a political-religious symbol that signifies loyalty to Donald Trump and his movement. For the longest time we saw most of the TrumpTrain maskless and mocking those who feared Covid or wore masks, whereas the Dems complied with Scientific evidence and wore masks in far, far, far greater numbers. 

Therefore it's just not accurate to find only one incident among a 'side' and say "Aha, you're just as bad as the others you hypocrite, gotcha!" because most Democrats always wore them and most Republicans did not -- we need to compare one entire group against another and not use one incident before slandering the entire side as hypocritical.   We also need to take into consideration WHY someone is not wearing a mask before judging them and saying they're as bad as the other side -- taking a one-time chance, briefly and in a safe way as all surrounded him wore masks, and doing so for a photo of Biden winning a monumental election where we want  to see his face fully for all posterity and the History books, is far different from a Rose Garden massacre where hardly anyone wore masks because Trumpie discouraged them, and with the result of Covid spreading like wildfire among all the participants.

[Qie Niangao]

I too thought Biden should be wearing a mask sooner than he did after his speech, but mostly to be a visible example, more than to serve the same virus-blocking purpose as masks serve in the general public. That's because he's tested constantly (and reports the results publicly) -- way more often than Trump, as we learned when the White House seemed to have no idea when he was last tested before the first debate.

There is a tiny possibility of spreading the virus a few hours before testing positive, but it's way, way less than the risk any of us would pose to those around us if we fail to wear a mask.

I'm not sure where people were seeing these mass gatherings with all that many maskless celebrants; I didn't see any with less than 90% (at least) masked, and of course NYC's was much higher than that (for obvious reasons). That said, it only takes one superspreader, and even outside masks only augment, not replace, social distancing.

I suspect the most vulnerable folks were celebrating with libations specially reserved for the occasion. At least that was our celebration at Chez Qie.

[Luna Bliss]

3 minutes ago, Qie Niangao said:

Biden

I wish we could tuck him in a little cocoon until the virus dies down more or at least until he's sworn in...lol

I keep counting down... approx 74 days until he takes over...

It's spiking where I live, and cases are going up everywhere. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when the really cold weather persists.

[Qie Niangao]

Some good news: The Pfizer vaccine is showing 90% effectiveness in its trials, which is much better than most would have expected. (FDA will accept anything over 50% as a valid vaccine, and I'd heard 70% as the most likely target.)

The Pfizer vaccine candidate is among those that require two shots spaced by about 3 weeks, and it must be kept under constant unusually cold sterile conditions (-70C or -94F).

Other good news: Biden transition team announced their COVID-19 Advisory Board. It's scientists. What a relief to have government by grown-ups again.

[Amina Sopwith]

9 minutes ago, Qie Niangao said:

Some good news: The Pfizer vaccine is showing 90% effectiveness in its trials, which is much better than most would have expected. (FDA will accept anything over 50% as a valid vaccine, and I'd heard 70% as the most likely target.)

The Pfizer vaccine candidate is among those that require two shots spaced by about 3 weeks, and it must be kept under constant unusually cold sterile conditions (-70C or -94F).

I was just reading about this. Good news! I'm told by another clever person other than Qie that 90% is well over the limit required for herd immunity.

Edited November 9, 2020 by Amina Sopwith

[Arielle Popstar]

But the vaccine only appears to prevent it in those who have not had it before, not cure or speed up recovery for those who already have it.

Quote

The company said that the analysis found that the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing the disease among trial volunteers who had no evidence of prior coronavirus infection. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

 

[Lyssa Greymoon]

5 minutes ago, Arielle Popstar said:

But the vaccine only appears to prevent it in those who have not had it before, not cure or speed up recovery for those who already have it.

 

[Rowan Amore]

Um..that's what a vaccine is for.  Prevention.

[Ceka Cianci]

31 minutes ago, Arielle Popstar said:

But the vaccine only appears to prevent it in those who have not had it before, not cure or speed up recovery for those who already have it.

 

You're thinking of antivirals or antiretrovirals.. one contains the virus  the other finds it and kills it..

ETA: I have those reversed up there.. Antiviral kills,, antiretroviral contains it and stops it from copying itself.

Vaccine is what you take before you ever get it, like a flu shot.

Edited November 9, 2020 by Ceka Cianci

[Qie Niangao]

They explicitly mention "no prior infection" because the trial is limited to only those subjects. Because there's still no known duration to immunity after having COVID-19, it's an open question how soon recovered patients should be vaccinated.

For that matter, it's an open question how long this vaccine's immunizing effect will last, although there's some reason to think it may outlast natural immunity from the disease itself.

Related: Here's an interesting take on the vaccine news: 

If one can just manage to stay COVID-free another month... then another month... then another... pretty soon one won't have to get the virus at all. An apparently safe, effective vaccine as a real prospect limits the "cost" of efforts to stay healthy, both individually and collectively. (There were always benefits to delaying sickness as new therapeutic treatments emerged, too, but it's much better to never get this virus, especially given the unknown risks of adverse effects years or decades later, as with chickenpox, measles, polio and other viruses, potentially even for those who don't develop the COVID-19 symptoms.)

[Arielle Popstar]

1 minute ago, Ceka Cianci said:

You're thinking of antivirals or antiretrovirals.. one contains the virus  the other finds it and kills it..

Vaccine is what you take before you ever get it, like a flu shot.

Well yes, I understand that and just pointing it out as I am sure there are many hoping for that. There is some study showing that Hep C drugs actually fulfill that aspect.

https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/latest-news/infohep/3548907/hepatitis-c-drugs-may-offer-inexpensive-treatment-option-covid-19

Quote

 

Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, two antiviral drugs used to treat hepatitis C, were associated with faster recovery, shorter hospitalisation and improve survival among people with moderate or severe COVID-19, researchers reported this month at the COVID-19 Conference that concluded the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020: Virtual).

Speaking at a conference press briefing, Dr Andrew Hill of Liverpool University, a well-known expert on drug pricing, said that if larger studies confirm these findings, generic versions of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir could potentially be an affordable and widely accessible treatment for the new coronavirus.

 

 

[Rowan Amore]

14 minutes ago, Arielle Popstar said:

Well yes, I understand that and just pointing it out as I am sure there are many hoping for that. There is some study showing that Hep C drugs actually fulfill that aspect.

https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/latest-news/infohep/3548907/hepatitis-c-drugs-may-offer-inexpensive-treatment-option-covid-19

 

If the larger trials do pan out, this would be good news, as the drugs are readily available. Although sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir has a list price of about $18,600 in the US and about £6000 in the UK for a 14-day course, cheap generic versions are available for about $7 or £5 in India. Around 2.5 million courses could be formulated with the current supply.

Wonder how much India will end up selling it for.

[Arielle Popstar]

12 minutes ago, RowanMinx said:

IWonder how much India will end up selling it for.

From another site I found the other day when searching for generic sources geared to Hep C cures itself: The cost of generic Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir is US$550 for 12 weeks treatment (2 pills per day for 84 days).  https://www.generichepatitiscdrugs.com/hepatitis-c-medication-prices/

If only 2 weeks supply is needed then I guess the cost would be about 1/6 th of $550 or $91 approximate.

[Silent Mistwalker]

Just now, RowanMinx said:

If the larger trials do pan out, this would be good news, as the drugs are readily available. Although sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir has a list price of about $18,600 in the US and about £6000 in the UK for a 14-day course, cheap generic versions are available for about $7 or £5 in India. Around 2.5 million courses could be formulated with the current supply.

Wonder how much India will end up selling it for.

Great. Just freaking great. Medicaid will never approve treatment for me now.

[Rowan Amore]

1 hour ago, Arielle Popstar said:

From another site I found the other day when searching for generic sources geared to Hep C cures itself: The cost of generic Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir is US$550 for 12 weeks treatment (2 pills per day for 84 days).  https://www.generichepatitiscdrugs.com/hepatitis-c-medication-prices/

If only 2 weeks supply is needed then I guess the cost would be about 1/6 th of $550 or $91 approximate.

They won't even cover people who actually need this drug for Hep C.  I'm wondering if they'll bother to cover people who take it for Covid.  $91 might not seem like a lot to some people but to others, it's a matter of eating, paying rent, other medications or that $91 for something that might work.   I'm not saying don't use it but the fact is, most insurance isn't going to pay for 'experimental' treatment for anything.   

[LittleMe Jewell]

At the very least, Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance companies will not typically pay for any "treatment" drugs until they are not longer considered 'experimental'.  Even then, it is a crap shoot.  I sometimes just shake me head at the drugs my insurance company won't cover.

[Rowan Amore]

1 minute ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

At the very least, Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance companies will not typically pay for any "treatment" drugs until they are not longer considered 'experimental'.  Even then, it is a crap shoot.  I sometimes just shake me head at the drugs my insurance company won't cover.

What always upset me was that before the ACA, most insurance didn't cover birth control pills yet cover Viagra.  Now tell me how the heck that made any sense.

[Ceka Cianci]

4 minutes ago, RowanMinx said:

What always upset me was that before the ACA, most insurance didn't cover birth control pills yet cover Viagra.  Now tell me how the heck that made any sense.

It doesn't, not one bit!!

Maaaaaa!! Granpa got his pills mixed up with dads again and he won't get out from in front of the TV! \o/

[Arielle Popstar]

5 hours ago, RowanMinx said:

They won't even cover people who actually need this drug for Hep C.  I'm wondering if they'll bother to cover people who take it for Covid.  $91 might not seem like a lot to some people but to others, it's a matter of eating, paying rent, other medications or that $91 for something that might work.   I'm not saying don't use it but the fact is, most insurance isn't going to pay for 'experimental' treatment for anything.   

Well I am in that position too where my own 25 year old Hep C diagnosis is not far enough advanced to warrant being covered by Canada's health care but at least these generics at $550 US are low enough to be within reach of most when life or death is on the line. For those to whom it isn't, there are avenue's that can be tried like FundMe sites etc. I would be open to donating to such a cause for one in such a strait.

[Luna Bliss]

1 hour ago, Arielle Popstar said:

Well I am in that position too where my own 25 year old Hep C diagnosis is not far enough advanced to warrant being covered by Canada's health care but at least these generics at $550 US are low enough to be within reach of most when life or death is on the line. For those to whom it isn't, there are avenue's that can be tried like FundMe sites etc. I would be open to donating to such a cause for one in such a strait.

Well be careful because it really is a systemic disease and more than the liver is being damaged. My mom got it from a blood transfusion after a hysterectomy, probably not needed. She ended up dying.

[Jordyn McGregor]

The testing. 

It

Friggen

HURTS!