Why coronavirus antibody testing in one Colorado town could provide a way forward
Testing in the ski town Telluride could allow for fewer restrictions nationwide.
By Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, Eden David and Josh Margolin
March 28, 2020
While it might be impossible to figure out who is going to become sick with novel coronavirus, some public health experts believe the more critical question may be who has already been exposed.
In Telluride, Colorado, last week, one biotech company put that idea to work.
United Biomedical is now working with San Miguel County, which includes the famous Rocky Mountain ski destination, to test all 8,000 residents for COVID-19 antibodies — making it the first community in the country to do widespread antibody testing. (See link for article)
Coronavirus testing kits heading to the UK found to be contaminated with Covid-19
An expert has said the UK should be mass testing the population for the strain ( Getty Images )
Testing kits which were headed to the UK have been found to be contaminated with coronavirus.
The Government has said that it aims to boost the rate of tests to 25,000 every day by the end of April at the latest and has asked private companies to help drive up test production.
But one production firm, Luxembourg-based manufacturer Eurofins, told UK labs on Monday that deliveries would be delayed as core parts had been contaminated with coronavirus, the Telegraph reported. (See Link for article)
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**Comment**
Key Quote:
This shouldn’t significantly affect the UK’s testing efforts, Government sources told the paper.
An interesting response considering they just uncovered tests contaminated with the very thing they are looking for.
Aims: Studies have indicated that chloroquine (CQ) shows antagonism against COVID-19 in vitro. However, evidence regarding its effects in patients is limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
Main methods: From February 4 to February 28, 2020, 62 patients suffering from COVID-19 were diagnosed and admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. All participants were randomized in a parallel-group trial, 31 patients were assigned to receive an additional 5-day HCQ (400 mg/d) treatment, Time to clinical recovery (TTCR), clinical characteristics, and radiological results were assessed at baseline and 5 days after treatment to evaluate the effect of HCQ.
Key findings: For the 62 COVID-19 patients, 46.8% (29 of 62) were male and 53.2% (33 of 62) were female, the mean age was 44.7 (15.3) years. No difference in the age and sex distribution between the control group and the HCQ group. But for TTCR, the
body temperature recovery time and the cough remission time were significantly shortened in the HCQ treatment group
a larger proportion of patients with improved pneumonia in the HCQ treatment group (80.6%, 25 of 32) compared with the control group (54.8%, 17 of 32)
Notably, all 4 patients progressed to severe illness that occurred in the control group
2 patients with mild adverse reactions in the HCQ treatment group
Significance: Among patients with COVID-19, the use of HCQ could significantly shorten TTCR and promote the absorption of pneumonia.
A model for our time? Jerry Lewis and Stella Stevens starred in The Nutty Professor, 1963. Photo: AFP / Collection Christophel / copyright Paramount Pictures
Excerpt:
“Indeed, the current ‘safer at home,’ ‘shut down the economy’ and ‘flatten the curve’ strategies are based on the assumptionthat stopping the movement of people and developing a proven vaccine will solve coronavirus infections.
And the only consistent rejoinder to people who question the need for all this hugely damaging action is: ‘Oh, then you want more people to die?’
A false dichotomy on steroids.
In fact, it appears the debate is controlled – and important decisions are made, unchallenged – by people who have government jobs, well-funded academic sinecures or secure pensions. I suppose that makes sense. After all, what would the lower orders know about such things? They’ve not done the modeling.”
I’ve spent a lot of time on the models. They don’t tell you anything. You can’t really rely upon models.” Dr. Anthony Fauci
“This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.” Dr. Fauci https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2002387
“AS FOR OUR COMMON DEFENSE, WE REJECT AS FALSE THE CHOICE BETWEEN OUR SAFETY AND OUR IDEALS.” WENDY K. MARINER, GEORGE J. ANNAS & WENDY E. PARMET (ALL LAW PROFESSORS) INAUGURATION ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, JANUARY 20, 2009. MARINER
How do you encourage people to turn on each other during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The answer is not that complicated, especially if you live in the City of Bellevue, Washington.
Four years ago, when the city created the MyBellevue app, it was touted as being a quick and easy way to report things like downed street signs, potholes, street light issues and noise complaints. Fast forward to 2020 and public fears of COVID-19 have encouraged law enforcement to turn neighbors into government snitches. (See link for article)
