A biochemist reviews the Trump administration’s continuing response to COVID-19
Until the press decides that it wants to help the country instead of destroy Trump, it needs to be quarantined.
As a reminder to those who may be new to Legal Insurrection, I have a degree in biochemistry and experience in dealing with releases of potentially infectious materials. I am the author of a book on bloodborne pathogen safety.
Today, I want to take a look at the appropriate level of risk and its proper management when addressing the current situation related to the Wuhan coronavirus in this country. While it is tragic to learn that an American died in Washington state of the disease, it is important to understand that there were underlying health problems that made the patient more vulnerable.
The risk to most Americans is currently low. And while the risk level may change, because the press is choosing to cover the news through the prism of its Trump Derangement Syndrome, I would like to touch on a few points made by President Donald Trump and his Coronavirus Task Force today, highlight some salient scientific facts, and make some common sense recommendations.
First point: Trumpvirus is #FakeNews. Trump is not to blame for the virus. If there is any blame that can be placed, it may be on the Chinese scientists who worked with this virus and failed to follow decontamination protocol. So, going forward, any report that points the finger at any American should be dismissed immediately. Eventually, the truth will become known, and it will be a valuable lesson to all biological researchers and facility managers.
Second point: You don’t need the masks. Only medical professionals or those working directly with sick people require the protective masks, or those who are reasonably anticipated to potentially infect others with the virus (to protect others). The masks, N95, require fit-testing and training to be used effectively. Any other kind of mask won’t protect against aerosols and is ultimately nothing more than decoration.
The average healthy American does NOT need to go out and buy a mask. pic.twitter.com/xMAaApOjb7
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 29, 2020
Additionally, if the correct masks become scarce, then they might not be available for the medical personnel who actually need them. This could endanger the lives and/or health of those healthcare providers, as well as all who rely upon those same providers when they fall ill.
The best approach is to follow the protocol for flu prevention that has been tailored to address the Wuhan coronavirus, which targets the respiratory system:
- Don’t touch the eyes, nose, and mouth unless there is an need to do so. This action is a lot harder than it sounds.
- Pay attention to where your hands go: Do you have to use the hand-rail? When was the last time you cleaned your cell phone? How clean is that refrigerator or microwave handle? How clean is the car’s steering wheel?
- Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash. Then, wash your hands. The trash can should be cleaned and sanitized regularly.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. (For example, one could use disinfectant wipes around the seating are of a plane before sitting down)
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing the “Happy Birthday” in your head as a good timer), especially after going to the bathroom, before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
There is a lot more to proper hand-washing than one might suspect, and I have shared this video with my family as a reminder.
Third Point: Protect your respiratory system now.It is clear that the virus targets the respiratory system, and those with medical conditions impacting the lungs are hit hardest. I suspect one reason the Chinese have seen so many deaths is that their population has to contend with air pollution at levels currently unimaginable to most Americans.
In fact, NASA has monitored the Wuhan area for nitrogen dioxide (a gas known for its adverse effects on the respiratory system). The levels of that gas, associated with manufacturing, has plummeted since the lockdown in China.
Imagine, then, a person who becomes infected with COVID-19 also has respiratory system that has been exposed to elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide for many years. The chances for death would increase, and the recovery from the disease would likely be slower.
Other risk factors also include pre-existing heart conditions, diabetes, and obesity. Therefore, if you wish to enhance your preparation for the Wuhan Coronavirus, protect your immune and respiratory systems:
- Stop smoking.
- Take vitamins, drink plenty of water, and start a sensible exercise regimen.
- Consider your home and office environment: Are there ways to improve the air quality that are easy to implement that makes it easier for you to breathe (e.g., air filter, humidifiers).
- If you suffer from a respiratory ailment (e.g., asthma), confer with your doctor for additional guidance.
Fourth Point: Tune out the mainstream media.The press wishes to induce economic turmoil to harm Trump’s re-election and to make the coronavirus into his Katrina.
The media’s fear-mongering has the real effect of jeopardizing the welfare of millions of Americans, like my mother, who rely on their investments to pay for food, medicine, warmth, and other essentials.
Until the press decides that it wants to help the country instead of destroy Trump, it needs to be quarantined.
The #FakeNews hoaxes regarding Russia and Ukraine have been merely annoying. However, the Democrat/elite media hoax regarding the coronavirus is outright destructive.
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Comments
Thanks for the information….the video on hand washing should be mandatory for everyone going on a cruise ship. It always amazes me that people refuse to wash their hands before entering the buffet even when there is an outbreak of upset stomachs.
Regarding media, “needs to be quarantined.”
I see media as being similar to palestinians, in that neither group can be salvaged. They are psychotic and incurable.
Can we dunk and wash the DEMS that way?
Great comments on this DEM-made HOAX by Steve Hilton.
Go to about 2 minutes into it.
Kings and Queens of catastrophe:
Everything is a disaster for the left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8U3VHcdY0w
Oh, and FYI….
Stocks Coming Back – U.S. equity markets surged Monday as Wall Street looks to rebound from its worst week since the financial crisis.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up as much as 449 points, or 1.8 percent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were higher by 1.5 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
https://www.weaselzippers.us/444749-stocks-coming-back/
KEEP PUSHINB BACK PEOPLE!!!!! WE’RE WINNING!!!!!
Dow Closes With The ‘Largest Point Gain In A Single Day’ Ever
https://www.weaselzippers.us/444772-somebody-please-check-on-paul-krugman-dow-closes-with-the-largest-point-gain-in-a-single-day-ever/
Stock Market Roars Back in Response to Overblown Coronavirus Fears – Largest Point Gain Ever…
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/02/stock-market-roars-back-in-response-to-overblown-coronavirus-fears-largest-point-gain-ever/
Bannon on President Trump handling everything China
Bannon: Trump is taking bold actions with China
•Mar 1, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=2uEgR0RdCyI&feature=emb_logo
Excellent video—except this should be added:
RINSE RINSE RINSE
Soap and water loosen dirt and germs from the skin–flowing water is what carries the dirt and germs away.
Yeah but did you ever win second place at a high school science fair?
Nice!
This is great. Thank you so much!!!
I haven’t been alive all that long, and just in the past 20 years there’s been several plagues that were sure to wipe out the human race. SARS, Swine Flu H1N1, Ebola, MERS, Zika, and now Covid-19. What am I missing? Bird Flu? There’s just so many things that I am supposed to be panicked about on a yearly basis. I am afraid of Covid-19 about as much as I am afraid of the Army if the 12 Monkeys.
You’re forgetting Y2K. A computer “virus”, but same hysteria
As someone who worked in IT at the time:
Y2K had very few effects because of prior preparation and fixing. You demonstrate the typical Pointy Haired Boss: See, all that work we put into preparation was wasted because nothing happened.
You know what the Y23K problem was? Coders and programmers who didn’t think beyond the next year on the calendar. There was no forethought in the initial design of the date matrix in programs and files. And, it was ignored when it was pointed out, for as long as [possible. Then the media picked it up and sensationalized it as the current EOTWAWKI. Everything that the media touches they sensationalize it to apocalyptic levels.
To be fair, a lot of the programming that led to Y2K was done in a time when computer memory was very expensive. Part of the problem was never changing old habits as memory got cheaper. Another part of the problem was nobody wanted to go back and rewrite legacy software.
I think that the problem is that you haven’t spent time to understand the risk factors. There is reproductive rate, how many people each person is likely to infect. For this bug it is in the range of 3-4, for regular flu is is about 1.2. Then there is mortality rate, for this it appears to be about 5%, there have been mortality rates of 80% for some pathogens. There are many other factors. If we draw the short straw, and eventually we will, where each of the factors turns out to favor the worst outcome, then you will be kissing your tail goodby.
I hope that Leslie is right about environmental factors making this bad news for China, because if that is the case, it might not be anywhere near as bad here.
No, the problem is that YOU have not stopped to put the COVID virus into context.
We still have little reliable information on the virus. Until it actually begins spreading, in a wild state, in the US, every conclusion about COVID is simply speculation. Two weeks ago, medical authorities were warning that this virus was much, much worse than influenza a and b and that the fatality rate was staggering. They have been steadily walking these warnings back, incrementally, as more is learned about the virus. So, it is simply an exercise in futility to take extreme measures with regard to this virus, at this time.
The thing to understand, is YOUR own physical problems which may be acerbated by contracting COVID. Most, people will handle the virus just fine. They will experience mild to heightened flu-like symptoms. They should consult a physician and stay home, until the symptoms pass. For those with reduce immunity levels and respiratory problems, they should reduce their public contacts as much as possible. They should consult a physician immediately upon the appearance of flu-like symptoms.
The virus may be worse than the flu. Then again, it might not. In fact, if the fact trends continue in their present direction, it may not be significantly more damaging that the flu. We will have to wait and see.
I haven’t been alive all that long, and just in the past 20 years there’s been several plagues that were sure to wipe out the human race. SARS, Swine Flu H1N1, Ebola, MERS, Zika, and now Covid-19. What am I missing? Bird Flu? There’s just so many things that I am supposed to be panicked about on a yearly basis. I am afraid of Covid-19 about as much as I am afraid of the Army of the 12 Monkeys.
This absolutely won’t depopulate the human race, but it is worse than the average flu. It’s also new; the average person catches the flu only once in 10 years, because they’ve already been exposed to most of the flu going around. Every so often you run into a flu when you are in a weakened state or it’s a flu that’s new to you. This virus (corona, not an influenza) is new to everyone.
Media doesn’t handle this sort of thing very well, it’s not nothing, we do need to take counter measures, but we don’t need to panic and it’s not the end of the world. That doesn’t make for good Clickbait if reported accurately
Great article. The left is politicizing COVID-19 for the sole purpose of bring down our President. Doom and gloom are all the left can talk or write about today.
I agree, the left has burned a bunch of bridges and are now facing the likelihood that Trump is going to win again. They are desperate, grasping at straws.
And the “fun” has just begun!
The author begins by saying that mask won’t protect the lay person from an infection. Then he says “Don’t touch the eyes, nose, and mouth unless there is an need to do so. This action is a lot harder than it sounds.”
The principal value of a mask in public is that it prevents the wearer from inadvertently touching their face. Once you get home, wash your hands, remove the mask and you’re good.
I see that double post bug is back, lol.
It’s the Corona Virus attacking LI don’t you know!!!!
We’re all gonna die!
The N95 mask apparently won’t stop the particulate without fitting, so using those is just as effective as tieing a bandana around your face, and keeps them from the people who are trained and need to have them.
So if you want to wear a mask for the purposes of keeping your fingers away from your face, just get a stack of bandanas and run them through the laundry every few days.
The author begins by saying that mask won’t protect the lay person from an infection. Then he says “Don’t touch the eyes, nose, and mouth unless there is an need to do so. This action is a lot harder than it sounds.”
The principal value of a mask in public is that it prevents the wearer from inadvertently touching their face. Once you get home, wash your hands, remove the mask and you’re good.
It would be nice if the president would call for handwashing and not rubbing your face to be introduced to first second and maybe third grade curriculums. Up till now sjws would have screamed that it’s western colonial racist blah blah blah blah, this would be a good time to get it done. Most adults today we’re not taught sanitation and don’t have it as a habit.
Start earlier than that, when I was a school nurse I was teaching stuff like that to pre-K with very good results.
It would be nice if the president would call for handwashing and not rubbing your face to be introduced to first second and maybe third grade curriculums. Up till now sjws would have screamed that it’s western colonial racist blah blah blah blah, this would be a good time to get it done. Most adults today we’re not taught sanitation and don’t have it as a habit.
Leslie, I’m a pulmonary physician at the University of Chicago. I agree with your recommendations, ESPECIALLY the hand-washing.
For people with respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease), in addition to the steps Leslie has outlined, additional precautions —
— STAY AWAY FROM INFECTED PEOPLE. This is true whether that infected person has COVID-19, influenza, or the common cold virus. If your grandchild has signs of infection, STAY AWAY. You can visit your loved ones when they have recovered completely from their own infection.
— Ensure your rescue inhalers (albuterol, combivent, etc.) are up to date and you have plenty of them. Ensure that you have recently refilled your controller inhalers. If you and your doctor agree, you might want to have a small supply of prednisone handy.
— Avoid other conditions that may provoke your respiratory system, such as smoke, cold air, or environmental triggers. These will leave you more susceptible to viral infection (again, whether it’s COVID-19 or influenza).
— Purell is good, soap is better. Wash your hands often!
Leslie, thanks again for the common sense advice.
Thank you for those great pointers for those who have pre-existing respiratory conditions. I appreciate this input immensely.
Thanks Doc.
Thanks for this info. As an elder with COPD, all your advice is valued. I use the Combivent, and have some 5mg prednisone on hand, and an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow morning. I will discuss this with him. Again, thanks for this timely info.
Another point is to self-isolate if you are feeling sick. It is even more important is you go in for a test – at least wait for the results before going back out. I already posted this quote before, but it is good to repeat it.
” in Washington State: a 18-year-old student from Jackson High School in Mill Creek with no travel history to an outbreak area who on Feb. 24 had body aches, chills and a headache. After feeling better, he returned to school, before test results came out on Feb. 28. The school will be closed for a few days of deep disinfecting.”
– https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
BTW – Mill Creek is in the greater Seattle area, just north of the Kirtland area.
Thank you for the voice of Sanity Leslie.
Everything Leslie said is 100% on point. I am a Nurse with 25 years of experience and currently work in the Preventative, Occupational, and Environmental Health Clinic (POEM) at the largest University Hospital and Medical School in my state. The only change we have made is to inquire about recent travel.
As with others here I will reiterate the advice already given. The number 1 best thing you can do is WASH YOUR HANDS. In this case I recommend washing your hands every time you think about it.
Good advise on CoronaVirus, but the title, the Trump administration’s continuing response to COVID-19, does not match the article’s content much.
I would give the Trump Administration a grade of a “B” on their response.
Positives:
– Frequent Briefings, the Saturday briefing is the first of many.
– Cutting off travel to China Jan. 31st, which delayed the virus’s progress in the US at least by a month.
– Putting Mike Pence in charge of the CoronaVirus. He knows how to work the system to get results, and has previous experience with 2 epidemics.
– Allowing Experts to speak as part of the press conference
– Not making the briefings political, or full of virtue signalling.
– Reducing the CDC’s influence / gas lighting.
– Reducing the stranglehold the CDC has on CoronaVirus Testing.
– Canceling of the Las Vegas South East Asia Summit
– Decoupling the US economy from China through tariffs and the new NAFTA.
– Offering to help Iran
– Not blaming / pointing fingers at China on the CoronaVirus.
– Using Military Bases for quarantine
– Being truthful there will be more deaths in the US.
Could Have Been Done Better:
– Not fixing the CoronaVirus testing issue faster, but allowing the CDC to play power games. The US is a month behind where it should be. From what I read the US only did 500 tests total, and some states had zero tests.
– Focusing the CDC on Communicable Diseases, and fighting the mission creep since Trump got elected. Instapundit has an editorial on this a ways back in USA Today. This issue has been going on for years.
– Fixing the rapid development of Vaccine Issue, which the CDC has been neglecting for years.
– Forcing more medicines to be made in the US earlier. An issue the Trump administration inherited from prior administrations.
– Costa Mesa seems to be a SNAFU
– Allowing Americans in the Cruise Ships to stay on board
– Allowing Americans to fly back, that had gotten positive results, probably infecting others on the flight.
My guess with the CDC issues, is the Trump Administration had higher priority issues to deal with, and did not realize how ineffective and politicized the CDC is. FDA also has issues on quick development / approval of drugs. Both these issues were inherited, and go back years.
Overall, Trump’s response has been amazing, and I am so glad he is the President right now.
Did you tweet it to President Trump?
BTW have seen this BIG LIE Biden told?
Biden Falsely Claims There Are No Testing Kits For Coronavirus
https://www.weaselzippers.us/444718-biden-falsely-claims-there-are-no-testing-kits-for-coronavirus/
Also were you aware that “Resist” Obama appointees (Rod’s sister at the CDC) in the government and elsewhere are actively trying to spread this virus and to deliberately create panic?
Rod Rosenstein’s Sister Gins Up Fear With Her CDC Statement
https://legalinsurrection.com/2020/02/wuhan-virus-watch-rod-rosensteins-sister-gins-up-fear-with-her-cdc-statement/
Biden Falsely Claims There Are No Testing Kits For Coronavirus
https://www.weaselzippers.us/444718-biden-falsely-claims-there-are-no-testing-kits-for-coronavirus/
Leslie, it’s time for you to get some air time with Tucker Carlson.
We were flying into Manila in the middle of the Taal volcano eruption. Our family told us it was getting hard to breath in some areas affected by the ash and other gunk coming out. So we bought masks. Lots of them. Then corona virus came out. So they got double duty use for a while. Still have a bunch left.
Leslie,
Thanks for the welcome dose of sanity.
I am a chemist and patent attorney, who has a history of asthma (cured) and pneumonia (several times, once severe). Since my last bout of pneumonia, I have discovered that either use of a home facial steamer or regular trips to the steam sauna in my gym can seem to ward off respiratory infections.
Many viruses are vulnerable to steam treatment, and the treatment only takes two minutes. I find that treatment seems to ward off a respiratory infection, and lessen symptoms for about a day.
I’ve heard nothing about whether this coronavirus might be limited in this manner. I will continue with my habit, which is to visit the wet sauna after a workout. It gets me through the winter in good shape.
On the rare occasions when I get a cold, I’ll use steam. It’s entirely symptomatic relief for me.
CNN, in their high levels of self-awareness, had the gall today to claim that Trump is politicizing COVID 19.
Yes, that same CNN that had a full panel of “experts” complaining about Don Jr.’s “conspiracy theories” of Dems wanting people to die and the market to tank and Mike Pence backing it up.
What’s funny is they say all of this like their audience hasn’t just watched them say everything political they could WHILE BLOOMBERG’S AD CAMPAIGN CHURNS OUT A COVID 19 AD AND PLAYS IT IN THE COMMERCIAL BREAK!
No lie, look it up, as of at least 2 days ago if not earlier, Bloomberg already had a coronavirus attack ad out there. Neither he nor Congress (Pelosi and Schumer) nor any other candidate in the Dem clown show were mentioned ONCE for politicizing the situation and trying to bring down the stock market (you know, standard reporting stuff, like pointing out the source of Don Jr’s gripe with the left).
Until the press decides that it wants to help the country instead of destroy Trump, it needs to be quarantined.
———————–
This could have been the entire article.
The truth starkly written.
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I wish everybody would read your analysis.
Of note, there were no cases in children younger than 15 years of age. Either children are less likely to become infected, which would have important epidemiologic implications, or their symptoms were so mild that their infection escaped detection, which has implications for the size of the denominator of total community infections.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2002387
“Bonk bonk”
Just wanted to add my THANK YOU !
This is exactly the simple and straight forward information that is actually useful !
If you are in a room of potentially infected people. Use an N 95 mask and if the mask isn’t a perfect fit and leaks then use duct tape or if you are medical use silk tape around the edges. Better yet use a n-100 particulate respirator sold at Home Depot. It has been shown that a niosh p100 will protect against 99.7 percent of viral laden droplets. Wear googles over your eyes as well. This is way better for you than no protection. Use common sense people this thing is airborne and is likely to takeout 4-5% of the over 60 demographic.
Respirator masks are useless if they aren’t custom-made and fit-tested to ensure an air-tight seal. The ones at home depot would barrier some viral particles but not nearly all of them (so your numbers are off, as they are based on fit certification). Those things are designed to reduce exposure to aromatic fumes from organic solvents, not aerosolized microbes.
Not sure where you pulled it from but 4-5% of infected over 60 is a pretty small amount for a vulnerable demographic, wayyy less than the flu.
As a person who has had significant hazmat training, there is simply NO way to live your life without being exposed to this virus. A carrier sneezes near you. Even with a properly fitted N-95 mask, or its equivalent, you will be covered with the virus. So, you are carrying that exposure with you wherever you go. Now, what do you do when you get home? Do you have an anti-contamination shower room set up? Probably not. So, the first thing that you do is to remove your uncomfortable face mask. Now you are exposing yourself, to a far greater degree, to the contaminants on your clothing. Do you immediately strip and run your clothing through a contamination laundering? Again probably not. And, even if you do, what household surfaces are you contaminating during this procedure? So, wearing a mask is an effort in futility, to prevent YOUR contracting the disease.
Masks, even cheap common surgical masks, can protect the public, if it worn by the carrier, while that person is infectious. The problem with COVID is that people are contagious before they show symptoms of the disease. A catch-22, indeed.
Great Point.
RE: Masks, even cheap common surgical masks, can protect the public, if it worn by the carrier, while that person is infectious.
If you are in a room of potentially infected people. Use an N 95 mask and if the mask isn’t a perfect fit and leaks then use duct tape or if you are medical use silk tape around the edges. Better yet use a n-100 particulate respirator sold at Home Depot. It has been shown that a niosh p100 will protect against 99.7 percent of viral laden droplets. Wear googles over your eyes as well. This is way better for you than no protection. Use common sense people this thing is airborne and is likely to takeout 4-5% of the over 60 demographic.
Note that people can download files to 3d print NBC face masks that use commonly available HEPA filters that block airborne viruses. No need for consumers to eat up supply of medical supplies from suppliers that are govt approved.
Bravo Bravo!
Who knew that burkas could be useful.
So does this mean medical professionals and paramedical people are going to stop wearing Masks? Are the many government workers seen in media going to stop wearing masks because? I have had the unfortunate experience of being in hospital settings involving very infectious disease, believe me medical professionals DO NOT fit test their masks.
While I am not sure where your comment came from since no one suggested not using masks, I think I can help with some understanding of how masks are used in the medical world.
What you are most likely seeing is the use of common surgical masks as a precaution. It is best practice in medicine at this time to use common “surgical” masks that are typically made of paper and tie at the back of the head as a measure to reduce the chances of contracting the flu or cold.
However, yes you must be fit tested for using a respirator mask such as an n95. In fact I have just trimmed down my beard in order to have my fit test update this morning. However, it is important to note that fit testing is not only to determine the proper fit of the mask it also tests the ability of the person to breathe with the mask on.
I have to be fit tested for 2 different types of respirators, the n95 and a positive pressure hood (I can’t remember what they are called right now) because I have a beard (goatee) when it is longer I have to use the hood because the n95 no longer fits properly.
Don’t confuse a simple mask with a respirator mask they are 2 different things.
Viator, I can’t speak for other medical professionals, but at my university hospital each doctor and nurse (repeat, all of us) undergo yearly mandatory fit-testing with N95 masks. It takes about 30 minutes to do this; we have several types of N95 masks to choose from (including the hood) and we demonstrate that a) we know how to put it on and b) we get a proper fit and seal.
Again, can’t speak for other hospitals or health professionals.
Surgical masks are less effective at protecting one from droplets; I would put one ON THE PATIENT IN QUESTION if that’s all I had.
My friend is a postal worker and I think it’s a good idea for her to wear gloves, a mask, and goggles. As this explodes into America she will almost certainly be handling infected mail. I would rather see a video on how to properly fit the masks, and handle them. Including how they might be cleaned and re-used. A video much like the hand washing video would be great instead of saying the mask are for patient care only. People who are not health care workers are also getting sick. So, obviously others need protection too. It seems like the N95 masks are insufficient for close up medical care of sick patients anyway. Medical staff should have forced air hoods. For 100% security, I would even suggest in line UVc disinfectant light to destroy any of the 0.0017 micron virus that gets past the 0.3 micron filter. For now I told my friend to get ten masks and number them changing each day and allowing them to sit for ten days for any virus on them to die. I’m open to better ideas. My mother is 85 and I take care of her. I cannot risk getting it myself and giving it to her.
I am truly puzzled by the lack of mention of the success of remdesivir, the ebola drug, in treating COVID-19. It was used on the very first U.S. patient in late January, and he recovered.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/first-u-s-coronavirus-patient-released-from-everett-hospital/
Randomized trials started in China a few weeks ago, and the first signs were quite positive. Between that and two other drugs being tried (including in Omaha, where some of those passengers from the Japan cruise ship were taken), I think the good news is right around the corner, if not already here.
I’m expecting provisional approval of remdesivir in late April or thereabouts. All the precautions are fully justified, but I think we’re going to find out that COVID-19 can be successfully treated in the 20% of cases that wind up being severe.
Just Google it using the search term: remdesivir trials. You’ll see what I mean.
You make a good point. Part of the problem is that the left and their Media lap dogs keep saying things like, “Why isn’t this done?” or “Why hasn’t this already been done?” and unfortunately we have about half of the country who is used to instant gratification.
What the media should be pointing out is that vaccines don’t just magically appear overnight, manufacturing takes time, and all the other things that take time. You can’t just start giving people medications willy nilly, it takes testing and testing takes time.
One of the best examples of this that I have seen recently is the issue over the test kits. The left and media keep complaining that there aren’t enough and making it seem as if the numbers available are somehow insufficient or that there should have been more available. The truth is that all the kits that were available were sent out, however there was a manufacturing defect in that one of the verification reagents was bad. Also, you are talking about a kit that wasn’t frequently used in the US, so ramping up production is going to take time.
My favorite is the “There are X number of people with symptoms.” as if that is supposed to actually mean something. Of course there are people with the symptoms it’s still flaming flu season. It makes my head hurt sometimes.
From what I’ve read, the World Health Organization offered test kits and the CDC rejected the help in favor of a more expensive, more complicated, and flawed kit. This deserves to be investigated, because the lack of those kits almost certainly enabled the much wider spread of the virus.
The media are at their despicable worst. They are correct that a vaccine won’t be available for another year, but hey ignore the therapeutic side, i.e. remdesivir and the two other drugs out there that have shown great promise.
I had two careers, the latter being securities analyst and portfolio manager, and along the way I gained a surface-level familiarity with the drug approval process. In general terms there are three levels: safety, efficacy, dosing. Biotech stocks will move on approvals or speculation thereof.
Remdesivir is right now in Phase 3 trials. This means we know it’s safe and effective at least against anthrax, which was the original target. This phase will determine if it works for COVID-19 (the one recovery could have been a fluke or not caused by the drug), and the right dose.
That trial ends in late April. Given that the treatment appears to last for 5 or 10 days, I think we’ll be learning more about the progress before late April. Naturally, there is next to nothing “reported” about it by the usual “MSM” sources, or even Fox for that matter.
As for the vaccines, the very first one was shipped to the CDC and NIH last week, but that’s only the beginning of a long process. Not so on the therapeutic side, though. We have a media with a vested interest in creating fear, not to mention the political angle.
Trump’s Decisive Actions Helped Save Lives During Coronavirus Epidemic, World Health Organization Experts Admit
https://pjmedia.com/trending/trumps-decisive-actions-helped-save-lives-during-coronavirus-pandemic-experts-admit/