We are living in the middle of the emergency over coronavirus all over the world. The reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on societies and economies around the world cannot be understated. Because an estimated 15% of COVID-19 patients require hospitalization and 5% require intensive care (Z. Wu and McGoogan 2020), the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has the potential of posing a substantial challenge to medical systems around the world (Remuzzi and Remuzzi 2020; Grasselli, Pesenti, and Cecconi 2020).
Necessity is the mother of invention. A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem. This saying appears in the dialogue Republic, by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is an English-language proverb. It means, roughly, that the primary driving force for most new inventions is a need. When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it.
Here are some examples of sort of ingenuity we need now in the middle of pandemia. Already many people contributed those efforts. Check out on those links what is already done if you can find any useful information or can contribute to those efforts you see as good idea. Start your reserach with 7 open hardware projects working to solve COVID-19 article.
I have collected here a list of interesting open hardware project and instructions that can be useful or educational. Hopefully this list I have contributed here will be useful for someone. Keep in mind that many of those ideas are potentially dangerous if the instructions are not entirely correct, implemented exactly right and used by people that know what they are doing. You have been warned: Do not try those at home yourself! We are dealing here with things that can easily injure or kill someone if improperly implemented or used – but at right place the best ideas from those could potentially save lives.
Repairing hospital equipment
The right thing to do in his situation is that medical companies to release service manuals for ALL medical equipment so they can be repaired and maintained where they are most needed.
In the face of ventilator shortages for COVID-19 victims, iFixit is looking to make maintaining and repairing equipment as easy as possible. iFixit Launches Central Repository for Hospital Equipment Repair and Maintenance Manuals
https://www.ifixit.com/News/36354/help-us-crowdsource-repair-information-for-hospital-equipment
Site http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com offers links many service manuals
Robotics
COVID-19 pandemic prompts more robot usage worldwide article tells that the coronavirus has increased interest in robots, drones, and artificial intelligence, even as some testing of autonomous vehicles pauses on public roads. It is believed that these technologies can help deal with massive staffing shortages in healthcare, manufacturing, and supply chains; the need for “social distancing;” and diagnosis and treatment.
Here are some robotics related links that could be useful:
Medical robotics expert Guang-Zhong Yang calls for a global effort to develop new types of robots for fighting infectious diseases.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/medical-robots/coronavirus-pandemic-call-to-action-robotics-community
Elements of Robotics Open Access Textbook
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-62533-1
Ventilators
A ventilator is a machine designed to provide mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators are sometimes colloquially called “respirators”.
A ventilator, also called a respirator, is designed to provide mechanical ventilation by oxygen into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. The machines can be used to help a person breath if they have conditions making it difficult to breathe, such as lung diseases, during and post-surgery. For patients critically ill with coronavirus access to a ventilator could be a matter of life or death.
In its simplest form, a modern positive pressure ventilator consists of a compressible air reservoir or turbine, air and oxygen supplies, a set of valves and tubes, and a disposable or reusable “patient circuit”. Modern ventilators are electronically controlled by a small embedded system to allow exact adaptation of pressure and flow characteristics to an individual patient’s needs.
They work by placing a tube in a person’s mouth, nose or small cut in the throat and connect it to a ventilator machine. The air reservoir is pneumatically compressed several times a minute to deliver room-air, or in most cases, an air/oxygen mixture to the patient.
Because failure may result in death, mechanical ventilation systems are classified as a life-critical system, and precautions must be taken to ensure that they are highly reliable. Modern commercial ventilator is a relatively complex piece of equipment with lots of components and a dedicated supply chain.
Because there is a lack of ventilators on many hospitals in several countries, there has been a lot of creative work done to help this problem.
There has been projects going on to repair old and non-working ventilators to a working conditions. For repairing some older devices, there has been problem to get spare parts from the manufacturer and that those spare parts can be very expensive. Also getting the service information for repairing those equipment seems to be hard to get from manufacturer, Ifixit has started a project Help commit industrial espionage for the greater good! to get the service information on-line at https://www.ifixit.com/News/36354/help-us-crowdsource-repair-information-for-hospital-equipment
In middle of the emergency some people have worked on to make their own spare parts when official parts are not available, thus making more devices available. For example a startup 3D-printed emergency breathing valves for COVID-19 patients at an Italian hospital in less than 6 hours. An Italian hospital that ran out of life-saving equipment for coronavirus patients was saved by a ‘hero’ engineer who used cutting-edge technology to design oxygen valves within a matter of hours. At least 10 lives were saved in this way.
So great thinking for 3d printing of valves. Are they sterilized and suitable? 3D printing has been used in numerous cases for medical parts already. Most 3D printing operates at relatively high temperatures and printed objects are actually naturally sterilized when they are made. Anyway the right kind of plastic needs to be selected and the part needs to be built in exactly right way that is works reliably as designed. If they are used and the individual gets worse, does the fact that equipment not medical certified (environment, storage, shipping, etc) put the hospital in additional jeopardy for a lawsuit? All valid questions each medical liability officer will have to address. But if people are going to literally die if you do nothing, then taking a risk with a part that you 3D print seems like an idea that is worth to try.
Links:
A startup 3D-printed emergency breathing valves for COVID-19 patients at an Italian hospital in less than 6 hours
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-italian-hospital-3d-printed-breathing-valves-covid-19-patients-2020-3?r=US&IR=T
https://it.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-manca-la-valvola-per-uno-strumento-di-rianimazione-e-noi-la-stampiamo-in-3d-accade-nellospedale-di-chiari-brescia/
Firm ‘refuses to give blueprint’ for coronavirus equipment that could save lives
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/16/firm-refuses-give-blueprint-coronavirus-equipment-save-lives-12403815/
3D printed life-saving valves: already a dozen in operation
https://www.embodi3d.com/blogs/entry/436-3d-printed-life-saving-valves-already-a-dozen-in-operation/
Volunteers produce 3D-printed valves for life-saving coronavirus treatments
Volunteers made the valves for about $1
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21184308/coronavirus-italy-medical-3d-print-valves-treatments
Another tried trick is try to use one ventilator with more than one patient. Daily Mail writes that ventilators can be modified to help FOUR coronavirus patients breathe at the same time if the NHS is still critically short of the machines when the outbreak peaks, scientists say. Here are some links to material on using one ventilator to more than one patient:
https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/split-ventilators/
SAVING 4 PATIENTS WITH JUST 1 VENTILATOR
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/19/saving-4-patients-with-just-1-ventilator/
Here has been work going on in creating an open source ventilator design project. Here are some links to this project and some other DIY ventilator designs.
There’s A Shortage Of Ventilators For Coronavirus Patients, So This International Group Invented An Open Source Alternative That’s Being Tested Next Week
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/03/18/theres-a-shortage-of-ventilators-for-coronavirus-patients-so-this-international-group-invented-an-open-source-alternative-thats-being-tested-next-week/
Open-source Oxygen Concentrator
https://reprapltd.com/open-source-oxygen-concentrator/
https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/03/17/designing-a-low-cost-open-source-ventilator-with-arduino/
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Pandemic-Ventilator/
Macgyvilator Mk 1 (3-19-2020) – “ventilator” for disasters and/or low resource environments
Macgyvilator Mk 1 is a disaster “ventilator”, a simple apparatus to compress a bag-valve-mask with some control over tidal volume and rate. Constructed quickly and simply using wood, PVC, velcro, common fasteners, and easily sourced and assembled electronic components.
An Arduino based Open Source Ventilator to Fight against COVID-19?
https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/03/21/an-arduino-based-open-source-ventilator-to-fight-against-covid-19/
Low-Cost Open Source Ventilator or PAPR
https://github.com/jcl5m1/ventilator
Low-cost Ventilators
https://procrastineering.blogspot.com/2020/03/low-cost-ventilators.html
Arduino Respirator Prototype (pen source solution from Reesistencia Team, which is undergoing testing)
https://www.facebook.com/official.arduino/videos/2557115014604392/
OxyGEN project
https://oxygen.protofy.xyz
“OxyGEN is an open hardware project to build an emergency mechanism that automates an AMBU type manual ventilator in extreme shortage situations such as the one caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in some parts of the world.”
NOTE: Take a look at the expression VILI before thinking about trying one of these. It is hard making a ventilator that doesn’t harm the lungs. It is easy to get Ventilator-associated lung injury or die if the ventilator does not work exactly correctly all the time.
Testing for infection
There are many approaches thought to be helpful to finding out if someone is infected or something is contaminated.
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus. However, they cannot detect people who are infected but are not yet sick with fever (it can take 2-10 days before infected people get the fewer).
Open-Source Collaboration Tackles COVID-19 Testing
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/10/open-source-collaboration-tackles-covid-19-testing/
Low-cost & Open-Source Covid19 Detection kits
https://app.jogl.io/project/118?
This Open Source Device Can Detect Coronavirus on Surfaces
The Chai team has developed a detection test that works with their Open qPCR tool.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-open-source-device-can-detect-coronavirus-on-surfaces-3da1d7b1c73a
Prevent touching face
It is recommended to stop touching your face to minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs. People touch their faces frequently. They wipe their eyes, scratch their noses, bite their nails and twirl their mustaches.
Not touching your face is a simple way to protect yourself from COVID-19, but it’s not easy. If you can reduce face-touching, you can lower people’s chances of catching COVID-19. Why is it so hard to stop? Face-touching rewards us by relieving momentary discomforts like itches and muscle tension.
If you you want to change, you can try to replace it with a competing response that opposes the muscle movements needed to touch your face. When you feel the urge to touch your face, you can clench your fists, sit on your hands, press your palms onto the tops of your thighs or stretch your arms straight down at your sides. Some sources recommend object manipulation, in which you occupy your hands with something else. You can rub your fingertips, fiddle with a pen or squeeze a stress ball.
Related links:
This pair of Arduino glasses stops you from touching your face
https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/03/10/this-pair-of-arduino-glasses-stops-you-from-touching-your-face/
Don’t Touch Your Face
Don’t touch your face — easy to say, hard to do. This device, worn like a watch, will buzz whenever your hand aims for trouble.
https://www.hackster.io/mike-rigsby/don-t-touch-your-face-e8eac3
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is a liquid or gel generally used to decrease infectious agents on the hands. It depends on the case if hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer is preferred. For Covid-19 WHO recommends to wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. Use alcohol-based handrub if you don’t have immediate access to soap and water.
It seems that there are many places where there is shortage of hand sanitizers. This has lead to situation where people have resorted to making their own. Recipes for DIY hand sanitizer are popping all over the internet. A quick search reveals news articles, YouTube how-to’s and step-by-step visual guides. But think twice about joining them — experts are wary and even caution against the idea. The World Health Organization even has an official guide to making hand sanitizer. But it’s intended for populations that do not have clean water or other medical-grade products in place. Don’t try to make your own hand sanitizer just because there’s a shortage from coronavirus.
Can’t get your hands on hand sanitizer? Make your own
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hand-sanitizer-coronavirus-make-your-own/
Photos show why hand sanitizer doesn’t work as well as soap and water to remove germs
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-photos-why-you-should-wash-hands-with-soap-water-2020-3?amp
Emergency DIY hand sanitizers (read the description)
“Every time a new health incident occurs there’s a rush on hand sanitizers, often causing shops to sell out.
Here’s how to make some simple emergency sanitizers at home, noting that they are not as effective as just washing your hands, and only some viruses can be damaged by simple sanitizers. These options are offered as a last resort when commercial versions are not available.”
“For the alcohol one the higher the percentage of alcohol the better, up to around 70-80%.”
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer At Home When It’s Sold Out Everywhere
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2020/03/03/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer-at-home-when-its-sold-out-everywhere/
Sanitizing things
With deadly coronavirus spreading worldwide at an alarming speed, personal hygiene has become paramount importance to contain the infection spread further. Mobile phones are known to house several germ, and if you thing they are contaminated, you should maybe disinfect them. The CDC recommends that everyone “clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day” to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
How to Disinfect Your Smartphone article says CDC recommends that for your smartphone you should use 70% rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based disinfectant spray to wipe down the back and sides of your device. For example Apple recently updated its official cleaning advice, so ccording to Apple, it’s now safe to clean your iPhone with disinfecting wipes if you do it correctly. You should not try to spray any liquid to your phone.
The other option is to use a smartphone sanitizer device that cleans using UV rays. Sanitizers that use ultraviolet (UV) rays to kill bacteria and viruses have been around for a while now and they can kill 99% of bacteria in as little as five minutes. However its efficacy hasn’t been tested against nasties like SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Coronavirus effect: Samsung offers UV-C sanitizing service for Galaxy devices. Samsung is using Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) disinfection technology, which uses of uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate bacteria, virus, molds and other pathogenic microorganisms on smartphones.
The UV-C light is capable of destroying nucleic acids and DNA. It will kill many things, but you don’t want that hitting your eye or skin. World Health Organization only states: “UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands, or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.”
Here are some UV C related links:
https://www.light-sources.com/blog/killing-bacteria-with-uv-light/
https://russellsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-gtl3-bulb-simple-and-inexpensive.html?m=1
Good UV versus bad UV. All available on eBay.
Protective masks
The protective mask ratings used by hospitals are typically N95, FFP2 or FFP3. FFP2 protection level is 94%. FFP3 protection level is 99%. N95 protection level is 95%. An N95 FFR is a type of respirator which removes particles from the air that are breathed through it. These respirators filter out at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles. N95 FFRs are capable of filtering out all types of particles, including bacteria and viruses. The N95 mask is mainly for use if you already have the virus to keep it from spreading and many have argued that coronavirus is smaller than the 0.3 micron filter rating of the mask and thus, not that helpful, for people outside of healthcare. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General wants consumers to stop buying masks.
Due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, there has been a huge shortage of N95 masks. Promoting simple do-it-yourself masks: an urgent intervention for COVID-19 mitigation claims that widespread use of masks by the general population could be an effective strategy for slowing down the spread of COVID-19: “Since surgical masks might not become available in sufficient numbers quickly enough for general use and sufficient compliance with wearing surgical masks might not be possible everywhere, we argue that simple do-it-yourself designs or commercially available cloth masks could reduce the spread of infection at minimal costs to society”.
With masks sold out during the coronavirus outbreak, many people will have to make do with what some scientists have called “the last resort”: the DIY mask. Many people have been working on designs for a DIY mask that may be able to protect those who haven’t been able to secure their own masks. It seems that cotton homemade masks may be quite effective as alternatives and there are also other ideas. For any DIY ideas, be warned that there is no guarantee that those designs are effective. So I don’t recommend to use them as alternative to proper mask when they are available. Bit of proper marks are not available, they can be better than nothing.
Keep in mind the right filter type to use: Hepa filters do have the ability to filter particles and viruses, but they wont protect you 100% of the time. The real secret is layers. The problem is, more layers, more restriction. Keep in mind that charcoal filters will make your air fresher, but have almost no effect on cleaning the air of viruses. Coronavirus virions (or ‘particles’) are spherical particles with diameters of approximately 125 nm (0.125 microns). The smallest particles are 0.06 microns, and the largest are 0.14 microns. This means coronavirus particles are smaller than PM2.5 particles, but bigger than some dust particles and gases.
General information:
Guide to Dust Mask Ratings
https://www.seton.co.uk/your-guide-to-dust-masks-ratings
Can Masks Protect People from The Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/
Hengityksensuojaimet
https://www.tays.fi/fi-FI/Ohjeet/Infektioiden_torjunta/Mikrobikohtaiset_ohjeet/Hengityksensuojaimet(51207)
DIY project links:
Homemade N95 Masks In A Time Of Shortage
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/18/homemade-n95-masks-in-a-time-of-shortage/
“According to a studied performed at Cambridge University during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, while surgical masks perform the best at capturing Bacillus atrophaeus bacteria (0.93-1.25 microns) and Bacteriophage MS virus (0.023 microns), vacuum cleaner bags, tea towels, and cotton T-shirts were not too far behind. The coronavirus is 0.1-0.2 microns, well within the range for the results of the tests.”
What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/
“Data shows that DIY and homemade masks are effective at capturing viruses. But if forced to make our own mask, what material is best suited to make a mask? As the coronavirus spread around China, netizens reported making masks with tissue paper, kitchen towels, cotton clothing, and even oranges!”
Can DIY Masks Protect Us from Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/
“DIY masks to protect against from viruses sounds like a crazy idea. Data shows masks work incredibly well, and they’re also really cheap. Surgical masks cost a few pennies, and they’re capable of filtering out 80% of particles down to 0.007 microns (14 times smaller than the coronavirus).”
“The homemade cotton masks captured 50% of 0.02-1 micron particles, compared with 80% for the surgical mask. Although the surgical masks captured 30% more particles, the cotton masks did surprisingly well. The researchers concluded that homemade masks would be better than nothing.”
“The Cambridge data shows that homemade masks made using cotton t-shirts can filter out some particles that are 0.02–1 microns in size. That’s pretty good, however its only one test.”
Professional and Home-Made Face Masks Reduce Exposure to Respiratory Infections among the General Population
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440799/
Can Masks Protect People from The Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/
This old hack doesn’t require any cutting or sewing:
http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2005/11/how-to-make-ninja-mask-out-of-t-shirt.html
Copper 3D makes the free N95 mask design to fight COVID-19 pandemic spread
https://3dprintingcenter.net/2020/03/18/copper-3d-makes-the-free-n95-mask-design-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic-spread/?fbclid=IwAR2iXJD5ybU8ReADakvCyDKsfzuRDOBEWxZ3ACCjZoz2dKNwvy07htUhon4
“Copper 3D – A Chilean manufacturer of innovative antibacterial filaments designed the own version of the popular N95 protective mask and prepared it perfectly optimized for 3D printing on desktop 3D printers of the FDM / FFF type. The project is released under an open-source license and has been simultaneously patent pending to prevent other entities from commercializing it.”
“Copper 3D team quickly got to work on developing the patent for a model similar to a standard N95 mask but with some peculiarities (Antiviral, Reusable, Modular, Washable, Recyclable, Low-Cost), which were completely designed in a digital environment so that it could be downloaded anywhere in the world and 3D printed with any FDM/FFF equipment, even a low cost one. The mask was called “NanoHack”.”
#HackThePandemic site offers the technical details of the N95 mask and download set of STL files for printing on own 3D printer
https://copper3d.com/HACKTHEPANDEMIC/
SaltMask
https://robots-everywhere.com/re_wiki/pub/web/Cookbook.SaltMask.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep39956
“This is NOT a straight replacement for a N95 mask. In a real emergency it is recommended to combine a full face shield with a filter mask.”
Prusa Protective Face Shield – RC2
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/25857-prusa-protective-face-shield-rc1
“In a real emergency it is recommended to combine a full face shield with a filter mask.”
Promoting simple do-it-yourself masks: an urgent intervention for COVID-19 mitigation
https://medium.com/@matthiassamwald/promoting-simple-do-it-yourself-masks-an-urgent-intervention-for-covid-19-mitigation-14da4100f429
“Since surgical masks might not become available in sufficient numbers quickly enough for general use and sufficient compliance with wearing surgical masks might not be possible everywhere, we argue that simple do-it-yourself designs or commercially available cloth masks could reduce the spread of infection at minimal costs to society”
“Potentially, simply wrapping a suitable, large cloth around the face is easy to implement (Fig. 2), would arguably be more socially acceptable than surgical masks, and would be superior to a complete lack of face mask use.”
1,350 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sweden’s health agency cited an apparent increase in cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, but highlighted the risk of being affected was very small.
Sweden Halts Moderna Vaccine For Young People Over Possible Rare Side Effects
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/10/06/sweden-halts-moderna-vaccine-for-young-people-over-possible-rare-side-effects/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Gordie&sh=531af1ca2905
Tomi Engdahl says:
Koronapotilaiden määrä kasvaa huolestuttavasti – rajoituksia purettiin liian aikaisin, sanoo STM:n Varhila
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12131147
Sairaalahoitoa tarvitsevien koronapotilaiden määrä on kasvanut tasaisesti kaksi viime viikkoa. Terveydenhuollossa kehitystä seurataan huolestuneina. Tällä hetkellä tauti leviää rokottamattomien keskuudessa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
TNP #9 – Teardown & Analysis of an Electronic COVID-19 Home Test Kit (ellume)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvArprBmdFA
In this episode Shahriar takes a look at a pair of COVID-19 electronic home kits. These Bluetooth enables devices are manufactured by ellume. Both of these tests had produced false-positive results. The optical readout mechanism of the devices are examined as well as the general design of the unit.
This video is not about which COVID-19 home test kit you should purchase. This is an exploration and analysis of this particular device for educational purposes only. For all medical advice regarding COVID-19, please contact your doctor.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Läpäisyinfektio selittää, miksi kahdesti rokotettu sairastuu koronaan – koskeeko sinua?
Duodecim-lehti kertoo, miksi kaksi koronarokoteannosta saanutkin voi sairastua koronaan.
https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/02edd417-9f24-4bbe-8107-63ec93f445db
Koronarokotteet ehkäisevät tehokkaasti vaikeaa koronaa ja siihen liittyviä kuolemia.
Kaksi koronarokoteannosta saanutkin voi kuitenkin sairastua koronaan. Yleensä nämä taudit ovat kuitenkin lieviä, mutta joissain tapauksissa eivät.
Lääketieteellinen aikakauskirja Duodecim kertoo artikkelissaan, että pienelle osalle kaksi koronarokotetta saaneista voi kehittyä niin sanottu läpäisyinfektio (breakthrough infection) eli rokotettu sairastuu koronaan.
Läpäisyinfektio on alustavissa selvityksissä todettu 0,056 prosentilla rokotetuista.
Suomalaisista kaksi kertaa rokotetuista oli Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen (THL) mukaan koronan vuoksi sairaalaan joutunut 53 henkilöä, kun väestöstä oli rokotettu 44 prosenttia.
Läpäisyinfektiot – miksi rokotetutkin voivat saada koronavirustartunnan?
https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo16382
Koronarokotteet ovat tehokkaita estämään vaikeaa COVID-19-tautia ja siihen liittyviä kuolemantapauksia. Niillä ei kuitenkaan pystytä täysin estämään virustartuntoja. Pienelle osalle rokotetuista kehittyy läpäisyinfektio (breakthrough infection), kun COVID-19-tartunta saadaan kahden rokotuksen ja niiden jälkeisen 1-2 viikon immuniteetin kehittymisajan jälkeen. Rokotetut sairastavat taudin yleensä lievempänä kuin rokottamattomat.
THL:n tilastojen mukaan läpäisyinfektioita on todettu alustavissa selvityksissä 0,056 %:lla rokotetuista (1). COVID-19-taudin vuoksi sairaalaan oli kahdesti rokotetuista joutunut 53 henkilöä, kun suomalaisista oli rokotettu 44 % (0,002 %). Näistä 53:sta menehtyi 14, joista 13 oli yli 70-vuotiaita (1). Suomessa COVID-19-tautiin menehtyneiden määrä suureni yhteensä yli tuhanteen vuoden 2021 elokuun puolivälissä.
Yhdysvaltain tartuntatautiviraston (CDC) tilastojen mukaan sairaalahoitoisen läpäisyinfektion sai noin 0,005 % rokotetuista ja tautiin menehtyi hieman alle 0,001 % (2). Sairaalaan joutuneista 74 % oli yli 65-vuotiaita, ja kuolleiden keski-ikä oli 82 vuotta. Rokotusten edetessä nuorempiin ikäryhmiin, uusien virusvarianttien myötä ja analyysien tarkentuessa luvut voivat muuttua.
Miksi rokotetutkin voivat saada koronatartunnan tai sairastua COVID-19-tautiin, vaikka se harvinaista onkin? Monesti näillä henkilöillä on perussairaus tai lääkitys, joka heikentää immuunivasteita. Immuunivasteissa on myös yksilöllisiä eroja.
On raportoitu, että viime aikoina levinneen deltavariantin virusmäärä voi rokotetuilla olla suurimmillaan samansuuruinen kuin rokottamattomilla, mutta rokotettujen virusmäärä pienenee nopeammin (4,5). Virustartunnan saaneet oireettomat rokotetut siis tartuttavat lyhyemmän ajan muita. Rokotetun kannalta virustartunnan saamista ei voida kuitenkaan nähdä pelkästään negatiivisena asiana, koska se voi tehostaa asianomaisen immuniteettia, erityisesti limakalvoimmuniteettia, joka lihakseen annetun rokotuksen myötä voi jäädä vajavaiseksi. Limakalvoimmuniteetti perustuu pääosin IgA-vasta-aineisiin, joskin IgG-luokan vasta-aineillakin on oma osuutensa
Rokotevaikutus kehittyy 1-2 viikon kuluessa toisesta rokoteannoksesta. Tätä ennen ja pelkästään yhden rokotuskerran jälkeen alttius tartunnalle on vielä suurentunut. Rokotevaikutus heikkenee ajan myötä, eikä tarkkaa käsitystä suojan kestosta toistaiseksi ole. Kohtuullisen, vaikealta taudilta suojaavan vaikutuksen voidaan yleensä arvioida kestävän vähintään vuoden ajan. Vasta-ainepitoisuudet pienenevät nopeammin kuin suojavaikutus, mikä viittaa siihen, että osa suojasta perustuu muistisoluihin ja T-soluvasteeseen
Koronaviruksen deltavariantti (B.1.617.2) aiheuttaa noin 90 % koronainfektioista. Deltavariantin voimakkaan tartuttamiskyvyn takia sen aiheuttamat läpäisyinfektiotkin ovat lisääntyneet. Deltavariantti tartuttaa varsinkin nuoria aikuisia. Sen aiheuttama taudinkuva on nuhakuumevoittoisempi, eikä siihen yleensä liity niin paljon yskää tai hajuaistin menetystä. Hankalammissa tapauksissa se aiheuttaa suolisto-oireita ja hyytymishäiriöitä.
Rokotusten suojateho variantteja vastaan on pysynyt hyvänä, vaikka rokotesuoja deltavarianttia vastaan onkin hieman heikompi kuin esimerkiksi alfavarianttia vastaan. Pfizer-BioNTechin rokotteella on saatu keskimäärin 93 %:n suoja Brittein saarille ensiksi ilmaantunutta alfavarianttia vastaan (7). Suojateho deltavarianttia vastaan on 88 %, mikä tarkoittaa sitä, että jos tuhannesta rokottamattomasta tartunnan saa sata henkilöä, rokotetuista sen saa 12. Ero ei kuitenkaan ole niin merkittävä, etteivätkö nykyiset rokotteet antaisi riittävää suojaa myös deltavarianttia tai muita tunnettuja variantteja vastaan.
Huomattavaa on, ettei varianttien leviämistä voida suoraan estää esimerkiksi rajavalvonnalla, koska variantteja syntyy itsenäisestikin populaatioissa, joissa virusta liikkuu paljon.
Pandemiaa ja entistä hankalampien varianttien syntyä ei saada kuriin ennen kuin rokotukset saadaan globaalisti kaikkien ulottuville. Ennen kolmansia (ja neljänsiä) rokotuskertoja on syytä huolehtia siitä, että kaikki halukkaat ovat ensin saaneet perusrokotussarjan.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rokotteiden teho koronavirusta vastaan
https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/rokotteet-ja-koronavirus/rokotteiden-teho-koronavirusta-vastaan
Tomi Engdahl says:
Laaja kouluja koskeva maskisuositus poistuu
Myöskään opetusryhmiä ei tarvitse pitää enää erillään.
https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/61a9c018-59dc-45fc-ac4f-41165e0a8a29
Tomi Engdahl says:
UV Sanitizing Autonomous Robot
Cost-effective robotic solution for surface sanitization in home
https://hackaday.io/project/181361-uv-sanitizing-autonomous-robot
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. UVGI is used in a variety of applications, such as food, air, and water purification, or treat biologically contaminated surfaces.
Recent studies have shown that UV short-wave radiation is capable of eliminating COVID-19, MERS, and SARS viruses at the hospital level, thus improving the cleanliness of the intensive care area, general medicine rooms and individual rooms.
This idea help us thrive in this new normal, because has cost effective, and useful to sanitize objects or the whole home by using voice commands. It’s different from other solutions because it uses the Tesla coil to turn on the UV lamp. It also uses Neural Networks, PID Controller and OpenCV.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AI research on language yields surprising insights for COVID-19 vaccines
UNDERSTANDING THE CORONAVIRUS IS LIKE READING A SENTENCE
https://spectrum.ieee.org/covid-19-vaccine-rna
And parsing its “words” and “grammar” could lead to better COVID-19 vaccines
Tomi Engdahl says:
People who have previously recovered from COVID-19 have a stronger immune response after being vaccinated than those who have never been infected https://go.nature.com/3FQhZSu
COVID super-immunity: one of the pandemic’s great puzzles
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02795-x?utm_source=fbk_nat&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nature
People who have previously recovered from COVID-19 have a stronger immune response after being vaccinated than those who have never been infected. Scientists are trying to find out why.
As the world watches out for new coronavirus variants, the basis of such ‘super-immunity’ has become one of the pandemic’s great mysteries. Researchers hope that, by mapping the differences between the immune protection that comes from infection compared with that from vaccination, they can chart a safer path to this higher level of protection.
“It has implications on boosters and how our immune responses are primed for the next variant that emerges,” says Mehul Suthar, a virologist at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. “We’re flying by the seat of our pants trying to figure this stuff out.”
Initial studies of people with hybrid immunity found that their serum — the antibody-containing portion of blood — was far better able to neutralize immune-evading strains, such as the Beta variant identified in South Africa, and other coronaviruses, compared with ‘naive’ vaccinated individuals who had never encountered SARS-CoV-22. It wasn’t clear whether this was just due to the high levels of neutralizing antibodies, or to other properties.
The most recent studies suggest that hybrid immunity is, at least partly, due to immune players called memory B cells. The bulk of antibodies made after infection or vaccination come from short-lived cells called plasmablasts, and antibody levels fall when these cells inevitably die off. Once plasmablasts are gone, the main source of antibodies becomes much rarer memory B cells that are triggered by either infection or vaccination.
Some of these long-lived cells make higher-quality antibodies than plasmablasts, says Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at the Rockefeller.
When people who recovered from COVID-19 are re-exposed to SARS-CoV-2’s spike, these cells multiply and churn out more of these highly potent antibodies.
“You get a sniff of antigen, in this case of mRNA vaccine, and those cells just explode,” says Goel. In this way, a first vaccine dose in someone who has previously been infected is doing the same job as a second dose in someone who has never had COVID-19.
A separate study found that, compared with mRNA vaccination, infection leads to a pool of antibodies that recognize variants more evenly by targeting diverse regions of spike6. The researchers also found that people with hybrid immunity produced consistently higher levels of antibodies, compared with never-infected vaccinated people, for up to seven months. Antibody levels were also more stable in people with hybrid immunity
Booster benefits
A third vaccine dose might allow people who haven’t been infected to achieve the benefits of hybrid immunity, says Matthieu Mahévas, an immunologist at the Necker Institute for Sick Children in Paris. His team found that some of the memory B cells from naive vaccine recipients could recognize Beta and Delta, two months after vaccination9. “When you boost this pool, you can clearly imagine you will generate potent neutralizing antibodies against variants,” Mahévas says.
Understanding the mechanism behind hybrid immunity will be key to emulating it, say scientists.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/10/16/tama-sovellus-lukee-koronapassin-qr-koodin/
Suomessa on otettu käyttöön QR-koodilla toteutettu koronapassi, jonka lukijasovellus tuli myös eilen toiminnanharjoittajien ja tapahtumien järjestäjien käyttöön. Lukijasovellus on ladattavissa Googlen Android- ja Applen Ios-sovelluskaupoista. QR-koodi luetaan kännykän kameralla.
Koronapassina toimii EU:n koronatodistus, joka on saatavilla Omakannasta tai tarvittaessa terveydenhuollosta tulosteena.
Koronatodistus luetaan sovelluksella, joka ei kerää tai tallenna todistusten tietoja ei
kä se näytä terveystietoja. EU:n koronatodistukseen sisältyy kolme todistusta: todistus koronarokotuksesta, todistus koronatestituloksesta tai todistus sairastetusta koronasta.
https://stm.fi/koronapassi
https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/rokotteet-ja-koronavirus/koronatodistus/koronatodistuksen-lukija
https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/rokotteet-ja-koronavirus/koronatodistus/koronatodistuksen-lukija/koronatodistuksen-lukijan-tietoturva
Tomi Engdahl says:
Electronic Covid Test Tear Down Shows Frustrating Example Of 1-Time-Use Waste
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/17/electronic-covid-test-tear-down-shows-frustrating-example-of-1-time-use-waste/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Turning Old Masks Into 3D Printer Filament
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/19/turning-old-masks-into-3d-printer-filament/
Disposable masks have been a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, but for all the good they’ve done, their disposal represents a monumental ecological challenge that has largely been ignored in favor of more immediate concerns. What exactly are we supposed to do with the hundreds of billions of masks that are used once or twice and then thrown away?
If the research being conducted at the University of Bristol’s Design and Manufacturing Futures Lab is any indication, at least some of those masks might get a second chance at life as a 3D printed object. Noting that the ubiquitous blue disposable mask is made up largely of polypropylene and not paper as most of us would assume, the team set out to determine if they could process the masks in such a way that they would end up with a filament that could be run through a standard 3D printer. While there’s still some fine tuning to be done, the results so far are exceptionally impressive; especially as it seems the technique is well within the means of the hobbyist.
Facemask to Filament: 3D Printing with Recycled Facemasks
https://dmf-lab.co.uk/blog/facemask-to-filament-3d-printing-with-recycled-disposable-facemasks/
As a first line of defence against the spread of COVID-19 the facemask, a simple covering worn to reduce the spread of infectious agents, has affected the lives of billions across the globe. An estimated 129 billion facemasks are used every month, of which, most are designed for single use. Naturally, this presents a challenge of immense scale to mitigate the impact of disused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on our environment.
Our lab here at the University of Bristol predominantly focuses on issues concerning Rapid Prototyping. We’ve been involved in numerous ‘hack the pandemic’ type projects since the outbreak of COVID-19, sharing our knowledge of Rapid Prototyping with the maker community at large. As such, our works under the title of Project Clean Access (PCA), a DMF lab initiative funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, have previously contributed designs for low-cost, physical interventions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
However, as restrictions are slowly lifted and a sense of normality returns to many campuses across the UK, it’s evident that we’re now facing an altogether different problem; the pervasiveness of PPE litter in our local environment.
We realised through early experimentation that the fibrous composition of masks posed a challenge to any conventional methods of plastic recycling. Other researchers also identify this as the cause of many a ‘clogged machine’. To overcome this issue we introduce a step prior to grinding where the masks are heated and pressed to form a hard sheet; the idea being that by taking the material to its glass transition point we can fuse the Polypropylene fibers to create something with more rigidity. To do this we simply used an iron and non-stick paper.
The rigid sheets were then broken up into smaller bits to process through a blender (300W Breville Blend Active) achieving the fine granules of facemask blue PP pictured on the right.
Extrusion Settings
Nozzle temp: 170 C
Voltage: 11V (turned down to reduce speed)
Amps: 1.6 (current limited)
Cooling: On
Nozzle hole diameter: 1.75mm
Filawinder: Automatic speed
This set up produced good results however there are still issues with achieving a consistent filament diameter.
Nevertheless, 7 meters of ‘useable‘ filament was spooled with an average diameter of 1.5 mm (-0.25 mm below the standard of 1.75 mm). Initial results indicate that with further refinement it will be possible to achieve the desired diameter within a reasonable tolerance.
5: Printing with Facemasks
Polypropylene (PP) is notoriously difficult to 3D print as it doesn’t bond well to common printer build platforms. However, it does bond well to itself, PP. A trick is therefore to print on normal clear tape as this is often also PP. Using this method it was surprisingly straightforward to 3D print with our rudimentary stock of filament on a low-cost, run-of-the-mill machine. It’s very evident that issues currently reside in producing the filament and not in 3D printing with it.
Print Settings
Printer: Creality Ender 3 Max
Nozzle temp: 235 C
Bed temp: 100 C
Print speed: 40 mm/s (slow)
Fan speed: 100%
Retraction: 4mm (Bowden)
Retraction speed: 30 mm/s
Flowrate: 350% (account for thinner filament)
We find these settings to have worked well considering the inconsistency in diameter of filament.
Whilst not very widely used as a material in 3D printing, some properties of PP make it an alternative worth exploring. These include the materials durability, and resistance to chemicals and fatigue. Polypropylene is also both food and microwave safe.
In addition to the points above, PP is one of the most common polymers in use. From an environmental standpoint the use of recycled Polypropylene, and polymers in general, poses an opportunity to reduce the consumption of virgin material in rapid prototyping processes such as 3D printing and Injection Moulding.
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID Green Pass Validator With Raspberry Pi
https://hackaday.com/2021/09/25/covid-green-pass-validator-with-raspberry-pi/
It seems like every nation is dealing with the plague a little differently. In June, the EU instated a COVID Green Pass which comes in the form of a paper or digital QR code. It was designed to grease the wheels of travel throughout Europe and allow access to nursing homes. As of early August, the Green Pass is now required of those 12 and older in Italy to gain access to bars and restaurants, museums, theaters, etc. — anywhere people gather in sizeable groups. The Green Pass shows that you’ve either been vaccinated, have had COVID and recovered, or you have tested negative, and there are different half-lives for each condition: nine months for vaccinated, six for recovered, and just forty-eight hours for a negative test.
[Luca Dentella] has built a Green Pass validator using a Raspberry Pi and a Raspi camera.
It seems like every nation is dealing with the plague a little differently. In June, the EU instated a COVID Green Pass which comes in the form of a paper or digital QR code. It was designed to grease the wheels of travel throughout Europe and allow access to nursing homes. As of early August, the Green Pass is now required of those 12 and older in Italy to gain access to bars and restaurants, museums, theaters, etc. — anywhere people gather in sizeable groups. The Green Pass shows that you’ve either been vaccinated, have had COVID and recovered, or you have tested negative, and there are different half-lives for each condition: nine months for vaccinated, six for recovered, and just forty-eight hours for a negative test.
[Luca Dentella] has built a Green Pass validator using a Raspberry Pi and a Raspi camera.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Internal email: Apple will test unvaccinated corporate staff each time they enter offices starting Nov. 1, and asks US staff to report vaccine status by Oct. 24 — – The company is still stopping short of requiring the shots — Unvaccinated retail staff will be asked to test twice a week
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-20/apple-will-force-unvaccinated-office-workers-to-get-tested-daily
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Is Better And Faster Than Injection In Mouse Trials
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/covid19-vaccine-patch-is-better-and-faster-than-injection-in-mouse-trials/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fluvoxamine is both inexpensive and highly effective at preventing mild COVID-19 from turning severe https://go.nature.com/3nEI0w5
Tomi Engdahl says:
Common antidepressant slashes risk of COVID death
Fluvoxamine is both inexpensive and highly effective at preventing mild COVID-19 from turning severe.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02988-4
A cheap, widely available drug used to treat mental illness cuts both the risk of death from COVID-19 and the need for people with the disease to receive intensive medical care, according to clinical-trial results1.
The drug, called fluvoxamine, is taken for conditions including depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder. But it is also known to dampen immune responses and temper tissue damage, and researchers credit these properties for its success in the recent trial. Among study participants who took the drug as directed and did so in the early stages of the disease, COVID-19-related deaths fell by roughly 90% and the need for intensive COVID-19-related medical care fell by roughly 65%.
“A major victory for drug repurposing!”
“Fluvoxamine treatment should be adopted for those at high risk for deterioration who are not vaccinated or cannot receive monoclonal antibodies.”
The trial’s results, published on 27 October, mean that fluvoxamine is one of a handful of therapies that show strong evidence of preventing progression from mild to severe COVID-19. The only early-stage treatments currently recommended by the US National Institutes of Health are monoclonal antibodies, which are costly and difficult to administer in an outpatient setting.
Experts are excited about the results, but stress that there are caveats. “We don’t know how applicable this would be in a setting outside of Brazil,”
And infectious disease specialist Taison Bell at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville questions how the authors define severe COVID-19, which factors into the assessment of fluvoxamine’s efficacy. The team examined whether people needed more than six hours of treatment in an emergency setting, rather than using the more common metric of hospitalization.
Fluvoxamine’s low cost could make it accessible worldwide, says study co-author Edward Mills, a health researcher at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. A ten-day course costs only about US$4, and the drug’s patents have expired, meaning that any company can produce it.
It’s possible that pairing fluvoxamine with a drug that interferes with viral replication, such as Merck’s upcoming antiviral molnupiravir, could be even more effective,
Tomi Engdahl says:
How a lateral flow test strip works (kept simple)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjmrb5vPn8k
Tomi Engdahl says:
How a lateral flow test strip works (kept simple)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjmrb5vPn8k
I wondered how the lateral flow tests strips worked, so after doing a test with one I took it apart.
The deceptively simple interior hides quite complex molecular science. I’m not a molecular biologist, so I’ve kept the description of operation simple.
There are versions of these strips that can do multiple tests simultaneously, and also versions that are read optically to give a more analogue reading.
(The blood analysis uses the blood-plasma for the test.)
Tomi Engdahl says:
The effectiveness of sterilization depends greatly on the method and the virus
The next milestone in sterilization
https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00344-8?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bcon-Sealive_NI_Infec-Dis_Oct21&fbclid=IwAR1mJYf1kBwFMnfrufFeBvj7KLXR8Xv3oDEF90FznDfkijFfqHrIAULE0wk
The ability to break microorganisms, viruses, and endotoxins down into smaller fragments enhances the utility of sterilization systems in hospitals and laboratories.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Deep UV LEDs used to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus
Shedding new light on SARS-CoV-2
https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00343-9?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bcon-Tokushima_NI_Infec-Dis_Oct21&fbclid=IwAR1B5gNL6IgAm3x4RHOQYVnDGzJLf72ixjvpSMU8fFTarxa0NxYPq5wjz4I
A newly integrated division of medicine and photonics at Tokushima University is investigating ways to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19.
Developing light-based technologies used for disinfection and high-throughput testing requires close collaboration between medical and photonics researchers, so Tokushima University has created a division bringing these disciplines together. Work from its Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED) is already bearing fruit.
Inactivating virus particles with deep ultraviolet light
“We have been working on the inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus using deep ultraviolet light,” says photonics researcher, Takeo Minamikawa. “We know this is a promising technology for disinfecting surfaces and liquids, but for the technology to be commercially useful, we first need to quantify the light level needed to inactivate the virus effectively.”
Ultraviolet (UV) light is just as harmful to viruses as it is to skin cells, rendering them inactive and unable to replicate. Due to its structure and size, DNA is specifically sensitive to light with a wavelength of 265 nanometres, right in the middle of the UV range. However, while it might seem straightforward to irradiate liquids containing viral particles with UV light, there are many unknowns about exactly how much light is needed.
The effects of light absorption by liquid, the most practical and energy-efficient wavelength to use, and at what point the viruses can be considered inert all need to be considered. None of these factors had been systematically quantified until Minamikawa’s team investigated.
The team developed a deep UV (DUV) irradiation apparatus to quantitatively analyse the inactivation of a SARS-CoV-2 virus strain provided by the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health. In collaboration with virologist, Masako Nomaguchi, they investigated inactivation efficacy at three wavelengths — 265, 280, and 300 nanometres using commercially available DUV-LEDs
They found that to inactivate 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2, total doses of 1.8, 3.0, and 23 mJ/cm2 were needed for 265, 280, and 300 nanometres, respectively.
“While 280 nanometres required almost twice as much irradiation energy as 265 nanometres to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, it was the most practical choice for inactivation in terms of energy efficiency, device availability and cost,” said Minamikawa.
“There are other groups in Japan combining photonics and medicine, but most are using visible light,” explains Takeshi Yasui, the pLED institute director. “The originality of our collaboration is in using deep ultraviolet, terahertz, and infrared technologies, which are much less mature, so we need to make our own light sources and detectors. There are few research groups working in this area around the world.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Deep UV LEDs used to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus
Shedding new light on SARS-CoV-2
https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00343-9?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bcon-Tokushima_NI_Infec-Dis_Oct21&fbclid=IwAR3qj_grjTdXkd6A0XKrwH1vaHAJ8hL9djFMfvgasrL6rt6zVNlWBScwis8
A newly integrated division of medicine and photonics at Tokushima University is investigating ways to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19.
Developing light-based technologies used for disinfection and high-throughput testing requires close collaboration between medical and photonics researchers, so Tokushima University has created a division bringing these disciplines together. Work from its Institute of Post-LED Photonics (pLED) is already bearing fruit.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/fact-check-are-vaccinated-people-just-as-likely-to-spread-covid19-as-unvaccinated-people/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Enormous Mental Health Impact of Covid-19
https://www.statista.com/chart/26149/depression-prevalence-pre-and-post-covid-pandemic/
A miniscule percentage of humans on Earth have not been affected in some way by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ways in which people’s lives have been altered are as diverse as the severity of the effects themselves. For some, there have even been positives to come out of the situation.
One negative impact which has been felt to similar degrees around the world though is that on our mental health. Latest estimates from the OECD show that increases in the prevalence of depression or its symptoms have been observed in all of the countries in its remit that have available data. The largest increase has been in Mexico which went from 3 percent of adults pre-pandemic to 28 percent in 2020. Sweden has the highest level of the countries with data pre- and post-pandemic start at 30 percent.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Carbon-Dioxide Sensor Helps Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Transmission Indoors
Nov. 17, 2021
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/test-measurement/article/21181523/infineon-technologies-carbondioxide-sensor-helps-reduce-risk-of-covid19-transmission-indoors?utm_source=EG%20ED%20Analog%20%26%20Power%20Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211110023&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
COVID-19 has accelerated adoption of advanced sensor technologies. Among them is a new CO2 sensor that delivers high-accuracy measurement in a compact design to enable gas detection in enclosed environments.
What you’ll learn:
Measuring indoor air quality is critical due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Existing CO2 sensors solutions on the market come with notable limitations that may harm performance.
Advances in photoacoustic spectroscopy implemented in MEMS technology overcome many of the current CO2 drawbacks.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have gained a much better understanding of the virus’ primary routes of transmission. Research shows that the disease is spread primarily through close contact from one person to another, often in confined indoor spaces. This is an important consideration, as statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that people spend 90% of their time indoors, where they’re likely to be at highest risk.
Effective monitoring of indoor air quality has thus become more critical than ever before. One of the most reliable measurement indicators of air quality is CO2 concentration. If a room is badly ventilated, CO2 concentration level starts to rise. As an example, in a poorly ventilated room measuring roughly 4 m2 containing a single individual, the CO2 value could go from 500 ppm (0.05%) to at least 1,000 ppm (0.1%) within 45 minutes.
Because CO2 is both a colorless and odorless gas, there’s no visual or olfactory indication that its concentration has increased. However, at heightened levels, it can start to cause uncomfortable physical symptoms such as headaches and drowsiness. From 2,000 ppm onward (0.2%), the cognitive abilities of humans can be impaired, and there’s a severe danger to one’s health at higher levels.
With regard to COVID-19, indoor CO2 concentration becomes a critical factor. As people exhale more CO2 in the air, they produce a high number of aerosols—tiny respiratory droplets or particles that can spread across a room. Numerous research papers show that aerosols linger for extended periods in poorly ventilated rooms, increasing the risk of long-range airborne transmission of the virus.
A study conducted by TU Berlin revealed that indoor climates play a significant role in health outcomes, as pathogens can be suspended in the air inside poorly ventilated rooms for long periods of time. As such, a frequent supply of fresh air is recommended as a means of reducing the chance of infection.
Drawbacks of Existing CO2 Sensors
With the understanding that lots of air containing CO2 could act as a COVID-19 transmission risk, there’s growing interest in the use of CO2 measuring solutions across a broad range of indoor locations, including gyms, bars, and restaurants. Yet while demand for gas-sensing technology is on the rise, some existing CO2 sensor solutions have notable limitations, which may harm performance.
For example, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensors comprise a high number of internal components, such as an IR light source, a sample chamber, a spectral filter, and reference and absorption IR detectors. The resulting sensor is relatively bulky and costly.
A smaller and less expensive alternative is the estimated CO2 (eCO2) sensor. These devices use algorithms to calculate an equivalent CO2 value from known total volatile organic compounds concentration. The estimation is formulated on a set of assumptions rather than actual measurements, so this solution has its own drawbacks.
Leveraging its microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) technology, Infineon developed a new CO2 sensor based on photoacoustic
The Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) Principle is based on the precept that gas molecules absorb only light with a specific wavelength. For CO2, the wavelength is 4.2 µm.
For CO2, the wavelength is 4.2 µm. In terms of the detection process, light at this wavelength, generated via a pulsing infrared source with an optical filter, is passed through a sample of ambient air. This causes rapid heating and cooling, and thus thermal expansion and contraction of the target gas. It results in a pressure change that can be accurately recorded using an acoustic detector which is optimized for low frequencies. This signal is then analyzed to provide insight into the amount of CO2 in the air—the stronger the signal, the higher the CO2 concentration.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Masks have become a subject of controversy throughout the pandemic, with mask-related disputes even leading to a number of violent altercations, some lethal
Mask Wearing Cuts New Covid-19 Cases By 53%—It’s The Best Public Health Measure Against The Virus, Study Finds
https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/11/18/mask-wearing-cuts-new-covid-19-cases-by-53-its-the-best-public-health-measure-against-the-virus-study-finds/?sh=117c707f12ab&utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainFB&utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social
Mask wearing cuts the number of new Covid-19 infections by 53%, according to a new peer reviewed study in the British Medical Journal, which found the controversial and highly politicized precaution to be the single most effective tool against the coronavirus.
Mask wearing, social distancing and handwashing are all effective at lowering the number of new Covid-19 cases, according to an analysis of evidence from 72 global studies that looked atg non-pharmaceutical public health measures.
Mask wearing was the most effective public health measure at reducing the incidence of Covid-19, the study found, while physical distancing reduced incidence by 25%.
Handwashing was found to reduce coronavirus incidence by 53%, though the researchers noted this finding was not statistically significant on account of the small number of studies that assessed handwashing.
The researchers said it was not possible to evaluate other public health measures—including quarantine, lockdowns and school closures—due to differences in the way studies assessing these interventions were designed and conducted.
While evidence indicates the effectiveness of these more stringent measures, the researchers said the restrictions are not sustainable, have significant economic and social impacts and must be “carefully” assessed to weigh potential positives against negatives.
Though masks have been a critical tool in curbing the spread of Covid-19 from early on in the pandemic, they have become a flashpoint in a culture war pitting individual liberties against the public good. In the U.S., mask mandates have spurred protests, conspiracies and been a hot button issue for politicians to jump on, even as cases and deaths soared. Tensions have been so high that mask-related disputes have led to a number of violent altercations, some lethal
Tomi Engdahl says:
Who can’t have a COVID vaccine and how do I get a medical exemption?
https://theconversation.com/who-cant-have-a-covid-vaccine-and-how-do-i-get-a-medical-exemption-168371
As Australia works towards getting 80% of over-16s fully vaccinated against COVID and higher, there’s more pressure to mandate vaccination across a range of sectors.
Some sectors in certain states and territories already have a COVID vaccine mandate in place, such as health and aged-care staff. Victoria last week mandated COVID vaccination for all authorised workers in the state, which has been a tough but necessary decision. Governments and businesses are also considering mandates for many other groups.
Vaccine passports are also on the way, meaning you’ll need to show proof of being fully vaccinated to do things like travel internationally, and to visit venues in hospitality, entertainment, retail and others in certain states and territories.
But there are some people who can’t get a COVID vaccine for medical reasons, though these are very rare. So what are these conditions, and if you have one of them, how can you prove it?
There are few situations where someone can’t have a COVID vaccine for medical reasons. The criteria to receive a permanent medical exemption are very narrow and rarely required.
The only criteria are:
anaphylaxis following a previous dose of a COVID vaccine
or previous anaphylaxis to any component of a COVID vaccine.
There are some conditions people commonly believe may require a vaccine exemption, but the following are not reasons to be exempt from COVID vaccination:
egg allergy, even severe
a chronic underlying medical condition – these individuals are often at higher risk of more serious disease from COVID, such as people who are immunocompromised who can still receive the COVID vaccines because they’re not live vaccines
family history of any adverse events following immunisation.
Temporary exemptions
There are some situations when a COVID vaccine may need to be temporarily deferred. For example, if someone has an acute illness with a fever of 38.5℃ or over. However, this would usually be for a short period only and wouldn’t require them to obtain a written temporary medical exemption.
But there are also some “acute major medical illnesses” where people may be able to get a temporary immunisation medical exemption form. This needs to assessed and given by a medical provider, and only temporarily exempts you from a COVID vaccine.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Who can’t have a COVID-19 vaccine?
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/who-cant-have-covid-19-vaccine
The currently available coronavirus vaccines have been tested on adults of various ages, as well as those with long-term conditions, and appear to be safe. But there are a few groups who should avoid being vaccinated for now.
Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions going, but there are some individuals who cannot receive them. Fortunately, none of the COVID-19 vaccines which have been approved for emergency use around the world contain any live virus, so it is safe for people with weakened immune systems to receive them, unlike some others, including the yellow fever and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. This means more of the world’s population can be protected against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Even so, there are still a few groups who should either avoid being vaccinated for now, or carefully weigh up the risks and benefits with a health provider:
People with a history of specific allergies
In early December, use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in people with a history of severe allergies was temporarily suspended after two British healthcare workers experienced anaphylactic reactions.
In the weeks that followed, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency reviewed the data from trials of the vaccine, which included people with serious but unrelated allergy histories, and found no evidence of an increased risk of anaphylaxis. Only people who had experienced an allergic reaction to the first dose of this vaccine, or had previously had reactions to any of its components, should not receive it, it said. Similarly, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that only those who experienced an allergic reaction to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or to one of its components – including polyethylene glycol (PEG), and a related molecule called polysorbate – should not be vaccinated. The Moderna vaccine also contains PEG, while the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine contains Polysorbate 80, a related emulsifier found in many vaccines including the influenza vaccine. There are no reports of PEG allergic patients reacting to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
None of the COVID-19 vaccines approved so far contain egg proteins or latex, so people with allergies to these substances can be vaccinated.
Children under 16 years
Different countries vary in their attitudes towards vaccinating children under 16 against COVID-19.
People with pre-existing health conditions
Phase 3 trials of most of the vaccines authorised in multiple countries so far included participants with underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma. These studies indicated that the vaccines were safe and effective in such groups.
Less is known about people with HIV infection or other conditions associated with a weakened immune system, and only small numbers have been enrolled in vaccine trials. None of the vaccines contain live virus, so there’s no reason to think they would be unsafe in such groups, but it is possible that their immune response to the vaccine may be weaker, and that they may therefore be less well protected.
What about pregnant or breastfeeding people?
Since pregnant people were excluded from clinical trials of the vaccines, there is not enough data to say whether or not they are safe. However, because pregnant people appear to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 than non-pregnant people, and there is an associated slightly increased risk of premature birth, there is an argument for some to receive the vaccines. Having reviewed all the available evidence for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said these vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant people in high-risk groups which have been prioritised for vaccination, and should be offered to breastfeeding people in these groups.
Similarly, although the WHO doesn’t recommend vaccinating pregnant people with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at this time, it said in light of the benefits outweighing any potential risks, vaccination may be considered in discussion with their healthcare provider, if the person has an unavoidably high risk of exposure, for example because of their occupation or a higher risk of developing severe disease. The vaccine can be offered to breastfeeding people, and the WHO doesn’t recommend discontinuing breastfeeding afterwards.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HVAC-Based Air Sampling Proves its Potential for Warning of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Buildings
A minimum 75 percent success rate at detecting exposure to individuals later testing positive for COVID-19 proves its worth.
https://www.hackster.io/news/hvac-based-air-sampling-proves-its-potential-for-warning-of-sars-cov-2-exposure-in-buildings-d47e28f0d093
Tomi Engdahl says:
Conspiracists Say This 5G Chip Is in the COVID Vaccine. It’s Just a Guitar Pedal.
Classic misunderstanding.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a35122832/5g-conspiracy-chip-covid-19-vaccine-guitar-pedal/
Tomi Engdahl says:
New COVID-19 Variant May Be “Worse Than Nearly Anything Else About” Warn Scientists
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/new-covid19-variant-may-be-worse-than-nearly-anything-else-about-warn-scientists/
A new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa and Botswana has experts pretty worried. While the number of cases identified is currently small – just 82 at the time of writing, according to local experts – it has a high number of concerning mutations that could allow the virus to evade vaccines and spark further waves of disease.
Tomi Engdahl says:
No, covid vaccines don’t alter your DNA. Here’s what they actually do: https://trib.al/EXaAf7F
Tomi Engdahl says:
Carbon-Dioxide Sensor Helps Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Transmission Indoors
Nov. 25, 2021
COVID-19 has accelerated adoption of advanced sensor technologies. Among them is a new CO2 sensor that delivers high-accuracy measurement in a compact design to enable gas detection in enclosed environments.
Dale Wedel
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/test-measurement/article/21181523/infineon-technologies-carbondioxide-sensor-helps-reduce-risk-of-covid19-transmission-indoors?utm_source=EG%20ED%20Connected%20Solutions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211130087&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
What you’ll learn:
Measuring indoor air quality is critical due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Existing CO2 sensors solutions on the market come with notable limitations that may harm performance.
Advances in photoacoustic spectroscopy implemented in MEMS technology overcome many of the current CO2 drawbacks.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have gained a much better understanding of the virus’ primary routes of transmission. Research shows that the disease is spread primarily through close contact from one person to another, often in confined indoor spaces. This is an important consideration, as statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that people spend 90% of their time indoors, where they’re likely to be at highest risk.
Effective monitoring of indoor air quality has thus become more critical than ever before. One of the most reliable measurement indicators of air quality is CO2 concentration. If a room is badly ventilated, CO2 concentration level starts to rise. As an example, in a poorly ventilated room measuring roughly 4 m2 containing a single individual, the CO2 value could go from 500 ppm (0.05%) to at least 1,000 ppm (0.1%) within 45 minutes.
Because CO2 is both a colorless and odorless gas, there’s no visual or olfactory indication that its concentration has increased. However, at heightened levels, it can start to cause uncomfortable physical symptoms such as headaches and drowsiness. From 2,000 ppm onward (0.2%), the cognitive abilities of humans can be impaired, and there’s a severe danger to one’s health at higher levels.
With regard to COVID-19, indoor CO2 concentration becomes a critical factor. As people exhale more CO2 in the air, they produce a high number of aerosols—tiny respiratory droplets or particles that can spread across a room. Numerous research papers show that aerosols linger for extended periods in poorly ventilated rooms, increasing the risk of long-range airborne transmission of the virus.
Drawbacks of Existing CO2 Sensors
With the understanding that lots of air containing CO2 could act as a COVID-19 transmission risk, there’s growing interest in the use of CO2 measuring solutions across a broad range of indoor locations, including gyms, bars, and restaurants. Yet while demand for gas-sensing technology is on the rise, some existing CO2 sensor solutions have notable limitations, which may harm performance.
For example, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensors comprise a high number of internal components, such as an IR light source, a sample chamber, a spectral filter, and reference and absorption IR detectors. The resulting sensor is relatively bulky and costly.
A smaller and less expensive alternative is the estimated CO2 (eCO2) sensor. These devices use algorithms to calculate an equivalent CO2 value from known total volatile organic compounds concentration. The estimation is formulated on a set of assumptions rather than actual measurements, so this solution has its own drawbacks. Thus, the search continues for a compact and cost-effective sensor that provides accurate and true CO2 measurement.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/these-researchers-predicted-some-of-the-omicron-mutations-heres-what-they-found/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pfizerin koronarokotteen vasta-aineiden teho putoaa 1/40-osaan omikronmuunnosta vastaan, alustava tutkimus Etelä-Afrikasta kertoo – ”En usko tämän johtavan järjestelmien romahtamiseen”
https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/pfizerin-koronarokotteen-vasta-aineiden-teho-putoaa-1-40-osaan-omikronmuunnosta-vastaan-alustava-tutkimus-etela-afrikasta-kertoo-en-usko-taman-johtavan-jarjestelmien-romahtamiseen/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1638937222
Koronavirusta esittävässä havainnekuvassa näkyvät tapit ovat proteiinipiikkejä, joiden avulla virus tarttuu ihmisen soluihin.
Koronaviruksen uusi omikronmuunnos näyttää kiertävän jonkin verran Pfizer-BioNTechin koronarokotteen synnyttämää suojaa, ilmenee tiistaina Etelä-Afrikassa julkaistuista alustavista tutkimustuloksista.
A first, small study suggests Omicron is a larger threat to Covid-19 immunity than other variants
https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/07/a-first-small-study-suggests-omicron-is-a-larger-threat-to-covid-19-immunity-than-other-variants/
Asmall, preliminary study has found a significant drop in how well vaccine-elicited antibodies target the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. But the variant did not completely dodge the immune fighters, the research found.
The results support the hypothesis that the Omicron variant is a larger threat to immunity against Covid-19 than other variants, but experts caution that the implications for real-world protection are limited.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Will Omicron Change What ‘Fully Vaccinated’ Means? BioNTech CEO Says Full Vaccine Regimen Against Variant Is 3 Doses, Not 2.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/12/08/will-omicron-change-what-fully-vaccinated-means-biontech-ceo-says-full-vaccine-regimen-against-variant-is-3-doses-not-2/?sh=1d317c1575e3&utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainFB&utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/12/12/wearables-can-detect-the-flu-well-maybe/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccines are much less effective at preventing infection of senior citizens with the delta coronavirus variant and protection fades rapidly four months after the final jab, new research published in JAMA Network Open has found, as experts race to understand how effective the shots are against the fast-spreading, potentially vaccine-resistant omicron variant.
Read More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/12/15/pfizer-moderna-vaccines-less-effective-against-delta-in-elderly-and-protection-wanes-rapidly-four-months-after-second-covid-shot-study-finds/?sh=5377ee3b399e&utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=forbes
Tomi Engdahl says:
Omicron Symptoms “Rather Different” To Previous Strains, UK Government Scientist Says
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/omicron-symptoms-rather-different-to-previous-strains-uk-government-scientist-says/
“I think one of the few things we do know is the syndrome is rather different. We do know that it’s behaving rather differently. It looks like the symptoms of this are stuffy nose, sore throat,” he said on the program on Tuesday, adding “myalgia – which is basically aching muscles – particularly around the back are very characteristic of this, and no-one knows why that is.”
“People also have a bit of gut upset. They have a bit of loose stools, those sort of things.”
The picture is, of course, still evolving, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently writes that the most commonly reported symptoms are “cough, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose”, though – like with other variants – this will likely change as more data comes in.
“We know this is a highly, highly infectious variant. Two to three times more infectious than Delta, which was already a pretty infectious variant on its own,” he said in the interview. “What we’re still waiting for is the data of what is the consequences of that [...] from a clinical perspective.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/te/1ba4e1bf-17fe-45e1-bfb5-34c39e6c21a7?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1639493008
Pfizerin koronapilleri todisti 89 prosentin tehonsa riskiryhmäläisille – pitäisi suojata myös omikronilta
Vaikka nykyiset koronarokotteet tepsivät heikommin omikronmuunnoksen aiheuttamia lieviä tautimuotoja vastaan, lääkeyhtiö Pfizerin koronapilleri osoitti tehokkuutensa myös lääkkeen viimeisissä tutkimuksissa – ja tehojen pitäisi olla Pfizerin mukaan hyvät myös omikronia vastaan.
Paxlovid-nimellä kulkeva covid19-antiviraalipilleri vähentää tutkimusten mukaan sairaalahoitoon joutumisen tai kuoleman riskiä 89 prosenttia korkean riskin potilailla, kirjoittaa Financial Times.
Tavanomaisen riskin potilailla lääke vähentää tutkimusten mukaan sairaalahoidon tai kuoleman riskiä 70 prosentilla.
Lääke toimii parhaiten, jos se annetaan kolmen päivän sisällä oireiden alkamisesta, mutta Pfizerin mukaan teho säilyy hyvänä vielä viiden päivän sisällä oireista.
Pfizer on hakemassa lääkkeelleen hätäkäyttölupaa Yhdysvalloissa. Merckin lääke sai Yhdysvaltain viranomaisilta suosituksen, mutta toistaiseksi ei hätäkäyttölupaa.
Briteissä Merckin lääke on saanut hätäkäyttöluovan, mutta Euroopan Unionissa prosessi on kesken, kuten myös Pfizerin lääkkeen osalta.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This observation could potentially explain how relatively young COVID-19 patients have developed Parkinson’s disease soon after contracting the virus.
SARS-CoV-2 Interacts With Proteins In Brain That Drives Amyloid Formation Linked To Parkinson’s
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/sarscov2-interacts-with-proteins-in-brain-that-drives-amyloid-formation-linked-to-parkinsons/
New research has shown that SARS-CoV-2, in a test tube at least, interacts with certain proteins that are abundant in the brain and speeds up the formation of amyloid fibrils, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. While the link remains hazy, this observation could potentially explain how relatively young COVID-19 patients have developed Parkinson’s disease soon after contracting the virus.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/omicron-and-covid-boosters-everything-you-need-to-know/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Breaking: A shocking two in five people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms. That’s according to a huge new study of over 29 million people.
Two In Five People With COVID-19 Have No Symptoms, Huge Study Finds
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/two-in-five-people-with-covid19-have-no-symptoms-huge-study-finds/
shocking two in five people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms. That’s according to a huge new study of over 29 million people.
Published today in the journal JAMA, the study, which collated data from 95 papers, found that 40.5 percent of positive cases showed no signs of illness. Meaning just shy of half of us could have COVID and be completely in the dark.
“The high percentage of asymptomatic infections highlights the potential transmission risk of asymptomatic infections in communities,” the authors write.
While so many COVID cases are asymptomatic, just 0.25 percent of the 29 million people tested were, reflecting the discrepancy in tests being taken by those with and without symptoms.
“Screening for asymptomatic infection is required
Asymptomatic infections were also more common in younger people – under 39 years – perhaps because they are less likely to experience more severe symptoms.
The study itself has a few notable limitations. Namely, the number of asymptomatic infections includes cases where symptoms were yet to develop.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huonossa sisäilmassa koronatartunnan voi saada minuuteissa – tehokas tuuletus laskee riskiä luultua enemmän, kertoo VTT:n tuore tutkimus
Mitä enemmän huonetilassa on viruksia, sitä suurempi on riski taudin leviämisestä. Tuulettamalla viruspitoisuudet tippuvat tutkijoiden mukaan jopa 90 prosenttia.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12231997
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mask Wearing Wasn’t Disputed In Previous Crises – So Why Is It So Hotly Contested Today?
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/mask-wearing-wasnt-disputed-in-previous-crises-so-why-is-it-so-hotly-contested-today/
Across western countries, people are polarised over wearing masks. While some support wearing them as an effective counter to the virus, others believe having to mask up is a contravention of their human rights.
Pro-mask messages are more present in mainstream media, including in public health adverts and on TV. Conversely, anti-mask wearing sentiments are more common in personalised sources like social media.
Here, mask wearing is often associated with the historical commands of authoritarian governments. Some have even compared mask mandates to the Nazi policy of forcing Jews to wear distinguishing yellow stars.
This split in attitudes is a relatively new development.
It may be that the actual visibility of these earlier crises made them seem more threatening, and so wearing a mask seem more necessary. Indeed, in a bid to make the dangers posed by COVID appear more tangible, politicians and the media have invoked the language of war when discussing COVID, or used images of people on ventilators to materialise the threat.
But such tactics have yielded significant debates among health professionals and linguists, as these produce questionable implications, such as potentially identifying infected people as “enemies” who bear and spread the virus.
Variety of the media
A second factor is that formerly, media was restricted to channels controlled or influenced by government, and these all gave positive depictions of masks. Today, however, there are many other channels, which allow for resistance.
During earlier crises, the media promoted mask wearing as a patriotic act.
By contrast, today’s media landscape – especially social media – allows for individual and personalised voices to be heard to an extent unthinkable in earlier decades. Media has become a way of denigrating as well as endorsing mask wearing.
Even music videos provide an opportunity for people to speak out against masks, providing a stark contrast to the propaganda films of the 1940s. For example, in the video for Living the Dream by US rock band Five Finger Death Punch, mask wearing is depicted as a way of enforcing people’s compliance in an authoritarian reimagining of America. Eventually, though, the public rebel, and are shown ripping their masks off as they head into battle against their hypocritical unmasked leader.
And when looking at a database of British newspaper reporting from the COVID pandemic, it’s also clear that journalists refer to “masks” more often than to “face coverings”. Despite official guidance only requiring proper masks to be used in medical settings, the way they are spoken about and depicted suggests other forms of face covering aren’t as broadly acceptable.
While there’s good reason for this – surgical masks have been shown to be more effective than other forms of face covering – in the mind of the public, this may limit the scope of what is proper to wear. This may then lower people’s willingness to wear a mask, as it’s known that people are more likely to accept doing something if they perceive that there is choice involved.
During the influenza and smog outbreaks, attitudes towards alternative face coverings were more permissive, with non-standard masks even being celebrated among the fashion-conscious cultures of London and Manchester that were impacted by the smog epidemic. Surgical masks of the day would also not have so widely available.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ensimmäinen suun kautta otettava koronalääke hyväksyttiin käyttöön
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12244905?origin=rss
Pfizerin pillerin uskotaan olevan hyvin tehokas lääke koronasairauteen. Haittapuolena on lääkkeen rajallinen saatavuus. Myös Venäjä ilmoittaa kehittäneensä koronalääkkeen.
Yhdysvaltain terveysviranomaiset ovat hyväksyneet käyttöön Pfizer-lääkeyhtiön kehittämän pillerimuotoisen koronalääkkeen.
COVID-19-tautia vastaan on jo olemassa lääkkeitä, mutta kaikki aiemmat lääkkeet annetaan joko rokotteina tai suonensisäisesti.
Paxlovid-tuotenimen saanutta lääkettä voidaan ottaa taudin ensi oireisiin jo kotioloissa.
Tutkimuksissa on todettu, että sen haittavaikutukset ovat vähäiset, mutta tehokkuus hyvä. Lääkkeen todettiin vähentävän riskiryhmiin kuuluvien potilaiden sairaalahoidon tarvetta ja kuolemia 90 prosenttia.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How reliable are lateral flow tests for Omicron and what are the latest rules?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/22/lateral-flow-tests-covid-omicron-explainer
They have become an integral part of millions of people’s lives: lateral flow tests (LFTs) are taken daily by some for work or socialising, while new guidance means that anyone with Covid will be allowed to finish their isolation period after seven days rather than 10 if they have two negative results.
Here’s all you need to know about the rapid tests, from what experts have to say on their reliability to why you may repeatedly test positive many days after an initial Covid infection.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huonossa sisäilmassa koronatartunnan voi saada minuuteissa – tehokas tuuletus laskee riskiä luultua enemmän, kertoo VTT:n tuore tutkimus
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12231997
Mitä enemmän huonetilassa on viruksia, sitä suurempi on riski taudin leviämisestä. Tuulettamalla viruspitoisuudet tippuvat tutkijoiden mukaan jopa 90 prosenttia.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fact Check: Will We Be Microchipped With Vaccine Passports?
https://www.iflscience.com/technology/fact-check-will-we-be-microchipped-with-vaccine-passports/
Claim: Vaccine opponents’ fears of implantable chips have been proven right with the announcement of an implantable vaccine passport, possibly indicating the coming of the antichrist.
Reality: A small company is promoting the capacity of their pre-existing chips to bring up vaccine passports on phones placed nearby. It has no government endorsement, let alone compulsion.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/technology/new-copper-surface-kills-bacteria-in-just-2-minutes-over-100-times-faster-than-regular-copper/