Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

No, we don't know. One study doesn't definitively prove anything. There's some evidence that indicates delta causes more severe disease.

 

I see this and I'm not sure there is any turning back. People have gone insane. Threatening people in vein popping anger because they suggested wearing a mask.

 

it’s not one study. It’s actual data. We have it from the UK and form the CDC.

 

Heard this on the radio on the drive in this morning. Apparently many in Idaho "don't believe in Covid". Again, science doesn't care what you believe.

Idaho allows COVID-slammed hospitals to ration care for 1st time ever

The move came as the state's confirmed coronavirus cases skyrocketed in recent weeks. Idaho has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S.

 

Well this would be interesting once more research is done. Article is mostly speculative as not many cases have been studied. It would definitely provide support for vaccinating everyone eligible, even if previously infected.

New Studies Find Evidence Of 'Superhuman' Immunity To COVID-19 In Some Individuals

 

Good news with regard to lung recovery from Covid for young people.

Lung function appears to be unaffected after COVID-19 infection in young adults - ERS - European Respiratory Society

In the first study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on lung function, researchers led by Dr Ida Mogensen, a post-doctoral fellow at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, found that even patients with asthma did not show a statistically significant deterioration in lung function, although there was a trend towards slightly lower measurements for the amount of air they could exhale forcibly in one second – known as forced expiratory air volume in one second (FEV1), which is one of the measures of lung function.

Dr Mogensen and her colleagues gathered information from 661 young people with an average age 22 years who were part of a large study [3] that enrolled children born between 1994 and 1996 in Stockholm, and who have been followed by researchers ever since. The most recent pre-pandemic clinical examination was carried out between 2016 and 2019. The examinations at the COVID-19 follow-up took place between October 2020 and May 2021. Collected data included measurements of lung function, inflammation and white blood cells called eosinophils, which are part of the immune system.

Of the 661 participants, 178 (27%) had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 indicating they had been infected. The researchers measured FEV1, FVC (forced vital capacity, which represents the volume of air in the lungs that can be exhaled after a taking the deepest breath possible), and FEV1/FVC ratio, which is an indicator of narrowed airways. They calculated the changes in lung function between the period before the pandemic and during the pandemic. Then they compared the percentage change with participants who had not been infected.

“Our analysis showed similar lung function irrespective of COVID-19 history,” said Dr Mogensen. “When we included 123 participants with asthma in the analysis, the 24% who had had COVID-19 tended towards having a slightly lower lung function, but this was not statistically significant.”

 

Very interesting. Similar to one study I posted a few weeks ago showing having anitbodies and 1 shot of vaccine was slightly better than just having natural immunity. Will be interested in seeing what happens going forward.

 

And there's other actual data that suggests delta is more dangerous (not just more contagious). I'm just telling you the jury is still out on it. You can't make a definitive claim either way yet.

 

I’m superhuman!!!! I knew it!

But seriously that is great news if that pans out.

 

I'd be interested in seeing that data.

 

The Cox regression analysis for time to hospital admission found that S gene-positive cases were associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 hospital admission: hazard ratio (HR) 1·85 (95% CI 1·39–2·47) when compared to S gene-negative cases, after adjusting for age, sex, deprivation, temporal trend, and comorbidities. A greater number of COVID-19 relevant comorbidities increased the risk of COVID-19 hospital admission

DEFINE_ME

 

That doesn't jive with this data. Obviously the vaccine helped a bunch and skews the numbers, but still hard to say deaths increased.

 

Without knowing the vaccination status of the alpha group you can't really draw a conclusion from this. Also, the UK death rate has remained much lower than the US throughout its delta spike (which is still ongoing). Not sure why. The current 7 day average of deaths for the UK is 135 (out of a population of 68 million). The current 7 day average for Florida is above 250 (out of a population of 21.5 million). The per capita death rate in Florida is around 6 times higher than the UK right now. That can't be fully explained by vaccination rates.

 

First issue is yes, we can't draw a conclusion. But that goes the other way also. Can't say Delta is worse or not. One could surmise they aren't as fat as we are. What is the average age of the UK versus the average age of FL. FL is the 4th oldest state in the country and has a huge elderly population. That matters when the elderly are in the neighborhood of 1k times more likely to die from covid than someone who is under 25.

 

Wow. I just spent a week recently traveling all over Idaho. Then went to a large concert in Chicago. Then went to the Gator game. I guess I must be one of those super-humans.

 

That's all I have been saying.

 

No the victims are those who aren't "anti-vaxxers" but are still unsure based on the whirlwind of shaky info flying around. (Including from nurses and such)
People are genuinely confused. Those people need better info and data, but here those people get accused by some of basically committing manslaughter.
Most of us here aren't the sign toting protesters. I was generally making a tough personal decision. A couple people here posted some very rational data, including a really good PM that resonated with me. I know the way p[eople on a message board react CAN make a difference. It had some impact on me in the end.

 

I think I speak for all of us in saying that the inside info from a hospital has been very enlightening to this conversation. Thank you!

 

There is no mystery there. 72% of the eligible popultion is fully vaccinated. Nearly 82% have had at least one shot of a two shot regimen. They have a much, much smaller pool of unvaccinated people. Of that pool, some percentage have already been infected. The UK, from a vaccine standpoint and from restatring normal life is day and night better of than the United States.

 

In fairness an article from early in the pandemic is useless. We can't out of one side of our mouth support things changing as this evolves and then out of the other side cling to something outdated.