Coronavirus - International stories and thoughts

2 more confirmed cases of reinfection

Coronavirus re-infections raise concerns about immunity

AMSTERDAM/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with the coronavirus, raising concerns about people’s immunity to the virus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic.

The cases, in Belgium and the Netherlands, follow a report this week by researchers in Hong Kong about a man there who had been re-infected with a different strain of the virus four and a half months after being declared recovered - the first such re-infection to be documented.

 

There are two responses to be considered: the government response, and the citizen response. In the U.S., the government response under Trump has, in many ways, been poor. Many governors and large city mayors have screwed up as well. The citizen response in the U.S. has not been very good either, especially when you realize that the virus can remain active based on the response of the worst few percent of the population. The U.S. response has been affected by many things (not just Trump's lazy and dismissive attitude): an unwillingness to follow directions, a lack of respect for science, a tendency to fill in the gaps of scientific thought with rumors and speculation, a politically and culturally divided public, as well as the ongoing protests and violence. Comparing one country to another without considering all of the differences between the countries and crediting one leader while blaming the other is somewhat pointless.

 

The country needs to be led. And, if it isn’t led, it is rudderless. In describing the national response, you described Trump’s response. For the most part, the response beee has followed political lines. And followed stupid. What is so sad is that wearing a mask is not that hard. And mask wearing has made a big difference in Florida recently. Btw: it seems that UF athletes and football players have been very responsible. Zero cases; absolutely a tribute to every player and staff member on the team.

 

Asia on the whole has never had a visible peak, though most of it now is probably India which has gotten totally out of control. I’ve read of some other countries have “tourism related” outbreaks, but the numbers are trivial relative to India.

Europe doesn’t look terrible yet but their curve has inverted and going in the wrong direction.

 

What a great video

 

A small amount of people got chicken pox multiple times. Seems to be an anomaly. 3 confirmed out of millions? Keep the fear churning!

 

Just like any other virus, mutations are natural and vaccines have to be adapted each year. Just like we have to get a flu shot every fall. It's also been said that mutations more often than not become less potent, because, after all, a virus thrives better by keeping its host alive to propogatge the strain forward than it does by killing all of its hosts.

 

I think it's a bit early to reach the conclusion that this is fear mongering. We are only 6 weeks removed from our peak. The actual reinfection rate cannot be fully understood.

Reinfection needs to be understood. Is it due to antigenic drift, drop in antibodies or something else entirely? The answer to that question may drive our subsequent policy decisions as well as vaccine considerations. To dismiss its implications outright is short-sighted, IMHO.

 

FYI, it's starting to get sub-optimal again over this way. Numbers are rising again.

Definite worry here in the UK - from Monday it's illegal to gather with any more than 6 people again - it's being mooted as the start of lockdown 2, although quite when we finished the last one I'm not sure

Who ever would have thought that encouraging people back into restaurants, pubs, schools and offices would have seen the virus rise eh? But the Government is determined to blame young people, as a sweeping generalisation. That'll keep their core vote happy, at least!

 

My mother in law had two confirmed cases. Is that not the same as reinfection?

 

Surprisingly, Italy is now doing very well with the virus. I am guessing that their initial scare with the 10% death rate got their attention, and they started wearing masks and social distancing religiously. They don't seem to have many coronavirus deniers at this point.

How Is Italy Avoiding a Second Pandemic Wave?

 

For some jaw-dropping perspective, go back and read the first 10 pages or so of this thread.

 

Did they go???

 

No. They sensibly cancelled their plans, even before all the subsequent restrictions on travel. Airfare was fully refunded as were deposits on all their reservations, but China does not refund the cost of a visa. They purchased 10 year visas but I hope they never use them.