The Coronavirus Thread

[JimC]

Certainly there should be a network of testing a variety of wild and domestic animals for viruses that have the potential to jump to humans. This pandemic should have taught the world that such surveillance is vital so that the next zoonotic transfer doesn't catch us on the hop...

[Brian Peacock]

Research suggests the Indian variant is up to 50% more transmissibile than the current UK dominant strain, the Kent variant.

[JimC]

They evolve, of course - Darwin will not be mocked...

[Hermit]

Imran Ahmed, chief executive officer of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, says accounts of twelve people have been identified who are claimed to be responsible for two thirds of Covid-19 and related vaccine disinformation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

These figures are well-known to both researchers and the social networks. They include anti-vaccine activists, alternative health entrepreneurs and physicians. Some of them run multiple accounts across the different platforms. They often promote "natural health." Some even sell supplements and books.

More here

[Joe]

Certainly there should be a network of testing a variety of wild and domestic animals for viruses that have the potential to jump to humans. This pandemic should have taught the world that such surveillance is vital so that the next zoonotic transfer doesn't catch us on the hop...

Yeah, that's the urgency isn't it? It seems reasonable to me that the lab origin hypothesis shouldn't be that big a focus unless the zoonic hypothesis turns out not to explain things. We have a lot more control over labs than we do evolution.

Weinstein and Heyer seem to insist that it be studied now.

[Cunt]

JimC, I wish one of you mathsy sorts could give a read (or listen) to the new 'novid' app.

I don't mind saying I didn't understand the numbers, but the privacy, accuracy and more useable info for subscribers seemed very interesting.

The first preventative tool to fight COVID-19.
NOVID goes beyond contact tracing. Get notified before you’re exposed, so you can take precautions and protect yourself. Built for individuals, educational institutions, and communities.

That's from the app page on google play.

This is the interview where I heard Po-Shen Loh describe his approach, and some other math geekery...

Po-Shen Loh is a mathematician at CMU and coach of the USA International Math Olympiad team.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cH ... HQAAAAAQTQ

I'm going to be telling my health authority pals about it, but don't really know enough to recommend it. Only to recommend that they check out this 'Po-Shen' dude, and see if he is legit in the ways he needs to be...

[NineBerry]

Aerosol means that contact tracing apps (that don't use geo-location) don't see some contacts.

Transmissions can happen between people who are in the same room even when they don't come close to each other. They can even happen when the two people are in the same place one after the other (for example an elevator or toilet etc)

[Cunt]

Aerosol means that contact tracing apps (that don't use geo-location) don't see some contacts.

Transmissions can happen between people who are in the same room even when they don't come close to each other. They can even happen when the two people are in the same place one after the other (for example an elevator or toilet etc)

so you didn't get what he said either?

He lost me around the bluetooth stuff, and again in the math. Lost me so hard in the math, that I forgot he lost me in the radio...

[NineBerry]

The whole issue has been discussed a year ago ad nauseam

[Cunt]

Um, no, he didn't.

Network theory, combined with smartphones, and health care information, anonymized.

They accidentally found a new way to control diseases.

I bet I can't explain it to you.

Po-shen might, though. Starting about 24 minutes in.

Whenever there is a sickness, tell everyone how many connections are between you and the incidence of disease. Disease transmission isn't measured in feet, but in connections.

Like the 6 degrees of separation.

I bet that isn't enough either. Sorry nb

[JimC]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-20/ ... /100153266

A 53-year-old South Australian man is being treated in intensive care for blood clotting that health authorities say is linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

It is the first case recorded in the state, with 150,000 South Australians so far receiving the AstraZeneca jab.

Authorities are also investigating a second case of blood clotting in an 87-year-old woman who received the AstraZeneca vaccine last month.

I will have to be stoical about my jab in a weeks or so...

[pErvinalia]

Got the flu jab today.

[Brian Peacock]

The kung-flu jab, or just the regular one?

[Brian Peacock]

Um, no, he didn't.

Network theory, combined with smartphones, and health care information, anonymized.

They accidentally found a new way to control diseases.

I bet I can't explain it to you.

Po-shen might, though. Starting about 24 minutes in.

Whenever there is a sickness, tell everyone how many connections are between you and the incidence of disease. Disease transmission isn't measured in feet, but in connections.

Like the 6 degrees of separation.

I bet that isn't enough either. Sorry nb

How can we discuss issues or ideas you'd like to talk about if you can't articulate what they are - and when we do why do you always assume that we must be wrong?

This is a general problem of course. Often we come across snippets of information, or information we can't readily process, and then we decide what we feel about that info is probably as important as the info itself. Then when somebody else expresses the same kind of feelings about the info we think that our feelings have been validated, that we are indeed correct, and our partial (or perhaps even complete lack of) understanding is secured. Similarly, when we hear or read about people taking issue with our (albeit flimsy) understanding of the info we tend to deny that which runs counter to our feelings about it.

The 'gain of function and the Wuhan lab' trope is a case in point. Understanding the range, scope, and mechanisms of zoonotic transmission as a vector for disease is a knotty, technical, specialist and specialised matter. But we all know that people are stupid and that politicians regularly do bad shit out of incompetence, or just for the chicks, the money, or just the lolz. For many people it's easier to believe that a stupid or venal person is responsible for 'releasing' the virus than digging into what zoonotic diseases are and how they operate. iif somebody then gives them reasons for thinking that stupid or venal people could have, and/or probably did 'release' the virus then their assumptions and feelings are reinforced. At the same time their outrage at the idea starts to appear more justifiable, their distrust in official or credible scientific info or statements from politicians appears more reasonable and grows, and their 'understanding' of the situation is shored up.

By the time people are claiming that Biden funded the Wuhan lab and that he, in collusion with the Chinese government, deliberately plunged the entire planet into the a global health emergency simply to make Trump look bad and to steal the US election, the departure from reality on this matter is almost total. And yet at every step along the way feelings are being validated and 'understandings' about the 'what's really going on' are being secured by others with as little solid knowledge about zoonotic transmission as oneself.

Lizard overlords, Bill Gates and 5G corona beams, fluoride in the water reducing the sperm count, and being deliberately poisoned with massive amounts of hydrogen dioxide by big pharma in order to sell us pills we don't need fall into similar camps.

So my suggestion is that before you assume that something you don't really understand is probably correct because it feels like it's right, and then challenge others to try and prove you wrong (not to mention, how would you even know if they had if you don't understand the info to begin with?) either do a bit more research, or just try not to form a view one way or another.

[pErvinalia]

The kung-flu jab, or just the regular one?

Influenza. Probably be a few more months before I can get the CV vax. The roll out here has been really slow.