The Coronavirus Thread

[Joe]

On the lighter side, Mrs. Joe got some hand sanitizer with an unusual, but appropriate sentiment for the times.

[JimC]

That is certainly not true for me...

[Joe]

Well, if you count tea....

[Tero]

Don't come to Canada! Go to Grand Canyon instead.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/cana ... index.html

[Brian Peacock]

UK Covid infections rise as Delta variant dominates

UK coronavirus infections have risen slightly in the last week, with an estimated 119,000 people - up from 110,000 - now positive for the virus.

The Office for National Statistics figures, up to 12 June, suggest one in every 540 people is infected.

The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost all of the cases, says Public Health England.

There is some regional variation in infection rates, however, and some good news on vaccine efficacy.

North-west England had the highest proportion of people of any region in England likely to test positive for coronavirus in the week to June 12 - around one in 180.

Eastern England had the lowest estimate - around one in 2,480.

The trend is "uncertain" in Scotland and Northern Ireland, says the ONS, while in Wales the latest estimate is one in 1,500 people infected - down from one in 1,300 in the previous week - although first minister Mark Drakeford says a third wave of Covid is under way linked to the Delta variant...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57525891

[Scot Dutchy]

Well next week on the 26th June all restrictions except the social distancing rule will be dropped. Only on public transport if you are less than 1,50m will you be required to wear a face mask.

[pErvinalia]

I hope your vaccination rate is up to scratch.

[Scot Dutchy]

70%

[JimC]

This is a bit crumplesque, I know...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-20/ ... /100132138

While we may be looking forward to the end of the coronavirus crisis, health experts warn there may be more pandemics ahead of us.

Within the last 20 years alone, we've "dodged five bullets" with SARS, MERS, Ebola, avian influenza and swine flu.

But despite the knowledge gained from those experiences, we were still largely unprepared for the coronavirus crisis. And the speed of its spread highlights the dangers posed by a hyper globalised world in a pandemic.

With more signs that things are ramping up, senior health officials from the World Health Organization warned last year that although the coronavirus pandemic has been "very severe," it is "not necessarily the big one".

Globalisation has also caused profound changes in the conditions that help shape infectious diseases, particularly those that originate in wildlife.

As our population increases, cities are encroaching further and further on wildlife habitats, disrupting living patterns and causing stress to animals.

As ecosystems are destroyed, animals are brought into closer contact with humans due to environmental degradation and deforestation, becoming a key driver of "spillover events".

These incidents occur when a virus mutates enough times to allow it to jump to another species and requires close contact between the host species and the species it's moving into. It is believed a spillover event is what sparked the coronavirus pandemic.

"One of the strongest drivers for the emergence of new diseases is the increased interaction between humans and animals," Hassan Vally from La Trobe University's Department of Public Health said, pointing to urbanisation, environmental degradation and deforestation as bringing animals in closer contact with humans.

"Climate change is another driver for the emergence of new diseases.

"These drivers combined with the fact that if a pathogen with pandemic potential does emerge, it can spread quickly due the highly mobile nature of people in the modern world, further exacerbates the risk these diseases pose."

It is estimated that more than 60 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses. It's why researchers are particularly focused on the crossover between humans and wildlife.

"The populations that we expect to see these arising from are more likely to be species that live in large colonies, that travel long distances," Dr Brookes said.

"They mix with other populations of the same species and also, because they fly, they have contact with lots of other species, [as well as] people."

Zoonoses are caused by the transmission of pathogens such as viruses, parasites, bacteria or fungi either by direct contact or indirect contact between animals and people. This can be through the environment with the help of vectors or carriers.

Quite a long article, the rest is well worth a read.

[rainbow]

Wait for the ε-variant. Coming to you soon.

We need a worldwide innoculation program to get to 90% vaccination, or we're doomed.

[Tero]

Volunteer with 2x Pfizer got Moderna
https://www.businessinsider.com/booster ... 2021-6?amp
the third shot gave one day's worth of aches and pains.

[Brian Peacock]

Masks on chaps, NSW records two new Covid cases.

[JimC]

It's like whack-a-mole down here. Melbourne gets on top of its outbreak, then NSW gets one; which state will be next?. Our vaccine roll-out is lamentably slow, as well...

[Tero]

Shopping center people in Australia tested

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1 ... 4785351688

[Scot Dutchy]

We are on target for the first of July. Every adult (over 18) who wants to be fully vaccinated will be by then. The 12 to 18 year old are being invited next week. Boosters will be available in September.

I wish the coalition formation was happening that fast. We have six parties but... agreement is still not close.