Coronavirus (Covid-19) informational thread

[44267547]

I was having a conversation with a health official earlier this afternoon and I don’t know how many other states are dealing with this, but one thing we’re seeing a trend is quite a few ‘false positives’, Which is causing us a little bit of pandemonium. We’re seeing residents test positive for C/19, but only to find out they actually are in fact negative, after retesting When their symptoms are contested. So ‘Subject A’ initial first test shows positive, their second retest shows negative, and when you’re testing XYZ amount of people per day, how many false positives are misconstrued versus showing the actual real numbers of those who are officially contaminated.

Another question I asked, “What leads to a false positive?” And the answer that was submitted to me, was either these tests A.) Are ‘defective’, B.) Not being properly administered [Which seems unlikely] or C.)Contaminated through improper storage.

So here’s what I’m wondering, how do you determine which test kits are defective and which ones can be efficiently used for testing? Do you scrap all these test kits at various sites not knowing which ones are defective or do you continue using them? Or do you ‘double test’ every subject to see if the results match?

I’m not expecting anyone reading this to have answers, but I also suspect that this must be a viable concern in other communities/states as well.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I was having a conversation with a health official earlier this afternoon and I don’t know how many other states are dealing with this, but one thing we’re seeing a trend is quite a few ‘false positives’, Which is causing us a little bit of pandemonium. We’re seeing residents test positive for C/19, but only to find out they actually are in fact negative, after retesting When their symptoms are contested. So ‘Subject A’ initial first test shows positive, their second retest shows negative, and when you’re testing XYZ amount of people per day, how many false positives are misconstrued versus showing the actual real numbers of those who are officially contaminated.

Another question I asked, “What leads to a false positive?” And the answer that was submitted to me, was either these tests A.) Are ‘defective’, B.) Not being properly administered [Which seems unlikely] or C.)Contaminated through improper storage.

So here’s what I’m wondering, how do you determine which test kits are defective and which ones can be efficiently used for testing? Do you scrap all these test kits at various sites not knowing which ones are defective or do you continue using them? Or do you ‘double test’ every subject to see if the results match?

I’m not expecting anyone reading this to have answers, but I also suspect that this must be a viable concern in other communities/states as well.

The above is true.
That's why hospitalization (and usage of ICU's) is what is actually used as a metric for both finding out hot zones and for measuring up the problem.
Positive tests is now largely a media-driven thing.

 

[Gregg2]

Thought I heard recently that the CDC has a list of defective tests that are not approved even for emergency use any more.

 

[44267547]

So this is interesting, ‘public pools‘ have been closed for the summer in my state, which has caused a massive influx of consumers ordering pools that literally are not in stock anywhere. Yet, public beaches/lakes in my area have no restrictions for occupancy.

What is completely backwards, is they [Local media outlets] just released an article that pools actually would be considered ‘safe’, as C/19 can’t survive given all the chemicals that are inside of a pool, but yet; beachfronts with lakes for those who want to swim, actually pose a significantly higher risk of the water being contaminated when somebody sneezes/coughs, etc, where the concern is that it would pose a higher risk given the amount of people in contaminated water with ‘roped off‘ areas where everybody is forced all together in one area and can’t really move about openly in a lake.

The worst part is, even when the media is making the public aware of the considerable differences between swimming in a pool and a lake with C/19 concerns, I think it’s obvious that you will find others who don’t care when it’s hot enough (90°), they’ll take their chances with their families/children in tight quarters.

 

[satchmo]

Anyone know if central air conditioning in the home. presents an added risk of transmitting Covid if you live in a home with 2 apartment units?

 

[D.T.]

So this is interesting, ‘public pools‘ have been closed for the summer in my state, which has caused a massive influx of consumers ordering pools that literally are not in stock anywhere.

You must mean above ground type pools, because I can't imagine a "massive influx" of people willing to fork out an average of ~$50K for an in-ground pool (plus non-trivial recurring costs ...)

Anyone know if central air conditioning in the home. presents an added risk of transmitting Covid if you live in a home with 2 apartment units?

Good question. I don't have an answer But in thinking about it ...

As you may know, HVAC works like so: air is pulled into the return(s), through a filter, it goes into the air handler - through another filter, then the cold/heat is exchanged (by way of the exterior condenser), then the air blown back through ducting, and the outlet vents all over the home. Many modern air handlers also have a blower system (often multispeed) designed to extract moisture from the air before recirculating (i.e., a dehumidifier).

The MERV rating on filters, even at the highest (which would probably restrict airflow) only goes to 0.3 microns, and Covid-19 is smaller than that, I found it documented at 0.12 microns, however, the transfer medium is normally some kind of aerosol like a sneeze or cough (I see a sneeze documented at 10-100), so I'm imagine some (most?) of that would get snared in the intake filter. Then get filtered again at the air handler[?] Maybe extracted in a dehumidifier process[?]

And that assumes the sneeze - for example - would get sucked up into the system in the first place.

I'm sure there's some subject matter expert that would have a more definitive answer, just sort of thinking about loud.

 

[Healer Flame]

Anyone know if central air conditioning in the home. presents an added risk of transmitting Covid if you live in a home with 2 apartment units?

There was an article here few weeks ago regarding office workers post the pandemic and what measures should be taking before getting back to work. Will post if i found it.

 

[chown33]

Moderation Note

A number of posts were moved to a new thread:
Coronavirus non-political DISCUSSION thread

Please take all discussions there, and leave this thread for informational posts only, as outlined in the 1st post of this thread.

Political content is unsuitable for either thread.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Moderation Note

A number of posts were moved to a new thread:
Coronavirus DISCUSSION thread

Please take all discussions there, and leave this thread for informational posts only, as outlined in the 1st post of this thread.

PRSI content is unsuitable for either thread.

May I recommend to change the title from "Coronavirus DISCUSSION thread" to "Coronavirus non-political DISCUSSION thread"?

 

[chown33]

^ Done.

 

[chown33]

Here's an Ars Technica article about detecting coronavirus in sewage, and how the viral counts act as a leading indicator for a change in the number of cases.

Poop alert: Sewage could signal impending burst of COVID-19 cases

Viral RNA levels spike in sewage seven days ahead of new cases.

arstechnica.com

The other ways we have of measuring the virus's prevalence are trailing indicators: positive PCR test counts, covid-like illness case counts, death counts, etc. That is, they're all counts that can only be taken after people show symptoms or have a positive test result.

The viral counts in the sewage appear to lead case counts by about a week, according to the article. That's a usable time interval for public health officials and others to devise a response. If it were only a day or two, it wouldn't be nearly as useful.

This isn't a preventative measure, because the viral counts come from people in the "pooping population" who have already contracted the virus. So in that respect, it's still only a trailing measure of something that's already happened. Its value lies in the lag time between detectable changes in the sewage stream and an expected change in symptomatic cases. It also doesn't require testing of individuals.

 

[LizKat]

^^^ lol now this thread should be retitled "... covid-19-TMI".

Glad I have read this way before what's for supper has crossed my mind.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is 'very rare,' WHO says

Government responses should focus on detecting and isolating infected people with symptoms, said the WHO's Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.

www.cnbc.com

 

[faust]

113,000+ dead Americans as of yesterday, and that number is just going to keep skyrocketing. It's really quite pitiful that people are so ignorant that they won't even wear masks inside grocery stores. I went to one yesterday, asked a guy why he wasn't wearing a mask, and he just laughed at me. I'm wearing one not for my protection, but on the off chance I'm asymptomatic, but lots of people are just forgoing that, so I feel pretty disrespected. I'm not wearing some nice filtered mask that'll protect me because it's still a scalpers game right now, so this really is genuinely disappointing to me.

 

[Healer Flame]

Even if they come up with a vaccine to the virus the biggest challenge will still remain there which is trying to locate the last person with the virus.

Unless the virus fades and die out naturally it will be hard to catch and locate the last group of people or last person with the virus.

It only takes one or two people to spread the virus all over again.

☝️☝️☝️
This is proving to be quiet correct because the virus is re-surfacing in many regions all over the world.
Here in state of Victoria , Australia, we almost beat the virus with only 1 or zero infections per day but now its 30+ because the virus was managed to escape and circulate in the community within a short time.

 

[yaxomoxay]

US Covid-19 Deaths breakdown by age as of yesterday

The big jump at the 55+ age is quite striking.

 

[Healer Flame]

Due to community's transmission of the virus ,36 suburbs of Melbourne city will be locked to stage 3 restrictions
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We can say this is the virus from hell.

 

[Healer Flame]

Brazilian President Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Jair Bolsonaro previously downplayed risks posed by coronavirus, once telling supporters because of his history of athleticism, he would not worry if he became infected

www.voanews.com

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Phew......
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No matter how rich and powerful you are this virus is capable to climb and reach.

 

[decafjava]

Brazilian President Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Jair Bolsonaro previously downplayed risks posed by coronavirus, once telling supporters because of his history of athleticism, he would not worry if he became infected

www.voanews.com

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Phew......
[automerge]1594139186[/automerge]
No matter how rich and powerful you are this virus is capable to climb and reach.

Couldn't happen to a nicer person. Of course the universe doesn't give a "blank" otherwise so many of his fellow citizens would not have caught it not to mention the others around the world.

 

[Healer Flame]

What i meant is, you expect people in that position and status are better shielded and looked after than the average person.
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Now days i am going everywhere with pocket sanitizer and also keep a spray and jelly sanitizers in my car. Social phobia is kicking hard.

 

[decafjava]

If this is confirmed this would be good news although an energy hungry system.

corona killing filters

Researchers from the University of Houston, in collaboration with others, have designed a “catch and kill” air filter that can trap the virus responsible for COVID-19, killing it instantly.

 

[44267547]

As of today, Per ordinance code in my city, masking is required at all times in any/all public facilities, government buildings, parks, ect. [In part to-Which all universities are to enforce masking on campus property at all times]. At this junction, I’d personally push for masking to be countywide where it’s mandatory in general public, that’s going to take some additional time meshed within current daily statistics/data to promote that type of enforcement.

 

[Gregg2]

That's happening around here too. So crazy that it's City by City. The reason for that is political, so no further comment.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Italy in State of Emergency until 12/31.

 

[Healer Flame]

We are going back to level 3 restrictions too for 6 weeks😷😷😷 after almost beating the virus. But this time around the mood and vibe is much better than the first lockdown.