its going to end poorly or dark as its told~
A lot of info in the comments area.
As with Flu, it is quite possible if careful not to catch it
Much less possible...even if careful
Measles Ro = 15-18
Omicron .. Ro =8-15
Flu Ro=1.5
Currently the virus for measles has the highest average R-naught value in the world at around 15-18, while the Omicron variant has a R0 value of 8-15, putting it in second place.
Influenza. The median R value for 2009 was 1.46 (IQR: 1.30–1.70) and was similar across the two waves of illness: 1.46 for the first wave and 1.48 for the second wave.
Happy global omicronisation
The Ivermectin study in Brazil with 120'000 people. 76% decrease in mortality
"
Conclusion: In this large, propensity score matched study, regular use of ivermectin as a prophylactic agent was associated with significantly reduced COVID-19 infection, 81 hospitalization, and mortality rates.
(4) (PDF) Ivermectin Prophylaxis Used for COVID-19 Reduces COVID-19 Infection and Mortality Rates: A City-Wide, Prospective Observational Study of 223,128 Subjects Using Propensity Score Matching.. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/p…Propensity_Score_Matching [accessed Jan 11 2022].
But we also know that it is correct for 2021 after April...
How?
Much less possible...even if careful
Measles Ro = 15-18
Omicron .. Ro =8-15
Flu Ro=1.5
Fair enough. It is no way like Flu.
But...
Flu happens in a population with a lot of past immunity. Omicron waves are happening with almost no past immunity, because it is so different from delta.
So if you can self-isolate well enough for the next two or three months that high number of omicron will have gone < 1 everywhere.
What these figures don't address is the relative transmissability from a mostly immune population to a naive individual.
The depressing thing with COVID is that there is every chance of another (genetically far away) version like omicron.
THH
It is not just big pharma making $$$ out of the pandemic - all medics and especially the legal professionals are creaming it in, like the Global Warming debate all professionals are being paid huge salaries for hot air more and more 'Blah, Blah, Blah at the tax-payer's (you and me) expense. Where will or when will it all end? In third world nuclear War?
Novartis and Molecular Partners Report Positive Data from Phase 2 Study for COVID Antiviral Ensovibep, Will Seek Emergency Use Authorization from FDA
Novartis and Molecular Partners announced results from Part A of the EMPATHY clinical trial which compared single intravenous doses of ensovibep, a DARPin antiviral therapeutic versus placebo to treat COVID-19. The trial met the primary endpoint of viral load reduction over eight days, as well as the secondary endpoints of hospitalization and/or Emergency Room (ER) visits or death, and time to sustained clinical recovery. Novartis confirmed it will now exercise its option to in-license ensovibep from Molecular Partners and, following exercise of the option, will seek expedited regulatory approvals, beginning with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
The global phase 2/3 EMPATHY trial, which is being conducted by Novartis, with Molecular Partners as sponsor, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in ambulatory (non-hospitalized) adult patients with COVID-19. The trial included both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients who had experienced at least two mild/ moderate symptoms of COVID-19 within seven days of onset and had a positive rapid antigen test on the day of dosing, confirmed by a PCR test at baseline. EMPATHY Part A enrolled 407 patients to identify a dose of ensovibep with optimal safety and efficacy. The patients received 75mg, 225mg or 600mg. Patients were enrolled in the USA, South Africa, India, the Netherlands and Hungary.
The primary endpoint was met with a statistically significant reduction in viral load over eight days, compared to placebo, for all three dosing arms. The secondary endpoint of hospitalization and/or ER visits related to COVID-19, or death showed an overall 78% reduction in risk of events across ensovibep arms compared to placebo. The placebo arm with 99 patients had a total of six events (event rate of 6.0%); five patients were hospitalized, two of whom died due to worsening of COVID-19 and one patient had an ER visit only. In the 301 patients treated with ensovibep, there were four events, hospitalizations occurred in two patients and two needed to visit ER (event rate of 1.3%). No deaths occurred in any of the patients treated with ensovibep. All doses were well-tolerated and no unexpected safety issues were identified for any of the doses.
Part B (phase 3) of EMPATHY is now underway, with an additional 1,700 patients planned for enrollment. The lowest dose of 75mg is the planned dose for further development.
Novartis and Molecular Partners entered into a collaboration for the development of ensovibep for potential use against COVID-19. With the decision made to exercise the option, Novartis will be responsible for further development, manufacturing, distribution and commercialization activities of ensovibep. Under the terms of the agreement, Molecular Partners had received an upfront payment of CHF 60 million, including equity. Molecular Partners will receive a further payment of CHF 150 million, upon Novartis electing to take up the option on the therapeutic candidate, and significant royalties on sales.
About ensovibep
Ensovibep is a DARPin therapeutic candidate, designed specifically to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. DARPins (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins) are mono or multi-specific protein-based therapies, designed to specifically engage their targets for various effects. Ensovibep was designed to include three individual DARPin domains, each highly neutralizing to SARS-CoV-2. With these domains constructed into a single molecule, ensovibep can block the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein through highly potent and cooperative binding. This design ensures strong neutralization, even in the presence of mutations of the spike protein and limits the development of escape mutants. Several characteristics of DARPin therapeutics make them suitable for COVID-19 treatment, including multi-specific binding, the rapid onset of action, and scalable bacterial production.
Japan’s COVID-19 Surge Spreads at Alarming Speed
Japan is showing signs of a “sixth wave” of coronavirus infections as the highly contagious Omicron variant tears through the community.
Last month, Japan was being praised for its mysteriously low COVID-19 case counts, something that baffled experts. But after four months of an almost pandemic-free life, Japan is now facing a surge of new daily cases, which have spread at record breaking speed. The majority of infections are driven by the Omicron variant, and almost 40 percent of positive cases are “breakthrough” infections in people who have been vaccinated.
In mid-December, COVID-19 cases nationwide stood at below 200 each day. Following the New Year holiday period, cases have skyrocketed to over 8,000 new daily cases nationwide, which is an approximately 14-fold increase compared to the previous week. Concerns are growing that the surge in cases could cause Japan’s healthcare system to collapse.
The Japanese government announced that three southern prefectures – Okinawa, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi – will fall under a quasi-state of emergency running from Sunday until the end of January in an effort to curb the spread of Omicron. There is also the possibility that restaurants and bars will be asked to shorten business hours in areas where infections continue to increase. Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko announced a review of the number of admissions to government facilities and the number of people allowed to use restaurants, which currently have a limit of eight people per group. Meanwhile, the Tokyo metropolitan government has also lifted the COVID-19 alert system from green to yellow, which indicates spreading infections.
Last week the Japan Medical Association announced that the country had officially entered a “sixth wave” of COVID-19 cases and stressed a sense of urgency around the pressure being put on the medical system. The head of the organization, Nakagawa Toshio, acknowledged that the spread of infection is happening considerably faster than the Delta variant, which was behind the explosion of cases during the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year. However, Nakagawa said that the current situation did not warrant a state of emergency declaration, based on the present availability of hospital beds.
There are concerns that in the next two months the Omicron variant will continue to spread. One projection has the surge reaching its peak by March 4, with approximately 28,775 positive daily cases nationwide, surpassing the previous peak in summer 2021.
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The National Center for Global Health and Medicine warned of an impending explosion of cases and explained that the ratio of new positive cases has increased significantly to a level never experienced before.
The Tokyo metropolitan government has pledged to secure 6,919 hospital beds and 7,900 rooms for overnight treatment. That’s more than double the number of rooms secured during the summer 2021 fifth wave, which was dominated by the Delta variant.
Last year during the fifth wave, 60 people died from COVID-19 while receiving treatment at home due to hospitals reaching full capacity. The government’s approach to the current wave will focus on the implementation of early treatment to prevent moderate to serious illness and ensuring public health centers are not overburdened with home health monitoring as home recovery cases increase.
The spread of infections on U.S. military bases in Japan is also adding to political tensions over escalating COVID-19 cases. Last week it was revealed that U.S. military personnel have been exempt from PCR tests when entering Japan since September, leading to COVID-19 outbreaks on several U.S. bases across Japan. Clusters have increased at Iwakuni air base in Yamaguchi prefecture and Kaden air base in Okinawa.
Japan has attempted to stem the surge by requiring U.S. personnel to wear masks outside the base and implementing mandatory PCR testing on personnel traveling to Japan on military aircraft.
The Japan-U.S military Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that U.S forces are not subject to Japanese laws when entering Japan, which exempts them from mandatory quarantine. However, some residents and Japanese employees of the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa have criticized the lack of preventative measures on base and urged the government to prioritize the Japanese Constitution and protect the rights of citizens.
USA:: Now close to 1 mio cases/day.
I heard yesterday that the CDC has advised against travel to Canada. Apparently they see us at stage 4 out of 5 for Covid, with Covid being 'very high'. So Canada joins the list of about 80 other destinations that Americans are advised to avoid. This shows the CDC cares for its citizens and wants to keep them nice and healthy and infection free.
So to the hoards of Americans wanting to cross the northern border into Canada for vacation at this time of year, keep safe and put it off for now please.
Japans R is 1.525 . Japan just entered it's flu season. Wow, didn't see this coming, or maybe some of us did!
The last four days I've had mild nasal congestion - having to blow my nose a few times a day - and a bit of a sore throat and phlegm. The sore throat thing is odd because it's a bit further down than a sore throat usually is. Also, moving the cartilage around the adam's apple revealed some tenderness. That's a first. No other symptoms other than maybe a slightly elevated temperature a few times through the day. Today it seems about entirely gone.
So I didn't even have to dip into my ivermectin reserves. (I've given 4 of my 10 Ziverdo packs away so far.)
Here in Toronto apparently there's only one place now where one can acquire a rapid antigen test. I heard yesterday that thousands of people lined up in the cold for many hours at the location, some as early as 6am, in the hopes of getting one. Perhaps two thousand left empty handed. So .... I'm not even going to try to get tested. Perhaps in the next few months I may call the medical centre and get my doctor to fill out a requisition for a serum antibody test.
I continue to hear stories of people who have been flattened by what is likely to be Omicron. No oxygen problems, but lots of body aches and sleep - depriving pain. One of my favourite YouTubers shared his brutal experience, how he suffered for a week, then got hold of some ivermectin through an out of state doctor, and it turned him around in 9 hours.
Spain wants EU to manage COVID as ‘common flu’
The Spanish government has worked for several weeks on a plan to approach the COVID-19 disease as if it was the common flu, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported, quoting El País.
Official sources told El País that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is trying to open the same debate at the EU level.
The Spanish government, a coalition of the socialist party (PSOE) and left-wing Unidas Podemos (United We Can), is currently finalising the plan to manage COVID-19 as another respiratory disease.
In practical terms, this would mean moving away from a system of detailed surveillance of infections, and instead, estimating how the disease spreads based on meaningful samples collected by health professionals, El País and EFE reported.
Asked about this plan, in an exclusive interview aired on Monday by private radio station Cadena SER, Sánchez confirmed that the government has been “working on it (the plan) for (several) weeks (…)”.
It is now up to the people responsible for managing the pandemic at the Spanish Centre for the Coordination of Alerts and Health Emergencies (CCAES) and the Alerts Committee to accept, amend or reject it.
“It is a debate that we are already trying to open at the EU level; the Minister of Health (Carolina Darias) has raised it with various European health ministers”, Sánchez added.
In his opinion, it is “a necessary debate” because thanks to research and science we have “the answer to protect ourselves and reduce infections among the population as far as we can”.
The socialist PM also spoke about the significant drop in mortality during the sixth wave, marked by the Omicron variant. Compared to the average 13% mortality rate during the first wave, he said the current one lies at 1%.
In the same interview with Cadena SER, Sánchez announced that the executive would regulate the price of antigen tests and also announced the purchase of 344,000 COVID-19 pills from Pfizer to better deal with the omicron variant.
“The debate we had before, or during Christmas, mainly focused on the supply of these tests; there was an exponential increase in demand but not in supply. This has already been solved; now we will focus on controlling the price of antigen tests,” Sánchez added.
An Omicron jab not necessary
Speaking to EURACTIV.com on condition of anonymity, an EU diplomat said it seems that a jab specifically for Omicron will not be needed as the variant is so contagious that everybody will have already contracted it by the time a specialist vaccine is developed.
The diplomat explained that based on scientific advice, the most likely near-future scenario seems to be an endemic virus, similar to influenza.
Moreover, another EU diplomat said with Omicron, the push for contact tracing is also losing momentum and becomes increasingly pointless
Data from UK show vaccine efficiency against severe illness with ICU admission after SARS-Cov2...
Display MoreThe last four days I've had mild nasal congestion - having to blow my nose a few times a day - and a bit of a sore throat and phlegm. The sore throat thing is odd because it's a bit further down than a sore throat usually is. Also, moving the cartilage around the adam's apple revealed some tenderness. That's a first. No other symptoms other than maybe a slightly elevated temperature a few times through the day. Today it seems about entirely gone.
So I didn't even have to dip into my ivermectin reserves. (I've given 4 of my 10 Ziverdo packs away so far.)
Here in Toronto apparently there's only one place now where one can acquire a rapid antigen test. I heard yesterday that thousands of people lined up in the cold for many hours at the location, some as early as 6am, in the hopes of getting one. Perhaps two thousand left empty handed. So .... I'm not even going to try to get tested. Perhaps in the next few months I may call the medical centre and get my doctor to fill out a requisition for a serum antibody test.
I continue to hear stories of people who have been flattened by what is likely to be Omicron. No oxygen problems, but lots of body aches and sleep - depriving pain. One of my favourite YouTubers shared his brutal experience, how he suffered for a week, then got hold of some ivermectin through an out of state doctor, and it turned him around in 9 hours.
Symptoms will be a little more severe than what was seen in south Africa. It's winter time here summer there. The nature of the beast.
Omicron was in Canadian wastewater in November before it was found in South Africa
Omicron was found in Nova Scotia wastewater weeks before it was discovered by the province — and even before the novel COVID-19 strain was reported by South Africa, according to new research from Dalhousie University in Canada.
Explaining the situation, Professor Graham Gagnon, director of the Dalhousie University Centre for Water Resource Studies, said that "Our team detected Omicron , retrospectively, in Nova Scotia wastewater in mid-November and will be able to provide further information in the future."
In late November, the first Omicron case was reported in South Africa.
On December 13, the first cases in Nova Scotia were confirmed, and they were related to a COVID-19 epidemic at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
According to the university, the virus survives longer in the gastrointestinal tract than in the respiratory tract, which means genetic material can be identified in human waste despite the fact that COVID-19 is a respiratory sickness.
Since December 2020, the Dalhousie team has been monitoring wastewater for COVID-19 indicators at the Halifax region's four main wastewater treatment plants: Halifax, Dartmouth, Mill Cove, and Eastern Passage, as well as the Dalhousie campus's five student dormitories.
"For us, it's been a successful project," said Gagnon. "It's a tool that can be used to help make decisions."
Other sections of Canada are undergoing similar tests.
Since Omicron was discovered in the province in December, the levels of the COVID-19 virus reported in wastewater have surged by nearly 88 percent in Saskatchewan.
According to Gagnon, a similar surge occurred in Nova Scotia, but he declined to be more precise until the data was double-checked.
Display MoreThe last four days I've had mild nasal congestion - having to blow my nose a few times a day - and a bit of a sore throat and phlegm. The sore throat thing is odd because it's a bit further down than a sore throat usually is. Also, moving the cartilage around the adam's apple revealed some tenderness. That's a first. No other symptoms other than maybe a slightly elevated temperature a few times through the day. Today it seems about entirely gone.
So I didn't even have to dip into my ivermectin reserves. (I've given 4 of my 10 Ziverdo packs away so far.)
Here in Toronto apparently there's only one place now where one can acquire a rapid antigen test. I heard yesterday that thousands of people lined up in the cold for many hours at the location, some as early as 6am, in the hopes of getting one. Perhaps two thousand left empty handed. So .... I'm not even going to try to get tested. Perhaps in the next few months I may call the medical centre and get my doctor to fill out a requisition for a serum antibody test.
I continue to hear stories of people who have been flattened by what is likely to be Omicron. No oxygen problems, but lots of body aches and sleep - depriving pain. One of my favourite YouTubers shared his brutal experience, how he suffered for a week, then got hold of some ivermectin through an out of state doctor, and it turned him around in 9 hours.
My family just went through a round of normal sniffle cold. PCR tests negative for Covid. Still good enough to freak out everyone over Xmas holidays.
COVID-19 may have killed nearly 3 million in India
If you count in the starving families due to early lockdown...maybe
So to the hoards of Americans wanting to cross the northern border into Canada for vacation at this time of year, keep safe and put it off for now please.
I guess they protect you from the highly contagious boostered Americans...
