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Yup. People say "You know that mask doesn't protect you that much?"Yes. Scares me too. Especially as I age.
And I think to myself, "I wear this mask to protect my mom from people like you."
Yup. People say "You know that mask doesn't protect you that much?"Yes. Scares me too. Especially as I age.
Here a report on how well different face masks work:
Tony
Yup. People say "You know that mask doesn't protect you that much?"
In April, the fatality rate was around 7%. It's around 2% now but starting to rise again. With the number of cases rising but fatality rate falling, what is happening? My guess is that the general population (less vulnerable) are testing positive as more testing is being done.
Do masks work?
what about HCQ for mild to moderate COVID?
I just want to point out that study was a retrospective study. My wife was a medical researcher for over 40 years. She'll tell you that resprective studies are hypothesis creating studies, not confirming. They can really only be use to generate a hypothesis to be tested with a prospective study using classical double blind randomized trials. She says a retrospective study should never be used as a basis for treatment decisions. Indeed, quoted from the study: "However, any interpretation other than acknowledging the need to study this prospectively in a randomized, controlled trial would be invalid.", and later, "Once we have the data, yes, clinical experience would be important to make patient-by-patient decisions. But without that prospective, ideally randomized, data, we're just going blindly."Update to question on blood thinners.
https://www.medpagetoday.org/infect...ign=CME Weekly 2020-08-09&utm_term=CME_Weekly
I think if the vaccines are 60% effective, that would be considered a success. That is a large number of people who wouldn't get sick or would get less sick and less likely to spread a large viral load.
I just want to point out that study was a retrospective study. My wife was a medical researcher for over 40 years. She'll tell you that resprective studies are hypothesis creating studies, not confirming. They can really only be use to generate a hypothesis to be tested with a prospective study using classical double blind randomized trials. She says a retrospective study should never be used as a basis for treatment decisions. Indeed, quoted from the study: "However, any interpretation other than acknowledging the need to study this prospectively in a randomized, controlled trial would be invalid.", and later, "Once we have the data, yes, clinical experience would be important to make patient-by-patient decisions. But without that prospective, ideally randomized, data, we're just going blindly."
So just keep that in mind anytime you see a retrospective study. They should never be used as a basis for treatment. And sadly, most of the Covid studies at this point are still retrospective just based on the time it takes to do a true, randomized clinical study.
Tony
I run a training company and none of the corporations or government entities (including federal and military) that I work with will allow their employees (or armed services members) to attend any kind of in person class right now, or for the foreseeable future. I see you're in Georgia, but still, I'm surprised you're holding voluntary in-person classes. The refrigerator handle is a good example of the kind of issue that is hard to control. It seems that the virus does not easily spread via hard surfaces, but still, getting a bunch of people together in a classroom for an extended period just seems like an invitation for trouble.Chuck,
Here at work we have a refrigerator with soft drink cans for students who come take classes that we offer. This morning I noticed that they're spaced far apart and I joked that they were spread out to make it look like we had more and was told no, they're spread out so students don't need to touch a can that another student may grab later.
I mentioned that a virus wouldn't be able to live in a refrigerated space anyway so that didn't seem necessary and would only result in the drinks needing to be restocked more frequently. I was met with the response of "Do you have a PhD in virology and know this for certain? Are you an expert on Covid?" so I walked away. I didn't even bother pointing out that there was only one handle on the refrigerator door and every student would be touching it on their way to get a drink.
But I decided to ask a PhD since you've made yourself available for this. How long can a virus survive on a soft drink can in a refrigerator, and is distancing the cans likely to offer any benefit to the students for avoiding catching Covid by keeping someone with Covid from touching another can?
I promise not to take your answer to the Training Department to try and get them to change anything, I'm only curious for myself.
Within the classrooms we're requiring distancing. A room that usually holds 25 students is being limited to 6 so that they can be spaced apart. Everyone in the building is required to wear masks. And apparently all cans in the refrigerator are required to keep 5 inches between them. This is a contractor's class which requires access to equipment so unfortunately they cannot hold this class online.I run a training company and none of the corporations or government entities (including federal and military) that I work with will allow their employees (or armed services members) to attend any kind of in person class right now, or for the foreseeable future. I see you're in Georgia, but still, I'm surprised you're holding voluntary in-person classes. The refrigerator handle is a good example of the kind of issue that is hard to control. It seems that the virus does not easily spread via hard surfaces, but still, getting a bunch of people together in a classroom for an extended period just seems like an invitation for trouble.
Tony
PS: cold does not denature viruses, heat does. Cold helps preserve biological entities. Here's an interesting article that explains how cold helps persevere some viruses and makes it easier for them to spread: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330203401.htm
Tony
That sounds pretty reasonable - only 6 in a room for 25. A good friend of mine works for a community college that is well known for it's trade classes, like welding. Same issue there, can't teach that online, at least not realistically. He just turned 70 and is unsure what he is going to do, as he also has health issues that make him high risk.Within the classrooms we're requiring distancing. A room that usually holds 25 students is being limited to 6 so that they can be spaced apart. Everyone in the building is required to wear masks. And apparently all cans in the refrigerator are required to keep 5 inches between them. This is a contractor's class which requires access to equipment so unfortunately they cannot hold this class online.
The department I work in teaches classes as well, but usually I travel around the country to teach them. During Covid we've switched to online classes and it's working okay so far.
And for airborne diseases, that clearly makes transmission a lot more likely. Here's the part from the article that might apply to the cold drinks:A big factor in the spread of the viruses is human nature to stay indoors when it is cold.
And for airborne diseases, that clearly makes transmission a lot more likely. Here's the part from the article that might apply to the cold drinks:
"Cooler temperatures, apparently, cause the virus to form the rubbery outer covering that can withstand travel from person to person, Dr. Zimmerberg said. Once in the respiratory tract, the warm temperature in the body causes the covering to melt to its liquid form, so that the virus can infect the cells of its new host, he added. "
It's talking about the flu virus, but it is somewhat reasonable to assume the same may be true of the Coronavirus.
Tony
Chuck, you may have missed this part...
Chuck, you may have missed this part...
I decided to ask a PhD since you've made yourself available for this. How long can a virus survive on a soft drink can in a refrigerator, and is distancing the cans likely to offer any benefit to the students for avoiding catching Covid by keeping someone with Covid from touching another can?
Thanks! Good to know. Now we have to do something about that refrigerator handle.I am not sure, but a 2010 study used two viruses that are related to the COVID-19 virus to look at the effects of temperature and humidity on viral survival. Researchers found that both lower temperatures and lower humidity helped viruses survive longer. In particular, at 4 degrees C, or 40 degrees F, and 20% relative humidity, more than two-thirds of the viruses survived for 28 days. On the other end of the spectrum, at 40 degrees C, or 104 degrees F, and 80% humidity, the viruses survived for less than 6 hours.
With minimal ingenuity shouldn't be too hard to come up with a foot operated handle.Thanks! Good to know. Now we have to do something about that refrigerator handle.
We are not allowed to store food in the work fridge overnight. Not sure what they are trying to do with that. As pointed out any virus on it will remain viable, but I don't think it will multiply.Here at work we have a refrigerator with soft drink cans for students who come take classes that we offer. This morning I noticed that they're spaced far apart and I joked that they were spread out to make it look like we had more and was told no, they're spread out so students don't need to touch a can that another student may grab later.
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