SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

At the moment not one of the numerous vaccines in development have failed and many are in stage 3 trials. So that point is very far away imo.
Not one of the trials has succeeded yet either.

Not that he should be taken too seriously but Boris himself said we may not find a vaccine.
 
Czech Republic is just ahead of the curve (no pun intended) on cases and deaths for the other countries are sure to follow their current trend shortly.

Had no idea they were getting such a brutal second wave. I mainly remember the Czech Republic being held up as doing a fantastic job to crush the first wave (early widespread mask use etc) Wonder what’s gone wrong for them since?

Did CZ really get an initial wave would probably be the question?

I agree they're ahead of the curve, however the curve of every country (excluding them) when compared to Spring still appears to be much shallower than the first wave in terms of deaths of course.

During March deaths were increasing by 20% a day up until just after lockdown (UK 30 deaths to 760 deaths over a 17 day period March 18th to April 4th). If the same were to apply from the 37 deaths on 22nd September we'd have seen 760 deaths towards the end of last week.
 
The EU is now publishing a weekly Europe wide regional case map here. Latest version:

w40_41_COVID_subnational_Last_2week.png


And the week before:

w39_40_COVID_subnational_Last_2week.png
 
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Students have still been made to pay landlords or the unis for their accommodation so they’re hardly going to go and live in the accommodation and just stay in the house - plus most of the learning is online now.
Exactly, and therein lies the problem, the government should have seen this coming a mile off and taken action.

I don't blame the students, they were not advised to stay at their family homes.
 
Nice map from the EU showing where you want to be, and where you dont want to be. Western Europe is a mess.

w39_40_COVID_subnational_Last_2week.png
 
Did CZ really get an initial wave would probably be the question?

I agree they're ahead of the curve, however the curve of every country (excluding them) when compared to Spring still appears to be much shallower than the first wave in terms of deaths of course.

During March deaths were increasing by 20% a day up until just after lockdown (UK 30 deaths to 760 deaths over a 17 day period March 18th to April 4th). If the same were to apply from the 37 deaths on 22nd September we'd have seen 760 deaths towards the end of last week.

The definition of deaths has changed in the uk since the first wave (28 day rule) so you’re comparing apples and oranges.

In general, though, you’re right. Deaths are not increasing as sharply in this wave as they did first time round. Which you’d expect. The elderly/vulnerable are better protected and we’ve got better at treating the very unwell. Thankfully. Of course it remains to be seen how much longer this curve keeps on rising. In March/April we has spring/summer just around the corner. Which can take the edge off a seasonal virus epidemic. Right now spring and summer seem a VERY long way away.
 
Not one of the trials has succeeded yet either.

True but with 33.4% of all attempted vaccine developments making it to market and 58.2% of vaccines that make it to stage 3 trials passing stage 3, with zero failures so far, we can still be reasonably optimistic.
 
Czech Republic is just ahead of the curve (no pun intended) on cases and deaths for the other countries are sure to follow their current trend shortly.

Had no idea they were getting such a brutal second wave. I mainly remember the Czech Republic being held up as doing a fantastic job to crush the first wave (early widespread mask use etc) Wonder what’s gone wrong for them since?
One of the most consistent patterns with this seems to be that on a local level, if you haven't been hit hard once you're still susceptible. But no locality has been hit hard twice within just the span of lets call it 2-3 months.
 
So would you fine people that don`t have a mobile phone or have an old one that doesn`t support the app ?

If it became that important I'm sure we'd just replicate the little bluetooth "token" they have in Singapore. There's no evidence that contact tracing is a solution to the UK's problem though. If there was a point where they were able to "crush" the curve of the virus to a point where contact tracing was manageable at speed then it could be a useful tool, but that's all it should be seen as, and we're nowhere near that. It was presented to the British public as a hail Mary solution and it appeals to the technocrats but the reality is just very far from that.

The fact it's taking the tracing system 14 days to notify one contact from an outbreak in Czech Republic now is just yet another example that even "good" countries can't work well when the community transmission is growing daily.

Yeah, I think you’re probably right. No matter how competent the government they will be called frauds and liars if the virus gets out if control, which can happen no matter how diligent their efforts.

Although this shouldn’t provide any excuse to the obvious incompetents. The likes of Trump and Bolsonaro. Honorable mention for Boris et al’s dithering in the first few weeks.

Agreed.

One of the most consistent patterns with this seems to be that on a local level, if you haven't been hit hard once you're still susceptible. But no locality has been hit hard twice within just the span of lets call it 2-3 months.

Yeah I've not looked into it much but that has seemed apparent. Worries about growing cases in places like New York still leave open the possibility that there's more to the story though.
 
Interesting idea. Aren’t there regions in Spain that got hit twice in quick succession?
Not really familiar with what went on at local levels in much of Europe. Know a bit more about the US and Brazil, and so far in those I don't think you've had any cities see really hard numbers twice.
 
True but with 33.4% of all attempted vaccine developments making it to market and 58.2% of vaccines that make it to stage 3 trials passing stage 3, with zero failures so far, we can still be reasonably optimistic.
I bow to your superior knowledge and research but are you saying there is a 1 in 3 chance a vaccine will make it market and a slightly more then 50/50 chance the current trials will produce a vaccine?
 
Yeah I was taken aback when I read this yesterday. Good but grim summary.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54482905



I think the aspect of (mis)fortune is downplayed way too much when talking about the "winners and losers" in this thing. With 80% not transmitting the virus while a small proportion of super spreaders drive most of it, all you need is a couple of incidents in short succession and things start to take off. There are obviously exceptional examples in Southeast and East Asia which warrant some deeper analysis of cultural and behavioural norms in dealing with crises going forward, but I don't think there's a while lot separating the rest.

The governments who look embarrassing are the ones who have to deal with the most serious outbreaks and get overwhelmed. I think we've made too big an assumption about what causes the other a lot of the time. The Czech government were praised for being proactive, then criticised for being too authoritarian and overreaching, now they're being criticised for being buffoons. Theoretically they could all be true in different contexts but it seems unlikely.

It feels to me that at some point no matter what countries do, the virus is going to rip through a substantial chunk of their populations.

Yes there will be some who handle it incredibly badly (the states, us first time round at least) and worsen the situation but those who did well first time are now seeming to get almost as hit hard as the countries who fumbled the first wave.

It seems infection amongst those vulnerable is almost inevitable sadly until a vaccine is found.
 
True but with 33.4% of all attempted vaccine developments making it to market and 58.2% of vaccines that make it to stage 3 trials passing stage 3, with zero failures so far, we can still be reasonably optimistic.
Isn't it also true that we havent made a vaccine for a corona virus?

And about trials reaching stage 3.. Aren't things being fast tracked? Safety is important.. efficacy.. they are still not sure how much it'll work even if its safe.
Do we know if this has had the same standards for approval through the first 2 stages as a traditional vaccine that wasnt being rushed?
 
Nice map from the EU showing where you want to be, and where you dont want to be. Western Europe is a mess.

w39_40_COVID_subnational_Last_2week.png
What's happening in Iceland? Weren't they down to tiny numbers of cases and operating a quarantine system on all arrivals?
 
No one will probably stop you. However, hardly anything will be open to visit. Museums are closing, bars and restaurants have closed... You'd need to wear a facemask everywhere. I don't know the purpose of your travels, but if you'd like to visit the city, I'd put it on hold.

I just need to meet someone to do a deal, and ideally while there is still free trade between the UK and EU. To be fair I'd intended to make a little trip out of it but you're right there, things will be closed. Perhaps it'd just be a one day visit, no hotels. I would have to self isolate for 14 days after though.
 
What's happening in Iceland? Weren't they down to tiny numbers of cases and operating a quarantine system on all arrivals?

Their population is so low it probably only takes one cluster to put them in the red. Still a surprise seeing them there. You’d wonder if they had any visitors from a Uk hot spot that evaded quarantine? :smirk:
 
If I book a Eurostar ticket to go to Amsterdam, will anyone stop me? Will I be interrogated on how 'essential' my travel is?
I got the Ferry to Rotterdam and back a few weeks back and nobody asked any questions. Just had to fill out that online thing before we got back.
 
Isn't it also true that we havent made a vaccine for a corona virus?

And about trials reaching stage 3.. Aren't things being fast tracked? Safety is important.. efficacy.. they are still not sure how much it'll work even if its safe.
Do we know if this has had the same standards for approval through the first 2 stages as a traditional vaccine that wasnt being rushed?
I'm not overly optimistic about us finding a vaccine. I have only come to this realization in recent days. In fact I'm becoming less and less convinced science can bring this virus to an end by the day.

The head of the UK Covid-19 task force in this article today confirmed that any Vaccine that we find may only be 50% effective anyway.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-...coronavirus-update-latest-when-trial-news-uk/

The article leads me to believe that our best chance of killing the virus will come from a mixture of treatments, a potential vaccine and track and trace. Although the article doesn't mention it there is also the hope that the Virus will mutate to become less infectious or deadly.

I think many people are hoping the virus will become less prevalent before Christmas with it being eradicated in the spring. I was certainly of this view up until a few days ago and I'm slowly realizing this may run for all of next year and potentially longer than that. I have heard less optomistic views elsewhere.

Isn't it time the Government started talking tough on this? If only to make people take the whole danger more seriously.
 
Isn't it also true that we havent made a vaccine for a corona virus?

We have for animals. Most coronaviruses in humans aren't worth it because 4 diffent ones only cause 15% of colds. I also seem to remember that there was one for MERS close to release (although maybe still only in trials)

And about trials reaching stage 3.. Aren't things being fast tracked? Safety is important..

Nothing is being done that will compromise safety. The speeding up of the process is largely doing later processes like starting manufacture ahead of phase 3 trials so they have enough to move straight to phase 3 if phase 2 is successful. If phase 3 is successful they then will be already in full swing manufacturing it so again no delay. None of this compromises safety but it does risk wasting lots of money if phase 3 trials fail.

efficacy.. they are still not sure how much it'll work even if its safe.
We won't know until phase 3 trials are finished even if phase 2 looked good.

Do we know if this has had the same standards for approval through the first 2 stages as a traditional vaccine that wasnt being rushed?
That is my understanding for all mainstream vaccines (for want of a better term) although it sounds like China and Russia may be cutting corners.
 
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We have for animals. Most coronaviruses in humans aren't worth it because 4 diffent ones only cause 15% of colds. I also seem to remember that there was one for MERS close to release (although maybe still only in trials)



Nothing is being done that will compromise safety. The speeding up of the process is largely doing later processes like starting manufacture ahead of stage 3 trials so they have enough to move straight to stage 3 if stage 2 is successful. If stage 3 is successful they then will be already in full swing manufacturing it so again no delay. None of this compromises safety but it does risk wasting lots of money if stage 3 trials fail.


We won't know until stage 3 trials are finished even if stage 2 looked good.


That is my understanding for all mainstream vaccines (for want of a better term) although it sounds like China and Russia may be cutting corners.

This is all true but it’s ‘phase’ not ‘stage’

/pedantry
 
I'm doing a test tomorrow. I feel like crap, though wheter it's covid, well, guess I'll find out.
 
Nothing is being done that will compromise safety. The speeding up of the process is largely doing later processes like starting manufacture ahead of stage 3 trials so they have enough to move straight to stage 3 if stage 2 is successful. If stage 3 is successful they then will be already in full swing manufacturing it so again no delay. None of this compromises safety but it does risk wasting lots of money if stage 3 trials fail.

We won't know until stage 3 trials are finished even if stage 2 looked good.
I wasnt suggesting safety was being compromised on.. at all. Should have worded that sentence better.. I expect the vaccines passing the first 2 stages phases to be safe..

Was asking if they check for efficacy at those phases(1,2) and if there is an acceptable number.. and if we are lowering the bar to get more trials into phase 3 and testing on a larger scale ?

Sounds like that is not the case.. so all good.
I just read a few articles some weeks ago about them considering approving vaccines with 50% efficacy and that sounded low and was wondering if the bar was being lowered to rush something through.
 
Yep. Detail is important.
I bow to your superior knowledge and research but are you saying there is a 1 in 3 chance a vaccine will make it market and a slightly more then 50/50 chance the current trials will produce a vaccine?
Is this cause to be reasonably optimistic?

It all sounds a bit 50/50 to me with any vaccine possibly only being effective in 50% of cases. The more I hear the more I think this could be around for years and not months.
 
I wasnt suggesting safety was being compromised on.. at all. Should have worded that sentence better.. I expect the vaccines passing the first 2 stages phases to be safe..

Was asking if they check for efficacy at those phases(1,2) and if there is an acceptable number.. and if we are lowering the bar to get more trials into phase 3 and testing on a larger scale ?

Sounds like that is not the case.. so all good.
I just read a few articles some weeks ago about them considering approving vaccines with 50% efficacy and that sounded low and was wondering if the bar was being lowered to rush something through.

I seem to remember the Oxford vaccine produced antibodies in a very high % of test subjects in ohase 2 (90% and possibly higher with a booster I think) but phase 3 is where they test if that actually gives protection and with much bigger sample sizes. At least I think that is the case.
 
I wasnt suggesting safety was being compromised on.. at all. Should have worded that sentence better.. I expect the vaccines passing the first 2 stages phases to be safe..

Was asking if they check for efficacy at those phases(1,2) and if there is an acceptable number.. and if we are lowering the bar to get more trials into phase 3 and testing on a larger scale ?

Sounds like that is not the case.. so all good.
I just read a few articles some weeks ago about them considering approving vaccines with 50% efficacy and that sounded low and was wondering if the bar was being lowered to rush something through.
I seem to remember the Oxford vaccine produced antibodies in a very high % of test subjects in ohase 2 (90% and possibly higher with a booster I think) but phase 3 is where they test if that actually gives protection and with much bigger sample sizes. At least I think that is the case.

Phase III trials are when you learn the most about efficacy and safety. Phase II just gives you a rough idea and is mainly about identifying the optimal dosing regimen.
 
Is this cause to be reasonably optimistic?

It all sounds a bit 50/50 to me with any vaccine possibly only being effective in 50% of cases. The more I hear the more I think this could be around for years and not months.

I think the hope is for far higher than 50% effectiveness. But 50% effectiveness would still be a huge help.

https://theconversation.com/how-eff...p-the-pandemic-a-new-study-has-answers-142468

You might well need clonal antibodies and anti-virals to assist though (likely anyway as there will be vaccine resistance and an incomplete roll out).

I think the 50% figure people mention relates to flu vaccine which has a quite low effectiveness rate. However, that is mainly because influenza mutates far faster than a coronavirus does and has evolved into many strains that are so different as to need a different vaccine. So we have to guess ahead of time which strains to include in this year's vaccine and often guess wrong. At the moment that doesn't seem likely to be the case with SARS-CoV-2
 
Phase III trials are when you learn the most about efficacy and safety. Phase II just gives you a rough idea and is mainly about identifying the optimal dosing regimen.

I was just thinking of the contrasting reactions around the world if the first cab off the ranked passed or failed phase 3. The later wouldn't be good especially with the stress most people are feeling at the moment.
 
I think the hope is for far higher than 50% effectiveness. But 50% effectiveness would still be a huge help.

https://theconversation.com/how-eff...p-the-pandemic-a-new-study-has-answers-142468

You might well need clonal antibodies and anti-virals to assist though (likely anyway as there will be vaccine resistance and an incomplete roll out).

I think the 50% figure people mention relates to flu vaccine which has a quite low effectiveness rate. However, that is mainly because influenza mutates far faster than a coronavirus does and has evolved into many strains that are so different as to need a different vaccine. So we have to guess ahead of time which strains to include in this year's vaccine and often guess wrong. At the moment that doesn't seem likely to be the case with SARS-CoV-2

The 50% figure is what the regulators have set as the bar for approval. It’s one example of the rules being bent to get a vaccine to market much quicker than usual. There are other examples. I still think whatever does get approved will be safe and reasonably effective. It definitely won’t have been as rigorously evaluated as vaccines developed outside a pandemic. We are cutting corners but we don’t have much choice.
 
I was just thinking of the contrasting reactions around the world if the first cab off the ranked passed or failed phase 3. The later wouldn't be good especially with the stress most people are feeling at the moment.

People need to be less emotionally invested and accept that there will be disappointments ahead. Vaccine development programs fail all the time. I can guarantee that at least one of the big phase III’s won’t hit its primary endpoints and the product will be canned. That’s more or less inevitable.
 
People need to be less emotionally invested and accept that there will be disappointments ahead. Vaccine development programs fail all the time. I can guarantee that at least one of the big phase III’s won’t hit its primary endpoints and the product will be canned. That’s more or less inevitable.

I agree. Of the 11 in phase 3 4 failures would be about average. I just hope it isn't the first one that fails. The world needs some good news.
 
think there was a report on some city in brazil tht got hit twice? will try and find it.

e - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-manaus-idUSKBN26I0I4
Yeah Manaus, I think it's still in play a bit there. Because after the story that is about 3 weeks old now, cases tracked down vs that in the weeks right after. Anecdotally I can tell you that on the ground here in Rio, distancing measures are much much less than in March/April, and cases have continued an overall trend of decline.