The COVID-2019 Thread

[harrybarracuda]

What ever happened to the Thai government meeting that was announced with such fanfare a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to take place this week, and was supposed to reduce the quarantine from 14 days to 10 days?

Do you think that's going to lead to a rush for tourist visa applications?

[Mendip]

Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protection

The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large scale trial shows.

It is both a triumph and a disappointment after vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95% protection.

However, the Oxford jab is far cheaper, and is easier to store and get to every corner of the world than the other two.

So it will still play a significant role in tackling the pandemic, if it is approved by regulators.

The Oxford researchers have performed the normally decade-long process of developing a vaccine in around 10 months.

The UK government has pre-ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, enough to immunise 50 million people.

What did the trial show?

More than 20,000 volunteers were involved, half in the UK, the rest in Brazil.

There were 30 cases of Covid in people who had two doses of the vaccine and 101 cases in people who received a dummy injection.

The researchers said it works out at 70% protection.

Intriguingly, the effectiveness rose to 90% in a group of volunteers who were given an initial half dose, followed by a full dose. It's not clear why there is a difference.

When will I get it?

In the UK there are four million doses ready to go, with another 96 million to be delivered.

But nothing can happen until the vaccine has been approved by regulators who will assess the vaccine's safety, effectiveness, and that it is manufactured to high standard. This will happen in the coming weeks.

However, the UK is ready to press the go button on an unprecedented mass immunisation campaign that dwarfs either the annual flu or childhood vaccination programmes.

Care home residents and staff will be first, followed by healthcare workers and the over 85s. The plan is to then work the way down the age groups.


Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protection - BBC News

[HuangLao]

What ever happened to the Thai government meeting that was announced with such fanfare a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to take place this week, and was supposed to reduce the quarantine from 14 days to 10 days?

I believe this proposal of quarantine time reduction was officially approved recently, without fanfare - but hasn't been put into practice.

There was talk of reducing the time to 7 days after the first of the year. Or not.

Some were caught behind enemy lines and have become quite antsy about returning home - be it two weeks, 10 days or 7 days.
Already in the works in some circles. Hope springs eternal.

...a handful of residents have already returned and been well documented here at TD and other places.

[harrybarracuda]

I believe this proposal of quarantine time reduction was officially approved recently, without fanfare - but hasn't been put into practice.

There was talk of reducing the time to 7 days after the first of the year. Or not.

Some were caught behind enemy lines and have become quite antsy about returning home - be it two weeks, 10 days or 7 days.
Already in the works in some circles. Hope springs eternal.

...a handful of residents have already returned and been well documented here at TD and other places.

Do you get the feeling that they are going to announce that anyone who has receive an approved vaccine and waited the appropriate amount of time for it to take effect will be able to enter without quarantine?

They might even add it to the entry card. You know there will be fake vaccination certificates as soon as it happens.

[harrybarracuda]

Not so good.

A coronavirus vaccine developed in the UK can prevent 70.4 per cent of people from getting Covid-19, according to new data.

AstraZeneca and Oxford University announced their jab is effective in preventing many people getting ill and it has been shown to work in different age groups, including the elderly.

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: “The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by (Covid-19).

“We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators. It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world.”

The UK has placed orders for 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine – enough to vaccinate most of the population – with rollout expected in the coming weeks if the jab is approved.

It also has orders for 40 million doses of a jab from Pfizer and BioNTech, which has been shown to be 95 per cent effective.

Another jab from Moderna is 95 per cent effective, according to trial data.

BREAKING: Oxford University vaccine 70.4% effective against Covid-19

[harrybarracuda]

Although:

The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large-scale trial has shown.
It is both a triumph and a disappointment after vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95% protection.
However, the Oxford jab is far cheaper, and is easier to store and get to every corner of the world than the other two - so it will still play a significant role in tackling the pandemic, if it is approved by regulators.
There is also intriguing data that suggests perfecting the dose could increase protection up to 90%.

Covid-19: Boris Johnson praises Oxford vaccine scientists for 'fantastic' results - BBC News

[misskit]

Two Thai vaccine prototypes at human trial stage, 5 being tested on animals


The National Vaccine Institute has given a progress report on Thailand’s seven main Covid-19 vaccine programmes.


Two of the seven vaccine candidates have been successfully tested on animals and are moving into human trials, said Dr Nakorn Premsri, director of the institute.

The two candidates entering Phase 2 trials on humans are the mRNA vaccine being developed by Chula Vaccine Research Centre (Chula VRC) and the DNA vaccine developed by BioNet-Asia.

The five other vaccine candidates are all currently being tested on animals.

The protein subunit vaccine developed by Baiya Phytofarm has passed tests for safety and efficacy in animals.

It is now being tested on laboratory animals to find out whether it triggers an immune response.

The inactivated vaccine developed by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) is in the early stage of testing for immunity in laboratory animals.

The viral-like particle (VLP) prototype developed by the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), is at the preliminary stage of immunity tests in laboratory animals.

The viral vector vaccine prototype developed by NSTDA is in the early stages of testing for immunity in laboratory animals. The live-attenuated pathogen developed by NSTDA is in the preliminary stage of immunity tests on laboratory animals.

Nakorn also reported details of progress on BioNet’s DNA vaccine prototype.


"BioNet has received a grant from the Australian government to conduct Phase I human trials in Australia.” Phase 2 trials on humans are scheduled in Thailand early next year, he added.

Meanwhile Chula VRC expects its mRNA vaccine prototype will enter human trials around April 19 next year. The mRNA prototype will first be tested on 72 volunteers – aged 18-55 and 36 aged over 55 – to find the appropriate dosage.

This group will then be divided into groups of 12 for further testing. If the tests succeed, the Chula prototype will enter second-phase human trials on 600 people in two age groups in June 2021.

Volunteers will be able to register for the trial via Facebook or the Chula VRC website.


Two Thai vaccine prototypes at human trial stage, 5 being tested on animals

[misskit]

Shanghai airport momentarily descends into chaos after workers test positive for Covid-19

Shanghai's biggest international airport momentarily descended into chaos Sunday night, after authorities ordered a mass testing drive in response to a small outbreak of Covid-19 linked to several cargo handlers.

Since the beginning of November, seven cargo workers and their close contacts at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport have been diagnosed as confirmed coronavirus cases, including two reported on Sunday.




In a bid to contain the cluster, authorities ordered all cargo staff at the airport to undergo coronavirus tests overnight and set up a temporary testing site on the second floor of a parking garage, according to a statement from the Shanghai government.


Photos and videos circulating on Chinese social media show hundreds of people packed closely together inside the garage -- the opposite of social distancing -- with a line of people in hazmat suits trying to hold back crowds pushing forward.


But the chaos appeared to have calmed before midnight, when the airport police posted photos on Weibo showing workers lining up orderly for the tests.

MORE Shanghai airport momentarily descends into chaos after workers test positive for Covid-19

[Buckaroo Banzai]

I believe this proposal of quarantine time reduction was officially approved recently, without fanfare - but hasn't been put into practice.

There was talk of reducing the time to 7 days after the first of the year. Or not.

Some were caught behind enemy lines and have become quite antsy about returning home - be it two weeks, 10 days or 7 days.
Already in the works in some circles. Hope springs eternal.

...a handful of residents have already returned and been well documented here at TD and other places.

Thank your for that , informative reply.
Me and the wife are one of those "coughs behind enemy lines". A nice way to put it by the way.
We were spending part of our time in the US and part of our time in Thailand while I was winding down my professional career, and had returned to the US to make it permanent , apply for social security, (that I could have done from overseas) but more importantly submit my papers for my trade union pension, a more complicated process , because there were several options , with different documentations, and examinations (a long story)
wife joined me later on. Everything was settled to my satisfaction at the begging of 2020 , and as we prepared to return Covid 19 hit. We had no idea what was going to happen and did not want to get cough in Thailand with foreign insurance, did not know if the Thai medical system would be overrun, and that if we needed to return, if we would be able, so we decided to stay in the US and see how it played out. In retrospect the wrong decision, but a reasonable one I am sure you will agree.
We desperately want to come back to Thailand. our house sits empty for close to a year now. our dogs being taken care by my wife's sister. But , aside from the fact that it is a hustle jumping trough all the hoops required to come back, and associated costs, I could not possible sit in a room for 14 days, seven days I might be able, but given my "ants in the pants" type of personality ( I swear it is a legitimate medical condition LOL) There is no way I could spend 14 days locked up in a room with my wife. One of us will not come out!!
So I monitor the situation for changes , though at this point , with only a little more than a month until January, and being that it will be my first time doing tax as a retired person, I am inclined to wait until I have all of my tax liability documents send to me (in the US you should get everything by Jan 1) . Hopefully by then there might be a resolution to the quarantine , or even a vaccine option..
More than you ever wanted to know about my situation, Your fault trying to be helpful, You should know that no good deed goes unpunished LOL

[hallelujah]

Although:



Covid-19: Boris Johnson praises Oxford vaccine scientists for 'fantastic' results - BBC News

At 3 quid a jab, compared to over 20 for the others, and given the ease in which it can be stored and transported, it will be very popular in the developing world.

[misskit]

Qantas Will Require Travelers To Get COVID-19 Vaccinations Before Flying

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Qantas has undertaken some of the most sweeping actions of any major airline – grounding much of its long-haul fleet and drastically reducing its route network. Now, the Australian carrier might have just set a new standard for travel in the post-COVID era as its C.E.O. declared in an interview with the television program, “A Current Affair,” that the airline is looking into options to change its terms and conditions. “For international travelers,” Joyce said, “we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft.”

“Whether you need that domestically,” Joyce continued, “we’ll have to see what happens with COVID-19 in the market. But certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity.”


While Qantas is the first airline so far to hint at COVID-19 vaccination requirements, it might not be the last. After questioning by the interviewer, Joyce related, “I’m talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe, and I think it’s going to be a common thing across the board.” But how exactly would such a requirement be enacted or enforced?

Airlines have a tremendous amount of leeway when it comes to passenger requirements and obligations. Just look at any convoluted contract of carriage to see just how little independence travelers are actually afforded when they purchase a ticket. But it remains unclear whether this is even a legal possibility…until or unless, of course, the Australian government passes such a mandate.


That may be why Qantas is a forerunner in this regard. Australia’s government has enacted some of the world’s most stringent COVID-related lockdown policies, including mandatory 14-day, state-administered quarantines for returning travelers. Most Australian states temporarily even closed their borders to residents of other states and territories. The busy and lucrative Sydney-Melbourne air corridor, which transits New South Wales and Victoria, only recently opened back up again, and Joyce expressed hope that most domestic inter-state borders will be reopened before Christmas.

Qantas Will Require Travelers To Get COVID-19 Vaccinations Before Flying

[Latindancer]

A now viral text message sent by an American doctor to actress June Diane Raphael gives a glimpse into what healthcare workers are facing, with many worried of worse to come.

The critical care doctor named Kate lamented the fact that people weren’t wearing masks and making Thanksgiving plans as hospitals became overwhelmed.
“I am carrying more and sicker patients than ever in my career. They are almost all Covid. I expect at least half of them to die,” she said in the text message that was posted online last week.

“People complain about their personal freedoms ... but give no respect to others’ rights to live and give no thought to the mental effects of accidentally infecting and killing grandma or the trauma they are imposing on healthcare workers,” she said.

Jim Gentile, a nurse at St Mary medical centre outside of Philadelphia where workers have gone on strike, told The Guardian on the weekend he had put more people in body bags in two months during the pandemic than he had in the past 25 years of his career.

“Many of us have PTSD, and many of us would just sob on the way home,” he said. “And then 10 hours later we’d get back on the horse and do it all over again.”

[OhOh]

Chile plans to reopen borders to foreigners

Xinhua | Updated: 2020-11-23 10:39

"Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Sunday presented the first phase of the government's plan to reopen borders to non-resident foreigners, with the entry of passengers into Santiago's international airport slated to begin on Monday. In addition to the security and health protection measures at the airport, arriving passengers must submit a sworn statement with information on their health status, travel plans and contacts in Chile.
Passengers must also present a negative test for COVID-19 dated a maximum of 72 hours before the date of entry.

All foreigners who enter Chile must also have proof of health insurance that covers any care for COVID-19 while traveling in the country.
Both Chileans and foreigners who enter the country must undergo a 14-day surveillance period in which they must report their location and health status to health authorities every day.

The first phase of the border reopening plan will begin on Monday and will be gradually extended to other airports, as well as the country's land and sea entry points."

Chile plans to reopen borders to foreigners - World - Chinadaily.com.cn


Very similar to Thailand's approach. Reporting one's location, rather than an isolation period in an ASQ hotel. Continuously geo-referenced as per the UK rule or one text per day?

[OhOh]

give no respect to others’ rights

ameristani report, but not an unusual attitude in the "civilised' west.

Publicly applauding the health workers efforts, for the neighbors approval and then washing their hands of their personal responsibility.

[panama hat]

the "civilised' west.

Who are you quoting, WaahWaah?

Qantas Will Require Travelers To Get COVID-19 Vaccinations Before Flying

There have already been instances of faked test results being on the market . . . what utter madness

[katie23]

Re: Qantas requiring vaccination before flying, I'm sure the conspiracy theory people (5G, Bill Gates, QAnon, Illuminati, etc) will have a love fest re: this issue.

In my hometown, they've implemented a QR code thingy for large businesses like supermarkets, water & electric companies, etc. When I visited my mom, I was advised to go to the municipal hall to apply for the QR code. The application can be done online, but I wanted to experience queing up & ask some questions too (yeah, I know, weird of me. Some ppl hate queing & bureaucracy but for that time, I liked it bcos it provided some normalcy. Lol). However, the QR code only works in that town and not in others. It's not a national thing (unlike in China or S. Korea, I think). Other towns/ cities have implemented their own QR codes.

Those who have no smart phones (or no phones at all) can go to the city hall & still apply. Their personal info is taken, then they're given a small laminated paper with the QR code.

Some ppl are against this QR thingy because they say it's an invasion of privacy, that the govt can track you, etc. But even without it, the govt can track you already - the technology is there.

Re: covid & PI opening to foreign tourists, no news yet. Maybe when there's a vaccine already. Pres Du30 has stated that the country is in a state of calamity until Sept 2021 (may be lifted or extended, depending on circumstances).

[harrybarracuda]

Very similar to Thailand's approach. Reporting one's location, rather than an isolation period in an ASQ hotel.

So it's not very similar then.

[baldrick]

At 3 quid a jab

it will be very popular in the developing world.

3 days pay for those lucky to have a job - and considering the extended family - probably a months pay at least

[OhOh]

So it's not very similar then.

Not to nitpick.

But 5 out of 6 requirements are similar/identical. 83% by my maths.

1. Arriving passengers must submit a sworn statement with information on their health status,
2. Information on their travel plans
3. Information on their Contacts in Chile.
4. (for a select group of foreigners.) Passengers must also present a negative test for COVID-19 dated a maximum of 72 hours before the date of entry.
5. All foreigners who enter Chile must also have proof of health insurance that covers any care for COVID-19 while traveling in the country.

Number 6 is different:

Thailand demands, an AQS stay (for a select group of) foreigners.

Chile demands,

Both Chileans and (for a select group of) foreigners who enter the country must undergo a 14-day surveillance period in which they must report their location and health status to health authorities every day.

[panama hat]

So it's not very similar then.

Not to nitpick.

So don't fuckwit.

They're clearly not, despite your apparent need to try your best at being a contrarian fuckwit

[HuangLao]

Not looking forward to what the highly invented repaired normal might appear to be.

[harrybarracuda]

But 5 out of 6 requirements are similar/identical. 83% by my maths.

Except the idea of spending two weeks stuck in quarantine is not 17% of the reason why people won't go there, you fucking moron.

[thailazer]

60 Minutes in the USA had a segment on Covid19 that essentially said that NO ONE recovers from the virus completely. Some have extreme health concerns to deal with. Could not find the USA version but here is one from Australia. I was at the doctor for a routine check up a few weeks back, and he told me Covid19 is not something you want to catch, mild or not.

[harrybarracuda]

Tracking Our COVID-19 Response - covidexitstrategy.org

[panama hat]

^ . . . add another bit of levity: