# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2020 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758 "2020-02-11T01:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 294
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5886 "2020-12-01T18:26:09Z")
Here’s a dispatch from a doctor in Milan, Italy as they move into their second wave. Depressing stuff. > This second wave is more difficult than the first, where the adrenaline kept us up. Today we are tired and in some cases even demoralized, but we don’t ask ourselves many questions. We keep our head down and we work, as always. > > In all this effort and despair, if there is one thing that pisses me off, it is the deniers. Until a few days ago, I was smiling at their bullshit. It’s crazy for us who see what this virus does, to hear things like “it’s all hype from higher powers,” “hospitals take 2,000 euros a day per patient and then hospitalize the asymptomatic,” “the emergency rooms are full of people who feel well and ambulances go around empty, to scare us.” Today I no longer laugh. A dull anger rises. Come on, denier, come and see how you die from COVID. Take reporters into hospitals to see patients who can’t breathe, the dead, or our dripping sweat. > **[This Time, My COVID Patients Know How They’re Going to Die](https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/12/northern-italy-covid-second-wave-hospital-diary.html)** > > In Northern Italy, the new wave is somehow darker. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5887 "2020-12-02T05:14:52Z")
64,194,823 total cases 1,486,830 dead 44,442,306 recovered In the US: 14,108,490 total cases 276,976 dead 8,333,018 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 63,589,977 total cases > 1,473,927 dead > 43,985,242 recovered > > In the US: > > 13,920,038 total cases > 274,332 dead > 8,223,391 recovered ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5888 "2020-12-02T07:19:51Z")
I wonder if COVID denialism outside the U.S. comes from U.S.-based sources? IOW, are our propagandists killing people worldwide? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5889 "2020-12-02T07:32:17Z")
I have seen a very slow rise in the number of ‘Sovcit’ type messages from UK Facebook posts this year when I had previoulsy seen none whatsover, and they all seem to use Magna Carter type fuckwittery, along with Government Control rubbish in relation to travel restrictions for lockdown zones. When you look at their profiles it is very obviously fed by CT theories. We’ve always had a bit of CT in the UK but these took the form of Urban Legends - gossipy circumstantial stuff and usually in relation to Ghost stories and serial killers - not organised US style Gubmint style cover-ups. I am not sure that it has quite gained enough of a culture to have its own UK style yet. The problem is that social media amplifies the voices of idiots so it seems that there is widespead idiot opinion when in truth you see the stupidity more because they make the comments and sensible folk just ignore them - classic case of silent majority. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5890 "2020-12-02T07:40:06Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I have seen a very slow rise in the number of ‘Sovcit’ type messages from UK Facebook posts this year {…} I’m personally aware of at least five, UK, YouTube Covidiots. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5891 "2020-12-02T09:12:16Z")
Some _good_ news from the UK: > **[Covid-19: Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine judged safe for use in UK](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55145696)** > > The UK is the first country to approve the Pfizer vaccine - with 800,000 doses due to arrive soon. > British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week. > > Immunisations could start within days for those who need it the most, such as elderly, vulnerable patients. > > The UK has already ordered 40m doses - enough to vaccinate 20m people. > > Around 10m doses should be available soon, with the first 800,000 arriving in the UK in the coming days. I checked the MHRA (the “UK FDA”) website but no updates yet. I’ll recheck later and post anything further of interest. j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5892 "2020-12-02T09:27:33Z")
Digging a little deeper, this seems to be a local temporary/emergency authorisation > ### Approval process for a potential COVID-19 vaccine > > - Until the end of December, and as part of the transition period, COVID-19 vaccine candidates can be licensed (authorised) via the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and that authorisation will automatically be valid in the UK. > - However, if a suitable COVID-19 vaccine candidate, with strong supporting evidence of safety, quality and effectiveness from clinical trials becomes available before the end of the transition period, EU legislation allows for temporary authorisation of supply in the UK, based on the public health need. [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-mhra-statement) I’ll keep checking for further details. Incidentally, last data appears to have been received from Pfizer [on, or maybe just before, 23 Nov](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pfizerbiontech-covid-19-vaccine-mhra-statement-confirming-data-received). j . ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5893 "2020-12-02T13:13:40Z")
[UK approved the Pfizer vaccine](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/02/941022673/u-k-approves-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-for-emergency-use). They expect to begin dispersing it within days! > [@](#): > > Healthcare workers, older people and those who reside and work in long-term care facilities, are likely be the first in line for immunization, he said. After high priority people are provided the two doses of the vaccine, the immunization process would go through each age group, he said. > [@](#): > > More than 63.5 million cases of COVID-19 and 1.4 million deaths of complications from the disease have been recorded around the world ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5894 "2020-12-02T14:38:13Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > The problem is that social media amplifies the voices of idiots so it seems that there is widespead idiot opinion when in truth you see the stupidity more because they make the comments and sensible folk just ignore them - classic case of silent majority. YES! This is the social media problem in a nutshell. It “amplifies the voices of idiots”! Well said! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5895 "2020-12-02T15:23:47Z")
Had to go out for a couple of hours - when I got back the MHRA website had been updated with [this press release](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-medicines-regulator-gives-approval-for-first-uk-covid-19-vaccine) re the approval. Note the comment that > This was done using a regulatory process known as a ‘rolling review’. A ‘rolling review’ can be used to complete the assessment of a promising medicine or vaccine during a public health emergency in the shortest time possible. Speaking as a retired pharma regulatory person (industry side) I cannot think of another occasion when this has been done (though no doubt it is being done for several vaccine applications in many territories as I write this). Generally, an incomplete application will be returned to the applicant. Note also the publication of the [Summary of Product Characteristics](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940565/Information_for_Healthcare_Professionals_on_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf) and [Patient Leaflet](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940566/Information_for_UK_recipients_on_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf) (equivalent, loosely speaking, of the US pack insert, which lies somewhere between those two documents in terms of patient friendliness). j ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5896 "2020-12-02T15:37:06Z")
Huh, that leaflet says it should be administered within 6 hours of thawing. Worse than I thought. Lately I’ve seen the Moderna one lasts several days in the fridge, better than I thought. Well here we go. Mass distribution of a whole bunch of drugs rushed to market. Interesting times. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5897 "2020-12-03T00:23:46Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I wonder if COVID denialism outside the U.S. comes from U.S.-based sources? IOW, are our propagandists killing people worldwide? It does look like this behavior in other countries was at least influenced by the U.S. I didn’t notice this happening elsewhere until after it started getting attention here. Especially the idea that hospitals are making money from covid, which is really sort of specific to the way our healthcare system is run. There are plenty of crazy people in other countries who could watch all this and make it their own. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5898 "2020-12-03T05:04:36Z")
Eric Garcetti just ordered everybody to stay home, and businesses that require workers to work away from home to close down. With exceptions. [Bloomberg - Are you a robot?](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-02/u-k-approves-vaccine-u-s-hospital-use-surges-virus-update)? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5899 "2020-12-03T05:37:39Z")
64,845,144 total cases 1,499,350 dead 44,941,891 recovered In the US: 14,313,941 total cases 279,865 dead 8,462,347 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 64,194,823 total cases > 1,486,830 dead > 44,442,306 recovered > > In the US: > > 14,108,490 total cases > 276,976 dead > 8,333,018 recovered Worldwide covid-19 deaths will exceed 1,500,000 tomorrow; the US will pass 280,000 covid-19 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5900 "2020-12-03T05:38:23Z")
For anyone else who doesn’t immediately recognize this name: he is the mayor of Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5901 "2020-12-03T05:49:45Z")
Thank you-that was hard to sort out in the cite. ---
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5902 "2020-12-03T11:19:49Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > It does look like this behavior in other countries was at least influenced by the U.S. I didn’t notice this happening elsewhere until after it started getting attention here. Especially the idea that hospitals are making money from covid, which is really sort of specific to the way our healthcare system is run. There are plenty of crazy people in other countries who could watch all this and make it their own. My impression has been that the UK has been more or less out on the forefront in the way of lockdown skepticism. I’d say out ahead of the US, even, though the respective circumstances are not quite the same. The notion that there is now a sort of covid ‘industry’ in places is intriguing. You’d think the US would be far and away the front runners in that regard, especially as compared to a place like the UK with its NHS, or another big country like Brazil that seemingly just wants to stop thinking about it all. I do think it’s somewhat interesting to consider just how far-reaching the economic support from the US government is. Here’s the list of providers that have received support. Their number is presently nearing 400,000 – which is, of course, more than one per fatality, if one were inclined to look at it that way: [https://data.cdc.gov/Administrative/HHS-Provider-Relief-Fund/kh8y-3es6](https://data.cdc.gov/Administrative/HHS-Provider-Relief-Fund/kh8y-3es6) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5903 "2020-12-03T16:32:57Z")
I stumbled across an article today about the AstraZeneca vaccine - and how the protocol of “half dose today, full dose in 1 month” is MORE effective than “full dose today and full dose in 1 month”. Interesting. Evidently it was actually an accident - several thousand participants got the half-dose at first by mistake. [This article](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/after-dosing-mix-latest-covid-19-vaccine-success-comes-big-question-mark) suggests reasons why it works that way. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5904 "2020-12-03T18:40:53Z")
> [@SayTwo](#): > > My impression has been that the UK has been more or less out on the forefront in the way of lockdown skepticism. I’d say out ahead of the US, even, though the respective circumstances are not quite the same. Utter rubbish. By the way, nice set of weasel words to try say something as fact but yet leave enough room for you to distance yourself should the need arise. Out population density, along with smaller more crowded housing explains it well enough, along with late implementation of control measures and opening up too early. On what basis have you formed your impression? ---
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758/5905 "2020-12-03T19:07:48Z")
Explains what well enough? What are you talking about? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=293) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2020-breaking-news/847758.md?page=295)