Coronavirus outbreak

[Gurn]

19 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said:

Sounds kind of dirty.

 

 

 

"up to 10 medical staff"?

 

Like wtf???

Some people will actually think this is the first time the Federal Government has done anything for Alberta.

Those people, are what I like to call, wrong!

[-Vintage Canuck-]

B.C. COVID-19 pandemic update:

 

Today, on Orange Shirt Day, and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Provincial Health Officer are honouring residential school survivors, their families and loved ones, and the children who did not come home. The recent findings, made throughout the province and across the country, have brought the truth of atrocities at former Indian Residential Schools more fully into the light.

 

The ministry and the provincial health officer and her staff are observing the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Day this year, encouraging employees to learn more about the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to have important conversations about how to bring action to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in B.C.

 

As of Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, 88.0% (4,078,469) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 81.0% (3,756,363) have received their second dose.

 

In addition, 88.5% (3,827,508) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 81.8% (3,539,236) have received their second dose.

 

B.C. is reporting 749 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 186,994 cases in the province.

 

Note: Due to a delayed data refresh, the numbers of total and new cases are provisional and will be verified when confirmed.

 

Currently, 145 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care. Given the holiday, the ministry is unable to provide hospitalization numbers, active cases or recovered cases. However, these numbers will be available in tomorrow’s information bulletin.

 

Note: The number of yesterday’s critical care COVID-19 confirmed cases has been changed to 142 from 146 after a correction from Interior Health.

 

The new/active cases include:

• 267 new cases in Fraser Health
• 113 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health
• 157 new cases in Interior Health
• 148 new cases in Northern Health
• 64 new cases in Island Health
• No new cases of people who reside outside of Canada

In the last 24 hours, nine new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,962.

 

The new deaths include:

• Fraser Health: three
• Island Health: two
• Northern Health: one
• Vancouver Coastal Health: one
• Interior Health: two

There are no new outbreaks, for a total of 22 active outbreaks, including:

 

long-term care:

• Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, Menno Terrace East, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens (Fraser Health);
• Arbutus Care Centre, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health);
• Cottonwoods Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander, Village by the Station (Interior Health);
• Wrinch Memorial Hospital, Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health); and
• Victoria Chinatown Care Centre (Island Health).

acute care:

• University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health); and
• Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health).
• assisted or independent living:
• Sunset Manor, Hallmark on the Lake (Fraser Health);
• Hardy View Lodge (Interior Health), and
• Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health).

When available, information on school outbreaks will be posted online:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures

 

From Sept. 22-28, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.2% of cases.

From Sept. 15-28, they accounted for 80.6% of hospitalizations.

 

Past week cases (Sept. 22-28) – Total 5,251

• Not vaccinated: 3,367 (64.1%)
• Partially vaccinated: 373 (7.1%)
• Fully vaccinated: 1,511 (28.8%)

Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Sept. 15-28) – Total 444

• Not vaccinated: 317 (71.4%)
• Partially vaccinated: 41 (9.2%)
• Fully vaccinated: 86 (19.4%)

Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 22-28)

• Not vaccinated: 303.4
• Partially vaccinated: 101.6
• Fully vaccinated: 37.4

Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (Sept. 15-28)

• Not vaccinated: 46.5
• Partially vaccinated: 17.1
• Fully vaccinated: 2.0

Since December 2020, the Province has administered 7,846,714 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

 

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021HLTH0059-001876

[The Lock]

1 hour ago, gurn said:

Some people will actually think this is the first time the Federal Government has done anything for Alberta.

Those people, are what I like to call, wrong!

This is provided they even think of this as "helping". Part of the problem in Alberta is the shear number of people just completely ignorant of the virus in the first place.

[Russ]

 

Wonder if they are going to lose certain trick or treaters this year. 

[nuckin_futz]

Merck to seek emergency authorization for oral Covid treatment after ‘compelling results’ in trials

• A phase 3 trial of Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ oral antiviral treatment molnupiravir showed it reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% in Covid-19 patients.
• Merck plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization in the U.S. and submit marketing applications to other global drug regulators.
• If authorized by regulatory bodies, molnupiravir could be the first oral antiviral medicine for Covid-19.

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics plan to seek emergency authorization for their oral antiviral treatment for Covid-19, after the medicine showed “compelling results” in clinical trials.

 

The drug, molnupiravir, reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% for patients with mild or moderate cases of Covid-19, the companies announced on Friday. Molnupiravir is administered orally and works by inhibiting the replication of Covid-19 inside the body.

 

An interim analysis of a phase 3 study found that 7.3% of patients treated with molnupiravir were hospitalized within 29 days. Of the patients who received a placebo, 14.1% were hospitalized or died by day 29. No deaths were reported in patients who were given molnupiravir within the 29-day period, while 8 deaths were reported in placebo-treated patients.

 

All 775 trial participants had laboratory-confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 and were randomly allocated either molnupiravir or a placebo within five days of the start of their symptoms.

 

Every participant was unvaccinated and had at least one underlying factor that put them at greater risk of developing a more severe case of the virus. The most common risk factors included obesity, being over the age of 60, diabetes and heart disease.

 

The phase 3 part of the trial was conducted at more than 170 sites, in countries including the U.S., Brazil, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan and Guatemala.

 

Molnupiravir’s efficacy was not affected by the timing of symptom onset or patients’ underlying risk factors, the study showed. It also proved to be consistently effective in treating all variants of Covid-19, including the widely dominant and highly transmissible Delta strain.

 

Adverse events were comparable in both the molnupiravir and placebo groups, with around 10% reporting adverse events. Just 1.3% of the molnupiravir group discontinued therapy due to an adverse event – less than the 3.4% of the placebo group who did so.

 

Recruitment into the study is being stopped early due to the positive results, at the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee and in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 

Merck is currently also trialing molnupiravir in a separate global phase 3 study to evaluate its efficacy in preventing the spread of Covid-19 within households.

‘Profound impact’

Robert M. Davis, CEO and president of Merck, said in a press release on Friday that the company would do everything it can to bring molnupiravir to patients as quickly as possible.

 

“With these compelling results, we are optimistic that molnupiravir can become an important medicine as part of the global efforts to fight the pandemic,” he said.

 

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics CEO Wendy Holman added: “With the virus continuing to circulate widely, and because therapeutic options currently available are infused or require access to a healthcare facility, antiviral treatments that can be taken at home to keep people with Covid-19 out of the hospital are critically needed.”

 

“We are very encouraged by the results from the interim analysis and hope molnupiravir, if authorized for use, can make a profound impact in controlling the pandemic,” she said.

Emergency Use Authorization

Merck said on Friday it plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization for the drug in the U.S. as soon as possible. The company also plans to submit marketing applications to other international drug regulators.

 

If authorized by regulatory bodies, molnupiravir could be the first oral antiviral medicine for Covid-19. Antiviral treatments currently in use, such as remdesivir, are administered intravenously.

 

Merck has already begun producing molnupiravir. The pharmaceutical giant expects to produce 10 million courses of treatment by the end of 2021, and more doses in 2022.

Earlier this year, Merck agreed to supply the U.S. with around 1.7 million courses of molnupiravir. This agreement is dependent on molnupiravir receiving Emergency Use Authorization or approval from the FDA.

 

Merck has also entered supply and purchase agreements for the drug with other governments – pending regulatory authorization – and is in discussions with other governments about the supply of molnupiravir.

 

The firm said on Friday that it plans to implement a tiered pricing approach based on World Bank country income criteria to ensure molnupiravir can be accessed globally. Merck has previously announced that it had entered into non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements for molnupiravir with generic manufacturers, a move intended to assist low and middle-income countries in gaining access to the treatment. Those agreements are also pending approvals or emergency authorization by local regulators.

[Alflives]

8 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

Merck to seek emergency authorization for oral Covid treatment after ‘compelling results’ in trials

• A phase 3 trial of Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ oral antiviral treatment molnupiravir showed it reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% in Covid-19 patients.
• Merck plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization in the U.S. and submit marketing applications to other global drug regulators.
• If authorized by regulatory bodies, molnupiravir could be the first oral antiviral medicine for Covid-19.

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics plan to seek emergency authorization for their oral antiviral treatment for Covid-19, after the medicine showed “compelling results” in clinical trials.

 

The drug, molnupiravir, reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by around 50% for patients with mild or moderate cases of Covid-19, the companies announced on Friday. Molnupiravir is administered orally and works by inhibiting the replication of Covid-19 inside the body.

 

An interim analysis of a phase 3 study found that 7.3% of patients treated with molnupiravir were hospitalized within 29 days. Of the patients who received a placebo, 14.1% were hospitalized or died by day 29. No deaths were reported in patients who were given molnupiravir within the 29-day period, while 8 deaths were reported in placebo-treated patients.

 

All 775 trial participants had laboratory-confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 and were randomly allocated either molnupiravir or a placebo within five days of the start of their symptoms.

 

Every participant was unvaccinated and had at least one underlying factor that put them at greater risk of developing a more severe case of the virus. The most common risk factors included obesity, being over the age of 60, diabetes and heart disease.

 

The phase 3 part of the trial was conducted at more than 170 sites, in countries including the U.S., Brazil, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan and Guatemala.

 

Molnupiravir’s efficacy was not affected by the timing of symptom onset or patients’ underlying risk factors, the study showed. It also proved to be consistently effective in treating all variants of Covid-19, including the widely dominant and highly transmissible Delta strain.

 

Adverse events were comparable in both the molnupiravir and placebo groups, with around 10% reporting adverse events. Just 1.3% of the molnupiravir group discontinued therapy due to an adverse event – less than the 3.4% of the placebo group who did so.

 

Recruitment into the study is being stopped early due to the positive results, at the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee and in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 

Merck is currently also trialing molnupiravir in a separate global phase 3 study to evaluate its efficacy in preventing the spread of Covid-19 within households.

‘Profound impact’

Robert M. Davis, CEO and president of Merck, said in a press release on Friday that the company would do everything it can to bring molnupiravir to patients as quickly as possible.

 

“With these compelling results, we are optimistic that molnupiravir can become an important medicine as part of the global efforts to fight the pandemic,” he said.

 

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics CEO Wendy Holman added: “With the virus continuing to circulate widely, and because therapeutic options currently available are infused or require access to a healthcare facility, antiviral treatments that can be taken at home to keep people with Covid-19 out of the hospital are critically needed.”

 

“We are very encouraged by the results from the interim analysis and hope molnupiravir, if authorized for use, can make a profound impact in controlling the pandemic,” she said.

Emergency Use Authorization

Merck said on Friday it plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization for the drug in the U.S. as soon as possible. The company also plans to submit marketing applications to other international drug regulators.

 

If authorized by regulatory bodies, molnupiravir could be the first oral antiviral medicine for Covid-19. Antiviral treatments currently in use, such as remdesivir, are administered intravenously.

 

Merck has already begun producing molnupiravir. The pharmaceutical giant expects to produce 10 million courses of treatment by the end of 2021, and more doses in 2022.

Earlier this year, Merck agreed to supply the U.S. with around 1.7 million courses of molnupiravir. This agreement is dependent on molnupiravir receiving Emergency Use Authorization or approval from the FDA.

 

Merck has also entered supply and purchase agreements for the drug with other governments – pending regulatory authorization – and is in discussions with other governments about the supply of molnupiravir.

 

The firm said on Friday that it plans to implement a tiered pricing approach based on World Bank country income criteria to ensure molnupiravir can be accessed globally. Merck has previously announced that it had entered into non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements for molnupiravir with generic manufacturers, a move intended to assist low and middle-income countries in gaining access to the treatment. Those agreements are also pending approvals or emergency authorization by local regulators.

3% of the placebo group stopped taking the drug because of perceived side effects.  What does that say about those test subjects?  

Edited October 1, 2021 by Alflives

[JM_]

2 hours ago, Alflives said:

3% of the placebo group stopped taking the drug because of perceived side effects.  What does that say about those test subjects?  

a lot of people have fake side effects. My in-laws have a caregiver that was initially an anti-vaxxer because she was worried about side effects. She got the shot, and a few days later had to go to the hospital with shallow breathing and chest pains.... it was a panic attack.

 

There are likely many people out there who think they had a bad reaction to the vaccine, but it was self inflicted panic or stress.

[thedestroyerofworlds]

1 minute ago, JM_ said:

a lot of people have fake side effects. My in-laws have a caregiver that was initially an anti-vaxxer because she was worried about side effects. She got the shot, and a few days later had to go to the hospital with shallow breathing and chest pains.... it was a panic attack.

 

There are likely many people out there who think they had a bad reaction to the vaccine, but it was self inflicted panic or stress.

All because had a bad "reaction" that one time they got the flu shot.   I put reaction in quotes because flu shots are typically given in the fall, when kids are spreading the plague at school.  It's likely the kids passed them a bad cold when they were getting the shot.

[JM_]

3 minutes ago, thedestroyerofworlds said:

All because had a bad "reaction" that one time they got the flu shot.   I put reaction in quotes because flu shots are typically given in the fall, when kids are spreading the plague at school.  It's likely the kids passed them a bad cold when they were getting the shot.

yup, and that was in the time before the online flood of BS.

[Warhippy]

1 hour ago, JM_ said:

a lot of people have fake side effects. My in-laws have a caregiver that was initially an anti-vaxxer because she was worried about side effects. She got the shot, and a few days later had to go to the hospital with shallow breathing and chest pains.... it was a panic attack.

 

There are likely many people out there who think they had a bad reaction to the vaccine, but it was self inflicted panic or stress.

The woman involved in that disgusting "this is like rape" comment and thread I posted about got her shot

 

Two days later she was in the hospital claiming all sorts of issues and side effects

 

My sister did her blood work and marked it as a VAERs incident as is required

 

Turns out she has high blood pressure and no clots because she keeps working herself up....

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Expanded health, safety measures for K-12 students:

 

Government is updating its K-12 education health and safety guidelines to require masks for kindergarten to Grade 3 students. 

 

“In-person learning is crucial for the social and educational well-being of students. The health and safety guidelines in our schools were developed under the guidance and direction of the Public Health Office (PHO) and BC Centre for Disease Control to allow children to safely attend school on a full-time, in-person basis,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. “We know there is a high level of concern among some parents, students, teachers and boards of education, especially in regions of B.C. where transmission rates are higher. We are listening to the concerns of people and, on the advice of the provincial health officer, taking further action so that families, students and staff feel secure.”

 

Beginning Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, all students in B.C. schools will be required to wear a mask when inside a school building, including while at their desks and on buses. This builds on the existing guidelines that currently apply to all students in grades 4 to 12. 

 

“This pandemic continues to evolve and so do we,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “We need to make changes to fit the situation as it's arising. We know the COVID-19 virus is being transmitted more rapidly, particularly to those who don’t have the protection that vaccination offers. This extra measure adds another layer of protection as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.”

 

Beginning this month, the PHO will release a new monthly report that will inform British Columbians about the virus and how it effects school-aged children.

 

As announced in August, regional medical health officers (MHOs) may recommend additional health and safety measures in response to local and regional conditions. MHOs will continue to work with school districts to recommend any additional regional measures as required.

 

These measures build on the existing K-12 health and safety guidelines, which were developed in consultation with all education partners. The guidelines include daily health checks, hand washing, staying home when sick and improved ventilation systems. The guidelines also contain strategies for schools to help create space between people, including staggered recess, lunch breaks and class transition times, managing the flow of people in common areas, and using available space to spread people out. 

 

Government will continue to be responsive to changes in the pandemic and will continue working with parents, teachers, school districts, First Nations rights-holders and all education partners to make sure schools are safe for students, teachers, and staff. 

 

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021EDUC0059-001880

[EOTM]

22 hours ago, Iron Fist said:

I can think whatever I want. Thats my choice.  Ban me from your restaurants and gatherings, It's all good. Ill play by those rules

Then why did you ask the question while also showing that you didn't know anything about either style of vaccine?

[Jaimito]

6 hours ago, Alflives said:

3% of the placebo group stopped taking the drug because of perceived side effects.  What does that say about those test subjects?  

That is why you need a placebo arm as control. 

 

Same with vaccine trials, many reactions due to getting a needle regardless of what's in it.  My friend got a vasovagal reaction to seeing the needle and passed out after getting the first shot. He recovered promptly and did later get his second dose without problems. 

[The Lock]

22 hours ago, Iron Fist said:

Low white blood cell count. What if my immune system can't handle a weaker version of the virus, Why would I inject a virus into myself when i know I'll probably get sick from it. I can wear a mask and socially distance myself from others without it being an issue for anyone

What I don't get is why can't everyone just get vaccinated like the majority? All this line of thinking you have will do is make it so we'll still have to quarentine for years to come.

 

You want this whole thing over with? Because what you're doing will just make it take longer to go away. The next waves that take place are your fault.

 

To me, "what if" is not enough when clearly you getting the virus would be much much worse.

Edited October 1, 2021 by The Lock

[Gurn]

5 minutes ago, The Lock said:

What I don't get is why can't everyone just get vaccinated like the majority?

Some people have valid medical, doctor approved reasons; so we will never get to 100%.

I'd be extremely happy if the rate gets into the low 90's.

[Fanuck]

1 hour ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

Expanded health, safety measures for K-12 students:

 

Government is updating its K-12 education health and safety guidelines to require masks for kindergarten to Grade 3 students. 

 

“In-person learning is crucial for the social and educational well-being of students. The health and safety guidelines in our schools were developed under the guidance and direction of the Public Health Office (PHO) and BC Centre for Disease Control to allow children to safely attend school on a full-time, in-person basis,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. “We know there is a high level of concern among some parents, students, teachers and boards of education, especially in regions of B.C. where transmission rates are higher. We are listening to the concerns of people and, on the advice of the provincial health officer, taking further action so that families, students and staff feel secure.”

 

Beginning Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, all students in B.C. schools will be required to wear a mask when inside a school building, including while at their desks and on buses. This builds on the existing guidelines that currently apply to all students in grades 4 to 12. 

 

“This pandemic continues to evolve and so do we,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “We need to make changes to fit the situation as it's arising. We know the COVID-19 virus is being transmitted more rapidly, particularly to those who don’t have the protection that vaccination offers. This extra measure adds another layer of protection as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.”

 

Beginning this month, the PHO will release a new monthly report that will inform British Columbians about the virus and how it effects school-aged children.

 

As announced in August, regional medical health officers (MHOs) may recommend additional health and safety measures in response to local and regional conditions. MHOs will continue to work with school districts to recommend any additional regional measures as required.

 

These measures build on the existing K-12 health and safety guidelines, which were developed in consultation with all education partners. The guidelines include daily health checks, hand washing, staying home when sick and improved ventilation systems. The guidelines also contain strategies for schools to help create space between people, including staggered recess, lunch breaks and class transition times, managing the flow of people in common areas, and using available space to spread people out. 

 

Government will continue to be responsive to changes in the pandemic and will continue working with parents, teachers, school districts, First Nations rights-holders and all education partners to make sure schools are safe for students, teachers, and staff. 

 

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021EDUC0059-001880

This should have been the mandate from the beginning of the school year - masks for all from K-12 - it made ZERO sense to leave out the most vulnerable group (those who aren't eligible for the vaccine) to be subject to poorly ventilated, tightly crammed classrooms just as the 4th wave was hitting us. 

 

[Alflives]

10 minutes ago, Jaimito said:

That is why you need a placebo arm as control. 

 

Same with vaccine trials, many reactions due to getting a needle regardless of what's in it.  My friend got a vasovagal reaction to seeing the needle and passed out after getting the first shot. He recovered promptly and did later get his second dose without problems. 

this was a trial for pills.  3% of those in the placebo group convinced themselves they were getting serious reactions.  That's interesting.

[Jaimito]

22 hours ago, Iron Fist said:

Low white blood cell count. What if my immune system can't handle a weaker version of the virus, Why would I inject a virus into myself when i know I'll probably get sick from it. I can wear a mask and socially distance myself from others without it being an issue for anyone

You are being confused with attenuated live viral vaccines. The available and approved covid vaccines are not like that. In fact, all of them don't have live virus, even those from China which are whole inactived viruses. Inactivated means the virus cannot replicate in your body. Attenuated virus, on the other hand, can replicate.  The mRNA and Adenovirus based vaccines don't replicate, and only the spike protein of the virus is made by your own body, not the whole coronavirus.  And even that mechanism of making spike proteins is temporary (days to weeks max).  It doesn't stay in your body indefinitely. If you do have weakened immune system, you may not generate as good of a response, and may require that third dose.  Even then, some may not respond well at all even after third dose. So continuing to masking and distancing is a good idea. 

 

You need to talk to a health professional you trust to get the right info. Don't just read stuff online, or you will get sucked into a blackhole of misinformation. 

[Jaimito]

1 minute ago, Alflives said:

this was a trial for pills.  3% of those in the placebo group convinced themselves they were getting serious reactions.  That's interesting.

Yes, I understood what you were saying.

 

The control/placebo arm is critical. The more accurate term maybe nocebo effecf. The placebo effect occurs when a placebo actually makes you feel better or improves your symptoms. The nocebo effect, on the other hand, happens when a placebo makes you feel worse.

[The Lock]

17 minutes ago, gurn said:

Some people have valid medical, doctor approved reasons; so we will never get to 100%.

I'd be extremely happy if the rate gets into the low 90's.

Yeah that's fair for some, but there are others that's just not the case. I guess that's more with whom my frustration lies with