SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Always good to offer a distraction from time to time.

 

we have mendel for that

 

I think the availability of valid antibody tests with high sensitivity and as low as possible false positive and false negative rates of test results, is key to tracking coronavirus spread and determining whether victims potentially have some immunity from reinfection. The non-peer-reviewd preprint article below seemed to be a careful attempt to scientifically evaluate available coronavirus antibody tests, and broadly they found 3 to be superior to the others. I found the details to be heavy sledding, but offer the reference here so that others may also read and evaluate.

Dropbox - SARS-CoV-2_Serology_Manuscript.pdf - Simplify your life

 

Is that about what we would expect if it is really the sum of several dozen geographically separate curves with individual peaks offset by numerous weeks?

I.e. what do individual states, or state clusters, look like? Not that such data is as readily available it easily explored form.

 

Maybe not directly relevant because the test is RT-PCR based. But an FDA authorized (EUA - Emergency Use) at-home test might be a game changer.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First Test for Patient At-Home Sample Collection | FDA

"This test is designed to determine active infection with the virus that causes COVID-19; it is NOT designed to determine the presence of antibodies or assess immunity."

COVID-19 Test (At-Home Kit) | Pixel by LabCorp

 

Apparently @Raytheeagle votes for drift, if you get my drift...

 

Didn't want to make this topic a thread of it's own, so I'm just throwing this question out here.
From what I've read the biggest "risk" in getting fast food through a drive through is the packaging. Which is why we are encouraged to discard the packaging and wash our hands before, and after discard, as well as before and after actually eating the food.

So if packaging is actually a threat, why are fast food restaurants still bothering to give me napkins?
I don't feel comfortable using these napkins, they just become waste.
Am I being overly paranoid in my avoidance of using these napkins, or are fast food restaurants just being stupid in even providing them right now?

Give me a good argument either way.
Right now, I'm throwing those napkins out, preferring to error on the side of being safer, at the admission of possibly being paranoid.

 

My work place is getting ready to ease back to return to normal operation. I was told that over the next few months, all employees will be required to take COVID-19 viral testing even without symptoms before getting back to work. A bit of mixed feeling about the testing.

 

Just out of curiosity, why would you have mixed feelings?
The test itself is not a risk. And I would feel good about a workplace that is at least supporting this level of safety being presented for all their employees.
It's not a perfect answer, but if testing is available, I think the more people tested the better.

 

Yes, more testing is better for sure. And it would be great if everyone tested are negative, and we can all go back to work as usual. But I am afraid it's not going to be that easy. If anyone gets a positive result, that means we will all be back to square one, and back to stay-at-home. And even if there is no immediate turnaround and go back home order, how long do we have to keep testing? With summer coming and more people coming from out of state, it is only a matter of time we will have the next wave of infection starting.

 

I was reading the testing as being "before returning to work"?
Therefore if someone tests positive, I'm assuming of course that person doesn't return to work.
I'm also assuming you're tested and do NOT return to work until results are in.

Not a perfect answer, you can be tested one day, exposed the next. But still better if available and being offered.

 

For currently remote work-from-home employees like me, that is true. But there are many on-site essential workers who have not been tested yet. If any one of them tests positive, we will have to fall back to plan B.

 

OK, that makes sense.
Really they should get testing and results from those already on-site and essential before allowing "new" returning employees to come in contact, but maybe that's just too big of a logistical challenge?
Tough times.

What do I know? I'm trying to figure out whether I should be afraid of fast food napkins.

 

Not only logistic but also regulatory hurdles. Currently, only "symptomatic" on-site workers can be tested following a CDC guideline of prioritizing testing. We now have the in-house viral testing infrastructure that can mitigate some of those regulatory and legal hurdles. But still, it is very costly and intricate work involving multiple layers of our business and the entire community.

 

What a challenge, what a mess. Interesting because what I've heard is there are a percentage of infected people that remain outwardly asymptomatic.
Well? We hope for the best.

 

i'm more concerned about the swab up the nose

i wouldn't use the napkins, but i can't tell you why they are still handing them out.

packaging is very low risk, but still a risk. i don't eat fast food, but if i did, i would wear a glove, drop the bag into a cardboard box, take the glove off and throw it in too. then do the washing thing when you get home

 

Thanks for the answer on what sounds like a ridiculous question.
But I've been allowing myself occasional nights out....through the drive thru, and sincerely wondering why when the risk is evidently increased through handling of packaging, I was getting 30 napkins thrown on top of my food.
If I'm ideally suppose to wash my hands after handling the bag, I would assume I shouldn't be using napkins thrown in that bag, handled by any number of unknown sources, to wipe my mouth.

So I really wanted to know whether this was legitimate thinking or paranoid fear.

 

i think it's legitimate. it's a fast food joint, you can't expect brain surgeons. otoh, there are people who would probably complain if they didn't get napkins

you can find scientific articles on line regarding packaging risk. no need for paranoia, but hand washing, and NOT wiping your mouth with their napkins is probably a reasonable course of action.

 

So far I've been chalking it up to my own absentmindedness, that both times I've picked up something from my favorite Mexican place, it has just slipped my mind to say "I don't need any napkins or plasticware or packets of iodized salt, I'm going straight home and I have all that stuff."