False positives?

A study yet to be formally published and which is gaining media attention is posing an interesting question. Could it be that the PCR test currently in use to detect COVID-19 is picking up dead virus particles? This would result in patients being labelled positive when in fact they have recovered. It would explain observed instances when persons who have recovered clinically from the virus continue being flagged as still having it. Another issue that is raised by the yet to be peer-reviewed study is whether COVID-19 test results should continue being issued as simple positive or negative rather than using a cut-off point to determine active infection.

More reporting on

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/covid-tests-may-be-picking-up-traces-of-dead-virus/ar-BB18JutX

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54000629

Update on COVID-19 vaccine

Astrazeneca is currently working on a vaccine against COVID-19 and has reported on early findings of tests carried out in human volunteers.

Published in The Lancet of 20th July, the paper gives details of results of a study carried out on 1077 volunteers who were either given the COVID-19 or a meningitis vaccine.

The researchers found that the COVID-19 vaccine was generally well tolerated with causation of mild side effects which were easily controlled by paracetamol. 

The vaccine gave promising results in that it elicited a response from the subjects' immune system of antibody and cellular type.

Currently there are 160 vaccines undergoing research in a global effort to combat the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31604-4/fulltext

Here we go again

In my previous post I had hinted at an end to restrictions caused by the pandemic. Unfortunately events are showing otherwise. In retrospect I realise that I was being overly optimistic about a resolution to the COVID-19 problem. Which is not to say that things won't sort themselves out....just that we might have to wait a little longer.

All this roller-coaster of events puts strain on the psyche...especially on the brains of young children and adults who are growing up in a rapidly changing and sometimes scary world.

For this reason I suggest that you go through the following article I came across online. Especially if you have young children at home and are finding it challenging to keep them as happy as possible. Worth reading! 

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-protect-your-familys-mental-health-face-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Post-COVID world

As we start moving towards some semblance of normality after the havoc of COVID-19 we must ensure that the gains made are not lost. For this end we must continue observing basic public health precautions.

One way to do this is by imparting information in an easily digestible manner to mass audiences such as with the use of posters or fliers. 

The link below directs to a website with a mini-trove of free posters to print out and display in public places. Check it out! 

https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/free-printable-posters-covid-19/

Should I disinfect my groceries to prevent getting Coronavirus?

These days one of the things most people are concerned about is keeping an adequate food supply at home. Is there a risk of getting Coronavirus from grocery items? In theory if someone sneezes onto a food item and you pick it up and eat it then yes there is a risk...so how does one protect oneself?

According to the article in the link below the most practical way is to rinse objects you may be concerned about with warm water.

Keep in mind that use of disinfectant chemicals on food items is not recommended as this carries risks of it's own...the chemicals are often hazardous in themselves. For example bleach is irritant to the lungs and the last thing you want in this pandemic is a compromised lung.

More information in the link below. 

https://www.insider.com/how-to-safely-clean-your-produce-to-prevent-coronavirus-2020-3

There's also this article which has answers to a series of questions about grocery shopping. 

UPDATE. The Lancet published this paper about the survival of SARS-CoV-2. Of note is the prolonged survival at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius which is the temperature of most refrigerators. Hence it is important to clean groceries such as fresh milk cartons before putting them in the fridge. 

UPDATE 2. Whilst going through my Facebook timeline I came across an article from Reader's Digest that is on the subject at hand. Though adding nothing new it is written in a matter of fact style, with lots of common sense that will surely appeal to those wishing to inform themselves without the burden of lots of technicalities. Read it here.