Greavswasthegreatest
Vital Football Legend
kissin and huggin
Covid, Phase II. Commonsense is the order of the day.
- Thread starter Spursex
- Start date
Apparently there are photos and videos that he was at a wedding in Egpyt dancing and being close to others in a large crowd, none wearing masks.
If it is true then he is an idiot and Liverpool should be fining him.
10Hoddle
Vital 1st Team Regular
The big elephant in the room that nobody seems to notice in regards to working from home is the Work Cover situation. i.e insurance at the workplace.
When WFH the new work place becomes your home. Under the work place health and safety act, an employer must provide a safe place to work, and be free from all hazards and potential risks. If you trip up and spill a burning cup of tea on yourself or slip on a rug etc then your employer is bound under the act to pay workers compensation should you require it.
In other words, a risk harassment must be done in al cases where an employee is WFH.
Spursex
Alert Team
It's a good point and a whole host of H&S companies have sprung up to do just that - write new policies and where required to do home visits. These risk assessments though have more to do wth practical considerations as these new policies are put into place - home place hazards such as slipping on a rug etc can be covered by giving generic advice as they are not per sa 'work' hazards.
D
Departed
Guest
Serious question. Has anyone come up with an explanation for these graphs yet?
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
Better treatments and understanding of how to treat. ?
Spursex
Alert Team
I think this is all the explanation needed:
Second wave, same strategy: Swedish COVID-19 czar defiant despite surge
By Johan Ahlander
2 days ago
EU eyes tax as tool in climate change fight
There’s a big new trade deal in town. What’s in it for us, China and the region?
By Johan Ahlander
© Reuters/TT NEWS AGENCY FILE PHOTO: News conference updating on COVID-19 situation, in Stockholm
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden remains steadfast in its strategy of voluntary measures and no lockdowns, the architect of its unorthodox COVID-19 response said on Friday, as the country battles a growing second wave of a disease that has now killed more than 6,000 Swedes.
The Nordic nation of 10 million people, whose soft-touch approach to combating the virus has drawn worldwide attention - and harsh domestic criticism from some - has seen a surge in the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths in recent weeks.
At 5,990, the number of new cases reported on Friday was the highest since the start of the pandemic. A further 42 deaths were also recorded, the most for around three months.
The strategy, however, will not change.
"No, we will keep on this path," Chief Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told Reuters in a telephone interview on Friday. "This is how we work in Sweden. We have big understanding for this and a huge adherence to the rules."
In contrast to many other countries, Sweden has kept schools, restaurants and other businesses open throughout the pandemic. Instead, it has focused on voluntary measures aimed at promoting social distancing and good hygiene, such as working from home if possible, avoiding public transport and crowded indoor activities.
The approach has drawn both criticism and praise. Tegnell's frequent press conferences have attracted big television audiences. Several people have had his face tattooed on their bodies and t-shirts saying "In Tegnell we trust" can be spotted on the streets of Stockholm.
Not everyone agrees, however, and Tegnell has even received death threats from people accusing him of pursuing a reckless policy.
LESSONS LEARNED
While Sweden's death rate per capita is lower than in countries such as Spain and Britain, it is more than 10 times higher than neighbouring Norway and almost five times higher than in Denmark.
In an open letter published in the daily Aftonbladet newspaper on Friday, 27 Swedish scientists and doctors warned the country could soon approach the sort of numbers in intensive care seen in the spring and called on party leaders to override the Health Agency and introduce tougher restrictions.
© Reuters/TT NEWS AGENCY FILE PHOTO: News conference updating on COVID-19 in Stockholm
Sweden has recorded 485 cases per 100,000 people in the latest two-week period, roughly the same as Britain but just more than half that of France.
Tegnell played down the criticism and said the recent lockdowns in Europe, which for the most part have been less strict than those in the spring, showed there was less of a difference in approaches to fighting the virus now.
"Most countries are now trying to do it a bit more like we have done in Sweden. Almost no one is closing schools now, for instance," he said. "We have also learned a lot (from others), like doing targeted recommendations for different regions."
Sweden is one of few countries in Europe that does not recommend or demand masks outside hospitals and care facilities. Tegnell said he had yet to see any good studies in favour of masks, despite it being recommended by the European Centre for Disease Control and many other health bodies.
"It's fascinating how few studies there are on this," he said. "And if you look at the countries with a strict rules for wearing masks, it's difficult to see that they have fared well."
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Look at their neighbours...!
https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/se
Last edited:
Spursex
Alert Team
Sweden: What went wrong in the libertarian promised land?
Once an outlier, Sweden is following in the footsteps of its neighbours and introducing much harsher restrictions as it battles a resurgent coronavirus.
by Henry Goodwin
November 16, 2020
in News
Do not judge Sweden until autumn, Anders Tegnell – the country’s epidemiological cult hero – warned in May.
Back then, as neighbours rushed to lock down their citizens and close their borders, Sweden was the outlier. Schools, restaurants and gyms were kept open. Whereas cities like London were ghost-like through much of the summer, in Stockholm it looked as though life was carrying on as normal.
Sweden’s light-touch approach to the coronavirus pandemic was supposed to be yielding its rewards now. As recently as September, with other European countries witnessing sharp spikes in cases of Covid-19, Sweden – some sort of herd immunity supposedly in the bag – saw infections plummet to 90 per cent below their late June peak, below neighbouring Norway and Denmark.
“But Sweden!” roared right-wing commentators, viewing in the Scandinavian country some sort of libertarian utopia where they would not have to cancel their holidays and forego trips to the pub.
“[Countries who locked down] are likely to be more vulnerable to these kind of spikes,” Tegnell told the Financial Times in September. “Those kind of things will most likely be bigger when you don’t have a level of immunity the can sort of put the break on it.”
‘Cancel!’
Fast forward a couple of months, and the message is starkly different. “There should not be social situations with more than eight people even if they are not formally affected by the law,” Stefan Löfven, the prime minister, announced today.
“This is the new norm for the whole society, for all of Sweden. Don’t go to the gym. Don’t go to the library. Don’t have dinners. Don’t have parties. Cancel!”
RelatedPosts
Covid: Medics at risk of burnout and weren’t prepared to see ‘so much illness and death’
Working nine-ty five: Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Moderna vaccine breakthrough
Miami court case uncovers huge PPE scandal as businessman paid £21m to act as “go-between”
Almost 2,000 Covid deaths last week in England and Wales as death toll increases
All of Europe is being buffeted by a deadly second wave, but Sweden is being hit harder than most.
Hospitalisations from Covid-19 are rising faster there than in any country in Europe, doubling every eight days. Care homes in the capital warned this month that the virus was spreading rapidly among residents. One in every five tests is positive in the capital.
More than 6,100 Swedes have now died from the virus, putting its death rate behind only Belgium, Spain, the UK, Italy and France in Europe on a per capita basis.
Sweden’s 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is 511.9, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. That is higher than the UK (501.8), Germany (308.7), Denmark (255.5) and Norway (142.8).
And, remarkably, it is close to ten times higher than Finland – where the figure is just 54.8. “In the autumn there will be a second wave. Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low,” Tegnell told the FT back in May.
“But Finland,” he added, “will have a very low level of immunity. Will Finland have to go into a complete lockdown again?”
Were ‘quick fixes’ right all along?
Aided, of course, by one of Europe’s lowest population density and a natural propensity for social distancing, Finland – which locked the country down and shut its borders early – has not witnessed anything close to a second coronavirus spike.
Just 369 Finns have died after contracting Covid-19, and its economy contracted by less than Sweden’s in the first half of the year too.
Tegnell’s approach was predicated on the belief that Covid-19 would be with us for a very long time. He voiced his intention to be “resistant to quick fixes”, insisting that the pandemic is “not going to be a short-term kind of thing”.
But with positive vaccine news piling up, hope that life across Europe will be back to something approaching normality by spring is growing. In that context, lockdowns – an undoubtedly blunt instrument – don’t look so shortsighted after all.
If Pfizer and Moderna do indeed ride the rescue, some Swedes may find themselves asking whether their restriction-free 2020 was worth it after all.
Related: Sweden announces dramatic U-turn as lockdown measures brought in
Once an outlier, Sweden is following in the footsteps of its neighbours and introducing much harsher restrictions as it battles a resurgent coronavirus.
November 16, 2020
in News
Do not judge Sweden until autumn, Anders Tegnell – the country’s epidemiological cult hero – warned in May.
Back then, as neighbours rushed to lock down their citizens and close their borders, Sweden was the outlier. Schools, restaurants and gyms were kept open. Whereas cities like London were ghost-like through much of the summer, in Stockholm it looked as though life was carrying on as normal.
Sweden’s light-touch approach to the coronavirus pandemic was supposed to be yielding its rewards now. As recently as September, with other European countries witnessing sharp spikes in cases of Covid-19, Sweden – some sort of herd immunity supposedly in the bag – saw infections plummet to 90 per cent below their late June peak, below neighbouring Norway and Denmark.
“But Sweden!” roared right-wing commentators, viewing in the Scandinavian country some sort of libertarian utopia where they would not have to cancel their holidays and forego trips to the pub.
“[Countries who locked down] are likely to be more vulnerable to these kind of spikes,” Tegnell told the Financial Times in September. “Those kind of things will most likely be bigger when you don’t have a level of immunity the can sort of put the break on it.”
‘Cancel!’
Fast forward a couple of months, and the message is starkly different. “There should not be social situations with more than eight people even if they are not formally affected by the law,” Stefan Löfven, the prime minister, announced today.
“This is the new norm for the whole society, for all of Sweden. Don’t go to the gym. Don’t go to the library. Don’t have dinners. Don’t have parties. Cancel!”
RelatedPosts
Covid: Medics at risk of burnout and weren’t prepared to see ‘so much illness and death’
Working nine-ty five: Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Moderna vaccine breakthrough
Miami court case uncovers huge PPE scandal as businessman paid £21m to act as “go-between”
Almost 2,000 Covid deaths last week in England and Wales as death toll increases
All of Europe is being buffeted by a deadly second wave, but Sweden is being hit harder than most.
Hospitalisations from Covid-19 are rising faster there than in any country in Europe, doubling every eight days. Care homes in the capital warned this month that the virus was spreading rapidly among residents. One in every five tests is positive in the capital.
More than 6,100 Swedes have now died from the virus, putting its death rate behind only Belgium, Spain, the UK, Italy and France in Europe on a per capita basis.
Sweden’s 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is 511.9, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. That is higher than the UK (501.8), Germany (308.7), Denmark (255.5) and Norway (142.8).
And, remarkably, it is close to ten times higher than Finland – where the figure is just 54.8. “In the autumn there will be a second wave. Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low,” Tegnell told the FT back in May.
“But Finland,” he added, “will have a very low level of immunity. Will Finland have to go into a complete lockdown again?”
Were ‘quick fixes’ right all along?
Aided, of course, by one of Europe’s lowest population density and a natural propensity for social distancing, Finland – which locked the country down and shut its borders early – has not witnessed anything close to a second coronavirus spike.
Just 369 Finns have died after contracting Covid-19, and its economy contracted by less than Sweden’s in the first half of the year too.
Tegnell’s approach was predicated on the belief that Covid-19 would be with us for a very long time. He voiced his intention to be “resistant to quick fixes”, insisting that the pandemic is “not going to be a short-term kind of thing”.
But with positive vaccine news piling up, hope that life across Europe will be back to something approaching normality by spring is growing. In that context, lockdowns – an undoubtedly blunt instrument – don’t look so shortsighted after all.
If Pfizer and Moderna do indeed ride the rescue, some Swedes may find themselves asking whether their restriction-free 2020 was worth it after all.
Related: Sweden announces dramatic U-turn as lockdown measures brought in
Harry-Kari
Vital 1st Team Regular
Looks to me like the lockdown ears are trying to justify their position when in fact they are no better off than Sweden...ffs, we’ve had restrictions coming out of our ears and in reality we are worse off than Sweden...go figure.Sweden: What went wrong in the libertarian promised land?
Once an outlier, Sweden is following in the footsteps of its neighbours and introducing much harsher restrictions as it battles a resurgent coronavirus.
by Henry Goodwin
November 16, 2020
in News
Do not judge Sweden until autumn, Anders Tegnell – the country’s epidemiological cult hero – warned in May.
Back then, as neighbours rushed to lock down their citizens and close their borders, Sweden was the outlier. Schools, restaurants and gyms were kept open. Whereas cities like London were ghost-like through much of the summer, in Stockholm it looked as though life was carrying on as normal.
Sweden’s light-touch approach to the coronavirus pandemic was supposed to be yielding its rewards now. As recently as September, with other European countries witnessing sharp spikes in cases of Covid-19, Sweden – some sort of herd immunity supposedly in the bag – saw infections plummet to 90 per cent below their late June peak, below neighbouring Norway and Denmark.
“But Sweden!” roared right-wing commentators, viewing in the Scandinavian country some sort of libertarian utopia where they would not have to cancel their holidays and forego trips to the pub.
“[Countries who locked down] are likely to be more vulnerable to these kind of spikes,” Tegnell told the Financial Times in September. “Those kind of things will most likely be bigger when you don’t have a level of immunity the can sort of put the break on it.”
‘Cancel!’
Fast forward a couple of months, and the message is starkly different. “There should not be social situations with more than eight people even if they are not formally affected by the law,” Stefan Löfven, the prime minister, announced today.
“This is the new norm for the whole society, for all of Sweden. Don’t go to the gym. Don’t go to the library. Don’t have dinners. Don’t have parties. Cancel!”
RelatedPosts
Covid: Medics at risk of burnout and weren’t prepared to see ‘so much illness and death’
Working nine-ty five: Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Moderna vaccine breakthrough
Miami court case uncovers huge PPE scandal as businessman paid £21m to act as “go-between”
Almost 2,000 Covid deaths last week in England and Wales as death toll increases
All of Europe is being buffeted by a deadly second wave, but Sweden is being hit harder than most.
Hospitalisations from Covid-19 are rising faster there than in any country in Europe, doubling every eight days. Care homes in the capital warned this month that the virus was spreading rapidly among residents. One in every five tests is positive in the capital.
More than 6,100 Swedes have now died from the virus, putting its death rate behind only Belgium, Spain, the UK, Italy and France in Europe on a per capita basis.
Sweden’s 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is 511.9, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. That is higher than the UK (501.8), Germany (308.7), Denmark (255.5) and Norway (142.8).
And, remarkably, it is close to ten times higher than Finland – where the figure is just 54.8. “In the autumn there will be a second wave. Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low,” Tegnell told the FT back in May.
“But Finland,” he added, “will have a very low level of immunity. Will Finland have to go into a complete lockdown again?”
Were ‘quick fixes’ right all along?
Aided, of course, by one of Europe’s lowest population density and a natural propensity for social distancing, Finland – which locked the country down and shut its borders early – has not witnessed anything close to a second coronavirus spike.
Just 369 Finns have died after contracting Covid-19, and its economy contracted by less than Sweden’s in the first half of the year too.
Tegnell’s approach was predicated on the belief that Covid-19 would be with us for a very long time. He voiced his intention to be “resistant to quick fixes”, insisting that the pandemic is “not going to be a short-term kind of thing”.
But with positive vaccine news piling up, hope that life across Europe will be back to something approaching normality by spring is growing. In that context, lockdowns – an undoubtedly blunt instrument – don’t look so shortsighted after all.
If Pfizer and Moderna do indeed ride the rescue, some Swedes may find themselves asking whether their restriction-free 2020 was worth it after all.
Related: Sweden announces dramatic U-turn as lockdown measures brought in
2 things. Many of the most vulnerable and alot of the old peeps were knocked off in the first wave. And second, better understanding of treatments.
But don't worry, they're in BIG trouble this time.
.
10Hoddle
Vital 1st Team Regular
So, like some sort of badge of Honor, the Queensland Govt have announced a world record since Covid-19, for a crowd at tonight State of Origin Rugby League match in Brisbane. We'll be the host to 52,000 fans as Queensland take on NSW for the series decider.
This is a political stunt after Labor won the state election a few weeks ago. We've had zero cases for many weeks now, but if this blows up in her face, and out breaks occur, there will be hell to pay.
As you know, we're coming into our summer here, and many Queenslanders have booked and paid for our Christmas Holidays within our own state, to give the tourism industry a shot in the arm that they so desperately need.
I travel up to the Great Barrier Reef each year and have already paid for our accommodation etc...well over $12,000. I can see a travel ban coming if we get as much as one or two cases from tonight's publicity stunt, and we'll lose our $.
I've already lost thousands in international air fares to the Pacific Islands for flights booked back in March before our Federal Govt initiated an international travel ban. As this is a pandemic, I'm still to receive my refund.
This is a political stunt after Labor won the state election a few weeks ago. We've had zero cases for many weeks now, but if this blows up in her face, and out breaks occur, there will be hell to pay.
As you know, we're coming into our summer here, and many Queenslanders have booked and paid for our Christmas Holidays within our own state, to give the tourism industry a shot in the arm that they so desperately need.
I travel up to the Great Barrier Reef each year and have already paid for our accommodation etc...well over $12,000. I can see a travel ban coming if we get as much as one or two cases from tonight's publicity stunt, and we'll lose our $.
I've already lost thousands in international air fares to the Pacific Islands for flights booked back in March before our Federal Govt initiated an international travel ban. As this is a pandemic, I'm still to receive my refund.
D
Departed
Guest
FDA allows 1st rapid virus test that gives results at home
By MATTHEW PERRONEtoday
FILE - This Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, file photo shows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration building behind FDA logos at a bus stop on the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Md. FDA officials on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be performed and developed entirely at home. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be performed entirely at home and delivers results in 30 minutes.
The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration represents an important step in U.S. efforts to expand testing options for COVID-19 beyond health care facilities and testing sites. However, the test will require a prescription, likely limiting its initial use.
The FDA granted emergency authorization to the single-use test kit from Lucira Health, a California manufacturer.
The company’s test allows users to swab themselves to collect a nasal sample. The sample is then swirled in a vial of laboratory solution that plugs into a portable device. Results are displayed as lights labeled positive or negative.
To date, the FDA has authorized nearly 300 tests for coronavirus. The vast majority require a nasal swab performed by a health professional and must be processed at laboratories using high-tech equipment. A handful of tests allow people to collect their own sample at home — a nasal swab or saliva — that’s then shipped to a lab, which usually means waiting days for results.
Health experts have called for options to allow people to test themselves at home, reducing turnaround times and the potential spread of the virus to others, including health care workers. Rapid test results are critical to quickly quarantining those who are infected and tracing their contacts. But for months, U.S. testing has been plagued by slow results due to bottlenecks as testing laboratories. There are other rapid tests but most require a small, special machine operated by a health professional to develop results
“Now, more Americans who may have COVID-19 will be able to take immediate action, based on their results, to protect themselves and those around them,” Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s devices center, said in a statement.
Lucira did not immediately respond to a request for additional details after business hours Tuesday.
The Lucira COVID-19 test grew out of research the company was doing to develop an at-home flu test, according to the company’s website. Lucira adapted its technology to detect COVID-19 after the outbreak.
The test uses technology similar to genetic laboratory-based tests that are the standard tool for COVID-19 screening. That’s different than most rapid tests currently used in the U.S., which look for viral proteins called antigens — not the virus itself.
Anyone that tests positive should isolate and seek care from a health professional, the FDA said in its release. Those who test negative but still have coronavirus symptoms should consult a doctor; a negative result does not rule out COVID-19 infection.
The FDA said Lucira’s test was also authorized for use in doctor’s offices and testing sites. Currently all U.S. testing sites must report results to state and federal health authorities tracking the pandemic. Doctors will be required to report the home test results.
“If the results are not reported back, it may be difficult to figure out what is happening in the community at large,” said Dr. Alberto Gutierrez, former head of the FDA’s testing office, in an interview before the announcement.
More than two dozen companies have been racing for months to develop the first, rapid home-based test for COVID-19. However, the FDA outlined a number of study requirements for manufacturers.
These hurdles have less to do with COVID-19 specifically, and more to do with decades-long concerns about whether people without any medical training can accurately screen themselves and interpret the results.
The FDA has only ever approved one home test for an infectious disease — an HIV test. And even commonplace over-the-counter tests— such as home pregnancy kits — were subject to years of scrutiny before FDA allowed their use in the 1970s.
Experts say that careful approach is warranted for coronavirus.
“I think increased testing closer to patients, including in the home, is the way of the future,” said Dr. Robin Patel of the Mayo Clinic, in an interview before the announcement was made. “But there are considerations that have to be addressed to make sure that this is done in a safe and effective way.”
FDA regulators authorized the new test using their emergency powers to quickly speed the availability of experimental products during public health crises. In normal times, the FDA requires evidence of safety and effectiveness before clearing a new test. But during public health emergencies the agency can lower those standards.
The FDA release did not disclose the test’s accuracy or the study results that regulators used to make the decision.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
By MATTHEW PERRONEtoday
FILE - This Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, file photo shows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration building behind FDA logos at a bus stop on the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Md. FDA officials on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be performed and developed entirely at home. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday allowed emergency use of the first rapid coronavirus test that can be performed entirely at home and delivers results in 30 minutes.
The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration represents an important step in U.S. efforts to expand testing options for COVID-19 beyond health care facilities and testing sites. However, the test will require a prescription, likely limiting its initial use.
The FDA granted emergency authorization to the single-use test kit from Lucira Health, a California manufacturer.
The company’s test allows users to swab themselves to collect a nasal sample. The sample is then swirled in a vial of laboratory solution that plugs into a portable device. Results are displayed as lights labeled positive or negative.
To date, the FDA has authorized nearly 300 tests for coronavirus. The vast majority require a nasal swab performed by a health professional and must be processed at laboratories using high-tech equipment. A handful of tests allow people to collect their own sample at home — a nasal swab or saliva — that’s then shipped to a lab, which usually means waiting days for results.
Health experts have called for options to allow people to test themselves at home, reducing turnaround times and the potential spread of the virus to others, including health care workers. Rapid test results are critical to quickly quarantining those who are infected and tracing their contacts. But for months, U.S. testing has been plagued by slow results due to bottlenecks as testing laboratories. There are other rapid tests but most require a small, special machine operated by a health professional to develop results
“Now, more Americans who may have COVID-19 will be able to take immediate action, based on their results, to protect themselves and those around them,” Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s devices center, said in a statement.
Lucira did not immediately respond to a request for additional details after business hours Tuesday.
The Lucira COVID-19 test grew out of research the company was doing to develop an at-home flu test, according to the company’s website. Lucira adapted its technology to detect COVID-19 after the outbreak.
The test uses technology similar to genetic laboratory-based tests that are the standard tool for COVID-19 screening. That’s different than most rapid tests currently used in the U.S., which look for viral proteins called antigens — not the virus itself.
Anyone that tests positive should isolate and seek care from a health professional, the FDA said in its release. Those who test negative but still have coronavirus symptoms should consult a doctor; a negative result does not rule out COVID-19 infection.
The FDA said Lucira’s test was also authorized for use in doctor’s offices and testing sites. Currently all U.S. testing sites must report results to state and federal health authorities tracking the pandemic. Doctors will be required to report the home test results.
“If the results are not reported back, it may be difficult to figure out what is happening in the community at large,” said Dr. Alberto Gutierrez, former head of the FDA’s testing office, in an interview before the announcement.
More than two dozen companies have been racing for months to develop the first, rapid home-based test for COVID-19. However, the FDA outlined a number of study requirements for manufacturers.
These hurdles have less to do with COVID-19 specifically, and more to do with decades-long concerns about whether people without any medical training can accurately screen themselves and interpret the results.
The FDA has only ever approved one home test for an infectious disease — an HIV test. And even commonplace over-the-counter tests— such as home pregnancy kits — were subject to years of scrutiny before FDA allowed their use in the 1970s.
Experts say that careful approach is warranted for coronavirus.
“I think increased testing closer to patients, including in the home, is the way of the future,” said Dr. Robin Patel of the Mayo Clinic, in an interview before the announcement was made. “But there are considerations that have to be addressed to make sure that this is done in a safe and effective way.”
FDA regulators authorized the new test using their emergency powers to quickly speed the availability of experimental products during public health crises. In normal times, the FDA requires evidence of safety and effectiveness before clearing a new test. But during public health emergencies the agency can lower those standards.
The FDA release did not disclose the test’s accuracy or the study results that regulators used to make the decision.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Pompey Yid
Vital Champions League
Its all bloody happening everywhere ain't it.
The missus got a call today from her mate, the Matron, she told her a couple of things....
Covid intake to the QA hospital, our main one, has gone threw the bloody roof.
Do not expect the Lockdown to finish on Dec 2.
Such great news eh!
The missus got a call today from her mate, the Matron, she told her a couple of things....
Covid intake to the QA hospital, our main one, has gone threw the bloody roof.
Do not expect the Lockdown to finish on Dec 2.
Such great news eh!
10Hoddle
Vital 1st Team Regular
That is so sad. It is however a consequence of proper inaction from Boris.
International travel in and out of the UK should've been banned back in March/April as the UK is an island so it would've worked.
D
Departed
Guest
Really? How about testing everyone that lands and quarantining them for 48 hours while their tests are completed. Like New Zealand.
Spursex
Alert Team
Race for a cure
November 19, 202011:01 AMUpdated 4 minutes ago
Oxford COVID-19 trial will look at interim Phase III data after 53 infections: investigator
By Alistair Bell, Kate Kelland
2 Min Read
FILE PHOTO: The word "COVID-19" is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration taken November 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
LONDON (Reuters) - Oxford University will start an initial analysis of data from its late-stage trial of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with AstraZeneca AZN.L after 53 infections among its volunteers, the study's chief investigator said on Thursday.
The Oxford Vaccine Group’s director, Andrew Pollard, said in a media briefing there were “lots of cases” of infections in its Phase III trial in Britain, Brazil and South Africa.
The first two sets of interim data from vaccine trials from Pfizer PFE.N and BioNTech BNTX.O last week and Moderna MRNA.O on Monday were released after more than 90 infections among volunteers.
Pfizer had planned to publish initial data after about 60 infections, but it exceeded its target after the big jump in infections recently in the United States.
Pollard’s comments came after data published on Thursday showed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in Phase II studies produced a strong immune response in older adults, suggesting that those at higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 could be protected.
Pollard said there was no attempt to release the study in the same week as those companies’ data, the first from late-stage vaccine trials, but rather the study happened to be ready for publication.
Earlier on Thursday, he said he expected Phase III data to be released by Christmas.
The Phase III results showing efficacy of the vaccine will be released via AstraZeneca, in the same way they have been published by other drugmakers over the past week or so, Pollard said.
He said the trial would also publish the findings in a peer-reviewed medical journal but initial data would likely be released before then.
Reporting by Alistair Smout and Kate Kelland; Writing by Josephine Mason; Editing by Alex Richardson and Nick Macfie
November 19, 202011:01 AMUpdated 4 minutes ago
Oxford COVID-19 trial will look at interim Phase III data after 53 infections: investigator
By Alistair Bell, Kate Kelland
2 Min Read
FILE PHOTO: The word "COVID-19" is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration taken November 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
LONDON (Reuters) - Oxford University will start an initial analysis of data from its late-stage trial of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with AstraZeneca AZN.L after 53 infections among its volunteers, the study's chief investigator said on Thursday.
The Oxford Vaccine Group’s director, Andrew Pollard, said in a media briefing there were “lots of cases” of infections in its Phase III trial in Britain, Brazil and South Africa.
The first two sets of interim data from vaccine trials from Pfizer PFE.N and BioNTech BNTX.O last week and Moderna MRNA.O on Monday were released after more than 90 infections among volunteers.
Pfizer had planned to publish initial data after about 60 infections, but it exceeded its target after the big jump in infections recently in the United States.
Pollard’s comments came after data published on Thursday showed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in Phase II studies produced a strong immune response in older adults, suggesting that those at higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 could be protected.
Pollard said there was no attempt to release the study in the same week as those companies’ data, the first from late-stage vaccine trials, but rather the study happened to be ready for publication.
Earlier on Thursday, he said he expected Phase III data to be released by Christmas.
The Phase III results showing efficacy of the vaccine will be released via AstraZeneca, in the same way they have been published by other drugmakers over the past week or so, Pollard said.
He said the trial would also publish the findings in a peer-reviewed medical journal but initial data would likely be released before then.
Reporting by Alistair Smout and Kate Kelland; Writing by Josephine Mason; Editing by Alex Richardson and Nick Macfie
Spursex
Alert Team
COVID-19: Oxford vaccine produces strong immune response in older adults, early results show
Some 560 healthy adult volunteers took part in the phase two trials, where they were given two doses of the vaccine, or a placebo.
Thursday 19 November 2020 10:13, UK
Image: The Oxford vaccine has been shown to be effective in older adults
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University produces a strong immune response in older adults, data from early trials has shown.
The phase one and phase two results suggest that one of the groups most at risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19 may be able to build immunity, according to data published in The Lancet medical journal.
It comes a day after Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine was 94% effective among adults over 65 in its final efficacy results, and that it would be seeking authorisation over the next few days.
Vaccine success gives hope for those over 65
Responding to the news, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: "There is still much work to be done, but this is a really encouraging set of findings from the @UniofOxford and @AstraZeneca vaccine."
According to the authors of the Oxford vaccine findings, "volunteers in the trial demonstrate similar neutralising antibody titres, and T cell responses across all three age groups (18-55, 56-79, and 70+)".
Around 560 healthy adult volunteers took part in the phase two trials, where they were given two doses of the vaccine candidate, or a placebo.
More from Covid-19
No adverse health problems were reported during the trials, the report adds.
The University of Oxford says that across most vaccines, older adults tend not to be as well protected as younger adults, with antibodies induced by a vaccine often showing a lower protective capacity.
Dr Maheshi Ramasamy, an investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group and consultant physician, said: "Older adults are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, because they are at increased risk of severe disease, but we know that they tend to have poorer vaccine responses.
"We were pleased to see that our vaccine was not only well tolerated in older adults; it also stimulated similar immune responses to those seen in younger volunteers. The next step will be to see if this translates into protection from the disease itself."
Phase three trials of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, which will determine the vaccine's efficacy, are still ongoing, with results expected over the coming weeks.
Professor Andrew Pollard, the head of Oxford's vaccine trial team, said he is "absolutely delighted" with the latest results.
"The other thing that we found which I think is really important is the vaccine is really well tolerated in those who are over 55," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"We do know with these vaccines that adults tend to feel a bit ropey the day after they have been vaccinated... but that was very, very much less, particularly in those who are over 70. And that's absolutely great news because if it's well tolerated that's going to really help with roll-out should we be able to show that the vaccine actually works."
Studies suggest the Oxford jab would not need to be kept at temperatures as low as those made by Pfizer and Moderna.
Prof Pollard said there is "no competition" between different vaccines because "we need multiple vaccines to be successful... because we've got a lot of people to protect all around the globe".
He added: "We're still at the bottom of that mountain, in some ways, but we've done the route into the bottom of the mountain - the long trek to get to the start.
"Now we've got to get the data about the vaccines in front of regulators for them to scrutinise it and approve the first vaccines, and then we've got that huge effort to climb up to the top where we've got a vast majority of those who are at risk vaccinated and protected, so that the most vulnerable are no longer at risk, and we can start to get back to normal."
The UK government has ordered more than 100 million doses and will hope the final results prove similarly promising to those of Pfizer and US firm Moderna, which have reported overall efficacies of 95% and 94.5% respectively.
Dr Michael Tildesley, who sits on a SAGE sub-group, said the vaccine is "going to be hopefully one of the key game changers" because the number of doses acquired by the government will allow the UK to "hopefully reach that magic herd immunity".
Dr Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling (SPI-M) group, told BBC Breakfast the vaccine's strong immune response in older adults is "the really key thing" for preventing deaths.
One Oxford vaccine trial volunteer said she did not experience any adverse side effects, adding: "I was so surprised."
Sarah Hurst, 47, from Oxfordshire, said she signed up because she "wanted a vaccine as quickly as possible so we can live our lives again".
She said she hoped the jab would prove to be as effective as the other two.
Analysis: Medical textbooks being rewritten before our eyes
By Thomas Moore, science correspondent
For decades it's been a "rule" of vaccine science that the older the person, the less well their immune system will respond to a jab.
It's called immunosenescence. Another downside of aging.
But perhaps the medical textbooks are being rewritten before our eyes.
The scramble to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19 has accelerated the development of jabs based on new genetic technologies.
And they're proving to be much better at generating an immune response in older people than had been expected.
The results of a newly published clinical trial of the Oxford Vaccine are encouraging. It triggers an immune response that's just as good in those over 55 as in younger people.
That's only based on an analysis of antibody and T-cell levels in blood samples though.
It's not real-world protection against infection.
That's the ultimate test for any vaccine and we won't get that information until the Oxford/AstraZeneca team release details of the final stage, phase three trials, which could come any day now.
Pfizer/BioNTech have already shown their vaccine is more than 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 in the elderly. That laid down a marker for the other vaccines.
Hopefully they match it. We will need every jab going if we are to protect those most vulnerable to serious disease - and stand a chance of returning life to normal by next autumn.
Some 560 healthy adult volunteers took part in the phase two trials, where they were given two doses of the vaccine, or a placebo.
Thursday 19 November 2020 10:13, UK
Image: The Oxford vaccine has been shown to be effective in older adults
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University produces a strong immune response in older adults, data from early trials has shown.
The phase one and phase two results suggest that one of the groups most at risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19 may be able to build immunity, according to data published in The Lancet medical journal.
It comes a day after Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine was 94% effective among adults over 65 in its final efficacy results, and that it would be seeking authorisation over the next few days.
Vaccine success gives hope for those over 65
Responding to the news, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: "There is still much work to be done, but this is a really encouraging set of findings from the @UniofOxford and @AstraZeneca vaccine."
According to the authors of the Oxford vaccine findings, "volunteers in the trial demonstrate similar neutralising antibody titres, and T cell responses across all three age groups (18-55, 56-79, and 70+)".
Around 560 healthy adult volunteers took part in the phase two trials, where they were given two doses of the vaccine candidate, or a placebo.
More from Covid-19
No adverse health problems were reported during the trials, the report adds.
The University of Oxford says that across most vaccines, older adults tend not to be as well protected as younger adults, with antibodies induced by a vaccine often showing a lower protective capacity.
Dr Maheshi Ramasamy, an investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group and consultant physician, said: "Older adults are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, because they are at increased risk of severe disease, but we know that they tend to have poorer vaccine responses.
"We were pleased to see that our vaccine was not only well tolerated in older adults; it also stimulated similar immune responses to those seen in younger volunteers. The next step will be to see if this translates into protection from the disease itself."
Phase three trials of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, which will determine the vaccine's efficacy, are still ongoing, with results expected over the coming weeks.
Professor Andrew Pollard, the head of Oxford's vaccine trial team, said he is "absolutely delighted" with the latest results.
"The other thing that we found which I think is really important is the vaccine is really well tolerated in those who are over 55," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"We do know with these vaccines that adults tend to feel a bit ropey the day after they have been vaccinated... but that was very, very much less, particularly in those who are over 70. And that's absolutely great news because if it's well tolerated that's going to really help with roll-out should we be able to show that the vaccine actually works."
Studies suggest the Oxford jab would not need to be kept at temperatures as low as those made by Pfizer and Moderna.
Prof Pollard said there is "no competition" between different vaccines because "we need multiple vaccines to be successful... because we've got a lot of people to protect all around the globe".
He added: "We're still at the bottom of that mountain, in some ways, but we've done the route into the bottom of the mountain - the long trek to get to the start.
"Now we've got to get the data about the vaccines in front of regulators for them to scrutinise it and approve the first vaccines, and then we've got that huge effort to climb up to the top where we've got a vast majority of those who are at risk vaccinated and protected, so that the most vulnerable are no longer at risk, and we can start to get back to normal."
The UK government has ordered more than 100 million doses and will hope the final results prove similarly promising to those of Pfizer and US firm Moderna, which have reported overall efficacies of 95% and 94.5% respectively.
Dr Michael Tildesley, who sits on a SAGE sub-group, said the vaccine is "going to be hopefully one of the key game changers" because the number of doses acquired by the government will allow the UK to "hopefully reach that magic herd immunity".
Dr Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling (SPI-M) group, told BBC Breakfast the vaccine's strong immune response in older adults is "the really key thing" for preventing deaths.
One Oxford vaccine trial volunteer said she did not experience any adverse side effects, adding: "I was so surprised."
Sarah Hurst, 47, from Oxfordshire, said she signed up because she "wanted a vaccine as quickly as possible so we can live our lives again".
She said she hoped the jab would prove to be as effective as the other two.
Analysis: Medical textbooks being rewritten before our eyes
By Thomas Moore, science correspondent
For decades it's been a "rule" of vaccine science that the older the person, the less well their immune system will respond to a jab.
It's called immunosenescence. Another downside of aging.
But perhaps the medical textbooks are being rewritten before our eyes.
The scramble to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19 has accelerated the development of jabs based on new genetic technologies.
And they're proving to be much better at generating an immune response in older people than had been expected.
The results of a newly published clinical trial of the Oxford Vaccine are encouraging. It triggers an immune response that's just as good in those over 55 as in younger people.
That's only based on an analysis of antibody and T-cell levels in blood samples though.
It's not real-world protection against infection.
That's the ultimate test for any vaccine and we won't get that information until the Oxford/AstraZeneca team release details of the final stage, phase three trials, which could come any day now.
Pfizer/BioNTech have already shown their vaccine is more than 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 in the elderly. That laid down a marker for the other vaccines.
Hopefully they match it. We will need every jab going if we are to protect those most vulnerable to serious disease - and stand a chance of returning life to normal by next autumn.
Spursex
Alert Team
COVID-19: University of Birmingham develops nasal spray that 'protects against coronavirus and prevents transmission''
Researchers say the spray protects against COVID-19 and can also prevent the virus being passed from person to person.
Thursday 19 November 2020 11:47, UK
Image: Researchers say the spray adds 'a second layer of protection to prevent and slow virus transmission'. File pic
A nasal spray purportedly capable of preventing infection from coronavirus, as well as stopping people from infecting others, has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham.
According to the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, it catches and coats the virus inside the nose, from where it can be eliminated by either nose-blowing or swallowing.
As the virus is encapsulated in the spray, it is prevented from being taken-up by the body, so if any virus particles are passed on to another person via a sneeze or cough, that person is less likely to be infected by active virus particles, researchers say.
Professor Liam Grover, one of the leading authors of the study, said: "Although our noses filter thousands of litres of air each day, there is not much protection from infection, and most airborne viruses are transmitted via the nasal passage.
"The spray we have formulated delivers that protection but can also prevent the virus being passed from person to person."
The team set out to create a spray that could cover the inside of the nose evenly, and remain where it is sprayed.
According to the research papers, it is composed of two polysaccharide polymers. One is an antiviral agent called carrageenan, which is commonly used in foods as a thickening agent. The second is a solution called gellan, which was picked because of its ability to stick to cells inside the nose.
Researchers say regular application of the spray could significantly reduce disease transmission, and believe it could be particularly useful in areas where crowding is less avoidable, such as on flights or in classrooms.
A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham told Sky News that there was "no specific funding" for the project, but that researchers "had been working on formulations for eyedrops that were funded by MRC (Medical Research Council) and NIHR (National Institute for Health Research)".
"They were able to apply what they had learnt in that area to the development of the spray," they added.
Co-author Dr Richard Moakes said: "This spray is made from readily available products that are already being used in food products and medicines, and we purposely built these conditions into our design process. It means that, with the right partners, we could start mass production within weeks.
"Products like these don't replace existing measures such as mask wearing and handwashing, which will continue to be vital to preventing the spread of the virus.
"What this spray will do, however, is add a second layer of protection to prevent and slow virus transmission."
Cell-culture laboratory experiments showed the spray prevented infection for up to 48 hours.
It comes amid major breakthroughs in the race to find a COVID-19 vaccine, with the makers of two leading candidates announcing both jabs are about 95% effective.
But both candidates - from Pfizer and Moderna - are still months away from deployment at a mass scale and both face complex logistical challenges.
Data from early trials of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University have shown it produces a strong immune response in older adults.
With a second wave of coronavirus infections surging across the world, researchers are also looking for other ways to tackle the disease.
Researchers say the spray protects against COVID-19 and can also prevent the virus being passed from person to person.
Thursday 19 November 2020 11:47, UK
Image: Researchers say the spray adds 'a second layer of protection to prevent and slow virus transmission'. File pic
A nasal spray purportedly capable of preventing infection from coronavirus, as well as stopping people from infecting others, has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham.
According to the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, it catches and coats the virus inside the nose, from where it can be eliminated by either nose-blowing or swallowing.
As the virus is encapsulated in the spray, it is prevented from being taken-up by the body, so if any virus particles are passed on to another person via a sneeze or cough, that person is less likely to be infected by active virus particles, researchers say.
Professor Liam Grover, one of the leading authors of the study, said: "Although our noses filter thousands of litres of air each day, there is not much protection from infection, and most airborne viruses are transmitted via the nasal passage.
"The spray we have formulated delivers that protection but can also prevent the virus being passed from person to person."
The team set out to create a spray that could cover the inside of the nose evenly, and remain where it is sprayed.
According to the research papers, it is composed of two polysaccharide polymers. One is an antiviral agent called carrageenan, which is commonly used in foods as a thickening agent. The second is a solution called gellan, which was picked because of its ability to stick to cells inside the nose.
Researchers say regular application of the spray could significantly reduce disease transmission, and believe it could be particularly useful in areas where crowding is less avoidable, such as on flights or in classrooms.
A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham told Sky News that there was "no specific funding" for the project, but that researchers "had been working on formulations for eyedrops that were funded by MRC (Medical Research Council) and NIHR (National Institute for Health Research)".
"They were able to apply what they had learnt in that area to the development of the spray," they added.
Co-author Dr Richard Moakes said: "This spray is made from readily available products that are already being used in food products and medicines, and we purposely built these conditions into our design process. It means that, with the right partners, we could start mass production within weeks.
"Products like these don't replace existing measures such as mask wearing and handwashing, which will continue to be vital to preventing the spread of the virus.
"What this spray will do, however, is add a second layer of protection to prevent and slow virus transmission."
Cell-culture laboratory experiments showed the spray prevented infection for up to 48 hours.
It comes amid major breakthroughs in the race to find a COVID-19 vaccine, with the makers of two leading candidates announcing both jabs are about 95% effective.
But both candidates - from Pfizer and Moderna - are still months away from deployment at a mass scale and both face complex logistical challenges.
Data from early trials of the vaccine being developed by Oxford University have shown it produces a strong immune response in older adults.
With a second wave of coronavirus infections surging across the world, researchers are also looking for other ways to tackle the disease.
