Best Posts in Forum: COVID-19

I can't imagine where anyone would get the idea there was no risk to them, whatever their age.

 

Not sure if right area, if not Admin move it.

Had a detached retina operation very recently. Was going to go to Cebu but found an excellent surgeon in Bacolod. She's trained in Canada, I'm very happy with the results. Not something to take lightly so I did my research and think I was lucky to have found her.

Started here diagnose wise but no one had the ability to work skill for the procedure.

 

Word of mouth had me hot footing it down to Valencia LGU Gym this morning, and I got the first shot of Aztrazeneca. They were vaxxing Senior Citizens. Chica chica is many frontliners were quarantined, so they moved to Senior Citizens. There were a lot of people that showed up later and it's unclear if everyone is getting vaxxed today. Some of what went on is humorous, expats are predictable (including me). Met a very nice fellow, and a very patient older lady. No reaction so far. I'm happy and kudos to the very understanding and professional staff.

 

WARNING: This post contains science and Covid. Those not interested are advised to skip.

From: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54832563

"Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill"

Briefer version:

Why some people with coronavirus have no symptoms and others get extremely ill is one of the pandemic's biggest puzzles.

A study in Nature of more than 2,200 intensive care patients has identified specific genes that may hold the answer. They make some people more susceptible to severe Covid-19 symptoms. The findings shed light on where the immune system goes wrong, which could help identify new treatments.

These will continue to be needed even though vaccines are being developed, says Dr Kenneth Baillie, a consultant in medicine at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, who led the Genomicc project.

"Vaccines should drastically decrease the numbers of covid cases, but it's likely doctors will still be treating the disease in intensive care for a number of years around the world, so there is an urgent need to find new treatments."

'Angry' cells
Scientists looked at the DNA of patients in more than 200 intensive care units in UK hospitals ........ to pinpoint any genetic differences, and a number were found - the first in a gene called TYK2. “It is part of the system that makes your immune cells more angry, and more inflammatory,” explained Dr Baillie. But if the gene is faulty, this immune response can go into overdrive, putting patients at risk of damaging lung inflammation.

Too little interferon
Genetic differences were also found in a gene called DPP9, which plays a role in inflammation, and in a gene called OAS, which helps to stop the virus from making copies of itself. Variations in a gene called IFNAR2 were also identified. IFNAR2 is linked to a potent anti-viral molecule called interferon, which helps to kick-start the immune system as soon as an infection is detected. It’s thought that producing too little interferon can give the virus an early advantage, allowing it to quickly replicate, leading to more severe disease.

Interferon can be given as a treatment, but a World Health Organization clinical trial concluded that it did not help very sick patients. However, Prof Jean-Laurent Casanova said the timing was important: "I hope that if given in the first 2-4 days of infection, the interferon would work, because it essentially would provide the molecule that the [patient] does not produce.”

But, the Genomicc study - and several others - has revealed a cluster of genes on chromosome 3 strongly linked to severe symptoms. However, the biology underpinning this is not yet understood.

 

Based on the latest DOH numbers (august 12), Negros Oriental has recorded 155 cases of covid-19 in total, of which 49 are currently active.
Relative to the population size, that means a total infection rate of around 0.01% for the province. In comparison, Cebu City has an infection rate of 1.0%, and Cebu province is at 0.37% overall, while the NCR is at 0.64%.
Internationally, the Philippines still has a relatively low infection rate of 0.13% overall, USA (1.6%), Brazil (1.5%) and a whole bunch of others are much worse.
The rate at which infections are growing in the Philippines is worrisome though, about one third of all cases are from the current month of August.

Almost all the cases in Negros Oriental can be traced to people travelling into the province from elsewhere. Almost all, but not quite all. Last month there was a situation with an elderly lady who tested positive after her death, but who had no travel history whatsoever. There may have been more of these unexplained cases, that I missed.
However, these (hopefully very few) unexplained cases are the ones deserving most attention, because they point to something we should all be concerned about, which in covid terminology is called "local transmission".

All in all though, one can argue (as I do) that we have been very lucky so far, and that keeping travel down (ferries/airport, border with Negros Occidental) is a crucial part of why we have been so lucky.
Unfortunately, Negros Occidental has not been so lucky, they currently report about 1,000 cases (including Bacolod), which means the infection rate there is at 0.04%, or about 3 times as high as in Negros Oriental.

However, I don't think we will remain so lucky, the Philippine government has already indicated that money is running out and that people need to get back to work. If that would imply (as I fear) increased travel, then we may soon see a much worse situation than today.

 

Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines
1 hr ·
PRESS RELEASE
27 May 2020

BI braces for ‘new normal’

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) offices are prepared to resume full operations as it was issued a set of guidelines and protocols that its employees and stakeholders are bound to follow and observe under a “new normal” environment after the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is lifted in Metro Manila and other areas of the country.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new protocols will be implemented at the BI main office and other immigration field, satellite and extension offices as soon as the government places Metro Manila under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

“We are adapting these new guidelines and protocols to ensure that our employees and persons who transact business in our offices are protected against the coronavirus,” Morente said.

However, he stressed that due to continuing risk posed by COVID-19, the bureau’s workers will continue to follow several work schemes and arrangements to achieve social distancing and congestion in their workplace.

“Depending on the requirements of their respective offices, our division and section chiefs have the option to implement flexible working arrangements for their staff which particularly suits them. The bottomline is that wearing of face masks, sanitation and social distancing measures are always observed,” said BI Deputy Commissioner and COVID-19 Task Force Head Aldwin Alegre.

Among these work schemes are staggered working hours, assignment of skeleton force, four-day workweek, and work-from-home arrangements for employees who are seniors or have underlying medical conditions.

Alegre also bared that wearing of face masks is a must for all persons entering the bureau and that the number of individuals allowed inside the premises will be limited to a certain number at a particular time to avoid overcrowding.

“These ‘new normal’ protocols will soon be posted in our bureau’s website for the information of the general public,” he added.

It will be recalled that the BI suspended operations in many of its offices two months ago after the government placed Metro Manila and Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

I would say I am a very cautious person generally and with my background especially so with a viral pandemic.

BUT sometimes risks have to be taken. Many liken the pandemic to a 'war' and it is in a sense - the enemy is trying to overcome human defences to gain a benefit.

Without any disrespect intended to the brave veterans on this Forum and without any personal military experience (but I have watched movies and read books!) the need to take risks in battle are well known - if the risk has a withdrawal strategy attached then it can be worth that risk.

So, with seemingly zero cases in Negros Oriental (IF the truth is being told) I feel the risk of abandoning quarantine is worth taking - to protect people's livelihoods and (sometimes related) their physical and mental health, plus government finances (I haven't mentioned alcohol as everyone else is doing fine on that topic! ).

BUT this needs to be secured with an immediate return to quarantine if cases start to arise (just a justifiable form of retreat). In the meantime the authorities can actually get a proper pass system set up so it can be introduced at once (no floundering for days or weeks) and where people know what they can and cannot do and receive the permission (physical pass) to do so - not a system where people are confused by so many changes and where some/many barangays have done nothing to get passes to residents. Why not have one type of pass only (the system based on Bacong to Basay and Sibulan to Canlaon seems the most sensible produced so far) and just change the conditions attached to that pass if necessary (without changing the physical document). Most people seem to use Facebook so current rules pertaining to that pass could be issued very quickly. They just need to avoid doing that on a daily or hourly basis! A few mild cases could involve conditions pertaining to a GCQ and those rules need to be changed only if an ECQ becomes necessary due to an increase in numbers and/or severity of cases.

I would strongly suggest continuing and enforcing social distancing and face masks but when eating in restaurants the masks can be removed by diners (NOT staff) as long as social distancing is maintained (the usual exemption for families living together could be retained).

The Province has not been seriously affected and the situation now appears to be even better than a few weeks ago - so IMO this is the time to take a risk.

The only thing that bother me is if they open up the borders without quarantining people entering (especially OFWs - some of whom will have come from hot-spots) - then all bets are off. And the quarantine needs to be more than self-quarantining as people cannot be trusted.

 

In order to protect the patients, doctors and staff the guard at the gate will not let you in if you have a fever and unless your doctor by telephone says for you to come to Holy Child. Just calling Holy Child they will tell you there are no doctors available and all clinics are canceled.

Always keep the phone number of your doctor's secretary to use in times like these. It may be easier to contact your doctor if they are a department head in the hospital.

Symptoms appear from Covid-19 within 5 days of exposure and blue lips are a sign of advanced disease threatening life.

With this being met, the guard will take your temperature and ask questions to fill up a form.

Don't expect to load up the patient in your SUV and rush them to the hospital, they won't get in the gate because of protocol. Call the patients doctor and follow directions.

shaky