Covid 19

[SteveH]

Indian variant concerns
"Public should be worried about the resurgence of coronavirus in general," says Dr Frank Atherton, though "figures are low."

As such, people should continue to adhere to the guidance and remain cautious in their day-to-day lives, he added.

Ms Morgan said that the Welsh Government is "very aware" of the Indian variant and, like Dr Atherton, urged people to proceed with caution as restrictions are eased.

more news  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-new-welsh-health-minister-20663633

[SteveH]

The eight new symptoms people in North Wales can now get coronavirus tests for
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has expanded the list of reasons why people can get tested

They include:

Muscle ache or pain

Excessive tiredness

Persistent headache

Runny nose or blocked nose

Persistent sneezing

Sore throat and/or hoarseness

Shortness of breath or wheezing

Any new or change in symptoms following a previous negative test

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/eight-new-symptoms-people-north-20689536

[SteveH]

A single-dose Covid vaccine made by Janssen has been approved for use in the UK by the medicines regulator.

The vaccine, which was 85% effective in stopping severe illness from Covid-19 in trials, has met expected safety standards.

Twenty million doses have been ordered for the UK, and will arrive later this year.

It will be the fourth vaccine to be used in the UK to protect against Covid-19.

More than 38 million people have now received a first dose of a vaccine in the UK - nearly three-quarters of the adult population.

The vaccine is likely to be used to give care home residents a booster jab ahead of winter because it can be easily stored and transported at fridge temperatures.

The UK's vaccine committee - the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - will produce advice on exactly who should receive the Belgian-made vaccine in due course.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57283837

[Ian]

Seems as though the Indian variant has some nasty surprises. From Scientific American:

“Some of the earliest indications of a wave of illness that is now swamping India, an epidemic within the pandemic: infections with a rare group of fungi called mucormycetes. The infection they cause, mucormycosis—“black fungus,” colloquially—can infest the sinuses and bones of the face and invade the brain or cause patients to lose an eye. When it goes untreated—and treatment is prolonged and difficult—mucormycosis can kill up to half of those who contract it.

There have been almost 12,000 cases of the infection in India in recent months, with most of them occurring in the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. “There was no fungus in the first wave” of COVID, says S. P. Kalantri, a professor of medicine at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and medical superintendent of its hospital. “The black fungus has painted the country red in the second wave.”

The epidemic of mucormycosis is yet another of the unpleasant surprises produced by the COVID pandemic—following MIS-C, a severe inflammatory syndrome that seems to mostly affect children, and “long COVID,” a complex of symptoms that continue to afflict patients months after initial infection. Mucormycosis is one of an array of ferocious fungal diseases that have attacked COVID patients, including a lethal yeast called Candida auris and a spate of infections with Aspergillus fungi that have earned the acronym CAPA (for COVID-associated pulmonary aspergillosis).”

[SteveH]

Posted by: Ian
« on: Yesterday at 08:03:48 PM »Insert Quote
Seems as though the Indian variant has some nasty surprises. From Scientific American:

“Some of the earliest indications of a wave of illness that is now swamping India, an epidemic within the pandemic: infections with a rare group of fungi called mucormycetes. The infection they cause, mucormycosis—“black fungus,” colloquially—can infest the sinuses and bones of the face and invade the brain or cause patients to lose an eye. When it goes untreated—and treatment is prolonged and difficult—mucormycosis can kill up to half of those who contract it.

After reading this report a few weeks ago, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-57154564 I suspected something would happen,
this however, seems very nasty, we can only hope they get the help, they need, from their own government, as well as outside assistance.

[SteveH]

Covid-19: 'Very few' Covid hospital patients had two jabs, NHS boss says

The head of NHS Providers has said "very, very few" Covid patients in hospital in England have received two coronavirus jabs - showing the vaccines provide "very high" levels of protection.

Chris Hopson said patients now tended to be younger - meaning there was a lower need for critical care.

But he said it was "incredibly striking" how busy hospitals were, as they deal with non-Covid backlogs.

Trusts were going "full pelt", he said.

Meanwhile, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed that the government is considering making coronavirus vaccines compulsory for NHS staff.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57294438

[SteveH]

There are signs the UK is in the early stages of a third wave of coronavirus infections, a scientist advising the government has said.

Prof Ravi Gupta, from the University of Cambridge, said although new cases were "relatively low" the Indian variant had fuelled "exponential growth".

He said ending Covid restrictions in England on 21 June should be postponed.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government could not rule out a delay to the planned lockdown easing.
But business leaders have warned of the harmful impact of any change to the proposed dates.

On Monday, the UK reported more than 3,000 new Covid infections for a sixth day in a row.
Prior to this, the UK had not surpassed that number since 12 April.

No deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in England, Wales or Northern Ireland - but one death was reported in Scotland.

Prof Gupta told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the UK was already in a third wave of infections and at least three quarters of cases were the variant identified in India.

He said: "Of course the numbers of cases are relatively low at the moment - all waves start with low numbers of cases that grumble in the background and then become explosive, so the key here is that what we are seeing here is the signs of an early wave."

However, he said the number of people who had been vaccinated in the UK meant this wave would probably take longer to emerge than previous ones.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57304515

[Ian]

Yep; still a way to go before it's over,  I suspect.

[SteveH]

This article is cause for concern, we have to hope the Vietnam Government can stop this early.

Covid: Vietnam detects new UK-Indian variant, health officials say

Vietnam has detected a Covid variant that appears to be a combination of the Indian and UK variants and can spread quickly by air, officials say.

Vietnam's Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long described the latest mutation on Saturday as "very dangerous".

Viruses mutate all the time and most variants are inconsequential, but some can make a virus more contagious.

Since Covid-19 was first identified in January 2020, thousands of mutations have been detected.

"Vietnam has uncovered a new Covid-19 variant combining characteristics of the two existing variants first found in India and the UK," Mr Nguyen told a government meeting, according to Reuters news agency.

Mr Nguyen said the new hybrid variant was more transmissible than previously known versions, especially in the air. He said it was discovered after running tests on newly-detected patients, online newspaper VnExpress reported.

He added that the genetic code of the virus would be made available soon.

The variant of Covid-19 first identified in India last October - called B.1.617.2 - is more transmissible than the UK/Kent variant - also known as B.1.1.7 - according to experts.

Research suggests that vaccines, such as the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs, are highly effective against the Indian variant after two doses, but protection from one dose appears to be reduced.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-57296803

[SteveH]

Coronavirus doctor's diary: Will we need a third dose of vaccine?

A clinical trial began this week to find out whether a third dose of vaccine will provide people with better protection against the Covid-19 virus, and to gather evidence on how different vaccines work together. Dr John Wright of Bradford Royal Infirmary explains how the trial will work, and speaks to some of the volunteers.

As the unstoppable NHS Vaccine Express hurtles onwards past the 40 million passenger mark, the destination - full adult coverage - can be glimpsed on the horizon. But already we are preparing for the next phase of our journey, by investigating how best to keep people protected in a world where Covid is ever present.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57362906

[SteveH]

Scores of cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in a week - with health bosses warning that Wales looks to be seeing community transmission of the strain.

Public Health Wales today confirmed that a total of 81 new cases of the coronavirus variant have been recorded since June 3 - bringing the total to 178.

And they warned that several cases discovered were not linked to previously reported clusters, raising the prospect that community transmission is now taking place.

In a statement, the body described the increase in cases as "significant", and urged people to stick to social distancing rules and to take up the offer of a vaccine.

They warned that Wales "may slowly be beginning to experience localised community transmission of the variant, with increasing evidence of cases with no travel history".

The majority of the Delta cases in Wales have been focused around a cluster of cases in North Wales and a cluster of cases in South Wales but experts are also starting to see "unlinked" cases in these areas and elsewhere in Wales.

The biggest cluster in North Wales has been in the Llandudno, Llandudno Junction and Penrhyn Bay areas, although cases have also been recorded in Porthmadog.

The most recent evidence suggests that the Delta variant is more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha (or Kent) variant.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/health-bosses-warn-wales-now-20767526?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Is there a limit to how much worse variants can get?

It is clear we are now dealing with a virus that spreads far more easily - probably more than twice as easily - as the version that emerged in Wuhan at the end of 2019.

The Alpha variant, first identified in Kent, UK, performed a large jump in its ability to transmit. Now Delta, seen first in India, leapt further still.

So are we doomed to a never-ending parade of new and improved variants that get harder and harder to contain? Or is there a limit to how much worse coronavirus can become?

It's worth remembering the journey this virus is on. It has made the jump from infecting a completely different species - its closest relatives are in bats - to us. It's like you, starting a new job: you're competent, but not the finished article. The first variant was good enough to start a devastating pandemic, but now it's learning on the job.

cont   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57431420



When can we stop wearing face masks or face coverings?

Some people may opt to wear them, even if they are not compulsory.     

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped they would become the norm on public transport as a matter of "personal responsibility".

full article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51205344

[Ian]

This seems a tad worrying:

Mark Woolhouse at the University of Edinburgh said the delay “would be justified”. In a statement, Woolhouse said: “The arrival of the delta variant has changed the assessment of the risks of re-opening: it is more transmissible, causes more severe disease and the vaccines are less effective against it."

[SteveH]

SECOND doses of the vaccine have been brought forward due to the increasing threat of the delta variant.

The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board confirmed that appointments for the second dose interval for the Pfizer vaccine will be brought forward to eight weeks rather than the original 12

Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery said on June 15 that 85 per cent of eligible adults are vaccinated with a first dose, and 55 per cent have received both doses. This includes at least 80 per cent take up among all groups above the age of 40.

She added: "We’ve come so far, so quickly, but the speed at which we can all return to normal life could depend on how swiftly we vaccinate the remainder of people in these younger age groups.

"This has become especially important in light of the emergence and continued spread of the delta variant of coronavirus, which is thought to be 60 per cent more transmissible than the previously dominant alpha variant."

The delta variant is spreading much more quickly among'st people who have not been vaccinated and now accounts for over 90 per cent of new positive coronavirus cases in North Wales.

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/health/19375636.betsi-cadwaladr-coronavirus-vaccine-update-appointments-brought-forward/


PS
Covid vaccinations are to become mandatory for English care home staff under plans to be announced by ministers, as they consider extending the move to all NHS staff.

The controversial measure sets up a likely battle with staff in both services and could lead to the government being sued under European human rights law or equalities legislation for breaching the freedom of people who work in caring roles to decide what they put into their bodies.

The Guardian understands that ministers will confirm they are pushing ahead with compulsory vaccination for most of the 1.5 million people working in social care in England, despite employer and staff organisations in the sector warning that it could backfire if workers quit rather than get immunised. Under the plans those working with adults will have 16 weeks to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs. 

[Hugo]

My wife and I applied for the Covid-19 self-testing kit and they both arrived the following day which was really good.      Today we needed to take the test so we got out the package to do our first test and the first thing we noticed was a note on the end of the box saying  "made in China"
That's pretty ironic considering that they gave us the virus in the first place.   I still think that the WHO should have listed China as the Alpha variant and not Kent