General Covid 19 news

[SteveH]

The BBC has found evidence of a considerable number of Covid-related deaths in China's rural regions, as the virus spread from big cities to more remote areas with older populations.

In Xinzhou region of northern Shanxi province the coffin makers have been busy. We watched the skilled craftsmen as they carved elaborate decorations into the freshly-cut wood. Over recent months, they say, they haven't had time to stop.

One villager, a customer, told us that at times the coffins have sold out. Laughing with a dose of the black humour you find in the area, he added that those in the funeral industry had been "earning a small fortune".

There has been much debate about the real number of Covid deaths in China, after the virus ripped through its megacities.

Some 80% of the population - more than a billion people - have been infected since China scrapped restrictions in December, according to leading epidemiologist Wu Zunyou. Last weekend China reported 13,000 Covid-related deaths in less than a week, adding to the 60,000 deaths it has counted since December.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-64347085

[SteveH]

A report confirming that those of us who use Vit D supplements are doing the right thing, especially during the pandemic.

A new report confirming association between severe vitamin D deficiency and bad COVID-19 outcomes, discussed by Dr John Campbell
in his latest video, or you can read the report here.... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9864223/

Various studies, a association between severe vitamin D deficiency and bad COVID-19 outcomes.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation.

Recent data suggest a protective role of vitamin D against bad outcomes

Short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5sc7G4s4CY

[SteveH]

Covid: Last chance for adults under 50 to get booster

Next week marks the last chance adults aged 49 and younger who have not yet received a full set of coronavirus vaccines can take up the offer of a booster.

The NHS has said Sunday February 12 will be the last day that people aged 16 to 49 can attend a vaccination site for a booster dose.

After this date, the booster jabs will only be offered to people considered to be at risk of serious illness, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The JCVI has also advised that the offer of initial vaccinations to healthy five to 49-year-olds should be withdrawn in 2023 in favour of a more targeted approach, but the Government has not yet made any announcement about future policy.

It has already advised that there should be another autumn vaccination campaign later this year, as well as a potential spring campaign for the most vulnerable.

?Whether you have had previous doses or a bout of Covid, we know that a booster is the best way to maintain protection against serious illness from Covid for yourself and your loved ones, so please do make the most of the offer while it is available and give yourself both protection and peace of mind for the year ahead.?

cont https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/national/23299129.deadline-approaching-under-50s-receive-coronavirus-booster-vaccine/

[SteveH]

Low immunity, overwhelmed hospitals fuel Covid-19 deaths in ageing Japan

Low immunity against Covid-19 and a growing population of frail elderly is driving a surge in coronavirus deaths in Japan which had, for a long time, upheld some of the strictest pandemic restrictions.

Japan once boasted one of the lowest Covid mortality rates, but the figure has been trending upwards since the end of 2022.

It hit an all-time high on 20 January this year, surpassing the UK, US and South Korea, according to Oxford University's Our World in Data.

Japan was largely closed to foreign visitors from 2020 till mid-June last year. It opened its borders cautiously - at first, travellers had to be part of a package tour, buy medical insurance, and be masked in all public places.

Some schoolchildren had meals in silence for over two years as schools imposed bans on lunchtime conversations.

As restrictions are eased, however, the population's low Covid immunity may be causing infections to spike, local health experts told the BBC.

Most of the latest Covid fatalities are elderly people with underlying medical conditions, experts said. This contrasts with the initial spate of deaths that were due to pneumonia and were often treated in intensive care.

"It is also difficult to prevent these deaths by treatment," says Hitoshi Oshitani, one of Japan's leading virologists, adding that Covid was only the trigger.

"Due to the emergence of immune-escaping variants and sub-variants and the waning of immunity, it is getting more difficult to prevent infections," he says.

"Immune escape" is when the human host's immune system becomes incapable of responding against an infectious agent. New versions of the Omicron variant are known to be masters of immune evasion.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64494095

[SteveH]

Camilla, the Queen Consort, has tested positive for Covid, Buckingham Palace has announced.

She is said to be suffering cold symptoms and has cancelled her public engagements for the week.

The Queen Consort, aged 75, had already pulled out of a planned visit to the West Midlands on Tuesday.

She has previously had Covid and is understood to be fully vaccinated and is said to be in "good spirits" and resting.

Buckingham Palace had initially said the Queen Consort was cancelling a trip because of a "seasonal illness", but she has subsequently tested positive for Covid.        ref BBC

[SteveH]

Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna has chosen a science campus as its UK base for the development of future medicines.

The firm said the Innovation and Technology Centre would be built by the year 2025 at Harwell, Oxfordshire.

It said the site would "provide the UK public with access to mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases".

Under the agreement, the UK has made a commitment to buy Moderna's vaccines for the next decade.

Darius Hughes, Moderna's UK general manager, said the research and manufacturing base would deliver "innovative vaccines to the UK public that address emerging threats to our population".

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "Moderna's new Innovation and Technology Centre means NHS patients will have access to cutting-edge mRNA vaccines to fight against future variants of Covid, as well as other respiratory viruses, while also creating hundreds of jobs.

"Harwell is already leading science and innovation in the UK and we look forward to the opening of this new mRNA centre."

Read more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-64856379

[SteveH]

Mental-health crisis from Covid pandemic was minimal - study

People's general mental health and anxiety symptoms hardly deteriorated at all during the pandemic, research suggests.

Most people are resilient and made the best of a difficult situation, it says.

The BMJ review analysed 137 studies, most from high-income European and Asian countries.

Depression became a little worse overall and among women, older people, university students and those belonging to sexual or gender minorities.

Other studies have found women felt the impact of the pandemic more because of the jobs they do and the role they play in family life.

"At a population level, there has been a high level of resilience during Covid-19," the Canadian researchers, from institutions including McGill, Ottawa and Toronto universities, say.

"And changes in general mental health, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms have been minimal to small."

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64890952

[SteveH]

I think this is a good reason to remind those vulnerable people, not to be embarrassed about wearing masks in crowded places, we are now responsible for our own safety.

Visiting restricted at Ysbyty Gwynedd due to rise in Covid, C-diff and norovirus cases
People will only be allowed in if 'absolutely necessary' as pressures increase on the health service

Health chiefs have restricted visitor access to a North Wales hospital with immediate effect, following a rise in infections. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health board (BCUHB) are restricting visiting on wards as it manages outbreaks at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

This is due to the current high incidence of patients with Clostridium difficile (C-diff), Covid-19 and norovirus being cared for. The decision to restrict access will not impact the guidelines already in place for maternity, paediatrics, cancer and neonatal services.

Entry to the hospital will now only be permitted if it is absolutely necessary as cases of infections continue to rise and more people are admitted to hospital, causing concern.

Read more https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/visiting-restricted-ysbyty-gwynedd-due-26431525?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Update on above....

VISITING continues to be restricted at Ysbyty Gwynedd due to rise in Clostridium difficile (C-diff), Covid-19 and Norovirus.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) took to Facebook on Thursday, March 16 to remind people visiting hospital sites across North Wales to follow visiting arrangements in place.

A statement said: "This is for the safety of our patients, visitors and staff."

 ?We understand that families and friends want to visit loved ones, but we need to put these actions in place to minimise the chances of any infections spreading.

?We do everything we can to prevent and control infection and these restrictions are necessary for us to continue to provide patients with the best possible care.    ref NW Chronicle

[SteveH]

I received an appointment for my 6th vaccine booster in early May...

[SteveH]

Key potential symptoms of new Arcturus Covid variant explained by doctor
The variant is spreading across the world and has new potential symptoms not seen in previous strains

A new Covid variant which is worrying scientists causes "more fever" compared with previous strains. The Arcturus variant is spreading across the world, and health officials have said it has symptoms not seen in previous strains.

Doctors say the strain's mutation makes it highly transmissible, reports the Mirror. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said: "It tends to produce more fever than some of the other strains we've seen."

Arcturus, which is a subvariant of Omicron, has fuelled a recent surge of Covid cases in India. Dr Schaffner continued: "But the most distinctive feature is that it seems to have a tendency to produce conjunctivitis, particularly in children."

Despite sometimes causing a worse fever, the strain doesn't cause more severe cases. Existing vaccines that work on Omicron also appear to work well against Acturus.

While levels have so far remained low in the UK, health officials are keeping a close eye on it. Reports from doctors in India have said they are seeing more children and adolescents with the variant presenting with conjunctivitis.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/key-potential-symptoms-new-arcturus-26812771

[SteveH]

Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a "global health emergency".

The statement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic and comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus.

Officials said the virus' death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April.

The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic.

'Great hope'
But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the true figure was "likely" closer to 20 million deaths - nearly three times the official estimate - and he warned that the virus remained a significant threat.

"Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency," Dr Tedros said.

He added that the decision had been considered carefully for some time and made on the basis of careful analysis of data.

But he warned the removal of the highest level of alert did not mean the danger was over and said the emergency status could be reinstated if the situation changed.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65499929

[SteveH]

MEPs and British MPs are concerned about the new WHO treaty

A video within a video, a very interesting debate on the future of Pandemic control, the argument is the World Health Organisation is controlled by China and large pharmaceutical companies, and would not be democratically controlled

Short video well worth watching  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bMjDCXYHtk

 

[Ian]

We have to be cautions when discussing Dr John Campbell. He's a nurse, not a Doctor, which his title suggests, and has been found to have spread damaging misinformation during the Covid pandemic, often resulting from his not reading reports correctly.

[SteveH]

We have to be cautions when discussing Dr John Campbell. He's a nurse, not a Doctor, which his title suggests, and has been found to have spread damaging misinformation during the Covid pandemic, often resulting from his not reading reports correctly.

I found him very helpful over the last few years, collecting stats from various sources, and all referenced, I did notice that with less stats available recently, he was giving more of his personal opinions, which of course he is entitled to, however the video within his last video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bMjDCXYHtk I thought was important, and recommended well worth watching.