Is Herd Immunity without Vaccine the Worst Strategy? - Virus 9

Herd Immunity to halt diseases spreading

(credit to USA Today).

Originally, Herd Immunity is an idea to stop spreading infection from human to human by vaccinations.

It is proved that if 70% to 90% of people injected by vaccine, the herd immunity is achieved to contain following diseases, just for some examples:

- chickenpox

- mumps

- polio

- measles

In respect to SARS-CoV-2 virus which responsible to COVID-19 pandemic, we do not have vaccine yet. So, how do we reach herd immunity?

Previously, one America bio statistician, then followed by some British scientists to propose to let at least 60% population exposes to virus.

It is mean, just for illustration purposes that number of people infected to virus will be:

- 60% x 68 million = 40.8 million in the United Kingdom

- 60% x 328 million = 197 million in the USA

Wild flower in the yard. Illustration only.

Let’s say fatality rate was 2.3%, the dead toll is going to unbelievable number:

- 938,400 people dead in the UK

- 4.5 million people dead in the USA

Thus, the idea to have “herd immunity” without vaccine is not only very bad idea, but also crazy or insane.

Physical distance or lock down seems work well in several countries. 

The countries that are able to at least “reduce” spreading of virus by this method include Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.

We hope that other countries replicate the success of these nations, and Covid-19 disappears soon.

Did you Go to Groceries During Self Quarantine Periods? - Virus 8

Sign to keep distance for 6 feet apart

We are in the order of “self quarantine” or stay at home almost in the 6^th week in the USA (varied state by state).

Off course, we went outside for very important purposes, include to buy food from groceries and refill medicines from drug stores.

We went to the grocery three times only. At the first and second visits, we found crowd but hardly found the following items:

- hand sanitizers

- flour and baking yeasts

- canned foods

- soaps

- disinfectant

- toilet papers

- supplements (vitamin and minerals)

Empty buyers, but many items to buy.

It was might be due to panic buying and eagerness to stockpiles as many products as possible.

Third shopping was in the fifth week of stay at home order. Surprisingly, we found almost empty store, no shoppers outside and inside the grocery.

Luckily, the products sold are quite normal in term of quantity and variety, and we could easily spot the products in the our list. 

Fruit and vegetable.

We read from several mainstream medias, some favorites items in the recent weeks are:

- entertainments relate items include puzzles and games

- beard trimmers

- hair clippers

- hair color

We just focus on normal daily need such as food, fruit and vegetable. Yes, we are adding our list to Covid-19 protection relate items.

How about you? Did yo go shopping during stay at home periods? 

The Fastest Test for Covid-19 with 5 Minutes Result - Virus 7

T he new fastest test PCR machine based technology

(credit to Abbott)

We talked about one of test kits at previous post: Is there Affordable Kit to Detect Corona Virus? - Virus 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Now, one of giant American health care companies, Abbot Laboratories developed new test devices called “ID Now Covid-19” for detection of Covid-19 infection.

The device is based on “real-time (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.” The technology is widely used for nucleic acids detection from virus.

Actually, two approaches to detect Covid-19:

- immuno-assays, test by detecting protein which is contained by virus

- moleculer (nucleic acid) tests to recognize genetic code of virus.

The “ID Now Covid-19” test is a machine with technology of nucleic acids to detect virus genetic code, especially for SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The size is quite small, like toaster with weight of 6.6 pound (3 kg). Since it is small size and portable, then, every physician offices may have one in the near future.

Sample from nasal or throat passages

The simple procedures are following:

- A sample from passages of throat or nasal

- A sample then inserted into Abbot “ID Now Covid-19” test machine

- wait for several minutes.

The accuracy of test is higher compared to previous machines. Result may be known for several minutes:

- 5 minutes for a positive test

- 15 minutes for a negative test.

Hope, this kind of machine could provide the tests for who needs, not only in the USA but also all over the world.

Previous posts related to virus:

- How to Know Someone Infected by Wuhan Virus? - Virus 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Older, Men and Preexisting conditions are Vulnerable to Covid-19 – Virus 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update