Common myths about Covid - debunked [_link]

— The Guardian (@guardian) August 13, 2021

Rutte: Gradual end to social distancing in society; Most restrictions "hopefully" gone by Nov. 1 [_link]

— NL Times (@NL_Times) August 13, 2021

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds Briefing on COVID-19 Origin-Tracing for Diplomatic Envoys in China

On the morning of 13 August 2021, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chaired a briefing on COVID-19 origin-tracing for diplomatic envoys in China. Held both online and offline, the briefing was attended by more than 160 diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations in China. Professor Liang Wannian, team leader from the Chinese side of the China-WHO joint study team; Dr. Yuan Zhiming, Director of the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory; Academician Xu Jianguo from the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Deputy Director General Zhang Honggang from the Department of Major Science and Technology Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Deputy Director General Gu Jinhui from the Department of Science, Technology and Education of the National Health Commission spoke at the briefing.

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu pointed out that since the onset of COVID-19, acting on the vision of a global community of health for all, China has shared response experience with the international community in a timely manner, provided anti-COVID assistance to the world to the best of its ability, and taken the lead in conducting the largest scale global vaccine cooperation, thus making an outstanding contribution to global public health security. China has all along taken a scientific attitude as it engages in global cooperation on science-based origin-tracing. China invited WHO experts to China twice for origin-tracing research. In March this year, WHO officially released the Joint Report by the WHO-China joint study team, which provides the most authoritative, professional and science-based conclusions on origin-tracing and sets out detailed recommendations for future work in origin-tracing. Chinese experts also took the initiative to submit to WHO China's proposal on the second phase of origin-tracing.

Ma Zhaoxu pointed out that China's position on global origin-tracing is consistent and clear-cut. First, origin-tracing is a matter of science. It should be and can only be left to scientists to identify, through scientific research, the virus's zoonotic source and animal-human transmission routes. No country has the right to put its own political interests above people's lives, nor should a matter of science be politicized for the purpose of slandering and attacking other countries. Second, the findings and recommendations of the WHO-China joint study report are widely recognized by the international community and scientists, and must be respected and implemented by all parties, including WHO.

WHO Statement on advancing the next series of studies to find the origins of the #COVID19 virus: [_link]

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 12, 2021

Hospital Survey

The vaccination status of 320 of the 370 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital in the week from 12 July to 18 July, is known. Almost three quarters (74%) of the COVID-19 patients in the sample were unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. 15% of the patients had been fully vaccinated, but that includes the 5% who were known to have a weak immune system, for example due to an immune disorder or the use of medication that weakens the immune system. For 11% of the COVID-19 patients insufficient data was available.

Is catching Covid now better than more vaccine? | BBC News |

At this stage with 10-15% unvaccinated in the lower age group of the population, a legitimate question for science. Furthermore, have you been exposed to the SARS CoV-2 virus and have natural immunity, getting jabs of Moderna or Pfizer will cause more severe adverse effects that have not been studied. Is indeed worrisome.

The mutation that helps Delta spread like wildfire

'Sapere aude'

Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection

Substantial immune memory is generated after COVID-19, involving all four major types of immune memory. About 95% of subjects retained immune memory at ~6 months after infection. Circulating antibody titers were not predictive of T cell memory. Thus, simple serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies do not reflect the richness and durability of immune memory to SARS-CoV-2. This work expands our understanding of immune memory in humans. These results have implications for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and recurrent COVID-19.

Herd immunity and COVID-19 (coronavirus): What you need to know | Mayo Clinic |

A Path to Normality most likely scenario ...

Five reasons why COVID herd immunity is probably impossible | Nature - March 21, 2021 |

Most estimates had placed the threshold at 60-70% of the population gaining immunity, either through vaccinations or past exposure to the virus. But as the pandemic enters its second year, the thinking has begun to shift. In February, independent data scientist Youyang Gu changed the name of his popular COVID-19 forecasting model from `Path to Herd Immunity' to `Path to Normality'. He said that reaching a herd-immunity threshold was looking unlikely because of factors such as vaccine hesitancy, the emergence of new variants and the delayed arrival of vaccinations for children.

The Wuhan lab leak theory is more about politics than science | The Guardian |

News that the lab leak theory was being taken seriously by the new US administration triggered an onslaught from commentators, who have since alleged that the scientific establishment has been covering up for Chinese scientists' errors. Among these accusations was one from Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, who claimed that "some scientific journals absolutely refused to publish anything that disagreed with the Chinese view".

...
"Yes, the virus is spread by asymptomatic carriers and that is perfect for human transmission. So how does a natural virus like that come into existence? It is so good at infecting humans, after all. But it is not just a human virus. We find it in pangolins. It goes from humans to mink very easily and it has infected deer in the US. It isn't a human- adapted virus. It is what we call a generalist or promiscuous virus."

Intelligence Community Statement on Origins of COVID-19
 
Publication April 30, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today issued the following Intelligence Community (IC) statement:
 
"The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China. The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified."

Joe Biden on the Investigation into the Origins of COVID-⁠19 | May 26; 2021 |

Joe Biden tasks the Intelligence Community to prepare a report on their most up-to-date analysis of the origins of COVID-19, including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident.

After initial report earlier this month, he asked for additional follow-up.

US Republican Report: Coronavirus Leaked From Chinese Lab; Scientists Still Probing Origins | VOA - Aug. 3, 2021 |

Source reveals US intelligence tricks in making up 'virus origins' and next move of taming WHO | Global Times |

A new U.S. intelligence report failed to find conclusive evidence on the origins of Covid 19, highlighting the challenge of getting data from China, officials say [_link]

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 25, 2021

Wild goose chase for US Intelligence ... time to cut budget in half and divert funds on saving the planet focus.

To be continued ...

'Sapere aude'

Updated 🚦 maps are online!

These maps aim to support the @EUCouncil recommendation on travel measures in the EU during #COVID19 pandemic.

Color-blind friendly map in the next tweet.https://t.co/CcBVx6SBfD pic.twitter.com/ZvHlPmXOqw

— ECDC (@ECDC_EU) August 26, 2021

The anti-vaxxers in The Netherlands terrorize those who support vaccinations.

Dance Teacher: Death threats after imposing a vaccination requirement on his pupils

Coronavirus infections rising fast among 4-12 year old children [_link]

— NL Times (@NL_Times) August 31, 2021

Schools weigh vaccine and mask mandates as students prepare to return | CNBC - Aug. 7, 2021 |

Further reading ...

The Anti-vaccination Movement: A Regression in Modern Medicine | NIH Journal - July 2018 |

'Sapere aude'

South African scientists have detected a new coronavirus variant, C.1.2, with multiple mutations, but are yet to establish whether it is more contagious or able to overcome the immunity provided by vaccines or prior infection [_link] pic.twitter.com/jM4d3XvFAe

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 31, 2021

What is C.1.2, the new Covid variant in South Africa, and should we be worried?

'Sapere aude'

What can we learn from the course of COVID-19 in Africa? | Aug. 7, 2020 |

On August 7, the WHO reports more than 1 million recorded COVID-19 infections in Africa and calls it a turning point. Yet, the number of people who are sick or deceased on the continent is relatively low. How is that possible? In an article in Science, LUMC researchers and partners in Africa highlight the possible causes and add the hypothesis that the distinct wiring of the immune system might also be playing a role in the relatively low COVID-19 death rates in Africa.

According to the authors, many predicted a very dark scenario for Africa with millions of COVID-19 deaths as many countries on the continent grapple with poverty, poor health systems and unhygienic conditions. However, factors such as country lockdowns, bans on mass gatherings, young population age, and less diabetes and cardiovascular diseases probably contributed to the dampened COVID-19 death rates so far. 

Intense exposure to microorganisms

LUMC leading fellow Simon Jochems and Professor of Parasitology Maria Yazdanbakhsh, with their co-authors, write in Science that the more intense exposure to microorganisms and parasites might also play an important role in the reported low death rate per capita in Africa compared to many other parts of the world. This exposure leads to a distinct wiring of the immune system. Yazdanbakhsh: "We have shown together with our partners in low to middle income countries that the immune system of people living in less urban areas is very distinct. This is not just because of genetics, but more importantly due to environmental factors. Of note, the largest burden of disease of COVID-19 in Africa is found in South-Africa, the most developed country on the continent, accounting for over 50% of cases."

Previous research has shown that the immune system of someone living in the Netherlands is very distinct from a person with the same age and sex living in Senegal, Gabon or Indonesia. But more importantly, someone living in an urban area of these countries has even a more distinct immune system than a genetically similar person living in a rural area of the same country. "A distinct immune system will also mean a distinct response to SARS-CoV-2. For example, one of the immune cells in the lungs that leads to the cytokine storm, might be better regulated in Africans and therefore cause less havoc upon infection with SARS-CoV-2", explains Jochems, an expert in mucosal immunology and in particular of the airways.

Pandemics like #COVID19 highlight the need for a global response based on strengthened epidemic intelligence.

The 🆕 WHO Hub will generate:
✅ better data
✅ better analytics
✅ better decisions
across all aspects of managing public health emergencies.

👉 [_link] pic.twitter.com/6z3jbMybcW

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) September 1, 2021