April 2020
In a past life I worked in medical research and even have co-authored papers on RT-PCR techniques that are now being used to test for the Coronavirus. I am NOT an expert in virology or epidemiology, but I am skilled at discerning poorly written click-bait from serious medical findings. I have assembled a few useful links to understanding the virus as this story unfolds.
I’ll start off with a thread I wrote about why Melbourne is so important to both the international response to create a vaccine, and the national response to provide quality testing for clinicians.
I need to do a quick shout out to the folks in Melbourne laboratories who are working hard to save a lot of lives.
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 10, 2020
A thread. /1 https://t.co/7wYDYscRck
Social distancing works. We are all #InThisTogetherOhio. https://t.co/jU4ZAkm3Py pic.twitter.com/uKJtfi4cuP
— Ohio Dept of Health (@OHdeptofhealth) April 9, 2020
At first glance it looks like Rona is reactivating in patients, but it turns out the explanation might simply be false negatives in the testing regime.
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 8, 2020
For now try not to worry about the 2020 ZombieRona Pandemic and just #StayHome. pic.twitter.com/Vkt5MytaUr
This is one of the best explainers I've read on how infection proceeds, and how our bodies respond. Note the time frames, they are absolutely critical.
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 2, 2020
source:https://t.co/6TrZUgm5kl pic.twitter.com/Y8l9v1IfnS
The debate and confusion about masks for #COVID19 just got some real and important data from a rigorous randomized trial in patients with coronavirus (and influenza). They work.https://t.co/oW8UAAuALL @NatureMedicine pic.twitter.com/YDvsTSPbpE
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) April 3, 2020
Noting that the population of Sweden is less than half of Australia and almost twice that of Norway.https://t.co/u8rmnqzu54
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 8, 2020
This is really something, a short piece on how Taiwan got on top of Rona and what lessons they learned from SARS.https://t.co/x6fp26kxk7 pic.twitter.com/xyLBt6pjwP
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 2, 2020
This drone footage captures NYC workers burying bodies in a mass grave on Hart Island, just off the coast of the Bronx. For over a century, the island has served as a potter’s field for deceased with no known next of kin or families unable to pay for funerals. pic.twitter.com/wBVIGlX6aK
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 9, 2020
The first confirmed coronavirus case in New York was a woman who flew into JFK in February and tested positive March 1. The next day, Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio promised investigators would track down every person on her flight.
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 9, 2020
No one ever did.https://t.co/BneiLbaN0R
"Don't politicize this crisis" is Trump-speak for "Don't remember what happened or who did it." https://t.co/asoDLxQVTh
— David Frum (@davidfrum) April 8, 2020
Fascinating stuff here. Genomic detectives are beginning to piece together the geography and chronology of COVIDs spread to the US. Lack of testing left the country blind to the spread. NYC's epidemic came not from China but from Europe. https://t.co/NUinr3dYtO
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 9, 2020
Vaccine technology is complex. It demands funding (hint hint) and clinical trials will be difficult if we don't act fast. There is a window of opportunity in play and a lot of talented people are in the race.
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 8, 2020
Very good read in the subject here:https://t.co/Wle7ToznU5
COVID-19 is a pathogen but it’s also a diagnostic test being run on America’s health insurance system. The results are coming in and they aren’t good. We need immediate, emergency #insurancereform. For example, covid will give millions of healthy people a taste of…
— Peter Kolchinsky (@PeterKolchinsky) March 31, 2020
A discussion of cytokine storm. The Coronavirus Patients Betrayed by Their Own Immune Systems https://t.co/tif8JdKi63
— Prof. Peter Doherty (@ProfPCDoherty) April 6, 2020
It helps having a thread like this handy. Reduces the anxiety a little to remember that a good number of Ronis will stay at home and get better. https://t.co/DdkSiRJ28O
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 5, 2020
While video of a forklift hoisting a body into a refrigerated trailer outside a Brooklyn hospital was being widely shared last week, inside, doctors were racing between patients — including some of their own colleagues — to keep them breathing.https://t.co/EsdIREcBY4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 4, 2020
It’s much better to be safe, than sorry! pic.twitter.com/Z05qIqsTSr
— Bethany Williams (@BethanyinCBR) April 5, 2020
NSW Health: "At the Rose of Sharon childcare centre in Blacktown there are now 7 confirmed cases in staff, 6 confirmed cases in children, and 12 secondary cases (11 household contacts and 1 friend). The centre is closed." #coronavirus https://t.co/QnU4pdGAdX
— Brenden Wood (@BrendenWood) April 4, 2020
How do people end up so self-centred and irresponsible? What kind of cancer do we have in our society to reach this point?
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 4, 2020
#COVID19au “..big mistake in U.S. & Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren’t wearing masks…transmitted by droplets and close contact…you’ve got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth”. #covid19au https://t.co/CSjIdMb25p
— MJA Editor in Chief (@MJA_Editor) April 4, 2020
As the US disaster unfolds. Having lived there for many years and been part of the medical research community, I never thought I would see anything like this.Inside the coronavirus testing failure: Alarm and dismay among the scientists who sought to help https://t.co/M69zfL0QT3
— Prof. Peter Doherty (@ProfPCDoherty) April 4, 2020
35 days ago, Trump mocked the coronavirus as a hoax at a campaign rally, and now we need 200,000 extra body bags.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) April 3, 2020
Pretty wild update today at NYT. Finishes with a link on how to make your own face mask.https://t.co/TYT2FFr9VI
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 4, 2020
"Only around a fifth of India’s deaths are actually certified and recorded."https://t.co/zTYsFI5PcF
— Ewen Bell (@ewster) April 4, 2020
Much better analysis of movement data. "Location Data Says It All: Staying at Home During Coronavirus Is a Luxury" https://t.co/XazLui2NXa
— Gregg Gonsalves (@gregggonsalves) April 3, 2020
Today's episode of "There is no evidence that the other countries in lockdown are doing better than us in Sweden". If only we could test that statement. Oh wait #CoronaVirusSverige #coronavirussweden #COVID19 SWE 687; DK 218; NO 80 data at https://t.co/b0p8d0Iewv pic.twitter.com/p0BCgJRQpy
— Marco Valente (@eccemarco) April 9, 2020
What Say You?