Novel Corona Virus Pandemic, Covid-19

This New Corona Virus originated in Wuhan city c. 31 December 2019. The virus was isolated, identified as SARS-Cov-2 and is related to SARS of 2002 but less contagious and notified worldwide unlike the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2002. The number of deaths from Covid-19 reached c.4,300,000 with c. 187 million cases worldwide by July 12, ensures a 4.34% mortality rate. Covid-19 is in every continent except Antarctica. A more refined test for Covid-19 resulted in a sharp increase in deaths. Western countries evacuated their citizens from Wuhan. Treatment primarily depends on isolating the infected patient which required China to build 2x 1,000 bed hospitals within two weeks. New Corona Virus may have originated c. December 8 2019 according to a Chinese Doctor, since deceased. Was Covid-19 released from the Centre for Disease Control Wuhan/a laboratory/a morgue?

A worldwide medical emergency for Covid-19 was declared January 31, 2020. Covid-19 is present in all Chinese provinces with probably millions infected and person to person transmission a factor. The elderly and those with underlying conditions are at risk from Covid-19. Irresponsible people spread this infection with a non-caring attitude. China is managing Covid-19 quite well April 2020 or so we are led to believe.

Covid-19 causes viral pneumonia, those infected develop a cough, fever and breathing difficulties, essentially viral pneumonia. Goblet cells and cilia cells in the lungs are targeted by the virus and cannot clear the airways resulting in congested lungs and death. Hospital admissions secure breathing support and fluids. Recovery depends on the strength of the patient's immune system. The Chinese New Year, the year of the Rat, ensured airports were a focus for the spread of the virus worldwide. Globalisation is the cause of Covid-19 spreading.

The total amount of people in China infected with Covid-19 is unknown because hundreds of people with pneumonia symptoms were turned away from hospitals due to a lack of hospital beds. The wildlife market where the first victims were infected was located beside the high speed railway station where trains leave for Hong Kong and cities throughout China. A travel ban and lock down of populations were imposed and arrested the spread of Covid-19. The transmission of Covid-19 has a person to person element with carriers without symptoms infecting millions of people.

This is an entirely new respiratory virus about which very little is known. The doubling effect due to the 12 day incubation period has become apparent. The panic and hysteria is difficult to deal with. The Tokyo Olympics are deferred until 2021. A pandemic describes Covid-19 appearing in many countries without direct contact.

The former US president banned all EU travel to the US, this unilateral ban without consultation undermined the stock markets. The former US president threatened funding for WHO - thereby encouraging other countries to donate and so isolating the former US president, whose daily spectacle of embracing fantasies, deceits and absurdities of the most pernicious kind, in contradiction of any evidence confirms his unhinged state of mind.

8 million deaths from MDR Tuberculosis and 2 million deaths from Malaria and unknown numbers dying from HIV-Aids annually confirms there are no vaccines for these diseases and place Covid-19 into perspective. SARS, MERS, MDR Tuberculosis and a recent Hanta Virus outbreak in China from rats reminds us that the world will continue without us.

The Irish Dept of Health reported a further 576 cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, July 11, 2021. Hopefully, by the end of August, 80% of the adult population over 18 will be vaccinated, thereby halting the spread of the virus in the community

with a significant number of those mild or even asymptomatic cases.

Currently the manufacturers of vaccines are testing new versions of the vaccines that are designed specifically to protect against the Delta variant.

The common sense approach was that indoor event in the workplace, when people are not wearing a mask and not keeping your distance then it is conductive to the spread of the virus that is scientifically proven. That is factually correct.

The continued degradation of the environment releases viruses causing pandemics with Ebola in 2013-16, SARS, in 2002, MERS, Avian influenza appearing in rapid succession and now Covid-19.

How we remember the pandemic will depend on how it ends. The 1918 flu pandemic was largely written out of the history of the 20th century, relegated to a footnote in the story of the World War I with 100 million dead. The scale of Covid-19, the technologies at modern man's disposal,is the most extensively chronicled crisis in human history.

There will be mass resignations from current work practices because people working from home now know that a presence in offices is not necessary and the horrendous 2 hour commute futile. The top down hierarchy of management again superfluous with office bullying readily exposed.

China’s suppression of the virus with strict lock-down procedures, publication worldwide of the viral genome, yet the strict surveillance of the Chinese population and preventing queries by the WHO on the origins of the virus confirms the secrecy of the Chinese bureaucracy.

Technology allows people to work from home in front of their screens. The pandemic finished the careers of incompetent autocratic democrats. EU governments limited exports of food and medical products, sealed borders and introduced restrictive powers over people’s lives.

Following the 2008 financial crisis the shock was supposed to spark rethink of the market economy, instead most governments cut their spending on public services, the world that emerged in 2018 on looked reassuringly familiar.

Plus ca change, plus la meme chose!

Source:- Coronavirus; que sait-on de L'épidémie? le Monde Jeudi 27 Fevrier

The AY.4.2 variant of the Covid-19 virus was discovered at the National Virus Reference Laboratory in June 2021.

This variant is more contagious than the highly infectious Delta variant. The more transmissible then the more problematic for the HSE. It is now known as Delta Plus yet there is no evidence that is more resistant to vaccines or that it may make people more unwell. The new normal of ‘living with Covid-19’ easing restrictions, drinking and night clubbing so contravenes medical science that it is nonsensical and will overwhelm the HSE. The National Public Health Emergency Team forecast 200 patients in ICU and 3000 cases per day by November 30, 2021. Despite 92.4% vaccinated 60% of patients in ICU are un-vaccinated.

The return to work in September 2021 along with increased international travel is the cause of the increase in Covid-19 cases. The virus follows the crowd encouraged by increased socialisation, everyone is responsible for this, there is no excuse. The 2,400 cases of one day will become the ICU patients of the future.

There should be a three stage qualification to socialise indoors namely: vaccinated, recovered or tested along with masks, hand washing and distancing. Dancing in a nightclub wearing a mask? A winter indoors simply increases the risk of spread of Covid-19 by at least twenty times.

Public health guidelines: mask wearing, staying home if symptoms are obvious, use antigen testing more widely to catch infections and limit spread. Follow the science.

Paul Dunne B.A.Mod. (Microbiology), H.Dip Ed,. M.A. (Immunology)