Coronavirus thread

[prémont]

I agree that the quick test allowance represents a loosening up of demands, but I disagree that it reduces the effect to almost nothing.

The Statens Serum Institut Copenhagen has just published a study which shows that 47% of the quick tests made in Denmark are false negative. This may well be the same elsewhere. I have to say, that I expected somthing like this.

[Harry]

In the Northern provinces they halted the Zeneca vaccin, because they expect a lot of people to refuse this serum because of sudden unexpected deaths.. And since they do not want to throw it away, it probably means it will stop totally in the Netherlands. Zeneca has become more of a scare for people instead of a cure. Well the GP's will probably go on with it, so there is a small chance I get it.

[Holden]

The Statens Serum Institut Copenhagen has just published a study which shows that 47% of the quick tests made in Denmark are false negative. This may well be the same elsewhere. I have to say, that I expected somthing like this.

Would I be correct in assuming that what you're saying is that there are a lot more cases of Covid19 out in the community than those reported? If so I agree with you and if it is the case it puts this pandemic into an entirely new perspective. A research study last year from one of the NSW universities suggested exactly this. The only difference is that they put the undetected cases up as high as 70 - 80 per cent. I don't know if that study was followed up on.

[MusicTurner]

The Statens Serum Institut Copenhagen has just published a study which shows that 47% of the quick tests made in Denmark are false negative. This may well be the same elsewhere. I have to say, that I expected somthing like this.

If it's true, it's ridiculously late to find that out, of course. Those suggestions were out very long ago, but then refused. However, there's been mentioning that the result might be influenced by the unprofessional testing staff, skipping thorough procedures, they're mostly students from other sectors. But the defense for putting a lot of trust in those tests is weakened by this study, obviously.

Still, even reducing the number of infected in an environment by more than a half is an improvement.

[Mandryka]

If it's true, it's ridiculously late to find that out, of course. Those suggestions were out very long ago, but then refused. However, there's been mentioning that the result might be influenced by the unprofessional testing staff, skipping thorough procedures, they're mostly students from other sectors. But the defense for putting a lot of trust in those tests is weakened by this study, obviously.

Still, even reducing the number of infected in an environment by more than a half is an improvement.

There was a study in the Uk showing that the false negative rate was much lower if the test was given by a trained person. The false negatives are obviously very serious though because they lull people into a false sense of security.

[MusicTurner]

There was a study in the Uk showing that the false negative rate was much lower if the test was given by a trained person. The false negatives are obviously very serious though because they lull people into a false sense of security.

I don't think that study was mentioned in the DK reporting. Interesting, since it would mean that there's room for improvement.

[prémont]

Would I be correct in assuming that what you're saying is that there are a lot more cases of Covid19 out in the community than those reported? If so I agree with you and if it is the case it puts this pandemic into an entirely new perspective. A research study last year from one of the NSW universities suggested exactly this. The only difference is that they put the undetected cases up as high as 70 - 80 per cent. I don't know if that study was followed up on.

Yes, and other than the false negative tests you also have to add those who never get a test, because they don't have symptoms. So 70-80 % undetected all in all sounds very reasonable.

[prémont]

I don't think that study was mentioned in the DK reporting. Interesting, since it would mean that there's room for improvement.

Whatever the cause of the many false negative tests it doesn't change the fact that they are present here and now.

Short resumé of the study:

THE INVESTIGATION
From February 1 to March 23, 117,670 citizens received both a PCR test and an antigen test within 48 hours.

According to the PCR test, 4,069 of them were positive.

However, the antigen test captured only 2,159 of them.

This meant that 1,910 people received a negative test result, even though coronavirus could be detected in the throat.

Source: Statens Serum Institut

[Mandryka]

Whatever the cause of the many false negative tests it doesn't change the fact that they are present here and now.

Short resumé of the study:

THE INVESTIGATION
From February 1 to March 23, 117,670 citizens received both a PCR test and an antigen test within 48 hours.

According to the PCR test, 4,069 of them were positive.

However, the antigen test captured only 2,159 of them.

This meant that 1,910 people received a negative test result, even though coronavirus could be detected in the throat.

Source: Statens Serum Institut

One extraordinary thing is that in January these tests were permitted by the French government as a passport to enter France from the UK. You only needed to show a recent negative. This was immediately after the discovery of the British Variant. I was shocked! I think I even posted something about it here.

Astonished to find today that the Biotime Innova test is allowed as a passport for people in the UK to enter France. Why am I astonished? Because mass testing trials in Liverpool found that that particular test has a false negative rate of about 60%. I just feel as though the world's going mad.

https://uk.ambafrance.org/List-of-antigen-tests-authorized-for-entry-to-France-from-UK-29434

https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2020/12/23/covid-19-liverpool-community-testing-pilot-interim-findings-published/

To which Que rather perceptively responded

I'm afraid it is not just a feeling! 

It may have been inevitable that Europe would experience a wave because of this variant, but it was extraordinary that they didn't make a more serious effort to slow it down, especially with vaccines on the horizon. I know I'm an outsider looking in and I probably shouldn't comment, but this and France's subsequent complacency vis-a-vis the British Variant have been really reprehensible IMO.   I haven't been following what's been going on in other European countries.

[MusicTurner]

They've begun testing the Danish 'Pentabase' test among members of the public here in DK now. Allegedly as good as PCR, but just based on your spit in a small container.

Interesting and easier, if it works, but it still has to go to a lab for the result.

[Holden]

They've begun testing the Danish 'Pentabase' test among members of the public here in DK now. Allegedly as good as PCR, but just based on your spit in a small container.

Interesting and easier, if it works, but it still has to go to a lab for the result.

I saw somewhere where dogs had been trained to sniff out COVID in people who had it. 95% accuracy apparently

[MusicTurner]

I saw somewhere where dogs had been trained to sniff out COVID in people who had it. 95% accuracy apparently

Yes, they use it in airports and other places, in some countries. Never introduced in my own, though. You'd need a massive number of dogs to use them more broadly, of course.

[Harry]

A dreary Monday morning, winds from the North Pole, 5 Beaufort, wet snow, hail, extremely cloudy, and in exactly 30 minutes I get my Zeneca jab, how bizar is this setting.
O, well bottoms up I guess.

[Que]

A dreary Monday morning, winds from the North Pole, 5 Beaufort, wet snow, hail, extremely cloudy, and in exactly 30 minutes I get my Zeneca jab, how bizar is this setting.
O, well bottoms up I guess.

Good job/jab! 

[MusicTurner]

A dreary Monday morning, winds from the North Pole, 5 Beaufort, wet snow, hail, extremely cloudy, and in exactly 30 minutes I get my Zeneca jab, how bizar is this setting.
O, well bottoms up I guess.

Congratulations!

[Harry]

Good job/jab! 

That made me laugh, thanks Que.
Everyone that made an appearance in the health center was clearly motivated to get this vaccin.
Although there was a deranged woman, who loudly proclaimed we would all die, and that a chip would be injected too.
She was removed from the center.

[Harry]

Congratulations!

Thank you, now hopefully the side effects will be minimal.

[Que]

That made me laugh, thanks Que.
Everyone that made an appearance in the health center was clearly motivated to get this vaccin.
Although there was a deranged woman, who loudly proclaimed we would all die, and that a chip would be injected too.
She was removed from the center.

The chip is from Microsoft so they can monitor you.... 

And since we are members of this forum, we'll probably all get one! 

[Harry]

The chip is from Microsoft so they can monitor you.... 

And since we are members of this forum, we'll probably all get one! 

[DavidW]

My side effects only lasted a couple days.  It was a rough time but soon over.  In roughly a week and a half I'll be fully vaccinated.