More on the virus

Here is a perspective on Herd Immunity and a possible road forward by Martin Kulldorff who is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He studies infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety. The schools in Sweden have been kept open and the mortality amongst school kids has been zero, the emphasis is to protect the 60+ population and restrict their exposure to the virus whereas the rest of the population continues with their lives whilst continuing to observe common sense precautions.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/herd-immunity-is-still-key-in-the-fight-against-covid-19

However, there are troublesome numbers, deaths from Covid in Mexico is almost 11% of the confirmed cases, there is enough sunlight to ensure that everybody has sufficient Vit D and the Mexico age distribution is 26% 0-14 yrs; 66% 15-64 yrs; and 7.4% 65+ years. Nationally Covid cases peak in a range 25-59 yrs. I could not find the deaths sorted according to age group. It is troubling that Mexico with a relatively young population has been hit so hard with deaths.

Here's another article on Sweden which paints not such a rosy picture...
https://ca.yahoo.com/news/swedens-no-lockdown-strategy-beginning-072000738.html

Mexico has an enormous problem with obesity and diabetes. Those two could be factors in the increase in mortality. On the other hand, Mexico is not doing such a great job of testing and reporting so the mortality rate may be severely skewed.

We can speculate until the cows come home but it's going to take time and a lot more observation and data to finally conclude what worked and what didn't.
In the meantime, stay safe.

Even if they aren't obese or have diabetes, the average Mexican doesn't have a great diet. Sure, they eat real food like tortillas and beans and rice and meat, but they don't eat a lot of fresh greens and they consume a lot of junk food and drink a ton of Coke.

Oaxaca just passed a law prohibiting sales of junk food and pop to under-18s.

And then there's Italy's story where early lockdown worked...and they are still abiding by rules set in place early.

https://us.cnn.com/2020/08/09/europe/italy-coronavirus-return-normal-intl/index.html

Supposed stats for Saturday, August, 8th, 2020...

Supposed stats for Sunday, August 9th, 2020...

Weird and Wonderful...

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/4-surprising-reasons-scientists-think-163828168.html

All this may indicate that we’re closer to reaching herd immunity than we think.

Supposed stats for Monday, August 10th, 2020...

Latest developments...
https://us.cnn.com/2020/08/11/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html

This from the Chapala Expat Liaison, Hector.

"We are at 54 official cases of Covid in the Chapala Municipality. What more can I say. Please keep safe! Your friend Hector Espana"

What more could he say?
He could say how many have recovered and how many are currently active.

The US just hit almost 102,000 new cases in 24 hours.

Supposed stats for Tuesday, August 11th, 2020...

THIS is absolutely amazing tech to prevent infection. A nose spray. Read on...

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/08/418241/aeronabs-promise-powerful-inhalable-protection-against-covid-19

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/26846/20200812/aeronabs-novel-protection-against-covid.htm

Anyone remember the old saying "Bag that bugger"?

I am more impressed by the spray in the above post because it's a do it yourself preventative measure that will be available over the counter.

In the meantime, antibodies are also underway...
https://ca.yahoo.com/news/companies-test-antibody-drugs-treat-122635896.html

These are for when you get the virus but must be administered via an IV.

Good news!
https://news.yahoo.com/argentina-mexico-produce-astrazeneca-covid-011621853.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueWFob28uY29tLz9ndWNjb3VudGVyPTE&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADU2uUI0YXsoj6kFMZp_pCKtvyuGMf4RXcpyUfFJFP_GufxrWAEKzWLMS3gAzTsJmaf2hkN8uH_XQrBfrguY4-tQUDC_vQ-R59RimDEL1qU-w3MBNHBzl1jtrp2igOgSlwbryDAnC3uoBy-8qg5jOqO5Am5VGcCzYpwWa3yo0Jfm

Supposed stats for Wednesday, August 12th, 2020...

This is why people with autoimmune diseases need to be extra careful NOT to get Covid-19...

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L20-0845

These patients did not have previous history of autoimmune disease.
“Objective: To describe 3 patients without previous neurologic or autoimmune disorders who were diagnosed with myasthenia gravis after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

From the comments... and this makes sense to me because that's a mighty fast response.

I come from a large family, over 100 cousins, aunts and uncles, and there were at least 4 with autoimmune problems (lupus, MS, goodpasture, and I had thrombocytopenia). I wonder if that is statistically high and if I have additional reason to worry.

But I thought some of the meds taken for those conditions were good at fighting covid. Like cortisone/steroids, anti-inflammatory, etc.

Autoimmune Symptoms appeared 5-7 days after fever onset.  Nothing is mentioned as to what medical intervention took place before and at what time periods.
This is why something needs to be done ASAP after covid symptoms appear.

To answer your question CBob... some autoimmune diseases are on going and require the intervention of meds.
In the case of Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, the entire population of Hypocretin/Orexin neurons are wiped out. That was the target of the response and when they're gone, they're gone and you just live with the results.
However, I really don't want my faulty immune system to possibly screw up again so I am not taking any chances.

Supposed stats for Thursday, August 13th, 2020...