SARS-CoV-2; CoVID-19; Coronavirus; Updates and Information

Here is an interesting paper in Nature on the conditions that promote the spread of the virus. It may be directly relevant to the things we need to keep in mind once TT clubs re-open.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2271-3_reference.pdf


Based on this, some of the places that are likely to be especially problematic are toilets and probably table surfaces, and any place people congregate. It can be mitigated by constant cleaning. So if you start playing again, and I know some of you will, keep this in mind. I would definitely NOT use the toilets at your club!

The bigger the room you play in the better. But bear in mind, as I have pointed out repeatedly, odds of infection are not just dependent on distance, they are also dependent on time that you spend in the general vicinity of someone shedding the virus because they are simply breathing. The danger comes from close contact with infected people and touching infected surfaces. With that said, the authors of the Nature paper cannot say for sure that the RNA they are detecting comes from active viruses, and as yet nobody knows the actual mean number of virus particles one would need to actually get sick. Still, this was interesting.

Not surprisingly based on this, you are far more likely to catch this thing in a closed (indoor) environment than an open one (18.7 more likely according to the pre-print linked below).

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.28.20029272v2

Sounds like the reinfection train is coming to a halt as Baal predicted...

https://www.businessinsider.com/cor...activated-cases-not-reinfected-experts-2020-4

Looks like people working for the WHO like elements of Sweden's approach:

https://nypost.com/2020/04/29/who-lauds-sweden-as-model-for-resisting-coronavirus-lockdown/

NextLevel said:

Sounds like the reinfection train is coming to a halt as Baal predicted...

https://www.businessinsider.com/cor...activated-cases-not-reinfected-experts-2020-4

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There are always surprises, but it would be a real shocker if infection with this virus didn't generate a sustained adaptive immune response in most healthy people. Probably not a lifetime guarantee, but should give some protection for a few months to a few years.

You can’t blame our authorities for not being creative.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52481096

Dr Evil said:

There are always surprises, but it would be a real shocker if infection with this virus didn't generate a sustained adaptive immune response in most healthy people. Probably not a lifetime guarantee, but should give some protection for a few months to a few years.

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Those with a little knowledge of immunology, and how PCR works, were not alarmed. But keep in mind Dr. Evil's caveat "most healthy people". There is such a thing as immune system senescence, and some people take drugs that hammer their immune systems, etc.

When some dude from the WHO started questioning if recovered people would have immune protection it pissed me off because the agency was already under attack (some legit, a lot not) and this really looked to me like the boy calling wolf.

Der_Echte said:

Baal, in the US Army, your level of proficiency of Power Point would get you the title of Power Point Ranger.

That is significant in that the Army Rangers, that special type of soldier is distinguished by wearing RANGER on a special tab on a certain part of the uniform.

Power Point Ranger is a very common Army term used to say that someone is very very good with PowerPoint.

It is common to say you have a PowerPoint tab

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

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I need one of those to put on my white lab coat. Which I never wear in the lab, ONLY to teach or to greet variius officials visiting my building.

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/29/847870532/what-the-u-s-might-learn-from-chinas-approach-to-covid-19

An interesting NPR interview with NYTimes health and science reporter McNeil. I wonder if the kind of healthy cert app he mentioned which is widely used in certain US industry will be adapted for COVID in the future.

BTW, the reporters of Western media know what happened in China from early on and they understand well what worked out in China. But they just don't want or cannot make their own people know and understand to save their own people's lives. So sad.

Everything gets turned into a political $hit$torm here, Rain. Even pharmacology, bizarre as it seems.

Actually not for the first time either. People of a certain age (old people) may remember the controversy over something called Laetrile in the 1970-80s, which at the time was a big cause in right wing circles (e.g. the John Birch Society, you may need to Wiki them, not sure they still exist in that name). This is in spite of the fact that all available evidence showed it had no anti-cancer activity at all and could cause cyanide poisoning, and the FDA banned it. And people claimed it infringed on their "freedom".

None of what is happening surprises me, even in the midst of a pandemic.

By the way, a certain president of a cerain western democracy that doesnt have a prime minister made anti-vax tweets in 2014. The people being appealed to are the modern equivalent of the Laetrile crowd of nearly a half century ago. And in fairness, it's not entirely right wing (then or now) but a lot is.

Pretty impressive, JBS in Texas!


https://www.politico.com/magazine/s...-alive-and-well-in-the-lone-star-state-215377
“We must teach our children their heritage,” Collins tells the crowd. “We’ve slowly forgotten our principles.” But there is a powerful reason to rejoice, Collins adds, a reason for renewed optimism: God has sent America a new, powerful leader. He’s a good man, a moral man. God has delivered Donald J. Trump to save the United States of America.

Baal said:

Everything gets turned into a political $hit$torm here, Rain. Even pharmacology, bizarre as it seems.

Actually not for the first time either. People of a certain age (old people) may remember the controversy over something called Laetrile in the 1970-80s, which at the time was a big cause in right wing circles (e.g. the John Birch Society, you may need to Wiki them, not sure they still exist in that name). This is in spite of the fact that all available evidence showed it had no anti-cancer activity at all and could cause cyanide poisoning, and the FDA banned it. And people claimed it infringed on their "freedom".

None of what is happening surprises me, even in the midst of a pandemic.

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Note to self. Do not make a comment on Table Tennis Daily about the porking of porn stars. Don't do it. Resist the overwhelming temptation. Carl won't like. Resist it.... Don't type it. No!! No!! Carl, help me!!! Aaaaargh!!!!!

This is what it feels like to healthcare workers when you push to open too soon, don't provide PPE, cant test people, refuse to wear a mask because it is inconvenient, or go to a packed church service.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...vDJ090FR6cgTA-VWtA&vet=1&docid=4RuhqTK3-qOJpM

I have found all your inputs and opinions very helpful. I am glad to be part of this forum. Here is a kinda lengthy 44 minute video. Where they interview one of the Worlds leading Vaccine Expert on the corona virus vaccine. My simple minded brain could understand it very well. Thanks and i hope the video is somewhat helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cYWd0N8nO4

It really is a good video. I highly recommend. Thanks 42.

https://www.ittf.com/2020/05/02/ittf-executive-committee-may-update-covid-19/

Looks like ITTF have written off May, June & July. Hopes of possible return in August, will have to wait and see

The first two scheduled world tour tornaments in August/September would be this:

Czech Open, Olomouc: 25 – 30 August, First Stage 25 – 26 August
ASAREL Bulgaria Open, Panagyurishte: 1 – 6 September, First Stage 1 – 2 September

The difficulty is that such a world tour tournament usually involves players from many countries all over the world and it remains to be seen if chinese, japanese etc. players are able to travel into european countries.

mrk said:

The first two scheduled world tour tornaments in August/September would be this:

Czech Open, Olomouc: 25 – 30 August, First Stage 25 – 26 August
ASAREL Bulgaria Open, Panagyurishte: 1 – 6 September, First Stage 1 – 2 September

The difficulty is that such a world tour tournament usually involves players from many countries all over the world and it remains to be seen if chinese, japanese etc. players are able to travel into european countries.

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Europe & United States seems most unstable, id think worst places right now to visit

Would be nice to see Table Tennis start up again but think we are still a while away from anything commencing. Don't think too many countries like the idea of having events on and athletes travelling abroad and returning and risk infecting locals.

I think only way right now these things can work if there is a centralised hub with no fans and no travelling, but not sure events like TT can work like that as they rely on events being globally. Im in Australia where they want to do that with our local football league, limits risk of infection as it's a hub, but doubt its feasible for ITTF.

The interviewee in this video argues that if the coronavirus had been left to spread in America, it was more likely to have killed 200K people in total than the 2 million people predicted by Ferguson and the Imperial College. He is worth listening to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl-sZdfLcEk&

NextLevel said:

The interviewee in this video argues that if the coronavirus had been left to spread in America, it was more likely to have killed 200K people in total than the 2 million people predicted by Ferguson and the Imperial College. He is worth listening to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl-sZdfLcEk&

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The fact that we are at 65,000 now (actually more) even with steps taken (especially in California) makes that argument ring strongly false to me, but in any case what's the point? 200,000 is supposed to be an acceptable number?

Baal said:

The fact that we are at 65,000 now (actually more) even with steps taken (especially in California) makes that argument ring strongly false to me, but in any case what's the point? 200,000 is supposed to be an acceptable number?

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What with underreporting and all, Florida withholding data on Covid-19 fatalities, lukewarm embrace of social distancing at best in many places, and political pressure towards resumption of ‘normal life’ prior to even reaching the peak let alone riding out the long tail — well, that gruesome figure of 200.000 would seem rather optimistic to me.

Seeing https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/28/us/coronavirus-death-toll-total.html makes me guesstimate the total number in excess of 100.000 already, and the trends in infection/hospitalisation rates lead me believe the US is at best in the "end of the beginning phase", and not even close to the "beginning of the end" phase. Many more will follow.

Pretty much the same story holds for my local situation. In everyday life, many people seem to instinctively understand social distance as a penance for pas sins, and seem to feel that when they have done enough of that are entitled to resume normal life (consequences schmoncequences). The spin on what we're doing has it we're in ‘intelligent lockdown’. I don't think we're that much in lockdown, and I think even less of the ‘intelligent’ part of that phrase.