Wednesday - March 18, 2020

And We Have A Cure?

Breaking News, Kind Of

Claim: Plaquenil and Z-Pack Cures COVID-19 100% In 6 Days

Study done via NIH, released a couple days ago finds that hydroxycholorquine much more effective in vitro than choloroquine:

According to the study, the researchers tested the pharmacological activity of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine using SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells. They then implemented physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK) for both drugs separately by integrating their in vitro data. Using the PBPK models, hydroxychloroquine concentrations in lung fluid were simulated under 5 different dosing regimens to explore the most effective regimen whilst considering the drug’s safety profile.

Based on PBPK models results, a loading dose of 400 mg twice daily of hydroxychloroquine sulfate given orally, followed by a maintenance dose of 200 mg given twice daily for 4 days is recommended for SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it reached three times the potency of chloroquine phosphate when given 500 mg twice daily 5 days in advance.

[ Splitting hairs here. It turns out that the “coronavirus” we’re all going crazy about not only is just one of thousands of coronaviruses, but it is also a variation of the SARS virus. Specifically, the disease is the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and COVID-19 is the illness/symptoms created by the virus. For all of us normies, the terms are interchangeable. ]

Meanwhile in France ... a preliminary?? study of 40 patients ... (although the Chinese, South Koreans etc have been using this for awhile)

BREAKING: New controlled clinical study conducted by doctors ​in France shows that Hydroxychloroquine cures 100% of coronavirus patients within 6 days of treatment

a recent well controlled clinical study conducted by Didier Raoult​ M.D/Ph.D, et. al in France showed that 100% of patients that received a combination of HCQ and Azithromycin tested negative and were virologically cured within 6 days of treatment.

In addition, recent guidelines from South Korea and China report that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are effective antiviral therapeutic treatments for novel coronavirus.

A therapeutic agent that prevents infection with novel coronavirus is highly desirable–especially for persons with high-risk exposure (e.g healthcare professionals) as well as persons with comorbidities (heart disease, diabetes, etc) and compromised immune systems. Ground-breaking in vitro studies demonstrate potential efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic for novel coronavirus infection in primate cells.

Note: Hydroxychloroquine (brand name Plaquenil) is an inexpensive, globally available drug (tablet) that was approved for widespread medical use since 1955. It is commonly used today to treat malaria, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The study is part of the initiative from an independent group of scientists and physicians working on an open-data clinical trial for prevention of COVID-19, through the use of hydroxychloroquine in combination with other therapeutic agents. The group is now calling on President Trump to allow Americans to use the drug.

HCQ is hydroxychloroquine, the pill called Plaquenil, and Azithromycin is the antibiotic commonly known as the Z-pack. Z-pack hit the market 29 years ago as a respiratory treatment antibiotic, but has proven very effective against many other illnesses too.

I am thrilled to hear this, and even more thrilled to hear that a cheap common RA drug combined with a cheap common antibiotic appears to be highly effective; while other reports have shown that HCQ along with the (very expensive, >$500) HIV combo drug Kaletra (Lopinavir and Ritonavir)

HCQ also appears to be very effective at keeping you from getting this damn thing in the first place.

Posted by Drew458     on 03/18/2020 at 09:09 PM   
Filed Under: • Health-Medicine • pandemic and epidemic diseases • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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Here Come The Big Gibbs

Hey, throwing piles of money at everything is the Democrat solution, so they can’t complain if Trump does it, right? Besides, what’s another trillion or two in debt?

Trump To Inject Massive Green To Heal Ailing Economy

Because just 10 days ago everything was super wonderful. And then??

Ahead of an expected surge in coronavirus cases, President Donald Trump on Tuesday moved to blunt the impact of the pandemic on a U.S. economy fundamentally altered by a push for the nation to stay home.

As the global markets fluctuated amid fears of a recession, the president conferred with tourism executives as well as restaurant leaders, retailers and suppliers. His administration was expected to propose a roughly $850 billion emergency economic stimulus to address the free-fall, including considering the sending of checks to American workers trying to make their way in the deeply unsettled economy.

U.S. businesses large and small were reeling from shutdowns, cancellations and public fear about the virus as the number of cases rose nationwide. Stocks moved higher on Wall Street on Tuesday, a day after plunging to their worst losses in more than three decades.

And in an instant they all line up with their hands out ...

NYC MTA wants $4B to keep empty subway cars running. Um, what??

Retailers want debt payment pause and billions in cash.

Hotels and BnB are hurting and needful too. Bigly, with everyone staying home.

$1000 for everybody? And $50B for the airlines

As the coronavirus begins to take its toll on the economy, the federal government on Tuesday said it was working to put cash directly in the hands of Americans.

“We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters. “Americans need cash now and the president wants to get cash now. And I mean now, in the next two weeks.”

The cash infusion would be part of an $850 billion stimulus package that Mnuchin is discussing with Senate Republicans — $50 billion of that which go to the embattled airline industry.

~~~~

Meanwhile, the stock market takes another dive, oil drops to lowest price since 2003

U.S. equity markets plunged in the opening minutes of trading, gutting a rebound on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,268 points, or 5.9 percent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were lower by 5.4 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. Trading is halted if the S&P 500 falls by 7 percent.

The early selling comes as the Trump administration and Congress hammer out the details of a $1 trillion stimulus package designed to prop up the most harshly pummeled sectors of the U.S. economy and give cash to those out of work.

Looking at stocks, Boeing shares were rocked as the company called for a $60 billion bailout for aerospace manufacturers.

Airlines, restaurants, hotels and casino operators remained under pressure as the Trump administration weighs assistance for the industries hit hardest by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, plunging oil prices hammered energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron and weighed heavily on Hess Corp. and Continental Resources. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 8.1 percent at $25.10 a barrel, its lowest in 17 years.

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And just for fun, Canada and US are closing the northern border, except for essential traffic.

Canada relies on the U.S. for 75 percent of its exports. Much of Canada’s food supply comes from or via the U.S., and 98 percent of its oil exports go to the U.S. About 18 percent of American exports go to Canada.

Trudeau is currently in self-quarantine after his wife Sophie tested positive for the virus.

Future plans for the southern U.S. border remain in development.

Posted by Drew458     on 03/18/2020 at 09:11 AM   
Filed Under: • Border Security • Economics • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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   Monday - March 16, 2020

Total Wipe Out

Are people really this stupid? Why yes, they are!!

Oregon Cops: Stop Calling 911 If You Run Out Of Toilet Paper

One police department in Oregon posted a reminder on their Facebook page, asking the public to not call for an emergency if they run out of toilet paper due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“It’s hard to believe that we even have to post this,” police in Newport, Oregon wrote. “Do not call 9-1-1 just because you ran out of toilet paper. You will survive without our assistance.”

The post then pointed out the different methods used throughout history before suggesting other items that could be used in lieu of “your favorite soft, ultra plush two-ply citrus scented tissue.”

Among their suggestions: grocery store receipts, newspaper, cloth rags, magazine pages, cotton balls and even leaves.

I can’t wait for the DIY instructionals on the turd world “scrape and wash” method. Billions of people on this planet have never used toilet paper, and they don’t walk around with crusty stank butt. Mostly. And since nobody will be shaking hands for the foreseeable future ...

Posted by Drew458     on 03/16/2020 at 05:24 PM   
Filed Under: • Pandemic Pandemonium • Stoopid-People •  
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I’ll Drink To That

President Trump’s new guidelines. These are not YET laws or mandates, merely suggestions.

President Donald Trump on Monday released a series of coronavirus guidelines to slow the spread that calls for a lockdown of America, including the closing of restaurants and schools.

‘Each and every one of us has a critical role to play in stopping the spread,’ the president said in the White House briefing room.

And while his guidelines will be revisited after the initial 15 day proposal, the president warned the virus could affect American life well into the summer.

‘People are talking about July, August, something like that,’ Trump said. ‘They could be right in that period of time where it washes through.’

The two-page list, called ‘15 Days to Slow the Spread,’ advises avoiding ‘eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts - use drive through, pickup, and delivery options.’

It also calls on governors that have states with ‘evidence of community transmission’ to close schools in the affected areas.’ And it asks those states to address childcare issues as well as nutritional needs of children who use schools for their meals.

And there may be stronger guidelines to come.

‘We have taken a tough stance. We may make other decisions,’ the president said.

But that does not include a nation-wide lockdown, a step other countries have taken. France has gone on a 15-day one and Canada has closed its borders to non-citizens.

‘At this point, not nationwide,’ President Trump said,

In happy reaction to the President’s completely honest and realistic assessment, the stock market totally shit the bed. Again. Even worse than the last two record setting times in the last 2 weeks.

Dow drops 2,997 points on word coronavirus crisis could extend until August

13% Drop in one day

Posted by Drew458     on 03/16/2020 at 05:09 PM   
Filed Under: • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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Free Money Again

The Federal Reserve announced on Sunday that it dropped its benchmark interest rate by a full point and launched a massive $700 billion quantitative easing program.

“The effects of the coronavirus will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook,” the Federal Reserve said in a statement. “In light of these developments, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to 1/4 percent. The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals.”

If you’ve forgotten what QE is, in hopes of never hearing it again after the Obama years, it’s the Fed buying up a ton of government bonds with several plane loads full of the cash they print out. If nothing else, it dumps a whole lot of cash into the market.

A central bank implements quantitative easing by buying specified amounts of financial assets from commercial banks and other financial institutions, thus raising the prices of those financial assets and lowering their yield, while simultaneously increasing the money supply.

If nothing else, this ought to drop mortgage rates even further than their current never-ever-been-this-low level. So it’s a good time to refinance. A local bank was offering a 2.89% refi 10 days ago; we’re tempted. Especially if that drops a couple more points.



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The stock market is diving again too. Might be a good time to invest in things you know are going to rebound, like energy stocks. 

Posted by Drew458     on 03/16/2020 at 09:26 AM   
Filed Under: • Finance and Investing • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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It’s Quiet. Too Quiet

Impacts Of Isolation

Our local grade school and high school are closed. They’re going to do distance learning for the next couple of weeks. Traffic was very light on the highway near us; usually I can go outside in the early morning and hear the cars and trucks thundering by, and often the road behind us is used as a shortcut when traffic backs up. Today, nothing. With the airlines reducing flights there aren’t even any contrails up in the sky. No little planes up dancing around either.

I’ve got another batch of Stupid Easy Bread autolysing, and after I mix that together and throw it in the fridge I’m going grocery shopping. Shouldn’t be much of any crowds there mid-morning, and maybe I can stock up on corned beef, which is on sale for St. Patrick’s Day. Except that’s canceled this year.

Posted by Drew458     on 03/16/2020 at 09:09 AM   
Filed Under: • Bread • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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   Sunday - March 15, 2020

Norway Hit Too

With more than 1,000 coronavirus cases in southern Norway and 3 deaths in Oslo, northern Norway has closed the door on southern Norway. All public events and schools closed. Russia has closed the border.

[ Thursday 3/12/20 ] Kindergartens, schools and universities are being closed along with sport halls and public events. It is the new normality, the country’s health authorities say.

“These measures are the the most dramatic ever taken in Norway in peace time,” Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said as she on Thursday presented a series of unprecedented regulations.

“It will give a different life situation for everyone in the country,” Solberg said in a press conference. She called for solidarity among citizens.

“We must stand together by keeping distance between each other,” she underlined.

All schools, kindergartens, colleges and universities are closed with immediate effect. In addition comes stringent regulations on peoples’ traveling. Anyone coming home from abroad will be forced into home quarantine.

At the same time, sport halls and all organized sport activities are being halted.

“This situation will take time,” the Norwegian Health Directorate says in a statement on the extraordinary measures that now are taken across the country.

The unprecedented regulations come as the number of coronavirus cases in Norway on Thursday increased to 621, an increase of more than 20 percent from Wednesday.

10 people in Tromsø have tested positive for coronavirus by Saturday, but northern Norway has fewer cases than most other regions of the country. 907 people have so far tested positive, making Norway one of the top ten most affected countries.

Norway was the fifth country after China, Italy, Denmark, and Ireland to announce a nation-wide lock-down to slow the coronavirus. By Sunday morning, three people, all in Oslo, have died of the virus.

The measures taken by the government on Thursday was by prime minister Erna Solberg said to be “the most far-reaching measures Norway’s population has ever experienced in peacetime.”

Additional to closing down kindergartens, schools, universities and asking all who have the possibility to work from home to do so, the borders are also closed for travelers from outside Finland and Sweden. 

From 8 am Monday morning, all Norwegian airports and harbors will close for incoming passengers from countries outside Finland and Sweden, except Norwegian residents returning home.

Tromsø is northwestern Norway, a narrow strip of land and small islands up on the coast. Norway is on the Atlantic side of the Scandinavian peninsula, with Sweden in the middle and Finland on the east side up against Russia’s Kola peninsula. Norway wraps up around the top, so it has a short border with Russia. Finland’s border with them is many times larger.

The Russian prime minister on Saturday morning announced a new set of measures aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among those measures is a closure of the borders to Norway and Poland.

While there are about 2,000 cases across Scandinavia, Finland has only about a fifth as many as the other two countries. Northwestern Russia has less than a dozen, although Moscow is reporting 34 cases. 

Posted by Drew458     on 03/15/2020 at 08:56 AM   
Filed Under: • Pandemic Pandemonium •  
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