In the last few days, a couple of new COVID-19 observations have come into view, developing and changing our view of the Great Isolation.
First is research that is revealing — as we test more and more people — that more and more people already have been exposed to the virus, that there were non fatal outbreaks in some major U.S. cities as early as January and February. That suggests for most people the dreaded virus was no more harmful than the plain old regular flu— unpleasant but not deadly.
That is the good news.
The bad news, just developing now, is the theory that even if you had it, you may not be immune from getting it again. This is the opinion of the World Health Organization that points to a lack of evidence supporting immunity.
Dr. Deborah Birx said the WHO statement was based on an excess of caution, that it did not rule out immunity. We will learn more as more evidence is uncovered and our knowledge expands, kind of like removing layers of skin from an onion.
Remember the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial? Of course you do.
There were fresh headlines every day as new testimony moved opinion on the guilty/not guilty meter from left to right and back again. And this is apart from Judge Lance Ito becoming a national punchline.
If you take a look at the two new informational threads above, if it turns out that for 99% of the population the virus is practically benign, then having immunity doesn’t even matter. But we don’t know these are facts and I am not presenting either as a fact. These are just new things we know, or we think we know.
Across the country, and around the world, countless doctors, scientists, and researchers are working on every aspect of the disease — from medicine to abate it, to vaccines to prevent it. I am convinced we will get “cures” much sooner than anyone is predicting. That is opinion, of course, but it is based on the amazing amount of research being done.
And since so much research is being done, including by people who aren’t the best, we can expect false positives along the way, “cures” that just don’t hold up. Those will be exposed relatively quickly.
I am thinking, as with the O.J. trial, there may be a surprise ending.
HAPPY MONDAY !!!
as was said, many times before, by members of the task force. one reason why the U.S. takes so long to approve a med, is the testing. you’ll either amuse yourself, or scare yourself, if you were to read the accompanying literature inside the box with your new meds.
Yo, Tony, don’t ya just love those med literature contra-indications, among all the other items listed? Makes one wonder about the cure being worse than what you’re being treated for sometimes. On the other side of the coin, there was a reason the doctor prescribed it for you – with both of you hoping that you’re not the fraction of a percent that has a bad reaction to the drug.
Randy,
1#2 wife was one of those people waaaay down there, in the fine print. ( plain english ) if you are one of the unlucky few – tough !
Tony
OK, Stu, my Optimist Switch is turned on today along with yours. I certainly hope that vaccines/cures come along sooner with all the tons of current research going on.
adding to my first reply. If my information is correct, pharmaceutical research is not driven by profit. Mostly grant money, mostly from the Feds, some from the bigger corps.
I’m sure that our Uncle is picking up the tab on this one ! Oy vey ! Add another trillion onto the tab.
Or as one famous senator once said (Dirksen?), “A billion here and a billion there, and soon you’re talking serious money.” I guess for 2020 that has to be changed to a “trillion.”
Coffee was bad for you. Then coffee was okay. Milk was bad for our kids (strontium-90), then milk was okay for our kids. Once, in the 1970s, the earth was cooling too fast, now it’s warming too fast. We’re running out of oil; oops, belay that — we’re up to our glottises in oil. And on and on. First you’re up, then you’re down. No wonder we are skeptical of all the ‘scientific’ and governmental pronouncements.
Vince, you make some interesting points which most of us here have witnessed over the years. But there are two pronouncements you don’t have to be skeptical about – our two guarantees in life: Death and Taxes.
“Death and taxes are inevitable. But at least death doesn’t get worse every year.” — Woody Allen
Good quote, Vince. But this year, I think death actually got worse.
Sex was bad for you, too.
“Sex is like playing bridge: if you don’t have a good partner you’d better have a good hand.” — Woody Allen (again)