Coronavirus thread

[Todd]

From ABC News, March 2020: Sorry, conspiracy theorists. Study concludes COVID-19 'is not a laboratory construct'

Memory holes run deep.

[Madiel]

From ABC News, March 2020: Sorry, conspiracy theorists. Study concludes COVID-19 'is not a laboratory construct'

Memory holes run deep.

Especially for people who can't remember the difference between a deliberate release theory and a lab leak theory from just 2 posts earlier.

They are not the same thing. A lab leak is not about an engineered virus. A lab leak is about a lab studying a natural virus that accidentally got out.

[Todd]

The conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus, debunked

There are two main versions of the rumor, and they have one common thread: that the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a level 4 (the highest biosafety level) research laboratory in Wuhan.

In one version of the rumor, the virus was engineered in the lab by humans as a bioweapon. In another version, the virus was being studied in the lab (after being isolated from animals) and then "escaped" or "leaked" because of poor safety protocol.

Memory holes run deep.  So deep.

[SimonNZ]

From Reason: Fauci to Congress: 6-Foot Social Distancing Guidance Likely Not Based on Data

That link doesn't lead anywhere. And the quote suggests that we can't check Fauci's actual words to see if he's being misrepresented there.

[Todd]

From the Wall Street Journal: Anthony Fauci Fesses Up

[SimonNZ]

From the Wall Street Journal: Anthony Fauci Fesses Up

Can't read that without a subscription.

But from the opening paragraph:

"That's one of the admissions that Members of Congress say the former National Institutes of Health potentate made this week in two days of closed-door testimony to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic."

Now which members of congress might they be? Does the article go on to say? Are you to take this on faith without knowing if Fauci is being quoted reliably and impartially?

[Todd]

From the Boston Globe, almost a year ago: 'We may not ever know': Fauci says origin of coronavirus could remain a mystery

Memory holes are unfathomably deep.

[DavidW]

Another article without a paywall: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/fauci-admits-social-distancing-guidelines-sort-of-just-appeared-in-two-day-congressional-testimony/ar-AA1mLxOP

I'm not actually that surprised because once it became known that it was air borne, six feet was actually too low and masks became even more important (not like they ever were not).  Social distancing was a good starting point though, especially when the future of mass adoption and availability of PPE wasn't known well.

[Todd]

I'm not actually that surprised because once it became known that it was air borne, six feet was actually too low and masks became even more important (not like they ever were not).  Social distancing was a good starting point though, especially when the future of mass adoption and availability of PPE wasn't known well.

Scott Gottlieb stated publicly that both the final six-foot and original ten-foot rules were arbitrary and not scientifically determined.  He did so in 2021.  Multiple sources later reported that the ten-foot distance was reduced per pressure from business interests. 

[SimonNZ]

Another article without a paywall: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/fauci-admits-social-distancing-guidelines-sort-of-just-appeared-in-two-day-congressional-testimony/ar-AA1mLxOP

 from that:

""It is clear that dissenting opinions were often not considered or suppressed completely. Should a future pandemic arise, America's response must be guided by scientific facts and conclusive data."

Now that is the very deep Memory Hole. Where was the non-scientific response coming from, can anyone remember?

and couldnt help bumping on this bit of journalism:

"During the last seven hours of the transcribed interview on Tuesday, Fauci testified that the lab-leak hypothesis, which he tried to disprove with the March 2020 "Proximal Origin" scientific paper, was not a conspiracy theory after all. While conceding the possibility that the coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, he did appear to play semantics with the definition of a "lab leak" to defend the biased conclusions of Nature Medicine's "Proximal Origin" publication."

[Madiel]

Memory holes are unfathomably deep.

I remember all of the reasons I blocked you.

[Karl Henning]

I remember all of the reasons I blocked you.

They're solid reasons.

[drogulus]

     Tomorrow I go to the pharmacy to get the latest Rona vaccine plus the influenza shot appropriate for my advanced age. My left arm tingles with anticipation.

[Karl Henning]

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still evolving rapidly. The current variant, JN. 1, appeared only in September. Fortunately, hospital admissions have not skyrocketed; the most recent booster vaccine continues to protect against hospitalization and severe illness. Still, only 21 percent of adults older than 18 years in the United States are vaccinated with the updated booster. More should get it.

Covid is back, and the U.S. is unprepared for the next bug. Here's what to do.

[Madiel]

21 per cent doesn't sound good. Though I'm not sure what the figure is here, certainly booster rates are lower than the initial vaccinations (and I've held off myself on the latest because of timing issues).

[drogulus]

    I returned from my vaxcation and not even ow.

[Todd]

From the Gray Lady:

Covid Shots for Children

Much of the world has decided that most young children don't need to receive Covid booster shots. The U.S. is an outlier.

Trust the science, etc.

[Madiel]

You don't understand how science works.

[T. D.]

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still evolving rapidly. The current variant, JN. 1, appeared only in September. Fortunately, hospital admissions have not skyrocketed; the most recent booster vaccine continues to protect against hospitalization and severe illness. Still, only 21 percent of adults older than 18 years in the United States are vaccinated with the updated booster. More should get it.

Covid is back, and the U.S. is unprepared for the next bug. Here's what to do.

I'm inclined to agree, because (though it's just anecdotal), a lot of people have been getting Covid around here.

But I don't like vaccine availability. I've gotten 5 Covid shots, all Pfizer, last one March or April 2023, minimal side effects apart from sore arm.
But I can't find Pfizer. There's just Moderna (which gave bad side effects to some family members and acquaintances) or Novavax (about which I know nothing).

I had the 2 shingles shots last year and each installment had serious side effects, so I would rather stick with the Covid shot I've had decent experience with.

[Karl Henning]

I'm inclined to agree, because (though it's just anecdotal), a lot of people have been getting Covid around here.

But I don't like vaccine availability. I've gotten 5 Covid shots, all Pfizer, last one March or April 2023, minimal side effects apart from sore arm.
But I can't find Pfizer. There's just Moderna (which gave bad side effects to some family members and acquaintances) or Novavax (about which I know nothing).

I had the 2 shingles shots last year and each installment had serious side effects, so I would rather stick with the Covid shot I've had decent experience with.

Good luck and good hunting!