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So, We need to talk about #COVIDー19 . Now, I am not a virologist, epidemiologist, immunologist, or other such expert, and you need to listen to them first and foremost. However, I hope to explain the basics of their work to you here:
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So, first off, this is a real tweet from @tribelaw. Multiple reputable media sources have confirmed this tweet is real. And also, it is idiotic.
It goes to show that it is not just the right-wing spreading misinformation about this pandemic.
It goes to show that it is not just the right-wing spreading misinformation about this pandemic.
As I have covered before, time and again, the right wing has been massively misleading over the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
So, we need to get some basic facts straight. https://twitter.com/horridpoplyrics/status/1242902542553497600?s=20
So, we need to get some basic facts straight. https://twitter.com/horridpoplyrics/status/1242902542553497600?s=20
First and foremost:
Broadly speaking, there are two types of viruses: RNA viruses and DNA viruses:
Viruses have either RNA or DNA and none have both, if they had both, we'd call them a Bacteria.
Coronavirus are RNA viruses. This makes them more unstable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_virus
Broadly speaking, there are two types of viruses: RNA viruses and DNA viruses:
Viruses have either RNA or DNA and none have both, if they had both, we'd call them a Bacteria.
Coronavirus are RNA viruses. This makes them more unstable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_virus
Influenza viruses are also RNA, and that's why you need a new flu shot every year, as RNA viruses mutate very quickly, and have many strains
This is as opposed to a DNA virus, like Chickenpox, where you get it once, then can never suffer from it again.
This is as opposed to a DNA virus, like Chickenpox, where you get it once, then can never suffer from it again.
Second:
Immunity to any virus works on a spectrum. Let's define this spectrum from 0% to 100% just for the sake of conversation. 100% meaning once you get a disease, you can never, ever catch it again. 0% meaning you will catch it every time you are exposed.
Immunity to any virus works on a spectrum. Let's define this spectrum from 0% to 100% just for the sake of conversation. 100% meaning once you get a disease, you can never, ever catch it again. 0% meaning you will catch it every time you are exposed.
Now, with DNA viruses, they tend towards the 100% end of the scale, like Chickenpox. With RNA viruses, they tend to the 0% end of the scale, where they mutate so quickly, former antibodies built up in the bloodstream can at times become ineffective.
There is of course, significant overlap, and this is a massive simplification for the sake of twitter, of course.
Third:
Even with 100% immunity on our spectrum, there can be massively negative effects. Note that Chickenpox can cause Shingles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles
Third:
Even with 100% immunity on our spectrum, there can be massively negative effects. Note that Chickenpox can cause Shingles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles
And even then Chickenpox is not a 100% on our scale. It is rare, but it can reoccur later in life.
While information on #COVIDー19 is still emerging, one thing is clear, on our scale of 0% to 100% it is not at either end. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/17/who-issues-warning-on-coronavirus-testing-theres-no-evidence-antibody-tests-show-immunity.html
While information on #COVIDー19 is still emerging, one thing is clear, on our scale of 0% to 100% it is not at either end. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/17/who-issues-warning-on-coronavirus-testing-theres-no-evidence-antibody-tests-show-immunity.html
In fact, in South Korea, a nation with an excellent testing the healthcare system, they announced that 140 people who previously had the disease tested positive for it again. https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-intl-04-16-20/h_5fa6905b7b9aa8dd59305694147d605f
This is all in addition to what we don't know about the virus. Does it cause lasting damage to the lungs? the heart? What about a recurrence or a Shingles-type disease decades later?
We do not know at this time. There is no way to know at this time. #FlattenTheCurve
We do not know at this time. There is no way to know at this time. #FlattenTheCurve
Does #SARSーCoVー2 take one infection or ten infections to make you fully immune? We do not know, no one does.
Certainly, the immunity rate is not 100%, but it is also likely not to be 0% either. But, until proper knowledge of this disease can be gained, we need to assume 0%
Certainly, the immunity rate is not 100%, but it is also likely not to be 0% either. But, until proper knowledge of this disease can be gained, we need to assume 0%
And that is the key to defeating this disease. We need to assume that we are all high-risk people, perhaps immune-compromised, and treat our day-to-day activities as if we were.
That's the only way to handle this.
" #Coronavirus" Parties likely would be disastrous.
That's the only way to handle this.
" #Coronavirus" Parties likely would be disastrous.
Leading to even more strains of the disease, and making it a seasonal illness. Every season, every year, forever. At least int he worst-case scenario.
I hope that this has cleared things up for you.
Please stay safe and healthy.
-Ryan
I hope that this has cleared things up for you.
Please stay safe and healthy.
-Ryan
