Canadian COVID-19 News

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

endemic

ĕn-dĕm′ĭk
adjective

1. Prevalent in or limited to a particular locality, region, or people.
2. Native to or limited to a certain region.
3. Common in or inherent to an enterprise or situation.

Correct. It just means it exists in our ecosystem.

We have a lot of endemic viruses and bacteria. As with any ecosystem, a balance will be achieved. What that balance is with regard to SARS-coV-2 remains unclear.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

endemic

ĕn-dĕm′ĭk
adjective

1. Prevalent in or limited to a particular locality, region, or people.
2. Native to or limited to a certain region.
3. Common in or inherent to an enterprise or situation.

COVID did not get limited to a particular locality, region, or people.

In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs.

... and we ain't there yet. We still have populations with no prior exposure, and we still experience surges that can overwhelm our ability to manage them.

[Mike OReilly]

I don't normally read nor recommend commentary, but this one from long time medical science journalist André Picard of the Globe & Mail touches on the endemic reality -- and just the simple reality of this new virus.

‘I’m done with COVID’ is easier said than done

Restrictions are easing, as they should. But the shift to living with COVID-19, from pandemic to endemic, needs to be done in an orderly fashion, conscious of the fact that some people in society (such as frail elders and the immunocompromised) are at far greater risk, and pandemic harm is not equally distributed.

Right now, most of the limits on our activities are being imposed by the virus itself. Infections are overwhelming hospitals and devastating the work force in many sectors.

“I’m done with COVID” is an easy applause line.

But incantation is not a substitute for vaccination. Nor is self-righteous indignation a public-policy solution.

[N Coast Murray]

"Endemic Disease"

An epidemic involves the wide-ranging spread of a disease throughout an entire area or particular community where it’s not permanently prevalent. A pandemic involves an even wider spread, often reaching across the entire world. The word endemic is used to describe a disease that persistently and regularly spreads within a particular area or region (that is, it never fully goes away)—for example, the flu is considered endemic in many places. The COVID-19 virus is not yet considered endemic, but medical experts expect that it eventually will become endemic.

https://www.dictionary.com/e/epidemic-vs-pandemic/

Therefore, the flu is endemic, but there can be a flu pandemic.

Because Covid is a concurrent worldwide disease, it hasn't reached the endemic stage yet.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

COVID did not get limited to a particular locality, region, or people.

In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs.

... and we ain't there yet. We still have populations with no prior exposure, and we still experience surges that can overwhelm our ability to manage them.

Exactly. We don't yet know what an endemic SARS coV-2 virus looks like in our ecosystem. A shift to endemic thinking is simply the recognition that we probably aren't going to eradicate it as had been initially hoped, and as we've done with some other virus like SARS-1 or small pox.

IF it becomes endemic -- and as NCM rightly says, we don't know if we're there yet -- we have to learn to live with it, like we do with so many other endemic pathogens. But that doesn't necessarily mean we can go back to the way things were before SARS coV-2 showed up. It's pretty unlikely.

I think the best analogy is that of the arrival of a non-native species of plant or animal. It takes a while before the new arrival finds balance in its new ecosystem, and quite often it causes severe disruption along the way. That's what this new virus is doing.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

COVID is not yet endemic. It's not that far away, but it would be irresponsible to declare the pandemic "over" just yet. Remember the hubris behind another famous premature eja... um, declaration:

PLEASE stop bringing american references into this thread! There are plenty of Canadian ones you could be using.

[Montanan]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday significantly restricted the use of a pair of monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 because they are ineffective against the omicron.

I suspect that the Canadian health officials will also likewise restrict the usage.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...?ocid=msedgntp

The FDA said the therapies made by Eli Lilly and Regeneron should only be used in patients who have been infected with or exposed to a variant that is susceptible to the treatments. "Because data show these treatments are highly unlikely to be active against the omicron variant, which is circulating at a very high frequency throughout the United States, these treatments are not authorized for use in any U.S. states, territories, and jurisdictions at this time," the FDA said.

The omicron variant began spreading across the U.S. in late November, and now accounts for more than 99 percent of infections . . . As a result, the FDA noted that "it's highly unlikely that COVID-19 patients seeking care in the U.S. at this time are infected with a variant other than omicron."

Not revoked: However, the agency did not revoke the emergency authorization because regulators want to be able to use the drugs again if the situation arises. "In the future, if patients in certain geographic regions are likely to be infected or exposed to a variant that is susceptible to these treatments, then use of these treatments may be authorized in these regions,"

Hospitals and physicians have other options available. The antibody treatment now most recommended is sotrovimab, from GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology. The administration will also continue to allocate doses of Pfizer's antiviral drug Paxlovid, as well as one made by Merck called molnupiravir. However, both Paxlovid and sotrovimab are in very short supply.

[Mike OReilly]

This is one way to put the impact of Covid-19 into perspective:

CBC: COVID-19 blamed for greatest drop in life expectancy in Canada since 1921

Statistics Canada says the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an average seven-month decline in national life expectancy, the largest decrease recorded since 1921 when the vital statistics registration system was introduced.

The federal agency released preliminary data Monday showing national life expectancy, which is estimated on an annual basis, was 81.7 years for those born in 2020 — down from 82.3 the year before.

Of note: The rate of influenza and pneumonia deaths in 2020 was 12.9 deaths per 100,000 population, a decline from the 15.6 deaths per 100,000 seen in 2019. That marked the lowest death rate attributed to flu and pneumonia in more than 20 years.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

I believe what the data shows is that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are getting, and spreading omicron. Nobody (except for you, apparently) is tracing to the level necessary to know who gave it to whom...

What conclusion, would that belief lead you to, regarding the overall efficacy of COVID vaccines, on an individual, and societal level?
On balance, COVID Vaccines are mostly:
a] Very harmful
b] Somewhat harmful
c] Somewhat beneficial
d] Very beneficial
e] Irrelevant [why]
f] Other [state simply]

[GordMay]

COVID-19 blamed for greatest drop in life expectancy in Canada since 1921

Statistics Canada says [1] the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an average seven-month decline in national life expectancy, the largest decrease recorded since 1921, when the vital statistics registration system was introduced.

The Pandemic was 3rd leading cause of death in 2020 in Canada. 16,151 deaths were attributed to COVID-19, during the first year of the pandemic, representing 5.3 per cent of the country's 2020 deaths.

Cancer was the leading cause of death, at 26.4 per cent; while heart disease was second at 17.5 per cent.

Much more about ➥ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/life-...ease-1.6326089

[1] Deaths, 2020 ~ Statistics Canada
➥ https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/d...df?st=rwQCz7Yf

[JoetheCobbler]

This thread should be renamed.
To better reflect the ongoing unceasing covid "tenitus" that
Rings unceasingly in all media and social platforms for some.


Unplug the TV, computer and radio.
Just for the week, you'll be pleased with the
Peace it brings you.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by JoetheCobbler

To better reflect the ongoing unceasing covid "tenitus" that
Rings unceasingly in all media and social platforms for some...

I suppose you meant " tinnitus".

[Mike OReilly]

A new national Nanos survey finds that the "Majority of Canadians support or somewhat support a new health contribution or fine for the unvaccinated."

https://nanos.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-2058-CTV-Jan-Populated-report-POWERPLAY-With-tabs.pdf

Nationally, it finds that 60% of respondents support some sort of fee or tax on the unvaccinated.

• Those most likely to oppose the idea are those under 55.
• Men and women were pretty much equal in agreement and opposition.
• The Strongest support for fines are found in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic.
• The least support for fines are found in BC and Prairies.

In all regions, there is more than 50% support for fines.

I would vote "oppose" if asked in this survey.

[TrentePieds]

As someone said: "Unplug the TV, computer and radio. Just for the week, you'll be pleased with the Peace it brings you."

Those who the Canadian covid thread gives conniptions have the option of passing it by in silence. Particularly if they are not Canadians :-)

Salut!

TrentePieds

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I suppose you meant " tinnitus".

I got that too, but can't blame Canadians. I can fault Canadians for some terrible headaches in the morning. And, The Keg in Montreal for a horrible case of Salmonella.

Sorry, off topic, please return to the fight.