All out assaults on the SARS-COV2 virus
Claudewell S. Thomas, MD, MPH, DLFAPA, is an established psychiatrist who is currently retired ,, He received his medical degree in 1956 at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and specializes in social psychiatry, public health psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Thomas was board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry... more
World infections from Covid-19 causative agent have soared past three million and related deaths past 230 thousand. The USA contributing about 1/3 to each category. Suicide, homicide, child and elder abuse as well as domestic violence's old standby partner (usually wife, but not always) abuse is climbing along with drug abuse and alcoholism. The COV2 pandemic social isolation seems at fault. I have found my recliner a place to read, write, watch TV, and handle phone calls. However, the number of excursions on my elliptical has dropped, my stationary bike is seldom used as are other devices. A chair like the bed can weaken you. We are lucky to have a decent-sized backyard with a view of Saddleback Mountain and the channel to the sea.
We can roam masked or unmasked noting the takeover of birds, an occasional raccoon, skunk, or coyote. The front is a cul de sac with occasional car or truck travel and a neighbor or trespasser interaction thus calling for a mask at all times. We have pretty good computer capability and get assistance from children and grandchildren, we do not hoard so the occasional ordering via phone or internet is sufficient and usually handled by the third of four grandsons. There are those without backyards or frontcourts, grandchildren who are computer savvy, pensions, and cellphones, who lack food, jobs, and healthcare. Richard D Wolff's article, "Capitalism Can't be repaired-Coronavirus Shows Its Huge Weaknesses", presents capitalism as Moreso a political than an economic system. These are the folks being savaged by the virus and whose slim protection by Medicare, Obamacare, Medical equivalents, etc.
All-out attacks on the SARS-COV2 disease are embraced by POTUS as polls indicate real trouble come November 2020. I do not believe that quick results are possible. My expectations have been laid out before. Remdesivir appears to have an effect or patients already on ventilation or intubated. It is believed but not known that the drug can block a needed enzyme, my speculation is that it is affecting the RNA body of the virus, the DNA crowns having already gained entry into the body and successfully stacked an organ. Remdesivir has been given intravenously, I am not at all sure of its pill form efficacy. This Ebola drug was given only a 25-30% effectiveness rating in China.
Drugs dealing with the hyperinflammatory response, antibody immunization, etc, are in the works worldwide, collaborating world medical universities with big pharma connections that don't hamper collaboration is the best bet, but the time frame is 2 to 4 years if unhampered by stupid political gamesmanship designed to confuse and misinform.