Promising news on COVID-19!
The New York Times reports we may be closer to herd immunity than thought.
What if ‘Herd Immunity’ Is Closer Than Scientists Thought?
"In interviews with The New York Times, more than a dozen scientists said that the threshold is likely to be much lower: just 50 percent, perhaps even less. If that’s true, then it may be possible to turn back the coronavirus more quickly than once thought."
In another article in the Times, researchers now believe the human body is storing strong memory of COVID-19 which may prevent reinfection.
Scientists See Signs of Lasting Immunity to Covid-19, Even After Mild Infections
"Scientists who have been monitoring immune responses to the virus are now starting to see encouraging signs of strong, lasting immunity, even in people who developed only mild symptoms of Covid-19, a flurry of new studies suggests."
And in one of the most fascinating articles I have read about the epidemic, a vision of a normal society even without a vaccine emerges through alternative testing. Instead of doing the expensive nasal swab testing, a much cheaper, easier to produce test that relies on saliva is mass produced. Testing becomes a part of our daily lives.
The Plan That Could Give Us Our Lives Back
"...it is in our power to have an abundance of tests within months—and to return life to normal, or something close to it, even before a vaccine is found. There is a way out of the pandemic."
Imagine this, you go to a community event -- restaurant, theater or sports game, spit into a cup, wait ten minutes for the test to come back, you are negative, you can enter with no need for a mask.
Let's hope these visions come true.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, things are still looking good.
2.0 news cases daily per 100,000 people.
Infection rate 0.96 (less than 1 is desirable).
0.8% positive test rate.
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Here's an article about Los Angeles considering the rapid inexpensive tests.
LA mayor embraces shift in COVID-19 testing strategy: simplicity and speed
