Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Kidney disease tied to high death rates in COVID patients | CIDRAP

“Our data demonstrate that renal impairment in patients admitted to intensive care with COVID‐19 is common and is associated with a high mortality and requirement for on‐going renal support after discharge from critical care,” the authors wrote. “Attention needs to be paid to patients with COVID‐19 with any form of renal impairment and every effort made to prevent progression of renal injury in order to reduce mortality.” The researchers also remarked that patients who require dialysis in the hospital have a much lower survival rate than those who don’t, which could have implications for resource allocation. “The impact on resource utilisation is considerable, especially in a pandemic situation where resources may have to be rationed,” they wrote.

Source: Kidney disease tied to high death rates in COVID patients | CIDRAP

20% of verified coronavirus patients did not develop immunity – The Jerusalem Post

Only 80% of people who tested positive for coronavirus had antibodies to the virus, according to a report published Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Health Ministry and the Gertner Institute.

The results mean that a percentage of people who develop asymptomatic or even mild cases of the virus could contract it again. Source: 20% of verified coronavirus patients did not develop immunity – The Jerusalem Post

Anti-lockdown advocate appears on radio show that has featured Holocaust deniers | Coronavirus | The Guardian

One of the three co-authors of a letter that calls for lockdowns to be abandoned in favor of herd immunity has appeared on a radio broadcast that previously featured multiple Holocaust deniers and antisemites.

Dr Martin Kulldorff of Harvard medical school appeared on the Richie Allen Show on 6 October to discuss the letter, described as the Great Barrington declaration, after the Massachusetts town where it was drawn up.

Kulldorff said he agreed to go on the program because it was important to reach all segments of the population with public health messages. The show was described as an “online platform for antisemitic conspiracy theorists and Holocaust deniers” by Hope not Hate, an organisation that monitors extremist groups.

Source: Anti-lockdown advocate appears on radio show that has featured Holocaust deniers | Coronavirus | The Guardian

Coronavirus vaccine storage issues could leave 3 billion without access – National | Globalnews.ca

From factory to syringe, the world’s most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates need non-stop sterile refrigeration to stay potent and safe. But despite enormous strides in equipping developing countries to maintain the vaccine “cold chain,” nearly thee billion of the world’s 7.8 billion people live where temperature-controlled storage is insufficient for an immunization campaign to bring COVID-19 under control.

Source: Coronavirus vaccine storage issues could leave 3 billion without access – National | Globalnews.ca

Italy unveils new COVID-19 restrictions as daily infections climb | New Europe

On Sunday, the country reported a record 11,705 cases, as well as 69 deaths from the disease. “The situation is critical. The government is there but everyone must do their part”, Conte said.

Authorities have ordered betting shops to close from 9 pm and halted local fairs, as well as amateur sporting competitions. Restaurants will be able to serve only seated customers after 6 pm. Conte added that the government is also considering closing gyms and swimming pools. Other regions, such as Campania around Naples, have closed schools for two weeks.

Source: Italy unveils new COVID-19 restrictions as daily infections climb | New Europe

Belgium facing ‘tsunami’ of Covid infections, health minister says | World news | The Guardian

The numbers in Belgium have, however, shot up since September, as adults returned to work and pupils went back to school after their summer break.

Between 9 and 15 October, an average of 7,876 new infections a day were reported, an increase of 79% from the previous week.

Last Tuesday, 12,051 infections with the corona virus had been identified, marking the “highest number of infections recorded in one day since the start of the pandemic,” said Dr Steven Van Gucht, the spokesman for the Belgian virus Crisis Centre, at a press conference on Monday. “We also passed the 10,000 infection mark on Wednesday, October 14, with 10,932 confirmed cases in one day.”

Source: Belgium facing ‘tsunami’ of Covid infections, health minister says | World news | The Guardian

The “Other America”: The Poverty and Peril of Domestic Workers | Working-Class Perspectives

Domestic workers are facing unrelenting struggles. Their desperation is driven by unemployment rates of over 70% — far higher than what Americans faced during the Great Depression, when unemployment breached 25%. And most of those who have lost jobs during the pandemic have no idea whether their employers will ever hire them back. Most domestic workers surveyed by NDWA are their households main bread winners.  More than half were unable to pay the current month’s rent. Eight in ten now worry about eviction.  And for many, hunger is at their door. One third cannot afford to buy food for the week, and more than half were uncertain if they would have enough to feed themselves and their families.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, if adopted at the federal level, would extend pay and leave rights to this workforce, along with health and safety protections. Similar bills are already in place in nine states. And a major segment of the domestic workforce would benefit from better-funded Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care services, mandating overdue wage increases for home care workers. We should also do our part to recognize that domestic work is critical to the economy’s functioning. This begins by seeing domestic workers — and seeing what they do as real work. Home care workers, nannies, and housecleaners have long kept our homes and families safe; now we should do the same for them. Source: The “Other America”: The Poverty and Peril of Domestic Workers | Working-Class Perspectives

Whatever happened to Deborah Birx? – BY BRETT SAMUELS – 10/18/20 03:39 PM EDT — Just Sayin’

Deborah Birx is nowhere to be found at the White House these days. Though she retains the title of coordinator of the White House coronavirus response, Birx has not attended any of President Trump‘s press briefings on the pandemic since he started them anew in late July, nor was she at a recent event to tout the […]

Whatever happened to Deborah Birx? – BY BRETT SAMUELS – 10/18/20 03:39 PM EDT — Just Sayin’

Let The Kids Do It — In Saner Thought

Some of those apocalyptic films have wars being fought for generations and generations….well fact is not so far off….. Just last week our war inn Afghanistan entered into its 20th year……and soon the children of the original warriors will be fighting this conflict….. The longest war in US history now spans generations. Service members who […]

Let The Kids Do It — In Saner Thought