Potential POSITIVE effects of corona virus

[fungus pudding]

Quite nonsensical statement. I think it shows that their politicians are quite out of their depth and now fighting for their political life, given that the death rates in Sweden are much higher than in the neighbouring Scandinavian countries which did lock down.

But still - only roughly 1 % of Swedes so far gained immunity. For herd immunity they need more than 60%.

Given that to date it was 1,580 deaths in Sweden (to reach 1% immunity) they can look forward to kill another roughly 93,000 Swedes to get there.

But it looks like they do their best: Swedens death rates as well as new infections are rising without any peak in sight, but it will take longer than next month to get to the desired herd immunity.

And it will take decades to analyse the results. There is no doubt an economic shutdown will add suicide, domestic violence, murder, stress induced heart attacks and strokes etc. to their death toll. But this effect won't be known for many years. And the cost will be the lives of young and middle aged, as opposed to the aged who are currently the victims. So in terms of years of life lost - nobody knows the answer. But it can't be assumed, on available figures, that Sweden has it wrong.

[TideMan]

I don't get how either herd immunity or a vaccine will work.
Covid 19 is related to the common cold, right?
There is no herd immunity with the common cold - we all get it from time to time.
There is no vaccine for the common cold.

If it were so easy, why don't we have herd immunity and a vaccine for the common cold?

[blackcap]

I
If it were so easy, why don't we have herd immunity and a vaccine for the common cold?

Possibly because the common cold has no long term (or even short term) harmful effects on people? No real incentive to find a vaccine there.

[steveb]

this article claims there is no link to the common cold:-
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-f...-idUSKBN2142MC

They say the common cold could have been wiped out years ago if the pharmaceutical companies didn't make a fortune from associated medicines to relieve the symptoms

[TideMan]

this article claims there is no link to the common cold:-
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-f...-idUSKBN2142MC

No it doesn't say that.
It says Covid 19 is in the same family as the common cold, but it IS NOT the common cold.

I agree that there is no money for pharmaceutical companies in finding a vaccine for the common cold.

[BlackPeter]

I don't get how either herd immunity or a vaccine will work.
Covid 19 is related to the common cold, right?
There is no herd immunity with the common cold - we all get it from time to time.
There is no vaccine for the common cold.

If it were so easy, why don't we have herd immunity and a vaccine for the common cold?

Actually - we are immune against the cold strains we experienced ... it is just that most (well, all successful) cold viruses tend to mutate quite fast into new strains nobody is immune against.

My understanding is that it appears so far that the Coronavirus causing COVID 19 seems to mutate less frequently ... but obviously, it is too early days to be certain.

So - you are right, there is clearly a risk that there never will be a vaccine or herd immunity, but it is not a certainty.

BTW - only roughly 40% of common colds are caused by Corona viruses, roughly 60% are caused by Rhino viruses.

[steveb]

Reserve bank are looking at dropping the 20% deposit for new home buyers,this will help the people who still have a job,and have not had to take a pay cut.

[King1212]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...525&si=6376047

[dobby41]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...525&si=6376047

A tough way to make a few bob.

[Sideshow Bob]

A tough way to make a few bob.

Plenty of Kiwi backpackers over the years took part in medical trials to pay for a few months travel.

Usually it was something a little more benign than Corona virus....