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Originally posted by c1steve:

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Originally posted by Oat_Action_Man:
I have an earnest question re: masks, so please leave the "it's bullshit" out of it, since I've already come to that conclusion. That's not what this question is:

What is the actual rationale being provided by the "masks now" crowd (Fauci, the media, et al.)? Like the actual scientific rationale.

We know that most masks, let alone "face coverings" are categorically incapable of stopping the virus from getting to you because they're too porous--to say nothing of the absolute lack of PPE best practices followed by just about everyone you see with one on.

So if it's undeniable that the masks are ineffective for the purpose, what reason is actually being given for us to wear masks?

The masks are to keep airborne germs from spewing a significant distance horizonally, so less chance of infecting others.

If viral laden droplets fall to the ground within inches of one's face, they are far less likely to be breathed in by others.

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Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
There were a surprising number of N95 masks in use. You know, the ones with a valve that let everything you exhale escape the mask. You know, the thing that wearing masks is supposed to prevent.

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Originally posted by sjp:
Not wanting to inject politics into this but i am wondering;
Do we think the virus will start disappearing after November 3rd?

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Originally posted by chellim1:

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Originally posted by sjp:
Not wanting to inject politics into this but i am wondering;
Do we think the virus will start disappearing after November 3rd?

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

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Originally posted by sjp:
Not wanting to inject politics into this but i am wondering;
Do we think the virus will start disappearing after November 3rd?

Dude, politics has been a part of this since the very beginning

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Houston company seeks volunteers for new COVID-19 vaccine trial
By Sonia Ramirez, Chron.com / Houston Chronicle Updated 1:22 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 7, 2020

The Texas Center for Drug Development (TCDD), was selected for an investigational COVID-19 vaccine trial and is seeking volunteers to participate.

The program is a joint effort between TCDD and DM Clinical Research-"two of the largest non-institutional clinical research networks in greater Houston-—and will be conducted under the careful medical supervision of their research physicians."

The press release states that the investigational vaccines have been given a nod by the FDA for Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.

"It should be noted that participants in the study will not be injected with the actual virus," said the press release.

As part of Operation Warp Speed, the program aims to deliver 300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 to Americans by January 2021, the release states.

Volunteers interested in the trial should visit this website or call to apply at 281-886-3753.

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1. I don’t want to be a guinea pig. Is it safe?
The investigational vaccines you will take have already been approved by the FDA for Phase 2 or 3 trials—which means there is human safety data available from earlier phases of clinical trials.

2. Will I be compensated?
Yes. We appreciate and value your time and commitment. The compensation for your time and travel costs could total as much as $1,000 over the course of the study. We will discuss this, along with other specifics of the study, during the consenting process.

3. Who is sponsoring the trial? Should I trust you?
We have a number of FDA-approved COVID vaccine trials underway and in the pipeline, in phase 2 and phase 3, sponsored by preeminent pharmaceutical companies. We, here at the Texas Center for Drug Development, along with our partner institution DM Clinical Research comprise the largest non-institutional clinical research networks serving Greater Houston for over a decade and a half.

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Originally posted by MNSIG:

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Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
There were a surprising number of N95 masks in use. You know, the ones with a valve that let everything you exhale escape the mask. You know, the thing that wearing masks is supposed to prevent.

I would guess that the valved N95 does a pretty good job of directing a cough or sneeze down toward the floor.

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Anybody want to be a human guinea pig?

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Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
Short story, everything went well and as expected, but the whole production was an exercise in healthcare theater.

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Originally posted by roberth:
For anyone wondering...

This C19 shitshow is and always has been about politics. This event is another futile attempt to depose a sitting president. This entire event is political theater, anyone who claims otherwise is a liar and a fraud.

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NORTHSIDER REED HOGAN'S OVER-THE-COUNTER COVID-19 TREATMENT CUTS DEATH RATE 25-40%

Northsider Dr. Reed Hogan
By Wyatt Emmerich, READ MORE > 120487 views
On Tue, 07/07/2020 - 03:28 PM
COVID-19 Treatment Success with a Combination of Two Over-the-Counter Drugs -- Pepcid and Zyrtec

Stops cytokeine storm

Jackson, Miss. --- It began with a treatment for skin inflammation. Then, Reed Hogan II, MD, began pondering if an inexpensive, available, over-the-counter treatment might also work in severe gastrointestinal illness, much of it caused by inflammation. He was seeing success. Then, COVID-19 hit. He connected the inflammation dots, and wanted to attack the cytokine storm of the novel virus.

He contacted a leader in the nation’s largest pulmonary organization to start a physician-sponsored study with critical hospitalized patients. The result: his team cut death rates by 25-40%, down to 15.5%, and 8.2% not including those with DNRs (do-not-resuscitate orders). They also reduced the intubation rate (need for a ventilator) down to 16.4%, a reduction of 1/3 to 1/2 of reported rates in the pandemic.

“I wanted to see if we blunt the cytokine storm with medications anyone in the world can find and afford,” said Hogan, partner with GI Associates in Jackson, Mississippi. The study was not sponsored by a pharmaceutical company or government grant, but by the physicians of GI Associates themselves.
Working to treat a large group of patients, many already in intensive care units, the ages of these very sick patients skewed towards 60-plus in age, with many coming from nursing homes. Based in Mississippi, where general health is often compromised due to socio-economic issues, these patients averaged a high 2.7 in co-morbidities (other health problems). Of those patients, 59% were African-American and 59% female, according to the data.

The selected drug combination included an allergy (antihistamine) and an antacid (acid-reducing drug), commonly found on shelves that have been safely used for decades. While the answer appears simple, it is actually quite complex. These two meds, cetirizine and famotidine, work to block H1 and H2 histamine receptors, producing a one-two punch against inflammation, a deadly factor the cytokine storm of COVID-19, according to Hogan.

With the historically safe nature of these common drugs, and the lack of other proven therapies, Dr. John Studdard, well-known for his leadership in pulmonary medicine, and the physician practice group, Jackson Pulmonary Associates, agreed to try the treatment in critically-ill patients. Two weeks later, positive results began to emerge. This meant sending people once on the edge of dying, home to complete recovery.

“It was pretty dramatic. We thought the data might be too good to be true, but the positive results kept coming,” said Hogan.

While many of the other treatments being offered require specialized equipment, or expensive drugs or biologics, this protocol uses drugs already on pharmacy shelves. The savings could reduce treatments that cost in excess of $3,000, to potentially less than $100 in drug costs.

“The drugs are so scalable, easy to produce and inexpensive, that this combination should be readily accessible to impoverished countries across the globe,” said Hogan.

While the drugs they are using have long had approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), still their new approach is off-label, thus not currently approved for the treatment of COVID-19. This initial study included a cohort of 110 patients. The research article has been submitted for publication review; a preprint of the manuscript is available at

https://doi.org/10.22541/au.159406460.01530066

Testing on a larger scale in well-controlled, rigorous trials are warranted by these favorable results, according to Hogan.

“It is an optimistic result in a time when people are vulnerable. Dr. Hogan is striving to do good in a time of need. This has the potential to be a remarkable weapon against this worldwide pandemic,” said Douglas Paul, PharmD PhD, partner in Medical Marketing Economics.

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Originally posted by cparktd:

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Originally posted by MNSIG:

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Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
There were a surprising number of N95 masks in use. You know, the ones with a valve that let everything you exhale escape the mask. You know, the thing that wearing masks is supposed to prevent.

I would guess that the valved N95 does a pretty good job of directing a cough or sneeze down toward the floor.

I have a couple I used for dusty situations and etc and the valve exit routs the exhale straight down toward you chest.

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Originally posted by Georgeair:
Regardless of your view on the virus but assuming you acknowledge the public reaction to possible mitigating treatments you may want to read this. A local group that does some other studies from time to time. The theory is that not only does it reduce mortality but also severity of cases that otherwise would have just been uncomfortable.

At the very least, if you take either of these drugs regularly and you're low you may want to get some before it disappears along with the TP.

NORTHSIDER REED HOGAN'S OVER-THE-COUNTER COVID-19 TREATMENT CUTS DEATH RATE 25-40%