Category Archives: Uncategorized

I wanted to wish everyone a happy Father’s Day from pandemic pondering! As I said on Mother’s Day, the one most positive aspects of the “stay at home orders” was having my daughter back with us. Hopefully all fathers can look back on this episode and remember bonding with our young adult children as theyContinue reading “Eight things not to worry about this Father’s Day!”

One of the most contentious issues that has emerged in COVID-19 debate is the inaccuracy of statistical modeling of the infection. This has been exacerbated by a very contentious debate on how individuals in the public health community should frame disagreements about predictions are the COVID-19 epidemic.  Two recent articles have highlighted this debate. An editorialContinue reading “Projections and modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic”

On CNN.com the headline reads… COVID-19 trends from the NYT and in Florida, there is concerning news….. Looking at the actual numbers does not seem to indicate a big change? But, someone is finally trying to help Florida! The CDC has released a guidance aimed at government controlled and private beaches to help protect lifeguards and sunbathersContinue reading “Yes the COVID-19 news is confusing!”

The FDA announced yesterday that hydroxychloroquine had a negative drug interaction with remdesivir, the only antiviral drug that showed activity with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The reaction was severe enough that it negated the benefit of remdesivir for treating COVID-19.  This finding helped clarify why the FDA removed the emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine, since taking theContinue reading “Three important updates.”

Today, the FDA removed the Emergency Use Authorization supporting the use of hydroxychloroquine treatment or prophylaxis for COVID-19 infection. None of the multiple clinical studies involving the drug has shown any efficacy in treating or preventing COVID-19. While cardiac toxicity was a concern, no study suggested that was the defining issue. The most important thingContinue reading “The end of the line for hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19.”

Today several news outlets highlighted a new report suggesting a single amino acid change in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that could alter viral infectivity. This substitution changes the amino acid at position 614 of the viral spike protein from an aspartic acid (D) to a glycine (G).  The D614G virus, as it is identified,Continue reading “A press release suggests functional activity for the SARS-CoV-2 substitution D614G”

I did not expect to repeat this topic again, but the WSJ had an editorial today pointing out the disconnect between news headlines and political statements touting a resurgent coronavirus wave and the reality of the infection found in public health system numbers. The editorial is written from an economic perspective, however understanding the actualContinue reading “WSJ editorial points out fallacy of the COVID-19 “spike.””

I have been arguing against the reported “spike” in coronavirus cases in Texas. The support for this seemed to come from the media, without data that collaborates the concern. Then today I got this unsolicited email. I don’t know who this person is or what party this person belongs to, but selling your candidacy byContinue reading “Another source highlighting the “spike” in coronavirus cases in Texas! Guess who it is?”

In trying to understand the thousands of Twitter voices bemoaning the “spike” in infections, I first thought most of this was simply due to more testing. This is a significant factor, as more tests mean more positive tests regardless of the infection rate. However, it turns out there have been changes in several parameters ofContinue reading “Why fluctuations in reported numbers may not indicate a true increase in coronavirus infections, hospitalizations or deaths.”

I am very upset about the WHO and how they have handled several aspects of the coronavirus pandemic. I won’t focus on the politically charged concerns that they were not forthcoming about the pandemic origins early enough to prepare other nations. Instead I’m much more concerned about things like their support of Neil Ferguson’s discreditedContinue reading “Is the WHO wrong about everything?”