COVID-19 Resoures

This blog has been created to provide material facts relating to  COVID-19 . The views and advise herein are my own  not withstanding the material has been prepared by a graduate in the Medical Laboratory Sciences and are considered to represent an informed and competent  view to ALL of the issues encompassed by COVID19 in the light of gaping failures by PHE Public Health England  & and poorly presented Political Briefings

This Blog intends to be Independent, Objective, Balanced & Informed

As it is aimed at a broad audience Public , Journalist or Scientist Key Points for the Public looking for definitive facts are highlighted in BLUE

As of 19 June 2020 there have been 301,815 confirmed cases  and 42,461 deaths of confirmed cases

CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM / Public domain

What are the Symptoms

NHS UK have provided the following information on SYMPTOMS click to follow link  NHS -UK

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

• To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you have these symptoms. Stay at home.

The updated the CDC's full symptom list for COVID-19 is

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

There may be atypical presentations such as " Burning Chest " or Burning Eyes
and there may or may not be an associated high fever

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Clinical Guidance given to Clinicians by HM Government -  Investigation & initial clinical management of possible cases can be found on the link

Where applicable case management needs to ensure any co-infections Scientific American -April 16, 2020  COVID-19 Patients Need to Be Tested for Bacteria and Fungi, Not Just the Coronavirus Many hospitalized victims are developing potentially lethal secondary coinfections such as bacterial pneumonia and sepsis

"The Government have Acted on Scientific Evidence"

Scientific Evidence is currently evolving and in some cases contradictory . it is often dependent on what data is cited , on what time scale and by whom . Even when collated its interpretation can vary. The UK Government are currently advised by SAGE  Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Membership & composition is not made publically available  NERVTAG  New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group are another academic advisory group
There is some concern relating to the DH responses to recommendations particularly in respect of PPE see Meetings which were not followed up , funded or acted upon. There is a clear and evolving account developing on WIkIPedia  in regard to COVID-19 in the UK