Translation of external news
News (1)
The number of confirmed diagnoses hit a one-year high as soon as it was unblocked! Doctor: Singapore is a good reference for Taiwan
Editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Sources : Liberty Times Net, Channel News Asia
Recently, the Taiwan covid epidemic has slowed down, and whether it can be unblocked on 26 July has become a hot topic for many people. Attending physician, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Hospital Chen Zhijin pointed out that the Singaporean government announced the relaxation of control on 12 July. As a result, the number of diagnoses in a single day hit a new high on 19 July 2021. Therefore, Taiwan should use Singapore as a reference to another outbreak of immunity.
Chen Zhijin posted on Facebook's "Icu Doctor Chen Zhijin" that Singapore’s vaccine delivery plan is the fastest in Southeast Asia, and the country’s rate of at least one dose has exceeded 70%. Because the epidemic is well controlled, the Singapore government relax of epidemic prevention measure was announced on 12 December but recently there has been another outbreak of large-scale cluster infections, mainly in KTV nightclubs and Jurong Fishery Port. The number of newly confirmed cases in a single day is 172 on 20 July 2021, a record high in the past year.
Chen Zhijin pointed out that the last covid wave of migrant workers in Singapore took place in April 2020 and it took nearly 5 months to be brought under control. In comparison, the Taiwanese wave of the covid epidemic can be controlled within two months, which is considered very good. In addition, Singapore has been administering the vaccine rapidly since the beginning of 2021. Although Taiwan has been late for nearly half a year, the rate of vaccinations has actually been fast in the past 1 tp 2 months.
Chen Zhijin emphasized that Singapore is a good reference for Taiwan. First of all, migrant workers and nightclubs must still be very careful, and even if the vaccine delivery rate is high, there may still be an outbreak, which should not be ignored at all. In addition, "people who have not been vaccinated" during the pandemic also need to pay attention. Even the United States is still facing this problem. It can be estimated that the vaccine coverage rate of 60% to 70% may not be enough. Therefore, Chen Zhijin suggested that when a vaccine is available, it can be and it is better to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
As of 22 July 2021, Singapore has returned to Phase II (Heightened Alert) with dining suspended immediately and group size reduced to two to control the covi spread. There are 182 new community covid cases, with 135 cases linked to Jurong Fishery Port and 13 inbound cases, in Singapore on 20 July.
Refs: https://health.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/3609743, Channel News Asia
News (2)
Paraguay approves MVC covi vaccine for Phase 3 clinical trials locally
Reporter : Chen Yongji / https://ec.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/3609718
MVC Vaccines (Medigen) announced on 20 July 2021 that it has been approved to carry out the Phase 3 clinical trial of the covi vaccine in Paraguay. It is expected that all subjects will be accepted in the third quarter of this year, and will be completed this year. Interim analysis data was obtained in four quarters.
Medigen said that Paraguay currently has a cumulative number of confirmed cases of 444,992 people and 14,288 deaths. Since June, the number of confirmed cases in a single day has exceeded 3,000, and the number of deaths per day is about 130, the highest death rate in the world. It is one of the countries that urgently requires a covi vaccine.
Medigen filed a Phase 3 clinical trial application with the Paraguayan Medical Regulatory Authority-DINAVISA on 6 July 2021. After review and evaluation by DINAVISA, the company officially obtained Phase 3 on 20 July, Taiwan time. The clinical trial is approved and the case can be accepted for Phase 3 human clinical trials.
Medigen pointed out that this Phase 3 clinical trial is a high-end vaccine in collaboration with the University of Asunción University of Paraguay School of Medicine. The trial adopts an immune bridging design and AstraZeneca (AZ vaccine) for comparison. The Phase 3 human clinical trial is expected to admit about 1,000 people, and the interim analysis data will be obtained in the fourth quarter of this year.
MVC Vaccines said that the clinical trial will accelerate its deployment in the Central and South American market after obtaining local clinical safety and immunogenicity comparison data in Paraguay.
News (3)
Relevant expenses in Paraguay will be paid by MVC Vaccines
Medigen said that in the second half of this year, it will discuss inspection and registration with DINAVISA, the National Health Inspection Agency of Paraguay, and that relevant expenses such as clinical trials and inspection registration will be paid by MVC.
News (4)
Announcing a downgrade on 26 July? Chen Shizhong reveals key indicators
Editor : Zhuang Yating
As the Taiwan epidemic has slowed down, the command centre reveals that Taiwan may downgrade the alert level on 26 July 2021. On 20 July 2021, 18 new local covid cases were announced. When will the outside world be unblocked? Commander Chen Shizhong responded at a press conference on 20 July.
The command centre commander stated that the 18 new local cases (9 of them were positive during home isolation or at the expiry of the expiry date) were 13 men and 5 women, aged in their 20s to 80s. The date of onset is between 12 and 19 July 2021.
The distribution of cases is highest in Taipei with 7 cases, followed by New Taipei with 6 cases, Keelung with 3 cases and Taoyuan with 2 cases; 13 of them are known sources of infection, and the remaining 5 cases are unknown. Epidemic investigations will continue to clarify the source of infection.
Chen Shizhong said that most of the new cases today are in Shuangbei, and there are sporadic sources of infection in various counties and cities.
Clustering incidents occurred in the past two weeks, mainly family clusters, and the age of the cases is declining.
Local governments should prevent and treat covid at this stage. The focus is to include young people, and pay more attention to the risk of community transmission, and continue to strengthen, the treatment of patients and the improvement of the medical system, in response to possible future epidemics with variable numbers.
Regarding whether to unblock? Chen Shizhong said that preparations will be made next week. If there is no sudden change in the epidemic, some epidemic prevention control measures may be loosened.
Local governments are also requested to pay close attention to the follow-up effects so that the epidemic can be quickly and effectively prevented. The relevant loosening measures will also find the local government to discuss matters that need to be paid attention to in the implementation.
Regarding the "gentle slope" downgrade on 26 July, Chen Shizhong said yesterday (19 July) that it will be implemented slowly and steadily based on the four principles of gradual and orderly progress, proper planning, strengthening of prevention and resilience. He reminded that even after downgrading, people must still wear masks, maintain safe distancing and wash hands frequently.
According to the command center, there are 4 new covid deaths today, including 3 women and 1 man, aged in their 60s to 70s. The onset date is between 17 May and 16 July and the diagnosis date was between 22 May and 19 July while the date of death is between 16 and 19 July.
News (5) to (10) / Writer : Joseph Mercola, Compiled by Takasugi / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/21/7/20/n13100779.htm
News (5)
Research: Vitamin D can improve the treatment effect of infected patients
Do you know your Vitamin D level? If you don’t know, getting blood tests and optimizing blood levels is one of the easiest and most direct steps to improve your health, including dealing with covi (CCP virus) infection. Vitamin D, as an immunomodulator, is a perfect drug candidate against common immune disorders caused by covid.
As early as November 2020, people knew that there was a significant difference in Vitamin D levels between asymptomatic infections of the COVID-19 virus and severely infected people who needed intensive care unit treatment. The results of a study showed that 32.96% of asymptomatic infected people lack vitamin D; in contrast, 96.82% of severely infected people admitted to the intensive care unit lack vitamin D.
People infected with the covid virus, if they lack this cheap and widely available vitamin, will have more severe inflammation and higher mortality. In a study published in "Scientific Reports", the authors of the Indian study suggested, "A large number of vitamin D supplements for people at risk of COVID-19 virus." But this method has not been adopted, at least in the United States, this has not happened.
On the covid treatment guidelines/vitamin D page last updated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on 21 April, the agency stated, “There is not enough data to recommend or oppose the use of vitamin D, to prevent or treat COVID-19.” However, as you will see in the following paragraphs, the evidence that the use of vitamin D can prevent and treat covi infection is irrefutable.
News (6)
Vitamin D reduces the inflammatory storm of COVID-19
Vitamin D has many effects on the immune system, including increasing immune cells, producing antimicrobial peptides, reducing destructive pro-inflammatory cytokines, promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines, etc. Cytokines are a group of proteins that your body uses to control inflammation.
If you have been infected, your body releases cytokines to help fight inflammation. But sometimes, it releases more than it should. If the release of cytokines is out of control, the resulting "cytokine storm" will become dangerous and closely related to sepsis. Sepsis is thought to be an important factor in the death of people infected with covi.
Many COVID-19 treatments focus on how to eliminate the virus itself, rather than regulating the severe inflammation that usually occurs in the disease. In fact, researchers from Singapore wrote in a study published in the journal Nutrition that uncontrolled immune response is considered to be a factor that causes the disease to become more serious, which makes immune Immunomodulation has become "an attractive potential treatment strategy."
In a study published in Scientific Reports in May, researchers investigated the effects of "Pulse D therapy." That is, in addition to standard treatment, a large dose of vitamin D is supplemented daily for 8 to 10 days. After that, the vitamin D levels of covid infected persons with vitamin D deficiency increased significantly, from 16 ng/ml (ng/ml) to 89 ng/ml, while inflammatory markers were significantly reduced. And there are no side effects.
They wrote, "Vitamin D, as a smart switch, reduces the response of cell subsets Th1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the case of immune disorders, while increasing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. It is worth noting that SARS-CoV-2 activates the Th1 response and inhibits the Th2 response."
They concluded, "Pulse D therapy" can be safely added to the covid treatment plan to improve the efficacy.
News (7)
Vitamin D3 can reduce covid deaths and severe ICU patients
Another group of researchers in Spain gave Vitamin D3 (calcifediol) to patients admitted to the COVID-19 ward of Barcelona Del Mar Hospital. About half of the infected people took 21,280 IU (International Units) of Vitamin D3 on the first day and 10,640 IU of Vitamin D3 on the third, seventh, fifteenth, and thirtieth days. Those infected who received Vitamin D treatment improved significantly. Only 4.5% of the infected people needed to enter the intensive care unit; while the infected people who did not take Vitamin D needed to enter the intensive care unit, 21%.
Vitamin D treatment also significantly reduced mortality. The mortality rate in the vitamin D-infected group was 4.7%, while the mortality rate in the non-vitamin D group was 15.9%.
The researchers wrote in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, “In COVID-19 hospitalized patients, Vitamin D3 calcidiol treatment has significantly reduced the occupancy rate in the intensive care unit. And mortality."
In response to these findings, British MP David Davis wrote on Twitter, "This is a very important study on the relationship between Vitamin D and the COVID-19 virus. The results of the study are very clear. .Just through a very cheap and very safe treatment-calcidiol or active vitamin D, you can reduce 80% of the intensive care unit treatment needs and 60% of the mortality rate... This huge discovery and thoroughness The results of the research carried out should enable this treatment method to be applied to every covid-infected person in every hospital in the temperate zone."
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service previously provided free vitamin D supplements to people at high risk of covid. But they also stated that, as announced by the National Institutes of Health (U.S. NIH), "there is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of vitamin D to prevent or treat COVID-19."
Although their guidance does urge Britons to take vitamin D supplements between October and March in the fall and winter, "to keep bones and muscles healthy", it only recommends a daily dose of 400 IUs. This is 20 times lower than the general dose required for the health and optimal immune function of most people.
For the recovery of people infected with the covi, dosage is very important. In a randomized clinical trial conducted in Saudi Arabia, researchers compared virus-infected individuals who supplemented with 5000 IUs or 1000 IUs of oral Vitamin D3 daily. These infected people had previously average levels of vitamin D below the optimal level, and had mild to moderate COVID-19 virus infection that required hospitalization. Compared with the 1000 IUs group, patients in the 5000 IUs group had a significantly shorter recovery time from cough and loss of taste.
According to the researchers, "For people infected with the COVID-19 virus with low vitamin D levels, even short-term use of 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 is still worth recommending."
News (8)
Infected with the covid virus and was hospitalized? Require Vitamin D
More and more evidence shows that the use of Vitamin D treatment has obvious and better curative effects for hospitalized patients with covi infection. In another example from Spain, the death rate of COVID-19 infected people who received vitamin D3 treatment was 5%, while the death rate of infected people who did not receive vitamin D3 treatment was 20%.
The researchers explained in this regard, “Even if you choose subjects who are older (≥65 years) and have poor oxygen saturation levels (<96%) at the time of admission, they will be adjusted and severely affected. After various confounding factors related to sexual diseases, the protective effect of calcifediol [active vitamin D] is still significant."
Similarly, in the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Córdoba, Spain, 76 consecutive patients with covi infection were randomly assigned to receive standard treatment, or receive standard treatment plus vitamin D3 Supplement to quickly increase the level of Vitamin D in the body.
Of the 50 infected people who received increased Vitamin D treatment, only one was admitted to the intensive care unit. Of the 26 infected people who did not receive treatment to increase Vitamin D, 13 (50%) required hospitalization. The researchers pointed out, "Calcifediol seems to reduce the severity of symptoms in infected people."
In addition, "Among the infected patients who received calcifediol treatment, none of them died and all were discharged without complications; 13 cases of infection who did not receive calcifediol treatment and were not admitted to the intensive care unit All of them have been discharged from the hospital. Of the 13 infected people who were admitted to the intensive care unit without receiving calcifediol treatment, 2 died and the remaining 11 were discharged."
In a previous review, the researchers explained that vitamin D has a good effect in the high inflammation period of COVID-19 in the early and late stages, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a type of severe covid. A very common lung disease in 19 cases, it can cause hypoxemia and fluid accumulation in the lungs.
They wrote in a study published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: “Based on many clinical studies and patient observation data, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may be aggravated by vitamin D deficiency, and It is gradually weakened by the activation of Vitamin D receptors."
Even the conventional "booster doses" of Vitamin D, regardless of the baseline level, seem to be effective in reducing the mortality of patients hospitalized due to covi infection, especially the elderly.
Researchers from the United Kingdom pointed out, "This low-cost and widely available treatment may have a positive impact on the response to the COVID-19 epidemic in developing countries, especially in developing countries."
News (9)
Insufficient Vitamin D levels may increase the risk of death
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, including 13 studies involving 2,933 people infected with COVID-19, showed that vitamin D is a clear winner. The use of vitamin D in people infected with COVID-19 is significantly related to reducing the occupancy rate and mortality of the intensive care unit, while reducing the risk of adverse consequences, especially after the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.
Regarding the treatment of covid patients taking Vitamin D, 784 scientists conducted 87 studies. The results are as follows:
In 28 therapeutic trials, an improvement of 53%;
In 59 adequate studies, an improvement of 56%;
In 16 studies that treated mortality, it improved by 63%.
Some further clinical trials of Vitamin D in the treatment of covi infection are also underway. One of them was conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, which mainly studied whether daily intake of vitamin D can reduce the severity of covi infection in newly diagnosed infected persons, and whether it can reduce the risk of infection in household contacts.
News (10)
A simple and cheap method
Some positive developments have already appeared, and it is possible that this life-saving treatment can be used more widely. In May 2020, the French National Academy of Medicine issued a statement stating that “the use of Vitamin D is a “simple and cheap measure that can be reimbursed by the French National Medical Insurance”, and Explained in detail the importance of vitamin D to people infected with covid.
For people over 60 years of age who are infected with covid, they recommend a vitamin D test. If vitamin D deficiency is found in the body, a supplement of 50,000 to 100,000 IUs is recommended. For people under 60 who have tested positive for covid, they recommend taking 800 IUs to 1,000 IUs of vitamin D per day. A vitamin D review article published in Nutrients in April 2020 recommends taking a higher dose of vitamin D daily.
However, the article also emphasized: "In order to reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended that people at high risk of influenza and/or COVID-19 consider taking 10,000 IUs/day of vitamin D3 for several weeks to rapidly increase the concentration of 25(OH)D. , and then take a dose of 5000 IUs/day.
The article said: “The goal should be to increase the 25(OH)D concentration to 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 mg/l) or more. For those infected with COVID-19, it is possible to increase the dose of vitamin D3. It will work."
The best way to know how much Vitamin D you need is to check your vitamin D levels. Data from GrassrootsHealth’s D*Action Research (D*Action) shows that the optimal level of vitamin D for health and disease prevention is between 60 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml, and a sufficient level The critical value seems to be around 40 ng/ml. In Europe, the measurements you need to know are 150 to 200 nanomol/l (nmol/l) and 100 nanomol/l.
The author of this article, Dr. Joseph Mercola (Joseph Mercola), is the founder of Mercola.com. As an orthopedic surgeon, best-selling author, and winner of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his main vision is to help people control their health by providing valuable resources to change the modern health paradigm. This article was originally published on Mercola.com
News (11)
Corona enjoys brisk sales after a year
The worst affected by covi is "Corona Extra Beer" because its brand name is similar to that of the longer full name of the infectious disease covid (short for Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19, Covid-19). Its image was greatly damaged at the beginning of the epidemic. Constellation Brands, the brewery of the brand, has faced pressure to change its name but a year later the name proved the company's standing, and even increased the promotion of the hot-selling Corona beer.
News (12)
Ten more market fishmongers have been diagnosed, and the public can get test kits after visiting four markets
There are ten more markets in my country with fishmongers who have been diagnosed with covid. The Ministry of Health believes that these cases are related to the infected group of Jurong Fishery Port.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the ten markets include: Albert Market and Food Centre, Ang Mo Kio Central Market and Food Centre, Bedok Reservoir Road No. 630 Market and Food Centre, Jurong West 41st Street Market 497, Market 505 at Jurong West 52nd Street, Kim Keat Palm Market and Cooked Food Centre, Meihua Wet Market and Food Centre, Teck Ghee Market and Cooked Food Centre, Teck Whye Road Blk 146 Market, and the Tekka Market.
The public who have visited four market places can receive the rapid antigen test kit for free
To curb the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and the People's Association have joined forces to distribute antigen rapid test kits to the public who have visited four local market and cooked food centers in the past 14 days. Residents living near these four markets can also receive free kits.
The four markets are Cheng San Market and Food Centre, Chong Boon Market and Food Centre, Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre and Haig Road Market and Food Centre.
The People’s Association will distribute kits today (20 July) and tomorrow (21 July) at the neighborhood committee centers near these four markets.
The Ministry of Health strongly encourages eligible members of the public to pick up the kits and test them on their own. The public can go to https://www.gowhere.gov.sg/art to find the nearest neighborhood committee center to pick up the kit.
News (13)
Guangdong Qingyuan notified a nurse with a nucleic acid-positive line "Alpha" mutant strain
According to the official account "Release by Qingyuan", on 20 July, the Office of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Headquarters in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province notified 1 case of asymptomatic infection associated with inbound case:
On 19 July, Qingyuan People's Hospital found 1 case of asymptomatic infection during routine monitoring of the staff in the closed-loop management isolation area. After receiving the report, the relevant departments will deal with it in a timely manner, and the relevant information will be notified as follows:
The infected person, Tong, female, 29 years old, is a nurse in the Infectious Diseases Department of Qingyuan People's Hospital. She participated in the nursing work of the imported case Peng on 14 and 15 July. During the same closed-loop management, living in a quarantine area, and a single room, she was tested for new coronavirus nucleic acid daily. The throat swab collected on 18 July was initially screened positive by Qingyuan People’s Hospital. On 19 July, Qingyuan Disease Control and Prevention results of the re-examination of the center were positive. The Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Tong's covi gene sequencing analysis showed that it was highly homologous with Peng, the imported case it had nursed, and both belonged to the Alpha variant. After consultation with experts, comprehensive clinical manifestations, epidemiological investigations and laboratory test results, it is judged as an asymptomatic infection associated with imported overseas. In the afternoon of 19 July, she was transferred to the Eighth Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University for isolation and treatment.
As of 6.00 am on 20 July, 6 close contacts have been initially screened, 17 close contacts of close contacts, 2206 key screening personnel, 2258 nucleic acid samples, and the test results are all negative. 166 environmental samples were collected and the results were all negative.
News (14)
American research found "super antibody" and how it can cure covid patients
Editor : Lin Baohong
Recently, a research team in the United States has successfully discovered "super antibodies" against covi and other similar coronaviruses, and published the research results in the journal Nature. The research team conducted experiments with mice.
According to the news published on the official website of "Nature", the research team of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, USA, recently discovered a super antibody "S2H97". Central biochemist Tyler Starr revealed that he and his team found 12 kinds of antibodies based on samples of infected persons provided by the research cooperation company "Vir Biotechnology" and evaluated them. Among them, they found that the "S2H97" medium And antibodies are sufficient to effectively prevent covi and other type B coronaviruses.
The research team further discovered that the "S2H97" antibody can find a previously invisible and well-concealed area on the virus binding domain, and then neutralize it to prevent the spread of the virus. This region is a key part of the virus and will not disappear due to any mutations.
Therefore, the "S2H97" antibody is regarded as a "super antibody", which can not only prevent the covid infection but also cure all patients.
Regarding the results of this study, Arinjay Banerjee, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, believes that for the research team to find "super antibodies", It is a gratifying thing, and the remaining question now is how to deal with other viruses that are still unknown. Bannecki said that although scientists are currently unable to test the activity of an antibody against unknown viruses, the treatments and vaccines of pan-B coronavirus branch B will have the opportunity to help the world fight the next coronavirus from wild animals.
Ref: news.tvbs.com.tw/world/1549194?from=Copy_content, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01917-9
News (15)
The man was convulsed and comatose the next day after being vaccinated with AZ. Doctor: After vaccination, look out for "5 symptoms" and seek medical attention soon
Editor : Zhuang Yating
During the domestic expansion of vaccination, a 60-year-old man surnamed Wang in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung, received AZ vaccine on 17 July. He suddenly convulsed and passed out on the 18th and was sent to the intensive care unit after rescue. Direct connection to be clarified.
The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau first judged that it was related to cardiovascular disease. In response, Zhong Yinwen, director of the Chung Ho Memorial Hospital affiliated to Kaohsiung Medical University, urged people to seek immediate medical attention if they showed 5 symptoms after vaccination.
Wang developed cold symptoms such as chills and tiredness after being vaccinated, did not have a fever, and had trouble breathing the next day. He went to the emergency department of the hospital in the early morning and improved after taking the medicine. Unexpectedly, at 6pm in the living room at home, he was convulsed and collapsed while watching TV. His family called an ambulance urgently.
The medical staff arrived at the scene and found that he had no breathing and heartbeat. He was rescued by CPR and sent to the hospital. After rescue, he was transferred to the intensive care unit and installed with Yeke membrane for treatment.
For her husband's sudden discomfort and sent to the doctor, the wife was shocked and could not believe it, thinking that the other party was in good health, and she had persuaded him to get a vaccine as dangerous.
Wang Nan suffers from a history of chronic diseases and heart disease. The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau has initially determined that it may be related to cardiovascular disease. Whether it is directly related to the vaccine remains to be clarified. In this regard, Zhong Yinwen reminded people that if they develop fever for more than 3 days, dyspnea, instability of blood pressure, shock, change of consciousness and other 5 symptoms after vaccination, they must seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
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