Can touching a barbell in the gym get you sick with the coronavirus?

[OA] Antibody Tests for Identification of Current and Past Infection with SARS‐CoV‐2

What are the implications of this review?

The review shows that antibody tests could have a useful role in detecting if someone has had COVID‐19, but the timing of when the tests are used is important. Antibody tests may help to confirm COVID‐19 infection in people who have had symptoms for more than two weeks and do not have a RT‐PCR test, or have negative RT‐PCR test results.

The tests are better at detecting COVID‐19 in people two or more weeks after their symptoms started, but we do not know how well they work more than five weeks after symptoms started.

We do not know how well the tests work for people who have milder disease or no symptoms, because the studies in the review were mainly done in people who were in hospital. In time, we will learn whether having previously had COVID‐19 provides individuals with immunity to future infection.

Further research is needed into the use of antibody tests in people recovering from COVID‐19 infection, and in people who have experienced mild symptoms or who never experienced symptoms.

Deeks JJ, Dinnes J, Takwoingi Y, et al. Antibody tests for identification of current and past infection with SARS‐CoV‐2. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013652
 
Since day 1 I never gave a fook about Covid19 even though I have asthma. I always go for groceries shopping and when I return home I forget to wash my hands and end up eating the stuff I bought.
Never caught anything except diarrhea for 5 weeks.
The thing with covid is if someone sneezes it will spread as fine particles and stay in the air for like half an hour. So you can avoid touching everything incl dumbbells and still get sick. This is one of the reasons why I simply don't care. I also never wore any masks. Only thing that makes me cautious are doctors and hospitals that's one thing I do try to avoid as much as possible.
 
It took the world about 100 days to go from 0 cases to 1 million detected cases. Then:

1 to 2 mil: 12 days
2 to 3 mil: 13 days
3 to 4 mil: 12 days
4 to 5 mil: 11 days
5 to 6 mil: 10 days
6 to 7 mil: 8 days
7 to 8 mil: 8 days
8 to 9 mil: 6 days

The pandemic is accelerating.


 
It took the world about 100 days to go from 0 cases to 1 million detected cases. Then:

1 to 2 mil: 12 days
2 to 3 mil: 13 days
3 to 4 mil: 12 days
4 to 5 mil: 11 days
5 to 6 mil: 10 days
6 to 7 mil: 8 days
7 to 8 mil: 8 days
8 to 9 mil: 6 days

The pandemic is accelerating.




Nope, they're just doing more fake tests.

You're profession and a lot of what you've been taught is bullshit. Sorry bro.

Everybody: prepare to starve to death. And no crying, you did it to yourself.
 


In an unusual experiment, researchers found no coronavirus infections among thousands of people allowed to return to their gyms. Randomized Re-Opening of Training Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Like many countries, Norway ordered all gyms to close in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But unlike any other nation, Norway also funded a rigorous study to determine whether the closings were really necessary.

It is apparently the first and only randomized trial to test whether people who work out at gyms with modest restrictions are at greater risk of infection from the coronavirus than those who do not. The tentative answer after two weeks: no.

So this week, responding to the study it funded, Norway reopened all of its gyms, with the same safeguards in place that were used in the study.

Is there hope for gymgoers in other parts of the world?

The trial, begun on May 22, included five gyms in Oslo with 3,764 members, ages 18 to 64, who did not have underlying medical conditions. Half of the members — 1,896 people — were invited to go back to their gyms and work out.

They were required to wash their hands and to maintain social distancing: three feet apart for floor exercises, and six feet apart in high-intensity classes. The subjects could use the lockers, but not the saunas or the showers. They were not asked to wear masks.

Another 1,868 gym members served as a comparison group; they were not permitted to return to their gyms.

During the two weeks of the study, 79.5 percent of the members invited to use their gyms went at least once, while 38.4 percent went more than six times. Some were overjoyed to restart their routines.

Over the study period, there were 207 new coronavirus cases in Oslo. Study participants and gym staff members were tested for the infection on June 8. (Antibody tests of participants are now being conducted.)

Dr. Bretthauer and Dr. Kalager also examined Norway’s extensive electronic health records database for outpatient visits and hospitalizations among the participants.

The results? The researchers found only one coronavirus case, in a person who had not used the gym before he was tested; it was traced to his workplace. Some participants visited hospitals, but for diseases other than Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

There was no difference in hospital visits between the groups, and there were no outpatient visits or hospitalizations because of the coronavirus. The findings were posted online on Thursday, but had not been peer-reviewed nor published.

Some experts felt the results demonstrated that returning to the gym was relatively safe — but only in places where there were few infections.
 
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Amber Lynn Gilles walked into a Starbucks in San Diego without a mask and was declined service, according to a Facebook post on her page.

She took a photograph of the barista who didn’t serve her, posted it and wrote:

“Meet lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I’m not wearing a mask. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.”

Her post backfired.

It quickly collected more than 100,000 reactions and comments, as well as nearly 50,000 shares. Many Facebook users defended the barista, Lenin Gutierrez, and some called Gilles a “Karen” — a name coined to describe an entitled white woman making inappropriate remarks.

That’s when Matt Cowan, a man who doesn’t know Gutierrez but stumbled upon the post, decided to start a virtual tip jar for the barista on GoFundMe. Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen organized by Matt Cowan

Cowan called the donation page “Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen.” In the description, he wrote, “Raising money for Lenin for his honorable effort standing his ground when faced with a Karen in the wild.”

Cowan said he never expected to reach more than $1,000. But in just three days, the total amount is more than $28,000, and it continues to increase by the hour.

“Everybody is rallying around somebody for doing what they’re supposed to do and trying to protect everyone else,” Cowan said in an interview with KGTV. “It just goes to show you there are a lot of good people out there and that outweighs the bad.”

Gutierrez said he’s blown away by the support. In a Facebook video, he thanked everyone who donated, and he also shared his side of the story.
 


In an unusual experiment, researchers found no coronavirus infections among thousands of people allowed to return to their gyms. Randomized Re-Opening of Training Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Like many countries, Norway ordered all gyms to close in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But unlike any other nation, Norway also funded a rigorous study to determine whether the closings were really necessary.

It is apparently the first and only randomized trial to test whether people who work out at gyms with modest restrictions are at greater risk of infection from the coronavirus than those who do not. The tentative answer after two weeks: no.

So this week, responding to the study it funded, Norway reopened all of its gyms, with the same safeguards in place that were used in the study.

Is there hope for gymgoers in other parts of the world?

The trial, begun on May 22, included five gyms in Oslo with 3,764 members, ages 18 to 64, who did not have underlying medical conditions. Half of the members — 1,896 people — were invited to go back to their gyms and work out.

They were required to wash their hands and to maintain social distancing: three feet apart for floor exercises, and six feet apart in high-intensity classes. The subjects could use the lockers, but not the saunas or the showers. They were not asked to wear masks.

Another 1,868 gym members served as a comparison group; they were not permitted to return to their gyms.

During the two weeks of the study, 79.5 percent of the members invited to use their gyms went at least once, while 38.4 percent went more than six times. Some were overjoyed to restart their routines.

Over the study period, there were 207 new coronavirus cases in Oslo. Study participants and gym staff members were tested for the infection on June 8. (Antibody tests of participants are now being conducted.)

Dr. Bretthauer and Dr. Kalager also examined Norway’s extensive electronic health records database for outpatient visits and hospitalizations among the participants.

The results? The researchers found only one coronavirus case, in a person who had not used the gym before he was tested; it was traced to his workplace. Some participants visited hospitals, but for diseases other than Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

There was no difference in hospital visits between the groups, and there were no outpatient visits or hospitalizations because of the coronavirus. The findings were posted online on Thursday, but had not been peer-reviewed nor published.

Some experts felt the results demonstrated that returning to the gym was relatively safe — but only in places where there were few infections.


Bretthauer M. Randomized Re-Opening of Training Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. medRxiv 2020:2020.06.24.20138768. Randomized Re-Opening of Training Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Most countries closed training facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have negative consequences for peoples health and wellbeing. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission and COVID-19 disease attributable to training facilities.

Methods: we randomized members 18 to 64 years with no COVID-19 relevant comorbidities at five training facilities in Oslo, Norway to access or no access to their facility. Facilities were opened from May 22, 2020 for individuals randomized to training, applying increased social distancing (1 meter for floor exercise, 2 meters for high-intensity classes), enhanced hand and surface hygiene. Locker rooms were open, showers and saunas were closed. We compared SARS-CoV-2 PCR status by self-administered naso-, oropharyngeal and sputum sampling after two weeks and clinical disease by linkage to electronic patient records after three weeks.

Results: 3,764 individuals were randomized and included in analyses; 1,896 in the training and 1,868 in no-training arms. In the training arm, 81.8 percent trained at least once at the facilities. Out of 3,016 individuals who returned the SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests, there was one positive test. The positive individual was randomized to training, but had not used the facility before testing day. Contact tracing revealed the workplace as transmission source. A total of 106 individuals had outpatient hospital visits, and six individuals were admitted to hospital during the three weeks after intervention start, with no differences between arms. There were no outpatient visits or hospital admissions due to COVID-19 in either group.

Conclusions: Provided good hygiene and social distancing measures, there was no increased COVID-19 spread at training facilities.
 
Challenges to Athletes During the Home Confinement Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

The world is currently facing a serious coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This novel coronavirus is a new virus for which effective drugs and vaccines have not yet been developed. Amateur and professional athletic events around the world have been stopped, and teams and athletes have had to adopt social withdrawal measures, interrupting their training and preparation routines for competitions. Given this alarming scenario, this article aims to alert athletes to the importance of maintaining a conditioning routine during this confinement period.

Andreato LV, Coimbra DR, Andrade A. Challenges to Athletes During the Home Confinement Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Strength & Conditioning Journal 2020;42. Challenges to Athletes During the Home Confinement Caused... : Strength & Conditioning Journal
 

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott shut down bars in Texas again on Friday and scaled back restaurant dining, the most dramatic reversals yet as confirmed coronavirus cases surge.

Abbott also said rafting and tubing outfitters on Texas’ popular rivers must close and that outdoor gatherings of 100 people or more must be approved by local governments.

“At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said. “The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health.”

He did not say when bars might reopen again.

Texas has reported more than 17,000 confirmed new cases in the last three days with a record high positive tests of 5,996 on Thursday. The day’s tally of 4,739 hospitalizations was also a record. The state’s rolling infection rate hit nearly 12%, a level not seen since the state was in a broad lockdown in mid-April.

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the COVID-19 virus without feeling sick.
 


Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Friday plans to move to the worst threat level, calling for a return to the stay-at-home conditions of March and April, as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike, three county officials said.

Hidalgo lacks the authority, however, to issue a mandatory stay-at-home order as she did in March, since Gov. Greg Abbott took control of the state’s reopening in May. She has said the governor reopened the state too quickly, leaving Harris County at risk of an uncontrolled outbreak that has now unfolded.

Hidalgo will announce the threat level downgrade at an 11 a.m. news conference.

The county judge on June 11 unveiled a four-stage threat level system to help residents more easily understand the severity of the pandemic here. Hidalgo initially placed the county at Level 2, the second most serious, which is defined by an ongoing transmission of the virus.

Since last week, the county has met four of the five criteria to move to Level 1, described as a worsening outbreak causing a surge in demand at health care facilities. These benchmarks include seven-day increasing trends in new cases and hospitalizations. https://www.readyharris.org/Stay-Safe

The Texas Medical Center on Thursday reported 100 percent of its base ICU capacity was full for the first time during the pandemic, driven by a jump in COVID patients. The hospital may exhaust surge beds — temporary space for use in emergencies — by July 6, according to modeling by the hospital system.
 
Thinking through COVID risk factors associated with being in enclosed spaces with potentially infectious occupants - may be off-base, but interested in opening discussion.
 
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