BC HEALTH
Saved by @Alex1Powell

The new Variant Under Investigation (VUI) was re-designated Variant of Concern (VOC) 202012/01 on 18 December

This is an excellent report by @PHE_UK, but it’s a bit technical so I’ll try to unpick it for you

https://t.co/M9f3zaimF5

1/14

 The team at @PHE_uk begin by explaining that on 8 Dec they investigated the surge in cases in the South of England. Only 4% (255/6130) of Kent cases had genetic sequence data, but of these 117 genetically similar cases had been collected between 10-18 Nov

2/14
When looking at national data, these 117 cases were part of a larger cluster of 962 (to 8 Dec) in Kent, NE London, plus a few in rest London, Anglia, Essex

3/14
915 or the 962 cases had additional data: 828 were from November, 79 in Oct, 4 from Sept

90% were from <60 years old (further detail not yet available here)

6 patients had already died

4/14
As of 20 Dec, most cases were in London, the SE and East of England.

Of note, 3 of the main testing labs use a PCR test for 3 different viral genes: N, ORF1ab, S.

The new VOC has a mutation that makes this test negative for S (spike), but positive for the others.

5/14
This 'S-gene target failure' (SGTF) proved useful because 97% of pillar 2 (non-hospital) PCR tests negative for S, but positive for N and ORF1, were this VOC. Using this, it was possible to calculate that VOC is more transmissible, adding about 0.5 to the R value

6/14
We can see here, the proportion of SGTFs in positive tests at one Lighthouse lab. Early on, low level SGTFs were seen due to other strains(blue line), then from Nov the new VOC (red line, also called B.1.1.7) rapidly began to dominate the positive tests

7/14
The new VOC is defined by having 23 mutations.

Because of the way genetics works, 6 of these don’t actually change viral proteins (so-called synonymous mutations).

13 change amino acids of a viral protein (see Figure)

4 remove a small piece of a protein

8/14
Because this VOC has acquired an unusually large number of mutations, seemingly in one step, it is speculated that it might have arisen either in 1 person with a weak immune system (next tweet) or even in another animal (as happened with the Danish cluster involving mink)

9/14
For example, recently a patient on immunosuppressive drugs remained infected (with a different variant) for 154 days before dying. During that infection, the virus acquired many new mutations

https://t.co/f5JWWUOaqy

10/14
N501Y mutation in the S protein of B.1.1.7 & the deletion 69/70 may account for much of its the transmissibility. N501Y is known to increase binding to ACE2, a protein on our cells the virus uses to gain entry. N501Y appears to allow the virus to infect mice too.

11/14
501 is where neutralising antibodies often act, so it's possible that N501Y might affect such antibodies.

Although N501Y has not yet been tested, other mutations at 501 decrease the effectiveness of LYCoV016, a monoclonal antibody developed to treat COVID19

12/14
There is no information about natural antibodies, which, because of their diversity, target many parts of a virus at once. But, vaccination generates lots of different antibodies, so is less likely to be adversely affected.

13/14
There is much still to understand about this variant, but the speed of progress by @PHE_uk and @CovidGenomicsUK is nothing short of breath-taking.

They deserve our thanks!

14/14

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Thread on how atheism leads to mental retardation (backed with medical citations🧵💉)

To start with, atheism is an unnatural self-contradicting doctrine.

Medical terminology proves that human beings are naturally pre-disposed to believe in God. Oxford scientists assert that people are "born believers".

https://t.co/kE0Fi588yn
https://t.co/OqyXcGIMJn


It should be known that atheism could never produce an intelligently-functioning society and neither ever will.

Contrastingly, Islam produced several intellectuals & polymaths, was on the forefront of scientific development, boasting 100% literacy


It is also scientifically proven that atheism led to lesser scientific curiosity and scientific frauds, which is also why atheists incline to pseudo-science.

Whereas, religion in general and Islam in particular boosted education.

https://t.co/19Onc84u3g


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Clearly not.

There is INCREDIBLE stress on the health system right now in many parts of the country. Health professionals over worked, burning out, turning positive with families in droves. And sometimes cannot find beds for themselves or their family in the hospitals they are working in.

I have never seen this kind of a situation before. Lots of people reaching out for help. To provide care, advice, help patients and those in medical need is what health providers are trained for. It is what this is unique about health as a profession.

Imagine not being able to help because there is no capacity, no bed, because there are multiple claimants for that one bed all with medical need. Where the only way a bed might be available is a patient discharge or sadly, a patient death

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1) Move. Though 10000 steps is just a number but a good goal to keep. This should be one keystone habit
2. Lift. Do strength training. Twice a week Four movements X 3-5 sets X 3-5 reps at 80% one rep max is good

3. Cardio - Not needed if u do 10000 steps but good to bring in for endurance and heart health.
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