Coronavirus: Optimistic update

I know several people who click on the plethora of sky-is-falling links. I get that the media loves terrifying stories because those generate the most links. I get that this is a tough situation and that quite a lot of people are going to get seriously sick no matter what. Nevertheless, there are many signs of progress that may, possibly, tend to get buried in the world-is-ending stories. So, here:

Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is the most effective coronavirus treatment currently available, finds international poll of 6,000 doctors

Cutting Through the Fog Around a Cure for COVID-19

UPMC, Pitt scientists unveil potential COVID-19 vaccine

It will take some time, but rest assured: a coronavirus vaccine is coming, and it will work.

The first US coronavirus patients are being treated with convalescent plasma therapy. Will it work? Not even the doctors know

I haven’t read any of those articles. I just present them to you, in case you would like to read some optimistic articles.

And of course there are nice small-scale stories, like this one:

Boston police officer buys groceries for single mom

I do read pessimistic articles as well as optimistic ones. Here are my actual, real predictions:

–The drugs that are under investigation will work, and they will very substantially lower the risk of catching this virus. I mean, everyone is going to catch it eventually, but once the drug regime has been tweaked and all the drugs are easily available, very few people will have to worry particularly about catching it.

–The blood plasma thing will pan out, but maybe not for the most critically ill patients. But it will turn out to be useful for a large percentage of patients.

–A vaccine of some sort will be available long before experts say it will; eg, way before 2 years.

Here is something I would like to see that I think will happen:

–A ton of drug manufacture will come back to this country, and stay here for at least 50 years before people forget that outsourcing all drug manufacture to China is a really stupid thing to do.

Here is something I would like to see that I don’t think will happen:

–The FDA gutted and every single person over the rank of administrative assistant fired. The CDC as well. I remember clearly a time when I thought those organizations were competent. Not anymore. I cannot believe the overwhelmingly awful, terrible, horrible, no-good response to this virus that we have seen from both organizations.

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