[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by kgrund

This article speaks to the heart of what has been bugging me for a long time since this pandemic hit, which is what was the scientific community doing during these non-pandemic years? I know that science is hard. I know that research needs funding. However, so much of what we have been wrestling with beyond the unique characteristics of the virus itself should have been further down the road then they are. Why don't have a better understanding of immune system responses to classes of viruses? Why did it take so long to understand the role T-Cells play in the immune system response? Why was the need (if there is) for mask usage already strongly settled science? Why are they relying so heavily on a virus test that can't even tell if the virus is active and hence infectious? I can go on, but I think while the media has spent an overwhelming majority of its time blaming the government for its handling of the pandemic, it seems like the readiness of the scientific community for a pandemic has been given a huge pass IMO. We should not be 5-6 months into a pandemic and trying to figure out issues that do not specifically relate to the virus itself. Maybe I am just ignorant on this front, but that has been my irritation for quite a while.

12/ Let’s get back to herd immunity via T cells.

If ~50% of people had T cell immunity prior to SARS-CoV-2, then that leaves 50% of the population susceptible.

In the regions hit hardest by COVID-19, serology studies show new cases and deaths peaked at around 10-20% infected.

— James Todaro, MD (@JamesTodaroMD) August 10, 2020

14/ It is likely that many of the hardest hit regions of the world (e.g. Lombardy, NYC, Madrid, London, Stockholm) are now at herd immunity.

Lockdowns & mask ordinances (mostly coming after the peak) likely had little effect, with the exception of perhaps prolonging the spread.

— James Todaro, MD (@JamesTodaroMD) August 10, 2020