Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in July 2020
When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
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[Still pic (kind of) and Audio] Majhe Maher Pandhari - Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-HB67NVLE, around 7 mins
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I saw the whole video. Thanks to @Sundaram Hammond for sharing it.
I think some of the language that Dr. Zelenko used (genocide, mass murder etc.) was unwarranted and needlessly controversial, given the trauma the world is going through due to COVID-19 pandemic.
But as a medical doctor (in upstate New York, USA), he has the right to share his views and his experience of treating COVID-19 patients with his "protocol" (Hydroxychloroquine + Zinc + Azithromycin). And I do think that top medical research bodies demanding randomized clinical trial before accepting such claims as valid, is fair.
While there is no treatment or cheap treatment for COVID-19, I think it is wonderful and courageous of Dr. Zelenko to openly share, and continue to share despite heavy criticism from some quarters, his positive experience of treating his outpatients with his "protocol".
I think freedom to share opinions of medical doctors who have a non-mainstream view, is important, in this fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO has not banned HCQ for COVID-19. It has only suspended its trials. [Link given in comment]
So it seems to me that it is not as if there is solid medical consensus worldwide that HCQ is bad for treating COVID-19.
Let the medical views of top medical bodies including WHO be shared, and let such non-mainstream doctors' views also be shared about COVID-19 treatment. Then let the informed person/patient discuss with his/her chosen doctor, and decide on what to take or not take, as prophylaxis or treatment for COVID-19.
Video is around 45 mins.
[Video has been removed now. Old link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Qubuhs_Pc ]
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WHO has not banned HCQ for COVID-19. It has only stopped its trials. See https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-hydroxychloroquine-and-covid-19 .
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Enjoyed watching this! Good to see test cricket resume with restrictions while COVID pandemic is ongoing. Gripping last day's action: Day 5 Highlights | Windies Win Thrilling Test | England v West Indies 1st Test 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuIz-4UBvcI, 15 min. 33 secs, published on 12th July 2020 by England and Wales Cricket Board.
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My salutations to brave Indian army warriors going to China border to protect our motherland from Chinese army aggression, and my salutations to their families as well.
Khadki is in Maharashtra, my former home state which has proud warrior and fighting for motherland traditions.
[Post video link: https://www.facebook.com/barathirajan60/posts/4269691549738085 ]
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West Indies legend Michael Holding breaks down discussing racism in the UK, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrffW5au8lA, around 15 mins, published on 9th July 2020.
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In response to a comment on the above post ( https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2900016236881601 ), I wrote: We need to hear the other side of the story too, in this case. For sure, if the defendant was discriminated against based on Hindu caste, then he should be given justice.
In response to a comment on the above post I wrote: Interesting info. about Carver (I think you meant Carver and not Craver). Thanks. I just read up his wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver.
In my schooling in Mumbai (then Bombay), I did have some coverage of Chandragupta Maurya and other ancient famous kings and dynasties of India, but the coverage was limited as compared to coverage of Mughals. But there was a lot of coverage of Marathas, especially Chattrapathi Shivaji Maharaj - perhaps as much as Mughals.
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Bill Gates on US reopening: We didn't get away with it like we thought, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZifjuDmma0, 10 min. 49 secs, published on 23rd July 2020 by CNN
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A top medical scientist and man of God whom I greatly admire - Dr. Francis Collins, Director of NIH, USA on coronavirus vaccine development in USA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSgU1dEi5Xo, 2 min. 35 secs, published by CBS News on 23rd July 2020
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The title of the video is provocative and CNN's Wolf Blitzer asks some politically provocative questions of Dr. Francis Collins, but I am sharing the video as I think Dr. Collins says some important things about where USA top medical research establishment is, in their work on therapeutics and vaccines against COVID-19.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY (POLITICALLY) NEUTRAL role in these posts that I put up which have some references to USA politics.
In particular, I have no comments on the views of Wolf Blitzer with respect to USA Presidential administration, and my sharing of this video should not be viewed as an endorsement of such views of Wolf Blitzer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82DivKBPS6g, around 11 mins, published by CNN on 18th July 2020.
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What a horrible thing this pandemic is! The dangerous virus does not differentiate between religious missionaries like priests & nuns, and the general public.
[USA] Convent outside Detroit lost 13 nuns to Covid-19 with 12 dying in one month, https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/us/felician-sisters-covid-deaths-trnd/index.html, 23rd July 2020.
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Some of my comments (slightly edited) in above post ( https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2902029456680279 ) :
I entirely agree with your comment, --name-snipped--. Cloistered communities take a big hit once the virus enters their community. However, I would not be surprised if some of the elderly nuns took the suffering and death in their stride, as God's Will. That is the power of faith. It can help one endure such suffering and death.
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To be fair, surely there have been, and there are, some Christian evangelists who have mocked Hindus and their faith in Hindu Gods. But the issue is tarring all Christians with the same brush (as such Christian evangelists). Do we know that these elderly nuns who passed away, mocked Hindus and their faith in Hindu Gods? The article certainly does not mention it. ... So I think the issue is the presumption that these elderly nuns who lost their lives to COVID, mocked Hindus for their faith in Hindu Gods, or supported such mockery.
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I certainly do not approve of any Christian or, for that matter, any person including some so-called Hindus, who mock faith of Hindus in Hindu Gods.
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But this post does not get into such mockery of people of other faiths at all. It is just a post about a tragic passing away of many elderly nuns in a Christian mission. Why drag religious bigotry (intolerance) into such a tragic and sad matter? That is the issue for me.
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The following small extract is from an article that has been accepted for publication in Nature. The article: Malaria Drug Chloroquine Does Not Inhibit COVID-19 Infection in Human Lung Cells, https://scitechdaily.com/malaria-drug-chloroquine-does-not-inhibit-covid-19-infection-in-human-lung-cells/, 24th July 2020
"The Infection Biology Unit of the German Primate Center (DPZ) РLeibniz Institute for Primate Research in G̦ttingen, together with colleagues at the Charit̩ in Berlin, was able to show that the malaria drug chloroquine, which has been demonstrated to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 infection of African green monkey kidney cells, is not able to prevent infection of human lung cells with the novel coronavirus. Chloroquine is therefore unlikely to prevent the spread of the virus in the lung and should not be used for the treatment of COVID-19."
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Good to see that Brazilian PM Jair Bolsanaro tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) in RT-PCR test (gold standard for coronavirus/COVID test). Here's his tweet on it: https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1286994557440348160/photo/1 , 25th July 2020.
Note that he tested positive for the Coronavirus thrice in past 2 weeks or so - first positive test was on 7th July. He was in quarantine after that.
Another report mentioned that he is holding a box of Hydroxychloroquine (which he was using and which he views as a cure for COVID-19).
I think this boosts the case for Hydroxychloroquine treatment in at least mild/initial stage COVID cases, even if the scientific evidence for it is reportedly not strong as yet.
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro says new Covid-19 test came back negative, https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/brazil-s-bolsonaro-says-new-covid-19-test-came-back-negative/story-5Zn0Hyd6FC5vxaysRQaGtI.html, 25th July 2020.
Bill Gates: There could be a 'substantial' reduction in Covid-19 death rate by year's end, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLIPrDh7-kc, around 3 mins, published on 28th July 2020 by CNBC Television.
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Here's what Fauci thinks about the latest Covid-19 vaccine trial, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK3W5IPE9Oc, around 10 mins, published on 28th July 2020 by CNN.
Towards the end of the video, the issue of reluctance of large number of Americans to get vaccinated is discussed. Data of a poll in May is provided: Would you get a Coronavirus vaccine? - that's the question. The responses:
Yes - 49%
No - 20%
Not Sure - 31%
Dr. Fauci talks of community engagement as a way to convince more Americans about how the vaccine will help protect them.
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I don't know about the exact negative issues with HCQ treatment for early COVID cases, neither do I know much about the heart related side-effects issues which some claim makes it dangerous treatment for those with heart issues. But if HCQ indeed has contributed to amazing success Dharavi slum in Mumbai has had in controlling COVID outbreak, then that info. should be shared widely. The problem is knowing whether the info. is true or not.
In any case, India ***allows*** use of HCQ as treatment for early COVID cases. So early COVID patients can discuss the possibility with their doctor and opt for it, if their doctor agrees.
[Article link: https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/this-indian-slum-contained-a-possible-covid-19-disaster-with-hydroxychloroquine ]
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Good to see Dr. Anthony Fauci interacting with top Indian medical research and development groups at forefront of fighting COVID in India.
Coronavirus | India has key vaccine role: Anthony Fauci, https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-india-has-key-vaccine-role-anthony-fauci/article32228300.ece, 30th July 2020.
Small extract from it:
Dr. Fauci, who is the head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said that two potential vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer were in advanced stages of human trials.
“India’s manufacturing capabilities is going to be very important. We have made it clear that all tests on vaccines will have to meet regulatory standards and include all ethical review and strong data monitoring and safety boards,” he said at the conference attended by top officials from the ICMR, the Departments of Biotechnology and the Health Ministry.
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