Support of BCG and potentially using polio vaccine- which is the preferred option in this report – to assist in fighting off Covid – https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6496/1187

“an increasing body of evidence suggests that live attenuated vaccines can also induce broader protection against unrelated pathogens likely by inducing interferon and other innate immunity mechanisms that are yet to be identified. The stimulation of innate immunity by live attenuated vaccines in general, and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in particular, could provide temporary protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

“Large-scale clinical studies of OPV for nonspecific prevention of diseases were carried out in the 1960s and 1970s. These involved more than 60,000 individuals and showed that OPV was effective against influenza virus infection, reducing morbidity 3.8-fold on average (2, 3). OPV vaccination also had a therapeutic effect on genital herpes simplex virus infections, accelerating healing. OPV not only demonstrated positive effects against viral infections but also had oncolytic properties, both by directly destroying tumor cells and by activating cellular immunity toward tumors (2). These observations were among the first examples of viral oncotherapy, which is being actively pursued.”

“More recent studies confirmed these broad protective effects of OPV. Data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of OPV in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, showed that OPV given at birth reduced infant mortality by ∼32% (5). In addition, an analysis of the effect of annual and biannual national OPV immunization campaigns showed that they reduced all-cause mortality by 19%, with each subsequent campaign adding a further 13% reduction (6). This means that repeated immunization has an additive effect despite antibodies induced by the first vaccination. Depending on initial age, it was necessary to give OPV to between 68 and 230 children to prevent one death within the first 3 years of life (6). These observations were made in the complete absence of poliovirus circulation, emphasizing the nonspecific nature of the OPV-induced protection.”

“Attenuated bacterial vaccines such as Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) against tuberculosis, as well as experimental live attenuated vaccine against pertussis (whooping cough), were also shown to protect against heterologous infections (5, 11). In addition, live pertussis vaccine also prevented noninfectious inflammatory diseases (11). RCTs showed that BCG vaccine at birth was associated with more than a one-third reduction of neonatal mortality, because BCG vaccine protected against deaths from septicemia and pneumonia (5). In 2014, an expert panel at the World Health Organization reviewed the evidence for nonspecific effects of live vaccines and concluded that they reduced childhood mortality by more than would be expected through their effects on the diseases they prevent (12). It is important to note that non-live (inactivated) vaccines do not seem to have the same effects, suggesting that replicating attenuated pathogens induce a broader immune response.”

“Numerous studies have shown that BCG activates the innate immune system, resulting in enhanced responsiveness to subsequent triggers, so-called “trained innate immunity” (13). BCG given 4 weeks prior to a yellow fever vaccine significantly reduced virus load, confirming that it could modify the course of a viral challenge in vivo. The effects were mediated through epigenetic modifications in innate immune cells, leading to higher innate cytokine production (13). BCG can also induce emergency granulopoiesis within hours of administration, leading to a marked increase in the number of circulating neutrophils, providing protection from sepsis (14). The duration of the nonspecific protection induced by live vaccines is unknown but has been observed to last for many months to years after vaccination. For example, BCG given at school entry (5- to 6-year-olds) in Denmark was associated with a 42% reduction in the risk of dying from natural causes until the age of 45 years (“

“We propose the use of OPV to ameliorate or prevent COVID-19. Both poliovirus and coronavirus are positive-strand RNA viruses; therefore, it is likely that they may induce and be affected by common innate immunity mechanisms. There are multiple important advantages to using OPV: a strong safety record, the existence of more than one serotype that could be used sequentially to prolong protection (2, 3), low cost, ease of administration, and availability. Over 1 billion doses of OPV are produced and used annually in more than 140 countries. Although the supply of BCG is limited, a small fraction of OPV intended for the suspended polio eradication campaign would be sufficient for the clinical trials, and provided a positive outcome, production could likely be scaled up quickly.

Another advantage of OPV over BCG is safety. Up to 1% of BCG recipients require medical attention, owing to adverse reactions. The risk of complications due to OPV is extremely low. Vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP) develops in 1 per 3 million vaccine doses given to unimmunized individuals and mostly occurs in immunocompromised children. Sequential use of IPV followed by OPV demonstrated that prior immunization eliminates the risk of VAPP. In populations with inadequate immunity, OPV was also shown to generate circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs). However, in countries with sufficient vaccine coverage, the risk is minimal: Over 35 years of OPV use in the United States has resulted in no documented case of cVDPV. Therefore, if used properly, OPV is likely a safer choice than BCG.”

On the HCQ front it is not likely wonder drug but still trying to conclude it is worthless is not so easy – https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/three-big-studies-dim-hopes-hydroxychloroquine-can-treat-or-prevent-covid-19

“On 5 June, researchers in the United Kingdom announced the results from the largest trial yet, Recovery, in a press release. In a group of 1542 hospitalized patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, 25.7% had died after 28 days, compared with 23.5% in a group of 3132 patients who had only received standard care”

High death rates likely mean very late stages….

“Many researchers agree that a good case can be made for continuing to test whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent infection if given to people just in case they get exposed to the virus, for instance on the job at a hospital—a strategy called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). “You have a much better chance of preventing something with a weak drug than you have of curing a fully established infection,” says White, who runs one of the largest PrEP trials. He notes that doxycycline, an antibiotic, has long been used in malaria prophylaxis. “We would never treat anybody with it, it’s too weak. But it’s a very good prophylactic.”

Landray, however, is on the fence about continuing prophylaxis trials: “I suspect it’s one of these decisions where there isn’t a right or wrong.” It’s an important question, Bhadelia says, because an effective PrEP drug could have a major impact on the pandemic. Hydroxychloroquine, a cheap and widely available drug, is one of the few compounds that could fit the bill.

But the Lancet paper, despite its retraction, will make it more difficult to continue current trials, White laments. Published on 22 May, the study claimed, supposedly based on data from 96,000 patients around the world, that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, whether given alone or in combination with another drug, caused a steep increase in deaths. That led many regulatory agencies to ask scientists to halt their trials and make sure they were not harming their patients. Recovery and Solidarity were temporarily halted but resumed after a safety committee took a look at the data.”

Covid not likely going away – https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/nothing-like-sars-researchers-warn-the-coronavirus-will-not-fade-away-anytime-soon/

“. It’s likely the disease will be here with us year-round and for years to come, says Albert Ko, an epidemiologist at Yale and co-chair of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group.

“This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away,” said Michael Ryan, director of WHO’s health emergencies program on May 13.

To call a virus “endemic” means that it has a constant presence in a specific location, explains Ngozi Erondu, an epidemiologist and research fellow at Chatham House.”

“the novel coronavirus might not have the staying power of some of these other endemic viruses. For one thing, it doesn’t mutate as fast as flu. And it doesn’t usually appear to hide out in the body after the initial infection, WHO specialists say.”

“there are still many hurdles to clear for vaccine development, Erondu says. “We keep getting these very hopeful estimates,” she says, “[but] we probably won’t have a vaccine for another two years at the minimum.”

Peiris says it’s possible a vaccine may come sooner — “maybe by early next year” — but that timeline assumes that everything goes perfectly. “We have to realize that there has been no vaccine for coronaviruses in humans,” he says.”

Brazil once again leading the pack 1239 deaths.

Brazil death much like US is centered in a region – Sao Paul

Total US death continues under 1K – Il taken over the lead for US death at 90. Confirmation is lead by CA.

County view we see Harris county (large part of Houston, TX) is noted in Bloomberg and discussions about shutting down the city again – https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-11/houston-may-reopen-virus-hospital-at-stadium-as-cases-expand

This seems quite an early discussion given the current numbers.

The 7 Day moving average confirmation is climbing but should be expected as you are testing more and I believe some of the antigen test are being included in the confirmation. The death rate is actually coming down. Overall fatality rate is a dream for many counties at less than 1%

India has surpassed Mexico in terms of 7 day moving average daily deaths. US is now below Russia.