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A comment on Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure Covid-19. Parent comment

Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by ascorbic on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @01:32AM (#26952389)
My kids have been coming back from school with the backs of their hands bleeding because they're so dry from being forced to constantly use sanitiser all day. This is because government guidelines have not been updated since it became clear that it's not transmitted by contact. We've had to tell them to use the smallest amount possible, and only on their palms.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by Tor3 on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @05:17AM (#26953704)
> [..] since it became clear that it's not transmitted by contact.

That'll need a reference. It's only a few weeks since a worker was infected in a one-person workshop[1], from the guy working there two days earlier. Testing showed that it was the exact same (rare) virus strain and the only explanation was that the second guy got infected from using the same tools as the first guy (not infected _through_ the hands of course, but presumably by touching his face afterwards. As one does).

(Keeping surfaces clean is the most important part, otherwise you'll have to clean your hands every time you touch something. As for myself I've become very self-conscious about what I touch.)

[1]https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&u=https:/...

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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by kevinmchugh on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @09:09AM (#26955338)
Assuming they did good contact tracing here and found that it really was the only way this guy was exposed, we're talking about a vanishingly rare route to infection. The article calls it one in a million infections. I think it might be rarer than that.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by ascorbic on Wednesday April 28, 2021 @01:57AM (#26966132)
Sure. When I said "not transmitted by contact" I should have said "rarely transmitted by contact". It has become clear that the overwhelming majority of transmisson is through aerosols indoors.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-r...

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4

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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by graeme on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @08:38AM (#26955052)
Very interesting, thanks. Though it remains exceedingly rare so far as we can tell.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by aspaviento on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @02:43AM (#26952796)
The purpose of the sanitizer is not to prevent contagion by contact, it's for you to make sure that your hands are clean before touching your face (mouth, nose, eyes). That's how you get infected, the virus get onto your hands for whatever reason and you touch your face. So technically it's true it's not transmitted by contact directly but it does indirectly.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by ascorbic on Wednesday April 28, 2021 @01:59AM (#26966141)
Yes, I understand that, but that's still a vanishingly rare route of transmission. The way you get infected is by inhaling aerosols.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by skinkestek on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @02:35AM (#26952752)
As far as I'm aware the only reason to use hand sanitizer is because soap (which is more effective - again AFAIK but this has been told since the start) is even more damaging do the skin when done often.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by zo1 on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @10:48AM (#26956650)
Let's not forget the incredible "convenience" factor of waterless hand sanitizer. Who needs a pesky basin, soap & running water when you can just spray this magical liquid on your hands and be done in a jiffy.
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Re:Pfizer is testing a pill that, if successful, could cure ... by jakeogh on Tuesday April 27, 2021 @03:47AM (#26953184)
Really? So... where do the guardians of these children draw the line? There's no line... just say it. The "gov mandate" conditioning is so well tested through history.

Kids, highest risk group for this flu virus... right?

Psychologically, they are, and I think you know that.

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