Sports

Coronavirus, looking back at March 2021

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2021

sylvia J

I wrote my first article about COVID-19 on February 27, 2020, and wrote 5 articles related to this topic during March 2020. I thought it would be a good idea to look back at my thoughts during that time, and see how much of what I said was true, and how much was off target.

And for the next year should I plan on taking advantage of Intertops casino bonus or can I actually plan that Las Vegas vacation I was thinking about going on a year and a half ago?

Are we close to a vaccine or is it still 18 months away? (Feb 2020)

By February 27, 2020, Trump was already talking about having a vaccine “very soon”. Others were saying it was at least 18 months away. On September 1, 2021, we will have reached the 18 month mark.

Politicians, don’t take any of them seriously

Unless you have been living in a bubble, the United States is currently in the middle of the most heated presidential elections in US history. So, if the statement is coming out the mouth of a politician, take it with a grain of salt. About half of what they are saying is probably true, and the rest is politics.

A COVID vaccine did get to market by February 2021. That was great. It helped with the original COVID-19. But viruses mutate, and people can still be carriers and they still get sick. For the most part, it is not hospital sick, and people dying as with the original COVID-19. On the downside, the vaccine seems to become less “powerful” after 6 months. But it is unclear exactly how it is not as powerful. With people with immune system problems, did the vaccine just not hold or does the vaccine just not work? I do not know, and I do not think that even the people who created the vaccine know.

Around 1995-2000, the FDA started to accept PDF submissions. First, it was an option, and then it became a requirement. The days of tractor trailers driving up to the FDA offices were gone, but it still took, on average, 3 years for a drug to be approved for mass production.

Around the year 2000, the FDA changed its procedures, so instead of a company doing all of their research and then submitting everything, all at once, at the end of the process, they were allowed to submit things piece by piece. This change reduced the timeframe for an average drug submission from 3 years to 18 months.

That is still true. And when companies are given an incentive to put a certain project to the front of the line, and the FDA puts certains products to the front of the line, that 18 month number can be cut in half.

So which number is right?

The answer is that they are both right.

The 18-month figure is an average figure. That figure can be cut down by a specific drug being put to the front of the line. It can also be cut down by assigning additional people to evaluate the data.

But there are some things in the process that cannot be sped up. Checking antibodies 3 months in the future, 6 months in the future, 12 months into the future, etc. Although companies can run simulations and make expected predictions, nothing is going to take the place of seeing in real-time, under “normal” conditions, if something is or is not effective.

The second paragraph is especially true. When governments started to give the vaccine to the population, they did not know what the antibody levels would be like at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, in the future. The COVID vaccines do not maintain antibody levels at a point where they can fight off variants of the virus to the same level as the original virus.

How to beat the odds of getting COVID-19? (Feb 2020)

Understand how the Coronavirus is the same and different than a “normal” cold or flu. First, how long the time between somebody being exposed to a virus before showing signs of infection. For a regular cold, the time period is one to three days. For the flu, it is one to four days. For the Coronavirus, it is between two and 14 days. To put it simply, the time between exposure and showing symptoms is a lot longer.

This is still true.

With the original COVID-19 variant, people tended to develop symptoms or test positive between 5 and 8 days after exposure. They can be contagious 48 hours before showing symptoms or testing positive with a peak at 5.61 days.

For the Delta Variant, the time between initial exposure to a positive COVID test was 3 to 5 days with a peak at 3.71 days. Infected individuals with the Delta variant were contagious 2 days earlier than the original COVID patients, and they had a much higher viral load. So there was a lot more of the virus in their body that they could potentially transmit to others.

Delta variant COVID patients had viral loads that were 1260 times higher than original COVID patients.

The reason for this is that the Delta variants “likes the human body” much more than the original COVID virus, so it makes it much easier to reproduce.

If you were to graph the growth of the virus inside two individuals — one infected with the original version of the virus, the other infected with the Delta variant — both would start at zero, but the growth line for the Delta-infected individual would rise much more steeply. Not only would that individual’s viral load reach a detectable level (positive PCR test) more quickly; it would also reach an infectious level sooner. An individual infected with the original strain of the virus would, on average, become able to transmit the virus between three and four days after exposure, in the 48 hours before developing symptoms or testing positive. In contrast, it appears that someone infected with the Delta variant may be able to infect others within a day or two of being exposed.

What exactly is going on with the Delta COVID variant and vaccines? (Aug 2021)

Vaccination is highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death — even when it comes to the Delta variant. We also have evidence that fully vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others. “But no vaccine is 100 percent effective,” Stuopis emphasizes. “And because Delta reproduces so quickly and efficiently, it appears that the virus can sometimes reach detectable and infectious levels in vaccinated people before the vaccine-mediated immune response kicks in. Vaccination will likely keep you from getting really sick. It may keep you from developing any symptoms at all. But it might not keep you from spreading the virus to others.”

To put it in layman’s terms, when a vaccinated person gets exposed to the Delta variant of COVID, it becomes a race against time. The Delta COVID variant against the vaccine’s immune response? Each working. Each fighting. But since the body only knows how to fight the original COVID vaccine, it takes time for the body to learn how to fight the Delta COVID variant. Since your body has a head start, you do not end up in the hospital. On the other hand, you can still get sick, you can still transmit it to others. And the virus does not stop with you.

Do vaccinated people need to wear masks indoors? (Aug 2021)

If you are exposed to the COVID-19 Delta variant, you can expose others 1 ½ days later. The Delta Variant is more transmittable, because the viral load inside your body is higher. That means even with brief encounters, you can expose the virus to somebody else.

In August 2021, are covid vaccines worth it?

The simple answer is yes. In terms of the original COVID variant, which the vaccines were originally designed for, the COVID vaccines work (if you have not previously been exposed). For the Delta COVID variant, your body still has to learn how to fight the Delta COVID variant, but it is not learning “from scratch”. So although it takes time for your body to learn how to fight this specific variant of COVID, people are not ending up in the hospital (for the most part). And from the time that you are contagious to the time that your body learns to fight the Delta COVID variant, you can still get sick. If you did not have the vaccine, you could potentially end up in the hospital.

Remember, compared to the original COVID variant, the Delta variant has a viral load of 1260 times higher. And it is a higher viral load inside of your body that can be the difference between ending up in the hospital and not ending up in the hospital.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described Delta as more transmissible than the common cold and influenza, as well as the viruses that cause smallpox, MERS, SARS, and Ebola—and called it as contagious as chickenpox

The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates, and virtually all hospitalizations and deaths have been among the unvaccinated, the CDC says.

How long will the pandemic last (realistically)?

So, instead of a three- or four-year pandemic that peters out once enough people are vaccinated, an uptick in cases would be compressed into a shorter period of time. “That sounds almost like a good thing,” Dr. Wilson says. “It’s not.” If too many people are infected at once in a particular area, the local health care system will become overwhelmed, and more people will die, he says. While that might be less likely to happen in the U.S., it will be the case in other parts of the world, he adds. “That’s something we have to worry about a lot.”

This is a question that I have, why don’t we just expose the young and healthy (not people with pre-existing conditions) — expose them to COVID-19, but make sure that they are taking vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, and something to help the zinc absorb in the cells.

Many doctors discard this idea, because you do not know if the person would end up with a serious reaction or just “be sick”.

What are the symptoms of COVID Delta?

Cough and loss of smell are less common. Headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever are symptoms of the COVID Delta variant.

How long are you contagious with the Delta COVID variant?

No matter the variant, once you are contagious, you are contagious for 2 weeks.

Is the booster of the COVID vaccine worth it?

Prof. Sir Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, which has contributed to the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has even commented that, in his opinion, the highly transmissible Delta variant has made achieving herd immunity an impossibility.

“The Delta variant will still infect people who have been vaccinated. And that does mean that anyone who’s still unvaccinated at some point will meet the virus […], and we don’t have anything that will [completely] stop that transmission,” he told The Guardian.

Another argument against the booster vaccination is that low income countries still have not vaccinated all of the people in their countries that want to be vaccinated. Countries like Venezuela have only vaccinated around 8% of their population.

Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft – A Preview of What to Expect

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2024

sylvia J

The Chicago Bears are up first in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting closer as April draws to a close. The first overall pick in this draft is all but certain. Online sportsbooks all favor the Chicago bears to select Caleb Williams overwhelmingly.

And for us, all indications were that Chicago was leaning toward USC standout Caleb Williams after the Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of March.

However, the possible what happens after that is not so simple.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 NFL Draft, including dates and top prospects.

When is the NFL Draft in 2024?

The anticipated start timings for each draft day are as follows:

First round: April 25, Thursday, at 8 p.m. ET.
Rounds 2 and 3: 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26.
Rounds 4 through 7: 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 27.
Where is the NFL Draft in 2024?
In 2024, the draft will be held in Detroit.

Who will draft first overall in the NFL in 2024?

In 2024, the Bears will have the first overall pick. Last season, Chicago also owned the first overall pick, but the Carolina Panthers acquired it by trading up to draft quarterback Bryce Young. As part of the trade, Chicago received a first-round pick in 2024, which they ultimately selected with the first overall pick (the Panthers finished with a 2-15 record).

What order will the NFL Draft be in 2024?

The current top-10 choices for 2024 are shown below, and they may change:

Chicago Bears (from) Carolina team
Washington Commanders
New England Patriots
Arizona Cardinals
LA Chargers
NY Giants
Tennessee Titans
ATL Falcons
Bears (again)
Jets in New York

In the NFL Draft of 2024, who are the best prospects?

There are plenty of players that could alter the game in the 2024 draft. While Williams is the star, other quarterbacks Jayden Daniels of LSU and Drake Maye of UNC have received a lot of attention.

Some excellent pass catchers are Brock Bowers of Georgia, Rome Odunze of Washington, Malik Nabers of LSU, and Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State. In terms of defense, early picks should go to Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, Texas interior linebacker Byron Murphy II, and NC State linebacker Payton Wilson.

The Atlanta Falcons Will be Interesting to Watch

As the draft season draws to an end, it’s time to begin organizing all of our notes and information from various rumors and sources to have a better idea of the Atlanta Falcons’ options. The last week, the Falcons added depth players to their edge rusher and cornerback positions, but I don’t think those moves will affect the team’s plans in any way.

Before I get into my more prescient mocks, I wanted to do a mock in which Atlanta didn’t select an edge rusher with their first choice. This is to see how the team can handle other needs and how the remainder of the draft could proceed.

What if Atlanta selected a cornerback instead of an edge rusher at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft? That is the talk around the Falcons. I’ll walk you through the Falcons’ entire seven-round mock draft and show you how things alter when a cornerback is selected first overall.

Round 1, Pick 8

Round 2, Pick 43

Round 3, Pick 74

Round 3, Pick 79 from Jaguars, Calvin Ridley trade

Round 4, Pick 109

Round 5, Pick 142

Round 6, Pick 187

Round 6, Pick 197 from Browns

Sports

The Best Live Casino Will Have These Qualities

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2024

sylvia J

The Best Live Casino Will Have These Qualities

Live casinos are the new fad taking the gambling industry by storm. Players across Canada are jumping onto this new trend that brings unrivalled levels of engagement and excitement to the casino experience. By playing live casino games, players can experience the real thrill of casino games as if they are sitting at the side of a physical gambling table themselves.

It can sometimes be overwhelming for new players to discern what actually makes a casino good. Below, we’ve broken down the qualities that all the best live casinos have, so that our readers can take this expert advice and properly assess the best live casinos in Canada.

Best Live Casinos

For those players wanting to get started right now, our experts highly recommend the below live casinos, all of which are shining examples of the qualities an outstanding live casino has

Fire Vegas Casino
Dream Vegas Casino
Lucky Days Casino
SpinAway Casino
Casino Days
PowerPlay Casino

What is a Live Casino?

Live casinos are an exciting new addition to the casino industry. By joining live, high-quality video streams, players can get the real casino experience and participate in a casino game played in real time with a live dealer laying down the cards. This unique offering brings an unprecedented level of immersion and sociability to online casinos, which has long been missing since the cultural shift of gaming away from brick-and-mortar casinos.

Qualities of the best Live Casinos

Since the first live dealer games, live casinos have been springing up across the web. However, not all of these are made equally, and many live casinos will leave players wanting. Our experts have collated a comprehensive list of the best qualities so that you can pick the best live casino out of the chaff.

Diverse Catalogue of Live Casino Games

The most important quality in any live casino is the diversity of games on offer. Our experts know that casino gamers love variety, and the best live casinos will pack in a huge catalogue of live casino games so that players can enjoy the richest casino experience on their site.

Keep an eye out for all the classics, like live poker, live blackjack, live roulette, and live baccarat. Some casinos will offer less common table games and the best also include live game shows, which give players the experience of well-loved TV game shows and board games like Deal or No Deal and Monopoly Live.

There should be a number of rooms for each game, with varying rules, pots, and stakes. Live casino games often offer an exciting ruleset that varies by game, so when you play in the best live casinos, no two games will be the same.

Properly Licensed

Players should only use live casinos that are properly licensed. Casinos licensed by well-known gambling authorities are regularly audited for fairness and are obligated to comply with a number of regulations to ensure a secure and safe gaming experience.

In Canada, the most respectable gambling authorities are the Government of Curaçao, the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Top-notch Security

As part of their licensing, casinos are obligated to comply with specific security procedures to keep customer data safe and financial transactions secure. Look out for SSL encryptions to know that the most advanced security measures are being used to protect data.

It’s also worth reading through the privacy policy to see how a casino is using player data. Avoid anything that seems suspicious as the best live casinos will be transparent, honest, and respectable in their data usage.

Wealth of Bonuses and Promotions

The best live casinos give back to players. Get the most out of the casino experience by choosing casinos that offer a wealth of bonuses and promotions to both new and returning players. A healthy welcome bonus is a must, and look out for reload bonuses, loyalty programs, and daily bonuses in order to keep the bankroll running high.

Good live casinos will also have exclusive offers tailored to live table games. These include free chips, live casino-centric deposit bonuses, and cashback on live table games. When a live casino offers these, players can be assured that they have tailored their business model to fully support and develop their live casino games.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions before signing up for a casino, paying careful attention to wagering requirements and time limits to make sure that they align with your play style. Some less reputable casinos can hide extortionate turnover requirements in the terms and conditions.

Great Quality Live Casino Games

Players come to live casinos for an immersive experience, and the best live casinos will create a dedicated and streamlined live casino section on their site so players can concentrate fully on the live games. Our experts expect clean designs, intuitive menus, fast and high-quality video streaming, and active live chats. Any live casino meeting these requirements will be fun to play at.

Secure and Streamlined Payment Options

Players shouldn’t have to struggle at the first hurdle when joining online casinos. The best live casinos offer streamlined and easy deposits and withdrawals through a good variety of payment methods. Ideally, there should be a focus on secure options, like eWallets and cryptocurrencies.

Sports

Claim your Welcome Bonus Casino – Free Spins and Cashback Rewards

Published

1 week ago

April 13, 2024

sylvia J

Welcome Bonus Casinos offer exclusive perks like free spins, cashback rewards, and VIP loyalty programs. Claim your bonus by providing accurate information and making a qualifying deposit with possible bonus codes. Look for top welcome bonuses with generous monetary rewards, favorable terms, and low wagering requirements. Understanding terms like wagering requirements, game restrictions, and time limits will maximize your benefits. Choose bonuses wisely and compare to optimize rewards. Set limits for responsible gaming. Welcome bonuses can enhance your casino experience, providing a valuable start.

Benefits of Welcome Bonus Casino

Upon joining a Welcome Bonus online casino Malaysia, players gain access to exclusive perks and advantages that enhance their overall gaming experience. These benefits can include lucrative welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback rewards, and VIP loyalty programs. By taking advantage of these offerings, players can increase their chances of winning and prolong their gameplay without risking as much of their own funds.

One of the key benefits of a Welcome Bonus Casino is the opportunity to boost one’s initial bankroll through generous welcome bonuses. These bonuses can come in the form of matching deposits, where the casino matches a percentage of the player’s deposit, effectively doubling their playing funds. This extra money provides players with more opportunities to explore different games, strategies, and betting options.

Additionally, Welcome Bonus Casinos often offer free spins on popular slot games, allowing players to try their luck without spending their own money. This can be especially beneficial for newcomers looking to familiarize themselves with the casino’s offerings before committing financially. Overall, the benefits of a Welcome Bonus Casino can greatly enhance the overall gaming experience and increase the enjoyment for players seeking a safe and rewarding online casino environment.

How to Claim Your Welcome Bonus

To claim your Welcome Bonus, follow these simple steps to guarantee you maximize the benefits available to you.

First, create an account on the surewin casino https://www.my1sure.win/en-my/home of your choice. Provide accurate personal information to make sure a smooth verification process.

Second, make a qualifying deposit to trigger the Welcome Bonus. Check the minimum deposit amount required to activate the bonus offer.

Finally, remember to enter any bonus codes if applicable during the deposit process to make sure the bonus is credited to your account correctly.

Provide accurate personal information
Make a qualifying deposit
Enter any bonus codes if applicable

Top Welcome Bonuses to Look For

When seeking top welcome bonuses, discerning players prioritize offers that not only provide generous monetary rewards but also come with favorable terms and conditions. A key aspect to emphasize is the match percentage offered by the casino. A high match percentage means the casino will match a larger portion of your initial deposit, giving you more playtime and chances to win.

Additionally, players should look for welcome bonuses that include free spins or other perks, as these can enhance the overall gaming experience.

Another essential factor to take into account is the wagering requirements attached to the bonus. Lower wagering requirements make it easier to convert the bonus funds into real money that can be withdrawn. Furthermore, reputable casinos often have transparent terms and conditions, ensuring that players understand the rules associated with the bonus.

Terms and Conditions Explained

Understanding the terms and conditions of a welcome bonus is crucial for players looking to maximize their online casino experience. These rules govern how the bonus can be used and any requirements that must be met before winnings can be withdrawn. Here are some key points to take into account when reviewing the terms and conditions:

Wagering Requirements: Be aware of the number of times you need to wager the bonus amount before you can cash out any winnings.
Game Restrictions: Some bonuses may only be used on specific games, so make sure your favorite games are eligible.
Time Limits: Bonuses often come with a time limit within which they must be used, so be mindful of expiration dates to avoid losing out on the offer.

Maximizing Your Welcome Bonus

When aiming to maximize your welcome bonus at an online casino, strategic planning and prudent decision-making are key to enhancing your overall gaming experience.

To make the most of your welcome bonus, start by thoroughly understanding the terms and conditions set by the casino. Look for bonuses with reasonable wagering requirements and favorable terms to increase your chances of converting the bonus into real winnings. It’s important to compare different welcome bonuses offered by various online casinos to choose the most lucrative option.

Additionally, consider the games that contribute towards fulfilling the wagering requirements. Opt for games with higher RTP (Return to Player) percentages to maximize your winning potential while completing the bonus conditions. Budgeting your gameplay is crucial; set limits on how much you are willing to wager to promote responsible gaming practices.

Conclusion

To sum up, welcome bonuses offered by online casinos provide players with a valuable opportunity to boost their initial bankroll and increase their chances of winning.

By understanding how to claim and maximize these bonuses, players can make the most of their gaming experience.

It is important to carefully read and adhere to the terms and conditions associated with welcome bonuses to guarantee a positive and rewarding experience.