Indigenous communities are amongst the highest risk categories, due to widespread chronic health issues.
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Yes, I think so. Both for isolated students and students on a campus. I currently teach in two modes, internal students and actual lectures, and distance via our online Learning Management System.
Two things happened recently.
One, a possible restructure at our university was announced in February that would move us all (or as many as are willing) to an augmented distance learning mode where we have one anchor campus (where I work has three campuses) for teaching face to face and we move all teaching/learning material to the online medium for all others at other campuses and the traditional distance student. This would involve virtual reality, augmented reality and many other Internet of Things capability. This is the way of education the future. Virtual classrooms, labs and such like.
The second thing. we all now see the impacts of covid-19. From this week all teaching at my place of work, where possible, moves online. We are reasonably well placed for this as we use the online Moodle to deliver what is called Blended Teaching where the courses are all online and available to all course enrolled students we use this for lecture materials, lab materials and communication etc. Very useful. But to be equally effective as face-to-face, requires lots of additional effort and a particular additional skill set to adapt to the medium. Most AULRO forum participants would survive in this mode as we all use this forum effectively (mostly) to communicate ideas, opinions, concepts, arguments, questions etc. But it takes time to develop such skills (some still don't) and there is many an opportunity to get things wrong (many still do).
Synchronous and asynchronous communication and the ability to cope and the agility to learn the skills required for the changes is the difference.
WHO is carrying out trials on four promising drug treatments for COVID -19
Coronavirus drug trials: Four 'massive' tests underway
ADF reports 6 cases, while assisting in the fight.
ADF has 6 COVID-19 cases – while assisting in the fight - CONTACT magazine
The various antiviral drugs are the ones more likely to be effective against this virus. All of them are relatively new, and there is little experience or widespread use of any of them. It is possible, but fairly unlikely that one of them may turn out to be a 'miracle drug' for this virus. More likely is that one or more of them will show enough effectiveness to be worth using to save lives or shorten hospital stays. All are in limited supply, expensive, and still patented, which would hamper efforts to rapidly ramp up production, even if technically possible.
Chloroquin is , as mentioned an old antimalarial drug, no longer used because most of the malaria parasites have developed resistance to it and because it can have very serious side effects. However, it has long been known to suppress immune response, and has mild antiviral properties. It might seem strange to want to suppress immune response, but in many cases it is the immune response that is killing the patients. It has the advantage that it is already approved for human use, side effects are well understood, is readily available, cheap, and the off-patent. If it effective at a safe dose, it may well help with very sick patients.
Coronavirus, myths busted and the science explained. Also 5 reasons Singapore is ahead of the curve.
https://theconversation.cmail20.com/...E8006BBCB98688
I wonder if those who have recovered from the virus can get it again, or do they now have antibodies to fight off/prevent a second infection.
I have not read anything mentioning this, however i may have missed it if there is information about it.
It is a dreadful virus and we have a long way to go yet.
Mick.