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Basic Information on COVID-19 or other viruses

Consult20

* Ace Member *
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Sep 4, 2014
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This is from a chemistry professor, it may help to clarify some things about Covid-19 and viruses in general. I wasn't going to start a new thread about this but thought it was important enough to not let it get buried in another thread.


Basic Information on COVID-19 or other viruses

* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

* Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own.

* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful.

* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.

* NO BACTERICIDE SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; they cannot kill what is not alive with anthobiotics, but quickly disintegrate its structure with everything said.

* NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only between 3 hours (fabric and porous), 4 hours (copper, because it is naturally antiseptic; and wood, because it removes all the moisture and does not let it peel off and disintegrates). ), 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic). But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose.

* The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars. They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster.

* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer.

* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.

* LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol.

* The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

* This is super said, but you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom.

* You have to HUMIDIFY HANDS DRY from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better. * Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
 
There is some good information in your post, but also a few errors that should be corrected - please see below:

* The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

Couple of errors here:

1. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, not a DNA virus.
2. DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, not proteins.
3. The virus does have proteins embedded in its lipid coat (the "crown" that gives it the name Coronavirus).

* Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) kills germs by oxidizing the chemical components, including proteins and nucleic acids.

1:5 bleach is pretty strong - labs typically use 1:10 bleach:water, and even 1:100 bleach:water is quite effective if the surface is clean.

Dirt reduces the effectiveness of bleach, so dirty surfaces should be cleaned with detergent before decontamination with bleach.

* Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin.

The term "oxygenated water" might confuse people. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an industrially-produced oxidizer that kills germs similarly to sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

For medical use, hydrogen peroxide is typically a 3% or 6% solution. Higher concentrations (commonly up to 32%) would be extremely dangerous to use in a consumer setting. So you would never use "pure" hydrogen peroxide.

* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer.

Germicidal UV lights are much more powerful than a typical "black light" that one might use to charge up a glow disc. UV disinfection is a tricky subject, probably requiring a FAQ of its own.

I appreciate your posting helpful information. My goal is to make sure that information is as accurate as possible to that it can be as helpful as possible.
 
Sorry, missed edit window.

Best to allow at least 10 minutes of contact time for disinfection with bleach.
 
There is some good information in your post, but also a few errors that should be corrected - please see below:



Couple of errors here:

1. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, not a DNA virus.
2. DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, not proteins.
3. The virus does have proteins embedded in its lipid coat (the "crown" that gives it the name Coronavirus).



Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) kills germs by oxidizing the chemical components, including proteins and nucleic acids.

1:5 bleach is pretty strong - labs typically use 1:10 bleach:water, and even 1:100 bleach:water is quite effective if the surface is clean.

Dirt reduces the effectiveness of bleach, so dirty surfaces should be cleaned with detergent before decontamination with bleach.



The term "oxygenated water" might confuse people. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an industrially-produced oxidizer that kills germs similarly to sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

For medical use, hydrogen peroxide is typically a 3% or 6% solution. Higher concentrations (commonly up to 32%) would be extremely dangerous to use in a consumer setting. So you would never use "pure" hydrogen peroxide.



Germicidal UV lights are much more powerful than a typical "black light" that one might use to charge up a glow disc. UV disinfection is a tricky subject, probably requiring a FAQ of its own.

I appreciate your posting helpful information. My goal is to make sure that information is as accurate as possible to that it can be as helpful as possible.

Thanks, I will try to get your comments forwarded to the original author of this document for clarification/comments.
 
Man, once you get past the moron contingent of disc golfers, you guys are a pretty smart bunch. Thanks for the great information.

A take away for me was that dish washing liquid would make a great hand soap, given it's detergent makeup. Much the way it works well for the oil of poison ivy.
 
A take away for me was that dish washing liquid would make a great hand soap, given it's detergent makeup. Much the way it works well for the oil of poison ivy.

The hand soap bottles at my work lunchroom walked off weeks ago, so we have been using dish soap to wash our hands. Probably fewer moisturizers, etc. but seems to work pretty well.

Not coincidentally, the other work lunchroom seems to have twice as many hand soap bottles as before. So much for "we're all in this together" lol.

Reminds me of the old Palmolive commercials with Madge the Manicurist ("Softens your hands as you do the dishes"). Anyone else old enough to remember those?
 
I was at an outpatient surgery center a few weeks ago, noting how many hand sanitizer dispensers were in the waiting room. I joked that we'd soon see a news story where a medical center had been burglarized, the drugs weren't taken but the Purell dispensers were.
 
This site uses the data from JHU and plots the development in the rate of new infections:

https://aatishb.com/covidtrends/

Nice graphic. I hope anyone who sees it realizes that a straight line on a log scale = exponential growth.

And if exponential growth for a novel virus that causes severe illness doesn't get someone's attention, they need to brush up on their understanding of math.
 
I was at an outpatient surgery center a few weeks ago, noting how many hand sanitizer dispensers were in the waiting room. I joked that we'd soon see a news story where a medical center had been burglarized, the drugs weren't taken but the Purell dispensers were.

These stories are already out there.
Not burglaries necessarily, but sanitizer and ppe walking away in hospitals. They're having to lock it up to keep it from disappearing.
 
Man, once you get past the moron contingent of disc golfers, you guys are a pretty smart bunch. Thanks for the great information.

A take away for me was that dish washing liquid would make a great hand soap, given it's detergent makeup. Much the way it works well for the oil of poison ivy.

Yes dishwashing liquid makes a great hand cleaner. The thing that struck me was the fact that shaking your clothes could cause the virus to get airborne for up to 3 hours. It made me think of Grand Central Station in New York, and people who would have sneezed into their jacket and then taken their jacket off to sit down and have a coffee, Etc. That place just had to be full of the virus, I was thinking as soon as this thing hit that Grand Central should have been shut down.
 
Nice graphic. I hope anyone who sees it realizes that a straight line on a log scale = exponential growth.

And if exponential growth for a novel virus that causes severe illness doesn't get someone's attention, they need to brush up on their understanding of math.

This whole thing has reeeeealy illuminated just how bad our collective understanding of math is in this country. Not just exponential growth, but large numbers.
"It only has like a 1% death rate!"
"Cool story bro, now let's assume 10,000,000 people (< 3% of the population) get infected in the US. How many dead people is that?"
 
And if exponential growth for a novel virus that causes severe illness doesn't get someone's attention, they need to brush up on their understanding of math.

This seems to be the general situation. Sadly, a lot of people are going to get a real-world refresher course over the next few weeks.
 

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