Some real signs of hope for an effective treatment protocol

[bumblingbovine49]

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52801858?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/health&link_location=live-reporting-story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52801858?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/health&link_location=live-reporting-story

I have always thought this would be the fastest way we would get out of this, before a vaccine anyway. I am really hopeful we will have a reasonably effective treatment before the winter. I know some people will still die of it but hopefully it will reduce the mortality rate further and will make Covid more of a 'known quantity'

It is pretty interesting that the treatments are likely to be needed early on. Something I had thought was pretty likely too, given what we know about treating viral illnesses. If we do get a treatment like this, testing and tracking will become even more important as we will need to know if that the person actually has Covid and is likely to deteriorate at a very early stage so that a decision about offering treatment can be made I imagine some people won't want treatment and will want to take their chances but it will be good to have the option at least.

We will need to be less of the opinion that we shouldn't bother the doctor and more that we need to get tested ASAP if we get ill

Long term a vaccine will make this less of an issue but in the short to medium term this is making me hopeful anyway

Sounds good, and more promising/realistic than discovering and rolling out a vaccine. I am concerned, though, that the UK might not have the capacity to deploy this for the whole population (let's face it, NHS treatment is often rationed), and this may be reserved to the lucky few who meet some obscure cost-effectiveness criteria...

Would be nice to have a test (genetic, + measurable blood factors?) to accurately predict susceptibility (i.e. risk of developing serious complications), so that, if some people need to be prioritised for early treatment, they can be accurately identified (not just rely on a "best guess" based on age, BMI, gender, ethnicity...)

Definitely re being able to predict who will be more ill. Let's hope they also find out more about genetic predispositions which they are beginning to think play a big part in who gets really ill and who doesn't