This is a special post for quick takes by ejacob. Only they can create top-level comments. Comments here also appear on the Quick Takes page and All Posts page.
A nasal spray approved for use in Europe and Israel shows moderate signs of protection against coronavirus infection. Taffix spray creates a physical barrier around nasal mucosa and reduces pH for hours after use, which may reduce the ability of viruses to bind and replicate.
Very strong effect shown in vitro; less strong but still detectable effect shown in vivo.
Paper: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-100328/v2
JPost Article: https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-made-nasal-spray-reduced-covid-infection-at-mass-gathering-659601
A note to anyone looking to lie for a booster shot: I tried to be clever and tell the pharmacist I needed a second Moderna dose (both so i wouldn't be pressed into getting another dose afterward and so I could insist on Moderna). I then had to prove my first dose was also Moderna which i obviously couldn't do, so i was refused a dose (yes, really.) When i asked, the pharmacist confirmed that if I'd asked for a first dose instead i would have gotten it. So don't be clever, just pretend you were hesitant and now you are getting over it.
Is anyone aware of an online platform for making private forecasting tournaments / prediction markets with play money? Ideally I want to send someone a link, have them make an account, and then have access to a group of private questions I've made.
Thanks! I thought manifold had already done this, but couldn't find the feature when I went to look for it. I'll check again and then contact them if I still don't see it. Among the players I know they seem the most likely to be interested in doing it.
I got a text from a neighbor asking to borrow a bathroom scale. When I gave it to him, he immediately weighed himself and was relieved that he was overweight enough to qualify for a covid-19 vaccine he had just booked. As a result of our prioritization scheme, we've created a negative-sum contest where we encourage an already overweight population to maintain or increase their weight for a chance at an earlier vaccination.
This country is frustrating sometimes.