[COVID-19] General Discussion

[Bada-Bing!]

Yep, the ones I got from the NHS are nose only and result in 15 mins. Didn't like the old ones with nose and throat.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yep, the ones I got from the NHS are nose only and result in 15 mins. Didn't like the old ones with nose and throat.

Been using NHS ones too. Had my first nose only one yesterday and it's so much nicer.

I got sick from doing one of the throat and nose ones earlier in the week.

More accurate antigens would be a huge development. It's fairly obvious we're beyond the stage of one vaccine/test/treatment ending this pandemic but I think with continued improvement in all three and international cooperation we'd soon be past the worst of it.

 

[Which Tyler]

I started using the new LFTs yesterday (had a massive stack of the old ones from when they were giving them out in Tesco everytime I went, so had about 10 boxes in my cupboard)

So much more pleasant than the old ones, no more scraping the back of my skull twice a week

Same here - I've worked through my stash, and into the nasal-only tests.
TFFY
I'm not convinced they'll be as accurate; but I AM convinced they're easier and less bloody horrible, so hopefully more people will actually test, and test often enough.

This si when I have a problem with reporting everyone will be saying its been reduced or thinking it has and the policy hasn't even been enacted yet.

Know of a couple of people who Chirstmas' have been bolloxed by infections who may misread this.

News 24 on in the background "Good news for thousands ahead of Christmas"

 

[ncurd]

YAY...BOOO

This is exactly what the scientists were warning against.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

We've been using the nasal only for a while. The one we had abroad was saliva only which came as a bit of a surprise, but much more pleasant.

I've got a pretty sensitive gag reflex and was dreading a PCR, but the tester did it really well. Judging from the coughing and choking from the cars around us, she may have been more adept than some of her colleagues.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The one we had abroad was saliva only which came as a bit of a surprise, but much more pleasant.

I remember, when the Olympics were on, them saying that the daily test the athletes did was essentially spitting into a tube - makes ours seem much more archaic

 

[ncurd]

I remember, when the Olympics were on, them saying that the daily test the athletes did was essentially spitting into a tube - makes ours seem much more archaic

I've got it, the anti-vaxxers are wrong! They aren't trying to inject us with weird **** but make us take LFT's which attack the brain cells every time you shove one up your nose!

We've had the the brain scrub ones for a while now but I think that's mainly we had zero use for them in early days. We usually don't keep a supply other than two boxes. I think that mainly comes from predominantly working from home so are only doing 1-2 tests a week.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I've got it, the anti-vaxxers are wrong! They aren't trying to inject us with weird **** but make us take LFT's which attack the brain cells every time you shove one up your nose!

You joke but there were a lot of conspiracy theorists saying the swabs will give you cancer, in the early days of LFTs being available

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Yeh definitely say I would test more often if I don't have to gag each time I test. Found it very uncomfortable with the scraping of each tonsil.

On accuracy these are DIY, so prone for certain peeps in the population taking short cuts. But do it properly and follow the instructions (how many peeps actually read them and produce an invalid result?) then more recent studies are finding they are 80% accurate at picking up cases. Best they can do for a free, quick test. But like with every tool for Covid, nothing is 100%, but using each of them properly will save most of us catching it and ending up in hospital.

Read in the tennis about Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, whose got severe symptoms and Rafa Nadal both catching Covid whilst playing in Abu Dhabi. Rafa tested there and coming out and tested negative then returned to Spain and tested positive via PCR. And of course Emma Raducanu as well.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Covid vaccine should be offered to vulnerable five to 11-year-olds

And advisers say boosters should be offered to some older children due to the risk of Omicron.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Daily Covid-19 cases in the UK exceed 100,000 for first time

Some 106,122 cases are announced - the latest in a series of record-breaking days for infections.

www.bbc.co.uk

> 100,000 cases.

813 daily hospitalisations as of 18 December.

 

[BiggusLaddus]

The most concerning thing to me (as a layman) is the surge in hospitalisation in London. Number in hospital was flat at ~1000 all through November, but is now at 2000.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=nhsRegion&areaName=London

 

[Bada-Bing!]

And London has one of the lowest double vaccinated at around 62% IIRC, never mind boosters.

 

[McTallshort]

And London has one of the lowest double vaccinated at around 62% IIRC, never mind boosters.

Why is that? London was hammered in the first wave you would have thought that would have convinced people to jab up

 

[Which Tyler]

[Quote"Tallshort, post: 1067531, member: 53362"]
Why is that? London was hammered in the first wave you would have thought that would have convinced people to jab up
[/QUOTE]
Guessing here, but population demographics? Highest proportion of minority ethnic, who in turn have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy (largely through well-earned mistrust)

 

[Which Tyler]

Some reduction in hospitalisation for Omicron v Delta in England: early analysis | Imperial News | Imperial College London

Estimates suggest Omicron cases are 15% less likely to attend hospital, and 40% less likely to be hospitalised for a night or more, compared to Delta.

www.imperial.ac.uk

15% less likely to be hospitalised with Omicron; 40% less likely to stay long.
Which is good news, but way less than the increase in case rate, meaning hospitalisations are expected to increase - potentially massively.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Jack Nowell posting.... questionable content on Instagram again (telling people to ignore any restrictions and get out and mingle and what will be will be)

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Jack Nowell posting.... questionable content on Instagram again (telling people to ignore any restrictions and get out and mingle and what will be will be)

Assuming Nowell, along with Slade still haven't had their jabs yet either?

Premiership footballers saw a stat that 77% are double jabbed.

Tennis - Djokovic playing silly buggers and refusing to reveal his vaccination status to play in the AO. Part of me wishes AO stand their ground and prevent him from playing just to make an example of him. He should really know better and as World no 1 set an example.

 

[Which Tyler]

Assuming Nowell, along with Slade still haven't had their jabs yet either?

I've not noticed (or particularly watched Exeter this year) - but I've seen it said that Exeter are the only club who's support staff & bench etc are still weaeing masks and distancing - so the only club yet to reach 85% vaccination

 

[The Seeker]

COVID No. 1 cause of death among Montana Native Americans

COVID-19 became the number-one cause of death among Native Americans in 2020.

billingsgazette.com