[COVID-19] General Discussion

[Leonormous Boozer]

It finally got me...

Luckily I was meant to visit elderly relatives. Wouldn't have tested and spread it far and wide otherwise. Feel 10/10

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Not sure how to feel about the removal of all restrictions, Denmarks numbers are...concerning, but then we've essentially had no restrictions for the past month so is anything really going to change?

I think as numbers come down that is the time still wear masks indoors whichever properly fits people's faces. But it will come down to choice now, not mandates. I was in the office today for first time since November and was only one wearing mine. Peeps in my team treating it as back to normal. No talk of Covid in my team even though at least 4 have caught it and recovered. Half term this week so fewer peeps in office. All the partners keep banging on about is the benefits of returning to the office work wise. Ignoring the big elephant in the room.

I can understand why free tests will get phased out. Silly, but going forward not sustainable cost wise. Peeps should save their test kits for testing when they have symptoms.

But I personally think it's daft not remembering the lessons of past 2 years. Another wave will inevitably come.

It finally got me... Luckily I was meant to visit elderly relatives. Wouldn't have tested and spread it far and wide otherwise. Feel 10/10

So the vaccines are working then? Mild, but not severe?

In other Covid news: Wales to become First Nation of the UK to vaccinate 5-11 year olds who aren't clinically vulnerable. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-60394709

And crazy differential in deaths between US and Canada explained by the difference in healthcare systems. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60380317

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A study indicates that deaths in England & Wales within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test but not assessed as having been caused by Covid ran at around 15% in the months prior to Xmas (primarily Delta). In the week after Xmas this rose by ~50% to 22% (primarily Omicron).

Given that cases doubled between the week before Xmas and New Years day, I'd guesstimate that this figure will have risen to somewhere between 25 & 50% during the last week of peak deaths (for Omicron). This would make the current daily death figure for the UK of ~260 per day actually nearer 130 to 195.

Scotland has just announced it'll be lifting all restrictions and guidance except for isolation when positive, masks, vaccine certificates, regular tests and working from home where possible. Essentially indicating we'll be attempting to manage this as an endemic and that peak deaths from Omicron are something medically and politically tolerable.

It is burning out quicker than I was expecting to be honest. I was thinking we would be in this position by this time next month. I might have to start looking at gigs scheduled for February at this rate.

What’s really going on with Covid deaths data?

A bigger proportion of deaths recorded in the daily data are people who died with Covid, rather than from it.

www.bbc.co.uk

Above I'd estimated the percentage of official Covid deaths that weren't caused by Covid would be around 25% to 50% with Omicron compared to the figure of around 15% pre-Omicron. Apparently the figure is estimated to be greater than 33.3% but helpfully this article neglects to give the actual figure, because, you know, who needs specifics.

Covid deaths in UK continue to fall

Death certificates suggest fewer people are dying with, or from, Covid.

www.bbc.co.uk

Global deaths appear to have stopped increasing and should start to fall sharply, mirroring the global case numbers.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

An article on the botched vaccine rollout to and by poorer countries (hopefully less of an issue with the advent of Omicron) resulting in vaccines with shorter expiration dates being binned in an alarming manner.

Exclusive: Short AstraZeneca shelf life complicates COVID vaccine rollout to world's poorest

The relatively short shelf life of AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine is complicating the rollout to the world's poorest nations, according to officials and internal World Health Organization documents reviewed by Reuters.

www.reuters.com

And an article about Japan messing up their booster campaign, thereby costing lives (as predicted by Nostrashvili). If we factor in the >33.3% mis-reporting of Covid deaths then Japan is not all that terrible yet for fatality rate but it demonstrates there are still consequences for complacency and ineptitude, even in the age of Omicron.

Omicron surge was more deadly in Japan after booster delay, critics say

A Japanese government delay in rolling out COVID-19 booster shots left it more vulnerable than other rich countries when the Omicron variant brought a surge of deaths, say experts, local governments and a former vaccine czar.

www.reuters.com

 

[Which Tyler]

Yeh Wimbledon likely the only one he'll play this year.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

On the one hand I can understand the argument about not being forced to have something in your body against your will and fighting on that basis. However wouldn't that require not wanting it in the first place?

He could argue he doesn't agree with the mandate but still have the vaccine anyway because, of his own free will, he happens to agree it is actually the correct thing to do. He blatantly is anti-vax for not getting it. It would be like the government mandating drinking at least 1 glass of water a day. I'd be opposed to it but I'd still do it because it happens to also be a sensible thing that I'd do anyway.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

So the vaccines are working then? Mild, but not severe?

Think I'm just built different

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I felt the interview did humanise a bit more (despite not agreeing with him.) after last month's events At least we got his side of it and not his family (parents and younger bro).

Still, I wish the interviewer had asked him that being so high profile world number 1 did he not understand that he has a duty to his millions of tennis fans to get vaccinated. I suspect I know what he would have answered: he would deny he has any such duty.

Maybe even ask him to agree to speak with eminent epidemiologists and Covid Drs to set aside his fears on the vaccine. If that is seriously what is stopping him getting vaxxed.

But To me he clearly has made up his mind he will never get it if his principles are that hardened against it.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

BioNTech Covid vaccine plan to ship container labs to Africa

The so-called laboratory in a container is being developed by the firm behind the first MRNA vaccine.

www.bbc.co.uk

Covid: South Africa makes its own version of Moderna vaccine

Scientists there say it could help increase very low vaccination rates across Africa.

www.bbc.co.uk

Heading in right direction in getting Africa fully vaxxed.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Five- to 11-year-old children in England to be offered Covid vaccine

Pfizer/BioNTech jab to be offered to younger children as experts decide benefits outweigh risks

www.theguardian.com

About time.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Watching the NZ Super Rugby sides play essentially without fans (in a bubble) makes me look at them. Excellent vaccination rate, booster rate over 40% and Omicron in charge. I really think they are making a bad call and unnecessarily prolonging the impact the virus will have through until the start of next summer (Nov/Dec). By having the comparatively low risk setting of vaccinated youthful crowds, outdoors, during summer months spreading Omicron they could be saving lives that will be lost in their winter months from May onwards.

They say they anticipate an Omicron peak for March, which should still be just about good enough to make winter less dicey for them. So fingers crossed, but any miscalculation on that and they will be rueing being so strict during February when the combination of conditions is potentially as optimum as it will ever be.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Living with Covid: what are risks of England’s plan to lift restrictions?

As the new plan is set to be announced, here’s what might change, from testing to shielding

www.theguardian.com

And Monday Bojo is due to announce "how we live with Covid."

Half term last week, but next week more peeps on trains, buses, and back to the office.

Ending all Covid restrictions ‘premature and not based on evidence’, says BMA

Council chair says decision not guided by data or made in consultation with health profession

www.theguardian.com

In a document released on Friday the group note that estimates from a modelling team at the University of Warwick suggest that a combination of measures and behavioural change such as testing, self-isolation, mask wearing and increased home working are currently reducing transmission by approximately 20%-45%.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The Queen tests positive for Covid, Buckingham Palace announces

Monarch experiencing ‘mild, cold-like symptoms’ and is expected to continue carrying out light duties at Windsor Castle

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The Queen tests positive for Covid, Buckingham Palace announces

Monarch experiencing ‘mild, cold-like symptoms’ and is expected to continue carrying out light duties at Windsor Castle

www.telegraph.co.uk

Yeh was only a matter of time after Charles went near her and was infected. Given her age as well, hope her immunity from the vaccines holds up. Charlie won't want it on his conscience and becoming King like that. Imagine the conspiracy theories.

We'll know more in a month if it develops into anything serious.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Royal protection: how much risk does Covid pose to the Queen?

Doctors likely to consider antiviral medication for monarch who has Covid to minimise chance of severe disease

www.theguardian.com

Likely to be given antivirals as well.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Watching the NZ Super Rugby sides play essentially without fans (in a bubble) makes me look at them. Excellent vaccination rate, booster rate over 40% and Omicron in charge. I really think they are making a bad call and unnecessarily prolonging the impact the virus will have through until the start of next summer (Nov/Dec). By having the comparatively low risk setting of vaccinated youthful crowds, outdoors, during summer months spreading Omicron they could be saving lives that will be lost in their winter months from May onwards.

They say they anticipate an Omicron peak for March, which should still be just about good enough to make winter less dicey for them. So fingers crossed, but any miscalculation on that and they will be rueing being so strict during February when the combination of conditions is potentially as optimum as it will ever be.

yes, it s bit of a joke in NZ at the moment, no crowds in the games....loads of people packed in around the outside watching through the fence....they would have been better dispersed inside

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Covid: Is England ready for its last remaining rule to be ditched?

The virus has undoubtedly been tamed. But is it really the right time to treat it like many other illnesses?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So Bojo going to announce all restrictions lifted at 3.30pm to the House and then do a Q and A at tea time (presumably with Whitty and Valance to hold his hand for difficult questions).

 

[ncurd]

So Bojo going to announce all restrictions lifted at 3.30pm to the House and then do a Q and A at tea time (presumably with Whitty and Valance to hold his hand for difficult questions).

Whitty and Valance are actually coming out of hiding?

 

[Which Tyler]

So Bojo going to announce all restrictions lifted at 3.30pm to the House and then do a Q and A at tea time (presumably with Whitty and Valance to hold his hand for difficult questions).

I doubt that those 2 will want anything to do with this lifting