Coronavirus

[Anastasius]

See my #4696 for a fuller explanation.

You're definitely not an engineer than. What good does it do underneath your chin ? Unless perhaps your surname is Hapsburg !

[Frances_iom]

I was phoned teatime Tues + jabbed 9am this morning with the Pfizzer - the large hub which was some 20+ miles away with no convenient public transport was I suspect of less use in this part of the stockbroker belt. It would appear that the local centres are now being pushed, that where I was done opened I think this week - 10 vaccinating stations in the local civic hall within easy walking distance for me, with I guess 6mins allocated to each jab, certainly ran like clockwork this morning. Maybe it was the use of smaller local centres that had proved very effective and were to be the new approach to be adopted elsewhere. There appears to be signs of a 2nd centre being established in the local superdrug store.

[Serial_Apologist]

You're definitely not an engineer than. What good does it do underneath your chin ? Unless perhaps your surname is Hapsburg !

Disguises my double chin?

[oddoneout]

Apologies for the torrent of replies. Other things took me elsewhere.

But here's why I really logged in tonight. You see, I'm miffed. Truly, truly miffed. Sicker than that parrot. Why ? Well, first they give some of our ICU beds away...never mind the practicality of taking a patient in ICU all the way from London to Newcastle. At least they've knocked that on the head. But now they're cutting back our vaccine supply by 50 % ! Because we're too good at vaccinating...67% in the North East compared to 50% in some areas down South. OK...two possible explanations. The first is acceptable. We were given more than our fair share of vaccines to start with. If that's the case then fair enough. Understand.

The second is that we're just better at it. Better organisation up here, the receiving population demographics and ethnicity might come into it, more anti-vaxers down South, people up here take it more seriously ? Whatever. Not relevant. Not our fault. So WTF penalise us. What good is sending a load of our vaccines down South ?

Never has my Gruntle been so Dis'd

Yes I read about that and thought it rather turned the levelling-up mantra on its head - the south having to get up to the north's standards!
I don't know what the current situation is but the largest hospital here is an overspill and last week apparently about a third of inpatients were imports.

[Dave2002]

Why are we all going round in circles over masks. You wear a mask either (a) to stop you infecting ANO if you have Covid or (b) to stop yourself getting infected. If it is (a) then basic, simple masks of whatever type go a long way to preventing you spewing out Covid that other people might pick up. Ideally you throw those away at least once a day. But people don't. They re-use the same mask, day in, day out. So if they are a carrier then it will get saturated with covid and cease to be as effective (NB. my gut feel on this aspect).

(b) is a completely different ballgame. Those cheap masks won't do very much for you. FFP2 is better. But if you're really paranoid and out there in the thick of it then FFP3, worn properly, a new one at least once a day and shave that beard off.

One question - the answer to which we don't really know - is "how long one can be a carrier?". Is it two weeks, a month, six months etc.? We know that there are people with asymptomatic Covid, but are these people who have been recently exposed but who just don't show any symptoms themselves, or are they people who have been carrying the virus for some time?

For people who don't go out often if probably doesn't make that much difference if they do keep wearing the same mask, as most tests on materials suggest that it doesn't really last longer than a month - often less.

Biden has now made the situation in the USA clearer - wear a mask on public transport and perhaps in other locations and situations too. Previously this was a State level issue, which the outgoing president considered to be a matter of personal judgement.

[Roslynmuse]

One question - the answer to which we don't really know - is "how long one can be a carrier?". Is it two weeks, a month, six months etc.?

That's a good question. Last autumn, a colleague had to self-isolate for 14 days; he developed symptoms (mild) a day or two in, got a test quickly which proved positive; result - his isolation period was reduced and he was 'officially' allowed back to work two days sooner than had he not developed symptoms! That seemed crazy to me, but it's not the only time I've heard of this scenario.

[oddoneout]

That's a good question. Last autumn, a colleague had to self-isolate for 14 days; he developed symptoms (mild) a day or two in, got a test quickly which proved positive; result - his isolation period was reduced and he was 'officially' allowed back to work two days sooner than had he not developed symptoms! That seemed crazy to me, but it's not the only time I've heard of this scenario.

Is that because by the time symptoms become apparent you've already 'had' the virus for x days - which gets knocked off the tariff?

[Roslynmuse]

Is that because by the time symptoms become apparent you've already 'had' the virus for x days - which gets knocked off the tariff?

That's the official answer, yes, (although it seems odd that the tariff is reduced) but it doesn't really address the issue of whether one is still contagious at given stage of the disease. I would have thought that any ongoing symptoms indicate virus-shedding (hence the need for extreme PPE in hospitals).

[johnb]

Why are we all going round in circles over masks. It really is very, very simple. You wear a mask either (a) to stop you infecting ANO if you have Covid or (b) to stop yourself getting infected. If it is (a) then basic, simple masks of whatever type go a long way to preventing you spewing out Covid that other people might pick up. Ideally you throw those away at least once a day.

It's worth pointing out that the WHO has recommended since June of last year that people over 60 and those in vulnerable groups wear medical masks, presumably surgical type masks, in preference to cloth masks provided that doesn't impinge on adequate supplies for health care workers.

[Serial_Apologist]

That's the official answer, yes, (although it seems odd that the tariff is reduced) but it doesn't really address the issue of whether one is still contagious at given stage of the disease. I would have thought that any ongoing symptoms indicate virus-shedding (hence the need for extreme PPE in hospitals).

From official advice proffered early on in the pandemic, my understanding is that contagiousness only lasts for a week following onset of symptoms, and does not extend to long-term Covid. I don't know if this has been modified in the light of further knowledge, or what the situation is re asymptomatic carriers; I would assume that logically the time of potential transmissability would be the same, whether symptomatic or not.

[Dave2002]

I would assume that logically the time of potential transmissability would be the same, whether symptomatic or not.

I don't think this virus is following the logic, so I think things are uncertain. Over the last year I have discussed this with others, and at one point I mentioned mathematics and modelling - to which the reply was "yes - but this is biology".

We still don't know whether there is really such as thing as "long Covid" - but there's a lot of evidence that something has caused many people to feel ill, and for a lot longer than a few weeks.

[duncan]

Why are we all going round in circles over masks. It really is very, very simple. You wear a mask either (a) to stop you infecting ANO if you have Covid or (b) to stop yourself getting infected. If it is (a) then basic, simple masks of whatever type go a long way to preventing you spewing out Covid that other people might pick up. Ideally you throw those away at least once a day. But people don't. They re-use the same mask, day in, day out. So if they are a carrier then it will get saturated with covid and cease to be as effective (NB. my gut feel on this aspect).

(b) is a completely different ballgame. Those cheap masks won't do very much for you. FFP2 is better. But if you're really paranoid and out there in the thick of it then FFP3, worn properly, a new one at least once a day and shave that beard off.

Simpler to stay at home.

A good summary. You could add (c) which is to normalise and encourage mask-wearing generally which will be of indirect benefit via (a).

[teamsaint]

A good summary. You could add (c) which is to normalise and encourage mask-wearing generally which will be of indirect benefit via (a).

Everybody I see in indoor areas is wearing them, except some shop staff behind screens.
Thats “normal “ enough for me.

[Bryn]

Rather pleased that when I went to collect a prescription from the pharmacy counter at a local Tesco, an assistant at the main doors was offering to squirt high-alcohol hand jell for intending customers. Nice personal touch.

[Anastasius]

....

We still don't know whether there is really such as thing as "long Covid" - but there's a lot of evidence that something has caused many people to feel ill, and for a lot longer than a few weeks.

So where else do you think their symptoms are coming from ?