Coronavirus

[Anastasius]

Please don't shoot the messenger but the missus listens to an awful lot of stuff on the World Service during the night. One thing before you dismiss any of the following.. She is very, very, very bright. She analyses and analyses with a clinical precision. Compares what this person has said compared to that person. What are their qualifications. Are they exaggerating. Dissects and removes extraneous bumph. Listens very carefully to the words people say. One of the best psychologists in the country. Listens to all the stuff that is starting to come out about the variants. And how well the vaccine will cope. Or not. Stuff that hasn't yet made the mainstream news. And she is scared for we ain't seen nothing yet. In forty years of marriage, I've never seen her so openly scared. And that makes me scared.

[Dave2002]

When is five actually six, or even seven?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer-extra-doses.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20210122&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=120166592&segment_id=50045&user_id=016988937dc6295afad8d20e9b57a66b

This will probably have repercussions and not only in the USA.

[Frances_iom]

she is I believe, right to be worried - there is obvious concern especially about the Brazilian variant but our government appears to be in "don't scare the natives" mode, maybe this is essential to prevent social problems - there has been comment for some days now that ITC beds are being occupied by somewhat younger patients than in the 1st wave possibly due to the Kent variant now being so dominant but it's going to be some time (2-3 wks) before we can see if the now fairly efficient mass vaccinations are as effective as hoped.
The catch is I can't see what else can be done in terms of lockdown unless the government rapidly establish a very large network of plague hostels and forcibly incarcerate covid positives in them for a quarantine period, which is totally impossible given the numbers - but I think the New Zealand approach of compulsory stay in government run quarantine stations for those entering the country is on the cards. But as 3 increasingly worrying variants have appeared, independent of each other, it does look as tho Covid19 is fairly unstable and that more possibly nastier variants can emerge

[Anastasius]

she is I believe, right to be worried - there is obvious concern especially about the Brazilian variant but our government appears to be in "don't scare the natives" mode, maybe this is essential to prevent social problems - there has been comment for some days now that ITC beds are being occupied by somewhat younger patients than in the 1st wave possibly due to the Kent variant now being so dominant but it's going to be some time (2-3 wks) before we can see if the now fairly efficient mass vaccinations are as effective as hoped.
The catch is I can't see what else can be done in terms of lockdown unless the government rapidly establish a very large network of plague hostels and forcibly incarcerate covid positives in them for a quarantine period, which is totally impossible given the numbers - but I think the New Zealand approach of compulsory stay in government run quarantine stations for those entering the country is on the cards. But as 3 increasingly worrying variants have appeared, independent of each other, it does look as tho Covid19 is fairly unstable and that more possibly nastier variants can emerge

This came in overnight. If true, it's game over.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101a/2021.01.18.427166v1.full.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2PfDH5xcBTyqTNbPMuzJhIBx83iVNFLiJ2nvxFQF5pUcYfz62BX-o6WhM

[oddoneout]

This came in overnight. If true, it's game over.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...cYfz62BX-o6WhM

"Page Not Found". I don't think I actually wanted to read it this early in my day but ...

[Dave2002]

This came in overnight. If true, it's game over.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...cYfz62BX-o6WhM

I'm not sure what this is, but are you taking on the role of Private Frazer?

[Anastasius]

Sorry bad copy and paste. Try this

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.18.427166v1.full.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2PfDH5xcBTyqTNbPMuzJhIBx83iVNFLiJ2nvxFQF5pUcYfz62BX-o6WhM

And in other news they're now saying that the UK variant might be 30% more deadly as well and that the South African variant could take us 'back to Square One'. If the latter is true then why the heck hasn't the Govt closed ALL borders to all incoming passengers ? Oh I forgot...BoJo's Flying Circus. Motto: Semper est mora

[Anastasius]

I'm not sure what this is, but are you taking on the role of Private Frazer?

You're my role model.

[cloughie]

"Page Not Found". I don't think I actually wanted to read it this early in my day but ...

Same result here - obviously too bad to read!

[oddoneout]

Sorry bad copy and paste. Try this

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.18.427166v1.full.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2PfDH5xcBTyqTNbPMuzJhIBx83iVNFLiJ2nvxFQF5pUcYfz62BX-o6WhM

And in other news they're now saying that the UK variant might be 30% more deadly as well and that the South African variant could take us 'back to Square One'. If the latter is true then why the heck hasn't the Govt closed ALL borders to all incoming passengers ? Oh I forgot...BoJo's Flying Circus. Motto: Semper est mora

Compounded by bad/non-existent messaging about the vaccination issues - not immediate protection, not a get out of jail free card, still need to observe current rules. Vaccine was always 'sold' as the solution(ie once we've got one it's all good) and, regardless of how questions about effective they are/will be against variants, I fear we are heading for another "foot meet bullet" scenario with benefits and gains squandered.

[Dave2002]

You're my role model.

So who's going to be Captain Mainwaring or Lance Corporal Jones?

[Anastasius]

Same result here - obviously too bad to read!

Try the revised second link. That works.

[Anastasius]

So who's going to be Captain Mainwaring or Lance Corporal Jones?

Oooh...Bryn for Captain Mainwaring and Serial Apologist for Corporal Jones ?

[Roslynmuse]

Oooh...Bryn for Captain Mainwaring and Serial Apologist for Corporal Jones ?

Surely you need an anti-vaxxer for Corporal Jones? "They don't like it up 'em!"

[LezLee]

I've just received an appointments letter for the vaccine - next Tuesday, then the second in April. Exciting!