Coronavirus

[Dave2002]

A very long read from Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/investigates...itain-tracing/

[Dave2002]

Is it worth getting tested if one isn’t particularly ill?

Testing still does not seem very reliable, or timely, or even easy/pleasant(!) to carry out by oneself.

Also how should one view the results - what should one hope for? Some people might want a negative result, while others might think that a positive result would be better.

A negative result would mean that one is OK now, but could get the disease later on.

A positive result might mean that if one gets through it there’s a chance of building up some, perhaps limited, immunity for the future. There is no guarantee that it wouldn’t be possible to get the illness again.

However, there is evidence that some people who have Covid 19 and survive do have other damage to their bodies, which in some cases is severe and unpleasant, and could be long lasting.

Given what seems to be a fairly inaccurate process, if one is not in regular contact with others, is testing worth the bother?

I was told recently of someone who was ill, then tested, but the result came back negative. As reported to me this was a “fortunate” result, but was it really?

[oddoneout]

It's rather 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. My view is that given all the uncertainties it's better to carry on testing as much as possible so at least data is there, even if it isn't/can't be used at the time. The more tests the less the influence of duff results? Also, given the problem of carriers, whether asymptomatic or non-typical sufferers, and their potential impact, increasing the chance of picking them up would seem to be desirable even if the systems for track and trace are, how shall I put this, fragmented and inconsistent. Particularly given the current rush to get up close and personal in confined spaces.

[Dave2002]

It's rather 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. My view is that given all the uncertainties it's better to carry on testing as much as possible so at least data is there, even if it isn't/can't be used at the time. The more tests the less the influence of duff results? Also, given the problem of carriers, whether asymptomatic or non-typical sufferers, and their potential impact, increasing the chance of picking them up would seem to be desirable even if the systems for track and trace are, how shall I put this, fragmented and inconsistent. Particularly given the current rush to get up close and personal in confined spaces.

I agree for people who are going about in anything approaching normality, even if it's the "new" variety. Apart from one close family member, the closest I've been to anyone else except perhaps momentarily in the last three and a half months has been at least 2 metres, and mostly we live in isolation, with just weekly (except this week) food drop offs. Perhaps we re very unusual - but we are managing, and I don't see why we couldn't carry on like this until the end of the year, or later, if need be.

That's not to say we haven't had problems, and might have more again, but if nothing too dire happens it should be possible to keep going. I tend to think that for us testing would be a pointless exercise, given our circumstances and the considerations of my previous post.

[Serial_Apologist]

I agree for people who are going about in anything approaching normality, even if it's the "new" variety. Apart from one close family member, the closest I've been to anyone else except perhaps momentarily in the last three and a half months has been at least 2 metres, and mostly we live in isolation, with just weekly (except this week) food drop offs. Perhaps we re very unusual - but we are managing, and I don't see why we couldn't carry on like this until the end of the year, or later, if need be.

That's not to say we haven't had problems, and might have more again, but if nothing too dire happens it should be possible to keep going. I tend to think that for us testing would be a pointless exercise, given our circumstances and the considerations of my previous post.

As someone in the high risk category (74) the thought of getting Covid-19 in one of its severe forms, being left with life-changing after-effects, yet still being possibly at risk of being subject to a second bout since we don't know enough about immunity, is almost too much to comtemplate. One feels like a sitting duck.

[Dave2002]

As someone in the high risk category (74) the thought of getting Covid-19 in one of its severe forms, being left with life-changing after-effects, yet still being possibly at risk of being subject to a second bout since we don't know enough about immunity, is almost too much to comtemplate. One feels like a sitting duck.

You're not too far ahead of me, as it happens, so we're being cautious - very - though I know people who aren't. We do have the advantage of now living in a rural area, with sufficient living accomodation and open space around.

I'm not looking forward to going to the dentist soon, though I will need to. Dentists are I think starting to operate round here from Monday, and I have unfinished/unstarted work which really ought to be initiated to avoid other problems - though I think catching Covid-19 would be one problem I really would like to avoid if at all possible. I think that dentists are very likely to provide a rapid transmission route from young asymptomatic patients to older and much more vulnerable ones over the next few months, possibly years.

[Serial_Apologist]

You're not too far ahead of me, as it happens, so we're being cautious - very - though I know people who aren't. We do have the advantage of now living in a rural area, with sufficient living accomodation and open space around.

I'm not looking forward to going to the dentist soon, though I will need to. Dentists are I think starting to operate round here from Monday, and I have unfinished/unstarted work which really ought to be initiated to avoid other problems - though I think catching Covid-19 would be one problem I really would like to avoid if at all possible. I think that dentists are very likely to provide a rapid transmission route from young asymptomatic patients to older and much more vulnerable ones over the next few months, possibly years.

You could well be right - and thanks for providing a reminder. There was a notice pinned to the door of my dentist last time I visited to find out the state of play - I must have another check soon, as my own regular check-up appointment comes early next month. It is a private family practice. She is always ultra-professional, as is her assistant, who has been at the practice ever since I joined 14 years ago, which could be a positive indicator of reliability.

[LHC]

You could well be right - and thanks for providing a reminder. There was a notice pinned to the door of my dentist last time I visited to find out the state of play - I must have another check soon, as my own regular check-up appointment comes early next month. It is a private family practice. She is always ultra-professional, as is her assistant, who has been at the practice ever since I joined 14 years ago, which could be a positive indicator of reliability.

I actually had an appointment at my dentists this afternoon. It was all very professional; numbers of clients are limited, and I was reminded beforehand to arrive not more than 5 minutes before my appointment, maintain 2m distance with others and to wear a face mask at all times in the public areas. The front door is locked, so only people with appointments are allowed in. The dentist wore a disposable gown, face mask and visor, and all equipment, chairs etc are disinfected between each client. I must say, it all felt much safer and professional than any of the pubs and restaurants I have seen on TV.

[teamsaint]

I actually had an appointment at my dentists this afternoon. It was all very professional; numbers of clients are limited, and I was reminded beforehand to arrive not more than 5 minutes before my appointment, maintain 2m distance with others and to wear a face mask at all times in the public areas. The front door is locked, so only people with appointments are allowed in. The dentist wore a disposable gown, face mask and visor, and all equipment, chairs etc are disinfected between each client. I must say, it all felt much safer and professional than any of the pubs and restaurants I have seen on TV.

I’m not sure one can properly judge the situation in pubs from heavily edited TV footage.
I was at the dentist recently. Lots of extra measures, all properly implemented. With community incidence very low round here currently, I would rather get my teeth sorted and take what I think would be a very small risk.

I see the govt is looking at compulsory masks in shops, presumably to boost numbers of people on the high st. Getting the incidence right down, keeping it down, and giving people a message of confidence that risk is low, and that they themselves can play an active part in their own safety might work better.

[Joseph K]

Question for mask wearers: how many do you own and how frequently, if at all, do you wash it/them?

Just because I bought one and was disappointed that according to my mum, it would be destroyed in a washing machine and to keep on wearing it would not be hygenic. Logically then, one would need multiple masks as though they were items of clothing, to last the week until washed.

[LHC]

Question for mask wearers: how many do you own and how frequently, if at all, do you wash it/them?

Just because I bought one and was disappointed that according to my mum, it would be destroyed in a washing machine and to keep on wearing it would not be hygenic. Logically then, one would need multiple masks as though they were items of clothing, to last the week until washed.

Some good advice here:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/09/how-to-stop-your-glasses-steaming-up-and-19-other-essential-facts-about-face-masks

I have a selection of reusable cloth face masks. Once worn I put them in the washing and then use a clean one the next time I need to wear one.

[Joseph K]

Some good advice here:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/09/how-to-stop-your-glasses-steaming-up-and-19-other-essential-facts-about-face-masks

I have a selection of reusable cloth face masks. Once worn I put them in the washing and then use a clean one the next time I need to wear one.

Thanks.

[Bryn]

Question for mask wearers: how many do you own and how frequently, if at all, do you wash it/them?

Just because I bought one and was disappointed that according to my mum, it would be destroyed in a washing machine and to keep on wearing it would not be hygenic. Logically then, one would need multiple masks as though they were items of clothing, to last the week until washed.

I currently have 75. That's 70 'disposable' surgical masks (though I lightly wash and dry them several times before disposal), three motorcycle masks (for winter use), and 2 recently purchased 're-usable' masks from Poundland. Only the surgical masks have a molding strip for the nose.

[Joseph K]

I currently have 75. That's 70 'disposable' surgical masks (though I lightly wash and dry them several times before disposal), three motorcycle masks (for winter use), and 2 recently purchased 're-usable' masks from Poundland. Only the surgical masks have a molding strip for the nose.

[johnb]

Some good advice here:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/09/how-to-stop-your-glasses-steaming-up-and-19-other-essential-facts-about-face-masks

I have a selection of reusable cloth face masks. Once worn I put them in the washing and then use a clean one the next time I need to wear one.

That Guardian article misleadingly states:

"Perhaps one of the problems has been the changing advice as new evidence emerges. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends people wear cloth masks."

Other media outlets and politicians have said the same thing but it is only partially true.

The WHO advice is that people under 60 wear non-medical masks but that people aged 60 and over (and those with vulnerable conditions) wear medical masks. Sadly medical masks are designed to be only used once.

I have a box of 50 (now 48).

The WHO Guidance dated 5th June can be downloaded from https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...w-to-use-masks

See page 7 for their recommendations on mask wearing and the type of mask that is appropriate.

See page 9 for their recommendations for non-medical "cloth" masks - the materials and the number of layers.

(It really b*ggers me off how politicians distort such things as the WHO guidance and how then newspapers and broadcast media lazily follow suit.)