Coronavirus

[johnb]

As some will know, I've been maintaining a multi-page interactive "report" containing Covid-19 maps and data by Local Authority. The report is on Microsoft's Power BI platform.

I now have a new version which is very similar to the original but with "improvements" (?)

Cases/100k by LA Map & data
Increases/Decreases by LA Map & data

• Both pages have the option to display any of the previous 5 wks in addition to the current 7 days.
• Map, Data & Charts can be filtered by Nation/English Region and by LA (the Map will zoom to the filtered Region or LA selected)
• Bar/line charts for 6 wks Cs/100k and Cases for areas/Regions/LA selected
• Map now shows towns and (when zoomed to LA level) major roads.
• Drill through to MSOA Map/Data for a selected LA (England only)

Deaths by County/Unitary Authority Map & data

• Now shows towns.
• Yet to implement Nations/Regions and roads.

MSOA Map for England
Available from the Cases/100k and Increases/Decreases pages by right clicking a LA in the table and selecting "Drill Through"/"MSOA page"
One can display the current 7 days or any of the 3 previous weeks.

The link to the reports:

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjM5NDFmY2YtM2NhZi00ZTE3LWFlY2YtNjMyYWZmMWRlZjNiIiwidCI6IjQyMTI4YmIwLTJjZjgtNDY3MC1iNzRhLWZhNDlmNGJkMDQzZSJ9

(A mouse is required for full functionality so it is best to view the "report" on a computer. I understand that it can be viewed on a tablet, though with limited functionality.)

For the moment I will be maintaining both this and the previous version:

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZDkxMTQwYTAtZGI2MS00MjI2LWJkYzEtNDQ3ZjM0ZDczZTE0IiwidCI6IjQyMTI4YmIwLTJjZjgtNDY3MC1iNzRhLWZhNDlmNGJkMDQzZSJ9

I could do a plethora of screen grabs but don't want to flood the thread so I've uploaded a few to Google Drive, in case anyone is curious:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Or_0qY07NHBq_bMYLMxP9OdCdUa4yJmB?usp=sharing

Comments, etc gratefully received.

(PS The "report" might have not behaved properly for a little while during the time I was updating it with today's data)

[Petrushka]

There still seems to be too much confusion about regarding face masks, more specifically the right type to wear. I've been wearing a Type 2R but note that Germany and Austria have made it compulsory for FFP masks to be worn on public transport and in shops https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...e-britons-told

I'd prefer to follow this advice than anything coming out of the mouths of Hancock or Johnson. I've ordered a batch of FFP2 masks from Amazon (other outlets are available) and others might like to follow suit as the UK will probably catch up at some stage then they'll be like gold dust!

[Dave2002]

I'd prefer to follow this advice than anything coming out of the mouths of Hancock or Johnson. I've ordered a batch of FFP2 masks from Amazon (other outlets are available) and others might like to follow suit as the UK will probably catch up at some stage then they'll be like gold dust!

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ffp2+fa...f=nb_sb_noss_1

Weren't there supply issues way back, and concern that if people bought medical masks it would impact adversely on the health service?
If supply issues are now largely resolved then people can make their own minds up about which masks to buy and wear, though some situations may require masks, if only to comply with legal requirements.

[Bryn]

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ffp2+fa...f=nb_sb_noss_1

Weren't there supply issues way back, and concern that if people bought medical masks it would impact adversely on the health service?
If supply issues are now largely resolved then people can make their own minds up about which masks to buy and wear, though some situations may require masks, if only to comply with legal requirements.

Was the supply problem not related to FFP3 masks, rather than the lower protection FFP2? Outside of dedicated COVID-19 areas, hospital staff mainly rely on simple surgical masks, in my experience:

[Dave2002]

Was the supply problem not related to FFP3 masks, rather than the lower protection FFP2? Outside of dedicated COVID-19 areas, hospital staff mainly rely on simple surgical masks, in my experience:

I don't know - you may be right.

More expensive masks may be useless if they are not handled correctly - subject to the risks - of course. For example - if a mask is worn - and is actually effective - then taking it off may expose a wearer to all the collected material thus infecting them by the material they were hoping to avoid. I believe that this was another argument for not imposing mask wearing as a regulation.

Given the clear understanding of the British public when given detailed instructions, this might have been a very sensible approach to dealing with masks, though new understanding of the problems - particularly related to newly detected virus strains - may require a change in policies.

[vinteuil]

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... I see the Glastonbury 2021 Festival is now cancelled.

Frankly I think it hard to imagine that the Japan Olympics will now take place. Nor the Proms.

(We are putting on hold a big all-members-of-the-family holiday planned for France this summer.)


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[Frances_iom]

I'd be very surprised if any travel opens up before spring 2022 and even then there will be severe restrictions - Australia + NZ will see no need for tourists, Africa will be too dangerous a covid hotspot - likewise South America - possibly the EU will open up but will need tests + covid passports - maybe parts of China will be ok but political situation will be dodgy, India ??.

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't know - you may be right.

More expensive masks may be useless if they are not handled correctly - subject to the risks - of course. For example - if a mask is worn - and is actually effective - then taking it off may expose a wearer to all the collected material thus infecting them by the material they were hoping to avoid. I believe that this was another argument for not imposing mask wearing as a regulation.

Given the clear understanding of the British public when given detailed instructions, this might have been a very sensible approach to dealing with masks, though new understanding of the problems - particularly related to newly detected virus strains - may require a change in policies.

There is supposed to be a way of removing a face mask without needing to actually touch the main part of the mask, which consists in hooking a single finger behind the ear around one of the support straps, and then dropping the mask away from oneself for disposal (or decontamination, in my case), thereby minimising chances of self-infection.

Two new bits of news today sent me into a state of nerves until I applied a bit of critical thinking to them. The first was the panicky announcement that Covid infection levels had been shown to have risen after the imposition of the latest lockdown - yet another instance of BBC news readers jumping to conclusions before evidence; the second that vaccination centres have been experiencing lapses in vaccine delivery. I would have thought that no one should have been surprised that infection rates had gone up weeks after the Christmas break, when symptoms would have begun manifesting in the expected time frame. As regards poor distribution of the vaccine, this would understandably be problematic in planning for staffing levels, sometimes involving secondments from areas already understaffed, as well as keeping premises open when they cannot operate. Has the idea of dual purposing vaccinating centres been considered, so that, in addition to administering the jab, they can have (or call on) personnel to test appointee patients who would otherwise have had the vaccine, thus by centralising testing and vaccination saving in terms of time, costs and convenience? Or is there some issue with safety, which would militate against such dual use of premises?

[Dave2002]

There is supposed to be a way of removing a face mask without needing to actually touch the main part of the mask, which consists in hooking a single finger behind the ear around one of the support straps, and then dropping the mask away from oneself for disposal (or decontamination, in my case), thereby minimising chances of self-infection.

Indeed, but if there were really a problem I would imagine many people thinking "S** that - I've spent £x on this mask, so I'm going to wear it again". If there were a real hazard, then disposal or serious decontamination processes would be esssential. Otherwise there wouldn't be a need for that, and then one could question whether the masks were protecting against a real hazard at all.

[DracoM]

Blurring glasses the curse. Suggestions?

[Serial_Apologist]

Indeed, but if there were really a problem I would imagine many people thinking "S** that - I've spent £x on this mask, so I'm going to wear it again". If there were a real hazard, then disposal or serious decontamination processes would be esssential. Otherwise there wouldn't be a need for that, and then one could question whether the masks were protecting against a real hazard at all.

Possibly true. We haven't heard any information, have we, on the degree to which various types of face masks have been found to be contaminated after single use; or whether the contamination, in the case of an infected wearer, is all on the inside of the mask or has managed to percolate to the outside? The idea, we were told at the outset, was to prevent others' infection by a non-mask wearer, rather than the other way around. Winners all around when ubiquitously complied with. Personally, I have taken to wearing 2 face masks - the simple 2 type - when out buying my groceries, which takes on average about 15 minutes inside any one of the local supermarkets. As I told one of the amused attendants at the surgery on Sunday: "Ah well, I belong to Hypochondriacs Anonymous, see?"

[Serial_Apologist]

Blurring glasses the curse. Suggestions?

Lowering the glasses to the end of my nose so as to be able to see where I am going, at the very least. Maybe I am lucky inasmuch that my eyesight is good enough to be able to distinguish products I need, along with all but the small print on the packaging, for which purposes I give my specs a quick rub with a tissue. Once one has been inside heated premises for a few minutes the misting problem tends in any case to reduce somewhat as temperatures equalize on each side of the lenses. You can always try not breathing for a moment too, of course! I've been know to remark on how foggy it is in this shop today!

[Petrushka]

Blurring glasses the curse. Suggestions?

Yes. Get those masks which have a wire band which you can mould to the nose. Take your glasses off before you put mask on, mould the wire to your nose and cheeks then put glasses back on. The blurring on the glasses is caused by your breath escaping where the mask hasn't been moulded properly. It might take a little practice but this was the advice my optician gave and it works fine.

Of course, the cold weather doesn't help but the above should solve the problem.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes. Get those masks which have a wire band which you can mould to the nose. Take your glasses off before you put mask on, mould the wire to your nose and cheeks then put glasses back on. The blurring on the glasses is caused by your breath escaping where the mask hasn't been moulded properly. It might take a little practice but this was the advice my optician gave and it works fine.

Of course, the cold weather doesn't help but the above should solve the problem.

Thanks from me! I'd assumed the wire bit was supposed to go under the chin, as the batch number printed on the inside of all my masks is that way up!

[oddoneout]

Blurring glasses the curse. Suggestions?

I had an eye-test appointment last week(close family member with glaucoma meant it could go ahead rather than be postponed) and remembered to ask about this. I now have a little spray bottle - application process a bit of a faff and the lenses are sometimes a little bit blurry but now I can see when going into shops. Such a relief, not least after a couple of scary incidents where instant fogging rendered me unable to see at all, which isn't a good state of affairs given the risk that falls pose to me. Taking glasses off has very limited benefit as I'm shortsighted, have progressing longsightedness (no I didn't realise that could happen either) and astigmatism. The anti-fogging comes as wipes as well, which are easier to use, but they had run out. It's Specsavers branded but alternatives will be available - I wanted to make sure I got something that was suitable for the coatings I have on my glasses, hence asking at the appointment - but perhaps somewhere like Boots(online or otherwise) might be able to help?
The next task is to get into the routine of daily cleaning and re-applying...