Coronavirus

[Petrushka]

Is it really about “ rebellious” tory MPs? The opposition vote for anything that the government propose on covid.

It's just the latest, and extreme, example of 'divide and rule'. Everything this government does is about setting off one set of people against another: rich v poor, north v south, black v white, leavers v remainers, masked v unmasked. The list goes on. Delta Johnson will, I'm sure, be most gratified to hear of the inevitable fisticuffs on public transport and in the shops. between those wearing/not wearing a mask.

[Bryn]

I now see we are to expect a risk to the NHS and our health from three viral respiratory diseases this winter. Yet another rationale for retaining compulsory face coverings in situations of higher transmission risks. As experience in East Asian countries has shown, it's not only SARS-Cov-2 that masking provides some protection against spreading.

[french frank]

I now see we are to expect a risk to the NHS and our health from three viral respiratory diseases this winter. Yet another rationale for retaining compulsory face coverings in situations of higher transmission risks. As experience in East Asian countries has shown, it's not only SARS-Cov-2 that masking provides some protection against spreading.

And the snag is that people who don't wear masks are risking OTHER people's health more than their own. Quite early on in the rise in this pandemic it was shown that in E Asia not wearing a mask was regarded as anti-social. Yet here it's left to individuals to decide, with the government's blessing, whether to be 'anti-social' or not.

[richardfinegold]

I’m really talking about how we deal with endemic covid, going forward. We are all going to have to find ways of dealing with it, whilst enabling other healthcare and all other aspects of life, including economic life, to continue.

Just as an example, excess deaths are currently well below the 5 year average. Deaths from flu and pneumonia in June were 10 times higher than covid.
There are no guarantees on health. But restrictions due to covid do cause collateral damage.

Excellent Post. Zero Covid is apparently unobtainable. The virus is too damn wiley and mutates consistently. It apparently will be with us at some level forever. The CDC has acknowledged so in strongly all but demanding that schools reopen, despite the objections of the powerful Teachers Unions, because all the studies show that Remote Learning has been a disaster.
The Germophobes that were all likely to drive most of us a little nuts pre Covid have had their day and their ultimate vindication during the pandemic. They can't let go and are still using the low levels as an excuse to continually shame others and avoid most normal life. Certain occupations may never recover (who in the a king demographic that goes to Orchestral Concerts will feel comfortable attending?).

[Bryn]

Excellent Post. Zero Covid is apparently unobtainable. The virus is too damn wiley and mutates consistently. It apparently will be with us at some level forever. The CDC has acknowledged so in strongly all but demanding that schools reopen, despite the objections of the powerful Teachers Unions, because all the studies show that Remote Learning has been a disaster.
The Germophobes that were all likely to drive most of us a little nuts pre Covid have had their day and their ultimate vindication during the pandemic. They can't let go and are still using the low levels as an excuse to continually shame others and avoid most normal life. Certain occupations may never recover (who in the a king demographic that goes to Orchestral Concerts will feel comfortable attending?).

You will, I assume, be well aware of the current, apparently accelerating, upswing of infections in the UK.

[teamsaint]

You will, I assume, be well aware of the current, apparently accelerating, upswing of infections in the UK.

Plateauing according to Tim Spector.

Infections are of course not the only important metric. Crucially, the vulnerability of those infected and the affect on hospitalisation figures need to be part of the conversation.

https://twitter.com/timspector/status/1415600818758291456?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Bryn]

Plateauing according to Tim Spector.

Infections are of course not the only important metric. Crucially, the vulnerability of those infected and the affect on hospitalisation figures need to be part of the conversation.

https://twitter.com/timspector/statu...7Ctwgr%5Etweet

The first response to Spector's Tweet speaks volumes: "How does that square with the 40k+ official case count yesterday?".

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

[teamsaint]

The first response to Spector's Tweet speaks volumes: "How does that square with the 40k+ official case count yesterday?".

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

The Kings App and its data has been unfailingly excellent at showing the path of the epidemic. A tweeted response is what it is.I'm happy to take the Kings App figures as described by Tim Spector.

[Bryn]

The first response to Spector's Tweet speaks volumes: "How does that square with the 40k+ official case count yesterday?".

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Fortunately, understanding of SARS-Cov-2 and treatment options have increased by leaps and bounds over the past 18 months.

[french frank]

Plateauing according to Tim Spector.]

Over the country as a whole? Not in Bristol, where the new infections are higher than anything last January, and still rising.

One hears the phrase 'the new normal' but for most people, apparently. that means 'what I've been used to all my life'.

Are social distancing and mask-wearing such a huge burden on society?

[Bryn]

The Kings App and its data has been unfailingly excellent at showing the path of the epidemic. A tweeted response is what it is.I'm happy to take the Kings App figures as described by Tim Spector.

Latest daily new cases datum from ZOE: 32,919.

Official Government datum: 42,302

[teamsaint]

Latest daily new cases datum from ZOE: 32,919.

Official Government datum: 42,302

We know the govt figures have significant fluctuation on a daily basis. Kings app has been very consistent and reliable throughout.
In any case, the kinds of groups who are infected, and the knock on is important, not just raw case numbers .

[Sir Velo]

I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

I am not a number, I am a free man.

With no sense of social responsibility apparently.

[teamsaint]

With no sense of social responsibility apparently.

What on earth are you on about ?

Try some discussion for once, instead of personal and baseless attack.

You are, of course, completely wrong.

[french frank]

n any case, the kinds of groups who are infected, and the knock on is important, not just raw case numbers .

True, very true. And the link I posted a couple of days ago shows that the NHS is bracing for the third wave, hospitalisations are rising and the potential incidence of that 'fictitious' condition known as Long Covid among younger people is unknown.

If all the 'collaterally damaging' restrictions are now being lifted, why not keep mask-wearing and social distancing, two key 'mitigating' factors of virus spread?