Coronavirus

[EnemyoftheStoat]

As linked to by member Barrett on FB:

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...rance-pandemic

Definitely this. If you wondered why Johnson and Co were handling the pandemic so badly, wonder no more. (And also, which planet were you on?)

[Dave2002]

I'm assuming that this article is reasonably factual - since it seems to be from a credible source - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/30/h...d8d20e9b57a66b Delta variant and contagion - in the US.

The Wall Street Journal also has an article which initially focuses on the UK - https://www.wsj.com/articles/opening...se-11626884725

[Pulcinella]

The ZOE app reports this morning that the number of active cases in York is up by 293 from last week.

I was talking to a consultant anaesthetist friend last night, and he told me that the ICU in his hospital is as busy as it was last January, with a high number of anti-vaxers, at least two of which are not expected to survive.
It is heartbreaking for the staff there, and he said that he had never before seen so many of them in tears.

I think we need a hard-hitting advertising campaign, possibly primarily aimed at the young folk who think that they're immortal, along the lines of the AIDS gravestones, to encourage them to get vaccinated.

[french frank]

I'm assuming that this article is reasonably factual
The Wall Street Journal also has an article

And one available without subscription:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/29/uk-covid-cases-rise-second-day-running-amid-drop-testing

There seem to be a lot of uncertainties just at the moment as to what the figures are indicating for the future.

[Mandryka]

Am I right to think that admissions are plateauing in England?

[LMcD]

Am I right to think that admissions are plateauing in England?

Last 4 weeks: 836, 830, 816, 728

[french frank]

Last 4 weeks: 836, 830, 816, 728

But the ONS reports, as at w/e 25 July:

"Hospital admissions of COVID-19-confirmed patients in England increased to 7.06 per 100,000 people in the week ending 25 July 2021. The rates increased in all age groups, except in those aged 5 to 14 years. Hospital admissions decreased in the North West but increased in all other regions of England. The largest increase was seen in the South East. "

I haven't been noting down our local figures, but was intrigued that while cases were tumbling, in both the Bristol hospital areas admissions were going up.

N. Bristol: Daily 16, last 7 days 75, up 9, +13.6%
Univ hosps Bristol and Weston: Daily 6, last 7 days 66, up 6, +10.0%

That's been the pattern for roughly the past week since I've been checking and tallies with the ONS report.

[Mandryka]

Last 4 weeks: 836, 830, 816, 728

Hard to explain that.

[Mandryka]

while cases were tumbling,

They weren't. Positive test results were falling, but that's quite a different thing.

[french frank]

They weren't. Positive test results were falling, but that's quite a different thing.

Quite right, and Tim Spector had three reasons to suggest why there were fewer tests taking place: i) schools on holiday, so no compulsory tests; ii) people unwilling to take tests if they're going on holiday, need to work; and iii) most interesting - that the symptoms are changing so people who go for a test with atypical symptoms are turned away and told "it's not covid".

Explanation at about 3'40" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p7ok5aIX6s

[Dave2002]

Distribution of gamma and beta variants - see https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-...ntine-12367216 These variants hardly exist in the UK currently, but are more prevalent in some other countries.

Reductions in travel restrictions may change this - but perhaps not too much.

[Mandryka]

Distribution of gamma and beta variants - see https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-...ntine-12367216 These variants hardly exist in the UK currently, but are more prevalent in some other countries.

Reductions in travel restrictions may change this - but perhaps not too much.

I wonder if beta will have an advantage over delta in the UK now that we seem to be getting delta under control through vaccinations. In the vaccinated population, delta will have less fuel, but beta will have more fuel.

(Warning: I really don't know what I'm talking about.)

[Serial_Apologist]

I wonder if beta will have an advantage over delta in the UK now that we seem to be getting delta under control through vaccinations. In the vaccinated population, delta will have less fuel, but beta will have more fuel.

(Warning: I really don't know what I'm talking about.)

Join the club!

[Bryn]

I wonder if beta will have an advantage over delta in the UK now that we seem to be getting delta under control through vaccinations. In the vaccinated population, delta will have less fuel, but beta will have more fuel.

(Warning: I really don't know what I'm talking about.)

Let's just hope that with beta testing well in hand, the public release will not cause too many problems.

[Mandryka]

Let's just hope that with beta testing well in hand, the public release will not cause too many problems.

What a wag you are.