Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[JordanT91]

Yes it is - I had several negative LFD tests, had a PCR last Sunday and came back positive. LFD are not very accurate, especially if you have symptoms.

Actually it's the opposite. They are more accurate in people with a high viral load ie. is likely to be displaying symptoms. It's just the government doesn't want them to be used when people are displaying symptoms. Key difference.

[JSpaced]

Then you have to wonder whether the twice week LFD tests are worth it.

 

They're better than nothing, but PCR tests are more reliable.

On the other hand PCR test are more expensive and require a lab to process.

[elsiegee40]

I hope they are all booking PCR tests. A lot of people I know who have been double-jabbed but have still caught COVID are describing their symptoms as 'just like a really heavy cold'.

 

I have had two colds so far this season. Both tested with Lateral Flow and PCR tests. Both colds.

 

I wear a mask everywhere. One was caught from Mr gee40 who caught it going unmasked at his office. The other I am not sure.

Edited September 27, 2021 by elsiegee40

[Ditto]

And again....

 

Reports of 'technical issues' and 'major incident' with NHS data collection impacting at least 3 days worth of data. Does anyone know what the actual problem is? I'm presuming these data aren't passed around by HGV drivers?

[LeMarchand]

NHS systems? Father was hospitalised Friday and diagnosed positive. Track & Trace called yesterday wanting some details that should have been on his medical record. The only way T&T would have known is via the hospital, so why didn't hey have those details? Also the caller had to go through a script of stuff that I explained up front was pretty irrelevant.

[Duranis]

Yay! another half dozen cases here. Apparently we are now classed as having an "outbreak" so no more assemblies or whole school events until the end of term. Although everyone together at lunchtime is still fine somehow because "bubbles?!?"

[mavhc]

Not telling everyone else in the school who tested positive is a very stupid idea, how do they know whether they've been in contact with that person?

[StevieM]

Not telling everyone else in the school who tested positive is a very stupid idea, how do they know whether they've been in contact with that person?

That's Test and Trace's responsibility...apparently.

[Ironside]

Not telling everyone else in the school who tested positive is a very stupid idea, how do they know whether they've been in contact with that person?

 

So my old school (actually two schools in one building) was rather small so outbreaks could be contained to year groups (two classrooms) in one school or to a single classroom in another, and we were only told that the bubble was sent home because someone had tested positive, and those who had been in close contact were told privately so if you were in work, you knew you were safe.

Edited September 29, 2021 by elsiegee40

[Garacesh]

Not telling everyone else in the school who tested positive is a very stupid idea, how do they know whether they've been in contact with that person?

 

Medical data is one of those things where we respect people's privacy.

In theory, the person with 'rona informs who they've been in close contact with. Management here have made a huge fuss about seating plans being accurate because of contact tracing, can't fault it really, not the worst idea.

[mavhc]

That's Test and Trace's responsibility...apparently.

 

Relying on a child to remember everyone they met in the past week, yeah, that'll work.

 

Why did they stop schools organising it? This is a much better conspiracy than 5G

 

Why is B near V on the keyboard, and I near O, and U near I? And R is R and S is S.

[FN-GM]

Relying on a child to remember everyone they met in the past week, yeah, that'll work.

 

I think I would struggle to recall everyone...

[LeMarchand]

I think I would struggle to recall everyone...

 

Who are you?

[6Foot2]

I think I would struggle to recall everyone...

 

Who are you?

 

Mentioned on Morning Live a few minutes ago:

 

Link: Prosopagnosia (face blindness) - NHS

 

Back on topic...

[mavhc]

It's much easier to answer the question: did you meet X yesterday?

Than: list everyone you met yesterday

 

Distribute the load, at least 5x more connections will be found.

 

As the R number is hovering around 1, we should lockdown, reduce cases to 10% of what they are now, then resume what we're doing now.

 

Then the R number will still be 1, but 10x fewer people will be infected each day, 10x less chance of variants, 10x less long covid cases, 10x less deaths, 10x less kids off school

[Duranis]

As the R number is hovering around 1, we should lockdown, reduce cases to 10% of what they are now, then resume what we're doing now.

 

I doubt very much we will see any more lockdowns in this country, no matter what happens. Can't say much more without getting political but yeah the infection rate is not really a priority anymore.

[StevieM]

I doubt very much we will see any more lockdowns in this country, no matter what happens. Can't say much more without getting political but yeah the infection rate is not really a priority anymore.

 

Totally agree*. Even if there were, I think that there would be too much non-compliance for them to be effective. It's not just government for whom the infection rate is not a priority any more.

 

(*with the statement, not necessarily that there shouldn't be)

[Ditto]

A significant statement about a drug treatment using molnupiravir - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58764440.

It's early days and there is no statement on long term impact. It doesn't take anything more than a wiki search to see some questioning of drug safety https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molnupiravir.

But it's clear science is hard at work in the battle against covid. It's easy to forgoet or under estimate the impact of the vaccines and the speed they were developed. I suspect when looking back in a decade or two's time, the achievement will be better recognised.

Edited October 1, 2021 by Ditto

[mavhc]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/we-might-not-be-over-the-worst-scientists-warn-as-covid-case-numbers-stay-high

[Ditto]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/we-might-not-be-over-the-worst-scientists-warn-as-covid-case-numbers-stay-high

 

A couple of points in that article caught my eye. Firstly, vaccinations in schools. It said "there has been no sign of vaccination programmes beginning at schools". That's in line with my local observations - is anyone seeing progress in their schools?

 

Secondly, one expert commented in relation to the high case rate potentially leading to a more infectious, vaccine resistant variant "It is a real prospect, ... I have been predicting a strain worse than the Delta variant for a while but it hasn’t happened". It shows how unpredictable some things to do with covid are now.

 

A small slight positive, case rates have shown a small decrease for the last three days compared to the week before, and in some ways that's unexpected. Rates of growth or reduction have swung between negative and positive since mid July.

 

Finally, one perhaps for the annoying thread. The https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations site is not currently updating percentage vaccinations for 16+ whilst they sort out tracking for 12+. We were just about to hit, or have just hit , 90% first jab for 16+. It's perhaps no longer the most important milestone, but still a significant one nonetheless. I'm really not sure if there's a lot more can be done to move the figure a lot higher, without getting in to more controversial actions.

[6Foot2]

A couple of points in that article caught my eye. Firstly, vaccinations in schools. It said "there has been no sign of vaccination programmes beginning at schools". That's in line with my local observations - is anyone seeing progress in their schools?...

I met some friends and former colleagues last week. They told me that some schools in the area are seeing parents turning up on site with the aim of preventing vaccinations from going ahead.

 

Edited October 3, 2021 by 6Foot2
Add an "r" :(

[StevieM]

I met some friends and former colleagues last week. They told me that some schools in the area are seeing parents tuning up on site with the aim of preventing vaccinations from going ahead.

 

 

Aaaaarrggghhhh!! Parents with protest songs!

[6Foot2]

Aaaaarrggghhhh!! Parents with protest songs!

 

Actually, a bit more than that. Some quite intimidating behaviour was exhibited, with threats of physical violence offered ('cause naturally, why not?)

[elsiegee40]

@BKGarry has vaccination started in your school?

[Boredguy]

A couple of points in that article caught my eye. Firstly, vaccinations in schools. It said "there has been no sign of vaccination programmes beginning at schools". That's in line with my local observations - is anyone seeing progress in their schools?

 

We've both flu and covid vaccination for the students this week by the looks of it