Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[mavhc]

If someone in the NHS can't tell the difference between an infectious disease and not coming to work because you're hungover, that's a bigger problem. If your manager is not applying their personal discretion, as is stated specifically in the NHS sickness rules that they should, then fire them and replace them with a spreadsheet.

 

Also

 

"Normal sickness provisions as detailed in the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff (section 14, England), will be paused for the duration of the pandemic for sickness absence related to COVID-19. For normal sickness absence that is not related to COVID-19, normal provisions will apply as usual."

[elsiegee40]

My husband tested positive this morning. Fully vaccinated and never had it before. I am negative… so far.

[southhamster]

My husband tested positive this morning. Fully vaccinated and never had it before. I am negative… so far.

Crossed fingers for you. [emoji1696]

[Andrew_C]

It is making its presence felt here again. Two teachers off last week, a cleaner & technician this week (so far).

[Garacesh]

I did a test for the first time in I don't know how long last night because I felt grim, only one line.

[mavhc]

My friend caught it on the train, took about 6 days to show up on LFT, thought it was something else because symptoms were stomach problems.

 

"Among secondary school pupils, almost 1 in 20 (4.8%) have experienced long COVID following their latest infection."

"Secondary school pupils with long COVID were significantly more likely to have at least one probable mental disorder"

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19/latestinsights

[elsiegee40]

Mr gee40 definitely has a mild dose. A fever at night featured Friday to Sunday night, but none last night. Other than that, it’s a cold with a very mild cough.

 

He didn’t register his positive test, but I got pinged overnight for a contact on Saturday so have managed contact with someone else! If I don’t get it, it will be a miracle!

[StevieM]

We're back to having daily case updates in school.

[AlistairB1983]

We're back to it having a noticeable effect on staff absence levels.

[Ditto]

Daily hospitalisation numbers (England, and most likely UK wide) are rapidly heading towards levels that were only exceeded at the outset of the pandemic and the Jan 2021 wave. Further reports of significant increase in case numbers will only increase that number. Reassurance that protection from serious infection for most is backed up but only a slight increase in death rates, but I do fear for the legacy of long covid for so many. We are not done with this virus and I see no 'summer' effect pushing down on numbers. I hope the natural cycle sees numbers dropping back again soon, if not, I can't see the country continuing with no further actions as unpalatable as that is.

[LeMarchand]

Car park was easy to park in today as staff with positive Covid tests are off. One of the office ladies seems to think that they shouldn't even know that they have Covid as they shouldn't have tested. Is this correct?

 

If it is, surely official figures are too low? If she's wrong, there must be people with the same mindset who aren't testing.

[jthompson]

You can't stop people using their own test kits on themselves. Would be a weird/worrying state of affairs otherwise.

[StevieM]

One of the office ladies seems to think that they shouldn't even know that they have Covid as they shouldn't have tested.

**

[LeMarchand]

You'd think that but, as she was off with Covid when it was being taken more seriously and so isn't a denier, she can't be the only person thinking people shouldn't be testing. It's a bit like spotting frayed wiring at home and thinking "I don't have to PAT test at home and it's working".

[Rob_D]

At this point, there is question of why would someone test?

People who are feeling well probably aren't doing random "spot checks" since they stopped giving out free testing. And even if you're feeling unwell, would you bother testing or just call in sick and stay home until you feel better? (I guess if you had some free test left over, you might take one).

[jthompson]

If my OH was unwell with COVID, I might test to check that I'm negative before heading off to a social event without her.

 

(or I might stay and look after her, but you get my point)

[elsiegee40]

Car park was easy to park in today as staff with positive Covid tests are off. One of the office ladies seems to think that they shouldn't even know that they have Covid as they shouldn't have tested. Is this correct?

 

If it is, surely official figures are too low? If she's wrong, there must be people with the same mindset who aren't testing.

 

Given that some people probably have left over kits from when they were available free (like us) and that you can buy them in the supermarket then people are testing if they are suspicious they have it.

 

We both tested when Mr gee40 felt lousy. He was positive and I was negative. I tested before going to my volunteer shifts to make sure I wasn’t going to infect anyone. He tested again after a week (positive) and 10 days (negative)

 

We both tested at the weekend before visiting Mr gee40’s parents as they are elderly and vulnerable.

 

Official figures are I think drawn from hospital admission data. Test those admitted for any reason (not just the ones with suspected Covid) and know what proportion are positive. It’s a large enough sample to be scaled up reliably to get a national figure.

[LeMarchand]

At this point, there is question of why would someone test?

 

 

Surely better to know if you've got a cold or need to isolate? Plus the reasons below. We have various elderlies across the country and tend to test before visits just in case. £2/kit from Tesco.

 

If my OH was unwell with COVID, I might test to check that I'm negative before heading off to a social event without her.

 

Given that some people probably have left over kits from when they were available free (like us) and that you can buy them in the supermarket then people are testing if they are suspicious they have it.

 

We both tested when Mr gee40 felt lousy. He was positive and I was negative. I tested before going to my volunteer shifts to make sure I wasn’t going to infect anyone. He tested again after a week (positive) and 10 days (negative)

 

We both tested at the weekend before visiting Mr gee40’s parents as they are elderly and vulnerable.

 

Official figures are I think drawn from hospital admission data. Test those admitted for any reason (not just the ones with suspected Covid) and know what proportion are positive. It’s a large enough sample to be scaled up reliably to get a national figure.

 

Thanks for that clarification.

[Andrew_C]

The ONS are still running a national survey - this, along with hospital admissions is probably where the data is coming from, prior to being 'massaged'.

 

The Govt have been ignoring the ZOE study assiduously, as it shows the situation to be considerably worse.

[Ditto]

Official figures are I think drawn from hospital admission data. Test those admitted for any reason (not just the ones with suspected Covid) and know what proportion are positive. It’s a large enough sample to be scaled up reliably to get a national figure.

 

Are you thinking for case numbers? I wasn't aware if their is any scaling up, but would be interest to know if they are. My understanding was the figures on https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/ are those reported, but since free testing ended, it's not a lot of use and Zoe or ONS data is a better guide to case rates. Due to further differences between UK nations reporting, I only look at England Healthcare data now on that site, which is only updated weekly now. The latest is due out about now, I don't think it will look good.

[Ditto]

To add to my last post, figures are out and the latest admissions figure, which is 11/7 topped 2,000. That's in the top 10% of all admission figures reported. Death figures thankfully aren't matching the rise. A couple of possible explanations are that it reflects the high infection levels and consequently many are going in to hospital for reasons other than directly related to covid but are testing positive. Or perhaps it reflects the levels of treatments for covid for those unfortunate enough to be in that position.

[mavhc]

Treatment is better now, more drugs.

 

Testing halved and weirdly number of positive cases also halved. Spooky that

[BOOT]

It's absolutely rife. If it wasn't nearly summer, schools would likely have to close due to lack of staff.

[Ditto]

Still going up - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62176865

 

With next weeks temperatures, keep cool and stay safe everyone. NHS services as always battle on, so thanks to all their staff all who will continue to work through the very challenging times.

[Ditto]

After a period of positive data through August, I'm afraid there are early signs of increases in England, including hospitalisation numbers. Comments from some observers that the pandemic is over I fear will prove premature. I'll be taking my booster when offered. We have to hope this isn't going to be a long winter - there's enough bleak news currently.