Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Matt Cartoons Picture Tweet]

 

[tg12]

Went to Tesco this morning as we were out of bread

 

It was good to see that they have upped the number of security people on the entrance and are asking people to sanitise their hands on the way in - and had stopped a couple that appeared to be intending to shop together to advise them that they were not supposed to do that

 

It's funny, I went to my nearest Tesco yesterday to pick up some bits, and while it was much quieter than last time I went during the weekend (at around the end of November so around lockdown 2's beginning), I saw quite a few groups going around. Kind of annoyed me.

[PlantHead]

Took my Mum for her 1st vaccination jab yesterday.

It was run pretty well, apart from lots of people turning up way too early and consequentially filling the carpark up, so that people coming at their allocated time couldn't get parked.

 

It was odd to see so many vulnerable people all mixing together though. I think once they were inside, social distancing was enforced but in the carpark and walking to the vaccination centre it was bedlam.

[Jobos]

The doctors called me over lunch yesterday asking if I was available to have the vaccination at 8am today. Bit surprised really as not that old but suppose older than most on EG at 56.

[6Foot2]

The doctors called me over lunch yesterday asking if I was available to have the vaccination at 8am today. Bit surprised really as not that old but suppose older than most on EG at 56.

Can confirm that you are younger than I am. No sign of a coronavirus vaccination anytime soon for me.

 

Over 70s vaccinations starting only recently in this area.

[elsiegee40]

The doctors called me over lunch yesterday asking if I was available to have the vaccination at 8am today. Bit surprised really as not that old but suppose older than most on EG at 56.

 

I’m 56 and they’ve only just started on the 80+ group here. Are you vulnerable for any reason

[Jobos]

I’m 56 and they’ve only just started on the 80+ group here. Are you vulnerable for any reason

 

Just mild asthma which is why I was surprised when I got the call. I wasn't expecting to have the vaccination until next month at the earliest and when the doctors called they just asked if I was a critical worker and I replied 'yes I work in a school' and that was enough to book me in.

[the_quick]

Went to Lidl last Saturday. No one at the entrance, I haven't seen anyone without mask. But, lots of families doing shopping together, extreme was a Mom, Dad and 2 kids together. Lot of couples. I live near Eastbourne, highest amount of cases in the whole east Sussex. Common sense doesn't exists !

[witch]

The doctors called me over lunch yesterday asking if I was available to have the vaccination at 8am today. Bit surprised really as not that old but suppose older than most on EG at 56.

 

Not as old as me! I have asthma as well but have been redefined as " a bit vulnerable but not enough to worry about"

 

I am VERY glad to hear that they did it when they heard you work in a school. I believe that ALL front line workers (after healthcare) such as people who work in schools, supermarket staff, bus drivers etc should be vaccinated before the rest of us who are able to stay at home and keep safe

[mikeprice]

Went out to get pie and chips for Mrs mikeprice last night

normal chippie is closed on Mondays so had to go to 'the other one' - which is smaller so if there is someone there who is behaving like a moron it has more impact

 

anyway - a family turned up - just in front of me in the queue - Woman, Man and 2 kids (aged about 8-10ish)

 

it was raining a little bit - but they had coats with hoods

but it was clearly unacceptable for the little darlings to wait outside in the rain so they all went in - then stood just inside the door

so that's 4 people in the shop and the sign on the door clearly says 6 maximum

and to get in you have to damn near hug them!!

 

and- to my amazement - the bloke was wearing a face covering - well bandana of unknown thickness - but not the woman

 

clearly they had no concept that 3 of them could have stayed at home and just one adult get the food

 

I'm just amazed the Covid rates are not higher

 

they looked at me weird when I got in by brushing along the counter and then stayed at the very far end - maybe they think I'm an idiot

(or possibly they recognise me as I used to work at the nearest school - but I doubt it)

 

sorry - end rant - just had to tell someone and don't want to worry Mrs mikeprice too much

[Jobos]

Not as old as me! I have asthma as well but have been redefined as " a bit vulnerable but not enough to worry about"

 

I am VERY glad to hear that they did it when they heard you work in a school. I believe that ALL front line workers (after healthcare) such as people who work in schools, supermarket staff, bus drivers etc should be vaccinated before the rest of us who are able to stay at home and keep safe

 

I suppose it helps when your doctors have you down as a critical worker in the first place. My wife was in the doctors last week getting her flu jab (late I know) when an old chap walks up to the window and asks about getting the COVID vaccination. You can have it next Tuesday came the reply and books him in. After he leaves my wife asks at the window and puts us both on the critical worker waiting list as she works in a school too so without the doctors getting that information they don't know who is a critical worker and who is not and I doubt the NHS is going to ring round asking so best to get you name down.

 

All in all I think I only got my appointment because they had places left to fill and I could get there for 8am.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Just heard that both my parents have been given their first shot of the Pfizer jab this afternoon.

 

They're both in their mid-70's so it's a relief!

 

Appointment for the booster isn't until april though so there's still a bit of a wait

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Text Tweet]

 

Apologies to #rudyardkipling and apologies for being a day late.

IF 2021

If you can wear a mask when all around you

Are not using theirs and stand too near to you,

If you can trust the rules when others flout them...

 

[stevejp]

Link:

[Text Tweet]

 

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60500[/ATTACH]

 

That is simply brilliant!

[mikeprice]

Link:

[Text Tweet]

 

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60500[/ATTACH]

 

sometimes class just shines out

 

good post!

[6Foot2]

Link: Anti-Virus: The Covid-19 FAQ

 

What is Anti-Virus?

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it an avalanche of misinformation. A number of myths have persisted that suggest that Covid isn't that dangerous, or that the response to Covid that most developed countries took was wrong-headed.

 

We call the people who promulgate these myths even after they have been disproved the "Covid Sceptics". Some of them have sought to claim that the number of infections is much lower than it really has been, or that health systems were under less strain than they really were, or that the fatality rate and number of excess deaths were lower than they have been in reality – or sometimes all three.

 

"Sceptics" might be seen as a flattering term: scepticism is often a good thing. But as we detail below, many of the people featured here have instead made persistently inaccurate forecasts, repeated long-disproven claims or engaged in faulty reasoning. Indeed, several of those we discuss have arguably *not been sceptical enough* about the claims of alternative "experts" who have underestimated Covid risks.

 

The arguments made by Covid Sceptics are frequently misleading, misconceived, or based on misunderstandings of the evidence. We believe these mistaken arguments are often dangerous, since they might lead people—or entire countries—to take fewer precautions against this deadly virus.

 

This website is dedicated to debunking common Covid Sceptic arguments, and highlighting the track record of some of the most influential and consistently-wrong Covid Sceptics (we mostly focus on UK-based people, since most of this site's creators are UK-based as well). We hope you'll link to our site whenever you see these common arguments appear....

[mavhc]

Approval for daily lateral flow testing is not the same as approval for weekly lateral flow testing.

[LeMarchand]

So...

 

As of next week I can get 2x Lateral Flow tests/wk at one site (probably 2) OR 1x LAMP test/wk at another (could get 2 but would mean a special trip). Or any combination of the above, I guess.

 

What would be the most sensible course of action? The LF would get a result before I go to work, but (I think) isn't quite as accurate.

[mavhc]

I'd get one of each

[Ditto]

So...

 

As of next week I can get 2x Lateral Flow tests/wk at one site (probably 2) OR 1x LAMP test/wk at another (could get 2 but would mean a special trip). Or any combination of the above, I guess.

 

What would be the most sensible course of action? The LF would get a result before I go to work, but (I think) isn't quite as accurate.

Re the LAMP test - that's interesting as I hadn't heard that was yet an option for schools. What type of educational establishment is that - large secondary, college, uni or something else?

[LeMarchand]

Re the LAMP test - that's interesting as I hadn't heard that was yet an option for schools. What type of educational establishment is that - large secondary, college, uni or something else?

 

School (primary) is part of a local trial. Looking at how to perform the tests, adding spit to a test tube (LAMP) looks easier than swabbing (LFT).

Edited January 20, 2021 by LeMarchand

[Ditto]

School (primary) is part of a local trial. Looking at how to perform the tests, adding spit to a test tube (LAMP) looks easier than swabbing (LFT).

Excellent. Will be interesting to see accuracy of results - I'd expect them to be better. Out of interest, do you know if they are using Yoti for the processing of results and digital id management?

[LeMarchand]

Out of interest, do you know if they are using Yoti for the processing of results and digital id management?

 

Sorry, don't know. I just provide the spit in the morning, it's collected before lunchtime and I get the result via email and text within hours.

[jmak]

Recommended listen: Radio 4 More or Less:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000rccm

 

It's always been a bit of a favourite for me as I'm a bit of a statistics geek... But for the last year it has been almost all taking apart the reported statistics from the news and explaining them, checking whether they're either completely untrue, or mean something different to what you first think.

 

Takeaways from this week's for me:

 

1) Despite my scepticism, it now looks possible that we'll get close to the target of vaccinating the top 4 tiers by mid-February

2) 88% of deaths have been in that group so we should see a massive decrease in deaths

3) 75% of hospitalisations are NOT in that group, so we'll be nowhere near ready to release lockdown, since the hospital's are still confidentiality overwhelmed

[LeMarchand]

It seems that school staff aren't as safe as being made out, especially if you're in a Special School: https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-teachers-almost-twice-likely-get-covid-says-neu

 

(Hope this isn't considered the "P" word, especially as I'm not sure Starmer would have handled thing differently).