Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[Ditto]

The wider society should be restricted more so the R rate is <1 again.

 

>1 bad

<1 good

 

Need to start vaccinations for 16-18 year olds, given the drop in vaccinations per week we have excess capacity

Unfortunately the unprecedented situation of a global pandemic with a novel virus will not condense to a binary piece of logic - it's never going to be as simplistic as that. Average vaccine rates have clearly dropped in the last few weeks, but can you provide an authoritative source that there is an excess capacity? I've yet to see compelling explanation of why the numbers are falling.

The risk profile, both in terms of getting covid, but also in terms of vaccine risks is very different for 16-18 year olds than it is for the vulnerable groups. This is why some believe the vaccines should go to those more vulnerable people in other countries. Seasonal flu has a r0 of >1 but we don't especially restrict society because of that. To me the current approach is moving towards less restriction, but accepting there is a price in terms of hospitalisations and death. I don't like it, but it's the situation were are in, but is true of so much in life, be it other illnesses like flu, or driving, for flying, or taking part in sport, or holidaying or whatever - living introduces risks!

 

I would add however, as noted by @Duranis, I do feel too many people are being way too lax and continuing with basic precautions that could reduce the speed of spread, which allows more time for more people to get vaccinated, especially their second dose.

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Matt Cartoons Picture Tweet]

 

[6Foot2]

Link: Interactive map of vaccinations | Coronavirus in the UK

 

This map shows the percentage of adults vaccinated. The left view shows 1st doses and the right view shows 2nd doses by local authority. Zoom in for more local data and use the slider to compare 1st and 2nd dose...

 

 

...Vaccination uptake

 

Vaccination uptake is shown as a percentage of all people aged 18 and over. We calculate this by dividing the total number of people who have received a vaccination by the population and multiplying by 100.

 

For English areas, the population used is the number of people of the National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS) database. For Scottish areas, the population used in the mid-2019 population estimate from National Records of Scotland. Comparisons between English and Scottish areas should be made with caution.

 

Map areas

 

Find your area by using the postcode search or the zoom. The map shows data for different area types:

 

local authorities. These are divided into Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLA) and Lower Tier Local Authorities (LTLA) for areas with 2 tiers of local government, such as county council (upper tier) and district council (lower tier).

Middle layer Super Output Areas (MSOA). These areas are smaller than local authorities, so show data at the most local level.

[mikeprice]

Rode past the local stadium yesterday - it has been used as the local vaccination centre

 

 

First time I have past it and it has been closed during the week

[Garacesh]

Rode past the local stadium yesterday - it has been used as the local vaccination centre

 

 

First time I have past it and it has been closed during the week

 

That's either really good, or really bad

Who will watch vaxx the watchers vaxxers?

 

(To be fair, I mostly jest. I'd imaging those giving out the vaccinations would have already had theirs, since being put in contact with so many people carries a considerable risk of both contracting the virus and spreading it to others)

[Ditto]

A nice article that shows how legitimate data can be used to paint a biased viewpoint. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57610998

[BOOT]

The only vaccination centre near me has also now closed. Guess that's it then.

[elsiegee40]

The only vaccination centre near me has also now closed. Guess that's it then.

 

Forgive me if you have already told us this, but have you

a) tried calling 119?

b) called your GP?

[Primus]

The only vaccination centre near me has also now closed. Guess that's it then.

 

How far away is the next one as this just doesn't seem right?

[jmak]

The only vaccination centre near me has also now closed. Guess that's it then.

Here's a list of all vaccination sites:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/01/list-of-vaccination-sites-21-june-2021.xlsx

 

This is an accompanying map and shows that there's almost nowhere further than 10 miles from a vaccination centre of some type (most of the vaccinations aren't being done in big hubs, they're happening in GP surgeries and pharmacies)

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/01/map-of-vaccination-sites-21-june-2021.pdf

 

If you're stuck, go and see a local pharmacist. They'll know what's available locally.

[LeMarchand]

Bonus Daughter #1 and The Holy Grandchild visited over the weekend. Just heard she's had a positive LFT result this morning . So I'm on WfH today , but might not be able to see Black Widow on Thursday .

 

She had to have her arm twisted to get a PCR confirmation (or hopefully "all clear") but has reluctantly gone. Fingers crossed. My LfT was negative, but I normally stay clear as I find THG too much like hard work.

Edited July 5, 2021 by LeMarchand

[TMBS]

How many staff cases have you had recently? We've had three this week! And they're still sending students to Theme Parks this week...

 

Do your schools tell you what staff/students have tested positive? Ours still refuse to which makes you feel more anxious. I've locked myself in my server room

[Danp]

My cousin, early 30s, policeman, double vaccinated since late April came down ill on Saturday and got a positive test yesterday am. He's feeling rough, like heavy flu, unlike him to be ill.

[Rob_D]

How many staff cases have you had recently? We've had three this week! And they're still sending students to Theme Parks this week...

Do your schools tell you what staff/students have tested positive? Ours still refuse to which makes you feel more anxious. I've locked myself in my server room

As far as I remember we haven't had a staff case since January (possibly longer). We've had a couple of students test positive around half term, but nothing since and only about 5-6 student positives since Christmas.

We're told if someone tests positive but exactly who doesn't normally go out in the all-staff email, it will just be "a year 8 student" or whatever. Only those who might need isolate are told more. Seems to be working okay from my point of view. But being vaccinated and doing twice weekly LFD tests probably makes me less worried about the whole thing generally.

[howartp]

Our kitchens are closed for the next ~10 days as one of the staff has tested positive so the whole team are isolating.

 

600 kids off (school of 1800 minus Yr11 and Yr13 already left)

[paulkerton]

""I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society"

Well, best break out the fags and booze.

[the_quick]

My technician had to go home to self isolate today, contact with someone that has covid. So far I think we had 34 staff self isolating in the last 2 weeks. And some pupils as well, yesterday around 50 were sent to self isolate.

 

My second jab is this Friday, fingers crossed...

[Norphy]

So much I want to say about yesterday's announcement but can't because it's all inherently political. Suffice to say, I think it's too much too soon.

[Andrew_C]

Seems we got to the end of term by the skin of our teeth. Now in the teaching staff and their families.

[Slarty66]

So much I want to say about yesterday's announcement but can't because it's all inherently political. Suffice to say, I think it's too much too soon.

Exactly, trouble with working in schools we see first hand how covid has effected students and staff. The general public may have had very little experience of this and just see it as something that hinders their lives.

It is totally political and a huge risk and gamble.

I really hope the infection and death rates don't reach record numbers which sadly I feel maybe the outcome.

[the_quick]

Lambda variant is being looked at, not many cases in UK yet, but scientist are worried that it is able to escape the antibodies produced by the vaccines.

 

Interesting article here: https://www.ft.com/content/b3ea5177-9312-418b-acb7-af16a3bdcd22

 

/worried

[Garacesh]

but scientist are worried that it is able to escape the antibodies produced by the vaccines.

 

Interesting article here: https://www.ft.com/content/b3ea5177-9312-418b-acb7-af16a3bdcd22

 

Paywalled.

 

PHE have allegedly said "there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective", though how much stock you put in that is up to you.

[Ditto]

Non-pay walled here. https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/06/covid-what-is-the-lambda-strain-and-is-it-in-the-uk-14881619/. The 'no evidence' statement is regularly trotted out - it's accurate but not that valuable - it would be equally true to say there is no evidence that the variant is not more severe and there is no evidence that current vaccines are effective. There is just no evidence either way!

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Text Tweet]

 

 

[mavhc]

up to nov peak now and not slowing down, easily beat jan peak at this rate, turns out doing nothing to stop the increase in cases causes exactly what everyone predicted