COVID 19 GLOBAL

[Nightcrawler]

I have not caught Covid yet (to my knowledge) 

That could be partly luck, partly because of my lifestyle or partly due to vaccination or to do with personal precautions or even a combination off all. In UK, I could still become that  1 in 50 in England as it stands today. 

I am not at school or regularly  attend a workplace, commute daily or regularly attend parties or large indoor social gatherings and I wear a mask, now only in certain settings, like when visiting hospitals, using public transport and in  busy shops and stores etc. . That is how it has been more or less for the last 2 years. 

I ask myself, then, is it just sheer luck that I have not had the Covid virus, either during its Delta form or now Omicron, and I would say that now my life is almost back to normal, doing all the things I used to do before the Pandemic. 

I don't think that it is just luck, but also a degree of luck and personal responsibility. My grandson too has had Covid, as have many of his friends, but that really is not surprising due to daily contact in his school and the way that kids interact. He also recently got Chickenpox which did the rounds at his school and loads of kids were kept at home for 10 days or so. 

I think that there are so many different equations that put some in higher risk categories than others according to their now choice of lifestyle. 

I would never dream of preaching to anyone on the basis of never knowingly having the virus. As the current version of the virus, although more contagious, is generally more similar to Flu or a heavy Cold, society in general is far less concerned now about the Virus, which is gradually becoming endemic, from being a Pandemic in many countries,so it does not surprise me that in some parts of the world that Omicron is still spreading at a high rate. 

If I were an 18 year old, I am almost certain that I would have caught it by now, maybe more than once and probably wouldn't care if I did, apart from maybe losing pay as a result. 

I believe that it is paramount that scientists and virologist continue to study the SARS group of viruses. Let's face it, the cost of the Pandemic world wide during the last couple of  years has been astronomical in terms of death, sickness, mental health, the world economy, strain on health care, personal freedoms, businesses and general livelihoods. The pandemic changed the world considerably as we once new it. It cannot be ruled out that it could happen again, whenever and however, we don't know. 

But the more prepared we are for similar attacks, coupled with the knowledge gained from Covid, the better for the future, surely. 

I have no stats, no research, no media clips to support my opinions. 

 

[fforest]

4 hours ago, Nightcrawler said:

I have not caught Covid yet (to my knowledge) 

That could be partly luck, partly because of my lifestyle or partly due to vaccination or to do with personal precautions or even a combination off all. In UK, I could still become that  1 in 50 in England as it stands today. 

I am not a school or attend a workplace, commute daily or regularly attend parties or large indoor social gatherings and Wear a mask, now only in certain settings, like when visiting hospitals, using public transport and busy shops. That is how it has been more or less for the last 2 years. 

I ask myself, then, is it just sheer luck that I have not the Covid virus, either during its Delta form or now Omicron, and I would say that now my life is almost back to normal, doing all the things I used to do before the Pandemic. 

I don't think that it is just luck, but also a degree of luck and personal responsibility. My grandson too has had Covid, as have many of his friends, but that really is not surprising due to daily contact in his school and the way that kids interact. He also recently got Chickenpox which did the rounds at his school and loads of kids were kept at home for 10 days or so. 

I think that there are so many different equations that put some in higher risk categories than others according to their now choice of lifestyle. 

I would never dream of preaching to anyone on the basis of never knowingly having the virus. As the current version of the virus, although more contagious, is generally more similar to Flu or a heavy Cold, society in general are far less concerned now about the virus, which is gradually becoming endemic, from being a Pandemic in many countries,so it does not surprise me that in some parts of the world that Omicron is still spreading at a high rate. 

If I were an 18 year old, I am almost certain that I would have caught it by now, maybe more than once and probably wouldn't care if I did, apart from maybe losing pay as a result. 

I believe that it is paramount that scientists and virologist continue to study the SARS group of viruses. Let's face it, the cost of the Pandemic world wide during the last year's has been astronomical in terms of death, sickness, mental health, the world economy, strain on health care, personal freedoms, businesses and general livelihoods. The pandemic changed the world considerably as we once new it. It can not be ruled out that it could happen again, whenever, we dont know. 

But the more prepared we are for similar attacks, coupled with the knowledge gained from Covid, the better for the future, surely. 

I have no stats, no research, no media clips to support my opinions. 

 

Most past pandemics have lasted about 2 years and happen about every 100 years....Unless you think you will be around in 2118 - 2120 I would not worry...

[Nightcrawler]

9 hours ago, fforest said:

Most past pandemics have lasted about 2 years and happen about every 100 years....Unless you think you will be around in 2118 - 2120 I would not worry...

Not me I am concerned about.  I am already in coffin dodging territory. Those with kids and grandkids will know what I mean. Its present and future generations that matter. The future is not written and there are no guarantees based on the fact that the Spanish Flu Pandemic occurred in 1918. Viruses don't work to timetables. We all hope that there will not be a further pandemic, but my point in the last part of my post, was that the more experts know about viruses and how they can be tackled with the use of modern technology, the better the world maybe equipped to deal with them in the future when they occur. So ongoing research is very important, and lessons learned from the Covid Pandemic. 

[Stillearly]

Prince Andrew has just tested positive ... so won't be able to take part in the Jubilee celebrations ..

[Butch]

3 hours ago, Stillearly said:

Prince Andrew has just tested positive ... so won't be able to take part in the Jubilee celebrations ..

Yeah, saw that.

Rather convenient, but in his case with any luck it might last the rest of his lifetime, the gobshite.

[Jambo]

I had an appointment with my GP at our local Health Center yesterday. It is a very large Health Center housing three separate GP Practices within the premises.

I was very interested to note that they have totally given up the pretense that wearing a face mask stops you catching Covid. None of the Reception staff, nurses or Doctors were wearing a mask and neither were any of the patients in the waiting room with the sole exception of..........Me. Then it suddenly dawned on me  WTF was I doing wearing a mask given I only recovered from Covid 5 days ago. 🤣

Bad news for me. After manipulating my left leg and not liking with what he found he booked me into the local hospital on Monday morning for xray/scan's on both my left knee and hip.

[Britboy]

16 minutes ago, Jambo said:

I was very interested to note that they have totally given up the pretense that wearing a face mask stops you catching Covid.

I can remember in the very early days of Covid in UK, I guess Feb/March 2020, that Chris Witty (Chief Medical Officer) stated on many occasions that there's no evidence that facemasks help prevent catching Covid or the spread of it.

[Jambo]

3 minutes ago, Britboy said:

I can remember in the very early days of Covid in UK, I guess Feb/March 2020, that Chris Witty (Chief Medical Officer) stated on many occasions that there's no evidence that facemasks help prevent catching Covid or the spread of it.

It was simply a placebo.

It did not stop you catching covid but it made the general population think about covid and maybe then take other steps to try to avoid infection.

[Britboy]

1 minute ago, Jambo said:

It was simply a placebo.

It did not stop you catching covid but it made the general population think about covid and maybe then take other steps to try to avoid infection.

Absolutely, I get it. Just makes me laugh at how some things did a 180 throughout the pandemic. From "there's no evidence that facemasks prevent catching or spreading Covid" to being fined if you didn't wear one . . 🤣

[KhunDon]

1 hour ago, Jambo said:

I had an appointment with my GP at our local Health Center yesterday. It is a very large Health Center housing three separate GP Practices within the premises.

I was very interested to note that they have totally given up the pretense that wearing a face mask stops you catching Covid. None of the Reception staff, nurses or Doctors were wearing a mask and neither were any of the patients in the waiting room with the sole exception of..........Me. Then it suddenly dawned on me  WTF was I doing wearing a mask given I only recovered from Covid 5 days ago. 🤣

Bad news for me. After manipulating my left leg and not liking with what he found he booked me into the local hospital on Monday morning for xray/scan's on both my left knee and hip.

My doctors are 3 surgeries spread over an area of about 2 square miles, but all come under one main surgery. 
Ideal, as I can go to any of them and get all the services I require, including hospital referrals, diabetic consultation, vaccinations etc. 

Saw my doctor 3 weeks ago and she was wearing the full mask, gown and gloves and I was wearing a mask, as were all the staff and other patients. 

Good luck with the old bones Jambo. 👍

[lazarus]

5 hours ago, KhunDon said:

Saw my doctor 3 weeks ago and she was wearing the full mask, gown and gloves and I was wearing a mask, as were all the staff and other patients. 

That's the way it is here in California...masks required at medical offices/hospitals. Covid infections are rising quickly.

Too many people have decided that Covid is 'over' and "personal responsibility" has gone out the window.

Indoor mask mandate just reinstated in a county close by:

Alameda County to reinstate indoor mask mandate starting Friday amid rising COVID cases and hospitalizations

https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/Alameda-County-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-17215842.php

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by lazarus

[Jambo]

1 hour ago, lazarus said:

That's the way it is here in California...masks required at medical offices/hospitals. Covid infections are rising quickly.

Too many people have decided that Covid is 'over' and "personal responsibility" has gone out the window.

Indoor mask mandate just reinstated in a county close by:

Alameda County to reinstate indoor mask mandate starting Friday amid rising COVID cases and hospitalizations

https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/Alameda-County-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-17215842.php

 

Well I have to say I was extremely surprised to find that nobody in the Health Center other than me was wearing a mask. I wonder if this is normal practice now throughout the UK?

I slid my mask off when nobody was looking at me. No point in wearing it given the fact my first negative test after having covid was just 5 days ago. 😄

Do I get a "blue Peter Badge" for my contribution to heard immunity in the UK?

Edited June 3, 2022 by Jambo

[lazarus]

[fygjam]

If/when I get Covid I'd rather be thinking "well the mask did sweet fuk all" than "a mask might have prevented this" as I wait in ICU  to be intubated.

All medical facilities in Western Australia require both staff and patients to be masked.

 

 

[Britboy]

Interesting this morning as I popped into a local chemist to pick up a couple of bits.

It's an independent Pharmacy, so not part of any chain, but they have been giving jabs since they started being available.

I've had 3 x Pfizer jabs but as I'm sure many of you Brits are aware the government have said this autumn over 65's can get a 4th jab.

I'm 67 and as I'm seriously thinking about coming back to Thailand soon, on a permanent basis, I asked the Pharmacy whether I could have the 4th jab in the next week as I'm moving overseas, despite not technically qualifying. "Oh, we can't do that. It's only the over 75's and vulnerable that can have the 4th jab" she says, while a nurse/doc sat alone in the "surgery" part of the chemist. Not an over 75 in sight and she was on her phone.

Made me laugh to be honest. I had my 3rd jab in November, so over 6 months, but didn't even get asked that.

I get the thinking that they're leaving it till the autumn so the jab can be effective over the winter, but after telling them I'm moving overseas and won't be having a winter I'd have thought sense might prevail. If there was a queue of over 75's out the door I could understand their attitude, but the whole place was empty of customers, apart from me.

[AussieBob]

Came across an interesting article about Govt strategies to Covid - particularly of the Sweden approach. It seems to me that Sweden did it far more rationally and have achieved a far better outcome - both socially and economically.

While countries like Thailand and Australia imposed ridiculously harsh lock-downs that partially destroyed their economies - Sweden took a far more pragmatic view. I have a mate in Sweden and he was astounded that a feminist socialist Government took the sensible approach, while so many others went 'bat crazy' - and China still is.

As Australia and Thailand and so many others found out, and Sweden knew, you cannot stop a virus. What you can do it try to protect the weak and elderly, while getting everyone else to act in socially responsible manner, and while encouraging people to take the vaccines. 

My Swedish mate caught Covid and tried to deal with it himself (like a flu), but he ended up in ICU for 3 days and stayed in hospital for nearly 3 weeks.  It took him over 3 months to fully get over it - and he is fit and not opverweight and does not smoke or have diabetes etc. The photos he sent of himself in ICU spoke volumes about how bad it could be for some people.

But he still agreed with the Sweden strategy - mitigate the risks, but get on with life.  Overall, I would have to say that I agree - the Omicron variant showed that trying to keep it out was impossible.   Quoting the article:

"To understand Sweden, you need to understand a word that’s hard to explain, let alone translate: lagom. It means, in effect, “perfect-simple”: not too much, not too little. People who are lagom don’t stand out or make a fuss: they blend right in – and this is seen as a virtue. 

Essays are written about why lagom sums up a certain Swedish mindset – that it’s bad to stand out, to consider yourself better or be an outlier. That’s why it’s so strange that, during the lockdowns, Sweden became the world’s defiant outlier.

Swedes saw it the other way around. They were keeping calm and carrying on: lockdown was an extreme, draconian, untested experiment. Lock up everyone, keep children out of school, suspend civil liberties, send police after people walking their dogs – and call this “caution”? Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s state epidemiologist, never spoke about a Swedish “experiment”. He said all along he could not recommend a public health intervention that had never been proven.

Tegnell also made another point: that he didn’t claim to be right. It would take years, he’d argue, to see who had jumped the right way. His calculation was that, on a whole-society basis, the collateral damage of lockdowns would outweigh what good they do. But you’d only know if this was so after a few years. You’d have to look at cancer diagnosis, hospital waiting lists, educational damage and, yes, count the Covid dead. Almost two years on, we can look at the early indications.

The problem with lockdowns is that no one looks at whole-society pictures. Professor Neil Ferguson’s team from Imperial College London admitted this, once, as a breezy aside. “We do not consider the wider social and economic costs of suppression,” they wrote in a supposed assessment of lockdown, “which will be high.” But just how high? And were they a price worth paying?

As Sweden abolishes all domestic Covid restrictions, it emerges with one of Europe’s lower Covid death tolls: the rate is 1,614 per million people, just over half the amount of Britain (2,335). Given that our death tolls were comparable at first (both among the worst anywhere), it’s hard to argue that there’s some demographic force which meant Covid was never going to spread in Sweden."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/02/13/sweden-right-covid-along/

 

[Kathmandu]

Saw the old GP today. Evidently I have long covid...Yay!!

[fygjam]

4 hours ago, AussieBob said:

Came across an interesting article about Govt strategies to Covid - particularly of the Sweden approach. It seems to me that Sweden did it far more rationally and have achieved a far better outcome - both socially and economically.

While countries like Thailand and Australia imposed ridiculously harsh lock-downs that partially destroyed their economies - Sweden took a far more pragmatic view. I have a mate in Sweden and he was astounded that a feminist socialist Government took the sensible approach, while so many others went 'bat crazy' - and China still is.

As Australia and Thailand and so many others found out, and Sweden knew, you cannot stop a virus. What you can do it try to protect the weak and elderly, while getting everyone else to act in socially responsible manner, and while encouraging people to take the vaccines. 

So much poppycock...

Sweden 1,857 deaths/million population. 56th in the world death rankings.

Thailand 431 deaths/million population. 134th in the world death rankings.

Australia 336 deaths/million population. 143rd in the world death rankings.

(Source https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ as at 07/06/2022)

So by what metric do you measure the success or otherwise of the Covid-19 strategy.

Economically...

GDP percentage change. (Source https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/AUS/SWE/THA)

So the countries which killed the least number of people (per capita) and have the best economic growth forecasts had the worst Covid-19 policies?

 

[Krapow]

Didn't know Anutin's board name was @fforest

Edited June 14, 2022 by Krapow

[Bazle]

This is a rather depressing video in which the virologist predicts subsequent strains of Covid will be MORE virulent. I had believed they were becoming less.

(Warning: It is an anti-vax video.)

https://www.voiceforscienceandsolidarity.org/videos-and-interviews/interview-with-dr-geert-vanden-bossche-by-the-new-american-covid-infection-disease-to-aggravate-in-vaccinated

[fygjam]

1 hour ago, Bazle said:

This is a rather depressing video in which the virologist predicts subsequent strains of Covid will be MORE virulent. I had believed they were becoming less.

(Warning: It is an anti-vax video.)

https://www.voiceforscienceandsolidarity.org/videos-and-interviews/interview-with-dr-geert-vanden-bossche-by-the-new-american-covid-infection-disease-to-aggravate-in-vaccinated

He's been hawking this shit for over a year now. Has it happened yet?

On the other hand, if he was flogging a magnetic fuel improver which made your fuel tank overflow every 100km I'd probably get one.

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by fygjam

[KhunDon]

“This is a rather depressing video in which the virologist predicts subsequent strains of Covid will be MORE virulent. I had believed they were becoming less.”

Any subsequent strains will definitely be more virulent, if this asshole Doctor is making the vaccine! 🤡

Edited June 14, 2022 by KhunDon

[lazarus]

Time for the little kids to get their shots...

. . .

COVID in California: CDC advisers recommend vaccines for children under 5

https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/covid-california-live-17247594.php

U.S. health advisers on Saturday recommended COVID-19 vaccines for infants, toddlers and preschoolers — the last group without the shots, the Associated Press reports. The advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously decided that coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna should be opened to children as young as 6 months. The final signoff was expected later in the day from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. The government has been gearing up for the start of the shots early next week, with millions of doses ordered for distribution to doctors, hospitals and community health clinics around the country. Roughly 18 million kids will be eligible, but it remains to be seen how many will ultimately get the vaccines. Less than a third of children ages 5 to 11 have done so since vaccination opened up to them last November.

[coxyhog]

I don't think I had Covid until yesterday & if this is the less severe version then thank f**k I didn't get a worse one.

A very bad headcold,uncontrollable coughing,muscle aches and extreme tiredness.

Last night I had to come downstairs & try to sleep in an armchair as lying down I couldn't stop coughing.

 

[coxyhog]

Finally got hold of some test kits....