Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Lee Smith]

Patel and Hancock conclude Derbyshire police were correct fining two walkers, but Whitty states the focus should be contact indoors, as outdoors is least favourable for the virus to transmit. Clear and coherent message it is not.

Have they actually commented on that specific event? I'm all for fining people who take the piss, but the story about the two walkers in Derby (if it actually played out as reported) was ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I mean Sefton is closing in on 1,000 per 100k.

I expect that to drop dramatically in the coming weeks, due to the reduction in people going out, but it's just frustrating. If you go to certain countries, their people took everything seriously. They closed everything down. If you wanted to go to the shops, you need to book time slots etc...

Here, we've done it for a few months and everyone is bored, and it's a "scamdemic", then you've got genuinely normal, non-offending people on here, like the lad who wants to run, and is unsure if he can, being punished because no one can be bothered anymore.

It's worse than ever, yet a quick stop at Home Bargains, and you see hundreds of people in there, not social distancing. You're in for a shock if you think 2021, will be any different to 2020.

I wouldnt look at any figures until about 2-3 weeks from now as the results of lockdown wont be felt until then.

It'll go down but wont be until around March time that the infections/deaths have dropped to the point where they will probably open back up again.

Just got to hope they are vaccinating the hell out of people between now and then.

 

[barneygumble]

I wouldnt look at any figures until about 2-3 weeks from now as the results of lockdown wont be felt until then.

It'll go down but wont be until around March time that the infections/deaths have dropped to the point where they will probably open back up again.

Just got to hope they are vaccinating the hell out of people between now and then.

Oh i know it will eventually begin to straighten off, and you'll see a true reflective rating. But doesn't mean i'm not fed up of seeing/hearing the same old bile.

That's all we can do really is hope the new super vaccine sites etc... get the majority done asap. I'd be a hypocrite if i started quoting papers, after regularly dissing them, but a few today reporting rhey reckon the majority will be vaccinated by Spring and all by early Autumn is at least a bit of light. But I won't hold my breath.

 

[BlueToff]

I wouldnt look at any figures until about 2-3 weeks from now as the results of lockdown wont be felt until then.

It'll go down but wont be until around March time that the infections/deaths have dropped to the point where they will probably open back up again.

Just got to hope they are vaccinating the hell out of people between now and then.

People need to stop acting like we're the only country where this is p***** people off.

There has been protests in Italy and France. People have been furious in Spain. The German regional governments were getting pelters in the press.

Vaccination is the only way forward. Everything else - track and trace etc - can be done after.

 

[BlueToff]

Oh i know it will eventually begin to straighten off, and you'll see a true reflective rating. But doesn't mean i'm not fed up of seeing/hearing the same old bile.

That's all we can do really is hope the new super vaccine sites etc... get the majority done asap. I'd be a hypocrite if i started quoting papers, after regularly dissing them, but a few today reporting rhey reckon the majority will be vaccinated by Spring and all by early Autumn is at least a bit of light. But I won't hold my breath.

We don't need all people to be vaccinated to be getting back to doing stuff, though - or at least we shouldn't.

People get ill. Your bodies deal with it. You can't avoid getting ill in life.

The people who are realistically going to end up hospitalised by the virus are first in queue and the aim is rightly to get them vaccinated asap. Hopefully that can all be done by mid-late spring in the UK.

After that, restrictions in terms of stuff being shutdown or lockdowns etc, shouldn't happen.

The virus will still be here, but it will always be here. However, with vulnerable people vaccinated, it should be little to no risk to those of us who will be getting the vaccine later in the year. If you catch it, you might get ill for a few days - might be in bed for a few days - it happens.

There are hardly any cases - relatively speaking of course, as this has infected so many people - of the virus hospitalising anyone who didn't have an underlying condition or weakened immune system. So there shouldn't be restrictions on life once those people are all covered off - or frankly we'll never get back to normal because then the winter will be rolling around and you'll see a spike in cases and a new strain (which I imagine will be covered by the vaccine and potentially a booster akin to the yearly flu jab). That's not to say someone couldn't get it really bad, but you can be really ill and not need to go into hospital.

Key to the above is getting track and trace in place for covid so that while people are still getting vaccinated there's a uniform way of doing things. Events, matches etc should all be allowed to go ahead, even if you need proof of a negative test or proof of a vaccine to attend.

 

[davek]

We don't need all people to be vaccinated to be getting back to doing stuff, though - or at least we shouldn't.

People get ill. Your bodies deal with it. You can't avoid getting ill in life.

The people who are realistically going to end up hospitalised by the virus are first in queue and the aim is rightly to get them vaccinated asap. Hopefully that can all be done by mid-late spring in the UK.

After that, restrictions in terms of stuff being shutdown or lockdowns etc, shouldn't happen.

The virus will still be here, but it will always be here. However, with vulnerable people vaccinated, it should be little to no risk to those of us who will be getting the vaccine later in the year. If you catch it, you might get ill for a few days - might be in bed for a few days - it happens.

There are hardly any cases - relatively speaking of course, as this has infected so many people - of the virus hospitalising anyone who didn't have an underlying condition or weakened immune system. So there shouldn't be restrictions on life once those people are all covered off - or frankly we'll never get back to normal because then the winter will be rolling around and you'll see a spike in cases and a new strain (which I imagine will be covered by the vaccine and potentially a booster akin to the yearly flu jab). That's not to say someone couldn't get it really bad, but you can be really ill and not need to go into hospital.

Key to the above is getting track and trace in place for covid so that while people are still getting vaccinated there's a uniform way of doing things. Events, matches etc should all be allowed to go ahead, even if you need proof of a negative test or proof of a vaccine to attend.

You better protect the vulnerable by getting to 60% - 70% immunity levels in a population. So called herd immunity levels. I dont know why you cant get that after 10 months of this. Vaccinate as many as that and the likelihood of the elderly and vulnerable coming into contact with those infected diminishes. Dont forget, these vaccines are not foolproof. In fact, we dont know how long or effective they will be.

What's the rush to go back to no restrictions beyond spring? Why cant we wait until later in the year to gear up the economy again? Didn't last year's rush back to 'normality' and the calamity it's brought teach you anything?

 

[coollino]

The amount of people that still refusing to move slightly to one side on a pavement blows my mind. Tends to be the boomers.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Have they actually commented on that specific event? I'm all for fining people who take the piss, but the story about the two walkers in Derby (if it actually played out as reported) was ridiculous in my opinion.

They backed the police in their interpretations and fining...

You know full well it's very bad practice for politicians to comment on specifics, although that does not normally deter Patel, effing up court cases.

 

[xena]

Barring a major cock-up (not unlikely I know), the UK shouldn't be far off hitting the mid-feb target.

Then we have the boost of 17m approx. Moderna vaccines to come in the spring, too.

Issue is going to be demand and logistics. Just need to keep on going - people also need to not be given a choice about which vaccine they have. If it's there, and available, have it.

Is this target of 15 million for people to be vaccinated or to be offered a vaccine just with these letters going out its quite easy to offer a vaccine ?.

 

[BlueToff]

Is this target of 15 million for people to be vaccinated or to be offered a vaccine just with these letters going out its quite easy to offer a vaccine ?.

I thought the target was approx 13 mil people total (those in categories 1-4) to be vaccinated by mid-feb.

That of course will rely on everything going smoothly and approx 1.3m per week (based on the amount of people already vaccinated before last Monday's announcement).

There's a twitter thread on it somewhere.

I don't think they'll hit the target, but at this rate they shouldn't be far off - maybe a week or two.

That's obviously not us going to be getting back to normality. Still have to have those people getting their boosters to be fully vaccinated, but it's a start and would hopefully mean that by April time we can start to see some more restrictions eased.

 

[BlueToff]

You better protect the vulnerable by getting to 60% - 70% immunity levels in a population. So called herd immunity levels. I dont know why you cant get that after 10 months of this. Vaccinate as many as that and the likelihood of the elderly and vulnerable coming into contact with those infected diminishes. Dont forget, these vaccines are not foolproof. In fact, we dont know how long or effective they will be.

What's the rush to go back to no restrictions beyond spring? Why cant we wait until later in the year to gear up the economy again? Didn't last year's rush back to 'normality' and the calamity it's brought teach you anything?

Well, actually, the 'rush to normality' last year didn't bring any calamity.

The cases through the summer stayed flat, even when accounting for a two-week delay.

What really didn't help was the unis going back, with schools too. Schools I understood, but unis there was no need for people to be travelling across the country.

That coincided with the weather changing, and a load of mixed messages in communications.

Well, in terms of the 'rush', I'd quite like to be able to do things again - we all would.

But, from something that doesn't directly impact me, entire industries will be gone. Look at the festival industry for one thing. It's knackered, completely knackered. People's livelihoods and businesses just gone, ruined. That's a social decision as much as an economic one.

Being able to go to a match - whether Premier League or lower league. Those teams and sports clubs need that injection of cash. The local cricket club my housemate plays for will go bust if they can't play this year and have people down. Again, that's a small, independent business at risk.

The summer, with better weather, and the vaccines getting out, shouldn't see a massive spike in cases.

If you're having to get a negative test to attend an event, or proof that you've had the vaccine, then why in the world shouldn't they be allowed to go on?

 

[ForeverBlue92]

How come some people are still getting their 2nd shot I thought they had changed tactic with that?

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Used to have to run miles in a respirator.

A cotton mask is no problem at all for a normally functioning respiratory system. People just need to get used to it.

 

[davek]

Well, actually, the 'rush to normality' last year didn't bring any calamity.

The cases through the summer stayed flat, even when accounting for a two-week delay.

What really didn't help was the unis going back, with schools too. Schools I understood, but unis there was no need for people to be travelling across the country.

That coincided with the weather changing, and a load of mixed messages in communications.

The summer turned into the autumn and the behavioural patterns continued.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Oh i know it will eventually begin to straighten off, and you'll see a true reflective rating. But doesn't mean i'm not fed up of seeing/hearing the same old bile.

That's all we can do really is hope the new super vaccine sites etc... get the majority done asap. I'd be a hypocrite if i started quoting papers, after regularly dissing them, but a few today reporting rhey reckon the majority will be vaccinated by Spring and all by early Autumn is at least a bit of light. But I won't hold my breath.

They will in all likelihood have to keep super vaccination clinics open. As the wife and daughter had the Oxford one over the weekend, and their literature they were given offers them six month protection.