Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[LinekersLegs]

The Indian Variant is his new plaything isn’t it lol

He’s kept it in reserve in case of an emergency.

I frequently disagree with Dave but tbf to him it is hard to look at data from the largely vaccinated Seychelles and not come to the conclusion that B.1.617 is worth keeping a very cautious eye on, particularly in unvaccinated groups.

I don’t subscribe to “keep it all locked down” but “test a lot and stamp the hell out of any local outbreaks quickly to be on safe side” has a lot of appeal imo and delaying implementation of some measures like no masks in schools might be wise until we have more robust data.

 

[roydo]

I frequently disagree with Dave but tbf to him it is hard to look at data from the largely vaccinated Seychelles and not come to the conclusion that B.1.617 is worth keeping a very cautious eye on, particularly in unvaccinated groups.

I don’t subscribe to “keep it all locked down” but “test a lot and stamp the hell out of any local outbreaks quickly to be on safe side” has a lot of appeal imo

From the briefing the other day, thats exactly what the lab folk have been doing.

Since they started explaining exactly what they do with the tests and sequencing and stuff , I have a fair bit of confidence they can isolate this as best they can.

As ever, caution is the watch word though.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Coronavirus variants are spreading in India — what scientists know so far

Variants including B.1.617 have been linked to India’s surge in infections. Researchers are hurrying to determine how much of a threat they pose.

www.nature.com

 

[davek]

'Masses of restaurants and bars', sefton is very similar to most other regions. Its not exactly a popular holiday destination.

Clueless. Southport is a seaside town with tons of boozers, bars and restaurants. Formby and Crosby are know locations for dining and bars.

Maybe you want the variant of concern (or 'variant of not arsed' as you probably call it) to surge through the whole of Merseyside?

 

[Tramps_mate]

Not seen anything re an increase in kids but anecdotally from India younger adults might be more vulnerable to this variant than wild type. However that could be due to lots of others reasons for this apparent effect so really need more data - the UK surge testing will hopefully provide that.

India’s Covid wards are like scenes from Dante’s ‘Inferno’

Black market oxygen, rows of patients struggling to breathe — the pandemic has cruelly exposed systemic issues

www.ft.com

As a physician I can vouch that this strain seems far more infectious, is probably more lethal, and seems to affect the young more frequently than the initial wave. Younger patients between the ages of 26 and 44 now account for about 40 per cent of all cases and almost 10 per cent of deaths.

Where though?

 

[davek]

Coronavirus variants are spreading in India — what scientists know so far

Variants including B.1.617 have been linked to India’s surge in infections. Researchers are hurrying to determine how much of a threat they pose.

www.nature.com

Terrifying.



Gupta’s team discovered that neutralizing antibodies generated by the vaccinated individuals were about 80% less potent against some of the mutations in B.1.617, although this would not render vaccination ineffective, he says. The researchers also found that some health-care workers in Delhi who had been vaccinated with Covishield, an Indian version of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, had become reinfected, with most cases tied to B.1.617.

Similarly, the German team tested2 serum from 15 people who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and found that their antibodies neutralized B.1.617 about 50% less effectively than previously circulating strains. When they tested serum from participants who’d had two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, they found that the antibodies were about 67% less potent against B.1.617.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Where though?

That particular doctor was from Mumbai but seen a few other Indian doctors make similar comments.

But as I say it is anecdotal data and could be an apparent effect - we need hard evidence to state it with any confidence.

 

[wainy]

Clueless. Southport is a seaside town with tons of boozers, bars and restaurants. Formby and Crosby are know locations for dining and bars.

Maybe you want the variant of concern (or 'variant of not arsed' as you probably call it) to surge through the whole of Merseyside?

Sounds like it will regardless, so people should get their vaccine which massively reduces the effect of it. We can’t keep locking down forever.

 

[Barnfred 55]

The Indian Variant is his new plaything isn’t it lol

He’s kept it in reserve in case of an emergency.

I had a GOT new year resolution not to put people on ignore. He's testing it to the limits.

It's not what he's saying that annoys me so much, albeit it a view that's a million miles away from my own; it's the frequency.

AND I WISH HE'D STOP SHOUTING. I HAVE A HEADACHE.

 

[sbbefc]

I have no problem opening up within our borders. However, the government are going to mess this up allowing too much unrestricted foreign travel. Can see it a mile away.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Terrifying.



Gupta’s team discovered that neutralizing antibodies generated by the vaccinated individuals were about 80% less potent against some of the mutations in B.1.617, although this would not render vaccination ineffective, he says. The researchers also found that some health-care workers in Delhi who had been vaccinated with Covishield, an Indian version of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, had become reinfected, with most cases tied to B.1.617.

Similarly, the German team tested2 serum from 15 people who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and found that their antibodies neutralized B.1.617 about 50% less effectively than previously circulating strains. When they tested serum from participants who’d had two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, they found that the antibodies were about 67% less potent against B.1.617.

Not really, as for the first paragraph there will be some people where vaccine breakthrough happens as no vaccine is 100% effective at stopping infection. Given the massive surge is Delhi you’d expect healthcare workers to be exposed to high viral loads for extended periods and also they would be ones getting more testing so I’d assume it might be particularly noticeable in them - the key thing is if it was with symptoms and what the rate of hospitalization/death was. To date I haven’t seem any red flags to that effect.

As for the second antibodies aren’t the only way that the body fights the virus and what you see in the lab using serum does not necessarily translate to an impact in the real world.

We lack conclusive data and new evidence may emerge but I genuinely haven’t seem much to be concerned about for vaccinated people from this, or any other, variant.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I frequently disagree with Dave but tbf to him it is hard to look at data from the largely vaccinated Seychelles and not come to the conclusion that B.1.617 is worth keeping a very cautious eye on, particularly in unvaccinated groups.

I don’t subscribe to “keep it all locked down” but “test a lot and stamp the hell out of any local outbreaks quickly to be on safe side” has a lot of appeal imo and delaying implementation of some measures like no masks in schools might be wise until we have more robust data.

Fully agree Legs. But in fairness we are doing the highlighted bit. Nobody is testing as much as the UK and identifying different strands is something we have become very good at.

From what I understand most of the cases were in people who have travelled from India and were testing and self isolating as a result. The authorities will be doing everything possible to keep a lid on this.

 

[COYBL25]

Clueless. Southport is a seaside town with tons of boozers, bars and restaurants. Formby and Crosby are know locations for dining and bars.

Maybe you want the variant of concern (or 'variant of not arsed' as you probably call it) to surge through the whole of Merseyside?

No, but you continue to sound very much like you want it to.

 

[davek]

Sounds like it will regardless, so people should get their vaccine which massively reduces the effect of it. We can’t keep locking down forever.

That really isn't the right attitude. Yes, get vaccinated. However, we need to halt the May 17th re-openings and retain the widespread use of mask wearing and social distancing.

 

[JLW]

That really isn't the right attitude. Yes, get vaccinated. However, we need to halt the May 17th re-openings and retain the widespread use of mask wearing and social distancing.

Until When??