Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Walken]

Speculating that a variant might kill huge quantities is hardly factual. The media don't help mind.

They don't I agree, and I'm on this thread early doors being a divvy not taking it seriously largely due to fatigue of our media. But sage will of course be operating on projections and advising accordingly purely from a health care point of view, accusing them of doing so for fame or TV time seems counter productive

 

[LinekersLegs]

Whats the difference between a variant and strain or are they the same thing?

You only hear of Covid variants but with the Flu its Flu Strains.

I know Flu mutates a lot more which could explain it but wasn't sure.

@LinekersLegs

Found this a helpful explainer

What’s the difference between mutations, variants and strains? A guide to COVID terminology

In the context of COVID-19, we’re hearing about new mutations, strains and variants all the time. It’s no wonder it can all get a bit confusing.

theconversation.com

 

[LinekersLegs]

They don't I agree, and I'm on this thread early doors being a divvy not taking it seriously largely due to fatigue of our media. But sage will of course be operating on projections and advising accordingly purely from a health care point of view, accusing them of doing so for fame or TV time seems counter productive

The scientists are in a really difficult position atm as the data from India is really ropey on exactly how B.1.617 is different from wild type.

When confronted with unclear info it is an understandable reaction to say “wait for more info” rather than just guess, especially when healthcare is involved.

 

[LinekersLegs]

To touch on the fallacy that we could have just "closed the borders" with India to stop the variant - sadly it's nonsense. It's prevalent everywhere. If it wasn't for the fact that the UK is a world-leader in sequencing, we probably wouldn't even be worrying about it.

Any new variant that is more transmissible is a cause for concern, but unless there's evidence that vaccinated people are susceptible to this new variant, there's no reason for us all to lose our heads about it.

Whilst I agree in part I still think the delay in border closure will have made a a difference in magnitude of B.1.617 spread into the UK and possibly the timing.

If there had been closing of borders with India, whilst keeping travel from some other countries without quarantine then yes, same as with the original virus from China, it would have found its way into the UK via a person infected via community spread in a third country. However you would have expected a reduction in seed events as no direct transmission and it could well have had a delaying effect - particularly as most of the issues are around super-spreaders so more chance of getting lucky on when you got first one when volume is small.

Overall I believe it would have created less outbreaks and therefore been more manageable with isolated controls.

 

[Goat]

We cant live like this and tbh we wont live like this much longer, there will become a point and i think were very close now where people will just say "fuc it" i have bigger issues in my life than the fear of Covid. Right or wrong that's the point where most people are at now mentally, because i know i am.

Pretty sure thats where the majority of people are at.

We aint sociopaths, so if the deaths start going up, then we will rethink, but for now I suspect most people are a bit sick and tired of having fear rammed down our throats on a daily basis.

 

[orchard]

Not really no.

Have you followed the exchange of posts in this conversation.? My initial post was actually criticising the government on an aspect of their handing of the vaccine rollout.

Not really, no.

Did see that, and share your concerns regarding possible adverse effects in younger people with this VOC, although I don't think it would be simple to change strategy and deliver additional vaccinations to the youth whilst also maintaining second jabs for the ancients.

Red list at the right time, rather than stalling for political reasons, good quarantine infrastructure and a functional test, track and trace system would have been better to enhance our economic and social lives imo. Yet again, the same government failures.

 

[Goat]

Not really, no.

Did see that, and share your concerns regarding possible adverse effects in younger people with this VOC, although I don't think it would be simple to change strategy and deliver additional vaccinations to the youth whilst also maintaining second jabs for the ancients.

Red list at the right time, rather than stalling for political reasons, good quarantine infrastructure and a functional test, track and trace system would have been better to enhance our economic and social lives imo. Yet again, the same government failures.

Same old mistakes happening 18 months down the line.

Once is a mistake, more than twice is total disregard for people.

But the same people will vote them in again and again, when led by a clown, expect a daily circus.

 

[peteblue]

Pretty sure thats where the majority of people are at.

We aint sociopaths, so if the deaths start going up, then we will rethink, but for now I suspect most people are a bit sick and tired of having fear rammed down our throats on a daily basis.

 

[Kurt.]

Whats the difference between a variant and strain or are they the same thing?

You only hear of Covid variants but with the Flu its Flu Strains.

I know Flu mutates a lot more which could explain it but wasn't sure.

@LinekersLegs

I’ve never varianted a bollock

 

[Kurt.]

To touch on the fallacy that we could have just "closed the borders" with India to stop the variant - sadly it's nonsense. It's prevalent everywhere. If it wasn't for the fact that the UK is a world-leader in sequencing, we probably wouldn't even be worrying about it.

Any new variant that is more transmissible is a cause for concern, but unless there's evidence that vaccinated people are susceptible to this new variant, there's no reason for us all to lose our heads about it.

More people need to take this Indian variant more seriously, a lad on our town has been in a korma for 2 weeks now and that’s just a week after he buried his naan

 

[Barnfred 55]

Not really, no.

Did see that, and share your concerns regarding possible adverse effects in younger people with this VOC, although I don't think it would be simple to change strategy and deliver additional vaccinations to the youth whilst also maintaining second jabs for the ancients.

Red list at the right time, rather than stalling for political reasons, good quarantine infrastructure and a functional test, track and trace system would have been better to enhance our economic and social lives imo. Yet again, the same government failures.

Wouldn't argue with the last paragraph.

But that doesn't mean my post isn't relevant. There's no reason why we can't do both.

And I wouldn't be prioritising the young over second jabs. The latter has to be done on time. I was prioritising them over the 30-50 age groups first jabs.

 

[Mrk]

Whilst I agree in part I still think the delay in border closure will have made a a difference in magnitude of B.1.617 spread into the UK and possibly the timing.

If there had been closing of borders with India, whilst keeping travel from some other countries without quarantine then yes, same as with the original virus from China, it would have found its way into the UK via a person infected via community spread in a third country. However you would have expected a reduction in seed events as no direct transmission and it could well have had a delaying effect - particularly as most of the issues are around super-spreaders so more chance of getting lucky on when you got first one when volume is small.

Overall I believe it would have created less outbreaks and therefore been more manageable with isolated controls.

It's possible it could have delayed things for a few more weeks, but, if it were so easy, how come no major nation has done this? How come we're seeing this variant flare-up outside of India in western countries almost simultaneously? Is it possible that we all missed it? Or could it be that we can't escape from the fact that closing borders isn't actually possible and/or effective?

 

[peteblue]

More people need to take this Indian variant more seriously, a lad on our town has been in a korma for 2 weeks now and that’s just a week after he buried his naan

That’s just you spouting papadums again.....

 

[peteblue]

It's possible it could have delayed things for a few more weeks, but, if it were so easy, how come no major nation has done this? How come we're seeing this variant flare-up outside of India in western countries almost simultaneously? Is it possible that we all missed it? Or could it be that we can't escape from the fact that closing borders isn't actually possible and/or effective?

Next week will be very interesting, one way or the other.....

 

[Kurt.]

That’s just you spouting papadums again.....

It’s not idle Chat