Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[BlueToff]

The PM has announced a number of new measures to be introduced in England, following the announcement of the new variant of concern.

• All travellers to the UK will have to take a PCR test by the end of day 2 of their arrival; travellers must self-isolate until they receive a negative test result
• All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace (yay, great)
• Face coverings will become compulsory on public transport and in shops - not including hospitality
• The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) will consider giving boosters to a wider age group, as well as reducing the gap between the second dose and booster.

 

[BlueToff]

The PM has announced a number of new measures to be introduced in England, following the announcement of the new variant of concern.

• All travellers to the UK will have to take a PCR test by the end of day 2 of their arrival; travellers must self-isolate until they receive a negative test result
• All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace (yay, great)
• Face coverings will become compulsory on public transport and in shops - not including hospitality
• The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) will consider giving boosters to a wider age group, as well as reducing the gap between the second dose and booster.

Looks like the cynic in me was right

 

[summerisle]

Will call this now. This variant will spread like wildfire, but cause we have not had flu or colds for a bit, we are all gonna be poorly as whatnot this Xmas. (Already got a stinker of a cold) People will die from said colds and flu cause our natural immune system is not prepared for them. Panic sets in, oh my 30k have died, must be COVID. Bang, some half baked lockdown and social distancing will come into being again. Only, 30k die most years from flu. But cause of varients the panic in the media will be overboard.

Panic has already set in.

 

[woomy]

Has anyone ever died from a cold?

Not necessarily a cold. But those with weakened immune systems and those who may suffer from other lung issues can have serious difficulty when getting a cold. It runs you down leading to other stuff. Don't forget we have not really had colds for the best part of 2 years, now they are back. Those who have other issues very well might struggle. I suffer bronchitis. This cold has wiped me out. Others who have it are going about their business no problem. Me. Not so much.

 

[Deckard2049]

The cynic in me can't help but think this is just going to be used to get everyone boosted up. And fine, whatever.

But they've been saying that you have to have 6 months between the second jab and booster. Well, for loads of people in the younger groups, myself included, it won't be 6 months until Feb/March.

Johnson said they’re looking at changing this. 3 jabs in less than a year potentially for people.

 

[BlueToff]

Not necessarily a cold. But those with weakened immune systems and those who may suffer from other lung issues can have serious difficulty when getting a cold. It runs you down leading to other stuff. Don't forget we have not really had colds for the best part of 2 years, now they are back. Those who have other issues very well might struggle. I suffer bronchitis. This cold has wiped me out. Others who have it are going about their business no problem. Me. Not so much.

similar to COVID - it's what it leads to that kills you, not the illness itself. But that's not how they count COVID deaths so by the same logic you could apply that to deaths that were brought on by a cold. It is rare though, relies on people - as you say - to have serious conditions (as does COVID most times, but not always).

 

[LinekersLegs]

I can understand the travel restrictions/bans but without support it is counterproductive to getting accurate and timley information on new variants.

 

[BlueToff]

Johnson said they’re looking at changing this. 3 jabs in less than a year potentially for people.

Yep.

It's gonna end up being 3 jabs in 6 months for me I bet. And I'm honestly not sure I'm comfortable with it given how naff I felt for 3 weeks after my second dose. We'll see.

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Made up the selfish scum are going to have to mask up in shops and on the bus.

 

[woomy]

Johnson said they’re looking at changing this. 3 jabs in less than a year potentially for people.

But when does it stop? Are gonna have to be jabbed every few months, or whenever a new variant comes about. I can see that getting a little tedious very quickly. Not sure people are gonna go for this for much longer.

 

[BlueToff]

I can understand the travel restrictions/bans but without support it is counterproductive to getting accurate and timley information on new variants.

I do think the UK's approach today is a decent balance at least. It's crap but at least isn't a ban. It is actually the first time through this they've taken decisive action on travel and applied it across the board, to everyone, from any country. Hopefully it works.

 

[Cool_Blue]

If only this worked. In Wales these rules are still the norm. I want Drakeford to crack down on this, as literally every time I go shopping there’s more than one bellend not wearing a mask. It’s usually someone who is clearly well under 30. Haven’t these idiots heard of long covid in young people? You just can’t help some people.

 

[BlueToff]

Made up the selfish scum are going to have to mask up in shops and on the bus.

Oh bore off ffs.

There's been tons of times I've not worn a mask on a train or going the shop. I usually have done, btw, but don't go around accusing people of being 'scum'. What a ludicrous statement.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I do think the UK's approach today is a decent balance at least. It's crap but at least isn't a ban. It is actually the first time through this they've taken decisive action on travel and applied it across the board, to everyone, from any country. Hopefully it works.

Thought UK had the ban on several countries including SA? Or did that change with the press conference?

 

[Neiler]

Why is this one 'potentially vaccine ending'?

There's not one variant so far that has been immune to the vaccines. And there almost certainly won't be. Plus, you've got loads of people (isn't it like forecasted that 70% or something of over 16s in the UK) who have had COVID now.

Largely based on the number of mutations in the spike protein in comparison to other variants, the spike protein is how the virus gets into our cells, its what the majority of vaccines have targeted, if the number of mutations have radically changed the spike protein, then the vaccines might not offer the same protection as others - however this isn't known yet, but its a concern.