Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Been mandatory in shops and public transport since the first lockdown here.

Viva Espana

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Seeing some headlines this morning that the early indications for Omicron is that the symptoms are more mild. If this turns out to be accurate could a more transmissible but weaker variant like this becoming dominant be better than the current situation with Delta?

People who catch it will still have to self isolate for 10 days. That will have an impact on our public transport, shops and hospitality industries.

In that sense a milder but more transmissible variant is just as dangerous

 

[Tubey]

I really don't agree there. Not that it spreads exponentially, I know that is correct, but having some protective measures is still going to help reduce spread in those settings. If that wasn't the case, then why have we had to wear masks for going to any medical settings for the last six months? I don't think anyone in their right mind would complain about that?

I agree on the last bit again to an extent but can see the logic in there being measures to reduce spread in certain settings, at least in theory. Like I said, we've accepted that with going to any medical setting in the last few months and you yourself have been wearing masks in shops etc but I guess not in pubs, so you've been doing it anyway?

Healthcare settings feature sustained and repeated contacts. Wearing masks in those settings isn't just to protect the patient; it's actually to protect the health workers, so that there isn't high absenteeism.

Masks in hospitals/doctors should be used forever by everyone, regardless of a pandemic occurring. They are places with waiting rooms that have people crowded together who are normally definitely sick in the first instance.

That isn't akin to a supermarket, which is high traffic but not an area of sustained contact. That is why I disagree with a mandate there while keeping much higher risk things open - it is simply highly visible nonsense, an attempt to be seen doing something by the government.

That's why I'm refusing now - because I'm confident I'm not hurting anyone (I think the risk of transmission in a supermarket is vanishingly small at this point and even if it happened the likelihood is the transmission is between those vaccinated) and I think it's a very stupid, transparently cynical half-measure.

I never wore a mask for me; I wore a mask voluntarily for no other reason than to make people feel better who might be worried. But I'm not being told to do it; I'm not adhering to a government playing on their fears for their own gain. If this was a case where the government had real fears and took proper measures to do something about it, I'd follow happily - but that isn't what is happening.

 

[Brennan]

I know that.

But we've now got those measures back - ahead of time actually based on this useless government. You have had to show vaccine passes/covid tests to do a lot of things like gigs, going to events etc, and the UK back in September were going to bring vaccine passports in but the media, a load in Labour and everyone in the events industry lost their minds and they bottled it.

I'm half glad they did like because it's totally big brother esque and it's not how I think we should have to live our lives.

I’m not sure why you’re quoting me with the above mate to be honest, all I was questioning was a specific comment about “actively letting it spread”.

I never said we should be trying to stop it spreading.

 

[Brennan]

Healthcare settings feature sustained and repeated contacts. Wearing masks in those settings isn't just to protect the patient; it's actually to protect the health workers, so that there isn't high absenteeism.

Masks in hospitals/doctors should be used forever by everyone, regardless of a pandemic occurring. They are places with waiting rooms that have people crowded together who are normally definitely sick in the first instance.

That isn't akin to a supermarket, which is high traffic but not an area of sustained contact. That is why I disagree with a mandate there while keeping much higher risk things open - it is simply highly visible nonsense, an attempt to be seen doing something by the government.

That's why I'm refusing now - because I'm confident I'm not hurting anyone (I think the risk of transmission in a supermarket is vanishingly small at this point and even if it happened the likelihood is the transmission is between those vaccinated) and I think it's a very stupid, transparently cynical half-measure.

I never wore a mask for me; I wore a mask voluntarily for no other reason than to make people feel better who might be worried. But I'm not being told to do it; I'm not adhering to a government playing on their fears for their own gain. If this was a case where the government had real fears and took proper measures to do something about it, I'd follow happily - but that isn't what is happening.

That’s ridiculous.

Why would a physiotherapist working in an outpatients clinic have to wear a mask in the summer when people can go clubbing and drool on each other without wearing one ?

 

[Tubey]

That’s ridiculous.

Why would a physiotherapist working in an outpatients clinic have to wear a mask in the summer when people can go clubbing and drool on each other without wearing one ?

I meant patients. As said in the previous sentence, a mask mandate in those settings are actually more about protecting the health worker, but the actual place where disease spreads in those environments is waiting rooms. The key with respiratory illness spread is sustained contact - e.g. sitting next to someone spluttering for 20 minutes.

 

[BlueToff]

Healthcare settings feature sustained and repeated contacts. Wearing masks in those settings isn't just to protect the patient; it's actually to protect the health workers, so that there isn't high absenteeism.

Masks in hospitals/doctors should be used forever by everyone, regardless of a pandemic occurring. They are places with waiting rooms that have people crowded together who are normally definitely sick in the first instance.

That isn't akin to a supermarket, which is high traffic but not an area of sustained contact. That is why I disagree with a mandate there while keeping much higher risk things open - it is simply highly visible nonsense, an attempt to be seen doing something by the government.

That's why I'm refusing now - because I'm confident I'm not hurting anyone (I think the risk of transmission in a supermarket is vanishingly small at this point and even if it happened the likelihood is the transmission is between those vaccinated) and I think it's a very stupid, transparently cynical half-measure.

I never wore a mask for me; I wore a mask voluntarily for no other reason than to make people feel better who might be worried. But I'm not being told to do it; I'm not adhering to a government playing on their fears for their own gain. If this was a case where the government had real fears and took proper measures to do something about it, I'd follow happily - but that isn't what is happening.

Okay mate, fair enough.

On your last point, I just don't get why now you'd do it out of protest. You wore it voluntarily yes but there is a chance it was helping just a little bit. For example when I was ill and had to got the shops (with that infection you told me to get antibiotics for) I wore my mask and sanitised hands etc because there's a chance I could have passed it on to someone. That is why generally I have worn my mask, like when I go to the gym and there's always a load of older folks in the cafe I pass through. Pop my mask on, just in case it stops something. It's easy to do. So personally, while I see your point, I think making a stand not to do it now is a bit weird just as you've done it voluntarily all along anyway? But anyway, is what it is! I don't suddenly think you're a bad person or anything

I agree, every government worldwide is just a total mess with this now. Some love the power it seems, some just think you have to plan for the worst-case all the time and ultimately a lot of people (just look at this thread) agree with that too it seems and actively want it to happen. I just don't see where it ends. If it's like this now, it'll be like this next winter, or in a few months. There'll always be new variants.

 

[Brennan]

I meant patients. As said in the previous sentence, a mask mandate in those settings are actually more about protecting the health worker, but the actual place where disease spreads in those environments is waiting rooms. The key with respiratory illness spread is sustained contact - e.g. sitting next to someone spluttering for 20 minutes.

Fair enough, but I’d still suggest asking all patients to wear a mask all of the time in hospital forever wouldn’t stack up. Otherwise we’d be asking sixth form students or uni students to be wearing masks permanently too, when in class.

 

[BlueToff]

That’s ridiculous.

Why would a physiotherapist working in an outpatients clinic have to wear a mask in the summer when people can go clubbing and drool on each other without wearing one ?

I mean I don't think anybody would argue now that you should wear a mask going into a hospital or doctors or dentists or whatever? It's just common sense, really...

 

[BlueToff]

Fair enough, but I’d still suggest asking all patients to wear a mask all of the time in hospital forever wouldn’t stack up. Otherwise we’d be asking sixth form students or uni students to be wearing masks permanently too, when in class.

They are going to ask that everywhere, I'm pretty sure you'll never be able to go to hospital again without having to wear a mask. Friggin hell, when I had my wisdom tooth done a few months back, I woke up after the surgery with a mask strapped around my face - high as a kite

Even though I'd had to do a PCR test to go in there and had had my mask on all along while waiting etc. Don't think that's ever changing now mate.

 

[Toast]

I meant patients. As said in the previous sentence, a mask mandate in those settings are actually more about protecting the health worker, but the actual place where disease spreads in those environments is waiting rooms. The key with respiratory illness spread is sustained contact - e.g. sitting next to someone spluttering for 20 minutes.

Asking people to wear masks in shops also protects the staff serving you though mate.

Clearly your not arsed about them either.

The staff who pick the shopping to be delivered to customers will go off sick due to contacts. The drivers who deliver the shopping the same..

 

[Brennan]

They are going to ask that everywhere, I'm pretty sure you'll never be able to go to hospital again without having to wear a mask. Friggin hell, when I had my wisdom tooth done a few months back, I woke up after the surgery with a mask strapped around my face - high as a kite

Even though I'd had to do a PCR test to go in there and had had my mask on all along while waiting etc. Don't think that's ever changing now mate.

I don’t think so. NHS staff are already unhappy with having to wear a mask all day long in settings where they deal with few if any clinically vulnerable people. There are NHS staff meanwhile working in offices attached to hospitals who don’t have to wear a mask.

The NHS already has issues with staff retention. They’re not going to get away with blanket imposing masks on clinical staff forever, while office based staff don’t have to wear one.

 

[BlueToff]

I don’t think so. NHS staff are already unhappy with having to wear a mask all day long in settings where they deal with few if any clinically vulnerable people. There are NHS staff meanwhile working in offices attached to hospitals who don’t have to wear a mask.

The NHS already has issues with staff retention. They’re not going to get away with blanket imposing masks on people forever.

Maybe mate with the staff but again I'm not so sure...

I think patients will definitely have to. It's a safety measure as we all know it's not about protecting you it's about protecting others.

It's like this way for the next few years at least.

 

[Tipp blue]

Spanish Flu and Ebola both mutated to be more deadly.

Actively letting a killer virus spread…

What part of the words mild symptoms don't you understand? If this is true it's the way out.. or would you rather restrictions continue for years and years to come?

 

[BlueToff]

What part of the words mild symptoms don't you understand? If this is true it's the way out.. or would you rather restrictions continue for years and years to come?

There's been a lot of variants that are all milder symptoms, apparently the worry with this one is because of the number of spike proteins it's more infectious so could, potentially, evade the vaccines/natural antibodies and then if it spreads it could (again, could) mutate to something worse.

Not saying I agree with the approach just saying what I know so far from in here and on the news. That being said, it's like the UK gov have tried to go worst-case for once and get ahead of it. Well, actually, doing that would probably be a full, snap lockdown from tomorrow for 2-3 weeks. Which I'm very glad they're not doing but if they wanted to try and fully stop it before it got hold then that'd be the way to do it.

That being said, you'd then open up in 2-3 weeks in mid-December and probably have exactly the same issue - it'd just spread like wildfire then after the opening up.

I'm with @Tubey , I think they're overblowing it, but then again maybe that's the approach they should have taken all along - and maybe they still aren't doing enough, I don't know.