Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Neiler]

Not the highest they have had, a eye popping 51% in one province during Delta, but was hoping that it was running out of new people to infect. Cross fingers that once all the data backlog is worked through we get some better info.

It was looking hopeful that the curve was flattening, agree though seems the data from South Africa can ebb and flow and their are a few environmental factors to consider too, was Delta through their winter, they are in their summer now too, than vaccine profile between the waves - an interesting study in itself.

 

[Neiler]

Think it the impact in both demand and supply that is causing a reassessment.

Seen at least three hospitals (Malaga, one in Scotland, Oakland here in California) take a hit on emergency staff due to Omicron. Thankfully all their outbreaks seem to be mild due to highly vaccinated staff but still need to quarantine and thus find other staff to cover.

This is the thing, we’re heading into Xmas, most services will have time off planned and operating skeleton services certainly for a couple of weeks. We’ve an emergrncy plan in place for example if some staff have to self isolate we have an emergency contacts list of staff to come in, (for no extra benefit). That was just planning for Delta not sure where we will be if Omicron bites on healthcare workers.

At the moment if we have symptoms we’re sent home and told to organise a PCR - had a head cold a couple of weeks ago, was sent home and of clinical practice for five days. Was a massive backlog when I came back and worked to 8/9 most nights since to catch up (Depending on what’s going on would usually finish 5.30/6.00). Not sure what the answer is, but that small example is happening right across services the world over, but it’s clear we need a new surge plan now for omicron and a plan in place for people going off as suspected cases, problem is people are knackered already, services are stretched and I’m not sure there’s much flexibility in services, in terms of energy, capacity or resources.

 

[tsubaki]

This booster programme seems to be more about politics than it is about public health, as if this is the only thing worth doing that won't see him get criticised again.

 

[PhilM]

Interesting graph on England's "wall of immunity" driven by various vaccine profiles and previous infections. Get your booster like!

I’m glad to see my three doses and having had the bugger means I should be okay, if that’s how I’m meant to read that.

 

[peteblue]

I’m glad to see my three doses and having had the bugger means I should be okay, if that’s how I’m meant to read that.

Ditto…..

 

[CharliePotato]

I’m glad to see my three doses and having had the bugger means I should be okay, if that’s how I’m meant to read that.

Until they bring out the next jab.

 

[summerisle]

 

[LinekersLegs]

This booster programme seems to be more about politics than it is about public health, as if this is the only thing worth doing that won't see him get criticised again.

There definitely is some political posturing but still think boosters will help if they can get them in arms at quick enough rate.

The ~75% reduction in symptomatic infections transmission would hopefully slow outbreaks and improve staffing levels a bit.

For hospitalizations improved uptake in the ~25% of 45-64 group that have pretty old 2 doses of AZ would also be impactful - a lot of the strain in US hospitals in recent wave has been in this age group.

 

[tsubaki]

There definitely is some political posturing but still think boosters will help if they can get them in arms at quick enough rate.

The ~75% reduction in symptomatic infections transmission would hopefully slow outbreaks and improve staffing levels a bit. For hospitalizations an uptake in the ~20% of 45-64 group that have pretty old 2 doses of AZ would also be impactful - a lot of the strain in US hospitals in recent waves has been in this age group.

Indeed, but its the rest of what they are doing that concerns me. The Guardian article on this quotes UCL's Prof Christina Pagel:

“Don’t go to work but go to parties. Get a booster, but it’s fine not to isolate if you’re vaccinated. It’s not consistent,” she said. “This idea that kids can go to school if someone in their house has Covid is just stupid. We should be saying no parties, no gatherings bigger than 10 people, say. We need to think about moving back down the roadmap and restricting contact.”

She added: “I just don’t think they [ministers] can say ‘this is it’ until Christmas when things are so uncertain.”

They are scrapping the red list too, apparently on the grounds that Omicron is everywhere. As a plan to deal with this it doesn't make much sense, except to get people to do one thing that is required whilst thinking they don't have to do anything else.

 

[Neiler]

This booster programme seems to be more about politics than it is about public health, as if this is the only thing worth doing that won't see him get criticised again.

Its important to distinguish though mate between politics an€ health, you shouldn’t make a decision based on liking the Tories or not, the Goverment is irrelevant, you shouldn’t make a decision based on being fed up with restrictions, uncertainty, change or just wanting it to be over.

You definitely need to make a decision based on what you feel is best for your health and protecting yourself.

This data won’t change depending on who is in Government or who is wearing a mask or not:

 

[tsubaki]

Its important to distinguish though mate between politics an€ health, you shouldn’t make a decision based on liking the Tories or not, the Goverment is irrelevant, you shouldn’t make a decision based on being fed up with restrictions, uncertainty, change or just wanting it to be over.

You definitely need to make a decision based on what you feel is best for your health and protecting yourself.

This data won’t change on whose on govermntand-whose wearing a mask or not:

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I've already got my booster booked - the point was more about how he (they) have other options too, but they will not be taking them because their party won't wear it.

 

[peteblue]

How he looks is how he looks. Tonight he told the nation what they need to do, like him or loathe him what he said was correct, and more importantly he’s putting in place the wherewithal to make it happen.….

 

[summerisle]

How he looks is how he looks. Tonight he told the nation what they need to do, like him or loathe him what he said was correct, and more importantly he’s putting in place the wherewithal to make it happen.….

Wasn't live though so no nasty questions from those pesky journalists.

 

[grandjoeblue]

Indeed, but its the rest of what they are doing that concerns me. The Guardian article on this quotes UCL's Prof Christina Pagel:



They are scrapping the red list too, apparently on the grounds that Omicron is everywhere. As a plan to deal with this it doesn't make much sense, except to get people to do one thing that is required whilst thinking they don't have to do anything else.

Christina Pagel is a mathematician not a scientist and she's well known for wanting lockdown at every opportunity.

Now that it's in the UK at a reasonably high level having a red list doesn't really make a huge difference.

Looking at the booster numbers in the 65+ age group around 90% of the people who have had 2 doses have had their third. This needs to be pushed towards 100 as soon as possible.

 

[Johnniepk]

I'm trying to get an 81 year old a booster. I am advised to go to the walk in jab centre. She's had two strokes and can barely walk. She is also incontinent. There are no home visits. GP doesnt do them.