Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[Orang Utan]

The reasoning I've been given for fatigue not being counted as a primary symptom for testing is that it's hugely subjective and not a reliable indicator due to that 'human factor' being taken into account.

Aye, I’ve been tired recently to the point of stopping my bike several times on the way home (not shortness of breath though) but that’s cos I’m not sleeping as I hurt my back slipping on the ice. I guess that doesn’t warrant a stay at home.

 

[Sue]

I heard this too, LynnDoyleCooper, and thought exactly the same. Putting the cock into Hancock right enough.

 

[Sue]

tl; dr:

We keep fucking up with rule compliance because our deeply ingrained sense of infection and its consequences don't fit a totally new disease.

I also think so many companies have insisted for such a long time that you come in to work unless you're very ill (and at pain of disciplinary action if your absence rate is 'too' high), that people don't really believe/trust what their employers are saying now. And I can't say I blame them.

And couple that with some people not getting paid unless they work and .

 

[TopCat]

My nurse partner gets her first vaccine shot today. I am very pleased for her.

Will be so happy when parents get theirs.

 

[Thora]

It's been widely reported that it can present itself differently in younger people and I just find it crazy/negligent (not schools themselves) that around schools you will see posters all over with only those '3 symptoms'.

Yes, I’m still getting daily emails from the council (about my childcare setting) instructing me not to exclude children with runny noses, sore throats or headaches unless they also have a cough or temperature

 

[existentialist]

I also think so many companies have insisted for such a long time that you come in to work unless you're very ill (and at pain of disciplinary action if your absence rate is 'too' high), that people don't really believe/trust what their employers are saying now. And I can't say I blame them.

And couple that with some people not getting paid unless they work and .

The downside of presenteeism - another price we pay for our exploitative work culture.

 

[wtfftw]

Yeah. Anyone with shares in lemsip should pop them over to Dettol.

 

[Looby]

My friend is near but not in the UK and works in a school. They’ve been told they won’t be informed if they’re a close contact at work, won’t be able to isolate and if they do they won’t be paid. Basically the message is that if they get it it’s their fault. They’re only allowed to be off if they have a positive test, not for symptoms.
Fucking hell.

 

[brogdale]

Looks like they'll be some decisions this week about the elections scheduled for May; Khan's term continues?

 

[zora]

A colleague called me yesterday. He went to an asymptomatic testing centre in the local park, to do his bit as he said, not thinking in the slightest that he might be infected. Test was positive to his huge surprise, and has just been confirmed as positive by the follow-up pcr test!
He has been, like me, back on furlough since before Christmas, lives alone, goes for a bike ride once a day, has the occasional chat with neighbours across the garden fence.
First case I have heard of first-hand where the source of the infection is a complete mystery.

 

[teuchter]

tl; dr:

We keep fucking up with rule compliance because our deeply ingrained sense of infection and its consequences don't fit a totally new disease.

I think I'm the opposite and the moment I feel slightly off in any way I suspect I've got Covid

 

[teuchter]

A colleague called me yesterday. He went to an asymptomatic testing centre in the local park, to do his bit as he said, not thinking in the slightest that he might be infected. Test was positive to his huge surprise, and has just been confirmed as positive by the follow-up pcr test!
He has been, like me, back on furlough since before Christmas, lives alone, goes for a bike ride once a day, has the occasional chat with neighbours across the garden fence.
First case I have heard of first-hand where the source of the infection is a complete mystery.

Presumably he goes to the supermarket etc?

 

[klang]

the loons gonna love that - Khan the unelected dictator

Looks like they'll be some decisions this week about the elections scheduled for May; Khan's term continues?

View attachment 248636

 

[bimble]

Radio earlier today was playing recordings showing how of the government spokespeople always say that by mid february they expect to have offered the vaccine to .... number of people, never saying the target is to have given the vaccine to them just offer it. So presumably it could be that by mid feb a large number of letters will have been posted, offering people an appointment for their first dose in April or something. Targets met.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Radio earlier today was playing recordings showing how of the government spokespeople always say that by mid february they expect to have offered the vaccine to .... number of people, never saying the target is to have given the vaccine to them just offer it. So presumably it could be that by mid feb a large number of letters will have been posted, offering people an appointment for their first dose in April or something. Targets met.

'The vaccine' in singular, I note. 'The vaccine' consists of two doses...

 

[zora]

Presumably he goes to the supermarket etc?

Yes, I imagine so. But all other cases I have personally known had prolonged exposure in settings such as schools, health-care, other workplaces, pubs and restaurants while those were open, or their own home once a family member had caught it. Despite often being concerned about transmission risk when I was working in retail myself, and avoiding supermarkets myself as much as possible to be on the safer side, I had actually considered the risk of a completely random transmission in the shop or during daily exercise or a short outdoor chat very low.

 

[Sue]

Radio earlier today was playing recordings showing how of the government spokespeople always say that by mid february they expect to have offered the vaccine to .... number of people, never saying the target is to have given the vaccine to them just offer it. So presumably it could be that by mid feb a large number of letters will have been posted, offering people an appointment for their first dose in April or something. Targets met.

That was on More or Less I think (which is always worth a listen).

BBC Radio 4 - More or Less, How effective is one dose of the vaccine?

Is the first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine 52% or 90% effective?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[cupid_stunt]

Radio earlier today was playing recordings showing how of the government spokespeople always say that by mid february they expect to have offered the vaccine to .... number of people, never saying the target is to have given the vaccine to them just offer it. So presumably it could be that by mid feb a large number of letters will have been posted, offering people an appointment for their first dose in April or something. Targets met.

Hancock was questioned on this earlier on Sky News, he said 'offered' AND 'given' to those taking up the offer.

So, probably isn't true.

 

[teuchter]

Yes, I imagine so. But all other cases I have personally known had prolonged exposure in settings such as schools, health-care, other workplaces, pubs and restaurants while those were open, or their own home once a family member had caught it. Despite often being concerned about transmission risk when I was working in retail myself, and avoiding supermarkets myself as much as possible to be on the safer side, I had actually considered the risk of a completely random transmission in the shop or during daily exercise or a short outdoor chat very low.

Risk can be very low, and yet a small number of people will still be unlucky.

But yes on an anecdotal basis, everyone I know who's had it, have some kind of easily identifiable risk situation like where they work, or having school age kids, etc.

 

[teuchter]

That was on More or Less I think (which is always worth a listen).

BBC Radio 4 - More or Less, How effective is one dose of the vaccine?

Is the first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine 52% or 90% effective?

www.bbc.co.uk

More or Less also complained about the reporting of the very high number of "daily deaths" at the weekend and the false claim that we had exceeded or were about to exceed the number at the peak of the first wave. Like I did

 

[LDC]

I heard this too, LynnDoyleCooper, and thought exactly the same. Putting the cock into Hancock right enough.

It's the punishment we get for listening to Radio 4 Sue

 

[Orang Utan]

Yes, I imagine so. But all other cases I have personally known had prolonged exposure in settings such as schools, health-care, other workplaces, pubs and restaurants while those were open, or their own home once a family member had caught it. Despite often being concerned about transmission risk when I was working in retail myself, and avoiding supermarkets myself as much as possible to be on the safer side, I had actually considered the risk of a completely random transmission in the shop or during daily exercise or a short outdoor chat very low.

A friend of mine who has it has only been to the shops, he hasn’t been that unwell as he’s been told that the viral load can’t have been that high because of his limited exposure

 

[The39thStep]

Manchester Evening News has had some great analysis of the logistical problems facing the city fighting covid and then prints this shite today

 

[wayward bob]

Not just follow the rules to stop the spread, but why using our own judgement in this very particular case is letting us all down.

i reckon fractured trust w/everyone - political class, neighbours, selves, historical precident (fostered by years of public policy) means we're in huge part entirely fucking lost with who/what to trust and thereby pinned immobile - at some point we may as well "trust" what suits/serves our interests and stop taking in new information? (may just be me )

 

[zora]

A friend of mine who has it has only been to the shops, he hasn’t been that unwell as he’s been told that the viral load can’t have been that high because of his limited exposure

My colleague has also got practically no symptoms, on day 4 after positive test. He sounded a bit snivelly/bunged up but he is prone to that anyway.
Afaik the whole area of how the initial exposure amount of the virus relates to strength of symptoms or severity of illness is very much still under investigation, but interesting anecdotal observations nonetheless.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

My colleague has also got practically no symptoms, on day 4 after positive test. He sounded a bit snivelly/bunged up but he is prone to that anyway.
Afaik the whole area of how the initial exposure amount of the virus relates to strength of symptoms or severity of illness is very much still under investigation, but interesting anecdotal observations nonetheless.

I've seen it mentioned quite a few times in assorted sciency things that reduced exposure and viral load should mean reduced severity of illness, but not read any actual figures. I find the idea quite reassuring as at least it makes the situation seem a bit less entirely random - instead of just being able to reduce your chance of getting it at all, you can also take steps to make it better if you do get it.

Anecdotally all the people I know who have got it noticeably around lockdowns have had obvious situations too (kids, a busy unmasked barbers) but that isn't many people tbh.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

The COVID app is still saying "don't bother getting tested unless you have fever/cough/loss of smell or taste" btw, but I wouldn't expect that to be up to date

 

[2hats]

I've seen it mentioned quite a few times in assorted sciency things that reduced exposure and viral load should mean reduced severity of illness, but not read any actual figures. I find the idea quite reassuring as at least it makes the situation seem a bit less entirely random - instead of just being able to reduce your chance of getting it at all, you can also take steps to make it better if you do get it.

It's not at all clear yet. It could well depend on a combination of viral load, degrees of where deposition is ie in the upper or in the deep lower respiratory tract (droplet versus fine aerosol), plus pre-existing medical conditions, plus immunological state.

 

[20Bees]

COVID-19: Isles of Scilly report first positive cases for several months

Officials admitted the outbreak would "cause concern" and "shock" and urged people to follow safety rules to keep infections down.

news.sky.com

 

[wtfftw]

The COVID app is still saying "don't bother getting tested unless you have fever/cough/loss of smell or taste" btw, but I wouldn't expect that to be up to date

That's what they ask if you try and book a test.