Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[brogdale]

Delays kill

Blood on their hands.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Delays kill

Probably worse once you factor in that one day of school.

 

[TopCat]

so more people have died of the virus than were killed by air raids in the second world war (c.61,000 The Bombing of Britain 1940-1945 - Centre for the Study of War, State and Society - University of Exeter)

within weeks twice as many people will have been killed by the virus than died from enemy action in the uk in air raids, v1 attacks and v2 attacks between 1940 and 1945

fucking mental

But no property damage so all is ok.

 

[magneze]

Delays kill

That chart should be presented at the next daily press conf.

 

[elbows]

Where are the guardian getting the 100,000 figure from? Is this the 28 days thing or the number of deaths with Covid on the death certificate?

I checked and it was what I thought it would be earlier. Although the dates and numbers they mention arent quite what I find when I look for ONS etc data, but it doesnt really make much difference to the sort of total that emerges.

There have been 93,418 coronavirus deaths recorded by statistical agencies, based on those with Covid on the death certificate, from the beginning of the pandemic up to 10 January, and a further 7,742 deaths since according to figures published by the government based on deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus.

UK coronavirus deaths pass 100,000 after 1,564 reported in one day

Experts condemn ‘phenomenal failure of policy and practice’ in handling of pandemic

www.theguardian.com

 

[platinumsage]

But no property damage so all is ok.

If the pandemic destroyed 2 million houses that would certainly be worse.

 

[Pickman's model]

But no property damage so all is ok.

Which brings to mind

 

[Badgers]

Not specifically virus related but fuck me

Private company ‘removes free access’ to hospital bedside TVs as pandemic surges

Hospedia, the company that provides bedside TV units to more than 130 NHS sites, has recommenced steep charges for its service. According to hospital staff, access to the service had been free of charge since the pandemic began – but the company has now removed free access ‘without warning’.

 

[elbows]

BBC finally on the case regarding the call for better masks in hospital settings:

Call for better coronavirus masks for all medical staff

Doctors leaders' want staff to be given the type of high-quality masks usually only worn in intensive care.

www.bbc.co.uk

A few hospitals have decided to break with official guidance.

It's understood that hospitals in Cambridge, Plymouth and Exeter have decided to equip staff with FFP3 masks if they face patients diagnosed with Covid or suspected of having it.

That issue has always been high on my list of pandemic disgraces in this country. I remember when they first downgraded the advice, it was all about supply realities rather than what was actually appropriate.

 

[muscovyduck]

I'm torn on takeaway food etc because people do genuinely need access to that sort of thing (myself included) but having worked in catering and also being able to compare periods of my life where I exclusively ate out/takeaways vs periods where I only cooked at home I know it's a fucking germ fest at the best of times. Another one of those situations that's been years in the making, shit work conditions, general decline of quality in good/services as capitalism hollows everything out etc etc

 

[Numbers]

Blood on their hands.

Just wash it off every day singing happy birthday.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Great thread but it's a long one. It tallies up with a lot of the anecdotes here that the main problem is people still not isolating enough or for long enough with symptoms even if generally good at complying otherwise (it's just very visible when people aren't). It also emphasizes this isn't actually that locked down.

 

[20Bees]

I wonder if Hugh Pym on the BBC News knows his expression has the same uncontrollable smirk as the Prime Minister! He does try to sound sincere, I think.

 

[mx wcfc]

I'm torn on takeaway food etc because people do genuinely need access to that sort of thing (myself included) but having worked in catering and also being able to compare periods of my life where I exclusively ate out/takeaways vs periods where I only cooked at home I know it's a fucking germ fest at the best of times. Another one of those situations that's been years in the making, shit work conditions, general decline of quality in good/services as capitalism hollows everything out etc etc

It is a tricky one. We've had, I think, three takeaways since March. "Normally" we might have had two or three a month. We just decided, without even discussing it, that takeaways would just add another possible vector for the virus, so we should cut right back. I could kill a Dominos American Hot. Or a curry from the Gurkha's Inn. Tbf, the last time we got a curry in, we ordered loads and it lasted us three dinners.

 

[Cid]

As I understand it - which is not well - the situation with takeaways and coronavirus isn't really the same as other nasty shit. Food poisoning usually happens via different vectors... The big ones are contamination at some point in the production process (I mean including farms, parasites etc), combined with poor preparation. Salmonella, campylobacter, E-coli, rice badgers etc are able to survive and reproduce in the human gut, where they produce the toxins that fuck you up. The notable viral route is the notorious norovirus... But it is specifically adapted for faecal-oral transmission.

Covid, by contrast favours respiratory droplets... Um... I don't want to be too firm on that, because fomite (surface) transmission was discussed a fair bit early in the crisis, but that seems to be by far the dominant vector according to more recent stuff. And since it's what the WHO, and CDC in the US say... I feel reasonably confident. It has been found in faecal matter (obviously, given faecal surveys are a thing), but from what I read it really does favour the respiratory route. And hopefully food is not getting into your respiratory tract, got bigger problems if that happens.

 

[quimcunx]

But the people working in the takeaways will be passing it to each other.

 

[Cid]

But the people working in the takeaways will be passing it to each other.

Yeah there is a fair case for closing them. But the actions of a few concerned urbanites are probably not making any difference... Just have a look at any delivery app around 7pm.

 

[Supine]

I feel confident eating food made by others. There might be small risk from formite transmission on containers but the act of cooking is designed to kill nasties before you eat the food.

 

[weepiper]

But the people working in the takeaways will be passing it to each other.

And the people sitting in there waiting for their orders.

 

[two sheds]

I feel confident eating food made by others. There might be small risk from formite transmission on containers but the act of cooking is designed to kill nasties before you eat the food.

As someone on here said - probably a good idea to put it in the oven for 10 minutes.

 

[Supine]

As someone on here said - probably a good idea to put it in the oven for 10 minutes.

I only eat takeaways sitting by myself in hotel rooms so not an option. I can't wait to have a takeaway at home with friends and family.

 

[mx wcfc]

This popped up on my twitter.

Someone remind me how many kids he has.



(it appeared on my twitter. It may be bollocks, but I expect it isn't)

 

[BristolEcho]

As I understand it - which is not well - the situation with takeaways and coronavirus isn't really the same as other nasty shit. Food poisoning usually happens via different vectors... The big ones are contamination at some point in the production process (I mean including farms, parasites etc), combined with poor preparation. Salmonella, campylobacter, E-coli, rice badgers etc are able to survive and reproduce in the human gut, where they produce the toxins that fuck you up. The notable viral route is the notorious norovirus... But it is specifically adapted for faecal-oral transmission.

Covid, by contrast favours respiratory droplets... Um... I don't want to be too firm on that, because fomite (surface) transmission was discussed a fair bit early in the crisis, but that seems to be by far the dominant vector according to more recent stuff. And since it's what the WHO, and CDC in the US say... I feel reasonably confident. It has been found in faecal matter (obviously, given faecal surveys are a thing), but from what I read it really does favour the respiratory route. And hopefully food is not getting into your respiratory tract, got bigger problems if that happens.

So I googled rice badgers because WTF and it led me straight to the urban thread.....

 

[fishfinger]

This popped up on my twitter.

Someone remind me how many kids he has.

View attachment 248774

(it appeared on my twitter. It may be bollocks, but I expect it isn't)

This is on his own site:

Global Population Control - Boris Johnson

 

[mx wcfc]

This is on his own site:

Global Population Control - Boris Johnson

Where's the faceslap emoji when you need it? It's far too late, and I'm far too pissed, to read all of that, but for someone who clearly wasn't taught at Eton how to use a fucking condom, he's got a nerve telling the rest of the world to stop breeding.

One rule for them, ...........

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Someone remind me how many kids he has.

Is that even public knowledge? I remember reading an article about Vladimir Putin some years ago which stated it wasn't known whether he was married or had kids, and my thinking that was unusual. But here we are.

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

As I understand it - which is not well - the situation with takeaways and coronavirus isn't really the same as other nasty shit. Food poisoning usually happens via different vectors... The big ones are contamination at some point in the production process (I mean including farms, parasites etc), combined with poor preparation. Salmonella, campylobacter, E-coli, rice badgers etc are able to survive and reproduce in the human gut, where they produce the toxins that fuck you up. The notable viral route is the notorious norovirus... But it is specifically adapted for faecal-oral transmission.

Covid, by contrast favours respiratory droplets... Um... I don't want to be too firm on that, because fomite (surface) transmission was discussed a fair bit early in the crisis, but that seems to be by far the dominant vector according to more recent stuff. And since it's what the WHO, and CDC in the US say... I feel reasonably confident. It has been found in faecal matter (obviously, given faecal surveys are a thing), but from what I read it really does favour the respiratory route. And hopefully food is not getting into your respiratory tract, got bigger problems if that happens.

if you are worried about a2m transmisssion you should change take away supplier...

 

[Nine Bob Note]

My boss spent y'day setting up the barricades/queuing system outside the store that we had seven months ago, while I replaced all the signage. One-way system shit has arrived, but (non-Wales) we're to store it safely until further notice. Starmer's "Don't scoff, you'll be voting for this next week" barb this avo all but confirmed a Bozo press conference tmoz announcing these requirements.

 

[Orang Utan]

This popped up on my twitter.

Someone remind me how many kids he has.

View attachment 248774

(it appeared on my twitter. It may be bollocks, but I expect it isn't)

At least 9

 

[David Clapson]

Some (quite) good news...though with many caveats:

Recovering from Covid gives similar level of protection to vaccine

PHE found immunity from earlier infection provided 83% protection against reinfection for at least 20 weeks

www.theguardian.com

People who recover from coronavirus have a similar level of protection against future infection as those who receive a Covid vaccine – at least for the first five months, research suggests.

A Public Health England (PHE) study of more than 20,000 healthcare workers found that immunity acquired from an earlier Covid infection provided 83% protection against reinfection for at least 20 weeks.

The findings show that while people are unlikely to become reinfected soon after their first infection, it is possible to catch the virus again and potentially spread it to others.

“Overall I think this is good news,” said Prof Susan Hopkins, a senior medical adviser to PHE. “It allows people to feel that prior infection will protect them from future infections, but at the same time it is not complete protection, and therefore they still need to be careful when they are out and about.”

PHE recruited healthcare workers from hospitals across the UK and divided them into two groups: those who had coronavirus before and those who had not. Between June and November last year, the participants underwent fortnightly PCR tests for the virus, and monthly tests to examine the antibody levels in their blood.

Over the five months the researchers monitored infection rates in the two groups. They spotted 44 potential reinfections, including 13 symptomatic, among the 6,614 believed to have had Covid before, and 318 cases among the 14,173 who had no evidence of past infection. A previous infection, they conclude, provides 94% protection against symptomatic reinfection, and 75% protection against asymptomatic reinfection.

The cases are referred to as “potential” reinfections because a detailed genetic analysis of both first and second viruses must be done to confirm a reinfection, but information for the first infections was often not available.

“The immunity gives you a similar effect to the Pfizer vaccine and a much better effect than the AstraZeneca vaccine and that is reassuring for people. But we still see people who could transmit and so we want to strike a note of caution,” Prof Hopkins said. In clinical trials, two doses of the Pfizer vaccine had an efficacy of 95%, compared with 62% from two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

While the study is encouraging, it is unclear whether the same protection applies to older people. The study participants were aged 35 to 54 and would be expected to have robust immune systems. Older people tend to have weaker immune responses that are more short-lived.

Another question mark hangs over the risk of reinfection from new Covid variants spotted in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, an issue PHE will investigate as the study continues this year.

“What one thinks of the numbers is very much a ‘glass half full or half empty?’ question,” said Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College. “To many, it may be disappointing to put hard numbers to the idea that immunity to this virus is seemingly so variable and feeble that there is a greater than 1 in 10 chance of suffering reinfection, even at five months, let alone now, when many UK healthcare workers are more than nine months out from infections in the first wave.”