Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[Sunray]

It's got to the point they have to backtrack, get it under control, get as many vaccinations done and move forward. Not just about leaving it where we are, this isn't doing much with infections. Perhaps tell everyone to stop socialising indoors for a few weeks. Get people to stay outside when eating meals and where possible drinking.

Unfortunately, the Government has demonstrated a willingness to throw everyone under a bus for dogma, can't see this being different.
Does anyone believe this government is going to change course, I'd be quite shocked if they do?

 

[brogdale]

Justifiably angry sounding...

 

[Teaboy]

They've blatantly lied about the situation with children throughout. They ain't going to change now.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I guess we will see the vaccination programme extended at some point.

Britain’s medicines regulator said on Friday it had extended approval of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech so it can be used on 12- to 15-year-olds.

“We have carefully reviewed clinical trial data in children aged 12 to 15 years and have concluded that the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group and that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh any risk,” said Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

She added it would be up to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to decide whether this age group would come under the vaccine deployment programme.

UK regulator approves Pfizer Covid vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds

Decision that jab is safe and effective potentially paves way for vaccination campaign in schoolchildren

www.theguardian.com

 

[cupid_stunt]

They always refer to severe cases, i.e. those that require hospital admission, but to me 'long covid' is fucking severe, and the majority suffering it have never been in hospital for covid, 376,000 are suffering a year on from infection.

An estimated 1 million people in private households in the UK reported experiencing long Covid in the four weeks to 2 May, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Of these people, an estimated 869,000 first had Covid-19 – or suspected they had Covid-19 – at least 12 weeks previously while 376,000 first had the virus or suspected they had the virus at least one year ago.

Long Covid was estimated to be adversely affecting the day-to-day activities of 650,000 people, with 192,000 reporting that their ability to undertake day-to-day activities had been limited a lot.

376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year – ONS

Data shows marked increase in self-reported cases of symptoms lasting 12 months or more

www.theguardian.com

 

[Teaboy]

They always refer to severe cases, i.e. those that require hospital admission, but to me 'long covid' is fucking severe, and the majority suffering it have never been in hospital for covid, 376,000 are suffering a year on from infection.

376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year – ONS

Data shows marked increase in self-reported cases of symptoms lasting 12 months or more

www.theguardian.com

I suspect considerations around Long Covid play little to no part in the thinking when it comes down to managing restrictions and the virus in general.

 

[andysays]

They always refer to severe cases, i.e. those that require hospital admission, but to me 'long covid' is fucking severe, and the majority suffering it have never been in hospital for covid, 376,000 are suffering a year on from infection.

376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year – ONS

Data shows marked increase in self-reported cases of symptoms lasting 12 months or more

www.theguardian.com

I can see why number of cases requiring hospital admission is one measure of seriousness, but it certainly shouldn't be the only one.

But from the beginning, the government's stated primary aim is to avoid the NHS being overwhelmed, rather than to minimize death and long term suffering. Unfortunately that translates as meaning it's not too much of a problem if people suffer long-term consequences, as long as they don't take up hospital beds while they're doing so.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I can see why number of cases requiring hospital admission is one measure of seriousness, but it certainly shouldn't be the only one.

But from the beginning, the government's stated primary aim is to avoid the NHS being overwhelmed, rather than to minimize death and long term suffering. Unfortunately that translates as meaning it's not too much of a problem if people suffer long-term consequences, as long as they don't take up hospital beds while they're doing so.

Which is dumb, because it's going to cost the state a lot if people are unable to work, and for ongoing treatment too.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Justifiably angry sounding...

Are cases in schoolkids 'remaining low' or 'reflecting what's happening in the wider community' because they can't be doing both those things.

 

[Elpenor]

They always refer to severe cases, i.e. those that require hospital admission, but to me 'long covid' is fucking severe, and the majority suffering it have never been in hospital for covid, 376,000 are suffering a year on from infection.

376,000 people in UK have had long Covid symptoms for at least a year – ONS

Data shows marked increase in self-reported cases of symptoms lasting 12 months or more

www.theguardian.com

I don’t fear getting ill from COVID-19 per se, but I do fear Long Covid more than anything.

 

[elbows]

Anecdotally, there seem to be not twice as many cases as a few weeks ago, but many more times over, just going by the amount of people here who are reporting cases in their extended families or their schools and workplaces.

Another potential tell-tale sign is that we are starting to see more news stories about random sportspeople, politicians etc either testing positive or having to self-isolate because someone else has tested positive. Along with filming of specific tv shows, films etc being suspended due to cases or close contact with cases.

I try to keep an open mind about this, but its been a fair indicator of the wider state of play in the past. I suppose it is possible that better testing systems mean that many different sorts of cases and outbreaks have been spotted at a slightly earlier stage of wave proceedings this time, and even with a more transmissive variant it is to be expected that different waves can evolve at different speeds in terms of the overall national picture and the sort of tipping points where case numbers really explode.

 

[Supine]

Indy Sage now. They are releasing an emergency statement today…

 

[nagapie]

Indy Sage now. They are releasing an emergency statement today…

Pity no one listens to them and even in the height of covid their videos only got about 10 000 views.

 

[Supine]

Pity no one listens to them and even in the height of covid their videos only got about 10 000 views.

I’d say they are successfully guiding the media and politicians narrative. Members are regularly on the news. The gov listening to them is another matter.

 

[nagapie]

I’d say they are successfully guiding the media and politicians narrative. Members are regularly on the news. The gov listening to them is another matter.

I haven't seen them having much impact on the media or politicians, at least not in the previous two waves. More like the loan voices of intelligence, but happy if that's changed.

 

[Teaboy]

Pity no one listens to them and even in the height of covid their videos only got about 10 000 views.

MD in Private Eye had a bit of a dig at them in one of the recent editions. Suggesting maybe that egos were in play and suggested that there was a bit of academic one-upmanship going on at times.

 

[elbows]

MD in Private Eye had a bit of a dig at them in one of the recent editions. Suggesting maybe that egos were in play and suggested that there was a bit of academic one-upmanship going on at times.

Such criticism is a crap distraction from the matters of substance.

 

[belboid]

MD in private eye has been a contradictory fool on several occasions. Let’s not forget PE was a significant booster of Wakefield initially

 

[Teaboy]

Such criticism is a crap distraction from the matters of substance.

Even if its influencing their output?

 

[Teaboy]

MD in private eye has been a contradictory fool on several occasions. Let’s not forget PE was a significant booster of Wakefield initially

Sure. I've no skin in the game just thought it was an interesting observation.

 

[elbows]

Even if its influencing their output?

I expect the major driver of their output has similarities to what motivates me to commentate on the pandemic here on this forum.

Its an outlet that reduces the hideous psychological effects of feeling like you are banging your head against a brick wall in silence, coupled with a desire to spread knowledge and explain things as you see them.

 

[2hats]

MD in Private Eye had a bit of a dig at them in one of the recent editions. Suggesting maybe that egos were in play and suggested that there was a bit of academic one-upmanship going on at times.

You will struggle to find anywhere in [UK] academia where there isn't one-upmanship at least some of the time.

 

[elbows]

You will struggle to find anywhere in [UK] academia where there isn't one-upmanship at least some of the time.

Yeah and I dont mean to suggest its not part of the mix. Its just not one I care to focus on in particular in this pandemic. Like when people fairly or unfairly criticise my attitude, personality, etc. So fucking what, these are not the issues that make the subject vital to focus on right now. Nobody is paying attention to the pandemic because of what it does or does not bring out in me.

 

[nagapie]

MD in Private Eye had a bit of a dig at them in one of the recent editions. Suggesting maybe that egos were in play and suggested that there was a bit of academic one-upmanship going on at times.

Disappointing angle from PE.

 

[elbows]

When it comes to the substance, I expect that when I read their emergency statement shortly, it will leave me wanting. Because from watching most of todays live stream from them, I'm expecting it to be a bit compromised by the desire not to tell people we need to close schools or reverse unlocking steps that have already happened.

If u75 was a fully fledged anarchists forum, I imagine I would have called for a third SAGE, 'blunt SAGE', which emphasised people taking matters into their own hands at the right moments.

 

[elbows]

Assuming the following is their emergency statement, then yeah, its along the lines of what I was expecting via what they said in the video, and it doesnt go far enough in my book.

Not that my book is a complete guide, there are still a lot of grey areas in my mind about how rapid and how large the next wave will be. And that obviously leaves me with something of a quandary as to how far I think restrictions should go right now.

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions | Independent SAGE

www.independentsage.org

 

[andysays]

Which is dumb, because it's going to cost the state a lot if people are unable to work, and for ongoing treatment too.

This is true, though even to put it as you have done risks* presenting ill-health as a problem primarily because of economic costs, rather than viewing good health as a positive thing in its own right.

* I'm not suggesting that this is what you believe, just that there can be a problem for all of us in unintentionally expressing ourselves in ways which echo that sort of ruling class narrative

 

[Teaboy]

Assuming the following is their emergency statement, then yeah, its along the lines of what I was expecting via what they said in the video, and it doesnt go far enough in my book.

Not that my book is a complete guide, there are still a lot of grey areas in my mind about how rapid and how large the next wave will be. And that obviously leaves me with something of a quandary as to how far I think restrictions should go right now.

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions | Independent SAGE

www.independentsage.org

It is all very achievable though, well except maybe bringing some sanity to the border control situation. The government have made it quite clear that clusterfuck is their only policy in this regard.

 

[elbows]

It is all very achievable though, well except maybe bringing some sanity to the border control situation. The government have made it quite clear that clusterfuck is their only policy in this regard.

But is it enough to acheive a sufficient reduction of risk that the third wave will seem like a non-event compared to the first two waves? I'm far from convinced.

I wish I could predict exactly what will happen in the remaining days before the government announce their decision. There are all manner of alarming details about the Delta variant that make me think the third wave will be worse than the previous two. But then I also have some mixed signals, such as the fact that surge testing in my local town has not revealed a very large number of new cases that would have suggested an explosion of the third wave in my town has already happened or will only take days to emerge. And we've had a half term holiday that may temporarily affect the transmission picture. That in itself may be enough of a delay to things that the government can still squeeze in a dodgy decision before the eventual wave reality becomes too clear to deny.

 

[Teaboy]

But is it enough to acheive a sufficient reduction of risk that the third wave will seem like a non-event compared to the first two waves? I'm far from convinced.

Probably not but it appears they are considering the practical and political as well as the actual situation on the ground. Its hard to see how those actions alone will reverse the situation but its even harder to see this government actually reimplementing curbs and restrictions. At this stage, anyway.