Coronavirus COVID-19 Thread

[Michael]

Vaccination update. Honestly i'm deeply impressed by the US /UK numbers in vaccination progress.
For Israel as a relative small country, its probably much easier getting enough vaccine. Still impressive, but 8 Mio vs 330 Mio is a whole different level.

personal opinion: I think we will see first positive effects if 20% of the population are vaccinated.
(US soon) For the European Union this will last most likely 1 or 2 more months. (positive summer effects incoming)
I wouldn't expect restrictions to loosen before 40% full vaccination.
US maybe in ~2 months.
In the EU this will be roughly achieved bei september or october. (hopefully faster with production capacity ramping up)

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Monday 30th of March:

- World: 127,818,432 confirmed cases and 2,794,820 confirmed deaths.

- World: 24 world leaders including those from France, Germany and UK call for global treaty to ensure preparedness for the next "not if, but when" pandemic so we do not have a repeat of unequal responses seen this time.

- World: Scientists indicate new variant vaccines needed within one year.

- Germany: Regulator advises not to use Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the under 60's. "...the Stiko recommends using the Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca for people over the age of 60. Their use below this age limit, however, remains possible at the medical discretion and with individual risk acceptance after careful explanation."

- Canada: Suspends use of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for those under 55 years of age amid blood clot concerns.

- US: Head of CDC warns of uptick in virus transmission as cases and hospital admissions begin to rise again. "I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom, we have so much reason for hope, but right now I'm scared".

- WHO: Head of the World Health Organization says of one theory of how the pandemic started: "Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy,"

- UK: Deaths for the week ending 19th March reportedly sit 8% below the 5 year expected average.

- Iran: Sees 10,000 new cases in a day, the highest for them in 2021 so far (not including 2020).

- Greece: Sees record high new daily cases.

- UK: Agrees deal to produce up to 60 million doses of Novavax vaccine domestically.

- Italy: As third wave makes itself felt Italy introduces 5 day quarantine for EU travelers, widening restrictions which were previously reserved only for those traveling in from outside the Bloc.

- UK: Nottingham, and hundreds descend on a park for public drinking and brawling, the current group maximum number permitted is 6.

- Netherlands: Cases rise for a 7th week in a row.

- Sweden: Number of patients in Intensive Care rising.

- Russia: A third wave appears to be gathering pace.

- India: Official states the following of the situation: “The current rise in cases... has the potential of overwhelming healthcare systems unless checked right now,”

 

[Radegast74]

This just in...prelim data shows that COVID-19 was the #3 cause of death in the US last year:

Covid-19 was third leading cause of death last year, CDC confirms in early data | CNN

Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States last year, after heart disease and cancer, according to provisional data released on Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

www.cnn.com

 

[Bambooza]

While being the #3 compared to prior years (see below) is interesting it doesn't tell the whole truth. The question has always been is Covid increasing the number of deaths or just substituting for other causes of death?

Excess Deaths Associated with COVID-19

Figures present excess deaths associated with COVID-19 at the national and state levels.

www.cdc.gov

The CDC has a nice graph that shows the estimated deaths for the past 3 years. While the death totals for 2020 are still not complete its still a fair estimate of trends across the USA.

And this graph clearly shows the impact this virus has had on those in the 65 and older category.

When compared to the reported new cases its clear that at the start of the outbreak the testing was clearly insufficient to track the spread of the virus when you compare against the chart of new cases.

 

[Jolly_Green_Giant]

Just some quick comments, my uncle came up from miami with the family. He told me miami is pretty bad right now as far as the virus goes. He has guys, healthy young firefighters in the department who have gotten it and been out of work for 6 months, coming back and still having issues.

My uncles wife, my other aunt, is immunosuppressed and would most likely die if she got the virus so theyre being extremely cautious. When they came over we all sat under an overhang in the driveway, 6 feet apart, masks on and they wiped everything down that they touched. Complete 180 from how my aunt and I have been living.

I have a family friend who's husband is on a ventilator and probably not going to make it. He has many comorbidities as hes in his 70's, but this is probably it for him.

Most of my friends here at home have gotten the virus at some point, that's like 5 people. Being young, it was just like a case of the flu for them. Some lost their sense of taste and smell for a bit but that was it.

My family finally all went at the same time to have their first shot, which is great because I was pretty pissed I got my shot before them when they had been waiting for over a month to hear anything back regarding an appointment.

 

[Vavrik]

My uncles wife, my other aunt, is immunosuppressed and would most likely die if she got the virus so theyre being extremely cautious. When they came over we all sat under an overhang in the driveway, 6 feet apart, masks on and they wiped everything down that they touched. Complete 180 from how my aunt and I have been living.

It's very difficult to live like that for a long period of time. Your aunt and you have to live in the house, not just exist. But when someone comes from outside of the household, they and you should wear a mask and do the social distancing thing. It's right to do it to protect the weakest link. So

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Wednesday 31st of March:

- World: 128,490,863 confirmed cases and 2,808,439 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 128 million cases, we passed 127 on Monday meaning another million in 2/3 days.

- US: Study with Pfizer Vaccine administered to 12 to 15 year olds suggests a 100% efficiency rate.

- France: Lockdown restrictions extended to the whole country rather than specific areas, and schools will now close for at least 3 weeks.

- Italy: Makes vaccine mandatory for all health workers following slow take up. “The aim of the measure is to protect as much as possible both medical and paramedical staff and those who are in environments that may be more exposed to the risk of infection,”

- UK: Nottingham, and council closes two parks following scenes of mass brawling, drinking and meetups of hundreds breaching the "rule of 6" people the day before when restrictions were lifted .

- Wales: Yesterday the country highlighted disappointingly high number of missed vaccine appointments in a day, today reports of issues with the vaccine booking system throw into doubt exactly who's fault that is, the people missing the appointments or the system not telling them they have one or not telling the medics the person cannot make the one offered when they have attempted to notify them...

- Brazil: Detects another new COVID variant, this one seems to have similarities with the South African variant.

- Brazil: Situation deepens as COVID crisis turns into a political crisis too, as the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force all quit at once.

- Finland: Government withdraws plan to issue a Stay At Home COVID restriction in cities to curb the spread, as was considered to be unconstitutional.

- Europe: Drug regulator to investigate 62 worldwide cases of rare blood clotting after concerns curbs use of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in some countries.

- Sweden: Postpones planned lockdown easing as third wave continues.

 

[maynard]

I got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine this morning

this oldfart just got a lot harder to kill

 

[Bambooza]

I got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine this morning

this oldfart just got a lot harder to kill

I know dogs age faster then us Humans but you still look like a puppy.

 

[maynard]

I know dogs age faster then us Humans but you still look like a puppy.

don't believe everything you see on the Interwebs

 

[Radegast74]

don't believe everything you see on the Interwebs

yeah, before he was a puppy, he was a turtle with its gonads on its head!

 

[maynard]

yeah, before he was a puppy, he was a turtle with its gonads on its head!

you have a strong, but not perfect, memory! It's been years since those details were posted

the Mary River Turtle has grass growing on its head, and can breathe under water through its genitals

more pictures

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Thursday 1st of April:

- World: 129,245,588 confirmed cases and 2,820,791 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 129 million cases, we passed 128 million yesterday, meaning another million in 1 day.

- Brazil: Deaths in March pass 65,000, double previous record high.

- US: rising cases suggest a 4th wave on the way.

- Turkey: Record high new daily cases at 40,000+

- Brussels: Thousands duped as April Fools Day prank announcement on social media that there was a festival/concert lead to riot police going in to break up the fake event - and bust a few gullible heads. The maximum for gatherings is currently 4.

- UK: Data from the Office Of National Statistics suggests one million people in the UK suffered from Long COVID in Feburary, with 1 in 7 people infected suffering Long symptoms for over 12 weeks.

- UK: Manchester, and hundreds of friggin' idiots attend an outdoor rave. Authorities say: "We appreciate that people will want to socialise due to the warm weather and the recent relaxation of the rules, but I want to remind people that this pandemic is not over and we all share a collective responsibility in complying with the rules and keeping infection rates down,"

- Russia: Announces first Vaccine specifically designed for animals.

- Isle Of Man: Lockdown to be eased gradually, as active cases on the island drop to 294.

- Europe: WHO says the vaccine rollout in the area has been unacceptably slow, and that the situation is of more concern than it has been for months.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Friday 2nd of April:

- World: 129,988,057 confirmed cases and 2,832,627 confirmed deaths.

- UK: Medicines Regulator indicates there have been Seven clotting deaths have been recorded in the UK following an Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.Out of 18 million doses given there have been 30 clotting incidents in the UK to date.

- Netherlands: Suspends Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for the under 60's following the death of a woman who'd had the shot, cancelling 10,000 appointments. The Health Ministry said "There should be no doubts whatsoever about the safety of vaccines. The crucial question is still whether complaints after vaccination or due to vaccination...”

- UK: Staff at DVLA (UK version of the DMV?) due to strike for 4 days following hundreds of COVID cases at head office and minimal oppertunities or support for work from home.

- UK: Plans for COVID passports to allow people to attend public places like pubs criticized as back door implementation of Authoritarianism. Government responds they will be a short term measure until everyone is vaccinated. It is unclear how, exactly, who they expect to enforce the measures though. Trials to take place to iron out the kinks.

- US: March recorded 900,000 new jobs created as vaccination fueled recovery takes hold.

- Turkey: Sees record high new daily cases at 42,308.

- EU: Slovenia and Austria send vaccines to Czech Republic after the commission criticizes them for not assisting their Bloc mates.

- Russia: Working on a program to offer individuals from outside of Russia the SputnikV vaccine if they travel into the country to receive it from July.

It's a Bank Holiday Friday in the UK (public holiday) so not much news content to report. There is also a Bank Holiday on Monday so this may be a quieter 4 days on my end.

 

[PeppaPigKilla]

- UK: Plans for COVID passports to allow people to attend public places like pubs criticized as back door implementation of Authoritarianism. Government responds they will be a short term measure until everyone is vaccinated. It is unclear how, exactly, who they expect to enforce the measures though. Trials to take place to iron out the kinks.

This is a stupid idea, this shows how stupid we are.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

This is a stupid idea, this shows how stupid we are.

The old adage "Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it" probably stands here, I suppose, but when you are running the country not saying anything also comes across as ignorant in the extreme or maybe just not being able to find their arse with both hands... They are done if they do and done if they don't.

On paper vaccinated status documentation makes sense - the more chances the virus has to find a host and reproduce, the higher the chance of a mutation while it is hosted by an unvaccinated person. All it needs then is a mutation which then bypasses the vaccines administered to this point and it puts us back to square one again.

In reality, who is going to police and enforce this? The Barman? Just like when masks were finally made mandatory after 3 months of dithering it was said shop staff would have the option to eject people who didn't comply, but even now you'll have arseholes march in to a shop and when they are asked to put on a mask by staff they just say "Make me" if they are challenged at all because the workers have no actual authority to do so.

Masks have a much higher adoption rate now compared to back then though because of 2 things:
1) They were proved to be effective. Anyone arguing now is just being a buttock.
2) Just like Drink Driving, the wider social acceptance stance changed on it. Drink Driving used to be at best "Better them than me" and at worst "They'll be alright" but changed to "they'll kill themselves or worse someone else." Masks went from "You're over reacting and they don't even know if it helps" to "They work, I'm just being sensible and anyone not wearing one is being reckless or worse is intentionally trying to kill people".

So the gov, to get these passports to work, have to do 3 things: 1) prove they work and 2) effect a wider social acceptance stance based upon that proof and what would happen if they were not adopted by the wider public, and 3) Enact measures to take away the risk of them being some kind of authoritarian National ID Card scheme, too. 'Aint nobody got time to show their papers while popping to the shops for a pint of milk or the pub for a pint of ale.

 

[PeppaPigKilla]

In reality, who is going to police and enforce this? The Barman? Just like when masks were finally made mandatory after 3 months of dithering it was said shop staff would have the option to eject people who didn't comply, but even now you'll have arseholes march in to a shop and when they are asked to put on a mask by staff they just say "Make me" if they are challenged at all because the workers have no actual authority to do so.

Exactly.

Also what about those who choose not to have the vaccine for whatever reason, its their choice whether its a rational or irrational decision.

It will create inequalities and its not like we already have too much of that already. It was on a morning news show where they asked an entrepreneur whether he thought they would be a good idea and he stated similar reasons why its a bad idea.

I'm for the vaccine, i'm for the restrictions, i'm not for a vaccine passport.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

Exactly.

Also what about those who choose not to have the vaccine for whatever reason, its their choice whether its a rational or irrational decision.

It will create inequalities and its not like we already have too much of that already. It was on a morning news show where they asked an entrepreneur whether he thought they would be a good idea and he stated similar reasons why its a bad idea.

I'm for the vaccine, i'm for the restrictions, i'm not for a vaccine passport.

I don't really understand inequality arguments when we're talking about a virus that kills people. It's not even an equality issue - not like the glass ceiling is for women or the assumptions members of the UK population will make about a person based upon the colour of their skin which predudice them from opportunities like job advancement etc. It's a public health issue to stop people from dying. Two very different things.

I appreciate not everyone can partake of the vaccines due to allergies and other health reasons and in those cases specific allowences -and protections- need to be put in place to make sure that the world they are emerging into is as safe for them as for those who have been able to be treated.

People who could partake but choose to exempt themselves knowing the reasons why they won't be able to participate in society until the pandemic is over make their choice and accept the consequences of those actions.

I still don't think a documentation scheme will work though. There are still too many breaching masks requirements even with social acceptability changing.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Friday 2nd of April:

- World: 130,528,722 confirmed cases and 2,841,906 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 130 million cases, we passed 129 million on Thursday meaning another million on the last 1/2 days.

- US: Administers a record high 4 million vaccine doses in a single day.

- Turkey: Once again sees record high new daily infections, at 44,756.

- France: Intensive Care beds are nearing 90% of total nationwide capacity filled.

- UK: Office of National Statistics indicate at least 122,000 NHS workers still suffering from Long Covid symptoms effecting their ability to work, with the knock-on effect that patient care is effected due to staffing etc.

- Italy: Imposes strict restrictions for Easter as the countries 3rd wave sees 20,000+ new cases a day.

- UK: London, and a Catholic Church in South London is raided by police, they find a Good Friday service underway: "Some people were not wearing masks and those present were clearly not socially distanced." the attendees obayed and broke up peacefully however a spokesperson for the church later said "...the police have brutally exceeded their powers by issuing their warrant for no good reason. We regret that the rights of the faithful have been wronged on such an important day for every believer, and that our worship has been profaned."

- Germany: Around 3,500 protesters attended an anti-lockdown group called "Lateral Thinking" event in Stuttgart.

- UK: Multiple peaceful protests occur against the governments attempt to retain COVID protest policing powers even after lockdown has lifted.

- Ireland: Two Dublin women arrested on return to the country for refusing to enter Hotel Quarantine following a trip to Dubai for breast augmentation surgery. Their solicitor indicated they were not aware of the planned requirement before traveling out.

 

[PeppaPigKilla]

I don't really understand inequality arguments when we're talking about a virus that kills people. It's not even an equality issue - not like the glass ceiling is for women or the assumptions members of the UK population will make about a person based upon the colour of their skin which predudice them from opportunities like job advancement etc. It's a public health issue to stop people from dying. Two very different things.

The passport isnt about keeping people safe from a virus, its about getting people back to normality and easing restrictions sooner though, there are some great debates around the idea of a vaccine passport on Twitter ( it delivers for once )

As i mentioned, im for the vaccine, I don't think a vaccine passport is a right thing to do in any circumstance.