Coronavirus COVID-19 Thread

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Thursday 8th of July:

- World: 185,291,176 confirmed cases and 4,005,079 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 4 million confirmed deaths. It is pointed out the actual number will be higher than this.

- Shares: Global markets slide as concerns grow Delta variant may stall world recovery.

- US: Cases up 11% on last week with one report saying 93% of cases occurred in counties with a less than 40% vaccination rate.

- Japan: Tokyo announces a state of emergency as cases climb which will run for the duration of the Olympics, announces the Games will occur without spectators.

- Africa: WHO warn the worst is yet to come for the Pandemic in Africa.

- Greece: Makes vaccination mandatory in some job roles but only plans to use the power if voluntary vaccination do not improve.

- Indonesia: Pharmacies across the country run out of Ivermectin, a parasite drug, as reports of its use in India, Mexico and other places yielded positive results however the drug has yet to show trial results.

- Australia: Sydney sees highest new daily cases in months at 38 as delta reaffirms its presence.

- Italy: A class-action lawsuit bought by 500 families of victims against the Italian government reaches court.

- Tanzania: A hospital in the capital city runs out of oxygen as new cases emerge.

- UK: Quarantine for fully vaccinated brits returning from travel abroad from "Amber List" countries scrapped.

- Luxembourg: Prime Minister leaves hospital following admittance and treatment for COVID-19.

 

[Bambooza]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Thursday 8th of July:

- World: 185,291,176 confirmed cases and 4,005,079 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 4 million confirmed deaths. It is pointed out the actual number will be higher than this.

- Shares: Global markets slide as concerns grow Delta variant may stall world recovery.

- US: Cases up 11% on last week with one report saying 93% of cases occurred in counties with a less than 40% vaccination rate.

- Japan: Tokyo announces a state of emergency as cases climb which will run for the duration of the Olympics, announces the Games will occur without spectators.

- Africa: WHO warn the worst is yet to come for the Pandemic in Africa.

- Greece: Makes vaccination mandatory in some job roles but only plans to use the power if voluntary vaccination do not improve.

- Indonesia: Pharmacies across the country run out of Ivermectin, a parasite drug, as reports of its use in India, Mexico and other places yielded positive results however the drug has yet to show trial results.

- Australia: Sydney sees highest new daily cases in months at 38 as delta reaffirms its presence.

- Italy: A class-action lawsuit bought by 500 families of victims against the Italian government reaches court.

- Tanzania: A hospital in the capital city runs out of oxygen as new cases emerge.

- UK: Quarantine for fully vaccinated brits returning from travel abroad from "Amber List" countries scrapped.

- Luxembourg: Prime Minister leaves hospital following admittance and treatment for COVID-19.

I read this today like it was the newscast during the first stage of a zombie apocalypse and it reads far more entertaining than depressing.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Friday 9th of July:

- World: 185,841,190 confirmed cases and 4,014,270 confirmed deaths.

- Mozambique: Countries largest hospital hits capacity and also experiences shortages of blood donation: "In this third wave, the number of volunteers who normally came to the hospital to donate blood dropped a lot and soon we will start having blood problems,"

- Netherlands: Reintroduces restrictions as infections spike in young adults.

- South Africa: Announces it has vaccine security for the first time, with 18 days of doses in stock and more on the way.

- Tunisia: Situation described by officials as "Catastrophic".

- South Korea: Restrictions in capital city strengthened as prime minister describes the condition as "Maximum crisis level"

- EU: Medicines agency announces there is a link between the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and rare cases of heart swelling, and even though very rare it is more common in young men.

- Malta: Becomes first European country to close boarders to all non-fully vaccinated travellers following rise in cases.

- France: Health Regulator recommends the mandatory vaccination of anyone with contact with the vulnerable.

- UK: Cases up 50% week on week with testing suggesting 1 in 160 people has the virus.

- UK: Government mulls reducing the sensitivity of the NHS track and trace app. Currently it is set to 2 meters for 15 minutes to register a contact. Apparently this is causing too many people to need to self isolate with confirmed infections on the rise.

- UK: Data researchers reveal in the 2020 part of the pandemic, 25 people under the age of 18 were killed by COVID-19. “These new studies show that the risks of severe illness or death from Sars-CoV-2 are extremely low in children and young people..."

- Boxing: Big fight postponed as Tyson Fury tests positive for COVID-19.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today Saturday 10th of July:

- World: 186,292,222 confirmed cases and 4,022,400 confirmed deaths.

- Origins: 21 researchers aim to set the record straight on the origin of COVID-19 by releasing a summary of the evidence they have obtained to this point: "It's not true that we don't know where it came from - we just don't know how it got into humans,"

- EU: Commission announces that it has delivered enough vaccines to account for 70% of the Blocs adult population.

- Thailand: Sees record high new daily deaths.

- Russia: Sees record high new daily deaths.

- UK: Unauthorised house party of 100 attendees sees 40 people with the organiser given instant £10,000 penalty.

- UK: Ministers mull over changing rules to allow medical staff who have been fully vaccinated to not have to isolate after coming in to contact with COVID-19, as staffing is hammered by rising cases and pressure is once again piling on to the countries Health Services - with one Health Trust estimating it will have one fifth of staff isolating within 3 weeks if current trends continue.

- UK: The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges which represents over 20 UK medical organisations warns: "There is no doubt that we will get to a position when this dangerous and erratic disease is largely under control for the population as a whole and we can 'learn to live with' Covid-19. However, we are not in that position yet and sadly, we have to expect things to get worse again."

- UK: Reports emerge Prime Minister is to pull back on "Freedom Day" rhetoric as July 19th draws near, as polling shows a majority of public opinion does not back the planned strategy of scrapping all restrictions in one go, with the Mayor of Manchester commenting: “The government is simply wrong to frame everything from here as a matter of pure personal choice. It is not. Many people who are vulnerable to the virus have to use public transport and do their food shopping in person. That is why the wearing of face coverings in these settings should have remained mandatory. I will be strongly encouraging the people of Greater Manchester to continue to wear masks on public transport out of respect for others.”

- Bangladesh: Secures 17.5 million extra doses of vaccine “We think that in coming days there will be no shortage of the vaccine, our aim is to gradually vaccinate some 80 percent of the people.”

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Sunday 11th July:

- World: 186,673,897 confirmed cases and 4,028,076 confirmed deaths.

- World: Report emerges that in March a woman died infected not only with one, but two seperate variants at the same time, Alpha and Beta. It is not yet clear if this double whammy contributed to their death however it is believed they were infected by two different people.

- UK: Vaccination centre in Hove temporarily shut down due to disruption caused by a lockdown protest inexplicably occurring at the site: "We reaffirm our city's need to keep our population safe and we won't be deterred from our important vaccination programme by the acts of cowards spreading misinformation,"

- UK: Vaccines Minister states in interview that England is moving from "You Must" legal restrictions to "You are expected to" general guidance.

- UK: Non-COVID backlog piles more pressure on National Health Service as expectations to clear it as soon as possible remain.

- US: Dr. Fauci advises although studies indicate boosters may not be needed at present they may well be needed in the fullness of time.

- Israel: To start giving boosters to vulnerable people this week.

- Australia: Sees first locally acquired COVID death this year.

- Libya: Sees record high new daily cases, implements new restrictions to counter.

- Bangladesh: Sees record high new daily cases and deaths.

- Vietnam: Sees record high new daily cases.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Monday 12th of July:

- World: 186,969,976 confirmed cases and 4,034,450 confirmed deaths.

- UK: Scientists advise they have discovered blood imbalances which they hope can make diagnosis of Long Covid easier and more reliable.

- UK: Officials confirm all restrictions will be dropped on July 19th, however appear to have learned the lesson that was Delta Variant snatching Defeat from the jaws of Victory, with messaging on restriction relaxing on the 19th of July moving from "Freedom Day" tub-thumping jingoism to a more measured "Woah, careful now".

- UK: Not entirely learning their lesson, however, officials announce restrictions will be reviewed again in September, and not on a more frequent rolling basis. It appears all reference to the dropping of measures being "irreversible" seems to have vanished, so silver linings.

- UK: Health Secretary confidently states Summer Wave will not overwhelm the NHS despite also predicting potential for 100,000 new daily cases. A peak following the final of the Euro 2020 football competition is also feared with one WHO observer saying “The Covid pandemic is not taking a break tonight … the Delta Variant will take advantage of unvaccinated people, in crowded settings, unmasked, screaming/shouting/singing. Devastating.”

- Netherlands: Prime Minister says sorry for lifting lockdown too early: “What we thought would be possible, turned out not to be possible in practice, we had poor judgement, which we regret and for which we apologise.”

- COVAX: 1.5 million J&J vaccines arrive in Nepal from the US. “We are very likely to be hit by a third wave of Covid because we have a very porous border and only a small number of people have received the vaccine,”

- COVAX: Signs deal for 110 million doses of Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. “The agreements, which come at a time when the Delta variant is posing a rising risk to health systems, will begin to make 110m doses immediately available to participants of the Covax Facility, with options for additional doses,”

- Therapeutics: Study of 75,000 medical records indicates people who'd had the Flu vaccine were significantly less likely to develop COVID to a level where they needed hospitialisation and were at less risk of severe side effects of the virus such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis and sepsis.

- Indonesia: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Vietnam: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Thailand: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Thailand: Takes decision to mix doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca amid spike in cases in a bid for better protection for more of the population.

- Africa: 16 countries have now detected cases of Delta variant.

 

[Montoya]

Hey you guys across the pond, WTF!?!

 

[Vavrik]

Hey you guys across the pond, WTF!?!

View attachment 21050

New variant called Delta. Double the infection rate of the original. There is a Delta.2 as well. AND it is here in North America.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

Hey you guys across the pond, WTF!?!

View attachment 21050

This is what I mean by "Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory".

Alpha Variant was the one which began in Kent, and the strict nothing-open-except-vital services like Supermarkets lockdowns and the vaccination drive got it back down. Lockdown was eased so almost but not all shops and leisure places were reopened, and with the vaccination drive it looked like a lid was going to be kept on it, people were not contracting or passing it on as had been...

...but then the government muddled about closing off India as a travel destination when Delta was blowing up - some theorise it's because the prime minister had a visit due there they didn't want to cancel, but cancelled it was as India became a crisis centre... But that delay imported Delta, and not just one case but multiple cases the length of the British Isles, which is exactly what a pandemic needs to seed not just an area but an entire country. It just so coincided that the Track and Trace system also had a technical issue, for two weeks, which meant local authorities didn't know they had Delta in their areas either.

Its currently ripping through the under 30's who have not been vaccinated yet. Vaccines are mercifully still efficient against Delta and have stalled the death rate because they were given to the most vulnerable first, but it has not removed the link between cases and hospitalisations - weakened it, yes, but not removed it and hospitalisations are going up too... Delta is so much more contagious and indeed with higher viral loading on initial contact is causing serious illness in the unvaccinated young who would have shrugged off Alpha without a seconds pause. One dose of a two-dose vaccine is no longer considered adequate for decent protection levels either, two to make certain.

Now Delta is the dominant variant with 99% of daily new cases. If Delta hadn't got here, who knows maybe the UK would only be seeing 1% of the numbers being infected now and we'd be singing glory all the way home?

Lets hope this rampent spread being permitted under the political slogan "we must learn to live with it" and the belief that fewer deaths = less risk doesn't result in a new UK variant that dodges the vaccines already administered. That really would be defeat snatched from the jaws of victory - for the entire world.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Tuesday 13th of July:

- World: 187,453,777 confirmed cases and 4,043,684 confirmed deaths.

- UK/World: Politicians vote to keep plan in place stifling UK's foreign aid budget because of the pandemic, keeping it down from the usual 0.7% of national income to 0.5% (a fall of £4 billion). Multiple Philanthropists from around the world step in to provide $97 million saying the finds will not save the work hit by the short fall, but will allow a cushion zone so projects can wrap up and finish current tasks rather than just turning off the tap and having their stocks of life saving drugs and other resources go to waste.

- UK: Health Service chiefs warn they are seeing Winter levels of use in mid July.

- UK: People who have health conditions which mean they can't have the vaccine ask what they are supposed to do come 19th of July when restrictions are ended. Officials advise "Don't go near anyone who has not been vaccinated." as scientists reveal one third of the population are still susceptible to Delta variant.

- UK: Government passes descension on whether to keep face masks mandatory on public transport on to individual companies to dictate for each of their services, in a very unusual display of letting business dictate public policy.

- UK: Number of pupils out of school continues to rise, with 1.5 million out last week, some isolating because of COVID, some avoiding going in to avoid the possibility of having to isolate because of COVID.

- Iraq: COVID Hospital fire kills at least 92.

- Greenland: Hotspot of infections prompts new restrictions.

- France: Public rush for vaccines as President announces tightened restrictions to only apply to unvaccinated and partially vaccinated persons.

- Algeria: To produce Russian and Chinese vaccines domestically.

- Bangladesh: To lift lockdown to allow for the countries second biggest religious festival despite cases still being on the rise.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Wednesday 14th of July:

- World: 188,077,300 confirmed cases and 4,052,876 confirmed deaths.

- WHO: Advises following nine weeks of declining deaths rates, they began to climb again last week with a 3% increase on the week before.

- China: Has administerd 1.4 billion doses of vaccine.

- UK: City mayors, many shops, hospitals and some mass public transport providers including the London Underground insist the public to keep using masks on their premises in crowded and indoor places as 19th of July draws near. Seven Councils in the North East apply to make face mask wearing legal requirement again with local powers.

- UK: North East seeing a surge in hospital admissions with many areas seeing admissions double or more than double in just one week.

- UK: Track and Trace app uninstalled by 20% of people who had installed it in the first place.

- UK: City of Coventry suspends refuse collection for at least the end of next week as staff forced to self-isolate.

- Netherlands: The extent of resurgence of COVID following fully unlocking and then relocking again becomes clear, as data reveals cases rose 500%.

- Spain: Lockdown ruled unconstitutional and anyone who had been fined for breaking rules will be able to claim a refund.

- Australia: Extends Sydney lockdown by at least 14 days.

- Iran: In the grip of a 5th wave.

- Indonesia: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Vietnam: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Russia: Sees record high new daily deaths.

- Japan: Seven workers at hotel housing the Brazilian Olympics team and staff test positive.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Thursday 15th of July:

- World: 188,718,805 confirmed cases and 4,062,394 confirmed deaths.

- Long COVID: Study finds over 200 symptoms experienced by sufferers.

- UK: Announces 48,553 new daily cases.

- UK: Data released indicates states the Track and Trace app (in contamination with the NHS) alerted half a million people in the first week of July that they had been in close enough contact with someone to need to self isolate.

- UK: The countries two largest supermarkets announce intention to keep mask requirement after they become no longer legally required after July 19th.

- UK: Small trial begins using a patients own blood to harvest white blood cells to treat lung scarring caused by COVID-19

- France: Sees record vaccination rates following announcement restrictions easing is only for vaccinated people.

- WHO: Asks China for cooperation in COVID origins investigation.

- Isle Of Man: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Africa: Sees deaths up 43% in one week "This is a clear warning sign that hospitals in the most impacted countries are reaching a breaking-point,"

- Rwanda: Announces new 10 day lockdown in response to climbing cases.

- Australia: Melbourne enters into lockdown following discovery of 18 cases.

- Singapore: Latest cluster of 54 cases linked to Karaoke bars.

- Spain: Barcelona to go back into lockdown.

 

[Radegast74]

I used to scoff at BloJo's idea of GB meaning "Global" Britain, but maybe this is what he had in mind?

England’s Covid unlocking is threat to world, say 1,200 scientists

International experts say ‘unethical experiment’ could allow vaccine-resistant variants to develop

www.theguardian.com

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Friday 16th of July:

- World: 189,239,053 confirmed cases and 4,070,341 confirmed deaths.

- US: Sees an "Extraordinary Surge" of cases as Delta makes its presence felt.

- US: To share 25 million vaccine doses with African nations: “In partnership with the African Union and Covax, the United States is proud to donate 25 million Covid-19 vaccines to 49 African countries."

- World: Government advisers of 3 nations hold an emergency summit and 1,200 scientists back letter to Medical Journal the Lancet advising that the government of Englands plans to scrap all restrictions is a dangerous and unethical experiment on the population which is a variant health threat to the whole world.

- England: Cases fall below 1 per 100 people for the first time in 6 months.

- UK: Previously the Health Secretary had estimated we'd see 50k new daily cases by unlocking day, Monday 19th July. They were wrong, because we saw that today, Friday 16th of July, with 51,870... three days ahead of schedule.

- UK: Some National Health Service staff asked to suspend planned holiday time as pressure increases.

- UK: Large scale research into 70,000+ patents reveals younger people between the ages of 19 and 49 are just as likely to develop permanent organ damage from COVID as the over 50's. That's a 40% risk. It's almost every second person who catches COVID.

- New Zealand: Prime Minister announces cooperation with nearby nations to work together to counter COVID-19. Indicates vaccine nationalism assisted in formation of variants. "For the first time in APEC’s history, leaders have come together for an extraordinary meeting focused exclusively on Covid-19 and how our region can navigate out of the worst health and economic crisis in living memory."

- France: Delta causes new daily cases to pass 10,000 again but vaccination keeps deaths rates low for now.

- France: Eiffel Tower reopens after 8 month closure.

- Hungary: To make vaccination mandatory for health workers.

- Brazil: President Bolsonaro administered to hospital for chronic 10 day bout of hiccups.

- Russia: Sees record high new daily deaths for 4th day in a row.

- Indonesia: Sees record high new daily deaths.

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

I used to scoff at BloJo's idea of GB meaning "Global" Britain, but maybe this is what he had in mind?

England’s Covid unlocking is threat to world, say 1,200 scientists

International experts say ‘unethical experiment’ could allow vaccine-resistant variants to develop

www.theguardian.com

It's almost the exact definition of this meme, isn't it:

EDIT -

This is how that cartoon strip goes, by the way:

 

[Bambooza]

It's going to be interesting to see if these new daily cases cause a similar rise in the daily deaths we have seen prior (its been about 30 days lead time on new cases to a rise in deaths). I have a feeling we will not see much of a rise in deaths as we did with the prior waves in the UK and this will be due to both those who have built up a natural immunity as well as those who have gotten the vaccine.

 

[Radegast74]

- UK: Previously the Health Secretary had estimated we'd see 50k new daily cases by unlocking day, Monday 19th July. They were wrong, because we saw that today, Friday 16th of July, with 51,870... three days ahead of schedule.

Give the Health Secretary a break, he just came down with COVID

What were you saying? Oh, yeah:

It's almost the exact definition of this meme, isn't it:

(edited because the "Quote" feature wouldn't insert the PNG of the meme)

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

Give the Health Secretary a break, he just came down with COVID

*reads news*

Spec-Tacular.

You know the saying "If one ignores the lessons of history they are doomed to repeat them?" During the early pandemic in the UK, the government heads of the COVID crisis response all caught COVID. When the people in change of protecting you from something can't even defend themselves from it, you can pretty much say they are not succeeding in their role...

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Saturday 17th of July:

- World: 189,819,083 confirmed cases and 4,079,260 confirmed deaths.

- UK: New Health Secretary, in charge of the countries crisis response to COVID-19, annouces he has contracted COVID-19 with a positive Latteral Flow Test having felt "a bit groggy", and awaits results of a PCR test. Reports indicate in recent days he visited a elderly care home, and was also in the presence of the Prime Minister yesterday. This could mean the Prime Minister is legally obliged to self isolate for 10 days having been in contact with an infected person - All restrictions are lifted in two days meaning Boris Johnson may miss his own "freedom day".

- UK: Places France back on quarantine list as Beta Variant cases reported across the water. There are concerns Beta may be able to evade vaccines more efficiantly with AstraZeneca vaccine particularly effected, following trials which discontinued its use in Africa due to low performance against Beta.

- UK: Reports 54,674 new daily cases, up 40% on last week and currently the third highest new daily case rate in the world.

- Denmark: Places the UK - except Wales - on travel red list.

- Thailand: Sees record high new daily cases and deaths.

- US: Center for Countering Digital Hate finds majority of COVID anti-vax and conspiracy theory misinformation originated from just 12 people with analysis of 812,000 social media posts showing 65% of tweets and 73% of Facebook posts originated from the "Misinformation Dozen".

- Brazil: Following policy of not holding stock for second doses, reports emerge of citizens finding it difficult to locate second vaccination jab as supplies scarce.

- Canada: Vaccination rate overtakes neighbour the USA

- Japan: Locates first case in Olympic Village, in a member of organisation staff. Games chief states: "Athletes who are coming to Japan are probably very worried. I understand that," "We are doing everything to prevent any Covid outbreaks. If we end up with an outbreak we will make sure we have a plan in place to respond."

 

[NaffNaffBobFace]

COVID Catharsis Corner - Reports from around the world from today, Sunday 18th of July.

- World: 190,250,393 confirmed cases, 4,085,933 confirmed deaths.

- World: Passes 190 million confirmed cases.

- UK: Earlier in the day the Prime Minister (UK's government Minister in charge if the Government) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (UK's government Minister in charge of the Economy) said they would not be self isolating after being in prolonged contact with the Health Secretary who had tested positive (UK's government minister in charge of the nations health systems etc) and receiving a ping from the Track and Trace service, as they were part of a "Pilot scheme" nobody had previously heard of which meant they could continue to operate as per normal but take a Lateral Flow test a day until the point they got a positive test or 10 days had passed.

- UK: Following widespread public condemnation of the decision and questions over the existence of what appears to be an exclusive VIP lane dressed up in a Pilot Project, 3 hours later (actually 157 minutes) Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer announced they would not be doing that, as it would look bad - with the Chancellor first saying: ""Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restrictive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren't the same for everyone is wrong." and the Prime Minister saying in a video statement later "We did look briefly into the idea of us taking part in the pilot scheme which allows people to test daily, but I think it’s far more important that everybody sticks to the same rules. That’s why I’m going to be self-isolating until 26 July.", missing his own widely announced Freedom Day on July 19th... so he'll be out just in time to see the initial spike in cases if one happens...

- UK: Some Schools have had to close early for Summer Break due to high numbers of students and staff off on self isolation.

- UK: Every adult in the country has now been offered the chance of vaccination with 88% of the population having taken at lest one dose and 68% with two doses.

- UK: Having been inspired by watching football fans cheering on teams in the recent Euro 2020 competition a Choir Master hires a stadium in Bath and hundreds of singers from across the country convened in socially isolated blocks of 30 people spread across the bleachers for a 90 minute singing session.

- UK: Funds provided to commence 15 different Long Covid studies.

- Japan: Two athletes have now been detected with COVID at Olympic Village.

- Australia: Poll reveals citizens believe the regional states have handles COVID-19 better than the national government response has.

- Thailand: Protesters match on Prime Ministers office to demand his resignation over handling of the pandemic response.

- Vietnam: Sees record high new daily cases.

- Nigeria: Puts six states on red alert over rise in cases.