Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[Rooter]

I am still of the opinion that we should just crack on with it and go back to normal life

I agree to some extent Cam, but Normal as we knew it, is no more. What might make you feel a bit ropey for 24 hours, could hospitalize me as someone with a weakened immune system. I am not alone in being slightly more cautious about the whole thing.

But, I see all sides. I am very comfortable working at home, my kids are happy and I am getting paid, so restrictions don't affect me at all really. socially and economically, I actually don't mind them!

 

[ColchesterFC]

Nor did Sweden and they copoed better than us on deaths and in a different league in finances and social impact. The amount we spent is eye watering and us very conceivable that spending a fraction of that targeted on a fraction of the population could have produced a better outcome. Also the fact that when we locked down we may have been past the peak of infections. No way to be sure but we need to analyse what worked and what didn't and learn from mistakes in order to improve future actions and ensure whole societal issues are weighted appropriately

You might want to reconsider that statement. Even Anders Tegnell, the epidemiologist that drove their no lockdown policy, admits that their figures no longer stand out from other countries.

This image shows that while Sweden did better than the UK, they did much worse than the other Nordic countries for deaths (per capita). A country saying that they did better than the UK is a bit like me saying that I'm a better father than Josef Fritzel. Or a better golfer than Stephen Hawking.

 

[Captainron]

I agree to some extent Cam, but Normal as we knew it, is no more. What might make you feel a bit ropey for 24 hours, could hospitalize me as someone with a weakened immune system. I am not alone in being slightly more cautious about the whole thing.

But, I see all sides. I am very comfortable working at home, my kids are happy and I am getting paid, so restrictions don't affect me at all really. socially and economically, I actually don't mind them!

Normal as in no restrcitons on all travel, numbers in public spaces, back to work in offices, eating out, bars etc. I think masks are here for a bit along with PCR and Lat flows.

We have to get off the COVID roundabout.

 

[DanFST]

PCR's no longer needed to confirm +ve LFT.

Means the case numbers are even more useless than before.

 

[Ethan]

PCR's no longer needed to confirm +ve LFT.

Means the case numbers are even more useless than before.

The problem with testing is that some context is needed. We need to know whether tests were done for symptoms, as contacts or just for routine testing, like my son who I have just brought to school for testing before returning to school tomorrow. Positive tests will inevitably be found in all those settings, to different degrees. Because Omicron is so prevalent, the case positivity rate is probably a more useful measure than the headline positive test numbers, and the 40-odd% rate of test positivity strongly suggests that we are missing a lot of positive cases in the community. The test numbers are then rendered even less relevant when a change in the populations tested occurs, adding in some occupational group or changing the frequency of testing.

 

[DanFST]

Why would someone input their positive result into the app?

The problem with testing is that some context is needed. We need to know whether tests were done for symptoms, as contacts or just for routine testing, like my son who I have just brought to school for testing before returning to school tomorrow. Positive tests will inevitably be found in all those settings, to different degrees. Because Omicron is so prevalent, the case positivity rate is probably a more useful measure than the headline positive test numbers, and the 40-odd% rate of test positivity strongly suggests that we are missing a lot of positive cases in the community. The test numbers are then rendered even less relevant when a change in the populations tested occurs, adding in some occupational group or changing the frequency of testing.

 

[Ethan]

Why would someone input their positive result into the app?

Well, some of the tests are done by employers or schools, so the patient doesn't have a say. But you are right, there is little upside to reporting.

Even so, test positive rates are very high.

 

[PNWokingham]

You might want to reconsider that statement. Even Anders Tegnell, the epidemiologist that drove their no lockdown policy, admits that their figures no longer stand out from other countries.

This image shows that while Sweden did better than the UK, they did much worse than the other Nordic countries for deaths (per capita)
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I was quoting Sweden compared to UK. Norway and Denmark were exceptional - both very wealthy countries but no denying they coped very well on deaths from covid - not too sure of their restrictive measures to other European countries such as Spain, Italy, France, UK, Portugal etc. Sweden coped better than UK, France, the EU and their GDP and extra borrowing was miles better than all of these. But the true effects of the deaths and social issues will not be fully understood for several years. But, I was also referring to what Professor Woolhouse was saying that it may have been a better result all round if we have focused massive efforts on protecting the vulnerable from the start rather than total lockdowns. Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe impossible to prove but certaimly worth thinking about. But the amount of death and other health issues caused from the last 2 years will be with us for a couple of generations and will manifest it very deeply in all areas of society - debt and rising interest being a major facor over the coming years

 

[Bdill93]

Avoiding all unnecessary contact until after my son is born!

Do not want to miss his birth!

 

[PNWokingham]

If its true that fully vaccinated people are far less likely to transmit the virus then maybe the answer now is to do away with the need to self isolate if fully vacc'd. This would massively ease the pr3ssure on workplaces who are struggling with huge absences, and may have the added benefit of persuading a few sceptics into getting jabbed

France just annound that asymptomatic healthcare workers and those in essential services can keep on working

 

[SocketRocket]

Normal as in no restrcitons on all travel, numbers in public spaces, back to work in offices, eating out, bars etc. I think masks are here for a bit along with PCR and Lat flows.

We have to get off the COVID roundabout.

I don't believe Covid wants to play that game though.

Covid is a World wide epidemic and is only going to get worse with catastrophic consequences unless it is suppressed. Maybe you can describe what this new world with Covid will look like and how it will be better than if we manage its ability to spread unhindered.

 

[Foxholer]

I was quoting Sweden compared to UK. Norway and Denmark were exceptional - both very wealthy countries but no denying they coped very well on deaths from covid - not too sure of their restrictive measures to other European countries such as Spain, Italy, France, UK, Portugal etc. Sweden coped better than UK, France, the EU and their GDP and extra borrowing was miles better than all of these....

Very selective comparison! UK and Sweden are by no means comparable countries (except where it might suit an argument). Comparing Sweden with/to other Nordic countries is much more suitable imo and Sweden certainly didn't fare as well as them.
This article explains/challenges. https://www.businessinsider.com/swe...egy-failed-higher-death-rate-2021-8?r=US&IR=T
And you seem to be obsessed with the ongoing cost of restrictions! Just remember that premature deaths have a 'cost' too, just not as visible!

 

[SocketRocket]

France just annound that asymptomatic healthcare workers and those in essential services can keep on working

It has also announced the measures it will take with the unvaccinated.

France registered 271,000 new cases yesterday and these measures have been taken in desperation, not because they think it's the best way to operate.

 

[Captainron]

I don't believe Covid wants to play that game though.

Covid is a World wide epidemic and is only going to get worse with catastrophic consequences unless it is suppressed. Maybe you can describe what this new world with Covid will look like and how it will be better than if we manage its ability to spread unhindered.

The global nature of it means that it will never be suppressed. The handling of the pandemic is so disparate that you cannot stop it. Vaccinations and masks. That is all you can do. We have to learn to live with it.

 

[Robster59]

saw that the other day and found myself agreeing with a piece in the Guardian! A rare event and echoes a lot of what i said last year in advocating the core strategy of protecting the vulnerable while keeping as much of the economy open as possible was a better solution than long blanket lock downs

And anyone walking around over the last few months know just how well relying on people's common sense worked.

 

[hovis]

Well, some of the tests are done by employers or schools, so the patient doesn't have a say. But you are right, there is little upside to reporting.

Even so, test positive rates are very high.

I can only speak for the emergency services. We have lft and register our results on a government site and internal. Most people stopped the government one after 6 months because its a ball ache

 

[SocketRocket]

The global nature of it means that it will never be suppressed. The handling of the pandemic is so disparate that you cannot stop it. Vaccinations and masks. That is all you can do. We have to learn to live with it.

And when the Health Services become overwhelmed what happens then. Abandon the critically ill, let them get on with it?

 

[Beezerk]

The wife has had a bad cold for a couple of days, tested negative yesterday but positive today. I'm now starting to come down with similar symptoms, headache, sore throat, cold etc.
I've booked a PCR test for tomorrow morning, work won't be happy

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The wife has had a bad cold for a couple of days, tested negative yesterday but positive today. I'm now starting to come down with similar symptoms, headache, sore throat, cold etc.
I've booked a PCR test for tomorrow morning, work won't be happy

Time to binge watch a few shows ?. Line em up.

 

[PNWokingham]

Very selective comparison! UK and Sweden are by no means comparable countries (except where it might suit an argument). Comparing Sweden with/to other Nordic countries is much more suitable imo and Sweden certainly didn't fare as well as them.
This article explains/challenges. https://www.businessinsider.com/swe...egy-failed-higher-death-rate-2021-8?r=US&IR=T
And you seem to be obsessed with the ongoing cost of restrictions! Just remember that premature deaths have a 'cost' too, just not as visible!

grow up. I included reference to Nordic neighbours that did way better on deaths than Sweden and all other EU countries. But Sweden did better than the EU average and several other large EU countries on deaths and all others economically - and may have done better on many other social and other medical issues.

Of course i am obsessed by the cost of restrictions - we are all going to be for the rest of our lives. Also, losses of life to covid will likely pale into insignificance compared to the deaths from the other diseases that have gone undiagnosed over the past couple of years and the loss of severvices than could have been improved over the coming decade from some of the £400bn+ we have borrowed through this period. This and the resulting inflation surge are direct results of covid restrictions, economic contractions and spending