Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[Ethan]

This seems to be a circle of some people saying ‘not yet’ and others who insist on interpreting that as meaning ‘forever’.

The idea is to hold off until case numbers are low enough so that increasing exposure by reducing measures does not cause cases to significantly rise again. The idea that everybody is going to get it so may as well get it now is both wrong and dangerous and can only be said by people who think it’s just a cold. It isn’t.

 

[Swango1980]

This seems to be a circle of some people saying ‘not yet’ and others who insist on interpreting that as meaning ‘forever’.

The idea is to hold off until case numbers are low enough so that increasing exposure by reducing measures does not cause cases to significantly rise again. The idea that everybody is going to get it so may as well get it now is both wrong and dangerous and can only be said by people who think it’s just a cold. It isn’t.

What should the number of new cases be though?

I've not been keeping track, but just had a quick look and it seems the number of new cases now are pretty much 1/3 of what they were at start of January. The rate of decline looks huge. Although still generally high compared to all periods within the pandemic, the number of tests done must be monumentally higher. We have gone from pretty much no tests, to tests for those who have symptoms to pretty much everyone can walk into a chemist and get lateral flow tests when they please. I bet loads of companies have asked staff to do these regularly as part of health and safety, ours has. So, the number of new cases may not be all that high at all, if we had the same level.of testing throughout.

And, for those that do get Covid, it does appear the symptoms are significantly less severe than had they been infected in 2020.

As others have said life already feels like it is completely back to normal. Shake hands after golf, eat and drink in club house, no masks, etc. Yet it appears case numbers are still on a sharp decline.

 

[SocketRocket]

So your date for easing restrictions is never? I assume most of those who die of flu each year fall into the vulnerable category too, so masks in crowded areas, social distancing, table service only, rule of six etc.etc. will need to remain in place indefinitely otherwise we are not ‘a civilised, caring society “.

Without wanting to keep going around in circles here you keep ignoring a few points.

No one is suggesting we continue with Covid precautions 'for ever' that's been clarified over again. From my perspective now is a bit too soon, that's all.

It has been explained in detail a number of times that Covid isn't the same as Flu, it has the potential to be very much more damaging to people's long term health.

I accept there needs to be some balance and agree we don't want to have these precautions longer than necessary.

 

[Hobbit]

Without wanting to keep going around in circles here you keep ignoring a few points.

No one is suggesting we continue with Covid precautions 'for ever' that's been clarified over again. From my perspective now is a bit too soon, that's all.

It has been explained in detail a number of times that Covid isn't the same as Flu, it has the potential to be very much more damaging to people's long term health.

I accept there needs to be some balance and agree we don't want to have these precautions longer than necessary.

Not disputing your points but would highlight something that I feel we all need a better understanding. People almost always say Covid this and Covid that… which Covid? The current version is highly transmissible but not as deadly to the majority. Previous versions were not quite as transmissible but more deadly.

Whatever decision is reached should be based on how dangerous the variant, not it’s Covid. I feel there’s too many people basing their belief on it’s Covid, not it’s this variant or that variant.

 

[Ethan]

What should the number of new cases be though?

I've not been keeping track, but just had a quick look and it seems the number of new cases now are pretty much 1/3 of what they were at start of January. The rate of decline looks huge. Although still generally high compared to all periods within the pandemic, the number of tests done must be monumentally higher. We have gone from pretty much no tests, to tests for those who have symptoms to pretty much everyone can walk into a chemist and get lateral flow tests when they please. I bet loads of companies have asked staff to do these regularly as part of health and safety, ours has. So, the number of new cases may not be all that high at all, if we had the same level.of testing throughout.

And, for those that do get Covid, it does appear the symptoms are significantly less severe than had they been infected in 2020.

As others have said life already feels like it is completely back to normal. Shake hands after golf, eat and drink in club house, no masks, etc. Yet it appears case numbers are still on a sharp decline.

Hospitalisations are not 1/3 what they were on 1 Jan. Daily admissions still too high. 1395 yesterday. Less than 1000 for a few days on a row would be better. Case numbers have fallen as testing has fallen. Real case numbers now more disproportionately higher than in official stats than they were before.

Also little consideration of non-fatal longer term effects of Covid. Those are going to bite us in the ass in the medium term.

 

[Swango1980]

Hospitalisations are not 1/3 what they were on 1 Jan. Daily admissions still too high. 1395 yesterday. Less than 1000 for a few days on a row would be better. Case numbers have fallen as testing has fallen. Real case numbers now more disproportionately higher than in official stats than they were before.

Also little consideration of non-fatal longer term effects of Covid. Those are going to bite us in the ass in the medium term.

When will we know the longer term effects? 10, 20, 30 years from now? Would it be safer to keep restrictions until after that, when we know what they are?

 

[Swango1980]

Not disputing your points but would highlight something that I feel we all need a better understanding. People almost always say Covid this and Covid that… which Covid? The current version is highly transmissible but not as deadly to the majority. Previous versions were not quite as transmissible but more deadly.

Whatever decision is reached should be based on how dangerous the variant, not it’s Covid. I feel there’s too many people basing their belief on it’s Covid, not it’s this variant or that variant.

Yeah, I believe Spanish Flu still exists, but it isn't doing the same damage it did a century ago

 

[DanFST]

Socket are you retired?

Somone smarter than me please explain, I’ve already had covid, multiple times. The long term damage is already in place right? Or does it increase with every infection?

 

[Ethan]

When will we know the longer term effects? 10, 20, 30 years from now? Would it be safer to keep restrictions until after that, when we know what they are?

Sigh. No, the point is to reduce cases now to save problems later. Not wait 30 years. Back to the 'not now' = 'forever' theme, it seems.

 

[Ethan]

Socket are you retired?

Somone smarter than me please explain, I’ve already had covid, multiple times. The long term damage is already in place right? Or does it increase with every infection?

Hopefully no damage has been done. A number of studies have been done where people who had recovered have had scans of their heart, brain, liver, kidney, you know, the important bits, and damage has been observed that was never symptomatic, but was typical of the inflammatory effects of Covid. There have also been reports of a higher incidence of Type 1 Diabetes (the immunological one) in kids leading to a higher than expected prevalence. This is though to be inflammatory damage of Covid on the pancreas.

This is one, although there are others, reason why the 'Its just a cold' brigade is wrong.

My advice - try not to get Covid, even mild cuddly omicron. Try not to give it to others too.

 

[Deleted member 25172]

Without wanting to keep going around in circles here you keep ignoring a few points.

No one is suggesting we continue with Covid precautions 'for ever' that's been clarified over again. From my perspective now is a bit too soon, that's all.

It has been explained in detail a number of times that Covid isn't the same as Flu, it has the potential to be very much more damaging to people's long term health.

I accept there needs to be some balance and agree we don't want to have these precautions longer than necessary.

???

How many posts you got in this thread about this? 1,000+? 2,000?

 

[SocketRocket]

Socket are you retired?

Somone smarter than me please explain, I’ve already had covid, multiple times. The long term damage is already in place right? Or does it increase with every infection?

In reply to the question you asked me. Im not sure what being retired has to do with this debate. It's a little insulting to suggest that I cannot form a detached view of a subject or I am so far into my senility that I'm blind to how younger people may be affected by Covid.

So bearing in mind these considerations and with due respect, it's nothing to do with you.

 

[SocketRocket]

???

How many posts you got in this thread about this? 1,000+? 2,000?

It's a debate on a Forum. You may be surprised by this but people contributing is the way it works. ?

 

[Deleted member 25172]

It's a debate on a Forum. You may be surprised by this but people contributing is the way it works. ?

You’re absolutely right, and I do look forward to 2025 when we’ll still be able to read your posts about keeping some restrictions in place. Just as a precaution, of course.

 

[D-S]

Good to see patients admitted to hospital drop below a thousand in today’s numbers.

 

[SocketRocket]

You’re absolutely right, and I do look forward to 2025 when we’ll still be able to read your posts about keeping some restrictions in place. Just as a precaution, of course.

Twaddle ?

 

[Foxholer]

Good to see patients admitted to hospital drop below a thousand in today’s numbers.

Not checked, but that could well be because it's the weekend - where stats can (and have) been a bit 'unreliable'. Monday stats have often been distorted as they 'catch up'. Tuesday to Friday stats are more reliable.

 

[Foxholer]

Twaddle ?

Tut tut!
How can a comment (not even an opinion - the sarcasm doesn't count) containing no facts at all, be so described!
Great word though isn't it!

 

[SocketRocket]

Tut tut!
How can a comment (not even an opinion - the sarcasm doesn't count) containing no facts at all, be so described!
Great word though isn't it!

Yes, it's not bad even for you ?

It's 'twaddle' due to its forecast not having any substance to support it other than sarcasm.

 

[D-S]

Not checked, but that could well be because it's the weekend - where stats can (and have) been a bit 'unreliable'. Monday stats have often been distorted as they 'catch up'. Tuesday to Friday stats are more reliable.

Well as you haven’t checked today’s reported number for England is Friday’s number 11-2-22, not a weekend. The previous Friday was 1186, this Friday it was 996.