Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[PNWokingham]

It’s what YOU and some others on here want. I suggest that it’s not for you to presume that you speak for the majority when you don’t know. As it happens you may be right. That a small percentage of the population may suffer significant inconvenience does not it seems bother you that much as long as you don’t have to wear a bleedin mask, and take an occasional test. And yes…of course…the economy. Well I cannot comment further on that.

I would have fewer concerns were I to hear Whitty and Vallance look me straight in the eye down the tv camera lens and tell me that they agree. But I haven’t. And for very obvious and incontrovertible reasons I doubt the true motives of those behind what is happening and what is proposed.

And that is, I am afraid, the bottom line. Trust or lack of it.

Swango has responded with common sense and I am out so will leave it brief. Your response is way out of order personal where I was offering logic and reasons. You warrant no further words

 

[Foxholer]

I think that is incredibly unfair.

You keep suggesting that people that are happy for restrictions to be lifted are not bothered about a small percentage of the population. And, there was no "?", so you definitely seemed to be suggesting that is how you feel. What about people that have vulnerable family members, who are happy about easing restrictions? Do they not care about their own family?

And, we just keep spinning around here. How long do you want the state to order us to wear a mask, given Covid will exist in some form or another for a very long time? And, we'll always have people that are vulnerable.

Did you skip the words 'it seems'?! It appears so, as a simple 'not the case' reply was all that's needed!

 

[Foxholer]

.... and I am out ...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Anyway sorry to break it up

https://twitter.com/x/status/1493601692826406916

 

[Swango1980]

England numbers for Sunday sneak back over 1000. Wales and NI figures, but none availble for England/Scotland still suggest 'reporting delays' mean figures possibly aren't absolutely reliable. Good trend over last week though!

Not being controversial, I genuinely don't know the answer to the following question, so interested to know.

Are the reported hospital (and even death) figures simply "people with Covid" (I.e they include people who would have been admitted to hospital anyway due to another primary medical condition). Or, are they shown only for people who would not have been in hospital if it wasn't for Covid (I.e. Covid is the primary reason they were in hospital)?

 

[Foxholer]

Not being controversial, I genuinely don't know the answer to the following question, so interested to know.

Are the reported hospital (and even death) figures simply "people with Covid" (I.e they include people who would have been admitted to hospital anyway due to another primary medical condition). Or, are they shown only for people who would not have been in hospital if it wasn't for Covid (I.e. Covid is the primary reason they were in hospital)?

Nor do I. But I suspect it's 'people with Covid'. Irrespective, the numerical trend is what's important.

 

[RichA]

Not being controversial, I genuinely don't know the answer to the following question, so interested to know.

Are the reported hospital (and even death) figures simply "people with Covid" (I.e they include people who would have been admitted to hospital anyway due to another primary medical condition). Or, are they shown only for people who would not have been in hospital if it wasn't for Covid (I.e. Covid is the primary reason they were in hospital)?

This might answer most of your questions...
"Covid deaths in UK continue to fall"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60388805

 

[Swango1980]

Nor do I. But I suspect it's 'people with Covid'. Irrespective, the numerical trend is what's important.

The reason I asked is that, if it simply just that they happen to have Covid, could it not be misleading. We know the latest variant is much more transmissable, and testing it also better, so it would stand to reason many more would have Covid if comparing to the past.

However, I guess it is OK looking at short term trends, rather than comparing the numbers, for example to those at the start of the pandemic or when other variants were dominant.

 

[Foxholer]

The reason I asked is that, if it simply just that they happen to have Covid, could it not be misleading. We know the latest variant is much more transmissable, and testing it also better, so it would stand to reason many more would have Covid if comparing to the past.

However, I guess it is OK looking at short term trends, rather than comparing the numbers, for example to those at the start of the pandemic or when other variants were dominant.

Notwithstanding my hatred of 'not' in questions...It depends what is being measured. Trends like the reduction in hospitalisation, irrespective of whether it's 'because of' or 'with' Covid are still valid.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I see Wales are due to offer all 5-11 year olds covid jabs.... For those of us with kids in that age group, how do you feel about this eventually being offered to you?

For my son me and the Mrs are 100% on this one, no chance is he having it.

 

[Foxholer]

I see Wales are due to offer all 5-11 year olds covid jabs.... For those of us with kids in that age group, how do you feel about this eventually being offered to you?

For my son me and the Mrs are 100% on this one, no chance is he having it.

Why not?
To me (with no evidence), they are now likely to be/become the major spreaders!

 

[Ethan]

I see Wales are due to offer all 5-11 year olds covid jabs.... For those of us with kids in that age group, how do you feel about this eventually being offered to you?

For my son me and the Mrs are 100% on this one, no chance is he having it.

The risk to a preteen from Covid is small, but not zero. That risk includes the unseen effects which are now becoming a matter of concern, for adults and kids. It isn't just the risk of a serious acute illness. The risk of the vaccine is even smaller, hence the benefit-risk ratio is favourable. The dose used is much smaller than the adult dose.

If you think you know the right answer 100%, in either direction, you have not reached a balanced view.

 

[drdel]

Err, aren't you highhandedly dictating to me?

Yup...

 

[ColchesterFC]

The reason I asked is that, if it simply just that they happen to have Covid, could it not be misleading. We know the latest variant is much more transmissable, and testing it also better, so it would stand to reason many more would have Covid if comparing to the past.

However, I guess it is OK looking at short term trends, rather than comparing the numbers, for example to those at the start of the pandemic or when other variants were dominant.

The last set of figures I saw, from a couple of weeks ago, was that those in intensive care beds WITH Covid accounted for just over 50% of the total, and those in intensive care FOR or BECAUSE of Covid was just under 50%. So a little over half of those in intensive care were primarily being treated for something else but had tested positive for Covid. That's not to say that having Covid wasn't complicating their treatment but simply that their primary reason for being there wasn't Covid. Not sure how that's changed recently.

 

[SammmeBee]

Jeez….just go out, do whatever you feel comfortable with….go where you feel comfortable, not where you don’t….stay outside, go inside, maybe a mask and maybe not but just get on with it.

FYI….I wear a mask in most settings but am happy to sit in the pub when needed….I have people who are old/vulnerable….I go see them, drop stuff off, help them out but don’t do too close…..

 

[Foxholer]

The last set of figures I saw, from a couple of weeks ago, was that those in intensive care beds WITH Covid accounted for just over 50% of the total, and those in intensive care FOR or BECAUSE of Covid was just under 50%. So a little over half of those in intensive care were primarily being treated for something else but had tested positive for Covid. That's not to say that having Covid wasn't complicating their treatment but simply that their primary reason for being there wasn't Covid. Not sure how that's changed recently.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to extrapolate those percentages a month or so earlier imo. I'd also consider that a sizeable number of those 'with Covid' are in there because Covis is exacerbating their other issues - so pretty much 'because of Covid' and not to be ignored entirely. Again, if, as likely, the percentages match, it makes no odds about numbers to ignore - unless trying to 'manipulate' numbers! It likely wouldn't be the same across a variant boundary though.

 

[D-S]

The last set of figures I saw, from a couple of weeks ago, was that those in intensive care beds WITH Covid accounted for just over 50% of the total, and those in intensive care FOR or BECAUSE of Covid was just under 50%. So a little over half of those in intensive care were primarily being treated for something else but had tested positive for Covid. That's not to say that having Covid wasn't complicating their treatment but simply that their primary reason for being there wasn't Covid. Not sure how that's changed recently.

Here is an article from today on the BBC website which, at least partially, throws some light on this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60388805

 

[road2ruin]

I see Wales are due to offer all 5-11 year olds covid jabs.... For those of us with kids in that age group, how do you feel about this eventually being offered to you?

For my son me and the Mrs are 100% on this one, no chance is he having it.

We’ve discussed it and for the time being it’s a no, she’ll (7yrs) not have it. She’s had the virus so will have natural immunity and to be honest came through it unscathed so we’re going to hold fire on any vaccine.

I don’t feel it’s wrong that any other parents decide that they want theirs to get done. Personal decision imo.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

Without sounding flippant as I do appreciate your situation but do you not have confidence in the vaccine? Given that the present variant is ‘milder’ for most and your family would be triple jabbed aren’t they at a point where they have to decide to get out? It’s highly likely that they’ll contract Covid at some point and, so far, the vaccine has proved highly effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalisation amongst the vulnerable.

With regards the lifting of restrictions, even if you got your way and they were kept for the next 6 months there will still become a point where they will be lifted and, probably come winter, they will be faced with exactly the same challenges. I know it’s not an easy situation however you’re not going to be able to enforce mandatory isolation especially given that so many simply couldn’t afford to do so.

Rumours are that free tests are to end from next week so that really makes the publishing of Covid figures redundant.

I can see a lot of points on both "sides", but re your first paragraph, -
Where do you see the people who are subject of the death figures, if they are not the ones you describe, I.e the vulnerable?
Do you seriously believe that some of the vulnerable who have been fully jabbed are not amongst those figures? Yes, some vulnerable have had it easier because of the jabs, but I suspect not as easy as your post reads
.It doesn't cost a lot to delay (till spring) lifting the present requirements - then the figures drop sharply, those summer months will buy time to lessen viral loads of those infected, build herd immunity and then when next winter begins we'll all be in a stronger place.
Abandoning measures still in the middle of winter when most gatherings are still indoors is surely unwise?
Yes, it has to happen soon, but there is a hell of a difference between February and April.

 

[Ethan]

Some early data from Japan showing that in lab tests, the new BA.2 variant of omicron is both more contagious and more pathogenic than the currently prevalent BA.1 variant. It also appears to be potentially more vaccine resistant.

There was a news story earlier this week in which a leading UK virologist reminded us that viruses do not necessarily get less virulent with evolution, a point I have made here before.