Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Finger prick blood sample, onto the test with an included pipette, then add flow solution, wait 15 mins. All done at home.
I showed G (longer term) antibodies, but nothing on the M (shorter term ones).
I had covid in March and the test was late October.

I don't think the demographic on our street can afford second homes, it's more a retreat to the parents in the home counties kinda vibe ;)

Had a commercial finger prick one in May but they've since been widely criticised, so not sure how much I can rely on that result and it wasn't broken down into M and G or anything.

We're taking part in the Queen Mary University of London Covidence research though, so we're due to get a credible antibody test soon, which should be interesting.

As I understand it though the only way to really know is to also get a T cell test, which don't seem to be widely available.

Thanks!

To give people an idea of how much genome analysis the UK does compared to the rest of the world, apparently the UK identified 120,000 of the 270,000 known global Covid-19 mutations.

I'm not suggesting that blockading us is a bad idea, its more that I really do think that it is more likely than not that this mutation has jumped to the rest of the world in the course of the last 3 months since it was identified.

My parent’s little village in Suffolk has three second homes in it owned by Londoners (amusingly including Laura K from the BBC). Two are occupied as of the weekend (not Laura K’s) and two sets of adult children have just arrived from London to one of them. I’ve not seen my folks for 3 months. Sigh.

There were plenty of disclaimers about the accuracy with it, but I was also pretty certain I had it early on. Can't be 100% sure through, obv.

Just to provide some anecdotal evidence in support of the blockade: here in Amsterdam, there are (or were before the weekend) still groups of UK tourists arriving, clearly not quarantining on arrival, going from coffee shop to supermarket to takeaway place. I was imagining that it would only increase around christmas / new year. Indeed the mutated strain has already been found here, but I can imagine that not blocking UK travellers would lead to a lot more of this new strain. Netherlands is already in a bit of a precarious place (thank you Black Friday) so they're keen to keep it as locked down as possible.

As I said, not in any way suggesting that the blockade is not necessary, but my hunch based on my anecdata (and bolstered by yours) is that this particular horse has already bolted the stable.

Feeling your anger. Hope your Mum is OK.

Blood taken once a month, and I haven’t shown antibodies

Mine has been rubber band round the arm, needle in and blood collected in a phial.

In escape from London news I've just had rapid swab test. If we are positive the fun starts. Fuck knows what we can do.

PM doing another press conference today.

Mind me asking where? Was it Stokey? Heard the queue is crazy.

Went to a private place in Angel as we don't have symptoms. just a precaution to put us at ease as we will be back with Mrs G's mum.
small que, you can book online slot.

Really useful twitter thread from an epidemiologist on the new Covid variant.

It explains some of the confusion around which countries have seen similar mutations.

Edit: Also adds weight to the possibility that other countries just haven't found this mutation yet.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1340916688624250880

Most people round here have second homes.

Yes, I rode past it on Saturday. I was surprised because I thought it was only due to open today, but the queue was a long way along Church Street towards the park.

this makes me rage

Yeah.

Reminds me, Back in November some of the locals obviously got pissed off enough to call the snitch line, but plod knocked on my parent’s door instead to ask “are you from London”. I think my folks saw the funny side after getting over the heart failure of a 10pm police visit and assuming I was dead

A glaring problem with the way we are communicating about the virus has just dawned on me while reading the papers today: they often refer to the virus as if it has a mind of its own. ‘The virus has spread to lower tier areas.’ Etc. (Not a direct quote but I’ve seen very similar.)

The media could be more accurate in attributing growth of the virus to individual action. The virus isn’t moving itself; people are moving the virus. Just a thought.

Maybe because infections are going through the roof and hospitals are on the edge of being maxed out?

Yes, this is what's happening. Expected to peak over the next 2 weeks.

The virus isn’t moving itself; people are moving the virus.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/258761/?offset=125#comment15694979

The virus isn’t moving itself; people are moving the virus.

Just like saying the driver got injured because the car lost control.

Wouldn't it be nice if the Daily Mail for example told their readership to stop being fucking idiots and care more about themselves and others.
Not sure it would be good for business however...