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

Good stuff

Things in China are getting more serious, a few hundred cases now, around 50 million people in full lockdown. Chinese New Year is round the corner and we've been told travel outside of the city you live in needs a covid test. I just came back from the mall - everyone is wearing masks on the street and I got asked for my health code at the entrance to every shop. Feels strange after everything being relaxed for so long.

my sister has had the exact same reaction to the second dose along with several of her friends (all young nurses). A rough night sleep with fever and then feeling tired next day.

She has to isolate until she gets a test result - begs the question what will happen when masses receive the second dose, will huge amounts of people have to isolate?

Breaston pensioners happy.

None of us at work isolated - just took the day off if needed and then cracked on. Bonkers that they’re making her isolate. I think they need to clarify this pretty quickly, especially as more HCW’s get their second doses in to March and beyond as otherwise they’ll have a massive self-generated staffing crisis

I’m guessing having the vaccine won’t trigger a positive on a covid test?

Though if it’s doing it’s job, it will report a positive antibody test?

Another expansion of vaccinations here at UCLH as loads of staff have had first dose and capacity opens up a bit; relatives and bubble members who meet the appropriate criteria (over 70/health or social care worker/care home resident) can be booked in by staff directly.

My partner's been organising her father's funeral - it's going to be quite different from Nine-Nights/Dead Yard, which obviously isn't possible now. It will be very stark.

He died intestate, so looking for recommendations for a good solicitor if anyone has one. Fairly straight forward, I would have thought - bank account, savings, a couple of investments and some shares, no property.

Following my random selection for the antibody test, now been invited to the Genomics C-19 research. Will be giving blood and urine that gets fully DNA'd to look at links between who gets mild and serious responses to covid. Should be quite interesting.

Had my Dad's funeral in early December. He had a fair few friends in the village where he lived, and they were keen to pay their respects, so there was a modest ceremony (huge airy church, doors open, everyone masked and fully spread out, etc...) I suppose it was somewhat stark, although it was good to be able to mark the occasion. The hardest part was, I guess, not being able to gather with family and friends afterwards to share memories... Anyway, good luck with it.

My Mum (who is 83) gets her vaccine this afternoon. Not sure what's happening with her second dose but hopefully she will hear later.

1820 deaths
xmas was a bad idea

Depressing isn't it, hospitalisations still going up as well so deaths likely to still going higher :/

Sorry to hear that. My mum died intestate, sorted it all myself without a solicitor. There is a central registry that informs HNRC , pensions, DVLA, GP etc. Saved on solicitors fee.

Mrs-ru has just had her appointment through for Monday at Guy's.

Can someone knowledgeable weigh in on the South African variant’s possible resistance to vaccines that focus on the virus’ spike?

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-preprint-reporting-that-the-south-african-sars-cov-2-variant-501y-v2-escapes-neutralisation-by-covid-19-donor-plasma/

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/new-coronavirus-variants-could-cause-more-reinfections-require-updated-vaccines

Off to Thomas' in an hour to get Mrs mashton's first dose. She is "extremely clinically vulnerable".

Woop woop!

What give me hope is the fact that forumgers folks, our vulnerable and critical staff are getting it. Its actually happening.

Keep safe ppl, we're down to home stretch!

Anyone happen to know what the deal is in NI? Trying to ask family and friends but they are just shrugging their shoulders. Googling just give sme wishy washy news articles. Both parents are late 60's but my mum gets recurring pneumonia/infections and my dad has MS so I would have thought/selfishly hoped they'd be on at least some sort of priority list.

There's been some pretty questionable advice in this thread about what to do if you have elderly relatives who haven't had their first vaccination yet. People don't seem to get that the over 80s are still being worked through and that means there are people in their 80s or 90s who are legitimately still waiting for their first jab and they haven't been forgotten.

Today on R4 had a piece on this earlier (7.51am, if you want to listen).

They had Dame Clare Gerada on who is a London-based GP and previous chair of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

She said some areas are ahead of others - her part of SE London has done just over half of their over 80s - and "Please wait, you won't have been forgotten, it's highly unlikely you're not on the GP list and you will be called probably sooner than you think."

When they asked her what they should do the first thing she said was "If you ring your GP they're inundated at the moment, please don't call your GP".

And that applies even now and even if your relative is in their 90s, nevermind 80s.

She also pointed out that there's not much point calling your GP anyway because everything is being run centrally in the primary care network not GP's surgeries...

Tl;dr - DON'T call your GP/anyone at this point, DO be patient.

Did she explain why Guys and St Thomas have actively been reaching out to communities in SE London stating over 70s can contact a number to book in?

Did she explain why Guys and St Thomas have actively been reaching out to communities in SE London stating over 70s can contact a number to book in?

Same in Suffolk Coastal.

The advice to not call your GP and some hospitals adjusting advice to specific communities aren’t mutually exclusive though.