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

Shouldn't they have been awesome?

“We now know that 61 of the results were positive and 531 negative,” the Dutch health authority (GGD) said in a statement.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/nov/27/covid-news-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-countries-rush-to-impose-travel-bans-on-southern-africa?page=with:block-61a209bb8f08de86f451cf17#block-61a209bb8f08de86f451cf17

The idea that the UK is in a better position than other countries is also nonsense.

There can't be that many people left in the UK who haven't had Covid.

Possibly good news about Omicron from South African Medical Association.

Seems like it causes only very mild disease in vaccinated people. If it out-competes Delta, it may even be a good thing?

Immunity wanes.

This would be nice if true, but as the article says, it'll be a while before we know for sure.

There can't be that many people left in the UK who haven't had Covid.

Looks around nervously

Wouldn't it be prudent to ban flights from South Africa if you don't know how dangerous it is ?

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Not if you want other countries to be as open about future variants as SA has been this time, only to be punished for it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59440314

Case rate is high in NI. But not that much higher than ROI where vaccination rates are much higher.

Now we know vaccination cuts transmission 40% and hospitalisation 80% but it's just puzzling to me rates on the island of Ireland are so much higher than England.

Stricter measures so less reinfection/deaths earlier in pandemic causing problems now?
The wet weather?

It's mostly spreading in schools ATM here...

I wonder if he lurks on here!

Anyone having lft problems? It seems like recent batches have too little liquid in the vial so after stirring the swab and squeezing it out it's impossible to get a single drop let alone two. Means start again. Happened to me a few times & my partner too.

Shit technique maybe?

Same here, have to really milk the liquid off the swab by really squeezing the plastic tube. Flow flex I think they are?

Had exactly the same thing. Had to use 2 lots of extraction buffer a couple of times to make the test usable, although I wonder if that affects the test…

Recently the swabs have been different, more absorbent. But if you actually pinch the plastic tube properly you can get enough out. The earlier ones cracked if you pinched the tube, so I did the same had to redo or double up a few times until I realised.

Same this morning. Glad I'm not alone.

Reassured that it's probably a combo of kit issues plus technique issues. Will persevere.

some intensive care patients airlifted to other areas where there are still beds for them

I heard that Luxembourg got some cases brought in. From memory last year we only got them from France. That said, we only have two local cases in ICU at the moment so I guess it's best to use the space. Then again, with Omicron and an influx of tourists and people stuffing their faces at the Xmas markets, I guess we're going to have a big increase in cases so maybe we'll need the ICU beds too...

Also.... since the Xmas markets opened, the R-rate here has gone from 1.04 to 1.17. Could be coincidence I suppose...

The idea that the UK is in a better position than other countries is also nonsense. It doesn't have a significant vaccination advantage any more

That's not really true. I agree that we should be being more careful and the recent period of 'wear a mask if you feel like it' was utterly ridiculous, for example. Trying to get everyone to wear masks again just isn't going to happen IMO, the horse is out of the door and the stable has well and truly bolted.

But. The UK has given 46 million second doses (80.4% of the population). And the booster programme is delayed but underway and it's meant to be speeding up further now as a result of this nu virus. And on immunity waning - vaccine created immunity lasts longer than disease acquired immunity.

Compare this with Germany - 66% (as of three weeks ago, couldn't find more up-to-date figures) and a 'pandemic of the unvaccinated'.

And that's just countries in western Europe and the global north. So we are in a better position than a lot of countries, it just has little to do with our political leadership or their stupid decisions.

Compare this with Germany - 66% (as of three weeks ago, couldn't find more up-to-date figures) and a 'pandemic of the unvaccinated'.

So, the difference is just 2% in the double vaccinated? That's not particularly material.

No, it was 75% in August in the UK. It's strangely hard to find % figures, unless it's my google fu.

Edit: 80.4% https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

the horse is out of the door and the stable has well and truly bolted

One for the pedants, made me laugh.

I hope you’re not right, it’s such a simple thing to do with proven benefit. Watching “Saj” squirm on the Marr show this morning trying to dodge confirming that masks were now mandatory was hilarious.

Because I've been off the bike for ages due to an operation I've had to get the Chingford to Liverpool St train when I go into the office. Hardly anyone wears masks and I'd put money on that not significantly changing on Tuesday morning.

(IMO) A lot of people just wanted to get back to normal. 'Bore off Covid'. Boris gave them what they wanted and I don't believe they're going to give it up now, even if Omnicron turns out to be at least as bad as Delta.

I'm not into Marr but if they are trying to dodge even admitting it's now a thing that's not exactly going to encourage people is it.

Today is the day Canada’s vaccine mandate for Federally regulated businesses takes effect. No vax, GTFO!
A lot of antivaxxers have been yapping about it since it was announced. It’s going to be interesting to see how many stick to their word and don’t show up, and how many get vaxxed to keep their job.

In Queensland they've mandated vaccinations for government, health, aged care and disability workers... Cut off date is 15th December, vaccination rates are going up again with the deadline looming...

If omicron gets big we won't have a choice anymore, rich nations will have to start vaccinating the rest of the world so they can get back to some kind of normal...