Good luck with it!
I’m asthmatic and therefore on the essential list, but still had to go through a battery of questions from the Dr’s receptionist. KJ02 is having here’s next week.
Interesting that @kryton57 - I had my annual asthma review with the nurse the other day and I always get my flu jab at the same time. I think my surgery are particularly good at this stuff, whilst I often hear others really struggle for appointments never mind actual treatments etc.
Vitamin D trial, looking for 5000 volunteers.
I've been taking supplements since March.
I know it's only anecdotal, but while it might stop you getting Covid19, it does not seem to stop you getting old and fat from eating too much and not cycling enough.
Been taking 5000iu of vit D3 ( cholecalciferol)) for a few years and so has my mum, bro, friends (2000iu), its not really a vit per se, more akin to a hormone that aids in regulating the immune system.
Looks like Operation Moonunit and it’s objective to test a gazillion people a day is being quirky shelved. Well, who’d have thunk it?
Instead, we’ll just have to rely on Serco, who are doing such a great job
You really couldn’t make it up
Looks like Operation Moonunit and it’s objective to test a gazillion people a day is being quirky shelved.
From that article:
But sources said the pilot scheme was struggling to persuade even 250 Salfordians to provide saliva samples.
I can't think why they would be reluctant to have the opportunity to spend 2 weeks at home if they get tested positive.
Once you start thinking that T&T is only finding a fraction of the people who are positive, you choosing to stay at home isn't actually going to make any difference, so why bother?
Also, eyetests.
somafunk - that is a mnassive dose of vit d which can cause issues.
I take supplements on medical advice but even the 800iu I take a day is above the recommended. I would however suggest everyone in northern europe should be taking vit d at least in winter
Keir Starmer calling for this supposed "circuit breaker" lockdown - actually quite a good move at this point as he knows he's got the science on his side and also that the Government are flailing around cluelessly and will probably have to go down that route at some point thus allowing him to say it was Labour's policy.
Question is of course, how well it'll be observed and enforced...?
It feels like it's coming doesn't it? I hope not, I really hope the other measures start to control the virus again but I don't see it as likely
somafunk – that is a mnassive dose of vit d which can cause issues.
I have MS (as does somafunk I think) and my neuro told me to take 10000 IU a week, there are some possible links between vit d and the condition. From what I've read taking a lot of vitamin d typically isn't an issue, maybe if you also have a high calcium intake?
On the flu jab, my partner rang our gp surgery yesterday and we're both booked in for the jab today.
but even the 800iu I take a day is above the recommended
No it isn't, it's near the top end of what docs would routinely 'scribe is all. 1000iu is a plenty normal dose, and in obese folk, or folk nor routinely in the sun, or post menopausal women, anywhere from 1100-3000 is OK.
Interesting that @kryton57 – I had my annual asthma review with the nurse the other day and I always get my flu jab at the same time. I think my surgery are particularly good at this stuff, whilst I often hear others really struggle for appointments never mind actual treatments etc.
To be fair that usually happens for me. Our receptionist is a bit of jobsworth, and I was at the point of sternly telling her she is not a Doctor so kindly piss off, but tried to give her the benefit of the doubt due to the current situation.
Anyway, I see Liverpudlians had a great time dancing in the streets together last night, I hope they are proud of themselves whilst the local hossie reports patients already waiting in corridors for treatment as it’s over capacity.
chvck
There does seem to be some link but as yet unexplained and you are right in that huge does of vit d are not that dangerous.
600iu a day is rda ( which includes dietary vit d.) IIRC
Side effect from huge doses are unlikely but possible - however given the severity potentially of MS the balance of risk seems reasonable to me and of course you are likely to know rather more than me 🙂
I merely made the point because high dose vit d is not without risk
Did anyone notice the slide from the briefing on Monday that had estimated infections by age group with the 10 to 19 years old out the top. The secondary school teachers will all have it soon if not now if that's correct.
10-19 is not a particularly helpful age group - it's hard to know if that just reflects the explosion of cases at universities. I'd rather have it broken down into primary/secondary/tertiary figures.
It just suprised me as the teachers were constantly told that school children are less likely to be infected and that schools are covid secure what ever that means.
And secondary is 11 to 18 so covers most of the range.
The secondary school teachers will all have it soon if not now if that’s correct.
We are protected by magic, unless in Northern Ireland, they got the spell wrong and are closing on Monday.
10-19 is not a particularly helpful age group –
As ever with Tory incompetence its hard to work out if its real or if the are actually thinking about it.
It doesn't seem to be as bad in schools as it is in university areas. Our local school has probably had 15 cases out of thousand kids (each requiring anything from a handful of pupils to a whole year group to be sent home). Not heard of any staff getting it. Contrast that with Manchester university accomodation and the infection rates are way down. Big difference is the students arent going into lectures and have loads of unsupervised free time day and night where as school kids do have some controls on them during the day and are more likely to be isolated at night.
Also bear in mind many schools now only go up to 16, colleges which are more akin to university from a social mixing perspective seem to be the norm in the North West. So a lot of that 10 to 19 age range arent at school.
New positive cases at Manchester Uni have dropped right off by the way. The rising figures of the last few days in that age category isn’t down to the students there in any way. And most Uni students fall outside that age bracket anyway.
It was a slide put by whitty on Monday. It got my attention as all the noise was about university students and not secondary school. I think one of the reasons for the university students spike is it seems alot of the universities have onsite testing and are encouraging students to be tested.
Anyone had a mobile test centre at a school.
New positive cases at Manchester Uni have dropped right off by the way
True, there's a limit to the numbers obviously, but it's also true that it's gone through the student body 'like a dose' as one of my partner's colleagues pointed out last week, and wedded to the fact that the MU student accommodation is in South Manchester, near Moss-side, with some of the highest population of elderly BAME residents. So thumbs up for managing to be super spreaders to a population that's at the top of the charts for COVID death.
Not heard of any staff getting it.
I have heard of quite a few and the local news outlets assume its pupils.
Keir Starmer calling for this supposed “circuit breaker” lockdown – actually quite a good move at this point as he knows he’s got the science on his side and also that the Government are flailing around cluelessly and will probably have to go down that route at some point thus allowing him to say it was Labour’s policy.
Question is of course, how well it’ll be observed and enforced…?
The Tories are hauling him over the coals for playing politics with Covid, of course he's only recommending what the Governments own advisers are saying.
Frankly, I have very high hopes for him, but so far, apart from a few digs at PMQs he's been a bit quiet and vague, it's about time he offered an opposition.
Sadly, KS coming out and saying we need it, pretty much kills any change of BJ actually doing it, better to be wrong than look weak.
However, should they actually do it, I wouldn't say it would be easy as such, but they would have to close all be essentials shops again, shut pubs, schools, restaurants etc. I won't stop the hardcore covidiots having a party, but nothing is going to stop them, and at least it does make it easier to enforce, should the Police decide they want to / are able to.
It just suprised me as the teachers were constantly told that school children are less likely to be infected and that schools are covid secure what ever that means.
It's surprising when politicians are economical with the truth, isn't it? The term 'no evidence of' has done a lot of heavy lifting during this pandemic. Normally means that they haven't specifically looked for it, or that track and trace isn't very good at spotting it.
It's 'possible' that younger children aren't as good at passing it on as older ones, but I wouldn't be all that confident this was the case.
I've had 2 or possibly 3 colds so far this term. The only possible source is my teenage children, who do not mix with anyone except at school.
So a lot of that 10 to 19 age range arent at school.
When they discuss the ranges at the press briefings, they often point out that the cases in the 10-19 range are concentrated in 16-19 yr olds
It doesn’t seem to be as bad in schools as it is in university areas. Our local school has probably had 15 cases out of thousand kids (each requiring anything from a handful of pupils to a whole year group to be sent home).
Agreed, I can only base this on my own experiences, but.
In my Son's school there are 3500 students, it's the largest school in Wales, it's also situated in the 2nd highest risk area Cardiff (after RCT). So far this year there has been 4 cases. None amongst staff. In the first two weeks of school there was no SD enforced, no masks, it was pretty much 'Business as Usual' apart from Teachers wearing visors. There has been no documents cases of Covid spreading from student to student.
We have a large Student Population in Cardiff (55k students and 4 separate Unis have sites in the City), RCT up the road also has a large Student Population, collectively we have the highest number of covid cases in Wales. The number of cases jumped suddenly here as the Students returned in September and it's been high ever since.
In neighbouring Vale of Glam which has a huge number of people who commute into Cardiff for work, but doesn't have any Universities, there has been a much lower surge in cases, it's hardly risen at all. Also, Caerphilly, which was the first area in Wales to go into a local lock-down, but also doesn't have a Uni campus, despite sitting between Cardiff and RCT and again has a large number of people who commute into Cardiff every day, cases fell quite quickly once lockdown was established, and have stayed relatively low since.
Whilst we're only around 6 weeks into this surge, thankfully there are only 3 patients in ITU in the whole or Cardiff and neighbouring Vale for Covid and 29 people in Hospital. Infections, were at least until recently staying within a younger, fitter demographic which kept admissions low. It will probably spread to the wider community eventually, but I have no doubt in my mind, it was the Unis returning that sparked the surge here.
somafunk – that is a mnassive dose of vit d which can cause issues.
I take supplements on medical advice but even the 800iu I take a day is above the recommended. I would however suggest everyone in northern europe should be taking vit d at least in winter
I was about to say, 5000iu is alot! I've read that max should be 4000iu, however doctors are saying 400iu is sufficient. Im take 800 in supplements having read that long term massive doses don't do you much good.
I originally bought some soft gels, but a single dose was 2500iu so stopped using them. I now have about 1000 of them in a jar at back of cupboard.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-54535481
And then people complain when they are placed under restrictions..
Beggars belief..
5 students and one teacher at my lads 6th form college. 1 student and 1 pupil at my daughter's secondary school, and a lad in her class waiting for a test result. Some of her gymnastics squad are isolating due to possible contacts.
Feels like it's edging closer....
And then people complain when they are placed under restrictions..
Beggars belief..
It's inexplicable, isn't it?
You tell an entire region that you're shutting down all their pubs for an indefinite period, but not straight away, in a few days time, then you wonder why they all take that opportunity to go out and have a party?
I just don't understand it.
Lots of kids isolating at my school but no positives, 3at my partners school two are staff one was her.
Meanwhile, our health minister over on Twitter is showing her credentials.
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1316086032908070926
You tell an entire region that you’re shutting down all their pubs for an indefinite period, but not straight away, in a few days time, then you wonder why they all take that opportunity to go out and have a party?
The real issue is Steve Burnhams campaign to keep as much as Liverpool open as possible is pretty much derailed by that Street Party. Oh look (a Squirrel) they can't be trusted....
I understood the Northern leaders weren't willing to back Boris's plan until sufficient financial support measures were in place, rather than just being against them.
And then people complain when they are placed under restrictions..
Beggars belief..
It's crazy, but I'm not really surprised.
I think, and it's only a personal opinion, that many people, especially younger people really no longer care about 'doing the right thing' about Covid. You can try to be rational, we all KNOW that another large surge in case like we had in Spring will kill tens of thousands of people, you'd think we'd all be hiding in our houses only daring to step outside when necessary, darting around the place trying to avoid people like someone trying to avoid a sniper, but we're not.
I don't think Humans are that rational, we know smoking kills, but 7 million people in the UK smoke. We know that speeding is one of the big 4 causes of road deaths, we know that it doesn't really save any meaningful amount of time, we know if we're caught we'll be fined and even have our license taken away, but millions of people do it every day, the list goes on. We tell ourselves that we're special and it won't effect us, and even though it's against the law, it's not really 'wrong' because we'll use a bit of common sense and it'll be okay.
I don't know of anyone who is following all the Covid rules to the letter, even single person I know is breaking one rule or other regularly, even if they're using a huge pile of denial to tell themselves they're not "really".
I think the Government only has the Carrot and Stick approach left, either they close everything again and punish those who brake whatever rules are left with fines or worse, or they offer anyone with symptoms 2 weeks paid leave by whatever means possible, because I'm told less than 20% of people with symptoms are isolating now, either though fear of losing their jobs or just fear of boredom.
I also think it's only going to get worse, there's a sense growing that this vaccine isn't going to be the golden bullet that fixes everything forever, if that is the case and they have to announce that this is everyday life going forward, they've got no chance. They might as well make the Nightingales permanent, because we're all just going to have to take our chances, which is what a growing number of people want anyway.
Pjay
Big press conference from Starmer yesterday that got him a very favourable press today and pushed Johnson into a corner
I think he is playing his cards well. Remember it's a long game.
I concur. He's kept his power dry for some time. He's done a good job of turning the screw at the right time.
The real issue is Steve Burnhams campaign..
The real issue is the south not knowing much about the North.;)
somafunk – that is a mnassive dose of vit d which can cause issues.
Nah its not, It’s perfectly safe and with the backing of my MS consultant and according to the latest research into ms and vit d the upper limit is approaching 10,000iu+, doses of 20,000iu are now being considered acceptable once safe checks on kidney function are carried out, if you consider my vit d intake to be excessive then you’d have a hairy fit regarding what else i take
I understood the Northern leaders weren’t willing to back Boris’s plan until sufficient financial support measures were in place, rather than just being against them.
They know that once under draconian restrictions, this incompetent government will have no plan to get them out again while the test and trace system remains a shambles. Its likely to be months, not weeks.
This means that with the minimal level of financial support being offered, the Northern economy would just die over the winter as small businesses go down like dominoes, leading to mass unemployment and poverty for their constituents.
All while, once again, the south remains relatively unaffected
Why would they agree to that?
We all still remember the 80’s, when a Tory government stood idly by and watched the northern economy implode. Not something we’re keen to live through for a second time.
we’ll use a bit of common sense and it’ll be okay.
Common sense has to be acquired through experience.
And it's just not possible to get enough personal experience when it comes to global epidemiology unless (e.g.) your name is Chris Whitty and your entire life's work involves control and eradication of various diseases.
'Common sense' is problematic. For some it's erring on the side of caution, for others it's a calculated risk, 'there's only n out of 100,000, we don't need to worry too much.' It's an invitation to make the rules up as you go along but also to accept the blame for your own misfortunes.
We all still remember the 80’s, when a Tory government stood idly by and watched the northern economy implode. Not something we’re keen to live through for a second time.
Levelling [s]up[/s] the north.
somafunk - fair enough. I did not know your specific circumstances.
sorry for the derail folks