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The Coronavirus Discussion Thread.

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Main difference in the announcements yesterday. BJ was still waffle and hope for common sense. Sturgeon was talking about legislation.

Helped by the fact that ScotGov already had a Tier 4, the possibility of which seemed to have escaped the Westminster lot.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 11:59 am
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This new strain has been tracked back to 20th Sept in Kent.

All them truckers milling about in cafes in the Brexit tailbacks....


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:07 pm
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Brexit tailbacks….

See we are net exporters after all!


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:19 pm
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MoreCash

I think a few people are giving him way too much credit – the Christmas relaxation looked wrong to anyone with half a brain a month ago, the data of rising infections and new strains of Covid was public at the beginning of the week.

He is continuing to fudge it at the last minute, thus allowing it to spread, for deaths to keep increasing, for longer stricter lockdowns to be required, and to **** up the economy completely. As he has done from the start.

My observation seems to be that every failed fudge just leads to less compliance with rules anyway.
Partly time/fatigue plays a part but the excuses people find will be/are largely based on past failures.

It's been pretty obvious that measures were not working for a long time but the last 2 weeks here in Tier-4 (Woking) has seen exponential growth of people I know about in self isolation.

Suddenly lots of panic now about a new strain but a virus mutating is hardly news but it seems somewhat irrelevant anyway because those people are based on positive cases.

Class of 30 sometihng... and whatever measures... was 7 by end of term in <2weeks.
Obviously something isn't working when you consider the virus was still spreading with <<1/3 of the population in the same space. Perhaps that's 'the' new strain? Perhaps it's something else? It shouldn't matter ... it shows whatever is in place isn't working.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:32 pm
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but a virus mutating is hardly news

But it was though wasn't it, and thats half the problem - bloody great headliness about a mutant virus plus "you going to be Locked in after midnight" are a main component cause of the exodus.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:37 pm
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The only question now is when we're sending in Snake Plissken to rescue Boris. 🙂


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:38 pm
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theotherjonv

What about people who are asymptomatic but isolating because they’ve been told to by our world beating track and trace system.

What about those who already self isolated several times due to our world beating track and trace?
I can't imagine their confidence in the system grows each time.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:38 pm
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You mean “some people deciding to do some travelling from London”. Dont inaccurately generalise like that.

Fair point. I'll slow clap the numpties.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 12:52 pm
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Yes, it is already present in Scotland. We are all in Tier 4 (other than the islands).

Not according to https://www.gov.scot/check-local-covid-level/

We’re in level 1 until 00.01 26th December..


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 1:01 pm
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Pretty hassling for Hancock to say tier 3 was working until this new strain came along


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 1:40 pm
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Pretty hassling for Hancock to say tier 3 was working until this new strain came along

Pretty disturbing if we have a health minister who wasn't expecting a virus to mutate.

Overall it's the now normal too little, too late... and as I said above new strain or not restrictions were not working so doing nothing was not a real option... but they did it anyway


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 1:53 pm
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Can anyone explain what's the difference, if any, between a new strain and a mutation? Is the same thing? And what/where is the evidence that this new strain is more virulent than the 'normal' one?

Cheers,
FM.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 2:05 pm
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Cannot get this quote to work.

But to the comment saying People in London were leavint tier 3 not 4, they should all be home again same day then.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 2:16 pm
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Off out but in easy terms mutations happen all the time... some beneficial (to the organism) and others not. In this context they mean (I think) one that survives.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 2:17 pm
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But to the comment saying People in London were leavint tier 3 not 4, they should all be home again same day then.

There aren't restrictions on travel or staying away from home in any of the English tiers according to the published legislation, despite what the guidance says. If you live in London and fancy going for a walk in Northumberland, that's not against the law. If you want to break up your journey by staying in a hotel in York on your way back that's also not against the law.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 2:52 pm
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It’s as safe as it can be, but Christmas shopping at supermarkets can be a poorly controlled scrum at the best of times. Going in the middle of the night if it’s a 24 hour store would be my strategy.

My daughter (16) works at a posh supermarket in a posh town 2 or 3 evenings a week based on shifts. She loves it, it's well managed with screens and masks etc, and the times I've been in seems pretty safe. They also do one in one out at busy times, to prevent these scrums, and doing her turn managing the queue is the bit she hates. There's a demographic; her words- middle to late middle aged, posh looking, men and women, that just outrageously queue jump, and when challenged "do I really need to queue, I'm only getting a couple of bits"

She's very friendly now with the security guard who waits inside and seems to have a higher hit rate at sending them to the back of the queue. And dealing with the "I want to speak to the manager" that sometimes follows.

Reminds me, I must pick up a joint of cured ham when I take her in tomorrow.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 3:17 pm
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@stevextc

The point I'm trying to make (badly) is one I've discussed with my sister who is paranoid, despite not being at particular risk or her family either.

That 1/80 of the population that have it. Of those 1's, many will know because they're symptomatic and or been tested, or been t&t'ed and told to isolate while they wait for symptoms or not. So maybe 'in the wild' 1/250 have it, maybe 1/500. Who knows.

I get the infectiousness, and the need to be careful, and wash hands and social distance and minimise mixing. I don't in any way mean to downplay that. But playing numbers, the person you walk past on your daily walk or even yes, in ASDA, has maybe a 249/250 or 499/500 chance of being no risk, so she cannot be paralysed by that fear that the man who briefly walked past you has just signed your death warrant, or anyone elses. The fear is probably worse for her than the risk of cv19


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 3:28 pm
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My wifes just made alternative plans for the inlaws to come over on the 2nd for Christmas dinner no2 instead should the rules be relaxed on the 30th. Er yeah ok.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 3:42 pm
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should the rules be relaxed on the 30th

Optimism can go too far.

What do they think over in Germany…?

https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/politik-inland/mutierte-coronaviren-bund-erwaegt-flug-stopp-aus-grossbritannien-und-suedafrika-74549206.bild.html

Ab heute Nacht 0 Uhr bis zum 6. Januar wird zunächst der gesamte Flugverkehr zwischen Deutschland und Großbritannien untersagt!


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 4:27 pm
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What do they think over in Germany…?

Too late for europe, the inlaws left what is now tier 4 for their house in portugal a few days ago, I doubt they are the only entitled pricks out there!


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 4:48 pm
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Out of interest, if the EMA approve the Moderna vaccine on Jan 6th, does that mean the MHRA will 'mutual recognition' it? Would that be affected by any agreement or not on an EU trade deal or is it separate?


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:08 pm
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Is there actually any evidence for this new "strain"? Timing seems convenitent given the massive U-turn by gov...


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:34 pm
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our very bestist bigley in the world genetic scientists said so according to the government this morning.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:37 pm
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Main difference in the announcements yesterday. BJ was still waffle and hope for common sense.

When the inevitable docudrama happens Captain Funtime and the Cornucopia of Codswallop might be a suitable tittle.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:50 pm
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our very bestist bigley in the world genetic scientists said so according to the government this morning.

That's it. I'll trust the sciencists but not the politicians. The secretary of health going on national media and saying 'it's out of control' is extremely suspicious.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:53 pm
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some outlets are reporting the decision was made earlier but announcement delayed to restrict time and avoid any parliamentary scrutiny.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/20/england-new-covid-restrictions-likely-to-stay-for-months-until-vaccine-rollout


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:54 pm
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The number of childish “it’s not fair” stories in the press today shows the right decision was made, even if late. People who fail to understand “just because you can doesn’t mean you should”. We had decided to abandon our plans earlier this week when viewing the graphs on ZOE. My son will be on his own, my wife will be unable to visit her dying mother again but if we manage to stay tier 2 the sacrifice will have been worth it.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 5:55 pm
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Over 2000 admissions today and almost 36 000 cases thats not good is it!


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:02 pm
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Reading back on this thread, it seems that yes - it has been known about, possibly for a few months. Someone was mentioning their wife who works with Porton Down.

The timing of it now being "news" from the government may have suited them, but I would not think it is a hoax or anything


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:04 pm
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There’s nothing sinister about the timing. It’s just how long it takes until Boris gets round to reading the briefing papers.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:07 pm
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Q: what have the medieval village of Eyam and modern London got in common?

A: Absolutely **** all.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:16 pm
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Thread on the latest strain. Sobering reading.

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1340487062903001090

Suggests some similarities with a South African strain which caused more problems in younger people, although it's way too early to be talking in these terms about our variant.

Can't see how a full lockdown including schools can be avoided now. Cases in areas affected by this variant kept growing throughout the latest non-lockdown in November.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:20 pm
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36000 cases today, all countries stopping flights in and out, log jams at the ports due to Brexit - I'm starting to get slightly scared now. With the news about how difficult the vaccination plan is from the "Good new" thread, England/UK is staring to feel like an isolated 3rd world country, I fear for my kids/food over the next few months.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:24 pm
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Wife has just said daughter's gymnastics squad are due to resume training on 4th January.

I am not convinced she will be attending, regardless of what the government, British Gymnastics or MrsMC says.

Sweepstake as to what date in January the full lockdown, including schools, will have to be announced? I'm thinking 15th


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:27 pm
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Grown adults really shouldn't be getting scared over that sort of thing.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:28 pm
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Can’t see how a full lockdown including schools can be avoided now.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:29 pm
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Quite right airvent. They should just shrug their shoulders and get on with life. It's just like a normal cold really if you think about it.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
After all, we have our feet on the neck of the beast etc.

Personally speaking, I'm off skiing.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:31 pm
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For 8 weeks?


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:34 pm
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I thought airvent was referring to the catastrophising and hysteria around a new variant which has not yet been proven to be more (or possibly less) severe than ye olde virus.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:36 pm
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Grown adults really shouldn’t be getting scared over that sort of thing.

Not lost any grown adults from your family, or your street, yet thanks to this virus? Lucky you. Don’t know any grown adults still not recovered properly months after getting it in the first wave? Lucky you. Taking precautions to protect people isn’t “getting scared”, any more than looking back down the road before opening the driver’s door of your car is “getting scared”… it’s taking the appropriate action to reduce the risk of harm to others.

I fear for my kids/food over the next few months.

The brightest sliver lining in all this is that our kids are the most safe people in society (well, your kids, not mine, as it happens, but most kids). That the virus results in disease in so few children, and that they fight it off when it does, is a blessing we should embrace. As for the food thing… less choice, more cost… but unless you are already struggling to feed your kids… you’ll still be feeding them fine next year.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:37 pm
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I thought airvent was referring to the catastrophising and hysteria around a new variant which has not yet been proven to be more (or possibly less) severe than ye olde virus.

My worry is with the impact on supply chains this now adds to the initial & Brexit impact. Greater cases of course usually mean more deaths in ratio. Neither's good.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:39 pm
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Lots of stones being thrown here as usual. Good job none of you live in glass houses...

If they did a proper lockdown for three weeks, no work and no shopping, the thing would be gone.


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:42 pm
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I agree.

EDIT: and proper quarantine and track and trace for people re-entering the country, to keep it gone, of course


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:43 pm
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@chrispo - yep we know that, but we're not in February any more


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:44 pm
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Didn't see if this was posted, it's the scientific summary though I don't know what the underlying data are and based on past experience a little wary of taking their estimates at face value! But it certainly looks worrying.

https://khub.net/documents/135939561/338928724/SARS-CoV-2+variant+under+investigation%2C+meeting+minutes.pdf/962e866b-161f-2fd5-1030-32b6ab467896?t=1608470511452

@TiRed, even your favourite 0.4% IFR looks hard to reconcile with the data to me. Double it and we'd have no disagreement 🙂


 
Posted : 20/12/2020 6:45 pm
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