Coronavirus (Covid19) Corner

[Big Kev]

Some of my colleagues returned to the office over the last few weeks, this has now changed and it is now officially closed again. I can see this being the case until well into 2021. I chose to continue working at home which suits me nicely

[Stanley]

Good! Nice to hear someone being positive about the restrictions. More power to your elbow Kev!

[Marilyn]

When hubby “retired” 6 years ago, he was poached by a company who were happy for him to work from home ( drawing house plans and designing houses). In some ways it has worked well ( particularly during Covid as he is all set up here with computer drawings etc). So life hasn’t changed much for us, except he works way too many hours for the money paid, and he will be 71 shortly.
He has given his notice to finish at Christmas.
( I don’t think anyone believes him!)
( I don’t think I believe him!)
Our kids have always said he will die at his desk...

[Tizer]

Probably in a few weeks time someone in government will have a light bulb moment and realize that it may be prudent to vaccinate everyone against influenza and minimise the risk to both young and old alike.

I expect they would like to do that but there is probably not enough flu vaccine available and all the manufacturers' efforts are already focused on covid.

An 'expert' said today that to aim for 'zero covid' was ridiculous, so what level of infection would be seen as success? I heard the strategy described today as 'to achieve the least damage to Boris Johnston's reputation and legacy', which sounds about right.

Other types of coronavirus are already in permanent circulation worldwide and covid-19 will be one to add to the list. It's like influenza, they'll always be there and if a particular `type' does disappear naturally there will be new ones infecting us from animals in the future. The WHO, medics and scientists have been warning about the danger of pandemics for decades but, just like with climate change, the governments took no notice.

There's more about the `herd immunity' issue here:
`Coronavirus: Whitty and Vallance faced 'herd immunity' backlash, emails show' LINK
It's interesting that it was Vallance who talked about herd immunity whereas Witty was against it - Vallance is a physiologist whereas Witty is an epidemiologist. Vallance has never worked on pathogenic microorganisms, immunity or epidemiology. He's Chief Scientist and needs a good general knowledge of sciences rather than an in-depth knowledge of one.

[plaques]

Herd Immunity offered the possibility of spending the least amount of money to combat the Corvid pandemic. A bit of classic bottom line accounting thinking. The main problem with this simplistic approach was that an unknown number of people would die, the NHS would be overwhelmed and there would be no guarantee that it would confer long lasting immunity. Against this logic our late intervention with lockdowns suggest this course of action was an unwritten trial to see what would happen. The Lockdown worked but it cost money hence the push to get the economy going. Unfortunately in the rush to get things moving Boris's rhetoric and the discount on eating out plus get back into the cities gave it a back to normal atmosphere which was patently not true. Ordinary people had made sacrifices in not being able to see close family, the young had lost the opportunity to meet other young people with a bottom line that they quite naturally saw this as a chance to live their lives as normal again. Again this method of releasing lockdown looked like a bottom line minimal cost approach to the problem. Again it didn't work. The really annoying thing is that instead of saying sorry it didn't work Boris is blaming the people for it not working. How much more of this can we take.

[Stanley]

Peter is right and Ken's summary is accurate I think. See PE's current front cover. I've posted it on politics.

[Stanley]

I'd urge all of you to read Phil Hammond's MD Covid update in this week's Private Eye. He is quite clear about the scale of the problem we face this winter. I trust the man.

[Cathy]

I’ve just noticed this new emoji (from my phone)

I wonder when they snuck that in?

[plaques]

The new NHS COVID-19 app Covid Apphas been launched today. Initially I was totally confused about what it would cost the user to have it running while out and about. With bit of luck 1p mobile (EE) should fit into the cheapo category. I will study it a bit more before I get involved.

Today the UK’s major mobile network operators, including Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, Sky and Virgin, have confirmed that all in-app activity will not come out of customers’ data allowance.

[PanBiker]

I think the basic operation is via Bluetooth and your phones built in GPS. Both used for proximity tracking.

[Cathy]

878FD4FD-61EB-4912-BC56-3C7ADD3BE9D4.png

Just asking a question... don’t jump on me.
Is the Covid App new to England/UK?
Is this something new or a different version because it involves the NHS?
I’ve had our (Aust.) Covid-19 Sade App on my phone since 27 April ‘20. Lots of info sections available on App.
(Leave App running Android Bluetooth on.)

878FD4FD-61EB-4912-BC56-3C7ADD3BE9D4.png

[PanBiker]

Our government were trialling an app of their own choice in the Isle of Wight, this turned out to be a complete waste of time because they didn't choose one that was actually proved to work and be useful. The one released today for England and Wales is an NHS one that does work. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own versions.

Having said that it works but not for me! I have a perfectly functional smart phone that does everything I need, until now. I am on one version of Android below that required for the NHS Covid-19 app to work. It will only run on Android 6.00 or above.

I have just installed it on Sally's phone and it works perfectly OK.

[Tizer]

Cathy, this the UK one...
`NHS Covid-19 app: How England and Wales' contact-tracing service works' LINK

[Tripps]

Looks like the gloves are coming off Bar closed down

[chinatyke]

The one released today for England and Wales is an NHS one that does work.

THE new NHS Test and Trace app could wrongly tell a third of Brits to self-isolate - and it doesn't work on older iPhones.

Doesn't sound much better than before!

[Stanley]

David, thanks for that news. I think you're right and it's needed as well. Have you seen how the graph for the National rate of infection is climbing? Not good and of course those figures always lag behind reality.

[Tripps]

The following is quite unscientific, and just my immediate thoughts.

I've just seen an interview on the ITV racing show with trainer Roger Varian (since you ask) He was wearing a standard face covering. After just a few seconds speaking, he had to remove his glasses as they had steamed up. Doesn't this indicate that his breath (and any virus he might have) is freely rising upwards into the public domain, unimpeded by the mask?

I guess 'they' will say yes but it travels a shorter distance from him and 2 metres separation still applies.

The wearing of face coverings has recently increased. In the same time period infections have increased exponentially. If they had been of much value - surely the opposite would have happened?

[PanBiker]

I think the rise in cases is not a product of wearing face masks. Just that folk were encouraged to wear them at the same time that testing increased and therefore the number of cases went up. In my view we were late to the party in the face mask dictate. Most other countries wore them from day 1. But of course our gov did their own thing.

[Tripps]

I think the rise in cases is not a product of wearing face masks

I didn't say it was. Surely if there was a benefit in wearing them, new cases would go down. I appreciate there is always a time lag between action and result due to the varying incubation period.

same time that testing increased and therefore the number of cases went up

I listened carefully to the recent two man presentation by Whitty and Vallance. I don't remember which, but one of them explained specifically that the increase in cases was not connected to the increase in the number of tests.

I'll leave it there. I don't think face coverings do any good, and perhaps do some harm. I would wear one when requested to. I'm not a natural rebel.

Others think differently. That's OK.

I wonder about the end of this affair constantly. I don't think there will be a widely available fully tested and effective vaccine in the foreseeable future. Full herd immunity is unlikely, and I think we will move from a situation where most people don't know anyone who had the virus, to one where everyone knows someone who has. Over the next few years it will become part of ordinary life, a bit like its relative the common cold. The young and healthy will recover, and the vulnerable - some will, some won't.

I was told by the surgery last week whilst booking flu and shingles injections that age alone was not sufficient to put me into the 'vulnerable' category. With respect - as I have done since March - I'll make that decision thank you.

"Sauve qui peut"

[plaques]

Its just occurred to me that Boris Johnson is the first person to ban Christmas since Oliver Cromwell. It may not be a complete ban but he's doing his best to take all the pleasure out of it.

[Stanley]

David, I share your dislike and mistrust of masks and don't think they make much difference one way or another as used by the general public. I base this on the explanations I heard way back in March when the advice was quite clear. Wearing a mask could be a good thing if someone was coughing and sneezing because it prevented 'projectile' emission of the virus. None of the fabric masks and face coverings can protect the wearer from free floating virus or stop them being distributed, they are too small to be caught in anything but a highly specialised full mask with efficient filtration and even then are not 100% efficient. So you wear a mask out of consideration for others. Anyone who believes they give full protection is mistaken.
Like you, I comply, but also like you, set my own level of risk. I keep distance, avoid other people wherever possible and always keep a weather gauge, I pass to windward or hold my breath if I can't avoid proximity. I work on the assumption that if I get it, it's serious! It's an advantage if you naturally tend to be anti-social!
China, makes no difference to me. I abolished Xmas long ago when I started living as a singleton.

[Wendyf]

I think wearing a mask reminds you to keep a distance from others.

[Stanley]

That could well be true Wendy but isn't it amazing how many people, often younger, don't seem to have fully absorbed that message. Incidentally, most school children I see on their way to school, even though they are in close proximity to their friends, don't wear masks so in that case even in their role as reminder, they are ineffective.

[chinatyke]

China, makes no difference to me. I abolished Xmas long ago when I started living as a singleton.

Not guilty m'lud: It was Plaques who mentioned Xmas! I've given it up also except that we have had turkey dinner with friends for the past 3 years. Last year we cooked and prepared the meal and table ourselves, just 3 ex-pats with no wives allowed near the kitchen, and we served 18 people. It was agreed last Sunday that it was such a success that we would do the same again this year. Only 3 months to go. My wife was thrilled when I told her we would do the same again this year, she really enjoyed herself last year. She opened 2 bottles of Port thinking it was red wine and served the Chinese ladies. They were very noisy and red cheeked throughout the meal and it was only after dinner when we looked for the Port that we realised what she'd done.

[Big Kev]

So you wear a mask out of consideration for others. Anyone who believes they give full protection is mistaken.

I wonder how many of the Facebook conspiracy theorists would wear a mask if it did protect them? I don't like wearing one but, like you, wear it out of consideration for others. Sadly there are some who refuse to wear one and they are to be avoided.

I follow a simple 3 step mantra, cover my face, keep my distance and wash my hands...

I think this is a good visual

Masks.JPG