Coronavirus (Covid19) Corner

[Tripps]

I note with interest that in the emergency debate in the House of Commons almost all the Tories are not wearing face coverings - Mrs May is an exception, whilst almost all the Opposition side are - here Lisa Nandy isn't, As I understand it Masks are no longer mandatory anywhere, and gatherings of any size are permitted.

What's a chap to think ?

[Whyperion]

I note with interest that in the emergency debate in the House of Commons almost all the Tories are not wearing face coverings - Mrs May is an exception, whilst almost all the Opposition side are - here Lisa Nandy isn't, As I understand it Masks are no longer mandatory anywhere, and gatherings of any size are permitted.

What's a chap to think ?

that the tories trust the vaccine and the opposition dont ? (note Govt still RECOMMENDS wearing of masks in large indoor gatherings)

[Tripps]

note Govt still RECOMMENDS wearing of masks in large indoor gatherings)

I wonder why they don't do so then?

PS But why did Mrs May take her mask of to speak. That's surely the time of maxium exhalation of droplets and aerosols? Makes no sense to me.

Not for the first time. . . .

[Stanley]

David, it may be that like many other public speakers she has realised that there is a large element of lip reading in our understanding of what speakers are saying. I have realised how much I rely on it and one of Susan's colleagues at the care home realised she was deaf enough to require hearing aids when masks became compulsory. Up to then she had managed perfectly well without. Have you found yourself asking people to repeat what they have said behind the mask?

[plaques]

Have you found yourself asking people to repeat what they have said behind the mask?

In the swimming pool its obvious you can't wear your earing aids. Often I would rely on lip reading to get by but not without first explaining I wasn't being rude by staring at their lips. With masks its still difficult if their diction or accent is off key. Pardon, pardon, pardon.

[Big Kev]

The waiter serving breakfast here is of Eastern European origin, I'm really struggling with his accent from behind his mask. The background chatter in the restaurant isn't helping either

[Tripps]

is a large element of lip reading in our understanding of what speakers are saying

Back to mee mawing ?

Not just words - I mentioned at the surgery when they were strugglng to get my blood, that the inability to read facial expressions was not good. The nurse was quite apologetic. I wasn't bothered at all, but couldn't quite communicate it.

[Tizer]

A useful summary of what we know so far...
`Covid: What’s the best way to top up our immunity?' LINK

[Cathy]

Has this been mentioned before?
Home -made material masks are not as good as the blue surgical masks.
But...

33D9D1C5-97CA-4526-9577-2DB955A5C0E7.png

Is there a company out there that makes surgical masks that do break down?

[plaques]

You're behind the curve Cath. In the UK you don't need a mask. Experts are also questioning whether a dose of covid gives better immunity than a vaccine. Noises are be on the September booster vaccine is needed at all. In a nutshell its more convenient if the lower orders should just catch covid and either recover or die. Much simpler and a lot cheaper. That way the government doesn't have to do anything. QED.

[Cathy]

Thanks Plaques...
Just thought it might be of interest .

[Big Kev]

Is there a company out there that makes surgical masks that do break down?

Not that I'm aware of Cathy. I'm still using the cotton ones. The hotels, and wedding venue, we've just been to ask people to wear one. They were definitely an added bonus at the carvery and buffet breakfast as it stops people coughing and spluttering all over the food

[PanBiker]

Antigen tests are to be available soon for anyone who test positive. One to be taken immediately to see the effects of the vaccine and another 28 days later to see if contracting the virus boosts the levels significantly.

[Sue]

Has this been mentioned before?
Home -made material masks are not as good as the blue surgical masks.
But...
33D9D1C5-97CA-4526-9577-2DB955A5C0E7.png

Is there a company out there that makes surgical masks that do break down?

In France home made masks are not allowed , never have been .

[Sue]

You're behind the curve Cath. In the UK you don't need a mask. Experts are also questioning whether a dose of covid gives better immunity than a vaccine. Noises are be on the September booster vaccine is needed at all. In a nutshell its more convenient if the lower orders should just catch covid and either recover or die. Much simpler and a lot cheaper. That way the government doesn't have to do anything. QED.

Thats a sweeping and cynical statement. It is far more complex than that.

The immunity from the vaccine is only against the spike protein. Immunity from infection is against all parts of the virus . Thus if the spike protein mutates there is still an immune response to the rest of the virus. This is very relevant if the spike protein mutates such that the vaccine is ineffective, but if immunity is from the illness then there will still be a positive immune response from other parts of the virus that activated the immune system Vaccines were developed against the spike protein as this was what was causing the most serious damage . It is harder to create a vaccine against multiple antigenic parts of the virus. Speed was essential, now we can relax a bit and allow people to develop more deep seated immunity by exposure. There is actually research going on for new vaccines that work on a broader range of antigens on the surface of the virus. We are reaching the endemic stage where most of the population have so e antibodies unlike the beginning of the pandemic when there was none.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58270098

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19819-1

[plaques]

I know I'm more than a bit cynical with what I read in newspapers and what some professor / researcher has said about a complex subject which in all likelihood has been pared down to a headline grabbing sound bite. And I'm also sure that the researchers are doing everything they can to advance their vaccines but when you get some clown reporting in isolation that you can gain better immunity by catching covid or saying a booster may not be required. Then in one swift move it undermines all the advice that been handed down for the past 18 months. The current bottom line is that over 100 people are dying each day and Hospitals are filling up with covid patients.

[Sue]

I never read/ depend on the newspaper about scientific issues. I go straight to source. Ordinary newspapers work on sensationalism and how much space they have got for the article often written by none specialists

[Stanley]

That's very true. I think I have said before that I take a lot more notice of Sue than the 'news' which all too often is regurgitated click bait chasing views more than truth.

[Sue]

Thank you Stanley. I see the current scientific analysis shows that the vaccine effect is waning after 6 months, though still above 70% for Pfizer and slightly lower for Astra Zenica it is falling and the concern is for the elderly and others at risk. I think that booster idea could be back. Each time we are exposed to the same pathogen/antigen it triggers the immune response, increasing its effectiveness with each exposure .

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58322882

I did check this article from other sources too

[Stanley]

I think I heard someone say this morning that this study means that the booster for the most vulnerable will be given in September with the annual flu jab.

[Tripps]

I've just typed a long personal interesting post on the subject of Covid 19, and somehow lost the lot - and I'm quite sober.

Can't be bothered to do it all again. I'll try again tomorrow.

[Stanley]

It happens David, Doc used to say it was the site having a brain fart. That's too technical for me.

[Tizer]

It's easy to click the wrong button and close the page instead of posting it. If you're going to write something long always write it in your text editor first, David, it will save you a lot of aggro! I keep a text file called `draft' in my Home folder and always use that (and save it) when I write a long post or email.

[chinatyke]

You can usually recover your work if you accidentally lose it.Try using the 'Go Backwards one page' arrow in your browser or Alt+ left arrow on your keyboard. If you have clicked the wrong key but haven't moved off the page try right click and select Undo from the drop down menu or in Windows Ctrl Z on the keyboard.

Just ideas that usually work for me.

[Tripps]

Thanks for the advice - you're all correct of course - but sometimes I 'post from the hip' and just get on with it. I tried all that China - but no trace.

On Covid. the news last night was that my son and his wife have both developed the illness. He is fairly unwell, and she is very unwell. He has had two injections and she has had one. I asked where they thought it came from, and was told they went to a music event, but it was all outdoors, and the bar etc, area was socially distanced.

I think that confirms the extra cautious stance I am taking. I gently declined an invitation to the Poet's memorial event last weekend. It was in a crowded room at a pub, and that now looks like a good move.

It also reinforces my developng idea, that the words vaccine and immunisation should not be used in this connection. I don't believe these injections are either. That's not to deny the benefit of less hospitalisations and deaths, which is very welcome. This 'vaccine' it seems (and I've just had it demonstrated to me) does not prevent infection or transmission, and the talk yesterday is that the period of protection is at the lower end of hopes and expectations. I read that antibodies are declining after just 6 months. This is supported by the Israeli experience.

"This ain't no vaccine bro"

On boosters. Health Minister Sajid Javed said recently that a booster would be given to all over 70's as soon as possible. He was quite clear about it. Seemed a good thing, as I assumed it would be tailored to the Delta / Indian variant. That decision seems to have been U-turned overnight, and now it's said that only high risk groups in that cohort will benefit. I don't know why. Supply problems perhaps - though the talk today is of children over 12 getting the injection.

There is no doubt a third wave is active now. Cases have risen over the last month or so, as have deaths. The news this morning is that it is "sweepng through" Scottish schools which went back recently. I think the recent football at Euro 20 must have had an effect and I looked at the huge crowds at York Races, with no precautions whatever last week, and I think there will be consequences from that.

As an aside . The Coldstream Guards did 'changing the guard' at Buckingham Palace. Full band and fanfares. The RSM said words to the effect that it was a celebration of the end of the Covid epidemic. He would have been told to say that - it would be a message that 'they' wanted us to hear.

This is worth thinking about. ONS deaths by age band

It was said at the peak the the average age at death with Covid was 82 years, and was above the life expectancy figure. Boris even made a joke about it "get Covid and live longer" .

Makes a good case I'd say for the original policy initially proposed in March and April 2020. of protection the old, and letting it rip throught the younger ones, who by and large would come to no harm. It was abandoned after Professor Ferguson's apocalyptic predictions of the consequences caused panic in the Government.


All that said - I don't envy anyone who is involved in the management of this situation. I shall continue to use my own judgment as to how to behave, and hope for the best.