Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #91

[CoverMeCagney]

We're watching coverage (youtube channel, our version of Sky is useless). I'm trying to find a graph that I think someone posted here, not sure, which shows that UK's cases have gone completely vertical, with the US nearly so.

What I've noticed in watching hours of walking videos around London is that during Stage 3, there was inadequate compliance (that's putting it mildly - Covent Garden was pretty good in the days leading up to Christmas although by no means in full compliance, whereas Queen's Walk at night was...really concerning...I guess because it is outdoors no one was forced to wear a mask?) When Stage 4 was declared, it seems that most were wearing masks outdoors...but enough people are not wearing masks that I grew concerned and curious.

Anyway, has there ever been a universal indoor/outdoor mask wearing edict in UK? (Interior of one's own home excluded).

Well, that’s London. They were kept in tier 2 - stupidly and unfairly - and then jumped to tier 4 right before Christmas.

Most of the rest of us haven’t had a restaurant to eat at or a pub to drink at for around 3 months. Pretty compliant where I live and the case numbers prove it.

 

[Legally Bland]

Full lockdown for England again, vulnerable people to shield, schools closed until February half-term. School exams cancelled, details of replacement assessment to be arranged.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Some good news though - Boris just said the UK has vaccinated more people than the rest of Europe put together.

 

[SouthAussie]

SouthAussie, \
Is there any update on your South African strain??

The South African strain was never in the community. Only in hotel quarantine in Queensland. The person would not have been allowed into the community while still covid positive.

Today there are calls for incoming flights to stop until all Aussies are vaccinated. Experts are fearful of the new UK strain getting into our community. The opposition political party wants vaccination to start prior to March (March is when it is scheduled to begin).

NSW outbreak is growing larger. They have just halved the (already) reduced crowd that is allowed to attend a big India VS Australia cricket match they are having in Sydney today. Medical experts wanted it cancelled completely.

The list of places, where they call for people to come forward for testing if they have been there at specific times, is getting quite long.

 

[SouthAussie]

The Debate About School Safety Is No Longer Relevant — The Atlantic

Staff shortages due to the virus. That was bound to happen.

"The reason for the shortages isn’t intransigent teachers’ unions or unreasonable fear; it’s simply that the virus is too widely spread. Upwards of 200,000 new COVID-19 cases are reported most days"

"Substitute teachers alone cannot solve this problem. There just aren’t enough professional substitutes. A substitute shortage existed prior to COVID-19; it’s worse now."

"Districts are responding by grabbing every warm body available, but educational quality suffers under an endless parade of increasingly unqualified substitutes, continual toggling between in-person and virtual instruction, and art and music teachers pressed into service as classroom teachers."

 

[acutename]

@GRT, so sorry no timing for your mum. Who knows where I live when I'll be able to get it as many here.

Today in many places, over 65 years old can sign up for the vaccine in Florida. (Pinellas County site goes live to sign up at 12 pm today for those folks.)

Have you seen this tracker for all states which is updated a few times a week for nationwide?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/covid-vaccine-states-distribution-doses/

always wondering about the people who are 64.9 yrs old
that is stats for you....

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Texas Representative Kay Granger. Got Vaccine in Dec. Tests positive for virus....

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger Tests Positive For COVID-19

 

[SouthAussie]

Full lockdown for England again, vulnerable people to shield, schools closed until February half-term. School exams cancelled, details of replacement assessment to be arranged.

Has to be done. It is the only way at this point, while concurrently keeping the vaccination going.

 

[Taskforce88]

Has anyone in the UK been told by their employer to stay home tomorrow?

 

[sds71]

https://twitter.com/gabegutierrez (NBC)
@NYGovCuomo
announces that a case of that more contagious COVID-19 variant has been found in New York state
NY Gov Cuomo has confirmed a case of the UK strain in a man from Saratoga County who works in a jewelry store. He had not recently traveled outside of the country. 3 other people in the store also have covid and those cases are also being checked for the UK strain.
Cuomo Confirms Case of New, More Contagious U.K. Strain of Virus in New York

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Was live. Dr. Seheult with Dr. Campbell

Thanks!! Just started it....but i noticed I have been pronouncing his name wrong all along!!

 

[nhmemorymaker]

*drink*

*stiff*

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The South African strain was never in the community. Only in hotel quarantine in Queensland. The person would not have been allowed into the community while still covid positive.

Today there are calls for incoming flights to stop until all Aussies are vaccinated. Experts are fearful of the new UK strain getting into our community. The opposition political party wants vaccination to start prior to March (March is when it is scheduled to begin).

NSW outbreak is growing larger. They have just halved the (already) reduced crowd that is allowed to attend a big India VS Australia cricket match they are having in Sydney today. Medical experts wanted it cancelled completely.

The list of places, where they call for people to come forward for testing if they have been there at specific times, is getting quite long.

Right, I knew ?she? was in quarantine...but I wondered if they ever did declare where she had come from. And I wonder if they will continue to follow her pot-quarantine?

 

[SouthAussie]

South Carolina bill would ban vaccination mandates | WBTW

"A bill pre-filed in the South Carolina House would ban mandatory vaccinations and prevent “discrimination” for not getting vaccinated.

The state has not announced any mandates in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill would prevent employers from taking “any adverse employment action,” such as firing or demotion, if someone refuses to get vaccinated. Access to shopping, healthcare, and a long list of other activities couldn’t be restricted by vaccination status if the bill passes."

MEANWHILE . . . SC sets new high for percent positive in latest COVID-19 update
"DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,481 tests most recently reported to them was 33.3% (not including antibody tests)."

My opinion only, but there is far too much concern about 'legalities' and not enough focus on OH&S and common sense.

From what I have read, there is no intention to do anything illegal. They already have in place antidiscrimination rules for people who cant take the vaccine due to health or religious reasons.

South Carolina (and maybe other states) will allow the virus to still spread due to unvaccinated people, when the rest of the country is (hopefully) trying to curtail it?

Why they can't act as a nation instead of acting like 50 different little countries is beyond me.

 

[weepingangel]

As Covid Cases Surge in California, Hollywood Pauses TV Production
More at link
After months of rising coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in California, several Hollywood guilds and labor unions are recommending that in-person production of television shows and independent films be temporarily halted

 

[SouthAussie]

Right, I knew ?she? was in quarantine...but I wondered if they ever did declare where she had come from. And I wonder if they will continue to follow her pot-quarantine?

I don't know. I wish I did, because it would be good to know if she brought it directly from South Africa or via another country.
I think she is at the bottom of the concern pile now. So we likely wont hear more about it. Queensland is very nervous that the NSW outbreak is going to cross their mutual border.

 

[10ofRods]

*bump* for @10ofRods

Dr Nisreen Alwan@Dr2NisreenAlwan
The UK curve is a vertical line now. Not bending it ultimately means NHS not coping. This may mean people needing critical care not receiving it. If the whole country is over capacity then patients needing ICU can’t be sent to other remote units like what’s happening now.

Thank you! I've been busy passing it along. Best illustration of what it means to "go exponential" which...two major nations (both English-speaking) are now doing.

 

[10ofRods]

Texas Representative Kay Granger. Got Vaccine in Dec. Tests positive for virus....

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger Tests Positive For COVID-19

She got it 3 weeks ago! Just one dose! In that scenario, we should probably expect 10-15% of the vaccinated to get COVID (no one knows for sure - let's say 10% is a number well-supported by the trial data).

That's why they wanted two doses! And even then, it takes quite a while for the body to respond fully (at 3 weeks out, the first shot should start to be effective - but it will take more time for it to reach maximum effectiveness). Surely this was explained to her?

So she probably got it a couple of days ago (or more). The problem, as you can see, is that such people will almost certainly remain asymptomatic (she must have had a test for a reason, I'd think). She probably was transmitting it for the past few days.

SMH.

 

[SouthAussie]

Texas Representative Kay Granger. Got Vaccine in Dec. Tests positive for virus....

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger Tests Positive For COVID-19

As with everything, it takes time for the body to build up an immunity. It takes time for a cut to heal, it takes time for sunburn to heal. Are they thinking "oh, I have had the vaccine, now I am immune"?

Experts have reiterated over and over that you must still wear a mask and social distance after the vaccine.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Some quite apt memes emerging already...

Weary Brits take to social media to find dark humour in the prospect of a new national lockdown | Daily Mail Online