SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

It’s beyond infuriating when you see people who just don’t give a shit when everyone else is making sacrifices. Didn’t think it was possible but the week that’s in it has made selfish covidiots even more annoying than usual.


I don't understand their mind set and how they don't understand that the restrictions get tougher because they are being so selfish and irresponsible yet that makes them complain even more.

It's like they think oh why are we being punished when we keep breaking the rules?
 
It’s beyond infuriating when you see people who just don’t give a shit when everyone else is making sacrifices. Didn’t think it was possible but the week that’s in it has made selfish covidiots even more annoying than usual.

It was bad enough that we spent the whole journey out on deck (imagine how cold that was in December) and will be getting the Eurotunnel back.
 
Because not only can he pass the blame (win 1) but he can do so based on it actually being more infectious (win 2) if that proves to be true.

They don't operate like the rest of us.

They've played a get of a jail free card with this for sure. Johnson never takes responsibility for anything, never has in 20 years of public office. He should have stuck to being the the regular standup act at the Tory party annual conference. The man is totally out of his depth was always looking to pass the blame onto the general public for the mess we are in.

If most of us operated like politicians 95% of marriages would end in divorce nobody would be able to hold down a job for more than a few weeks and there would be some pretty serious overcrowding in jails worldwide.
 
I would think the borders will reopen soon to those who can prove a requirement to travel. A British citizen with European residency is one thing, but I cant see how they can exclude European citizens who are stuck in the UK away from their home country.

Let's hope so. They normally allow people to always return to their place of residence, even when other restrictions are in place.

That will be up to their home country. They won’t stop them coming home will probably insist on 14 days quarantine on arrival. At least I’m hoping they will do in Ireland anyway (despite the border making life way more complicated than it should be)

Hmm then I suggest you look at how draconian Australia is being with Nationals stranded abroad. Mind you I applaud the Australian government for their stance. Would that we did the same.
 
Good summary in Science on the new variant.

Pretty balanced article. I can see the reason for concern and I think it is appropriate to be cautious and act now. Need lab experiments to be sure, but that will take months.
The evolutionary process that led to B.1.1.7 may also occur elsewhere. With vaccines being rolled out, the selective pressure on the virus is going to change, meaning variants that help the virus thrive could be selected for, says Kristian Andersen, an infectious disease researcher at Scripps Research.

Is that, at some level, implying that the vaccine might not work that well against the new variant or other new variants that might crop up?
 
Is that, at some level, implying that the vaccine might not work that well against the new variant or other new variants that might crop up?

It’s absolutely implying that. It’s always been a worry. The longer the vaccine roll-out takes the greater the risk. Having the virus pass back and forth between vaccinated and un-vaccinated people could cause viruses which are resistant to the vaccine to develop and thrive.

Although it was always assumed to be not a very big risk, because coronaviruses are fairly stable. Influenza mutates like crazy, hence you need a different vaccine every year. As per the article, one of the reasons this new strain is causing concern is that it’s a surprising amount of mutations in a very short period of time.
 
OK, I am no expert and generally pretty average in life... at best. I may be extremely angry because my future is now unknown (my fiance has a fiance visa and was due to fly here in January but now countries are blocking incoming flights from the UK.... this will have a knock on effect on flights to the UK too as airlines won't see the value). So how much of my thinking below is incorrect:

Boris and co are populist pricks who have fecked up from the start, going all the way back to Brexit... but for this lets just say since he was elected. He was elected again on a complete lie regarding his 'oven ready' Brexit deal and his since just kept fecking it up. This COVID response has been nothing short of a joke from the start - but my most recent issue is this balls up.

This feckwit promises Christmas weeks ago knowing people will be stupid. Will go out shopping and meeting people without a worry. All so he can look like Father Christmas and be some sort of saviour to his idiot followers. Surely all he had to do was not make any promises, tell people after the November lockdown they will remain in Tier 3. I honestly don't think it would have been such a bad reaction if he did, but the reason people kicked off after was because of confusion about the tiers and he promised Christmas. As far as I am aware, no other country promised such stupidity so covered themselves. His reluctance to be bought back down to earth has caused infections to go through the roof and royally fecked us up. Instead of accepting they misread the situation, he blames the new strain and the language they used was just ridiculous - "out of control" etc. Forgetting their words also are heard outside the UK, every other country was able to pile on us and point the finger at us. In doing so, they have fecked the economy more, meant the country doesn't get goods and damaged people's lives beyond Christmas/NY with his reckless selfishness.

Al so he and his idiot mates don't have to admit they were wrong.

Also, a bit of a side question: Is it true Germany and co were seeing huge COVID rises as well? Is it not possible they had the strain but because their leaders aren't complete morons, they didn't need to find an excuse/something else to blame for cancelling Christmas as they never promised it?
 
India has banned flights from UK till 31st.

That's really worried me. My fiance is flying there (from elsewhere) and then coming here on Jan 10th. Now realistically they won't resume flights by then. I know they say it's only banned coming from the UK, but realistically flights going to the UK will be cancelled as well.

The visa she is on requires us to get married in a short time frame. It was hard enough with Tier 4 banning weddings but her not even being in the country is a fecking double whammy
 
Good summary in Science on the new variant.

Pretty balanced article. I can see the reason for concern and I think it is appropriate to be cautious and act now. Need lab experiments to be sure, but that will take months.

Sounds about right, caution is needed but i wouldn't be at all surprised if we quickly learn this variant is no more transmittable it's just become dominant at the right time during what was already a surge in cases. Seems to be the thinking coming out of Europe anyway.

Even it was was 70% more effective at transmitting to another person it still needs significant social contact to have this spread. It isn't sneaking through people's letter boxes. If we'd have had the correct tiers to stop spread it simply wouldn't have spiked.
 
Also, a bit of a side question: Is it true Germany and co were seeing huge COVID rises as well? Is it not possible they had the strain but because their leaders aren't complete morons, they didn't need to find an excuse/something else to blame for cancelling Christmas as they never promised it?
German politicians have been waffling about Christmas for the last 6 weeks too. It's possible the UK are currently "punished" for one of the things it actually does better, the sequencing of new strains. It's entirely possible this new strain is already in a lot of places in mainland Europe and we just don't know it yet. I guess the current measures are still justified just in case it's not.
 
It’s beyond infuriating when you see people who just don’t give a shit when everyone else is making sacrifices. Didn’t think it was possible but the week that’s in it has made selfish covidiots even more annoying than usual.
One of our neighbours, a teacher went to Italy to take up a teaching job. This person is a non-masker, just doesn’t think it will affect her. Loads of pictures of her going places in Italy without a mask to be seen. Came back for Christmas the other day, straight out for dinner with her daughters in Dublin City centre with not a mask between them
 
But not retrospectively fixed.
Can I say that I completely disagree with someone else changing the wording of my post.
He didn’t really change your original post as in he can’t edit your original post. He’s quoted it a d changed a bit to make it humorous and probably what many are thinking! Don’t take it personally, it’s a common post on the Caf
 
That's really worried me. My fiance is flying there (from elsewhere) and then coming here on Jan 10th. Now realistically they won't resume flights by then. I know they say it's only banned coming from the UK, but realistically flights going to the UK will be cancelled as well.

The visa she is on requires us to get married in a short time frame. It was hard enough with Tier 4 banning weddings but her not even being in the country is a fecking double whammy
Sorry to hear and sounds really stressful for you both. Surely they will accept that these are mitigating factors and delay the visa accordingly?

If I were you, I’d send an official email to your MP today explaining your specific situation including dates and references numbers, basically with enough information so all they have to do is forward your email with a cover letter to the appropriate Government department to assess.

I’ve always found my MP to be prompt and super helpful When I’ve written to them. Am sure yours will be too.

Hope it works out for you
 
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Sorry to hear and sounds really stressful for you both. Surely they will accept that these are mitigating factors and delay the visa accordingly?

If I were you, I’d send an official email to your MP today explaining your specific situation including dates and references numbers, basically with enough information so all they have to do is forward your email with a cover letter to the appropriate Government department to assess.

I’ve always found my MP to be prompt and super helpful When I’ve written to them. Am sure yours will be too.

Hope it works out for

Thank you. I did ask the registry office this and they said it's unlikely, or rather never had it. But I am sure it would work so will definitely use this method if we are stuck

But biggest problem now is getting into the country all cos Boris didn't want to accept he overpromised
 
Good summary in Science on the new variant.

Pretty balanced article. I can see the reason for concern and I think it is appropriate to be cautious and act now. Need lab experiments to be sure, but that will take months.

Only anecdotal evidence but a little alarming, from this article.

Another worry is that B.1.1.7 could cause more severe disease. There is anecdotal evidence that the South African variant may be doing that in young people and those who are otherwise healthy, says John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s concerning, but we really need more data to be sure.” The African Task Force for Coronavirus will convene an emergency meeting to discuss the issue on Monday, Nkengasong says.

During the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 it is believed that a mutated strain of the virus had emerged that could kill healthy young people within 24 hours of infection. In just three months new cases rocketed there was a huge spike of deaths amongst young healthy people. Pretty sobering!
 
Scientists in South Africa say the new strain there appears to be unrelated to the UK one but could be similarly contagious according to the BBC
 
Hmm then I suggest you look at how draconian Australia is being with Nationals stranded abroad. Mind you I applaud the Australian government for their stance. Would that we did the same.
Yes, just looking at the latest clarification you're right. As far as Italy is concerned, flights to the UK/from the UK are banned in both directions and that also applies to Italian citizens and residents of Italy. You also can't come in via another European country if you've been in the UK within the previous two weeks.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.

I think quite simply Boris and co scored an own goal. Yes this new strain is more infectious, but they seemed to make it out that it originated here and said it's 70% more infectious just so he could justify going back on his stupid promises. He didn't want to look like the bad guy. In doing so, the rest of the world gets to point at us and just blame us going forward.

I am not denying this new strain isn't bad. I am fuming because Boris and co's language and aim was to make people not blame them for not seeing family. Instead, they made it a million times worse
 
I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk
, its up to you.
More like "you catch it, loads of your friends and family and people you come in contact with catch it. You all die."
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.
The trouble is, it's your life but it's often other people you put at risk. If not your granny, then the granny you passed at at the supermarket. If not your pregnant partner, then the pregnant partner of someone at work or who you sat next to on the train.

And if you (or one of your contacts, or one of their contacts) do end up in a queue at the hospital - then you'll be blocking the bed that might be needed by someone who needs cancer treatment, or the casualty in a car crash whose ambulance gets delayed.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.
Agreed.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.
The last bit of this post is simply hilarious. Disgusting also, but mainly hilarious.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.

Unfrotunately for me, an asthmatic without a death wish, your wonderful attitude to life could infect and kill me in a particularly painful way.
 


Not great news about potential for mass testing helping safe return to universities.

Is that so bad? 3% is crap, but when the virus is so prevalent, more than 50% of people who test positive will be infected. They can then have a proper test to make sure.

Doesnt seem like an issue

EDIT - I am wrong. It's missing 97% of positives
 
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But not retrospectively fixed.
Can I say that I completely agree with someone else changing the wording of my post and want more of it.
Fixed


Im sorry, that was just to much to resist. I apologise (for the first one) No offence intended.
 
Is that so bad? 3% is crap, but when the virus is so prevalent, more than 50% of people who test positive will be infected. They can then have a proper test to make sure.

Doesnt seem like an issue

Read the whole thread. Poor sensitivity means missed cases. Which is far more of a worry than false positives.
 
He didn’t really change your original post as in he can’t edit your original post. He’s quoted it a d changed a bit to make it humorous and probably what many are thinking! Don’t take it personally, it’s a common post on the Caf

Appreciate your explanation. Still annoying that someone can end up changing a post that has my name. But if it is a common occurrence then so be it.
 
Does anybody believe this new strain is being exaggerated and used as a fear mongering tactic?
Christmas round the corner, Vaccine in place, people relaxing on their restrictions. I have difficulty believing much of what we are told when the easiest way to gain more compliance from the masses towards the restrictions would be to suggest we are all fecked all over again.

I wish we were just left to live normal now. You catch it, you catch it. You need a ventilator, you go to hospital, no space at the hospital, you die.

Your life, your risk, its up to you.

Are you for real? Even if the new strain is not responsible for the worrying rise in cases, and it still might not be, it doesn't hide the fact that that transmission of the virus is rising at an alarming rate.

So according to you covid victims can just die, along with other people needing critical care, because that's exactly what will happen if the our hospitals get overrun. This selfish attitude thats "its my life I can do what I like" is one of the reasons why this torture continues. Perhaps you've discovered some new medical breakthrough that prevents you from passing the virus on to others including those that would be caring for you if you ever ended up being hospitalised. If so please enlighten us.

We all want life to return to normal but you just come across as either one of those crackpot conspiracy theorists or a petulant and not very bright 5 year old. Perhaps both.
 
Fixed


Im sorry, that was just to much to resist. I apologise (for the first one) No offence intended.

And none taken my friend. Someone has explained it to me and I now understand. This has happened on a number of occasions so I should not be surprised.
 
Are you for real?

I have been tossing ideas around regarding conspiracies in my moments of madness and what i conclude is that if I were a world leader, looking to assert control around the world or looking at having 80% of the globe microchipped. Then i would probably make a virus. A virus that nobody has ever known. That is super contagious. A virus that infects immediately but doesn't give any clues for 2 weeks, giving you plenty of time to pass it around.

I would then strike fear into every single living person by exaggerating its effects. Forcing everyone to stay inside. I would massage the stats to cause more devastation and demand for a vaccine.

Whilst all this goes on i have my best scientists inventing a LIQUID microchip that we can disguise within a vaccine.

After 15 months of hell on earth, these clowns (me included) are so fed up and just want a return to the norm, they all queue up for what they believe is just a simple vaccine..... Little do they know, that as a world leader, i now have everyone microchipped. Everyone under surveillance and nobody is aware.