Coronavirus (2 Viewers)

[Cloud]

AIUI immunity could be for life. In SARS1 it's been like 20 years or however long since. What happens is the same as any other virus - after the antibodies fade (3-6 months by the looks of it), you get an infection and the memory cells are like "ah right it's this shit again" and triggers the creation of new antibodies, which takes a couple of days, so you feel a bit cruddy in the meantime. But not long enough for serious symptoms to kick in. Then they make short work of it...

I think the boosters are to a) tweak for variants so that immunity doesn't fall behind while the virus eventually theoretically mutates beyond recognition (in the worst case) and b) to keep those antibodies from fading while we're fighting waves of the thing, making it easier to control spread.

as always I could be talking bollocks, it's just what I understand of it from following it for 18 months

 

[lolly]

I thought I read it was thought that vaccine protection lasts at least six months. And I guess that by September, the most vulnerable will be at that point from their second jab.

 

[Soldi]

 

[Cloud]

It seems that the story flip flops between antibodies fading quickly and lasting 6+ months so fast my head's spinning lol. I think on a biological level the body just seems unlikely to keep something floating around for too long if it remains undetected.

Either way the link between infection and hospitalisation is extremely well weakened and there will be loads more jabbed by September. This I imagine will be for the oldies first who by then many will be past 6 months but can afford those "couple of days of crud" less than we can

 

[lolly]

I heard on the radio yesterday that although new infections are up 70% week on week, hospitalisations are only up 11%.

 

[Cloud]

Yeah take a look at this graph

 

[Soldi]

Yeah take a look at this graph

Is this the POTW graph?

 

[Cloud]

Is this the POTW graph?

As far as I know, Publicly Owned Treatment Works have remained relatively level throughout the pandemic

 

[Mats]

Booster jabs likely to start in September. Do we know how long immunity is meant to last after having 2 vaccines?

two jabs? the official calculation here is "at least 12 months" in most cases

 

[Rita]

I have mentioned on here a few times about an elderly farmer that lives up the top of the hill behind us and he looks after his wife who has dementia. He has caught covid and is in intensive care, and his wife has been taken in to respite at a home as she couldn’t live herself. The town closest to us is apparently absolutely riddled with it so I assume he must have caught it going to the supermarket, or a shop in town as they don’t go anywhere else.

 

[Rita]

I am assuming she may also have it, but I am really not sure.

 

[lolly]

My aunt and uncle live together and somehow he got it (after one vaccination) but she didn't. And he's fine now, at 81.

Good job, I've already had two uncles and one aunt die since March, so I'm really not ready for another one yet.

 

[Rita]

They have both been double vaccinated but they are elderly and frail. I still have massive confidence in the vaccinations in general.

 

[Cloud]

Was worried for a bit there over the weekend staying with a friend - nose running like mad despite hay fever tablets, sneezing, tight chest...

Then it dawned on me "what about the dogs (who keep licking me, and made my arm come out in a rash)". I have a cat allergy which causes these exact symptoms, rarely seem to have any problems with dogs, but apparently dog allergy is also a thing, a lot of people have both and some breeds are worse for the dander than others
Kind of sucks as I love dogs and thought I'd probably have one when I'm retired or something but oh well. At least it's not covid - soon as I got in the car to go home it started clearing up and feeling fine now, just took a rapid test to double check and that's clear too.

So yeah TIL I'm allergic to dogs as well as cats.

 

[Indie]

Just been reading that the UK now has more daily positive tests than the entire of the EU.

It's coming home

 

[Cloud]

Herd immunity strategy clearly being used at this point - numbers are going to roar, and let's just hope youngsters aren't susceptible to long covid...

 

[Mats]

figures are tiny here at the moment but delta seems to be gaining momentum...

 

[Lucille]

I feel they’d rather get the wave over with over summer than winter.

 

[Pingu]

Yes it does kind of feel a bit irresponsible to open up at this point especially when they’re just kind of assuming it’ll rip through the population then come up against the vaccine and die out and we don’t KNOW for sure that’ll be the case.

I see the mental health argument is resurfacing again, which is totally legitimate when we’re in lockdown. But could somebody more qualified than I to talk on this subject explain how not being able to go clubbing or to the theatre or have 20 people around to your house will be detrimental to people’s mental well-being on the scale being discussed? Genuine question.

 

[Star]

Just been reading that the UK now has more daily positive tests than the entire of the EU.

It's coming home

And yet another fortnight and all legal things will be removed. So no one legally has to wear a mask. I feel that's really unfair for people who work with the public.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Watching what is being planned in England is very concerning. What good reason is there to get rid of masks? Literally the smallest of infringements, why not keep it around whilst cases are still rising?

 

[Pingu]

I wonder what the first major supermarket/cinema etc will be to put themselves out there and say masks will still be mandatory in their premises after the 19th?

It’s inevitable that someone will do it and the likes of GB News will have an absolute field day.

 

[Tisch]

Watching what is being planned in England is very concerning. What good reason is there to get rid of masks? Literally the smallest of infringements, why not keep it around whilst cases are still rising?

I agree they need to become personal choice eventually but the way it's even being mentioned at a point life isn't actually fully open yet is (once again) just completely irresponsible. There needs to be huge justification to remove the measure - something like - no cases for a significant amount of time. Somewhere we're clearly not at yet.

It unfortunately reeks of appeasing a small minority crowd who - to my vision anyway - seem to have been getting a bit louder in recent weeks.

 

[Tisch]

I wonder what the first major supermarket/cinema etc will be to put themselves out there and say masks will still be mandatory in their premises after the 19th?

It’s inevitable that someone will do it and the likes of GB News will have an absolute field day.

I'm not sure anyone will. It the government say it's "personal choice" the supermarkets can completely absolve themselves of any responsibility.

Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Pingu]

I'm not sure anyone will. It the government say it's "personal choice" the supermarkets can completely absolve themselves of any responsibility.

Hope I'm wrong though.

One of the more ballsy brands might just in the knowledge that their CEO will be invited onto every single current affairs show to talk about it. Easy publicity.

 

[RJN]

I'm not sure anyone will. It the government say it's "personal choice" the supermarkets can completely absolve themselves of any responsibility.

Hope I'm wrong though.

When our mask mandate was lifted, I thought a “liberal” brand like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would still have masks but they all got rid of their policies immediately

 

[RJN]

When our mask mandate was lifted, I thought a “liberal” brand like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would still have masks but they all got rid of their policies immediately

Yes I know that Whole Foods is owned by Amazon and isn’t actually liberal, but I meant more their branding

 

[ZenGiraffe]

How is the US doing? Have you had the Delta variant properly yet?

 

[funky]

Just add me to the list of people that sees no reason why masks need to be removed from supermarkets, public transport, hospitals etc when everything opens up again. The main reason is, despite what the Karens will say, it’s such an easy thing to do and if we all do it it makes a difference. But this is what happens when you have a populist government who cares more about PR and polling than safety.

 

[Iguana]

One of the more ballsy brands might just in the knowledge that their CEO will be invited onto every single current affairs show to talk about it. Easy publicity.

Now that's why they pay you the big bucks!

 

[Rita]

Will it not still be the case that most will still wear masks? I certainly will be. They expect cases to hit 40k a day by July 19th.

 

[RJN]

How is the US doing? Have you had the Delta variant properly yet?

Cases and deaths are way down. We have about 200 deaths a day but it seems like everyone has just accepted it as the new normal?
It’s extremely easy to get a vaccine if you’re 12 or older, but there’s a significant part of the population that’s refusing to get one.

the world is completely open and back to normal
I think the delta variant is here but not yet dominant.
I wish I had more clear answers but it’s hard to even really know how it’s going here.

 

[RJN]

I don’t think 200 deaths a day is acceptable, but it’s pretty much all people who are refusing to get vaccinated, so I’m not sure what can be done about it besides being locked down forever

 

[Ellie]

I think masks should be removed from places like theatres and cinemas where you’re already distanced in a stationary position, but definitely supermarkets and public transport should really continue.

 

[lolly]

Cases and deaths are way down. We have about 200 deaths a day but it seems like everyone has just accepted it as the new normal?
It’s extremely easy to get a vaccine if you’re 12 or older, but there’s a significant part of the population that’s refusing to get one.

the world is completely open and back to normal
I think the delta variant is here but not yet dominant.
I wish I had more clear answers but it’s hard to even really know how it’s going here.

I've just read the delta variant is now dominant in 4 states

 

[RJN]

I've just read the delta variant is now dominant in 4 states

Based on just this, it seems like it’ll be dominant in every state soon

 

[RJN]

And yet a significant portion of my extended family doesn’t believe in covid and won’t get vaccinated

 

[Tisch]

Will it not still be the case that most will still wear masks? I certainly will be. They expect cases to hit 40k a day by July 19th.

Personally, I've seen the use slipping as the vaccines and confidence started going up. There are people who will remain sensible for sure. But that's definitely not everyone.

 

[Star]

It unfortunately reeks of appeasing a small minority crowd who - to my vision anyway - seem to have been getting a bit louder in recent weeks.

These are the people who have all found excuses not to wear a mask anyway no doubt.

 

[Star]

Personally, I've seen the use slipping as the vaccines and confidence started going up. There are people who will remain sensible for sure. But that's definitely not everyone.

I agree. Looking round my work each day you see more and more not wearing masks, staff getting lax about asking people to wear them. And it almost feels what's the point in having the battle if in two weeks time it won't be law anyway.

It's awful that the government are putting staff at risk, no matter how small the risk is.