O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Geoff Parkstone]

Makes total sense to me, Omicron is relatively mild yet fast spreader. We can and do give protection to the most vulnerable, the rest including you and me can probably, at worst, get immunity from getting covid.

My mum is 90 in a week or two, she got covid last week. She hasn't had a 4th shot. She basically shrugged it off as being no big deal.

We can't stay scared of it, have to get on with life now.

[ramAnag]

Makes total sense to me, Omicron is relatively mild yet fast spreader. We can and do give protection to the most vulnerable, the rest including you and me can probably, at worst, get immunity from getting covid.

My mum is 90 in a week or two, she got covid last week. She hasn't had a 4th shot. She basically shrugged it off as being no big deal.

We can't stay scared of it, have to get on with life now.

Says the man who (wisely, imo) continues to wear a mask in shops, on public transport and in other public places.
I’m not suggesting we should ‘stay scared of it’ and not ‘get on with life now’, GP, as my having tickets for numerous performances, gigs, matches etc over the next few months proves.
You, however - despite your political heart bypass - are an intelligent human being capable of exercising a balance between caution and participation. From what I’ve seen, all too many are not...hence, I suspect, the growing number of cases and me simply querying the wisdom of postponing the second booster and abandoning free testing for those between 50-75 until the autumn.

I’m not, btw, suggesting I’m definitely right. My scientific knowledge is limited...I’m just asking the question.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I don't profess expertise in immunology either, but we all have a little understanding of human nature, and from what I could see people were sick of lockdowns, masks and social distancing long ago, and to keep trying to enforce it was akin to continuing to flog a long dead horse. There is no way either could be enforced other than by consent, and that was rapidly dissipating.

So yes I continue to use mask mostly and still shy away from crowds, but that is now for my protection - which I can control - and not for that of others who have long since mostly abandoned their own protection. At the start of the masking process I wore one for both my protection and that of others.

As regards a 4th shot before autumn? Again with minimal scientific backup, it seems the virus "doesnt like summer" and is at its most effective in colder weather. Its like flu in that way, and we have a flu jab once a year in the autumn. Seems sensible to thus protect against it in the same way.

Also there's the issue of "vaccine over confidence" the mentality whereby people think because they have been vaccinated, they don't need to take other precautions. Ive known more people who have had covid post vaccination than pre. perhaps the more you vaccinate the more the case rates rise?

Ultimately case rates don't really matter, its excess death rates that do. As I've said upthread, every case is in itself a vaccination.....

]"I’m not, btw, suggesting I’m definitely right" Did I just dream that, or is it April 1st already?

[ramAnag]

I don't profess expertise in immunology either, but we all have a little understanding of human nature, and from what I could see people were sick of lockdowns, masks and social distancing long ago, and to keep trying to enforce it was akin to continuing to flog a long dead horse. There is no way either could be enforced other than by consent, and that was rapidly dissipating.

So yes I continue to use mask mostly and still shy away from crowds, but that is now for my protection - which I can control - and not for that of others who have long since mostly abandoned their own protection. At the start of the masking process I wore one for both my protection and that of others.

As regards a 4th shot before autumn? Again with minimal scientific backup, it seems the virus "doesnt like summer" and is at its most effective in colder weather. Its like flu in that way, and we have a flu jab once a year in the autumn. Seems sensible to thus protect against it in the same way.

Also there's the issue of "vaccine over confidence" the mentality whereby people think because they have been vaccinated, they don't need to take other precautions. Ive known more people who have had covid post vaccination than pre. perhaps the more you vaccinate the more the case rates rise?

Ultimately case rates don't really matter, its excess death rates that do. As I've said upthread, every case is in itself a vaccination.....

]"I’m not, btw, suggesting I’m definitely right" Did I just dream that, or is it April 1st already?

Lol...pot...kettle...black.

[MadAmster]

Er indoors tested positive yesterday, probably caught it on Saturday working at a concert, 17000 in the Ziggo Dome. I tested negative, for which I'm grateful as it won't stop me caring for her while she's ill.

It's very flu like with her. Sore throat, cough, sneezing, tight and painful forehead and a temperature.

That leaves just me, my 75 year old Sister in Law and my 84 year old Mother in Law from the immediate family (UK and NL) who haven't had it yet. The 3 oldest in the family. They dunna mek em like they used to

[swaledale]

Er indoors tested positive yesterday, probably caught it on Saturday working at a concert, 17000 in the Ziggo Dome. I tested negative, for which I'm grateful as it won't stop me caring for her while she's ill.

It's very flu like with her. Sore throat, cough, sneezing, tight and painful forehead and a temperature.

That leaves just me, my 75 year old Sister in Law and my 84 year old Mother in Law from the immediate family (UK and NL) who haven't had it yet. The 3 oldest in the family. They dunna mek em like they used to

That sounds familiar MA, basically like flu if your lucky, which most are, the headaches are the worst thing. Wish her a speeedy recovery, think your likely to get it though!

[MadAmster]

That sounds familiar MA, basically like flu if your lucky, which most are, the headaches are the worst thing. Wish her a speeedy recovery, think your likely to get it though!

Odds are you're right Swale, however, just done another test and I'm happy to announce the result was negative. I've slept the past 2 nights in the spare room which removes the chance of infection for 1/3 of the time. I wouldn't be the first significant other who didn't get the lurgy.

GP. Hope your Mam gets through it and has no lasting symptoms.

[ramAnag]

Odds are you're right Swale, however, just done another test and I'm happy to announce the result was negative. I've slept the past 2 nights in the spare room which removes the chance of infection for 1/3 of the time. I wouldn't be the first significant other who didn't get the lurgy.

GP. Hope your Mam gets through it and has no lasting symptoms.

It’s a strange thing, MA. Anecdotally I know far more people who have succumbed to Covid over the last four or five months than I ever did when it was allegedly at it’s peak, including seemingly inexplicable cases where families go down with it in quick succession but one or two family members somehow remain untouched.
The celebratory tone of us now being ‘post pandemic’ is a complete nonsense imo, indeed a visit I was meant to be on today has had to be cancelled owing to...yes you guessed it...Covid!
On the plus side, it seems that cases, even within the same household, inexplicably vary from ‘flu like’ to asymptomatic so there’s every chance you’ll escape. Hope so.

[MadAmster]

It’s a strange thing, MA. Anecdotally I know far more people who have succumbed to Covid over the last four or five months than I ever did when it was allegedly at it’s peak, including seemingly inexplicable cases where families go down with it in quick succession but one or two family members somehow remain untouched.
The celebratory tone of us now being ‘post pandemic’ is a complete nonsense imo, indeed a visit I was meant to be on today has had to be cancelled owing to...yes you guessed it...Covid!
On the plus side, it seems that cases, even within the same household, inexplicably vary from ‘flu like’ to asymptomatic so there’s every chance you’ll escape. Hope so.

We probably are post pandemic and now in the realms of the endemic. Flu like symptoms that will put some in hospital, kill others but not anywhere near the numbers we were seeing 2 years ago. Numbers similar to those of a flu season. Now it's endemic, chances are most who get it in the future will not bother testing for Corona but just think they've got a cold, a cough or the flu and many won't even think "I've got Covid".

[ramAnag]

We probably are post pandemic and now in the realms of the endemic. Flu like symptoms that will put some in hospital, kill others but not anywhere near the numbers we were seeing 2 years ago. Numbers similar to those of a flu season. Now it's endemic, chances are most who get it in the future will not bother testing for Corona but just think they've got a cold, a cough or the flu and many won't even think "I've got Covid".

Have to respectfully disagree, MA. The difference between pandemic and endemic has nothing to do with the severity of an illness and everything to do with the ease with which it spreads.
We are in no way ‘post pandemic’ because Covid continues to spread with ease and, as ever, doesn’t respect regional or national borders.
The only reason it is now, largely, less severe is because of the impact of vaccination but scientists, as opposed to politicians, are still urging caution and the removal of free tests - especially a a time of widespread financial hardship - is, imo, a huge mistake.