Coronavirus (2021) thread

[meltonblue]

If you can't understand that vaccinating everybody remotely at risk and having ~60% population immunity will prevent any level of material excess deaths, which now hasn't been seen for weeks anyway, you're an idiot.

Prevention of deaths in the short term isn’t why we need to be very careful about the path out of lockdown or being wary about a third wave in Europe though.

 

[cleavers]

you're an idiot

If I'm an idiot, you need to seek help immediately, but carry on.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

This pandemic is over in the UK.
We have >40m either vaccinated or infected with this virus, of which all of the most at risk groups are included.
This pandemic is over in the UK. Only a fool couldn't see that.

This pandemic has been vastly reduced in the UK by shutting our borders and locking down.

The pandemic is not over all around the world. All it takes is one variant to be “immune” to the vaccine to enter the UK and we are back to square one.

We haven’t even left lockdown yet and so have no idea whether the vaccination program is fully effective at suppressing a 3rd wave.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

If you can't understand that vaccinating everybody remotely at risk and having ~60% population immunity will prevent any level of material excess deaths, which now hasn't been seen for weeks anyway, you're an idiot.

Moron

 

[Manc in London]

Educationally, I think a lot will catch up quickly (and there’s some that would actually have done really well in lockdown depending on the situation of the parents). It’s social interaction and the lack of it that’s been the real issue.

I feel very sorry for those in a level, gcse or first years though - my sons doing his GCSEs this year and it’s still not fully clear in a few subjects how the assessments are going to work.

My daughter basically missed three months of year 6 and home schooled for part of year 7. I think she has done well in terms of learning but she went to a secondary school where she knew only two others (she doesn't like either of them). Socially, it's been difficult for her. Making friends when you have to wear a mask all the time and are not allowed to talk in the building outside of class, has meant making friends has not been so easy.

In her online lessons, classes were full for English, maths, French, history, science and geography. In other subjects, less than 10 would participate. Most did not do their homework (about 7 hours a week). My liitle un completed every piece of work. I think some parents have a lot to answer for. No doubt, schools will be blamed.

 

[Bluewonder]

This pandemic has been vastly reduced in the UK by shutting our borders and locking down.

The pandemic is not over all around the world. All it takes is one variant to be “immune” to the vaccine to enter the UK and we are back to square one.

We haven’t even left lockdown yet and so have no idea whether the vaccination program is fully effective at suppressing a 3rd wave.

The pandemic has been reduced by locking down, agreed.

The pandemic has been ended by vaccinating the vulnerable and getting to a level of herd immunity that will prevent a significant surge in excess deaths.

1 variant evading the vaccine would not be square one, it would simply take us from square 99 to square 98.

 

[Bluewonder]

Moron

A considered and intelligent riposte to a factual post. Pat yourself on the back.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The pandemic has been reduced by locking down, agreed.

The pandemic has been ended by vaccinating the vulnerable and getting to a level of herd immunity that will prevent a significant surge in excess deaths.

1 variant evading the vaccine would not be square one, it would simply take us from square 99 to square 98.

One variant evading the vaccine that has an R rate of 3 would put us right back where we started.

 

[Indaparkside]

This is the 1st time I have seen the thread go over 6 hours without a comment, we must be going the right way at last

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Bollocks, but carry on being an idiot.

The ignore button is a wonderful thing for non-mods.

This thread & the dips thread look very different with my personal 'banhammer'.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

This is the 1st time I have seen the thread go over 6 hours without a comment, we must be going the right way at last

Didn’t you want the record to last longer than 6 hours?

 

[M18CTID]

Is there any chance we can have a bit of balance? The poster who said we were out of the pandemic was jumping the gun but the data continues to be positive and is clear evidence not just of lockdown effect but also - more importantly - of vaccine effect and surely nobody can claim otherwise. That said, we should still remain cautious of any curveballs but throwing in scenarios of new strains that are totally resistant to the vaccine and with catastrophic R rates into the bargain don't exactly help matters when that hasn't even happened yet and might never happen.

 

[shemnel]

One variant evading the vaccine that has an R rate of 3 would put us right back where we started.

out of interest, how long would you be prepared to wait to see if this eventuality unfolded?

 

[Indaparkside]

Didn’t you want the record to last longer than 6 hours?

I’ve started the fucking thing off again

 

[shemnel]

This is the 1st time I have seen the thread go over 6 hours without a comment, we must be going the right way at last

still plenty of twists and turns i expect, but the fact the Covid politics thread is now updating with as much frequency as this one tells you where we're at in this!! the fallout approaches.

 

[Blue Elvis]

Can any of our resident Covid experts explain something for me please. Asking for a friend !

If we are vaccinating all care home residents and the vaccine works why do we need to compulsorily vaccinate care home staff?

If the vaccine doesn’t work what is the point in compulsorily vaccinating staff ?

 

[Tonster]

Can any of our resident Covid experts explain something for me please. Asking for a friend !

If we are vaccinating all care home residents and the vaccine works why do we need to compulsorily vaccinate care home staff?

If the vaccine doesn’t work what is the point in compulsorily vaccinating staff ?

Because no vaccines are 100% effective and those staff are dealing with the most vulnerable people in our entire country.

 

[Bluewonder]

One variant evading the vaccine that has an R rate of 3 would put us right back where we started.

Innumerate nonsense.

 

[Del_Bosque]

Can any of our resident Covid experts explain something for me please. Asking for a friend !

If we are vaccinating all care home residents and the vaccine works why do we need to compulsorily vaccinate care home staff?

If the vaccine doesn’t work what is the point in compulsorily vaccinating staff ?

Immune responses are lower in older people, they can wane faster or be reduced by other illnesses.

So you don't want staff going in there shedding viruses, they should all be having flu and Covid vaccines every year

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Is there any chance we can have a bit of balance? The poster who said we were out of the pandemic was jumping the gun but the data continues to be positive and is clear evidence not just of lockdown effect but also - more importantly - of vaccine effect and surely nobody can claim otherwise. That said, we should still remain cautious of any curveballs but throwing in scenarios of new strains that are totally resistant to the vaccine and with catastrophic R rates into the bargain don't exactly help matters when that hasn't even happened yet and might never happen.

Several of us said we would be in a much better place by around Easter and that looks like being the case. We have had a fair amount of positive news in recent days including the 100% effectiveness (currently) of the Oxford / AZ vaccine against serious illness and the record number of vaccinations. In addition to the reductions in U.K. deaths and hospitalisations and being closer to restrictions starting to be eased.