Coronavirus (2021) thread

[BlueAnorak]

Polish case and death numbers today are horrific. 30k cases and 575 deaths.
For a population of 38m thats equivalent to the numbers we were getting at the start of January.

 

[Healdplace]

In the past 8 days only one day after 5 days of add ons in the England hospital deaths (13 Mar at 76) has been above the 60s.

The last two 5 day totals for deaths re-allocated to the actual day of death are 18 Mar (42) and 19 Mar (44).

 

[Healdplace]

Polish case and death numbers today are horrific. 30k cases and 575 deaths.
For a population of 38m thats equivalent to the numbers we were getting at the start of January.

Do they have the Kent variant?

 

[Claytop]

 

[roubaixtuesday]

And as an aside, the incidence of blood clot amongst those vaccinated with the AZ product is not only lower than in the general population (which I knew, but still find hilarious). What I did not know is that it's also lower than for the pfizer vaccination population!

Yes.

But...

So suspending it over blood clot "fears" was always bollocks.

The incidence of a rare, but very serious type of clot was higher. Suspension was certainly arguably overcautious but by no means bollocks.

 

[worsleyweb]

Lol.

The conservative govt has just erected more barriers to free trade than ever enacted by a democracy in peacetime. But that's for a different thread.

lol!

 

[M18CTID]

I was speaking to my colleague in Bordeaux about this only the other day and it's abundantly clear to many in France that their rubbishing of the AZ vaccine was nothing more than political bullshit.

And as an aside, the incidence of blood clot amongst those vaccinated with the AZ product is not only lower than in the general population (which I knew, but still find hilarious). What I did not know is that it's also lower than for the pfizer vaccination population! So suspending it over blood clot "fears" was always bollocks.

So would you say that after talking to your colleague, a lot of the French people (beyond all the vaccine sceptics) saw through it and didn't fall for it then? It's difficult for someone like me to gauge it from afar but good for them if that's the case. The damage that Macron could've caused by basically saying the AZ vaccine wasn't worth a wank for older people was potentially catastrophic

 

[Healdplace]

Scotland data:

3 deaths - was 12 last week

692 cases - was 625 last week

(NB - 57 of todays cases are from 15 Feb to 4 Mar and seem to have got 'lost' in a lab and added today)

3.1% positivity - was 3.1% last week

321 patients - down 20 in day - was 422 last week

31 ventilated icu - up 3 in day - was 38 last week

 

[BlueHammer85]

India today claimed it has discovered a double mutant coronavirus variant that spreads more easily and may make vaccines less potent.

It said the the strain, which has two key alterations on its spike protein, was detected in samples in the western state of Maharashtra.

Indian scientists believe the variant is a hybrid of two different Covid strains, which happens when two viruses merge together inside an infected person.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Yes.

But...



The incidence of a rare, but very serious type of clot was higher. Suspension was certainly arguably overcautious but by no means bollocks.

Of course it was bollocks. I have no idea why you feel the need to defend such daft actions. Are you French or something? (Genuine question).

(a) the WHO - for example - were telling everyone it was completely safe and to press ahead,

(b) the data did not suggest that there was a serious problem, given that the incidences were so low, EVEN IF caused by the vaccine.

And most importantly

(c) the numbers of excess deaths due to NOT vaccinating would obviously be much higher given (b) above

and

(d) the negative impact upon public confidence is enormous, resulting in difficulty in achieving maximum vaccine take up, which is essential. We can see that right now.

It was an absolutely idiotic thing to do. Decisions made by people unqualified to make them, for all the wrong reasons.

 

[Chippy_boy]

So would you say that after talking to your colleague, a lot of the French people (beyond all the vaccine sceptics) saw through it and didn't fall for it then? It's difficult for someone like me to gauge it from afar but good for them if that's the case. The damage that Macron could've caused by basically saying the AZ vaccine wasn't worth a wank for older people was potentially catastrophic

I think the educated classes saw through it yes. Whether Mrs Miggins from the pie shop has the same view, unfortunately I doubt. There seems to be a lot of resistance to being vaccinated, something we are not seeing in the UK.

 

[Healdplace]

Scotland vaccinations update:

2, 249, 612 first doses given - 34, 940 today - was 32, 272 yesterday & 38, 311 last week

249, 257 second doses given - 13, 586 today - was 10. 575 yesterday & 10, 987 last week

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Of course it was bollocks. I have no idea why you feel the need to defend such daft actions. Are you French or something? (Genuine question).

Francaise? Moi? Helas, non, je suis un vrai Anglais, mais je pense que l'entente c'est beaucoup plus importante que le jugement.

(with sincere apologies to anyone actually fluent in French for my long forgotten schoolboy language skills and alziness in looking for the right accents)

I'm not trying to defend their actions, I'm trying to say that they are understandable, and not without foundation. They were not based, as you put forward, on the overall incidence of blood clots (which would be bollocks) and they need to be seen in a context of a culture of extreme caution of medical side effects and scepticism of authority prevalent in some countries.

In such a context, being seen as ultra cautious may well be perceived as protecting the vaccine, as any other approach would be instantly perceived as a coverup, and actually be more damaging.

As I said, I don't agree with this, and I think there is much to criticise in the response in many European countries, but I'm not a vaccine safety expert, nor do I have great insight into the best way to help a rational approach to vaccine safety in this context. I strongly suspect the same applies to you!

 

[roubaixtuesday]

It was an absolutely idiotic thing to do. Decisions made by people unqualified to make them

Whether you agree with them or not, I strongly suggest the Paul Ehrlich Institute are, in fact, better qualified than your good self to judge vaccine safety.

Homepage

Homepage des Auftritts der Nebensprache

www.pei.de

(It was their recommendation which drove the suspension in Germany and then knocked on to several other European countries)

 

[Healdplace]

Northern Ireland data:

0 deaths - was 0 last week

139 cases - was 161 last week

7.5% positivity - was 9.1% last week

1014 rolling 7 day cases - down from 1018 yesterday & 1258 last week

9 Care home outbreaks - was 8 yesterday & 17 last week (first daily rise in some time)

154 patients - was 159 yesterday & 176 last week

12 ventilated - up 1 in day - was 14 last week

A couple of small concerns here and both Scotland and N Ireland now seen ventilator numbers rise today. Hopefully just an early week glitch.

 

[Gabriel]

India today claimed it has discovered a double mutant coronavirus variant that spreads more easily and may make vaccines less potent.

It said the the strain, which has two key alterations on its spike protein, was detected in samples in the western state of Maharashtra.

Indian scientists believe the variant is a hybrid of two different Covid strains, which happens when two viruses merge together inside an infected person.

Also being reported that India is to 'postpone' shipments of Astra Zeneca components as it gets to grip with its own escalating cases.

 

[Healdplace]

So total deaths with out of hospital England to add (and older ones be excluded) :- 75

Wk to wk: 622 v 364 v 255 v 179 v 97 v 75 Today

 

[ayrshire_blue]

66 of the 692 infections in Scotland today are in the 65+ range, a huge jump even as a % from yesterday's figures. I wonder how many of those are from the 57 'catch up' cases which Healdplace has mentioned though.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Whether you agree with them or not, I strongly suggest the Paul Ehrlich Institute are, in fact, better qualified than your good self to judge vaccine safety.

Homepage

Homepage des Auftritts der Nebensprache

www.pei.de

(It was their recommendation which drove the suspension in Germany and then knocked on to several other European countries)

It was bollocks mate. Nothing is swaying me from that view. The bottom line is the Paul Ehrlich Institute got it wrong didn't they. How clever is that. Let alone the implications for NOT vaccinating people, which I described above.

But carry on defending them by all means, as you clear like to do.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Nothing is swaying me from that view.

What? Someone with an absolutely fixed view of things?? On the Internet???

Say it aint so!