COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[Blue Maverick]

Oldham doesn’t surprise me in the least.

 

[Marvin]

Whilst not disagreeing with anything in that post, the caveat must be that, despite all the positive noises, there is absolutely no guarantee that there will ever be a vaccine and a strategy that relies on something that may never happen, isn’t really a strategy at all. I hear a lot of very senior people who use the phrase ‘until we’ve got a vaccine” as if it’s somehow a given. Not only that, but thalidomide must be the cautionary tale as to the danger of rushing these things, making a vaccine by autumn 2021 still pretty unlikely.
From a ‘herd immunity’ perspective, we know who this virus particularly likes to target and who it’s not that bothered about, so, encouraging immunity should be quite straightforward if we’re prepared to go down that road. Protect the vulnerable and let the infection spread through the rest of the population, whilst making sure that population doesn’t come into contact with the vulnerable. Easier said than done, I’m sure, but something worth at least discussing, I’d have thought?

Oxford Vaccine Group are working towards September. Thalidomide was not a vaccine. The Oxford vaccine is based on an existing method using a genetically altered adenovirus. It's not a pioneer science. If they think they can do it by September, then I trust they can.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Oldham doesn’t surprise me in the least.

This must be for the North West as I read this morning that Sunderland now has the worst number of Covid 19 cases

 

[Corky]

Knowsley and Manchester are a lot more deprived than Salford and Oldham.

 

[Fame Monster]

Whilst not disagreeing with anything in that post, the caveat must be that, despite all the positive noises, there is absolutely no guarantee that there will ever be a vaccine and a strategy that relies on something that may never happen, isn’t really a strategy at all. I hear a lot of very senior people who use the phrase ‘until we’ve got a vaccine” as if it’s somehow a given. Not only that, but thalidomide must be the cautionary tale as to the danger of rushing these things, making a vaccine by autumn 2021 still pretty unlikely.
From a ‘herd immunity’ perspective, we know who this virus particularly likes to target and who it’s not that bothered about, so, encouraging immunity should be quite straightforward if we’re prepared to go down that road. Protect the vulnerable and let the infection spread through the rest of the population, whilst making sure that population doesn’t come into contact with the vulnerable. Easier said than done, I’m sure, but something worth at least discussing, I’d have thought?

But that's the problem with herd immunity as well. Pursuing herd immunity in the population from the get-go (via natural transmission) isn't much of a strategy because we know very little about the immunity you get from COVID-19 whether it's temporary, short-term, non-existent or anything else. So to try it without knowing whether it will work or not and when the modellers are estimating it could cause hundreds of thousands of deaths is reckless in the extreme.

 

[Manc in London]

I noticed both the Czechs and Germans have had an increasing number of cases since they relaxed their lockdowns. It will be interesting to see if they go ahead with easing the restrictions further, as planned, or if they tighten them up again.

The R in Germany is less less than 1. Latest I read is that is 0.7ish.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Oxford Vaccine Group are working towards September. Thalidomide was not a vaccine. The Oxford vaccine is based on an existing method using a genetically altered adenovirus. It's not a pioneer science. If they think they can do it by September, then I trust they can.

this is blind faith and optimism over reality.
Read what the Oxford group and Astra Zeneca have actually published.
It’s all if, buts and maybes.

 

[blueparrot]

this is blind faith and optimism over reality.
Read what the Oxford group and Astra Zeneca have actually published.
It’s all if, buts and maybes.

Definitely a maybe though, so it isn’t blind faith it’s an optimistic view the experts have got it right.

 

[kaz7]

Coronavirus: UK 'likely to get close to or hit' 100,000 tests target
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52496227
That's some achievement from all involved. I just hope those of us who've really bought into the social distancing mantra don't become complacent.

That is not 100,000 people though,they are tesing a lot second time

 

[Nightmare Walking]

this is blind faith and optimism over reality.
Read what the Oxford group and Astra Zeneca have actually published.
It’s all if, buts and maybes.

Isn't every option open at present an if, but or a maybe?

Oxford uni seem positive in their work. Not sure why people are so quick to shoot them down. Lets remain positive until they fail, which hopefully they don't.

 

[True_Blue69]

In case it has been missed confirmation that reinfection cases were due to dodgy testing rather than reinfection. Good news.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...pse-south-korean-scientists-believe-rkm8zm7d9

 

[True_Blue69]

That is not 100,000 people though,they are tesing a lot second time

Doesn't matter, the target has been hit. Excellent work by the government on this they deserve some credit amongst all the criticism.

 

[blueparrot]

Antibody testing starting next week but on blood samples in labs ,not people, to give some idea of %age that have had it
“
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman gives an update on the antibody testing programme, which is a "further important tool" to monitor the proportion of people with Covid-19. The test indicates if a person has been infected or not.

Ms Freeman reports that Health Protection Scotland has been gathering blood samples in anticipation of a fully validated test becoming available.

Approximately 500 residual samples from labs submitted from primary care will be tested per week at the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Inverness.


“
Expanding on the antibody testing programme, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says initial samples will be distributed across six participating health boards - Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Tayside, Highland and Grampian.
“
An extra 270 samples will also be collected from smaller health boards, with further expansion planned.

Only tests currently validated will be used, and to ensure comparability, similar methodology will be used to that of Public Health England

Health Protection Scotland anticipates this testing will start next Wednesday, 6 May, and run for at least 16 weeks.

 

[hgblue]

Doesn't matter, the target has been hit. Excellent work by the government on this they deserve some credit amongst all the criticism.

Go on Karen, say they’ve done a great job, it won’t hurt you ;)

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Oxford Vaccine Group are working towards September. Thalidomide was not a vaccine. The Oxford vaccine is based on an existing method using a genetically altered adenovirus. It's not a pioneer science. If they think they can do it by September, then I trust they can.

I do hope the government aren’t basing any strategy they might be following on ‘trust’. Big Pharma telling us they have the answer, often translates into, ‘highly promising until it failed stage 3 clinical trials, although it certainly shores up the share price.
I also do know that thalidomide wasn’t a vaccine but testing the efficacy of anything we are going to inject into us is probably not a bad option, hence the comparison.

 

[kaz7]

In case it has been missed confirmation that reinfection cases were due to dodgy testing rather than reinfection. Good news.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...pse-south-korean-scientists-believe-rkm8zm7d9

in two patients

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Isn't every option open at present an if, but or a maybe?

Oxford uni seem positive in their work. Not sure why people are so quick to shoot them down. Lets remain positive until they fail, which hopefully they don't.

I'm fine with them having expectations - issuing a press release saying "we've got something that might work" won't get much response!

I think it's being overstated though, and when that goes to far, it can detract from the positivity if it all falls down later.

 

[True_Blue69]

in two patients

What a surprise Little Miss Positive try's turning it to bad news.

You were using the assumption that people had been reinfected as fact the other day, now they have proven scientifically otherwise you refuse to accept it. Very odd mentality.

 

[kaz7]

Go on Karen, say they’ve done a great job, it won’t hurt you ;)

as has been said they are counting tests sent and appts made not actual tests done

 

[kaz7]

What a surprise Little Miss Positive try's turning it to bad news.

You were using the assumption that people had been reinfected as fact the other day, now they have proven scientifically otherwise you refuse to accept it. Very odd mentality.

in two patients,unless I put a link or dictate of the telly it is my opinion