Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Sheilbh]

Those seem some rather good prices. Aaah, the power of buying in bulk! 

Me buying 56 loo rolls in early March 

[The Larch]

Those seem some rather good prices. Aaah, the power of buying in bulk! 

Me buying 56 loo rolls in early March 

You still have some around, right? 

[Zanza]

So, I've just received a message from my regional health system, communicating me that I've been selected for random Covid testing (they've been performing these tests in my city for the last few weeks), and turns out that this very same week I've developed a bit of a regular cold, which I'm currently "enjoying". Does anyone know if having a cold interferes with Covid testing in some way?

The tests are specifically testing for RNA of the virus, so there should be no interference even if you currently have a cold from some other virus.

[Tamas]

This november was the deadliest month since 2020 in Hungary. Only about 2/3rd of the excess deaths are officially covid ones, whether the rest were covid related or just people not getting hospital care or not daring go to hospitals is anybodys guess.

[Syt]

Catholic Church charity organization Caritas has lit 5000 candles in front of St Stephen's to commemorate the 5000+ victims of Covid-19 in Austria:

https://twitter.com/LandauDaniel/status/1339967059837513728

[Syt]

Austria goes back into full lockdown from 26th December till 18th January. On 15th/16th there's more mass testing. As incentive, those who test negative can go shopping, to restaurants and cafés etc. For people not participating, lockdown rules apply for an additional week. Unsure how to track that.

Also, from January on certain job groups will undergo weekly testing (to be defined).

[Syt]

% of votes for AfD in 2017 election vs Corona cases per 100k over last 7 days:

[Sheilbh]

Has that been adjusted for, say, poverty or materal circumstances or age?

I don't think you could do the same with the Brexit Party (just because I think in the UK it's been most strong in urban centres which isn't true for the Brexit Party/UKIP), but I know that areas they did well in tended to be poorer and older which may be a big factor.

[Syt]

[Zanza]

AfD supporters are male, middle-aged and working class.

[Tamas]

Seems like there are preparations for a last minute change to Christmas regulations in England, but since the government cannot admit a mistake, it will be blamed on a new strain of the virus.

[celedhring]

My region is closing down bars and restaurants again throughout the entire holiday season (so, Jan 11), with the exception of small windows for breakfast and lunch. Ultimately, taken in isolation that's been the most effective measure of them all, but it's going to be devastating for the industry.

[Syt]

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201218-brazil-s-bolsonaro-warns-virus-vaccine-can-turn-people-into-crocodiles

Brazil's Bolsonaro warns virus vaccine can turn people into 'crocodiles'

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has launched an attack on coronavirus vaccines, even suggesting that the one developed by Pfizer-BioNTech could turn people into crocodiles or bearded ladies.

The far-right leader has been sceptical of the coronavirus since it first emerged late last year, branding it "a little flu." This week he insisted he would not be vaccinated, even while launching the country's mass innoculation program.

"In the Pfizer contract it's very clear: 'we're not responsible for any side effects.' If you turn into a crocodile, it's your problem," Bolsonaro said on Thursday.

That vaccine has been undergoing tests in Brazil for weeks and is already being used in the United States and Britain.

"If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it," he said, referring to the drug manufacturers.

When launching the immunization campaign on Wednesday, Bolsonaro also said it would be free but not compulsory.

But the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the vaccine was obligatory, although could not be "forced" on people.

That means authorities can fine people for not being vaccinated and ban them from certain public spaces, but not force them to take it.

Brazil has recorded more than 7.1 million cases and almost 185,000 deaths from Covid-19 amongst its 212 million population.

Bolsonaro said that once a vaccine has been certified by Brazil's regulatory agency Anvisa, "it will be available for everyone that wants it. But me, I won't get vaccinated."

"Some people say I'm giving a bad example. But to the imbeciles, to the idiots that say this, I tell them I've already caught the virus, I have the antibodies, so why get vaccinated?"

There have been a small number of cases of apparent reinfection although there is no certainty over whether a person can be reinfected or how long immunity lasts.

Bolsonaro caught the virus in July but recovered within three weeks.

Brazil is in the middle of a second wave of coronavirus infections.

After peaking in June to August cases had been dropping but that changed in November.

On Thursday, Brazil surpassed 1,000 daily deaths from covid-19 for the first time since September.

The country's immunization program has been widely criticized for being late and chaotic, not least given Bolsonaro's opposition.

On the topic of unsafe inoculations: Austria has a law (and has had it for a long time) that if someone is hurt by using a vaccine, the state will step in to support and help the person.

[mongers]

Boris 'cancels' Christmas. 

[Syt]

Well, we cancelled New Years' Eve, so there.

Hotels and restaurants have been closed since November and will remain closed till end of January. This will be a massive blow to the tourism industry which is 15% (I think) of Austria's GDP. Christmas/New Year is absolute peak time in Vienna, and the skiing areas will also be very affected.