Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[mongers]

Pretty much any group that has something to complain about Covid measures or vaccinations has scheduled protests in Vienna today, so there'll be thousands of them running around the inner city today. Rules are that they need to wear FFP2 masks; let's see how that goes. Some fringe groups have called for violent resistance to the scheduled vaccination mandate, so police is on high alert, and vaccination locations are under increased protection.

On top of that, people will likely crowd into shopping streets, shops and malls to enjoy one last day of money spending before everything will be closed.

Since I live near the center, and therefore there'll likely be lots of tfoot traffic to/from the demonstration in my area, I guess I'll stay inside. Thankfully, I did all my shopping during the week.

Yeah hunker down Syt, let the madness outside enfold.

[The Brain]

Or prance around with an AR-15. Your choice.

[Duque de Bragança]

Or prance around with a Steyr AUG. Your choice.

Fixed to blend in, somewhat. 

[Syt]

Couple of impressions. Obviously mask mandate not taken very seriously, though police supposedly keeps reminding people to wear masks.

[Maladict]

Riots in Rotterdam last night, police shot two people in the legs to protect firefighters. Riot police has only fired on people once before this century, in 2009, so it's kind of a big deal here. Let's see what happens tonight.

[The Brain]

Riots in Rotterdam last night, police shot two people in the legs to protect firefighters.

North Americans frown on their not-putting-24-rounds-in-the-chest shenanigans.

[DGuller]

Gunshots to the legs can still be fatal, so if you're going to shoot, you have to make sure that it is fatal.

[mongers]

The booster jab roll out in England is developing into a disaster, no one has established the correct social etiquette yet about talking during the 15 minute wait afterwards. 

Is it like the tube, nobody ever talks unless they're mad or similar to an unexpected halt in a tunnel on a regular train service ie the odd ironic quip is allowed, so long as no one tries to turn it into a conversation. 

[Josquius]

I've no idea what's going on with the boosters. I thought it was just for the elderly with no need for younger people until a few days back when a guy in his 40s I know said he was getting it. It's a mystery.
I won't be rushing for this one.

[viper37]

I've no idea what's going on with the boosters. I thought it was just for the elderly with no need for younger people until a few days back when a guy in his 40s I know said he was getting it. It's a mystery.
I won't be rushing for this one.

it's generally aimed at people at risk category.  Healthy young individual don't need one for now.  If there's one aimed specifically at the delta variant, then it's something I'll seriously consider.

[Sheilbh]

I've no idea what's going on with the boosters. I thought it was just for the elderly with no need for younger people until a few days back when a guy in his 40s I know said he was getting it. It's a mystery.
I won't be rushing for this one.

Really bad comms on it - and the regulator plays a role because the JCVI is doing a very slow reveal of groups who they recommend should have a booster shot when, I suspect, by January they'll basically be recommending everyone.

There's about 14.5 million who've had it and it is showing up in the figures on infections, hospitalisations and deaths (and may be part of why - weirdly - we're not seeing spikes like Germany and Austria but bouncing around a high plateau) - but from what I've read there's about 6 million eligible who haven't had a booster shot which is madness give that we know effectiveness wanes.

Separately I was travelling on a bus earlier today, it was already on diversion but then blocked by a huge anti-vax protest. Really weird thing that I've only otherwise seen on anti-war protests was a clearly international element - lots of flags generally which, again, you see on anti-war protests but not otherwise. So there were loads of Polish flags, some Italian, French, Serbian, Australian etc - and it struck me that it maybe is a little like the anti-war movement in that it isn't about the policies in the UK (where, despite the signs, there are no vaccine passports) but instead a protest against these policies anywhere. Really weird though.

Edit: Berlusconi getting his booster shot - his face is truly incredible in recent years
https://twitter.com/leonardocarella/status/1462112457992855558?s=20

[Richard Hakluyt]

The comms have indeed been terrible. A little while back government and the media were complaining that only 30% of over-50s had had the booster, but at the time it was impossible for me to get the booster  because of the 6-month gap; this was true of many of course. Once they dropped the 6-month gap many people could suddenly come forward.

So pretty simple, people were not getting their booster because they were not allowed to having had their 2nd jab in May. These are own goals, the average 12-year old could probably do better, at least they would know that six months after May is November.

[garbon]

One of my in-laws in their 60s has had the booster jab. One of my in-laws in their 70s has not and their GP doesn't really have a reason why they haven't been scheduled for it...

[Grey Fox]

This is how Quebec's government has been presenting the Covid Situation. Lots of data in those daily graphs.

[Zanza]

Finally a decisive political measure in Germany to take care of a Covid-related problem: The working time directive for crematorium workers was suspended so that enough bodies can be burned...