Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[alfred russel]

I think you found a real gem there. Birds of a feather and all that.

It is indeed shocking that AF's circle has a large number of infections.

In all seriousness, there are estimates that over 100 million Americans have had covid. If you are American or Western European, your social group and family probably has a bunch of infections -- most of which haven't been formally diagnosed -- unless they have been unusually cautious.

[mongers]

Incidentally I've been freaking out about the observation rooms/queues for vaccines here - and this article is exactly why. I'm not sure if it's all correct or if this is the right approach but given that we are rolling out vaccines to the most vulnerable people, it feels like we should be extra careful about this:

.... snip....

I do not understand how 12 months into this pandemic we're still focusing on wiping things down and not ventilation and closed spaces. Especailly as we know we'll have lots of very vulnerable people with no immunity either waiting for their vaccines or being observed after it.

Yes very good point Shelf, this is also concern of mine, I've a very old relative who's been shielding all this time and these vaccination centre could pose a significant risk to them.

There was a good article on the BBC news website about how fresh air ventilation is an underused weapon in the fight against Covid. 

[alfred russel]

I do not understand how 12 months into this pandemic we're still focusing on wiping things down and not ventilation and closed spaces. Especailly as we know we'll have lots of very vulnerable people with no immunity either waiting for their vaccines or being observed after it.

You can pay someone minimum wage to do a half assed job of wiping stuff down, make a big deal about how seriously you are taking safety and point to safety precautions enacted - really great PR opportunities, and carry on with business as usual.

Fixing ventilation is really hard, isn't always visible, and open to unfavorable comparisons.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I see the hand of Johnson in the 7 vaccination "supercentres" that are opening. He likes things to be big, much like other folk of his ilk; but people will have to travel largish distances to get them and due to the large throughput at each one there will be long queues and breaches of social distancing. Typical of this government to risk superspreading events in their vaccination plans. It would be far better to administer the vaccines at as a low a level as possible; local clinics and parish halls etc etc.

[Sheilbh]

I see the hand of Johnson in the 7 vaccination "supercentres" that are opening. He likes things to be big, much like other folk of his ilk; but people will have to travel largish distances to get them and due to the large throughput at each one there will be long queues and breaches of social distancing. Typical of this government to risk superspreading events in their vaccination plans. It would be far better to administer the vaccines at as a low a level as possible; local clinics and parish halls etc etc.

There is a bit of both - the strategy doc on vaccines has this map of current vaccine centres:


The goal is that everyone is within 10 miles of a vaccine centre - there are some rural gaps but the intention is to fill those with mobile units.

I'm not sure quite why the big centres are necessary or fill a gap but in a way it feels like you could have a more easily ventilated/socially spaced waiting or observation space in a football stadium than in a community hall or a GP surgery, unless there's real volume - which there should be so loads of pharmacies etc offering this. It's why I quite liked the idea of Morrisons agreeing to use some of their car park space for vaccination centres - well ventilated etc. Not sure what's happened with that.

[Josquius]

Big centres are better for logistics of getting vast quantities out I guess.

[mongers]

Sorting through a Reuters RSS feed on my computer I came across these two items, right next to each other:


20 January 2020 13:56:45

Risk to UK of new coronavirus is currently 'very low': infection service

The current risk to the United Kingdom from an outbreak of a new coronavirus in China is very low, the national infection service said on Monday.

20 January 2020 13:57:45

Virus spreads to more Chinese cities, President Xi says containment is priority

An outbreak of a new coronavirus has spread to more Chinese cities, including the capital Beijing and Shanghai, national and local authorities confirmed on Monday, and a fourth case has been reported beyond China's borders.

What a difference a year makes.

[Sheilbh]

Big centres are better for logistics of getting vast quantities out I guess.

That makes sense - and I know from friend in the NHS that the reason they were giving them to people who had in or outcare in hospitals first wasn't based on any clinical assessment. It was just the easiest to get the most people done from an admin/logistical perspective which I think makes sense - although I feel like maybe the admin work should have been done in the 2-3 months when we knew the vaccine was coming/with the regulators for approval

[Caliga]

OMG those requirements  Bloody bureaucrats are just not able to touch base with reality and priorities do they?

This is why HR should never be cced (sorry Cal)

[viper37]

Ontario is headed to a hard lockdown, in place shelter, authorized trips for grocery shopping and healthcare only.  Projections seems to indicate the province's healthcare system will soon be overwhelmed.

[Jacob]

Ontario is headed to a hard lockdown, in place shelter, authorized trips for grocery shopping and healthcare only.  Projections seems to indicate the province's healthcare system will soon be overwhelmed.

[HVC]

essential work travel is still allowed, if i read it correctly.

[Grey Fox]

And yet non-essential stores are open. Ontario's lockdown is de la poudre aux yeux.

[Josquius]

It's amazing to think out there in the world people are still going to restaurants and work et al.

[viper37]

essential work travel is still allowed, if i read it correctly.

Ontario preparing new lockdown measures

Ford said the state of emergency will allow police, bylaw officers and workplace safety officers to ticket people who leave their homes for non-essential reasons. Acceptable reasons include buying groceries, going to a pharmacy, physical exercise, and going to and from an essential job.

The order also restricts hours for non-essential retailers offering curbside pickup, and limits outdoor gatherings to a maximum of five people, instead of 10.

here it is.