Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Sheilbh]

Come on. It's announced in May and all the focus is on which potential summer travel destinations are greenlighted. It's about holidays.

That's the bit people are interested in and that's the bit that is being sold about it. But if it was about holidays I think they would have greenlit more than the Falklands and Gibraltar (both 100% vaccinated). I think if it was about holidays they would include some holiday destinations and, as you noticed, they haven't - and I don't think that will happen given the trigger seemsto be 50 cases per million for a while.

It was announced in May but that was also when domestic tourism was re-opened from lockdown, until then hotels airbnbs etc were closed and you were not allowed to travel to another bit of the UK for recreation. I think obviously it's getting closer to summer but once you're re-opening a lot in May and then planning to end all domestic restrictions in June the next natural question is what about international travel? And the other point is obviously if there's no restrictions once you're here in June, what are the conditions for coming into the country? Because hospitality will be re-opened, no-one will be wearing masks, there's no social distancing rules etc.

I think the other important context is that Yvette Cooper the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee and lots of other commentators and MPs have been absolutely hammering all through the spring about the lack of border controls. She was focused on all of the variants that were emerging - and immediately popping up in the UK. The government had announced there would be quarantine hotels but hadn't set them up etc.

I get there's a one or two day story about Portugal but the big travel list story I've seen has been the weeks of delays in moving India from amber to red list which is probably partly why we now have widespread delta variant cases - the delay was, from what I can tell, purely political.

[The Larch]

Well, if it's not about summer travel then they're doing a piss poor job in properly communicating it, given that absolutely nobody (except you  ) seems to think like that.

This system might have made sense last year, or earlier this year, but at this point it seems ridiculously draconian.

[Sheilbh]

Well, if it's not about summer travel then they're doing a piss poor job in properly communicating it, given that absolutely nobody (except you  ) seems to think like that.

It's both - it is about summer travel but the guidance is super clear that you should only travel to the green list. There are rules on entering from an amber list country but this is the guidance: "You should not travel to amber list countries or territories." And further on: "Travelling abroad from England - You should not travel to amber list or red list countries or territories." Journalists complain it's all a bit complicated but it reminds me of the weeks they spent obsessing over whether a scotch egg is a substantial meal - that can't be clearer. Also given that guidance I think it'll be more difficult/expensive for people to get travel insurance for trips anywhere but the green list.

But I think - having booked a holiday - the rules are all about coming into the UK and all the government sites say about where you're going is that you need to check their rules too.

When you look at the lists (as I have to book a trip) they are described red, amber and green list rules for entering England.

It's not particularly easy to navigate - I suspect package holidays are the way to go because they're also ATOL protected etc.

This system might have made sense last year, or earlier this year, but at this point it seems ridiculously draconian.

Possibly I think there are still enough people not vaccinated and enough risk of a variant emerging that can escape the vaccines that we will need this type of border control until we've rolled out the vaccine across the world. I think as more places get vaccinated travel will be easier between those countries.

Edit: I suppose I think that for the next year or so the choices are going to be strict borders and no restrictions domestically or looser borders and lingering restrictions (masks, no large gatherings etc). I think the UK government will choose the former - and I think that's the one I'd support, but I think it's a difficult decision.

[Josephus]

So an update on my brother.

Some of you may recall in late April he was taken to hospital and put on a ventialtor and then released after three weeks.

He's at home now, but unfortunately not doing very well. His latest CRT tests show he may have pulmonary fibrosis. Which isn't good. Alas he's having a hard time getting in touch with his hospital doctor to go over the results with him. He is at home, still on an oxygen tube though, and hasn't been seeing much improvement.

As an aside, he lost his job, a few days before he was diagnosed with COVID, so he also has to deal with employment issues, benefits, insurance etc. His wife is diagnosed with depression and he has a 10 year old daughter who's constantly seeking his attention.

I hope this pulmonary fibrosis can be reversed
In their case, with depression, and his disease, maybe he can get some help from a social worker attached to the hospital?  His doc will have to demand it for him though.  It could help with the 10yo daughter, at least. 

Also, are there any kind of community services where he lives, I mean cheap/free, to help with house chores?  We have something in our county, but it's not governmental services, a private charitable foundation that helps with these kind of things, for people who are too sick over a prolonged period of time or simply too old to do it themselves full time.  Sometimes, just having someone to clean the house once a week or prepare some meals can be tremendous help.

Thanks. Yes, we are looking into that sort of thing for him.

[Admiral Yi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZsO2QlCC7w

California hands out $50K each to 15 vaccination lottery winners.

[Josquius]

I have to wonder given the vaccination rate increase whether worrying about case numbers increasing is as valid as it once was.
If people are catching it but being hospitalised at a fraction of the unvaccinated rate, dying even more  drastically rarely, then haven't we reached our goal of relegating corona to a minor endemic disease?

[mongers]

I have to wonder given the vaccination rate increase whether worrying about case numbers increasing is as valid as it once was.
If people are catching it but being hospitalised at a fraction of the unvaccinated rate, dying even more  drastically rarely, then haven't we reached our goal of relegating corona to a minor endemic disease?

No.

[Iormlund]

I have to wonder given the vaccination rate increase whether worrying about case numbers increasing is as valid as it once was.
If people are catching it but being hospitalised at a fraction of the unvaccinated rate, dying even more  drastically rarely, then haven't we reached our goal of relegating corona to a minor endemic disease?

The more people get it, the more mutations develop. If a strain that can evade the current crop of vaccines surfaces all we've done in the past 6 months goes down the drain. Ultimately we'll need to vaccinate everyone, and that's going to be quite a challenge.

[Tamas]

I have to wonder given the vaccination rate increase whether worrying about case numbers increasing is as valid as it once was.
If people are catching it but being hospitalised at a fraction of the unvaccinated rate, dying even more  drastically rarely, then haven't we reached our goal of relegating corona to a minor endemic disease?

The more people get it, the more mutations develop. If a strain that can evade the current crop of vaccines surfaces all we've done in the past 6 months goes down the drain. Ultimately we'll need to vaccinate everyone, and that's going to be quite a challenge.

Fine, but then it should be mandatory. In the UK the Indian variant has gained a foothold in barely-vaccinated areas. It's nonsense that whole society should suffer to protect the irrational sensibilities of people.

[celedhring]

I think the most hilarious anti-vax conspiracy bullshit is the current "reports" of people getting metal objects stuck to their skin after being vaccinated.

I just asked my dad, but I guess he got a bad batch 

[Tamas]

I think the most hilarious anti-vax conspiracy bullshit is the current "reports" of people getting metal objects stuck to their skin after being vaccinated.

I just asked my dad, but I guess he got a bad batch 

OMG 

[Iormlund]

Fine, but then it should be mandatory.

No argument from me.

[Sheilbh]

I have to wonder given the vaccination rate increase whether worrying about case numbers increasing is as valid as it once was.
If people are catching it but being hospitalised at a fraction of the unvaccinated rate, dying even more  drastically rarely, then haven't we reached our goal of relegating corona to a minor endemic disease?

The more people get it, the more mutations develop. If a strain that can evade the current crop of vaccines surfaces all we've done in the past 6 months goes down the drain. Ultimately we'll need to vaccinate everyone, and that's going to be quite a challenge.

Fine, but then it should be mandatory. In the UK the Indian variant has gained a foothold in barely-vaccinated areas. It's nonsense that whole society should suffer to protect the irrational sensibilities of people.

So I don't think that's true. With this variant the second dose matters (which is why they're being sped up - I know some people who've brought there's forward by three-four weeks).

But it's got a foothold among the unvaccinated. It's not due to people refusing vaccinations but is, instead, overwhelmingly among the young who either haven't had their vaccine yet, aren't currently eligible (most cases are in the under 20s) or have only had one dose.

The vaccination rate in Bolton, for example, is in line with the national average at about 90% for the over 40s. The cases are, overwhelmingly, among the under 40s who are still being worked through.

[grumbler]

So, American golfer Jon Rahm had a commanding 6-shot lead going into the final round of the Memorial Tournament (first place: $1.67 million) when he tested positive for Covid and had to withdraw.

He'd declined to get vaccinated until the week before the tourney, when he discovered he'd been in contact with someone who came down with Covid.  Too late.  He's only 26, so maybe didn't think he needed the vaccine.  There's no evidence that he's an anti-vaxxer.

He had 1.67 million reasons to be more proactive, but at least he accepted the blame and has been gracious in his disappointment.

[Legbiter]

But it's got a foothold among the unvaccinated. It's not due to people refusing vaccinations but is, instead, overwhelmingly among the young who either haven't had their vaccine yet, aren't currently eligible (most cases are in the under 20s) or have only had one dose.

Yeah I worry slightly about this. The new variants are more infectious in teens and children. So the under 16 year olds can provide kindling for the virus to hang out in.