Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Tamas]

Anyway, the situation in Catalonia and Madrid is worsening quite rapidly. No further restrictions are intended 

Right now Catalonia is in the middle of coalition negotiations between proindy parties to form a government, which are being quite cutthroat (today the ERC candidate will fail the parlamentary vote to get appointed president), and I'm afraid it's taking focus away from how quickly the virus is rising again.

Madrid is also on the runup to an election, so their government will give less fucks than usual about implementing restrictions, too.

Yeah Germany appears to be the same: the governing party is in danger of losing the elections so they consider a wave 3/4 acceptable risk from their point of view.

We should just try and get vaccinated asap and watch as the virus washes over everything. People have had enough and democracy will oblige them.

[Sheilbh]

I feel like in a few countries the state-federal distinction has caused problems and it feels - this could be wrong - that it's caused more issues this time round. It's like everyone is adjusting to covid. So the first wave was a shock and there was maybe more successful cooperation, this time it seems like people, including leaders, are used to it and so sort of messing about over politics and not wanting to shut down the local economy etc.

[celedhring]

I mean, I find the economy concerns acceptable - poverty is a mortal illness too - but as you say it feels like Covid has been incorporated into the system and leaders feel like they can start politickeering with it, like they do with all other things. It helps that - fortunately - deaths are massively down from the figures of a year ago.

Right now it feels like any other political issue. The Spanish gov says A, Madrid and Catalonia say B (even though they will each claim they are actually saying C and D), the Spanish gov says "whatever, but know I did say A". Nothing gets made, they all make their points for their respective audiences, and move on.

[Zanza]

Yeah Germany appears to be the same: the governing party is in danger of losing the elections so they consider a wave 3/4 acceptable risk from their point of view.

Merkel wants stricter lockdown rules (and has wanted them before), but the legal authority to impose these is with the sixteen state governments. They have very heterogeneous policies. Merkel publicly criticized her own party members in a TV interview on Sunday. She also considers moving competence for infection response to the federal level, but that of course would mean the states have to vote for losing power and it is unclear if they are willing to do that.

[Sheilbh]

J&J supplying 200 million doses to the EU in the second half of April - which will be huge. Single dose, easy to store so maybe more suitable for pharmacies and probably enough to do over 50% of adults

Also J&J announced they'll be providing (donating?) 400 million doses to Africa which is also over 50% of the adult population which is great news - though I think it's by the end of 2022, but hopefully that can be sped up.

[Tamas]

J&J supplying 200 million doses to the EU in the second half of April - which will be huge. Single dose, easy to store so maybe more suitable for pharmacies and probably enough to do over 50% of adults

It's going to become tough to blame others for messed up organising after that.

[Sheilbh]

It's going to become tough to blame others for messed up organising after that.

Yeah - once that arrives it's all on the member states and their healthcare systems for how fast they can roll it out.

A lot of countries are doing good numbers now. But they've got warning that a huge delivery is coming and I think need to make sure they build up capacity to get it out at pace once it arrives. Some countries have low rates that are staying low - like Spain - but for others it feels like it's almost a race against the virus (as it was in the UK earlier in the year).

Edit: And in good news in the UK - Novavax have apparently submitted all the data the MHRA needs for approval and the Chief Investigator says it should take about four weeks to finish the review. Approval is expectd and this is the one with 60 million doses ordered - the manufacturing has already started so there should be a stockpile ready once approved.

[Syt]

Apparently Austria is talking to Russia about delivery of 1,000,000 doses of Sputnik.

[Tamas]

Apparently Austria is talking to Russia about delivery of 1,000,000 doses of Sputnik.

It is ok for two reasons:
1. It should be far better than the Chinese ones
2. No way Russia can actually deliver that much in short order

[celedhring]

I'm all for international collaboration, but the whole Russian policy of "fuck our own, we'll use the vaccine to further our international agenda" is... weird. I suppose it's one of the luxuries of being an authoritarian state.

[Sheilbh]

I'm all for international collaboration, but the whole Russian policy of "fuck our own, we'll use the vaccine to further our international agenda" is... weird. I suppose it's one of the luxuries of being an authoritarian state.

Yeah. Russia's outbreak is I think a little better than the rest of Europe has been over winter - but is nowhere near the level of China who are also exporting a lot (about 50/50, same with India). My slight question with Russia is whether the international orders are actually an important way of building reassurance/belief in their own population?

So - this could be nonsense - but my sense is that Russians don't trust Russia any more than Westerners do. They are more, not less, cynical about the Russian government than we are. All of those jokes about Sputnik that we had when it first reported were probably as true within Russia as here. The data has since looked good, but actually the fact that the EU High Rep comes to Moscow and talks about using the vaccine, that Germany and Austria are looking into authorising and using it etc is probably a really helpful way of validating with Russians that the vaccine is safe, trustworthy and effective.

[The Larch]

Just read on Twitter that Germany is partially pausing vaccinations during Easter. 

[celedhring]

Just read on Twitter that Germany is partially pausing vaccinations during Easter. 

Same in Catalonia (no idea about the other Spanish regions). No rush folks!

Yes, health care professionals deserve a rest. Just, you know, hire more of them?

[Sheilbh]

Just read on Twitter that Germany is partially pausing vaccinations during Easter. 

That's up there with the Italians I follow on Twitter - apparently judges and magistrates have threatened a go-slow if they don't get priority to the vaccine as key workers

[Syt]

Just read on Twitter that Germany is partially pausing vaccinations during Easter. 

Same in Austria.