So, coronavirus...

[Sandstorm]

The behavioural thing is interesting. Are we going to go back to shaking hands with people we're being introduced to again etc?

Possibly not.

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I was in the busy High Street yesterday and the behaviour of the elderly is very different. Where a few months ago they all wore masks in the street and cautiously walked around people, now they’re back to walking in straight lines (masks off) like their second jabs made them bulletproof.

[robmatic]

The behavioural thing is interesting. Are we going to go back to shaking hands with people we're being introduced to again etc?

Possibly not.

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

To be honest I was awkward and standoffish before the pandemic so that can happily continue.

[Slick]

The behavioural thing is interesting. Are we going to go back to shaking hands with people we're being introduced to again etc?

Possibly not.

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I was in the busy High Street yesterday and the behaviour of the elderly is very different. Where a few months ago they all wore masks in the street and cautiously walked around people, now they’re back to walking in straight lines (masks off) like their second jabs made them bulletproof.

It's true, it's like an oldie revenge. Saw an old fella grab a shop assistant by the hand the other day with a slightly evil glint in his eye.

[Margin__Walker]

The behavioural thing is interesting. Are we going to go back to shaking hands with people we're being introduced to again etc?

Possibly not.

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I was in the busy High Street yesterday and the behaviour of the elderly is very different. Where a few months ago they all wore masks in the street and cautiously walked around people, now they’re back to walking in straight lines (masks off) like their second jabs made them bulletproof.

Walking the streets isn't particularly high risk tbf. Combination of being fully vaccinated and a plummet in infection rates would make me a little more relaxed in the same circumstances

[Sandstorm]

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I was in the busy High Street yesterday and the behaviour of the elderly is very different. Where a few months ago they all wore masks in the street and cautiously walked around people, now they’re back to walking in straight lines (masks off) like their second jabs made them bulletproof.

Walking the streets isn't particularly high risk tbf. Combination of being fully vaccinated and a plummet in infection rates would make me a little more relaxed in the same circumstances

Easy to say from the safety of the margins.

[dpedin]

There will be mutations and a few scares to come re their importation and spread in the UK for next couple of years. Hopefully nothing too serious but who knows. There is also likely to be a bad flu season this year or next given masks and social distancing etc reduced levels to near zero this winter, however there will be less immunity to the bugs kicking around in the community this coming winter. It would be wise to maintain masks and social distancing in certain environments over this coming winter and as an emergency response if required into 2022. Problem areas will be pubs and clubs, transport and big open plan offices. We can't really afford to have a bad flu/respiratory virus winter if we hope to start addressing the NHS backlog, staff are knackered and will struggle with a bad winter on top of trying to increase work to tackle the waiting lists. Hopefully folk will see the bigger picture, be responsible citizens and maintain some form of responsible social distancing over this winter to give the NHS a chance to catch up, or else they will be the usual selfish morons, forget the last 18 months and let a mutation or flu spread and overwhelm the NHS again! I suspect the latter.

[mat the expat]

Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I'm grateful I don't work in your industry.

What a pack of cunts if they get the arse over that

My company is still working to make the office environment safe

[Biffer]

Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I'm grateful I don't work in your industry.

What a pack of cunts if they get the arse over that

My company is still working to make the office environment safe

Mat with a traditional I’ve-seen-something-online-and-I’m-going-to-take-it-to-the-extreme-and-call-people-cunts-to-try-to-feel-superior line there. Well done, the classics are always welcome here. Not saying anyone would take offence, just not a great look. More relevant probably is if you’ve got to use hand sanitiser 50-70 times a day your skin will feel like it’s had a good rub down with sandpaper.

[Biffer]

Starting to think that the thistle pod is either making shit up or believing any old garbage that they hear. Or both.

[Fangle]

Hasn’t it been proved that Covid is hardly spread through contact but to a very large extent only by air? All the same I don’t see a mass going back to handshakes, but rather fist pumping for quite a while to come.

[Sandstorm]

Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

I'm grateful I don't work in your industry.

What a pack of cunts if they get the arse over that

My company is still working to make the office environment safe

Mat with a traditional I’ve-seen-something-online-and-I’m-going-to-take-it-to-the-extreme-and-call-people-cunts-to-try-to-feel-superior line there. Well done, the classics are always welcome here. Not saying anyone would take offence, just not a great look. More relevant probably is if you’ve got to use hand sanitiser 50-70 times a day your skin will feel like it’s had a good rub down with sandpaper.

Start bowing like Japanese businessmen do.

[Rinkals]

The behavioural thing is interesting. Are we going to go back to shaking hands with people we're being introduced to again etc?

Possibly not.

That’s a really tough one. I do (well, did) a lot of conferences and exhibitions in my work, so that was a constant round of handshakes of people you don’t know. Doesn’t create a good impression if you’re disinfecting your hands straight after you’ve talked to them!

To be honest I was awkward and standoffish before the pandemic so that can happily continue.

My GF's family are a little too huggy and kissy for me, tbh.

Also hate being in the queue in a supermarket and the person behind you keeps bumping up against you.

Bring on the social distancing.

[Blake]

It's true, it's like an oldie revenge. Saw an old fella grab a shop assistant by the hand the other day with a slightly evil glint in his eye.

Same here, I guess they deserve a little break after a year with the Damocles sword over their heads, but they should be careful as the vaccine effectiveness goes down quicker with the older ones.

Well, there's that, but also the fact that while the research has shown that the vaccines are good at preventing infection in vaccinated individuals, not a lot of research has been done on how transmissible Covid might be in vaccinated individuals. Even though you are safe, doesn't mean you can't still be a vector that infects others.

Granted, it's unlikely, but we don't know, so better to play it safe and keep up with all the measures until the all clear. As has been mentioned in this thread, a variant might emerge that is particularly resistant and if it gets a foothold, then it's back to square one.

[GogLais]

but rather fist pumping for quite a while to come.

Better done in private surely?

[Raggs]

It's true, it's like an oldie revenge. Saw an old fella grab a shop assistant by the hand the other day with a slightly evil glint in his eye.

Same here, I guess they deserve a little break after a year with the Damocles sword over their heads, but they should be careful as the vaccine effectiveness goes down quicker with the older ones.

Well, there's that, but also the fact that while the research has shown that the vaccines are good at preventing infection in vaccinated individuals, not a lot of research has been done on how transmissible Covid might be in vaccinated individuals. Even though you are safe, doesn't mean you can't still be a vector that infects others.

Granted, it's unlikely, but we don't know, so better to play it safe and keep up with all the measures until the all clear. As has been mentioned in this thread, a variant might emerge that is particularly resistant and if it gets a foothold, then it's back to square one.

There has been some rather large scale studies on transmission rates from vaccinated people too I believe. It's obviously extremely hard to measure accurately, but I think even within households (Where in theory you'll breath the same air a lot) it's reduced by something like 50%.

[Ovals]

It's true, it's like an oldie revenge. Saw an old fella grab a shop assistant by the hand the other day with a slightly evil glint in his eye.

Same here, I guess they deserve a little break after a year with the Damocles sword over their heads, but they should be careful as the vaccine effectiveness goes down quicker with the older ones.

Well, there's that, but also the fact that while the research has shown that the vaccines are good at preventing infection in vaccinated individuals, not a lot of research has been done on how transmissible Covid might be in vaccinated individuals. Even though you are safe, doesn't mean you can't still be a vector that infects others.

Granted, it's unlikely, but we don't know, so better to play it safe and keep up with all the measures until the all clear. As has been mentioned in this thread, a variant might emerge that is particularly resistant and if it gets a foothold, then it's back to square one.

I haven't been out much in the more crowded public areas - but, out walking locally, people are still giving each other a wide-ish berth.

We've relaxed a little bit and now take advantage of a 'support bubble' that we've been entitled to form with my sister who's husband is disabled.

[Fangle]

but rather fist pumping for quite a while to come.

Better done in private surely?

Haha. Unlike CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin on a Zoom call!

[mat the expat]

[Not saying anyone would take offence, just not a great look. More relevant probably is if you’ve got to use hand sanitiser 50-70 times a day your skin will feel like it’s had a good rub down with sandpaper.

Apart from the fact thou said exactly that.

[Jockaline]

If infections levels remain low I'm not in favour of continuing social distancing other than public events with strangers, and it would be pointless to try. Many people, including me, are single household and have had zero physical interaction with anyone for over a year. Hugs from friends, touching, sexual or not, are so important to ones mental well being.

I'm glad the oldies have embraced their new freedom and are out and about with confidence and a spring in their step. They are, if we believe the science, no longer at risk of serious illness or death. We need to reap the benefits of the vaccine achievements after a hard but necessary year and a bit. Keep an eye on infection and hospitalisation rates for sure and change course if necessary, but normalise as much as possible as quickly as possible. Easy wins such as mask use sure, I've never really got why some find that such a strain on them.

[Biffer]

[Not saying anyone would take offence, just not a great look. More relevant probably is if you’ve got to use hand sanitiser 50-70 times a day your skin will feel like it’s had a good rub down with sandpaper.

Apart from the fact thou said exactly that.

No I didn’t. I said it wasn’t a good look. Learn to Fùcking read before you have a tizzy fit.

[Biffer]

If infections levels remain low I'm not in favour of continuing social distancing other than public events with strangers, and it would be pointless to try. Many people, including me, are single household and have had zero physical interaction with anyone for over a year. Hugs from friends, touching, sexual or not, are so important to ones mental well being.

I'm glad the oldies have embraced their new freedom and are out and about with confidence and a spring in their step. They are, if we believe the science, no longer at risk of serious illness or death. We need to reap the benefits of the vaccine achievements after a hard but necessary year and a bit. Keep an eye on infection and hospitalisation rates for sure and change course if necessary, but normalise as much as possible as quickly as possible. Easy wins such as mask use sure, I've never really got why some find that such a strain on them.

Believe me, I’m exactly the same. Single household, the only physical contact I’ve had in the last year apart from the doc poking my stomach was a fist bump last August. Normally a relatively tactile person with my good friends as well. It’s awful.

[tabascoboy]

WHO are a bit behind with this, but extra confirmation if it were needed I guess...

[Jockaline]

So I can have a hug if I go in quick, possibly masked, and we both hold our breaths, not ideal, but I'll take it.

[mat the expat]

[Not saying anyone would take offence, just not a great look. More relevant probably is if you’ve got to use hand sanitiser 50-70 times a day your skin will feel like it’s had a good rub down with sandpaper.

Apart from the fact thou said exactly that.

No I didn’t. I said it wasn’t a good look. Learn to Fùcking read before you have a tizzy fit.

You're not leaving a good impression here.....

[Biffer]

Apart from the fact thou said exactly that.

No I didn’t. I said it wasn’t a good look. Learn to Fùcking read before you have a tizzy fit.

You're not leaving a good impression here.....

What, by knowing how to read and not lying about what other people say? Your sector must accept cunts if they have you.

[Slick]

This is one of the odder shitfights we have had on here.

[Openside]

This is one of the odder shitfights we have had on here.

Indeed, and I am washing my hands of it!!

[mat the expat]

The sarchasm failed sadly

[Saint]

2nd doses in the UK tailing off a bit, reflecting 1st doses around 12 months ago. However 1st doses not particularly accelerating, presumably as there's a bit of a stock building exercise going on to cope with the 5 million odd 2nd dose week that's coming up soon

[Raggs]

2nd doses in the UK tailing off a bit, reflecting 1st doses around 12 months ago. However 1st doses not particularly accelerating, presumably as there's a bit of a stock building exercise going on to cope with the 5 million odd 2nd dose week that's coming up soon

Suspect the long weekend (and our school had an inset day on friday, others may have done too), could have had an effect. Let's wait and see if the rest of the week pans out the same or if the numbers pick up again.

[Saint]

2nd doses in the UK tailing off a bit, reflecting 1st doses around 12 months ago. However 1st doses not particularly accelerating, presumably as there's a bit of a stock building exercise going on to cope with the 5 million odd 2nd dose week that's coming up soon

Suspect the long weekend (and our school had an inset day on friday, others may have done too), could have had an effect. Let's wait and see if the rest of the week pans out the same or if the numbers pick up again.

It started trending down over a week ago, and it's very definitely the 2nd doses only trending downwards

[tc27]

2nd doses in the UK tailing off a bit, reflecting 1st doses around 12 months ago. However 1st doses not particularly accelerating, presumably as there's a bit of a stock building exercise going on to cope with the 5 million odd 2nd dose week that's coming up soon

Suspect the long weekend (and our school had an inset day on friday, others may have done too), could have had an effect. Let's wait and see if the rest of the week pans out the same or if the numbers pick up again.

Minister promising big numbers the rest of this week.

Ancedotally almost everyone I know over 40 has at least one jab now.

[Saint]

Like I said, at some point soon they actually need to deliver an absolute shitload of second jabs. We had a week where we hit nearly 5 million in the week, and with 800,000 in a single day. That's building up in the forecast for 2nd doses to be delivered, and without any external delivery from India or the EU for AZ has got to be a limiting factor at the moment. Not sure we'll be opening up to under 40s any time soon in most places

[Raggs]

2nd doses in the UK tailing off a bit, reflecting 1st doses around 12 months ago. However 1st doses not particularly accelerating, presumably as there's a bit of a stock building exercise going on to cope with the 5 million odd 2nd dose week that's coming up soon

Suspect the long weekend (and our school had an inset day on friday, others may have done too), could have had an effect. Let's wait and see if the rest of the week pans out the same or if the numbers pick up again.

It started trending down over a week ago, and it's very definitely the 2nd doses only trending downwards

Doesn't look like it trended down over a week ago to me (2nd doses), there was only 1 day it was lower (and that was offset by the following day), going from the 19th - 26th. Only this past long weekend (including the friday) has seen a drop, and as I said, if lots of people had an inset day, there;s real potential for a long weekend getaway type deal.

[Saint]

Suspect the long weekend (and our school had an inset day on friday, others may have done too), could have had an effect. Let's wait and see if the rest of the week pans out the same or if the numbers pick up again.

It started trending down over a week ago, and it's very definitely the 2nd doses only trending downwards

Doesn't look like it trended down over a week ago to me (2nd doses), there was only 1 day it was lower (and that was offset by the following day), going from the 19th - 26th. Only this past long weekend (including the friday) has seen a drop, and as I said, if lots of people had an inset day, there;s real potential for a long weekend getaway type deal.

The 7 day average peaked on April 26th. Every day since then the average has dropped. Absolutely understand the long weekend will have an impact in the most recent numbers, but there's a real downwards trend that predates the weekend.

Like I said, there has to be a huge number being built up to to cope with the bonkers 1st dose period we had

[Biffer]

Like I said, at some point soon they actually need to deliver an absolute shitload of second jabs. We had a week where we hit nearly 5 million in the week, and with 800,000 in a single day. That's building up in the forecast for 2nd doses to be delivered, and without any external delivery from India or the EU for AZ has got to be a limiting factor at the moment. Not sure we'll be opening up to under 40s any time soon in most places

In Scotland I'm expecting second doses to trend down a bit in the next week, and first doses to kick in again. The big numbers of first doses up here were 31st Jan - 14th Feb, where 50,000+ were done each day, but it looks like they've been aiming for around a 10 week interval for the second dose, as there's now more second doses given than there were first doses by 14th Feb (1,348,000 vs 1,242,000). Last couple of weeks they were hitting 40-45,000 second doses a day to get to there, which meant first doses were low (<10,000/day). Expecting it to go to a 50/50 or 40/60 split of first dose v second dose now, as that will keep pace with the second dose rate (first doses were about 25-30k/day second half of Feb and most of March) allowing us to get through most of the 40-49 group in the next two or three weeks (about 350k more people to do).

[Raggs]

It started trending down over a week ago, and it's very definitely the 2nd doses only trending downwards

Doesn't look like it trended down over a week ago to me (2nd doses), there was only 1 day it was lower (and that was offset by the following day), going from the 19th - 26th. Only this past long weekend (including the friday) has seen a drop, and as I said, if lots of people had an inset day, there;s real potential for a long weekend getaway type deal.

The 7 day average peaked on April 26th. Every day since then the average has dropped. Absolutely understand the long weekend will have an impact in the most recent numbers, but there's a real downwards trend that predates the weekend.

Like I said, there has to be a huge number being built up to to cope with the bonkers 1st dose period we had

Yes, April 26th for 7 day average, goes upto and includes April 29th (Friday inset day). If you look, you can see the same drop each week, this week, due to the weekend, it continues to drop longer than it has before.

If it peaked on the 26th, how can you say it trended down over a week ago (when it literally peaked a week ago, the highest it's been for 2nd doses).

[Saint]

And in other news, I'm AZ dose 1 + 72 hours and having to dose up on paracetamol every 2 hours. My shoulder is murdering me

[Fangle]

Why are we happy to speak about the lethal variants for the virus according to their supposed source, like the Brazil variant, the South African variant, and the UK variant, but not allowed to refer to covid-19 as a Chinese or Wuhan virus? Fears of Xenophobia?

[fishfoodie]

And in other news, I'm AZ dose 1 + 72 hours and having to dose up on paracetamol every 2 hours. My shoulder is murdering me

I won't call you a softcock just yet, as I haven't had any doses yet, & karma can be a bitch