So, coronavirus...

[Calculon]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/omicron-deaths/

All this panic over a variant that hasn't resulted in any deaths

So you're telling us that it hasn't resulted in any deaths and quoting something that says it's still early in the course of the disease?

It's been around since October. Tens of thousands of cases.

Not of confirmed cases, which helps with no confirmed deaths figure. You still anti vax?

[GogLais]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/omicron-deaths/

All this panic over a variant that hasn't resulted in any deaths

So you're telling us that it hasn't resulted in any deaths and quoting something that says it's still early in the course of the disease?

It's been around since October. Tens of thousands of cases.

First identified on 24 November according to WHO, obviously it would have been around before then, I've no idea how long before. But even say late October, you'd only be seeing any significant rise in deaths about now and anyway there wouldn't have been that many cases of Omicron in late October/early November.

[Calculon]

Lag between cases and deaths obviously vary a lot but one study found it to be on average around 8 days. It might be longer with Omicron in South Africa but all indications from hospitals is that the symptoms are milder than in the previous 3 waves, quite noticeably so.

The Omicron wave in Gauteng appears to have already peaked and is starting to fall, so there won't be any restrictions brought in.

Gauteng, South Africa has peaked with case levels similar to Delta, but with deaths expected to be 25 times lower.

[GogLais]

Lag between cases and deaths obviously vary a lot but one study found it to be on average around 8 days. It might be longer with Omicron in South Africa but all indications from hospitals is that the symptoms are milder than in the previous 3 waves, quite noticeably so.

The Omicron wave in Gauteng appears to have already peaked and is starting to fall, so there won't be any restrictions brought in.

Gauteng, South Africa has peaked with case levels similar to Delta, but with deaths expected to be 25 times lower.

Eight days between cases and deaths? Off the top of my head in the UK I'd guess it's a week or two between a case beginning and entry to hospital and death two or three weeks later, with wide variations no doubt. Of course I'll be delighted if it pans out like you say but I wouldn't blame the UK Gov't if turns out that they over-reacted when faced with a mutation that seemed to spread far more quickly.

[Calculon]

? Lag between when case is reported and death, not when infection occurs. I've only read the abstract.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8431868/


This might turn out to be an amazingly short wave

Today's South African COVID-19 numbers are in, with a overall decrease in case numbers, despite a substantial increase in the number of tests performed, and a dramatic decrease in test positivity (-28% from yesterday; -45% from two days ago).
1/

Everybody likes graphs

This from a variant with around 5 times more antibody evasion than Beta, which has itself more than Delta. There will be many, many breakthrough infections, mostly all mild.

Maybe this will translate differently in the UK but seems unlikely to be that different. Despite the rapid increase in case numbers, from around 200 a day to 20,000, SA government unlikely to introduce restrictions. Those that exist are very, very lax. The SA medical fraternity are relaxed about Omicron, bigger pressure on the health service is because of isolation of hospital staff because of positive test. Not because of number of patients or the severity of their illness.

[Ymx]

The SA medical fraternity are relaxed about Omicron, bigger pressure on the health service is because of isolation of hospital staff because of positive test. Not because of number of patients or the severity of their illness.

That’s a really interesting point. Staff reduced due to needing to isolate, which affects capacity.

Perhaps once more is known about it, it becomes treated more like a regular illness for medical staff (who I assume are all vaxed).

[tabascoboy]

Lag between cases and deaths obviously vary a lot but one study found it to be on average around 8 days. It might be longer with Omicron in South Africa but all indications from hospitals is that the symptoms are milder than in the previous 3 waves, quite noticeably so.

The Omicron wave in Gauteng appears to have already peaked and is starting to fall, so there won't be any restrictions brought in.

Gauteng, South Africa has peaked with case levels similar to Delta, but with deaths expected to be 25 times lower.

Eight days between cases and deaths? Off the top of my head in the UK I'd guess it's a week or two between a case beginning and entry to hospital and death two or three weeks later, with wide variations no doubt. Of course I'll be delighted if it pans out like you say but I wouldn't blame the UK Gov't if turns out that they over-reacted when faced with a mutation that seemed to spread far more quickly.

Think it's good to be a little wary of direct comparisons between SA and the UK since while it is summer there it is winter here and we saw a distinct change in the effects of COVID in our summer. Add our cold, wet weather into the mix, people spending more time in unventilated indoor spaces and you'd expect that along with the seasonal increase of flu it might well impact somewhat more. Let's hope anyway that the vaccine and booster combination does help stem any surge in serious cases.

[Biffer]

Main criticism of UK govt action previously has been how slow they were to react both at the start of the pandemic and before Christmas last year. If we’re over reacting quickly this time, I’m ok with that.

[Ymx]

Speaking of which, the SA red list is now looking ridiculous to continue with, given that omicron is going to be our main strain in about a week.

[Calculon]

Speaking of which, the SA red list is now looking ridiculous to continue with, given that omicron is going to be our main strain in about a week.

Purely political decision. The government was slaughtered last time for not acting quick enough so now they have to appear extra tough to appease the voters.

[Rinkals]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

[tabascoboy]

The UK's coronavirus alert level has been raised from three to four due to the spread of Omicron, the UK's chief medical officers have said.

The last time the UK was at level four was in May.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make a televised statement on Covid on BBC One at 20:00 GMT on Sunday.

He is expected to provide an update on the booster programme. The BBC has been told there will not be any more new rules announced.

On Sunday evening, the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said they were recommending the alert level is raised from three to four - signifying that Covid is spreading fast.

Risks are measured by a five-level, colour-coded system - level four means a high or rising level of transmission.

That system is separate and independent from any government decisions on easing or tightening rules.

[petej]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

No.
The telegraph more than any other paper in the UK including the tabloids is pretty much a Johnson fanzine. He worked for them for a very long time.

[petej]

Speaking of which, the SA red list is now looking ridiculous to continue with, given that omicron is going to be our main strain in about a week.

Purely political decision. The government was slaughtered last time for not acting quick enough so now they have to appear extra tough to appease the voters.

Pretty much the whole uk scientific community has pointed out it is pointless for the last week. France, Switzerland dropped the travel bans a few of days ago.

[Sandstorm]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

Mate, your sister is a moron. Anything she tells you is wrong or stupid.

[salanya]

Main criticism of UK govt action previously has been how slow they were to react both at the start of the pandemic and before Christmas last year. If we’re over reacting quickly this time, I’m ok with that.

Technically I agree.

But at the same time I feel this current government Omicron scare and Boris' booster broadcast tonight is all about spin and deflection. The motivation is probably (and I only say 'probably' to be kind) still mostly about protecting his own position, rather than the health of the nation.

[FalseBayFC]

The SA medical fraternity are relaxed about Omicron, bigger pressure on the health service is because of isolation of hospital staff because of positive test. Not because of number of patients or the severity of their illness.

That’s a really interesting point. Staff reduced due to needing to isolate, which affects capacity.

Perhaps once more is known about it, it becomes treated more like a regular illness for medical staff (who I assume are all vaxed).

My daughter is a speech and hearing therapy student in 4th year. They also do swallowing and dysphagia therapy. A lot of severe Covid patients have voice and swallowing issues. She's been on the wards at Tygerberg for a year now. Had a J and J shot and recently a booster. Fourth wave has hit Cape Town but still not much pressure on the wards. They're already building capacity for January when shit gets real. Omicron might be mild but the infection rates are ramping up so quickly that we may be overwhelmed by a tsunami.

[Rinkals]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

No.
The telegraph more than any other paper in the UK including the tabloids is pretty much a Johnson fanzine. He worked for them for a very long time.

My mother and two sisters have a subscription and I'll swear that they have become ultra fascists as a direct result.

Mind you, that they listen to Julia Hartly-Brewer doesn't help, either.

They regard the pandemic as a ploy to cow a pliant population over what they regard as nothing more than a mild cold.

[Rinkals]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

Mate, your sister is a moron. Anything she tells you is wrong or stupid.

She is an experienced and highly regarded Architect and a lead Architect for the Michaelangelo Towers in Sandton among other iconic buildings, both here in South Africa and in India.

I'm afraid that you are basing your opinion of her on your opinion of me, and it doesn't quite work that way.

[petej]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

No.
The telegraph more than any other paper in the UK including the tabloids is pretty much a Johnson fanzine. He worked for them for a very long time.

My mother and two sisters have a subscription and I'll swear that they have become ultra fascists as a direct result.

Mind you, that they listen to Julia Hartly-Brewer doesn't help, either.

They regard the pandemic as a ploy to cow a pliant population over what they regard as nothing more than a mild cold.

Under the Barclays ownership it has gone batshit. A lot of elderly readers (the vast majority are elderly) won't have realised and will still think it is a respectable newspaper. It has fired some of its better journalists and replaced them with bullshitters.

[Margin__Walker]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

Mate, your sister is a moron. Anything she tells you is wrong or stupid.

She is an experienced and highly regarded Architect and a lead Architect for the Michaelangelo Towers in Sandton among other iconic buildings, both here in South Africa and in India.

I'm afraid that you are basing your opinion of her on your opinion of me, and it doesn't quite work that way.

I'm no fan of the Telegraph, but I find that a far fetched premise for an article. Even by them. You'll have to provide a link if you're going to successfully defend her honour.

[Slick]

Does anyone get the Telegraph?

My Sister subscribes and she tells me that there is an article which claims that the parties at Number 10 proves that the virus is a hoax.

Is this a widely held view in the UK?

No.
The telegraph more than any other paper in the UK including the tabloids is pretty much a Johnson fanzine. He worked for them for a very long time.

My mother and two sisters have a subscription and I'll swear that they have become ultra fascists as a direct result.

Mind you, that they listen to Julia Hartly-Brewer doesn't help, either.

They regard the pandemic as a ploy to cow a pliant population over what they regard as nothing more than a mild cold.

Do they tell you why we are being cowed? What the end game is? And how many people are in on the plan?

Not having a go at you, but these are usually questions that the conspiracy lot chose not to try and answer.

[SaintK]

Handy timing!!!!

Lateral flow home test kits are unavailable on the government website, as NHS England has advised people trying to book a Covid-19 booster jab to try later or tomorrow as extremely high demand overwhelmed the website.
The government website on Monday said “there are no more home tests available” and advised people to “try again later” or to book a test site appointment instead.

[I like neeps]

Handy timing!!!!

Lateral flow home test kits are unavailable on the government website, as NHS England has advised people trying to book a Covid-19 booster jab to try later or tomorrow as extremely high demand overwhelmed the website.
The government website on Monday said “there are no more home tests available” and advised people to “try again later” or to book a test site appointment instead.

And it's basically impossible to book a booster. The ramping up Omicron hysteria to remove the party headlines is stupid as now they look incompetent with logistics of tests and jabs.

[Sandstorm]

Handy timing!!!!

Lateral flow home test kits are unavailable on the government website, as NHS England has advised people trying to book a Covid-19 booster jab to try later or tomorrow as extremely high demand overwhelmed the website.
The government website on Monday said “there are no more home tests available” and advised people to “try again later” or to book a test site appointment instead.

And it's basically impossible to book a booster. The ramping up Omicron hysteria to remove the party headlines is stupid as now they look incompetent with logistics of tests and jabs.

3 guys in the office this morning clicked refresh for 3 hours and finally got a booking for Friday afternoon.... "You are number 72468 in the queue"

[I like neeps]

Handy timing!!!!

And it's basically impossible to book a booster. The ramping up Omicron hysteria to remove the party headlines is stupid as now they look incompetent with logistics of tests and jabs.

3 guys in the office this morning clicked refresh for 3 hours and finally got a booking for Friday afternoon.... "You are number 72468 in the queue"

I tried to book as I haven't been identified as vulnerable or in hospital/care work was turned away after being in the queue 10 minutes.

[Hal Jordan]

Better gear up for the Mad Max scenes when I go for my booster on Wednesday morning, it seems.

[tc27]

Booked mine for Thursday at 9pm at my local GP - easy peasy only had to queue for about ten minutes on the website.

[Biffer]

10 am tomorrow morning for me, hopefully won't be crazy as we haven't turned it into a free for all yet up here.

[Slick]

10 am tomorrow morning for me, hopefully won't be crazy as we haven't turned it into a free for all yet up here.

I'm tomorrow afternoon.

Neeps, where do you live? Gorebridge seems to have quite a bit of space at the moment.

[inactionman]

I'm booked in at Dalkeith for next Monday, seemed to be a fair few slots left.

Not greatly looking forward to it - the missus just had her booster and she can barely move her arm, and I'm much more of a wuss than she is.

[Slick]

I'm booked in at Dalkeith for next Monday, seemed to be a fair few slots left.

Not greatly looking forward to it - the missus just had her booster and she can barely move her arm, and I'm much more of a wuss than she is.

Can't say I'm looking forward to it either. Been constantly ill with some other virus and various colds for the last month and just beginning to feel a bit better. Hoping my body doesn't give me a big "Fuck you"

[tc27]

10 am tomorrow morning for me, hopefully won't be crazy as we haven't turned it into a free for all yet up here.

Suspect it will be from tomorrow - getting everyone done by next Friday means the brakes must come off.

[Happyhooker]

10 am tomorrow morning for me, hopefully won't be crazy as we haven't turned it into a free for all yet up here.

Suspect it will be from tomorrow - getting everyone done by next Friday means the brakes must come off.

5 hour queues at st Thomas's today.

Also, they've already said it's just 'been offered' not actually a needle in the arm.

[laurent]

Call me Triple Shot from now on :P

French organisation = shot at 16h at 16h15 given cert home by 16h 30

[Biffer]

10 am tomorrow morning for me, hopefully won't be crazy as we haven't turned it into a free for all yet up here.

Suspect it will be from tomorrow - getting everyone done by next Friday means the brakes must come off.

It's not getting done, it's 'being offered'

[tc27]

Why it 'being offered' a big distinction? We don't live in a state that compels vaccination so so it can be taken as said.

[Sandstorm]

Why it 'being offered' a big distinction? We don't live in a state that compels vaccination so so it can be taken as said.

It means there are 15 million people who can join the (very long) queue to get jabbed by a few thousand nurses nationally. Many won't be booster jabbed for that New Years eve party bash and so won't get in. Sorry.

[GogLais]

Why it 'being offered' a big distinction? We don't live in a state that compels vaccination so so it can be taken as said.

My recollection isn't perfect so I can't quote him verbatim but as far as I recall the PM made it sound as though everyone who wanted to be would be vaccinated by the NY, hence discussion after the programme on what a huge undertaking this would be. Being offered by the NY is almost meaningless, you might end up getting it weeks into 2022.

[tc27]

Why it 'being offered' a big distinction? We don't live in a state that compels vaccination so so it can be taken as said.

It means there are 15 million people who can join the (very long) queue to get jabbed by a few thousand nurses nationally. Many won't be booster jabbed for that New Years eve party bash and so won't get in. Sorry.

The rhetoric was about delivering 1,000,000 vaccines a day as I understand it it means in theory everyone eligible and willing should be able to get a slot before 01/01/22