So, coronavirus...

[fishfoodie]

Cock-up or conspiracy - Boris unaware of the difference or a deliberate attempt to mislead? A sacking offence in either case.

Wouldn't it be about 1 million doses a day? Chief bullshitter over promising. Again.

It's fully deliberate - he knows he had the headlines and the captive BBC audience on Sunday night. The vast majority who heard him and believed him will not hear or see the 'corrections' required to be made to what he said. This is a tactic he has used any number of times in HoC and elsewhere. It is all about the headlines, hence the 8pm timing to allow press to print the headlines for the next day without time for the 'corrections' to be made clear. Before the deadline for hitting this target he will have some other diversionary tactic or dead cat to distract the public and lead the press another merry dance so he won't be held accountable for not telling the truth nor hitting the target he himself promised he would.

He's going to get another filleted in PMQs on Wednesday; & that'll be the headline on Thursday morning; & then, the By-Election on Thursday, that'll be the headline on Friday; & that gets him thru the week.

He's the laziest cunt imaginable. He just wants to get to Christmas intact; & then his people will try & mend fences over Christmas & New Years; but if they do get turned over in Shropshire; that'll be another bunch of letters into Brady.

I'll bet the Leadership candidates will all be doing their own lobbying over the break; & we'll see them all trumpeting their imagined triumphs in the New Year.

[Glaston]

He's going to get another filleted in PMQs on Wednesday; & that'll be the headline on Thursday morning; & then, the By-Election on Thursday, that'll be the headline on Friday; & that gets him thru the week.

He's the laziest cunt imaginable. He just wants to get to Christmas intact; & then his people will try & mend fences over Christmas & New Years; but if they do get turned over in Shropshire; that'll be another bunch of letters into Brady.

I'll bet the Leadership candidates will all be doing their own lobbying over the break; & we'll see them all trumpeting their imagined triumphs in the New Year.

Paternity leave?

[fishfoodie]

He's going to get another filleted in PMQs on Wednesday; & that'll be the headline on Thursday morning; & then, the By-Election on Thursday, that'll be the headline on Friday; & that gets him thru the week.

He's the laziest cunt imaginable. He just wants to get to Christmas intact; & then his people will try & mend fences over Christmas & New Years; but if they do get turned over in Shropshire; that'll be another bunch of letters into Brady.

I'll bet the Leadership candidates will all be doing their own lobbying over the break; & we'll see them all trumpeting their imagined triumphs in the New Year.

Paternity leave?

If he took Paternity leave, for all the sprogs he's paying for; he wouldn't be working for the next ten years.

[Rinkals]

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.

As I say, I do not read the rag, but I'm told it's an Op-ed by the chairman of the 1922 committee.

Sir Graham Brady is chair of the 1922 committee.
The Telegraph is behind a paywall and welcome to stay there
Google says the last article he wrote for them was 1st December

Thanks.

I shall seek clarification.

[Ymx]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single (unspecified condition) person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry? The link between paragraph 1 and 2 below, ffs!!!!

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are still very low. Let’s see in 2 weeks.

Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.

[Wrinkles]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry?

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are very low.

Has it been confirmed they died of Omicron rather than with it? When the first confirmed UK fatality occurred last year the details were immediately publicised (a woman from Berkshire in her 70s who’d been a regular patient due to non-Covid reasons), but in this instance no details have been forthcoming.

[Rinkals]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single (unspecified condition) person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry? The link between paragraph 1 and 2 below, ffs!!!!

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are still very low. Let’s see in 2 weeks.

Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.

I fear you appear to be trusting Boris to speak the truth.

[Biffer]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single (unspecified condition) person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry? The link between paragraph 1 and 2 below, ffs!!!!

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are still very low. Let’s see in 2 weeks.

Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.

Because people were making a big thing of there being none.

[TheNatalShark]

Tested positive on an LFT on Sunday after negative on Friday.

By God last night was rough. Don't think I slept more than 5 minutes a pop.

Thank fuck for the vaccines and not yet being an old bastard.

[Calculon]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single (unspecified condition) person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry? The link between paragraph 1 and 2 below, ffs!!!!

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are still very low. Let’s see in 2 weeks.

Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.

Potential reasons people might fear monger/ emphasize worse case scenario

financial
Sell more papers, more views, more PPE, more test, etc
Extra funding from government/industry
More publicity

Others
They like extra publicity/fame
Makes politicians, scientists, etc feel important
Politicians distracting from other news
The feeling of belonging and being part of something "big"
Virtue signaling "look at me, I'm prepared to sacrifices so much for the greater good by not going on a foreign holiday, and I'm not even complaining about it"
Serves to encourage people to get vaccinated, boosters, wear masks, keep social distancing etc
Some people are naturally more pessimistic and/or risk adverse
Some people enjoy social isolation and would like it to continue in some form or another
It's become political so you identify with your tribe and against those that want zero restrictions and minimize the risks

[Ymx]

Tested positive on an LFT on Sunday after negative on Friday.

By God last night was rough. Don't think I slept more than 5 minutes a pop.

Thank fuck for the vaccines and not yet being an old bastard.

Doesn’t sound pleasant at all. How was it rough and keeping you awake if you don’t mind me asking? Sweats/shivers/etc?

[Sandstorm]

Tested positive on an LFT on Sunday after negative on Friday.

By God last night was rough. Don't think I slept more than 5 minutes a pop.

Thank fuck for the vaccines and not yet being an old bastard.

Doesn’t sound pleasant at all. How was it rough and keeping you awake if you don’t mind me asking? Sweats/shivers/etc?

Covid is shite. Just because you won't die doesn't mean you should be blase' about catching it. Many people feel like utter shit for a week!
Everyone I know over 40 who caught Covid (about a dozen people now) wishes they hadn't!

[Tichtheid]

Tested positive on an LFT on Sunday after negative on Friday.

By God last night was rough. Don't think I slept more than 5 minutes a pop.

Thank fuck for the vaccines and not yet being an old bastard.

Doesn’t sound pleasant at all. How was it rough and keeping you awake if you don’t mind me asking? Sweats/shivers/etc?

Covid is shite. Just because you won't die doesn't mean you should be blase' about catching it. Many people feel like utter shit for a week!
Everyone I know over 40 who caught Covid (about a dozen people now) wishes they hadn't!

A guy I know has had long covid since January, he's still not really able to do very much and feels shit almost all of the time, he's early sixties and luckily had taken early retirement a couple of years ago.

[Blackmac]

So 4000 confirmed Omicron cases but PHE stating there has likely been over 200000 cases. Does that not suggest that 98% of Omicron sufferers either have no symptoms or symptoms so mild they aren't getting tested.

[JM2K6]

So 4000 confirmed Omicron cases but PHE stating there has likely been over 200000 cases. Does that not suggest that 98% of Omicron sufferers either have no symptoms or symptoms so mild they aren't getting tested.

Or don't have access to tests. You can't book a PCR in London at the moment and LFT stocks are minimal.

[GogLais]

I was walking the streets of Birkenhead in the rain yesterday - someone has to - when I noticed stickers to the effect of "What sort of virus is it if you need a test to know you've got it?". Words fail.

[Biffer]

Can someone tell me why they are making a big deal of a single (unspecified condition) person dying of omicron? And 10 hospitalised? And trying to use that as a basis to worry? The link between paragraph 1 and 2 below, ffs!!!!

Surely many people/media will then look at what percentage that represents and say, what’s the big deal as it completely neutralises the increased infection rate?? Hospitalisation rates are still very low. Let’s see in 2 weeks.

Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.

Potential reasons people might fear monger/ emphasize worse case scenario

financial
Sell more papers, more views, more PPE, more test, etc
Extra funding from government/industry
More publicity

Others
They like extra publicity/fame
Makes politicians, scientists, etc feel important
Politicians distracting from other news
The feeling of belonging and being part of something "big"
Virtue signaling "look at me, I'm prepared to sacrifices so much for the greater good by not going on a foreign holiday, and I'm not even complaining about it"
Serves to encourage people to get vaccinated, boosters, wear masks, keep social distancing etc
Some people are naturally more pessimistic and/or risk adverse
Some people enjoy social isolation and would like it to continue in some form or another
It's become political so you identify with your tribe and against those that want zero restrictions and minimize the risks

There's also a case, not for fearmongering, but emphasising worst cases that is scientific. Using the precautionary principle is important when you've only got one of something, like a global environment or a global population. If we'd applied it more in earlier waves in the UK, there might not be as many dead.

[Biffer]

I was walking the streets of Birkenhead in the rain yesterday - someone has to - when I noticed stickers to the effect of "What sort of virus is it if you need a test to know you've got it?". Words fail.

Wow. That's mind numbingly fucking stupid.

Edit - the stickers I mean, not the walking in Birkenhead. Although now I come to think about it...

[petej]

So 4000 confirmed Omicron cases but PHE stating there has likely been over 200000 cases. Does that not suggest that 98% of Omicron sufferers either have no symptoms or symptoms so mild they aren't getting tested.

Indeed. The account calculon shared is very interesting @pieterstreicher for numbers in Gauteng and SA

The CFR of Delta was 3% up to late November.

The CFR of #Omicron is estimated at 0.42% and the IFR at 0.05%.

Obviously with large enough case rates that would still represent a problem for the nhs.
You expect London to peak within a week.

[Uncle fester]

I was walking the streets of Birkenhead in the rain yesterday - someone has to - when I noticed stickers to the effect of "What sort of virus is it if you need a test to know you've got it?". Words fail.

Wow. That's mind numbingly fucking stupid.

Edit - the stickers I mean, not the walking in Birkenhead. Although now I come to think about it...

I skipped a recent rugby reunion night because I'd have had to listen to a few of those types all night.

[GogLais]

I was walking the streets of Birkenhead in the rain yesterday - someone has to - when I noticed stickers to the effect of "What sort of virus is it if you need a test to know you've got it?". Words fail.

Wow. That's mind numbingly fucking stupid.

Edit - the stickers I mean, not the walking in Birkenhead. Although now I come to think about it...

I did catch a glimpse in the dank grayness of one the Type 45 destroyers that's having tens of millions spent on it at Cammell Laird to fix its hot-running problem. Good thing it's being done here, bad thing it needs doing in the first place.

[Blackmac]

So 4000 confirmed Omicron cases but PHE stating there has likely been over 200000 cases. Does that not suggest that 98% of Omicron sufferers either have no symptoms or symptoms so mild they aren't getting tested.

Or don't have access to tests. You can't book a PCR in London at the moment and LFT stocks are minimal.

There is that, but I don't think it accounts for a significant factor of the difference.

[Sandstorm]

You expect London to peak within a week.

Shut the stations, fence the M25. Keep those filthy city folk away from the rest of the country this Xmas!

[JM2K6]

So 4000 confirmed Omicron cases but PHE stating there has likely been over 200000 cases. Does that not suggest that 98% of Omicron sufferers either have no symptoms or symptoms so mild they aren't getting tested.

Or don't have access to tests. You can't book a PCR in London at the moment and LFT stocks are minimal.

There is that, but I don't think it accounts for a significant factor of the difference.

Simply too many unknowns at this stage, I think.

[Blackmac]

Or don't have access to tests. You can't book a PCR in London at the moment and LFT stocks are minimal.

There is that, but I don't think it accounts for a significant factor of the difference.

Simply too many unknowns at this stage, I think.

Yep, think that's the case but I just feel the scaremongering campaign is just being ramped up too much. Sturgeon has just stated that Omicron now accounts for 27.5% of all cases then announced 110 new Omicron cases out of a total of 3117. Arithmetic obviously not a SG strong point.

[Dogbert]

There is that, but I don't think it accounts for a significant factor of the difference.

Simply too many unknowns at this stage, I think.

Yep, think that's the case but I just feel the scaremongering campaign is just being ramped up too much. Sturgeon has just stated that Omicron now accounts for 27.5% of all cases then announced 110 new Omicron cases out of a total of 3117. Arithmetic obviously not a SG strong point.

If you were listening that is not what she said from the 3,117 new case yes 110 were confirmed to be down to Omicron , however the S gene dropout - a good indication of Omicron levels - is currently present in 27.5% of cases

Is more down to your understanding of the data that has been presented , rather than any SG Arithmetic

[Big D]

Labour will have to tread the line of agreeing with the government, trying to land a kick and trying to widen the rift between front and back benchers. Not sure they have the skills to do it. Which is a shame.

[fishfoodie]

It's just the growth in numbers that is, rightly, scaring health officials.

Even if you've 95% of your population vaccinated; & the vaccines are highly effective; that still leaves you with 5% that can; & will get infected.

If you've 200,000 cases; that's 10k unvaccinated people, in a week !

You can't keep up that level of cases; for any length of time; before your ICUs & hospitals are facing collapse.

[Slick]

Booster done, very efficient again.

Folk sitting waiting the 10 minutes to leave a vaccination station taking their masks off to speak on their phone

[Calculon]

From tomorrow, red list gone.

Just want to thank the UK for alerting the world of Omicron, well done

[petej]

From tomorrow, red list gone.

Just want to thank the UK for alerting the world of Omicron, well done

Spaffer's government has no shame.

[JM2K6]

They lie as easily as breathing.

[I like neeps]

Labour will have to tread the line of agreeing with the government, trying to land a kick and trying to widen the rift between front and back benchers. Not sure they have the skills to do it. Which is a shame.

The backbenchers are total fruitloops who are cosplaying world war two on their WhatsApps. It really shouldn't be difficult. Labour should vote against the restrictions unless there's financial support available for those affected.

[Calculon]

There's also a case, not for fearmongering, but emphasising worst cases that is scientific. Using the precautionary principle is important when you've only got one of something, like a global environment or a global population. If we'd applied it more in earlier waves in the UK, there might not be as many dead.

I don't really understand this term "precautionary principle". What exactly does it mean, just a fancy way of saying "better safe than sorry"? It seems a phrase that can be used to justify whatever precautions (restrictions) are deemed necessary, whatever the actual nature of the resistrictions, and without then having to lay out a clear cost/ bennefit rationale of said restrictions. Which admittedly can be very hard to do consideing the somewhat unpredictable nature of this pandemic.

The UK along with most countries made loads of mistakes in the beginning. Most people , including myself, completely underestimated the impact the virus would have. So I can't be too critical of decisions taken in the first few months. Even those taken by shitty politicians.

[JM2K6]

There's also a case, not for fearmongering, but emphasising worst cases that is scientific. Using the precautionary principle is important when you've only got one of something, like a global environment or a global population. If we'd applied it more in earlier waves in the UK, there might not be as many dead.

I don't really understand this term "precautionary principle". What exactly does it mean, just a fancy way of saying "better safe than sorry"? It seems a phrase that can be used to justify whatever precautions (restrictions) are deemed necessary, whatever the actual nature of the resistrictions, and without then having to lay out a clear cost/ bennefit rationale of said restrictions. Which admittedly can be very hard to do consideing the somewhat unpredictable nature of this pandemic.

The UK along with most countries made loads of mistakes in the beginning. Most people , including myself, completely underestimated the impact the virus would have. So I can't be too critical of decisions taken in the first few months. Even those taken by shitty politicians.

I don't understand that final paragraph. Are you holding governments to the same standard as a layman with no specialist knowledge or access to scientific data?

[SaintK]

I'm sure this will motivate the front line NHS staff. Along with their 1% pay rise

[Slick]

Yup, all together now “fuck you, pay me

[salanya]

A lot of care and penmanship has gone into that:

'lut bsv nidus,
Bois Jruse''


Can the man actually write?!

[Blackmac]

Simply too many unknowns at this stage, I think.

Yep, think that's the case but I just feel the scaremongering campaign is just being ramped up too much. Sturgeon has just stated that Omicron now accounts for 27.5% of all cases then announced 110 new Omicron cases out of a total of 3117. Arithmetic obviously not a SG strong point.

If you were listening that is not what she said from the 3,117 new case yes 110 were confirmed to be down to Omicron , however the S gene dropout - a good indication of Omicron levels - is currently present in 27.5% of cases

Is more down to your understanding of the data that has been presented , rather than any SG Arithmetic

That is certainly not the way she put it. She described how Omicron is indicated by the S gene drop out and then said that they now represent 27.5% of all cases. It's completely splitting hairs to suggest otherwise and we all know that is exactly the way she wanted it to be interpreted.

[Dogbert]

Yep, think that's the case but I just feel the scaremongering campaign is just being ramped up too much. Sturgeon has just stated that Omicron now accounts for 27.5% of all cases then announced 110 new Omicron cases out of a total of 3117. Arithmetic obviously not a SG strong point.

If you were listening that is not what she said from the 3,117 new case yes 110 were confirmed to be down to Omicron , however the S gene dropout - a good indication of Omicron levels - is currently present in 27.5% of cases

Is more down to your understanding of the data that has been presented , rather than any SG Arithmetic

That is certainly not the way she put it. She described how Omicron is indicated by the S gene drop out and then said that they now represent 27.5% of all cases. It's completely splitting hairs to suggest otherwise and we all know that is exactly the way she wanted it to be interpreted.

Precisely , The interpretation is that exactly that the variant now represents 27.5% , That's exactly what she was trying to get over - on purpose , or guess what people would gab onto the 'only 110 out of 3117
Which figure do you think is more accurate 3.52% ( 110/3117) or the 27.5% presented by the S gene dropout ?

Or do you believe that the SG 'just got the "arithmetic wrong "