So, coronavirus...

[Calculon]

Children, most of them unvaccinated, are still at a far lower risk from Omicron than adults

[dpedin]

Children, most of them unvaccinated, are still at a far lower risk from Omicron than adults

I think we all know that however the point is that omicron may be leading to higher levels of hospitalisation of young kids because it is attacking the upper respiratory system and this is a problem for young kids who have less well developed airways that get clogged up more easily. Hopefully they will recover after a short time on oxygen and steroids but it is increasing pressure on the NHS particularly paeds services for whom this is always a busy time of the year anyway with RSV, etc. Just saying that omicron is lower risk for children doesn't make this go away!

[dpedin]

Just finished watching the Royal institution Christmas Lectures delivered by JVT ... don't ask!

However, despite being aimed at kids, the level it was pitched at is probably exactly the level that the great UK populace need in order to understand covid, vaccinations, PH measures, mask wearing, etc. JVT was actually very good and he introduced all the top scientists who explained in pretty simple terms their own specific specialist topics. With some small changes it would have been useful to show on prime time tv and might have avoided all the covid bullshit I hear repeated time and time again. In fact it was probably at exactly the right level for many of the Tory party MPs! For example it explained in very clear terms how masks work in combating droplet and aerosol transmission of viruses and in particular how NP95 standard masks work as they do - to be honest I hadn't fully understood the electrostatic filtering built into the NP95 masks until it was explained in the lecture! Desmond Swaine, Mark Francois, JRM, et al should be sat down and tied to their chair until they have watched all the lectures - it might improve their understanding a little.

[fishfoodie]

Just finished watching the Royal institution Christmas Lectures delivered by JVT ... don't ask!

However, despite being aimed at kids, the level it was pitched at is probably exactly the level that the great UK populace need in order to understand covid, vaccinations, PH measures, mask wearing, etc. JVT was actually very good and he introduced all the top scientists who explained in pretty simple terms their own specific specialist topics. With some small changes it would have been useful to show on prime time tv and might have avoided all the covid bullshit I hear repeated time and time again. In fact it was probably at exactly the right level for many of the Tory party MPs! For example it explained in very clear terms how masks work in combating droplet and aerosol transmission of viruses and in particular how NP95 standard masks work as they do - to be honest I hadn't fully understood the electrostatic filtering built into the NP95 masks until it was explained in the lecture! Desmond Swaine, Mark Francois, JRM, et al should be sat down and tied to their chair until they have watched all the lectures - it might improve their understanding a little.

I make a point of recording them every year; as they are consistently excellent; & I think you're doing kids a disservice by suggesting that anyone needs to dumb down their lectures to have kids able to take them onboard; all they're really doing is slowing the deliver rate, & cutting out the fat, that makes up the boring 90% of anything technical; & just delivering the important bits.

[GrahamWa]

Just finished watching the Royal institution Christmas Lectures delivered by JVT ... don't ask!

However, despite being aimed at kids, the level it was pitched at is probably exactly the level that the great UK populace need in order to understand covid, vaccinations, PH measures, mask wearing, etc. JVT was actually very good and he introduced all the top scientists who explained in pretty simple terms their own specific specialist topics. With some small changes it would have been useful to show on prime time tv and might have avoided all the covid bullshit I hear repeated time and time again. In fact it was probably at exactly the right level for many of the Tory party MPs! For example it explained in very clear terms how masks work in combating droplet and aerosol transmission of viruses and in particular how NP95 standard masks work as they do - to be honest I hadn't fully understood the electrostatic filtering built into the NP95 masks until it was explained in the lecture! Desmond Swaine, Mark Francois, JRM, et al should be sat down and tied to their chair until they have watched all the lectures - it might improve their understanding a little.

I thought it was very good too. Lost me a couple of times when they were talking about gene sequencing but that probably says more about me.

[petej]

Just finished watching the Royal institution Christmas Lectures delivered by JVT ... don't ask!

However, despite being aimed at kids, the level it was pitched at is probably exactly the level that the great UK populace need in order to understand covid, vaccinations, PH measures, mask wearing, etc. JVT was actually very good and he introduced all the top scientists who explained in pretty simple terms their own specific specialist topics. With some small changes it would have been useful to show on prime time tv and might have avoided all the covid bullshit I hear repeated time and time again. In fact it was probably at exactly the right level for many of the Tory party MPs! For example it explained in very clear terms how masks work in combating droplet and aerosol transmission of viruses and in particular how NP95 standard masks work as they do - to be honest I hadn't fully understood the electrostatic filtering built into the NP95 masks until it was explained in the lecture! Desmond Swaine, Mark Francois, JRM, et al should be sat down and tied to their chair until they have watched all the lectures - it might improve their understanding a little.

A lot of adults stopped learning a long time ago and their understanding will be far worse than many kids. Part reason why I would have no issue dropping the voting age to 12-14.

[Uncle fester]

Are these online out of curiosity?

[petej]

On BBC iplayer

[Niegs]

Racist Canadian lady blames Chinese Canadian who's been here 20 years for the coronavirus.

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/asian-man-b ... -1.5728844


And also in Canada, I wondered why CTV was trending. Seems antivaxxers took joy in 'flipping' a poll on the bottom of their site to get the result they want:

[Flockwitt]

The Covid case explosion in the US...

[Ymx]

In France they were seeing 0.45% new cases in a single day. 300k of 67M

In US it represents about 0.23% of population.
750k of 330M

So it could well double that number.

[laurent]

In France they were seeing 0.45% new cases in a single day. 300k of 67M

In US it represents about 0.23% of population.
750k of 330M

So it could well double that number.

There is not enough test now so who knows what the real rate is.

[petej]

The real rate in the UK. Divide 4 million by 7. Assuming each person is infected for a week. About 600000 per day.

Is the UK the only country with national scale ongoing prevalence study?

[tc27]

I see more Tory MPs harrumphing about getting people back into offices..they really cant let this go can they?

[Paddington Bear]

Commerical landlords are a powerful lobby.

Fwiw I don't think permanent wfh is working effectively on the whole but the constant hectoring is just dull. People don't want covid, they'll make their own decisions for now.

[dpedin]

The real rate in the UK. Divide 4 million by 7. Assuming each person is infected for a week. About 600000 per day.

Is the UK the only country with national scale ongoing prevalence study?

Just had the ONS lady round 15 mins ago to do the questionnaire and collect throat/nasal swab and finger prick blood test. Been doing it monthly since they started doing the study. Also do the Zoe app study every day. Given the shortage of testing capacity these are probably the best and most reliable measures we have now?

[SaintK]

Commerical landlords are a powerful lobby.

Fwiw I don't think permanent wfh is working effectively on the whole but the constant hectoring is just dull. People don't want covid, they'll make their own decisions for now.

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

[Lemoentjie]

That Eric guy is a fear-monger. To show the other side of the data, from England:



If you do not separate 'with' and 'from' Covid hospitalisations (what Eric forgot about), then anytime when cases rise will result in 'hospitalisations' rising by a similar %.

[fishfoodie]

Well done that Judge !

A district court judge has declined to grant free legal aid to individuals who were fined for breaching the pandemic regulations last year.

At a sitting of Midleton District today, Judge Joanne Carroll said that the State has been put to considerable cost to date dealing with Covid-19 .

She said she was not prepared to grant free legal aid in cases where solicitors were representing clients who were before her court for failing to pay fines arising out of breaches of the Covid-19 regulations during various State lockdowns.

A number of defendants appeared in court following non-payment of Covid-19 fines for breaches in January and February last year.

[petej]

Looks like Wales omicron wave might have peaked. Cases and Positivity % has decreased.

[Paddington Bear]

Commerical landlords are a powerful lobby.

Fwiw I don't think permanent wfh is working effectively on the whole but the constant hectoring is just dull. People don't want covid, they'll make their own decisions for now.

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

[petej]

The real rate in the UK. Divide 4 million by 7. Assuming each person is infected for a week. About 600000 per day.

Is the UK the only country with national scale ongoing prevalence study?

Just had the ONS lady round 15 mins ago to do the questionnaire and collect throat/nasal swab and finger prick blood test. Been doing it monthly since they started doing the study. Also do the Zoe app study every day. Given the shortage of testing capacity these are probably the best and most reliable measures we have now?

The ONS study has been the best and most reliable measure since they started it.

[dpedin]

Looks like Wales omicron wave might have peaked. Cases and Positivity % has decreased.

Hopefully ...

[dpedin]

That Eric guy is a fear-monger. To show the other side of the data, from England:



If you do not separate 'with' and 'from' Covid hospitalisations (what Eric forgot about), then anytime when cases rise will result in 'hospitalisations' rising by a similar %.

Did you read the other article I posted from Canada? They were quite clear that there is a rise in admissions of young kids ie u5, due to covid and for reasons I described above. The data you shows is for all patients in England and London and doesn't really cover the point he or I was making re covid in young kids.

[sockwithaticket]

Well my house now has 2/4 with Omicron, so I guess it's only a matter of time before it hits me. The other non-afflicted was suggesting we wear masks now except in our own rooms and gloves when handling food etc. which just feels a bit 'after the horse has bolted' tbh.

Commerical landlords are a powerful lobby.

Fwiw I don't think permanent wfh is working effectively on the whole but the constant hectoring is just dull. People don't want covid, they'll make their own decisions for now.

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

While true, I seem to recall a non-negligible number not doing a great deal except making cups of tea and spending a while in the loo at the office. Not sure it's the location that really makes much of a difference to their work rate.

[dpedin]

What does 'omicron is milder' actually mean?

I think we all now accept that Omicron is milder than Delta? Hospitalisations are at least 40% - 60% lower than with Delta, possibly more thanks to the booster, and we hope that deaths follow similar trajectory. It is however far more transmissible - somewhere between 2-5 times more - than Delta?

However Delta risk of hospitalisation was higher than the previous Alpha variant (by up to 50%?) and the Alpha variant was higher than the original covid virus (by 40%?). Whilst figures are debatable it may be that Omicron may be more transmissible and, without vaccinations, lead to more hospitalisations than those variants prior to Delta? In all likelihood Omicron is not 'milder' than the original covid19 virus and may not be much milder than the Alpha variant.

Delta was a pretty nasty variant - compared to the original and subsequent variants - it spread a lot faster, had a much higher viral load, infected folk remained contagious longer and led to at least twice the number of hospitalisations. Whilst Omicron is 'milder' than Delta, thankfully, it's not yet clear that it is 'milder' than previous variants?

Thankfully the UK has a fantastic vaccination programme and 71% of the pop have had at least 2 vaccines. This has meant we have had great protection, even with Omicron, from hospitalisation and/or serious illness for the vast majority of the older and more vulnerable population.

The problem for me is the constant messaging about omicron being 'milder' and many of the eligible but unvaccinated/one dose folk (c10 million) will think they are now ok and don't need to protect themselves or other - they aren't. Whilst they might have less chance of hospitalisation and death with the 'milder' Omicron than with Delta, there is still a significant risk.

[Uncle fester]

Commerical landlords are a powerful lobby.

Fwiw I don't think permanent wfh is working effectively on the whole but the constant hectoring is just dull. People don't want covid, they'll make their own decisions for now.

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

[laurent]

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I am on same stuff however this year Helping the Rugby school has stopped the cabin fever feeling (and no daughters)

[sockwithaticket]

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I think this is the main thing. Working from home for 2 years through a global pandemic, is going to be very different to wfh with full freedom to go and live a normal life outside of work hours.

I'm not prepared to say I don't like wfh until I've experienced it for a protracted period outside in regular circumstances (which surely must come back at some point?!).

[Slick]

Well my house now has 2/4 with Omicron, so I guess it's only a matter of time before it hits me. The other non-afflicted was suggesting we wear masks now except in our own rooms and gloves when handling food etc. which just feels a bit 'after the horse has bolted' tbh

It's amazing, to me anyway, how many families I know where only half of them got it.

[Happyhooker]

I wish you bastards would stop working from home.

It's really difficult to do work on someone's house when they're faffing around underfoot the whole time. One shout of "fuck" cos you've pinched your finger has them sprinting into the room thinking you've demolished their house.

[Slick]

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I absolutely loath office environments and hope to never work in one again. Janet from accounts bringing in a shit cake on a Friday, sausage rolls at lunch time for some cunt you hate's birthday, secret santa at Christmas. It can all just fuck off.

[SaintK]

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I think this is the main thing. Working from home for 2 years through a global pandemic, is going to be very different to wfh with full freedom to go and live a normal life outside of work hours.

I'm not prepared to say I don't like wfh until I've experienced it for a protracted period outside in regular circumstances (which surely must come back at some point?!).

To be fair I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the past 2 years with little or no customer/client face to face interactions and monthly visits to Head Office. Would have certainly missed the twice annual 5* European customer focus groups and annual trip to Japan mind

[tc27]

So..if we are at the peak or close to it was the government justified in not bringing in additional measures (on top of a WFH order and mask mandates) in England?

[sockwithaticket]

Well my house now has 2/4 with Omicron, so I guess it's only a matter of time before it hits me. The other non-afflicted was suggesting we wear masks now except in our own rooms and gloves when handling food etc. which just feels a bit 'after the horse has bolted' tbh

It's amazing, to me anyway, how many families I know where only half of them got it.

There were some who never got sick during the Black Death.

In a weird way I find myself almost wanting to get it now? it feels a bit inevitable, so just have it over with. We can all suffer together under the same roof in a shit bit of the year where we wouldn't be wanting to go out much anyway.

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I absolutely loath office environments and hope to never work in one again. Janet from accounts bringing in a shit cake on a Friday, sausage rolls at lunch time for some cunt you hate's birthday, secret santa at Christmas. It can all just fuck off.

Some of that manages to make it into the digital sphere, I feel like the last couple of months have been a barrage of notifications along the lines of 'so & so you've never interacted with or heard of before is leaving/having a baby, here's a link to write well wishes in an e-card and another to make a donation'. Much easier to ignore than all the in person shite, though.

[Paddington Bear]

Well my house now has 2/4 with Omicron, so I guess it's only a matter of time before it hits me. The other non-afflicted was suggesting we wear masks now except in our own rooms and gloves when handling food etc. which just feels a bit 'after the horse has bolted' tbh.

I did it for 35 years. The 2 companies I worked for during that period were way ahead of their time. Admittedly my roles were field based anyway but the difference it made to work/life balance was immense

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

While true, I seem to recall a non-negligible number not doing a great deal except making cups of tea and spending a while in the loo at the office. Not sure it's the location that really makes much of a difference to their work rate.

Good point well made.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Well my house now has 2/4 with Omicron, so I guess it's only a matter of time before it hits me. The other non-afflicted was suggesting we wear masks now except in our own rooms and gloves when handling food etc. which just feels a bit 'after the horse has bolted' tbh.

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

While true, I seem to recall a non-negligible number not doing a great deal except making cups of tea and spending a while in the loo at the office. Not sure it's the location that really makes much of a difference to their work rate.

Good point well made.

The ability of some people in an office to damage everybody elses productivity also shouldn't be underestimated.

I spent most of my career in a field based role - day 1 of my first job after graduating I was introduced to my boss by the customer. I would go completely mental being office based however my last couple of jobs I popped in a couple of times a month just to see what was going on.

A friend has just ended the job he started a year ago without ever meeting anybody from his company or ever visiting any of their offices - it drove him up the wall.

[Slick]

So..if we are at the peak or close to it was the government justified in not bringing in additional measures (on top of a WFH order and mask mandates) in England?

Yes, probably.

[robmatic]

On the whole was the key part of my point - I know it works very well for some and I enjoy doing a bit of it. Some people though are absolutely phoning it in and/or have home situations that make it very difficult for them to do a proper day's work. The issue will come is how you deal with that - no doubt this is another 9/10 people think they are above average drivers scenarios.

My brother works in IT and he has been 100% wfh for 21 months with no immediate prospect of getting back to office. He started off fine as I'm sure most others did but the loneliness and isolation has slowly ground him down. Doesn't help that he has 2 young girls so there's very little escape from him.

I like wfh which I do occasionally but I'd probably have a very different view on it if I was doing it for 2 years straight through multiple lockdowns with very limited human interaction.

I think this is the main thing. Working from home for 2 years through a global pandemic, is going to be very different to wfh with full freedom to go and live a normal life outside of work hours.

I'm not prepared to say I don't like wfh until I've experienced it for a protracted period outside in regular circumstances (which surely must come back at some point?!).

My (now ex-)boss decided after our first lockdown that I was too unproductive when working from home to be allowed to do it again. We have a toddler and had no childcare, of course I was unproductive, I had a 2-year old bouncing off the walls.

[Margin__Walker]

First lockdown working from home with a bored 3 year old was a nightmare. Incredibly stressful as work was busy at the same time.

Wife and I work for the same company though and in normal times it suits us pretty well. Allows us to live where we want, a long way from our base office location. I can imagine it being a little more isolating though if I was single and in my 20s though.