Coronavirus Death Thread

[Manc]

I see the R has made a comeback.

[Spikey M]

Our R(etard) number is at 47%.

[Magic]

Ah there's the interest rate rise right on time

[Spikey M]

Go on...

[Kikó]

What does the interest rate rise of 0.1 to 0.25% mean to you Magic?

[Manc]

Buckle up. :drool:

[Boydy]

I don't really get the point of raising interest rates at the minute. The inflation we're seeing isn't from cheap credit.

[Spikey M]

Unless you are extravagantly wealthy it's barely noticeable. Who notices a 0.15% increase in anything?

Maybe if you have a mortgage on a mansion or a yacht on credit.

[Baz]

They better not ban crowds at [League 1] football before 22nd January, now I’ve bought a bloody Gillingham shirt.

[wullie]

Our game against Stoke on Saturday looks like it'll be off, Stoke requesting postponement for covid and not because they have half a team injured already. Give us the points and send us up on PPG again

[Spikey M]

1471501604272566276?t=Gm-b5AYrtcO14xFfgJSJHA&s=19

The Magic Variant has spread to Ireland.

[Boydy]

Really hoped that second one was going to end with someone standing up and decking him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

88,000 cases today. Spread it like butter.

[Spikey M]

The rate this thing spreads at is mental. We only found our first case of it 2 or 3 weeks ago and now it's the dominant strain in much of the country. It's pretty cool in a rather unfortunate way.

[Yevrah]

I have to say, fair play to Johnson for holding firm so far on not introducing (more) nonsense restrictions in the face of the scientists and media utterly shitting the bed over this. He obviously has a dual motive for that, but I'm liking, to a degree at least, the end result at the moment.

[Yevrah]

It's pretty cool in a rather unfortunate way.

Only unfortunate if we get a shitload of severe disease off the back of it. If we don't (which we won't, there I said it) it might be the catalyst for the end of the nonsense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have to say, fair play to Johnson for holding firm so far on not introducing (more) nonsense restrictions in the face of the scientists and media utterly shitting the bed over this. He obviously has a dual motive for that, but I'm liking, to a degree at least, the end result at the moment.

If he didn't have half his party rebelling, and a Chancellor who wants his job unwilling to pay for any more business support, we'd be in the slammer by now.

I wonder if we tracked strains of say the cold or flu on an annual basis, would they spread like this, 100,000 odd cases a day and 2 day doubling.

[Manc]

He'll buckle soon enough.

[Spikey M]

Only unfortunate if we get a shitload of severe disease off the back of it. If we don't (which we won't, there I said it) it might be the catalyst for the end of the nonsense.

I'm all for positivity, but I struggle to spin a new variant replacing one we had under control as anything other than
rather unfortunate. We were already half way out the door. Bar holidays we were pretty much back to normal.

Hopefully the Sithafrikeens are right, it's nice and mild and SAGE are just being a load of old tarts. But if it isn't MUCH more mild, then we will be longing for the halcyon days of Delta long into the spring.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We won't be doing anything long into the spring. This one will be wham, bam, thank you Pam (assuming Pam charges by the hour).

[wullie]

Stoke have requested our game be postponed, it's been confirmed that there are 0 cases in the Cov squad and staff. Should be three points awarded if it wasn't for the PC do-gooders in charge

[Yevrah]

Yep, it'll shoot through the population by 1st/2nd week of Jan and hospitalisations done by the end of Jan.

[Spikey M]

We won't be doing anything long into the spring. This one will be wham, bam, thank you Pam (assuming Pam charges by the hour).

Maybe. If I had to make a prediction, I think the vaccine will do a good enough job but the sheer caseload we're heading for could see us back up to 300-400 deaths per day. It will then come down to how hysterical the frozen dinners get. There was barely a peep when we had 200 deaths a day a month or so ago but they were good old Delta deaths. Omicron deaths will receive different coverage because reasons.

[Yevrah]

Think we're on the same page then Spikey, in that I could see us getting 300 to 400 deaths per day during the TSUNAMI, but I guess where we differ is that'll be a low enough number for us to hold out. By the time we get to that point the damage will have been done anyway.

[Spikey M]

It'll all be down to the media. 200 deaths a day was getting no coverage at all last month, but now Boris is under pressure and we have a sexy new variant. The media live that shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I seem to remember last year peak cases by specimen day was 27th December, or thereabouts, think it will be pretty much bang on the same this time. Sooner in London.

[Manc]

Over by January. :happycry:

[Shindig]

Well, the oldest person in the office turned positive today. Walked in to find the floor I worked on was off limits until they'd bug bombed it. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wales are bringing back social distancing / one way systems in shops and all that.

IT'S AIRBORNE YOU THICK TAFF FUCKS

Normalising this kind of shit (Whitty was loving trotting it out as well) is also dangerous:


Dr Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for Wales, had previously advised the people to reduce their social contacts.

"We absolutely need to prioritize what we want to do at Christmas, for me, it's about seeing family," he told BBC Wales.

"It's not about going to the pub, it's not about going to a nightclub, it's not about going anywhere that's crowded or indoors."

The government doctors will tell you what matters in life.

[Spikey M]

Dr Frank is spot on Jim, you dickhead. As such I have prioritised doing whatever I want, just as he wanted.

[Yevrah]

Like I said, these people are dangerous. Thank God we have systems in place to keep them from following through on this shit in the way they'd like to.

[Shindig]

One of the potentially mad things about these numbers will be the ONS estimates that come off the back of it. They seem to think 1 in 60 get it weekly with the Delta strain. So that's roughly 1m people. Let's say Omicron does double that. That'll get the whole country crop-dusted in a month. Short enough for the cases to drop right off and herd immunity might actually be achieved.

Or not.

[Yevrah]

Is there not a case to say we've already reached herd immunity? EDIT: Or as good as it's going to get? We have extremely low deaths compared to how it would have been opening up without the vaccines.

[Magic]

See the step father has said the noob who died from moronic was perfectly healthy and an antivax. :harold:

[Shindig]

Is there not a case to say we've already reached herd immunity? EDIT: Or as good as it's going to get? We have extremely low deaths compared to how it would have been opening up without the vaccines.

Possibly. I do wonder what impact a jab aimed at the later variants would do. Plus the treatments are getting better.

[Baz]

An emergency team meeting was called at work to tell everyone that normal work must take a backseat and Covid response is the number one priority until at least February.

I managed to completely miss any Covid job stuff first time round and just carried on with my usual role (almost - had to mobilise assisted LFTs in chemists, which nobody bothered doing anyway - I've paid for one since setting it up in August. :happycry: )

Thankfully I was off during said emergency meeting so I reckon I can dodge it all over again. :baz:

I honestly wish Covid would get lost though. Like if I was told I could completely abolish it forever but there's 10% chance I'd have covid symptoms forever, I'ld probably risk it you know. Pain in the arse now.

[ScousePig]

Isn't there an argument now that herd immunity isn't happening/going to happen, with the vast majority of the country already with antibodies and cases still rising massively?

[Queenslander]

The Vaccine mandate for the State of Queensland started today. :drool:



From today, the following conditions apply across the state:
�� Some business establishments now require you to give your contact information, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication by using the Check In Qld app or another measure of record keeping before entering.
�� Business operators should collect contact information, proof of vaccination or evidence of medical contraindication from all staff, guests and patrons when entering an establishment by using the Check In Qld app or alternative measures to record the contact information details.
�� There will be no capacity restrictions on businesses that are only permitted to allow fully vaccinated people to attend.
⛔️ Venues used for private hire will have no capacity limit if people attending are fully vaccinated. However, if there is a person attending who is not fully vaccinated, COVID-19 density restrictions will apply. This means a maximum of 20 people or 1 per 4 square meters, whichever is less.
Unvaccinated people will now be unable to:
�� Attend hospitality venues, entertainment venues, festivals or Queensland Government owned galleries, museums or libraries.
�� Visit vulnerable settings, including hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation services, and prisons.
This does not apply to residents and patients of these facilities, and there will be some exceptions for medical treatment, end-of-life visits, childbirth and emergency situations.

[John Arne]

Just a reminder that vaccine patents still haven't been waived.

Unbelievable, Jeff.

[Spoonsky]

Just a reminder that vaccine patents still haven't been waived.

Unbelievable, Jeff.

:thbup: Biggest and most underrated scandal in this whole thing.

[Kikó]

100%. The lack of ambition to actually get everyone globally jabbed shows how bad the new world order have planned this.

[Giggles]

Closing pubs and restaurants at 5pm :drool:


1471718459910328321

[Spikey M]

My wife's Cousin has had OMICRON VARIANT confirmed this morning/last night, and my wife's sister is having an absolute meltdown about it. She hasn't seen them for weeks as far as I'm aware.

"WELL WE WON'T BE SEEING THEM OVER CHRISTMAS"
her isolation ends on Christmas Eve, so we ca...
"I'M NOT RISKING IT"
Oh, OK. We'll probably just drop her pres...
"WHY RISK IT?!"
I see people that have had Covid all the time at work and...
"NOT OMICRON!!!"
It's the same virus
"NO IT ISN'T"

I love my wife but I don't know how or why she tolerates her.

[Magic]

Get her signed up here, she'd fit right in.

[Yevrah]

That’s how we get into the 40+% Spikey.

[Spikey M]

What annoys me most, is for all this panic, she's taking her daughter to Disney on Ice between Christmas and New Year.

90% of it is just because she fucking loves Drama.

[Spikey M]

In further tales of retardation - I currently have a cold, but I have a Court Hearing this afternoon. Being ill, I'm not allowed in the office, but needs must. I need up to date paperwork.

So I've told my manager I'm a bit snotty, but I've done a test and it's all gravy (baby).

Well you can't go into the office
"But I can't turn up at court without paperwork"
................
"So what do I do?"
I'm thinking... leave it with me

I feel like I'm cracking up here. Pull it together people.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's proper textbook heads have gone.

[Spikey M]

Ok, so someone called Dave - who I've never heard of - is going to print it for me, and hand it to me in the car park. :cab:

I like to think they've employed him just for this.

[Spikey M]

I was going to get a Greggs for lunch but I might upgrade to a Burger and a Pint at the 'spoons. I've earned it and I've only been working (achieving nothing) for 57 minutes.

[Foe]

I’ve just abandoned any plans of working today.

I dialled into my two morning calls and pretended I didn’t hear any issues, and just shutdown my laptop after.

Got a steak pie for lunch too. Shaping up to be a great day.

[Manc]

People are dropping like flies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The idea of going in to work next week seems absurd. The country is abandoning ship completely. Rightly, too.

[Mike]

I’m in for three days next week. My first time back in since the baby. Not looking forward to it, sounds like it’s everywhere.

[Dave.]

Ok, so someone called Dave - who I've never heard of - is going to print it for me, and hand it to me in the car park. :cab:

I like to think they've employed him just for this.

Thank me later.

[Spikey M]

Your service is appreciated. Please send my regards to any of your family members I end up indirectly killing.

[Dave.]

Your service is appreciated. Please send my regards to any of your family members I end up indirectly killing.

:lol:

[Andrew]

5 year old children need to have papers now to be allowed into any play areas in New York.

Meanwhile back in Wales, Drakeford wants to fuck up the remaoning 10 percent of the country that's not already a third world shit hole..

[Shindig]

The devolved nations really have taken this poorly.

[Lofty]

They have to be ahead of Westminster to push their case for independence.

[Giggles]

Closing pubs and restaurants at 5pm :drool:


1471718459910328321

Only did 8pm after. Pussies.


1471905465374326792

[Yevrah]

Restaurants closing at 8 is so fucking stupid.

[Giggles]

If people could be trusted then it’s indeed mad. But they can’t so it’s not.

If they were left open longer than pubs then they’d be full on sesh wagons by 8:30.

[Spikey M]

Has this stuff ever actually worked? Full lockdown works, but masks, one way systems, reduced opening hours, etc. Has it ever made a noticeable difference?

As far as I can see, Covid overwhelmingly spreads at school, at home, in the office, at footballer gangbangs and in hospital. Not sitting down for a risotto at 9pm.

[niko_cee]

People don't need to be trusted.

Is there such a thing as small 'a' authoritarian?

[Shindig]

Is this case surge really being carried by three London boroughs? :D

[Yevrah]

If people could be trusted then it’s indeed mad. But they can’t so it’s not.

If they were left open longer than pubs then they’d be full on sesh wagons by 8:30.

Closing pubs at 8 is moronic too.

[Dark Soldier]

Here we go lads

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[niko_cee]

Other than the [slightly insane] 28 days later metric, why is everyone so obsessed with getting case numbers down? The only real rationale I can see, other than said metric, is that, owing to the way we deal with 'the infected' society can't really function with high levels of [largely benign] infection, which is more of a problem with the rules around isolation etc than it is the actual illness.

[Shindig]

Especially if we're going to isolate people 10 days a pop. The much bigger problem is going to be things grinding to a halt from absences.

[7om]

I don’t actually know what we’re doing anymore. Hospitalisations seem fairly stagnant in the low-to-mid 7000s and deaths 100-150 per day. Weren’t we in the 30,000s for people in hospital at the PEAK? We’re at a fraction of that now.

I’m yet to see evidence that goes against what we were saying last summer: that we will never see hospitalisation and death numbers like we did in the peak. And yet here we are crapping our pants.

[Don]

If you reduce restaurant opening hours your Giggles' might make better dietary choices and stop clogging up the hospital beds as much so the logic is sound but I fear their faith is misplaced.

[Shindig]

I’m yet to see evidence that goes against what we were saying last summer: that we will never see hospitalisation and death numbers like we did in the peak. And yet here we are crapping our pants.

When London coughs, Boris listens. Having a look at Islington's numbers, they're not all rushing into hospitals yet.

[ScousePig]

I don’t actually know what we’re doing anymore. Hospitalisations seem fairly stagnant in the low-to-mid 7000s and deaths 100-150 per day. Weren’t we in the 30,000s for people in hospital at the PEAK? We’re at a fraction of that now.

I’m yet to see evidence that goes against what we were saying last summer: that we will never see hospitalisation and death numbers like we did in the peak. And yet here we are crapping our pants.

Wasn't one of the main criticisms early on that we left things too late and it got out of control?

Presumably they're just considering being more proactive this time. There doesn't seem to be a clear solution.

[Lewis]

The vaccine numbers are quite impressive. We'll be fine.

[Magic]

So glad I'm not vaccinated

[Andrew]

Only thing that should be mandated is 60 mins exercise for every fatty in the UK.

Love the fact Drakeford is making 60 million available for closing nightclubs as long as the English government gives him the cash.

Boris should tell him to fuck off.

[Kikó]

You guys are real snowflakes.

[Lofty]

Schrodinger's jabs, simultaneously not protecting the obese and killing off the hyperfit footballers at the same time, apparently.

[Shindig]

Magic's lungs are going to sound like bagpipes after a couple more rounds.

[7om]

Wasn't one of the main criticisms early on that we left things too late and it got out of control?

Presumably they're just considering being more proactive this time. There doesn't seem to be a clear solution.

But that was at a time when we had nothing to fight the disease. We now obviously have vaccines and, off the top of my head, I can think of four very effective treatments approved. We’re not in the same boat as we were before.

[phonics]

Theyre describing omicron symptoms as a low level cold. I have the sniffles, do I go for a test and ruin christmas or just run it out knowing everyone I'm around is vaccinated?

[Shindig]

I don't test unless I have to. I know that provides zero help.

[Queenslander]

I just learnt that the QLD Government are still sending everyone with covid to hospital. :cab:

Shambles.

[Manc]

Had my booster this morning. Collapsed. :cool:

[Baz]

People aren’t daft are they? Was in a meeting with someone from the contact tracing team yesterday and someone brought up local covid rates to him. “Yeah they’ve been really low these past two days… people have stopped getting tested cos they don’t want a positive test this close to Christmas.” :rosebud:

Looking forward to an all time high in January.

[-james-]

Had my booster this morning. Collapsed. :cool:

You collapsed?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Seems like we're on a one way train to serious restrictions. I hope for their sake that Omicron doesn't damp squib, or else it's the end of government scientists being taken seriously by the public.

[Yevrah]

Seems like we're on a one way train to serious restrictions. I hope for their sake that Omicron doesn't damp squib, or else it's the end of government scientists being taken seriously by the public.

The problem is if you lock everyone down you'll never know whether you actually needed to or not. In any case, we've long since reached the stage where science is taking a beating over this, which should never have happened.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm just fed up with the attitude of caution. It's like being stuck behind an old bint doing 20 in a 40. This is also why we are seriously underserved by stupid clowns like Boris being in charge of the actual decision-making.

[Magic]

Went out in England last night, glorious no masks very busy etc. Loving it.

[Yevrah]

I'm just fed up with the attitude of caution. It's like being stuck behind an old bint doing 20 in a 40. This is also why we are seriously underserved by stupid clowns like Boris being in charge of the actual decision-making.

Indeed. A stronger leader would now be not following science on anything other than vaccines, boosters, treatment and where this fucking thing came from.

[Manc]

You collapsed?

Out cold on the canvas. Was starting to feel dizzy so I thought fresh air would be the best idea. Took a knee before the stairs and then next thing I woke up on the deck with a mob of nurses looming over me. Eyes rolled back and everything I'm told.

[Yevrah]

What the fuck?

You alright now Manc?

[7om]

Lol pussy. I took my Bill Gates chip like a man.

[Don]

Lolololol. Was it just needle fear/low blood sugar shit or is this another mild side-effect of the vax that is being brushed over?

[Kikó]

Indeed. A stronger leader would now be not following science on anything other than vaccines, boosters, treatment and where this fucking thing came from.

So why are effectively most leaders following the same or similar methods to contain the virus?

[Yevrah]

So why are effectively most leaders following the same or similar methods to contain the virus?

Most are doing a lot worse, but it's because they're all listening to scientists far more than they should be, and all scientists care about is this - they take very little else into consideration.

[Lofty]

Lolololol. Was it just needle fear/low blood sugar shit or is this another mild side-effect of the vax that is being brushed over?

Kids did that at my school for their TB jab, so probably the former.

[Yevrah]

And Kik's, do you genuinely think we haven't run utterly mad with this?

[Yevrah]

On the flipside, Khan's declared a major incident and I suspect London might be a bit fucked due to their piss poor vaccination rates.

[Yevrah]

Scrap that, some dickhead on the news just said it was 60% vaccinated in London, but this reckons it's 75%, so as you were.

https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/coronavirus--covid-19--cases

[Shindig]

Oooh, graphs. Doesn't look as if the 60+ crew are taking off as badly. Population density's always going to skew London's rate.

[Lewis]

I will not be following any further restrictions so lockdown all you like.

[Yevrah]

In more mental moves from World leaders I see France have banned us again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59708107

If you're gonna implement a travel ban it'd probably be a better idea to do it before your country is already riddled with Omicron.

[Kikó]

And Kik's, do you genuinely think we haven't run utterly mad with this?

I'm not sure what right looks like in a pandemic. My point was more it's not like the UK are an outlier with their actions, most governments across the globe have been pulling different levers to try and reduce cases and deaths.

[Shindig]

"Patients in hospital rising in many areas." ("https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59711474)

I mean, London's blown up but the rest of the country looks pretty stable from the graphs.


Admissions for Covid are also going up, just not as fast it seems as admissions with Covid.

I took me three reads to figure that sentence out.

[Spikey M]

We would all support a London lockdown, right? London, Scotland and Wales ideally.

[niko_cee]

So why are effectively most leaders following the same or similar methods to contain the virus?

Most political leaders are short-termist/opinion poll driven wankers who are solely driven by preservation of their own power/authority [and only enact policy to that effect]? Not sure a principled decision has been taken this millennia.

[Shindig]

Why are the Dutch imposing a strict lockdown after their wave has peaked?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure what right looks like in a pandemic. My point was more it's not like the UK are an outlier with their actions, most governments across the globe have been pulling different levers to try and reduce cases and deaths.

We are (a bit of) an outlier with high vaccination levels though.

If lockdown remains a legitimate tool to 'protect the health system' when a disease goes round, then we're fucked as a civilisation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Dutch lockdown is utterly laughable. No more than two people can be together outdoors. Jesus wept.

[Yevrah]

They've fully vaccinated over 73% of people too. Utter nutters.

[Kikó]

1472276048196816899?t=RTSlU4hnMJ_8lfK2xEb5Yw&s=19

All is revealed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I saw that exchange and as much as Freeeeeuseh Neeeeuson is sometimes a bit off about things, Graham's attitude seemed bizarre.

[Giggles]

1472276048196816899?t=RTSlU4hnMJ_8lfK2xEb5Yw&s=19

All is revealed.

At least summarise. That’s far too much reading for this time on a weekend.

[Kikó]

Basically sage are asked to model scenarios which show things that the government will need to take action on, not necessarily the most likely.

[Yevrah]

The train does need fuel and SAGE are a very reliable source of it.

[Kikó]

Suppose it makes sense but then it should be reported in such a way.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As always the real problem (in terms of getting this stuff to the public) is that the media industry is fundamentally broken.

[Yevrah]

If they haven't taken into account a reduction in virulence in their modelling (I swear they did similar previously by ignoring vaccine impact) coupled with Whitty's refusal to accept any good news from South Africa, we're properly into bad science territory now.

[Yevrah]

As always the real problem (in terms of getting this stuff to the public) is that the media industry is fundamentally broken.

Can we also stop calling them leaks, it's people deliberately passing stuff to each other on a fully authorised basis and has been for ages.

[7om]

Wasn’t there a model back in summer trying to demonstrate that we WEREN’T OUT OF THE WOODS and that lifting of restriction would lead to 100,000 more deaths? Can’t remember specifically but it was Armageddon stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They can model whatever they need to model, but it seems like the cycle goes:

- SAGE are asked to model bad things
- SAGE duly model bad things
- The SAGE models of bad things are shown to Boris/Whitty/cabinet, everyone shits themselves and introduces restrictions.

As such it's not so much SAGE's fault as it is a failure of leadership or, in Whitty's case and pretty much with all medics I think, a preponderance towards caution for caution's sake.

Incidentally I am glad we have ended up with Whitty and not the person who preceded him in the role just before the pandemic, because she was an absolute bed wetter of the highest degree.

[Yevrah]

Wasn’t there a model back in summer trying to demonstrate that we WEREN’T OUT OF THE WOODS and that lifting of restriction would lead to 100,000 more deaths? Can’t remember specifically but it was Armageddon stuff.

Yeah, there was something like that which may have been the one I was referring to above where they were basically ignoring vaccine impact.

[7om]

Even Whitty has said himself in the past that at some point we’re going to have to accept covid is endemic and learn to live with it. I wonder if he still thinks that.

[Yevrah]

As such it's not so much SAGE's fault as it is a failure of leadership or, in Whitty's case and pretty much with all medics I think, a preponderance towards caution for caution's sake.

Indeed, and if we don't cut these 'scientific' advisors loose we're going to be in this boat time and time again.

[Yevrah]

Even Whitty has said himself in the past that at some point we’re going to have to accept covid is endemic and learn to live with it. I wonder if he still thinks that.

If he doesn't I would love to know what's changed his mind.

[Lofty]

Being accosted by drunks in the street purely for appearing on the briefings I imagine. If he signs off on it all as a load of wank and says 'fuck the masks, let's have a real freedom day with an orgy and everything!' And then the deaths go nuclear he'll be like Blair getting citizen's arrested every time he is in Wagamama.

[7om]

I don’t think deaths would go nuclear. But, yeah, I don’t know what keeps Whitty in that job. Absolutely thankless.

[Lewis]

He probably stumbled across Magic calling him 'Piss Shitty' and folded like a deckchair.

[Shindig]

Is that what he said? I could barely make it out from the wheezing.

[Magic]

Wasn’t there a model back in summer trying to demonstrate that we WEREN’T OUT OF THE WOODS and that lifting of restriction would lead to 100,000 more deaths? Can’t remember specifically but it was Armageddon stuff.

Per day.

[Manc]

I'm on the ropes. R.I.P.

[Magic]

This is hilarious. You'd be better off with bovid. :harold:

[Spikey M]

You weren't.

[Don]

What does him collapsing at the vaccination centre and then feeling shit after it have to do with the vaccine?

[Spikey M]

Probably quite alot. But Magic ending up in hospital because he thought he was dying Probably has a fair amount amount to do with Covid.

[Magic]

That was the only way they'd give me antibiotics. And it was to get tested not admission lol.

[Spikey M]

They wouldn't give you antibiotics unless you posted "I think I'm dying" on TTH?

[Magic]

They wouldn't give you antibiotics unless you posted "I think I'm dying" on TTH?

Dramatics.

[Queenslander]

So the local pub has lol'd off the latest mask mandate. All they want is the green tick for the vaccine passport.

[Magic]

Anyone else noticing the narrative slightly changing in the media to omcrin being much more mild? Wonder what's about to happen now...

[Kikó]

We will enjoy Christmas?

[Bernanke]

The Dutch lockdown is utterly laughable. No more than two people can be together outdoors. Jesus wept.

It's absurd. Luckily I'm out of here over the holidays, but the prospect of returning in Jan is not exciting.

[Giggles]

The booster centres are out the doors here.

[John Arne]

Just tuned into the footy and noticed that nobody in the crowd is wearing a mask - has you lot completely given up with them now?

[Baz]

Went a pantomime yesterday and everyone had a mask on throughout.

Went to see Father Christmas today and nobody had one on.

:sorry:

[Shindig]

Just tuned into the footy and noticed that nobody in the crowd is wearing a mask - has you lot completely given up with them now?

Indoor spaces only, I think.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Masks are health theatre at the best of times, but in a wave of this nature I doubt they make any real difference at all, especially given that half the population don't wear them properly.

They've been a real red herring throughout the pandemic - not worth getting worked up about on either side, and yet people have. It's because they're visible and so wearers/non wearers (delete as applicable) can be easily pitchforked.

[Yevrah]

I think they played a valuable (if overstated, much like hand sanitiser) part early doors and it was fucking lol that our scientists did the inevitable u-turn they did once it dawned on them that maybe, just maybe, Asian countries knew what they were doing. But now? Much like all of the other restrictions bar keeping people indoors, they're just fucking pointless in Western societies in almost all settings - it's laughable that they're even mentioned in the same breath as an actual vaccine when it comes to a raft of measures.

[John Arne]

Hold on, are you saying you don't believe that masks are effective? It's common sense, surely...

https://gyazo.com/c0d7897ec16197e12cf33964b5a310c2.jpeg

EDIT: Like you mention, if worn properly.

[Spikey M]

This is atleast the 18th time we've had this conversation. I know we've all run mad over the last couple of years, but there's got to be a limit.

[Shindig]

Yeah, in terms of effectiveness vaccines and lockdowns are the only things that are genuinely impactful. Masks and hand sanitiser is more of a prod. Like, "Hey, let's make you aware of this thing, you scruffy cunts." To be honest, it would've probably made more of an impact early because it simply didn't have the spread it's gone on to develop.

[John Arne]

Yeah, I'd go with that. Everything is only as useful as the combined effort.

[Giggles]

The combined effort was out the window by around June 2020.

[-james-]

My girlfriend does the mask on to walk from table to front door shit. I've stopped bringing it up.

[Giggles]

Whatever was the thinking behind not needing them while seated anyway?

[Yevrah]

Yeah, I'd go with that. Everything is only as useful as the combined effort.

I would imagine they still work very well in a compliant population (as part of the combination as you say), but in England they're not worn properly, I'd imagine barely ever washed and (as Giggles says) taken off all the time too.

[Shindig]

Even with the Asian nations, they clamp down on cases so quick. That's what does the most work.

[Yevrah]

Even with the Asian nations, they clamp down on cases so quick. That's what does the most work.

Yep. It's part of a zero tolerance strategy and we've never had that nor would it ever work even if we tried, we'd end up being more laughable than Australia if we tried.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In East Asia there is not the concept of the individual like there is in the west, the state comes first. 100 million people all religiously wearing masks in all settings would make a difference (and will never happen in western countries). 20 million people sort of wearing them and 20 million not wearing them, in some settings only, makes zero difference to anything.

[Kikó]

Frankfurt mask wearing is pretty comprehensive. I think it's a British thing.

[Queenslander]

Yep. It's part of a zero tolerance strategy and we've never had that nor would it ever work even if we tried, we'd end up being more laughable than Australia if we tried.

Huh?


Stop assuming you know what is happening down here based off the news you hysterical woman. The vocal minority down here get all the media attention the vast majority of the population are just getting on with it and now our vaccination rates are higher than England's and we managed to do it safely with minimal deaths.

[Magic]

Tagged at bovid camp.

[Queenslander]

:D

[Yevrah]

Huh?


Stop assuming you know what is happening down here based off the news you hysterical woman. The vocal minority down here get all the media attention the vast majority of the population are just getting on with it and now our vaccination rates are higher than England's and we managed to do it safely with minimal deaths.

Glad you've got your shit together now, but some of the stuff out of Australia in the meantime has been proper bonkers.

[niko_cee]

Truly the 'Lucky Country'.

[Queenslander]

Glad you've got your shit together now, but some of the stuff out of Australia in the meantime has been proper bonkers.

I don't disagree with that at all but trade offs had to made for our particular set of circumstances.

[Queenslander]

Truly the 'Lucky Country'.

Lucky enough to have our own for profit prison Islands which is what you blokes (UK) should be kicking us for.

[Pepe]

Everything is only as useful as the combined effort.

The Swiss cheese model of safety.

Masks should never be placed in the same bin as hand sanitizer. Masks physically do something to prevent spread. Hand sanitizer literally does nothing, unless you are someone who has the habit of constantly licking your hands after touching surfaces/people.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I never said masks were useless. They're just not worth getting angry about to the extent that both sides do.

[Pepe]

The biggest lol part with the masks is that we are still all wearing those crappy cloth ones. Why didn't N95s become commonplace? If mask wearing will be a thing, might as well do it properly.

EDIT: Well, that and the already mentioned 'wear it while walking in then take it out when on your table' policy. That is 100% theatre.

[Kikó]

Most people here are wearing the FFP2 face masks as standard rather than crappy bandanas/face cloths.

I've just been boosted with Moderna.

[Foe]

RIP tomorrow.

Have heard pfizer is much less of an issue but moderna is a bitch from my experience.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had my third Pfizer yesterday and no issues other than slightly sore arm. The Arab in my office had 2x Sinopharm and then a Moderna, had the last rites performed.

[Dave.]

Most people here are wearing the FFP2 face masks as standard rather than crappy bandanas/face cloths.

I've just been boosted with Moderna.

I had Moderna booster and was fine with it, just like my two Pfizer jabs before it.

[niko_cee]

Same for me, double Pfizer then Moderna, no issues because I'm not a 'total melt'.

[7om]

I fancied Moderna but got Pfizer for my bovid booster. Oh well, let’s see what they have on offer at Easter.

[Yevrah]

Just seen that Sage’s modelling has put deaths between 600 and 6,000 a day. :D

Do these people enjoy having no credibility?

[Shindig]

"Guys, give us a worst case scenario so we can all look like we're doing better than expected."

[Yevrah]

600 is their best case, 6,000 the worst. You could remove all vaccine efficacy and we'd still have to go some to hit the latter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

6,000 deaths a day would be 4 times worse than the worst day when we were all unvaccinated.

[7om]

I’d be surprised if it reached 400, to be honest.

Predictions? I’ll go with 316 on 8th January.

[Kikó]

They've been asked to model scenarios and I'm sure in them, they build likelihood.

[Yevrah]

Bad of the BBC not to tell me that their 6,000 a day worst case also comes with a likelihood of 0%.

[7om]

They've been asked to model scenarios and I'm sure in them, they build likelihood.

I’m sure they do. I can also do that: 1 million deaths a day with a 0.000000001% probability.

[Spikey M]

I'd be surprised if you don't have a proper butcher near you that does it. But yeah, it comes essentially looking like a block of mince that is then sliced and fried as you'd expect. Think it's got spices through it too. I would still choose a really good 'link' sausage (if you just ask for sausage in your breakfast roll you'll get square 9/10 times so I'm in the habit of thinking of them as 'links' now) but square is good.

I'm sure we were able to get it when I lived in England from one butcher but not the supermarkets usually.

EDIT: Saying I'd be surprised if you can't is strong, but I'd say there's a reasonable chance you can get it somewhere local.

My Butcher just looked at me like I had run mad. No Lorne for me. :(

I might try to make some. does this recipe seem right? (https://scottishscran.com/lorne-sausage-recipe/) No sausage meat seems odd.

[Lewis]

Swap the sausage meat for 'sausage meat' then.

[Spikey M]

Minced pork and sausage meat aren't the same, because sausage meat is seasoned, MATE. Now maybe they use pork mince instead because the recipe has it's own seasoning. That's unimportant, what IS important is that Mark Noble stopped working but Lorne maintains its power.

[Boydy]

Just buy a block of sausage meat, cut some slices off it and fry them.

[Spikey M]

That's not the same and you know it.

[Ian]

My Butcher just looked at me like I had run mad. No Lorne for me. :(

I might try to make some. does this recipe seem right? (https://scottishscran.com/lorne-sausage-recipe/) No sausage meat seems odd.

I've never made it or checked exactly what's in it but looks near enough.

[Kikó]

I’m sure they do. I can also do that: 1 million deaths a day with a 0.000000001% probability.

Why aren't we locked down yet if we are going to get a million deaths a day? 😡

[Lewis]

That's not the same and you know it.

It is really. It's just that Scottish people have made it a 'thing' because what else have they got going for them.

[Shindig]

More cases in the office. Christmas is ON THE ROPES.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're talking about a month of Step 2 restrictions (no indoor socialising, no overnight stays, 6 people can eat on outdoor tables).

If so I have literally no idea why we bothered with a vaccination programme at all.

[Kikó]

I think if you look at it comparatively to last year, we had way more hospitalisations and deaths at this point and already 2 weeks into a 4 month lockdown. I can't see anything similar happening this time even if it is deeply frustrating.

[Spikey M]

I'll wear a mask, I'll have my booster, I'm not doing anything else.

[Yevrah]

I think if you look at it comparatively to last year, we had way more hospitalisations and deaths at this point and already 2 weeks into a 4 month lockdown. I can't see anything similar happening this time even if it is deeply frustrating.

Clearly I think existing restrictions are nonsense, let alone anymore, but the logic will be that the Omicron wave hasn't fully hit yet. As I keep saying, we need to stop listening to scientists on restrictions, they've played their part and that should be that.

[Yevrah]

I'll wear a mask, I'll have my booster, I'm not doing anything else.

This is a defiant and probably at this point correct attitude to have, but doesn't amount to a great deal when all forms of fun outside of your house are closed or restricted to having to endure freezing cold temperatures to use them.

[Kikó]

Clearly I think existing restrictions are nonsense, let alone anymore, but the logic will be that the Omicron wave hasn't hit yet. As I keep saying, we need to stop listening to scientists on restrictions, they've played their part and that should be that.

I don't think they are listening to scientists because they're already saying to lock down to stop the cases. The issue is they don't know whether Omicron will lead to a number in hospital which will be unmanageable which means you can't really play hit and hope if you want a functioning healthcare system.

The government are making their own decisions. I don't know why you think they don't own it. They ultimately hold the power.

[Don]

Look at the big tough boys being defiant now. Just remember to lower your mask so they can see your scary scowls.

[Yevrah]

I don't think they are listening to scientists because they're already saying to lock down to stop the cases. The issue is they don't know whether Omicron will lead to a number in hospital which will be unmanageable which means you can't really play hit and hope if you want a functioning healthcare system.

The government are making their own decisions. I don't know why you think they don't own it. They ultimately hold the power.

I agree they're making their own decisions, but these are clearly heavily informed by scientific advisers, which is why I'm saying we need to stop listening to them.

[igor_balis]

Wow that's crazy

Edit : that's in response to a post about two days ago that I thought was the most recent, ignore me

[Yevrah]

Vaccines, boosters, treatments etc. I'm all ears, but if we 'follow the science' every time a variant of concern turns up you'll all be joining me in my 40s by the time we're rid of this.

[phonics]

Vaccines, boosters, treatments etc. I'm all ears, but if we 'follow the science' every time a variant of concern turns up you'll all be joining me in my 40s by the time we're rid of this.

I’ve decided I’m not counting lockdown years as birthdays. I’m still 31.

[Yevrah]

I’ve decided I’m not counting lockdown years as birthdays. I’m still 31.

:D I still haven't celebrated my 40th...

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

This is a defiant and probably at this point correct attitude to have, but doesn't amount to a great deal when all forms of fun outside of your house are closed or restricted to having to endure freezing cold temperatures to use them.

This is the biggest issue. Short of going to visit friends/relatives when you're not 'supposed' to, we're a bit fucked if everything else is shite.

Utterly depressing. When we all heard a vaccine had been created who thought this shambles is what we'd be getting at the end of the year.

[Magic]

This is the biggest issue. Short of going to visit friends/relatives when you're not 'supposed' to, we're a bit fucked if everything else is shite.

Utterly depressing. When we all heard a vaccine had been created who thought this shambles is what we'd be getting at the end of the year.

Quite a few.

[Kikó]

Wake up sheeple

[Yevrah]

Utterly depressing. When we all heard a vaccine had been created who thought this shambles is what we'd be getting at the end of the year.

It wouldn't be so bad, but still fucking annoying, if a second end game was obvious, but it really isn't.

[7om]

Just saw this linked on Reddit.

https://data.spectator.co.uk/category/sage-scenarios

Shut them down.

[Spikey M]

:D

[Shindig]

They have been laughably out of whack. Although that optimistic line for the July 19 reopenings seems more accurate.

[-james-]

If I caught covid on Saturday night, how long is it likely to be before I test positive/develop symptoms?

Enjoying my mum trying to convince my dad that he can't go to the shops.

[Shindig]

Two weeks. :D

[-james-]

I think two weeks at my parents but with relative visits banned is probably preferable to one week under the normal Christmas regime.

[Lewis]

Isn't this new one showing up in a matter of days?

[Shindig]

The first article I've looked at has it down to 3-5 days.

[Spikey M]

1472978592976019465?t=HdYrIB67GewwPlYSujIwCg&s=19

[Magic]

Please let this be the final undermining of THE SCIENCE.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've had a very long look at numbers in the last couple of days, all I've seen is a slew of real world data that matches the above, even perhaps the very start of it in London.

What I think SAGE are getting wrong (and the fact that a layman like me should be able to see things that SAGE are getting wrong is absurd, but there we are) is that they are making a very outdated assumption about how long it takes to go from infection to hospitalisation. They keep saying 17 days, in reality it's probably half that on this variant.

They also just don't seem to want to believe in the booster wall that we've put up in vulnerable age groups.

We'll see what happens, it's possible that they could be right and we have an apocalyptic death wave in mid January, but I think it will be over sooner and with relatively little cost.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Following yesterday’s three-hour Cabinet meeting that decided nothing, details are now emerging of who opposed and supported the SAGE-desired lockdown. The Times and Telegraph have the most comprehensive write-ups, reporting Rishi, Steve Barclay and Grant Shapps were those leading the sceptics’ charge. The Times reports Jacob Rees-Mogg had a prolonged argument with Vallance about their modelling, telling Boris to trust the people rather than the scientists. Truss, Kwarteng, Jack, Zahawi and Nigel Adams are all also reportedly sceptical about the threat of Omicron…

On the other side of the divide backing restrictions, according to The Telegraph, are (unsurprisingly) Javid and Gove; Nadine Dorries and Chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke. We can only presume the PM also errs towards this group.

Me and Jacob Rees-Mogg versus THE SCIENCE. Battle to the death.

[Shindig]

I'm back watching that Doctor John Campbell bloke on youtube. He seems a lot more upbeat than he did at the start of this. :D

A few things he's been looking at:

- Hong Kong scientists are spotting Omicron reproducing a lot faster in the bronchial tract, not so fast in the lung tissue. If severe illness is to occur from Omicron, it might be more likely to present as bronchitis. It could mean less being ventilated. I'll wait to see what Magic catches next.

- 50% of London hospital cases are incidental so, whilst the hospitalisation is going up over there, half is for people already in hospital for other reasons.

If deaths keep slowly decreasing, this might be a dud. All the at risk crew must be jabbed up who would still be the most likely to die from/with this.

[John Arne]

That John Campbell is pretty good. His video a few days ago summarising everything was excellent.

[randomlegend]

Me and Jacob Rees-Mogg versus THE SCIENCE. Battle to the death.

If I ever found myself on the same side of an argument as Jacob Rees-Mogg I'd probably kill myself.

[Magic]

If I ever found myself on the same side of an argument as Jacob Rees-Mogg I'd probably kill myself.

Unsuccessfully, no doubt.

[Spikey M]

If I ever found myself on the same side of an argument as Jacob Rees-Mogg I'd probably kill myself.

He'd probably be on your side right there. Chop chop. Or slice slice, I guess.

[Lofty]

Did anyone post the link the other day that apparently Nadine Dorries was insta-kicked from a tory whatsapp group for defending Boris as 'a hero'? :D

[randomlegend]

Unsuccessfully, no doubt.

I have access to anaesthetic drugs mate, I would top myself EXCELLENTLY.

[Magic]

I have access to anaesthetic drugs mate, I would top myself EXCELLENTLY.

Do you use them daily? It would explain a lot.

[Spikey M]

Triple Phizerchipped. I was only out of the house for 15 minutes. :cool:

[Yevrah]

I've had a very long look at numbers in the last couple of days, all I've seen is a slew of real world data that matches the above, even perhaps the very start of it in London.

What I think SAGE are getting wrong (and the fact that a layman like me should be able to see things that SAGE are getting wrong is absurd, but there we are) is that they are making a very outdated assumption about how long it takes to go from infection to hospitalisation. They keep saying 17 days, in reality it's probably half that on this variant.

They also just don't seem to want to believe in the booster wall that we've put up in vulnerable age groups.

We'll see what happens, it's possible that they could be right and we have an apocalyptic death wave in mid January, but I think it will be over sooner and with relatively little cost.

Anyone who actually looks at the information available can see that there's nothing to suggest a death wave is coming - SAGE are wrong - I agree it's absurd that they are, but they are.

[Magic]

She's banned everything again. :D

[Yevrah]

How are the people of Scotland taking that Magic? Looking at a list of things she's done, they are genuinely absolutely pointless.


Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party has been cancelled and football matches will be effectively spectator-free as part of tough new Covid rules in Scotland.

All outdoor events will be limited to just 500 people to help slow the spread of Omicron.

Indoor events such as concerts will be limited to 200 people if they are seated, or 100 for standing.

Wot?

[Magic]

Customer groups will be expected to remain one metre apart from each other when seated indoors at venues that serve alcohol - slashing the capacities of venues.

:harold:

Large-scale events on Hogmanay have been scrapped - but the public will be able to meet on December 31 to toast the New Year as things stand - although the SNP leader has asked people to keep any gatherings as small as possible.

Who the fuck do they think they are?

[Magic]

Feel stupid yet sheeple? You've had all your injections and you still can't do owt. HAHAHA.

[randomlegend]

Feel stupid yet sheeple? You've had all your injections and you still can't do owt. HAHAHA.

I didn't end up in hospital with covid pneumonia though, mate. And unlike Taz I'll be able to taste my Christmas dinner.

[Yevrah]

Feel stupid yet sheeple? You've had all your injections and you still can't do owt. HAHAHA.

You need to separate those two things out Magic. Vaccines are clearly a brilliant thing, continued restrictions are not.

[Magic]

You need to separate those two things out Magic. Vaccines are clearly a brilliant thing, continued restrictions are not.

I'm not separating anything if nobody else is.

[Magic]

I didn't end up in hospital with covid pneumonia though, mate. And unlike Taz I'll be able to taste my Christmas dinner.

You'll be working 24 hours a day mate...or so we're led to believe.

[randomlegend]

You'll be working 24 hours a day mate...or so we're led to believe.

I'm not at work again til the 27th :thbup:

[Lofty]

Feel stupid yet sheeple? You've had all your injections and you still can't do owt. HAHAHA.

You haven't had any and are in the same boat :D

[Magic]

You haven't had any and are in the same boat :D

That's the joke lol?

[Magic]

I'm not at work again til the 27th :thbup:

Really 'under pressure'...

[7om]

Feel stupid yet sheeple? You've had all your injections and you still can't do owt. HAHAHA.

Genuine question, Magic. Are you anti-vaccine in general or just this one? If yes, why is that?

[randomlegend]

Really 'under pressure'...

Paeds isn't (never is during covid waves, gets bad after). The adult side of the hospital is but I'm ignoring all the begging emails for locums (the latest of which has about 100 shifts need filling) because I've done enough this year.

[Don]

I didn't end up in hospital with covid pneumonia though, mate. And unlike Taz I'll be able to taste my Christmas dinner.

Are you really dragging me in to a comparison of health alongside yourself? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Magic, didn't you say that you were going to have to get the vaccine because of your girlfriend?