The big Coronavirus thread

Dorset_Boy

Email just in from son's school to say they are going back to online classes for tomorrow and Friday, then it's a 2 week half term. They've had some cases and are trying to contain things as far as possible. Boarders can go home from this evening.

blazing_saddles

Come Sunday and my 3 sisters and their husbands will all have received their booster jabs.
They were done in the order they received their second shots and all at around the 6 month mark.

So by my reckoning, I should get mine around the end of November...

First.Aspect

I will get my booster in about another 20 months.

I'm wondering why we still haven't started to see vaccines tailored to Delta. The chemistry, particularly for the mRNA vaccines is simple enough and it's been the dominant strain for how long now?

focuszing723

As of April 2020, studies and trials are underway that examine the possible benefits of nitric oxide in the treatment of COVID-19. This research is based on the fact that nitric oxide was investigated as an experimental therapy for SARS. Brian Strickland, MD, a fellow in Wilderness Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital who studies "acute respiratory distress" in high altitudes, is applying this research towards COVID-19. He is currently involved in clinical trials which apply the use of inhaled nitric oxide as a treatment for COVID-19.

This approach was inspired by the work of Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Harvard Medical School N. Stuart Harris, who has been studying the effects of altitude sickness on mountain climbers, such as those who climb Mount Everest. Harris noticed that the consequences of high level altitude sickness on the human body mirrored COVID-19's dysfunctional impact on the lungs.

His focus on nitric oxide comes from its role in being able to breathe in high altitudes. According to WCVB-TV, similar trials are being conducted at Tufts Medical Center. Other studies speculate that replacing mouth breathing (which decimates NO) with nasal breathing (which increases NO) is a "lifestyle change" that "may also help to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load and symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia by promoting more efficient antiviral defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth_breathing

veronese68

dinyull said:

Are you going about business as "fairly" normal or still distancing?

I'm carrying on in what I think is close to a new normal, I'm working from home 3 days and going in for the other 2. I've been doing this throughout as there are some things I have to be in the building to do. This suits me but the company is pushing to increase the number of days in the office, this might change of course. I still wear a mask on public transport, in shops and if I go to a pub I put one on to go to the bar. I will go to a pub or restaurant and sit indoors, it's an increased risk but one I'm prepared to take for some semblance of normality. I don't consider any of this to be a great hardship and would be prepared to do this for some time. I really do think it's the least I could do.
I've been double jabbed and think I should get a booster next month. But, I don't have any particularly vulnerable relatives. We lost my dad 3 years ago, my mum keeps saying how glad she is not to have to deal with my dad having chemo through the pandemic. If he was around I would be a LOT more careful for a couple of weeks before visiting him, also I'd do a couple of tests in the days preceding a visit. That would make life more difficult, but I wouldn't want to add any unnecessary risks.

Pross

dinyull said:

I've not been on here for a while - can I ask how everyone is getting on with their lives etc?

Are you going about business as "fairly" normal or still distancing?

I have a dad who (as above) is extremely clinically vulnerable, but also have 2 kids (4 years and 7 months). Whilst not going about our business as normal, we're going swimming/ soft play/ 4 year old is at school etc. and Dad has just returned from holiday abroad.

He's coming from his 2nd bout of chemo in 3 years (3rd in 15), and think his outlook is he doesn't know how long he has anyway, despite being given another all clear.

I'm behaving pretty much as normal, went away to Venice for a long weekend last week but don't really go to crowded indoor venues much (have a much postponed theatre trip next week though). I'm trying to be careful as far as reasonably practicable. My biggest risk is a daughter in college and using crowded public transport and a wife working in social care although the nature of her work means she is regularly testing and they have stringent PPE use. Still working mainly from home but was before the pandemic anyway - I have no problem avoiding people if there's the slightest excuse to do so!

DeVlaeminck

pblakeney said:

focuszing723 - Why do you keep posting the bleeding obvious?
Any mouth breathers want to fess up?

I'm assuming most mouth breathers have an obstruction that stops them nose breathing? I could be wrong. I can certainly breathe a lot better through my nose since breaking it in 3 places in a bicycle crash and having it reset under general anesthesia.

rjsterry

rick_chasey said:

dinyull said:

rick_chasey said:

shirley_basso said:

Then don't go to the work events?

I don't understand how you are so cocksure with strangers but so spineless with your employer

Because strangers don't decide how much I get paid? My pay literally comes out of theirs.

Until I can get my own thing going, I get paid to make their life easier, so you are entirely at the mercy of your boss. A peculiarity of the industry.

Plus, meeting people is a big part of the job, ultimately.

You have to decide what is most important to you then, your next pay review/ bonus or your family.

In the nicest way possible - how many funerals do you have coming up? I know your circumstances will be different to most on here with the potential of abroad travel, but surely you can swerve an event or 2 in the leadup to a funeral/ event.

I know how lucky I am to work somewhere where the bosses will bend over backwards for the staff, but at the same time I don't earn what I could elsewhere. You make you choices.

It's not so much swerving events as it is coming into the office every day.

They work as if there is no rona - no masks, etc.

I'm sure I can decide not to come in but it is stressful, hence the initial comment, "i am finding it stressful".

I don't like the tone that this is "my fault" because I chose to work somewhere. I wasn't really anticipating having to attend family funerals during a global pandemic.

Are your firm getting everyone to regularly self-test? What is the ventilation like? We've had a variety of reactions from staff and have tried to accommodate wherever we can. I don't really know your situation well enough, but as an employer, if you can demonstrate that you are mitigating whatever your employer is losing by you WFH for an extra few days then that will help. Could you take some out of holiday allowance?

pangolin

I like how Rick gets stick for not going in to the office and then gets stick for going in

TheBigBean

rjsterry said:

rick_chasey said:

dinyull said:

rick_chasey said:

shirley_basso said:

Then don't go to the work events?

I don't understand how you are so cocksure with strangers but so spineless with your employer

Because strangers don't decide how much I get paid? My pay literally comes out of theirs.

Until I can get my own thing going, I get paid to make their life easier, so you are entirely at the mercy of your boss. A peculiarity of the industry.

Plus, meeting people is a big part of the job, ultimately.

You have to decide what is most important to you then, your next pay review/ bonus or your family.

In the nicest way possible - how many funerals do you have coming up? I know your circumstances will be different to most on here with the potential of abroad travel, but surely you can swerve an event or 2 in the leadup to a funeral/ event.

I know how lucky I am to work somewhere where the bosses will bend over backwards for the staff, but at the same time I don't earn what I could elsewhere. You make you choices.

It's not so much swerving events as it is coming into the office every day.

They work as if there is no rona - no masks, etc.

I'm sure I can decide not to come in but it is stressful, hence the initial comment, "i am finding it stressful".

I don't like the tone that this is "my fault" because I chose to work somewhere. I wasn't really anticipating having to attend family funerals during a global pandemic.

Are your firm getting everyone to regularly self-test? What is the ventilation like? We've had a variety of reactions from staff and have tried to accommodate wherever we can. I don't really know your situation well enough, but as an employer, if you can demonstrate that you are mitigating whatever your employer is losing by you WFH for an extra few days then that will help. Could you take some out of holiday allowance?

The employer will want Rick there so he can waddle up to him and let him know his latest view on the world. At which point, Rick can laugh, nod and boost the guy's ego, and then Rick can return to ranting on this forum. His boss can't do that over the phone.

pangolin

dinyull said:

I've not been on here for a while - can I ask how everyone is getting on with their lives etc?

Are you going about business as "fairly" normal or still distancing?

I have a dad who (as above) is extremely clinically vulnerable, but also have 2 kids (4 years and 7 months). Whilst not going about our business as normal, we're going swimming/ soft play/ 4 year old is at school etc. and Dad has just returned from holiday abroad.

He's coming from his 2nd bout of chemo in 3 years (3rd in 15), and think his outlook is he doesn't know how long he has anyway, despite being given another all clear.

I have kids exactly the same age as yours so that limits how much you can isolate from society! Swimming, play groups, school etc.

Work is still very different, I go in once or twice a week, the office is quite quiet. Windows are always open but there are no masks. I always cycle so no public transport to contend with.

This past weekend I got 3 notifications from different places that I'd been in contact with somebody who'd tested positive. Work on Friday, a play group on Saturday and a church on Sunday. Good things come in threes! Took a lateral flow the last two nights but so far, so negative.

We're both double jabbed and the kids have semi permanent runny noses etc, so we may have had it in the last couple of months and not been symptomatic.

briantrumpet

focuszing723 said:

focuszing723 said:

Now I've got what it is. I thought it was two, magic, levitating turds when I saw it before.

Ben6899

briantrumpet said:

AFAIK the boosters are only after 6 months, and the big numbers were in Apr/May/Jun for 2nd doses, so it really ought to pick up from now. If it doesn't, something's badly wrong.

I had my flu jab yesterday, and hoping for/expecting a call for covid booster next month.

I had booster and flu jab, last Friday. Got an invitation from my GP.

briantrumpet

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

AFAIK the boosters are only after 6 months, and the big numbers were in Apr/May/Jun for 2nd doses, so it really ought to pick up from now. If it doesn't, something's badly wrong.

I had my flu jab yesterday, and hoping for/expecting a call for covid booster next month.

I had booster and flu jab, last Friday. Got an invitation from my GP.

When was your second vaccine? IIRC, you're on the vulnerable list... the medics I know have had their boosters, as they were done early, as frontline/key workers.

Ben6899

briantrumpet said:

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

AFAIK the boosters are only after 6 months, and the big numbers were in Apr/May/Jun for 2nd doses, so it really ought to pick up from now. If it doesn't, something's badly wrong.

I had my flu jab yesterday, and hoping for/expecting a call for covid booster next month.

I had booster and flu jab, last Friday. Got an invitation from my GP.

When was your second vaccine? IIRC, you're on the vulnerable list... the medics I know have had their boosters, as they were done early, as frontline/key workers.

16th April. Yeh, because of medication I take.

briantrumpet

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

AFAIK the boosters are only after 6 months, and the big numbers were in Apr/May/Jun for 2nd doses, so it really ought to pick up from now. If it doesn't, something's badly wrong.

I had my flu jab yesterday, and hoping for/expecting a call for covid booster next month.

I had booster and flu jab, last Friday. Got an invitation from my GP.

When was your second vaccine? IIRC, you're on the vulnerable list... the medics I know have had their boosters, as they were done early, as frontline/key workers.

16th April. Yeh, because of medication I take.

So that's pretty much bang on the six months. I should be late November. RC will have to wait a bit

Ben6899

briantrumpet said:

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

Ben6899 said:

briantrumpet said:

AFAIK the boosters are only after 6 months, and the big numbers were in Apr/May/Jun for 2nd doses, so it really ought to pick up from now. If it doesn't, something's badly wrong.

I had my flu jab yesterday, and hoping for/expecting a call for covid booster next month.

I had booster and flu jab, last Friday. Got an invitation from my GP.

When was your second vaccine? IIRC, you're on the vulnerable list... the medics I know have had their boosters, as they were done early, as frontline/key workers.

16th April. Yeh, because of medication I take.

So that's pretty much bang on the six months. I should be late November. RC will have to wait a bit

To the day, Friday to Friday. Was handy because I was in back in London for the day, visiting our fla- sorry, building site.

TheBigBean

Sounds like there might be a plan that people get boosters at 6 months!

pangolin

TheBigBean said:

Sounds like there might be a plan that people get boosters at 6 months!

Hmm, England had done 27 million first doses by 20th April.

TheBigBean

pangolin said:

TheBigBean said:

Sounds like there might be a plan that people get boosters at 6 months!

Hmm, England had done 27 million first doses by 20th April.

It's from the second dose.

briantrumpet

It will be interesting to see how Javid responds to today's trends.

Prediction: they will take action two/three weeks too late. The only small chink of light is that half term is upon us, so there will be a tiny break in the spiralling contagion in schools.

UK records 49,139 further Covid cases and 179 new deaths
The government has updated its UK coronavirus dashboard, and it confirms that all three key principle indicators are now heading in the wrong direction.

There have been 49,139 new cases – and the total number of new cases over the past week is up 17.2% on the total for the previous week.
There have been 179 more Covid deaths – and the total number of deaths over the past week is up 21.1% on the total for the previous week.
And hospital admissions are up 11.2% week on week – although this data only covers the period up to Saturday, when there were 869 hospital admissions.

rick_chasey

Deaths up a fifth on last week, eek.

orraloon

Ah hah, I hadn't recognised the need for the 6 month gap before the covid booster. Just booked a flu jab with GP practice. They said I could wait for the call for the booster which will be late November then and get both done at same time or do them separately. Given the belting I took with a flu hit some Christmases back, nope I'll take the flu one soon as possible please.

pangolin

TheBigBean said:

pangolin said:

TheBigBean said:

Sounds like there might be a plan that people get boosters at 6 months!

Hmm, England had done 27 million first doses by 20th April.

It's from the second dose.

Ah of course!

9 million by 20th April in that case.

focuszing723

I hope Jav mentions about nose breathing.

surrey_commuter

Do we know whether the booster jabs are being help up by supply or logistical problems?

TheBigBean

pangolin said:

TheBigBean said:

pangolin said:

TheBigBean said:

Sounds like there might be a plan that people get boosters at 6 months!

Hmm, England had done 27 million first doses by 20th April.

It's from the second dose.

Ah of course!

9 million by 20th April in that case.

Presumably not all the 9 million are eligible this time around e.g. all young health workers. Just guessing though.

briantrumpet

Quelle surprise. Hanging all their hopes on vaccines. That's it.

rick_chasey

briantrumpet said:

Quelle surprise. Hanging all their hopes on vaccines. That's it.

It is ironic of course as the initial pre lockdown 1 view ("herd immunity") was too pessimistic about the chances of a vaccine which led to complacency around the value of lockdown.

First.Aspect

It is just the same cycle repeated. I don't mind people making mistakes if they then learn from them.