Stealth Omicron

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What restrictions have I imagined, I don't remember complaining about any restrictions.

[irie]

I'm happy to hear alternative, brave and daring good old fashioned methods for defeating covid.

Here's two for starters
- sneak into its castle in the back of a cart carrying wood, and then leap out! Taking it by surprise!
- go right up to it, but wear a different hat, then leap out! Taking it by surprise!

I'm amazed the government, or other patriots, haven't tried this yet. No doubt 'the science' has poo-pooed it.

Covid will be around for the forseeable future in one form or another, the notion that it can be defeated is nonsense. This illustrates the problem with the latest lockdown - are we to lockdown whenever there is a new variant 'just in case'? If we do this every time there is a new variant we could be doing this to the end of this decade and beyond. It does look like current boosters are effective, and (imo) the unvaccinated/anti-vaxxers will just have to take their chances and not depend on the vaccinated/boosted to defend them from their own actions.

As said earlier:

There has been ample time and opportunity available for all eligible to have their jabs. Those that have not been able to for health reasons will have to protect themselves from infection as best they can with whatever services are available.

Those who are able to have jabs but have ignored the opportunities to be jabbed over the last year will have to take their chances. I think this is about 15% of white adults, about 25% of Asian adults, and about 40% of the black adults. Why did I quote these percentages? Because you can already hear the future cries of 'racism' if/when disproportionate death counts occur in these ethnic groups.

No more lockdowns, (imo) it's finished.

I will not comply.

[weeksy]

I'm happy to hear alternative, brave and daring good old fashioned methods for defeating covid.

Here's two for starters
- sneak into its castle in the back of a cart carrying wood, and then leap out! Taking it by surprise!
- go right up to it, but wear a different hat, then leap out! Taking it by surprise!

I'm amazed the government, or other patriots, haven't tried this yet. No doubt 'the science' has poo-pooed it.

Covid will be around for the forseeable future in one form or another, the notion that it can be defeated is nonsense. This illustrates the problem with the latest lockdown - are we to lockdown whenever there is a new variant 'just in case'? If we do this every time there is a new variant we could be doing this to the end of this decade and beyond. It does look like current boosters are effective, and (imo) the unvaccinated/anti-vaxxers will just have to take their chances and not depend on the vaccinated/boosted to defend them from their own actions.

As said earlier:

There has been ample time and opportunity available for all eligible to have their jabs. Those that have not been able to for health reasons will have to protect themselves from infection as best they can with whatever services are available.

Those who are able to have jabs but have ignored the opportunities to be jabbed over the last year will have to take their chances. I think this is about 15% of white adults, about 25% of Asian adults, and about 40% of the black adults. Why did I quote these percentages? Because you can already hear the future cries of 'racism' if/when disproportionate death counts occur in these ethnic groups.

No more lockdowns, (imo) it's finished.

I will not comply.

Why no? Precautions are good. I'm in.

[irie]

Why no? Precautions are good. I'm in.

Should we lockdown every time there is, as there could well be, a new potentially dangerous mutation/variant at least once a year for foreseeable future?

[DefTrap]

I will not comply.

I dunno why you quoted me, I was just having some fun with what Cheese said.

Comply or don't comply. The restrictions are just to ease hospital pressure, that's all its ever been about. If it was just a 'manageable number" of the vulnerable or unlucky vaccinated or the ignorant unvaccinated getting critically ill from covid then I guess we'd all take it on the chin, like flu.

I think it's too early to say we're done with this.
If this is the new normal then we have to build a fvck load more hospitals or adapt. And this is without considering less fortunate countries, where it must be 24/7/365 chaos.

[Felix]

So who is stupid. The one going to a shop with a mask or the ones in the crowded pub swapping germs?

[weeksy]

Why no? Precautions are good. I'm in.

Should we lockdown every time there is, as there could well be, a new potentially dangerous mutation/variant at least once a year for foreseeable future?

Yes. Why ask me the same question?

[wheelnut]

Also I think it would do everyone good to be a bit more positive and a lot less defeatist, with this current widespread attitude to life and death this country wouldn't have lost WW2 because we'd never have fought it because someone might have died.

And yet everywhere I go I see people just getting on with life. We’re off to Skipton xmas markets today.

What restrictions have I imagined, I don't remember complaining about any restrictions.

I don’t know, it’s your imagination, not mine

[wheelnut]

I'm not the arbitrator of that and if you start throwing terms like "stupid" around then people are going to get the hump, but if one is sticking to the rules then one should not be accused of being stupid - unless the rules are stupid, but I keep getting told off for saying that.

You do seem to be strangely fixated on the hospitality thing. What’s your solution, shut it all down?

[Horse]

(imo) the unvaccinated/anti-vaxxers will just have to take their chances

Even being double vaccinated isn't ideal, with the booster yet to even be offered to many.

The UK Health Security Agency report analysed data from 581 Omicron cases and thousands of Delta cases to calculate how effective the vaccines were against the new variant.

The analysis is based on limited data, but showed a dramatic drop in effectiveness for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and a significant drop off for two doses of Pfizer.

With uk numbers of:

As of 1 December 2021, an estimated 24.6 million first doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine and 24.9 million first doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca had been administered, and around 20.9 million and 24.1 million second doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine and COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca respectively.

So, very roughly, half the double vaccinated UK population may have a 'dramatic' drop in effectiveness. [Edit, let's make that 'roughly half of half' for AZ & booster]

Your confidence that just the un/anti will have to take their chances might be a little wide of how it actually develops.

[DefTrap]

I now know a handful of friends / family who've caught covid despite being double vaccd - ironically mere weeks prior to booked booster jabs. None of them are gung ho feckit I'm immune and going to parties types, they just drifted off the end of vaccine efficacy.

[Horse]

Foal is double vaccinated, both within the last few months, also may have a few lingering antibodies from covid last year. Young, fit, healthy.

He tested positive on Wednesday and has had cold/flu/fever symptoms since.

[Jody]

I think it should be up to the individual what precautions they take rather than a bunch of rules that are not needed, for instance there's no way I'd go anywhere crowded currently, but I don't need or want the government to tell me what to do.want

Also I think it would do everyone good to be a bit more positive and a lot less defeatist, with this current widespread attitude to life and death this country wouldn't have lost WW2 because we'd never have fought it because someone might have died.

I think it should be up to the individual how fast they drive rather than a bunch of rules not needed, for instance there's no way I'd do 40 past a school or 180 on the M25, but I don't want the government to tell me what to do

[Mr. Dazzle]

I now know a handful of friends / family who've caught covid despite being double vaccd - ironically mere weeks prior to booked booster jabs. None of them are gung ho feckit I'm immune and going to parties types, they just drifted off the end of vaccine efficacy.

Happened to Mrs D literally the week before her booster. She's been WFH mostly and we've not been to any parties. She did have a colleague who came to work despite the fact she was coughing her lungs up though...

[Yambo]

I now know a handful of friends / family who've caught covid despite being double vaccd - ironically mere weeks prior to booked booster jabs. None of them are gung ho feckit I'm immune and going to parties types, they just drifted off the end of vaccine efficacy.

Happened to Mrs D literally the week before her booster. She's been WFH mostly and we've not been to any parties. She did have a colleague who came to work despite the fact she was coughing her lungs up though...

She should wash her hands more.

[Horse]

I now know a handful of friends / family who've caught covid despite being double vaccd - ironically mere weeks prior to booked booster jabs. None of them are gung ho feckit I'm immune and going to parties types, they just drifted off the end of vaccine efficacy.

Happened to Mrs D literally the week before her booster. She's been WFH mostly and we've not been to any parties. She did have a colleague who came to work despite the fact she was coughing her lungs up though...

She should wash her hands more.

Mr D knows where Mrs D's hands have been.

[Horse]

Where's the evidence of people being ill with omicron

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59627188

The first people in the UK have been hospitalised with Omicron infections, Nadhim Zahawi has said.

The new variant of coronavirus now accounts for a third of cases in London, the education secretary said.
...
... there had not been a report of a death from the variant in the UK yet ... pointed out that it had only been identified two weeks ago. It is two weeks after infection that you would expect to see people admitted to hospital, with deaths coming after that.

[Supermofo]

I've just come back from a crowded (like shoulder to shoulder) pub with my lad.
We had a couple of pints each, it was a great atmosphere, we swapped some germs around and now I'm back for an early dinner.

Mrs Potter went to Asda to get milk and something for dinner, had to wear a mask

Omicron my arse.

I used to love English pubs, but they hold little appeal now.
I'm over in UK in March for a wedding, so no doubt I'll be in a few pubs to see pals down in Cornwall.
Hmm

Depends on the pub. If I went to some of the pubs in Hertford I'm sure they'd be heaving but to be fair I'd rather not go to them pre covid. Hate queueing at a bar.

The 3 locals in my village I'd easily get a nice spot well over 2m away from anyone and 2 still do table service. I'd happily visit any at the moment.

Must admit I'd really miss nice pubs if I moved away.

[Supermofo]

Where's the evidence of people being ill with omicron

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59627188

The first people in the UK have been hospitalised with Omicron infections, Nadhim Zahawi has said.

The new variant of coronavirus now accounts for a third of cases in London, the education secretary said.
...
... there had not been a report of a death from the variant in the UK yet ... pointed out that it had only been identified two weeks ago. It is two weeks after infection that you would expect to see people admitted to hospital, with deaths coming after that.

I read that and still unclear if they are in hospital because of Covid or with Covid. Remember being shocked in the summer just how much Covid was being spread in hospitals. Since I've found it hard to know what the true picture is.

In the meantime imo we should play it safe until we know more but TBH with people I know most are using common sense and avoiding mixing too much anyway esp with the potential to mess Xmas plans up.

I've been avoiding anyone at the moment as Mrs Mofo and my daughter have both had/got it. TBF seeing how my Mrs was and pre Omicron I sort of wanted to get it over with but luckily still negative as is my son.

[Horse]

Where's the evidence of people being ill with omicron

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59627188

The first people in the UK have been hospitalised with Omicron infections ...

I read that and still unclear if they are in hospital because of Covid or with Covid. Remember being shocked in the summer just how much Covid was being spread in hospitals.

Yes, good points. With the way this seems to spread, there can't be any good outcomes for people who are already ill.

Edit: now includes:

It is not clear if those people who are in hospital with Omicron are there because of the virus or for other reasons.

In the meantime imo we should play it safe until we know more but TBH with people I know most are using common sense and avoiding mixing too much anyway esp with the potential to mess Xmas plans up.

Same here, with lots if testing.