Stealth Omicron

[DefTrap]

The shape of the curve looks like the UK, but the numbers are a lot higher, for the same sort of population size?

It's a new policy, get everyone infected asap, get it over with. Once everyone has had it they'll either be dead or meh about it.

[Noggin]

A staggering infection rate increase in France!

That's not massively different to the UK though really is it? It does feel like the spread of the Omicron variant is pretty much uncontrollable.

And a lot to do with tourists from other countries coming in and 'helping' - particularly the Dutch that were 'locked down' at home but allowed to travel, and because Austria apparently closed the ski resorts, the Dutch and German came here instead

But, at least we have some tourists to help replace the brits a bit. AND the current version seems less horrible than a common cold (from all the people I know that have been positive, including me), so let's just get on with life?

Oh, and the figures for the Omicron suffers in ICU seem to be particularly low, so whilst the figures are high, the issue with the virus doesn't seem to be

[Hoonercat]

As I've already said, I haven't expressed an opinion because I think you're just trolling, rather than having any actual concern for the kids.

And you're just trying to compete with me rather than having any actual concerns for dogs, but don't take it so bad, I regularly pull the string of people a lot smarter than you.

Btw, people have enough to deal with in life without dangerous dogs, do the right thing and euthanise it.

And no doubt end up looking silly each time due to your lack of knowledge of the subject matter (how's your slave-built pyramid bait going? )
BTW, all my dogs are rescues from the streets here, with the exception of one I took from a shelter because they couldn't deal with his issues and the oldest who I adopted in the UK, who'd been in rescue for 4.5 years due to his issues which made him unhomeable. Last year I fostered 7 dogs from a shelter and found homes for all of them, and have a home for at least one, maybe both, of my current fosters later this month. Tell me again how I don't have any concerns for dogs All that original thinking doesn't appear to be serving you very well

[irie]

A staggering infection rate increase in France!

That's not massively different to the UK though really is it? It does feel like the spread of the Omicron variant is pretty much uncontrollable.

The shape of the curve looks like the UK, but the numbers are a lot higher, for the same sort of population size?

Very similar populations (UK about 68m, France about 67m).

Not only are the numbers a lot higher than in the UK, but in contrast to the UK where more than 50% of the population has had a booster jab in France it's about 30%.

[DefTrap]

Not only are the numbers a lot higher than in the UK, but in contrast to the UK where more than 50% of the population has had a booster jab in France it's about 30%.

Yeah 2 doses 90%, 3 doses 30% something like that
They are proactively trying to resolve it though - I think I recounted that I had 4 separate opportunities (GP, Pharmacy, drop-in, vaccine centre) in the 3 weeks before Christmas and I'm not even in a at-risk group. When I was in Bordeaux the other day I noticed pop-up vaccine centres all over the place.

But then the French authorities were late with doses #1 and #2 so maybe there is a lingering efficacy of a month or so to allow them to catch up.

[Supermofo]

The shape of the curve looks like the UK, but the numbers are a lot higher, for the same sort of population size?

It's a new policy, get everyone infected asap, get it over with. Once everyone has had it they'll either be dead or meh about it.

It does seem to be the way with Omicron, at 300k a day that's 2.1m a week. I can't imagine it should take long before we've all had it, immune or deed. In some ways it's preferable to the Jan to May lockdown (well unless you are in the last group). Potentially a month and a half of this and hopefully the virus would have done it's thing for the year. And the next time we catch it hopefully our bodies will have a better defence each time fingers crossed.

Besides the AZ creator was saying we can't vaccinate every 6 months forever so we are getting to the stage of living with it one way or another.

Got to admit I'm really bored with the Covid thing now. I'll wear a mask and test etc and I've had my booster but I just want to get back to something like normal life. Please

[weeksy]

Got to admit I'm really bored with the Covid thing now. I'll wear a mask and test etc and I've had my booster but I just want to get back to something like normal life. Please

well you say that... until you get it and then 6 months later you can't even walk up the stairs due to the long-term effects ? Or until Mrs Mofo is one of the exceptionally unluckly ones who drops dead...

Then the game changes, the goalposts move and Covid becomes far more real.

Sure, both of them are unlikely.... but personally... i'd rather not find out.

[Hoonercat]

They sound ghastly, I hope your ego doesn't end up getting someone killed by one of these things.

Ignoring the childish ego bait, you've got nothing to worry about. Only one is aggresive towards people (strangers), and the only people I ever come across on our walks are the shephard, people driving farm machinery and the occasional 4x4 driver, having had a few beers in the next village and taking the 'safe' route home. I don't walk him in town or even through the village, it's called responsible ownership

[Noggin]

The options are a bit like the old flu now. Very very few people get really ill from the current variant. Very few people were killed by 'normal' flu (in comparison to the numbers who caught it).

At the beginning, yes. The virus was a killer to many people. I've got friends still suffering from 'long covid'.

But now, well, if we had stayed at home for ten days every time we had a cold, then the world would have ground to a halt years ago. Ok, TBF, more people should have stayed at home with flu or the bad colds in the past!!

Now, it seems that thousands of people with no symptoms showing but with a positive test (so after they were the most contagious) have to stay at home for 7 days or 5 with a negative test.

How is that sensible?

Companies, industries and (in some cases) lives are being shattered now for what is, essentially, a cold.

I know, I know; for some it can be fatal. But so could the old flu or a bad cold.


For now yes, I do continue to follow the rules. I wear a mask just in case I have it without knowing and I'm contagious (mostly because I've had no symptoms to speak of either time I've had it, so how would I know if I have it and am spreading it).

But at some point. At some point surely we have to draw a line and go back to life? Those that want to be more careful for longer and not socialise, well fine. And TBF, up to a point that is me - I'm not overly keen on being in packed places. Was particularly uncomfortable in the lift queue and the cable car this morning. But that is more because if I get a positive test, I can't work, symptoms or no symptoms.

But surely it is just about time to have restrictions lifted. To have lives and businesses go back to something akin to normal?



In my area, the ICUs are pretty full. But NOT with Covid sufferers. Normally in the winter the ICUs are pretty full in the whole area because people are throwing themselves down and off mountains!!! But, if we are at normal levels, then Covid is only doing the same as the normal flu has done for years.

So why can't we dance to music in a bar? Why can't we stand at the bar, we can only sit and have table service? Why can't we travel for holidays or to see friends?

I know. No one will be able to answer all this. But I'm so over this. I've had 4 years of disability and as I get to the point that I can do stuff without pain, now I'm scared for my job, my home, if I can travel to see people I love. I'll happily wear a mask inside in public places for a bit longer, be a little bit careful, not do the normal French bisous greeting for longer. But, mentally, I can't deal with all this anymore

[Horse]

Once everyone has had it they'll either be dead or meh about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59895598

About 1.3 million people in the UK have "long Covid", symptoms lasting more than four weeks after an initial infection, an Office for National Statistics survey suggests.

Of those, 892,000 (70%) first caught the virus at least 12 weeks ago and 506,000 (40%) at least a year ago.

Not quite 'meh'. The person I knew who suffered badly was still having treatment 8 months later.

[Noggin]

Once everyone has had it they'll either be dead or meh about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59895598

About 1.3 million people in the UK have "long Covid", symptoms lasting more than four weeks after an initial infection, an Office for National Statistics survey suggests.

Of those, 892,000 (70%) first caught the virus at least 12 weeks ago and 506,000 (40%) at least a year ago.

Not quite 'meh'. The person I knew who suffered badly was still having treatment 8 months later.

The people I know have long covid from the first variant.

The people who suffer now tend to have a much shorter term of symptoms, generally a few weeks, not months. I know people over the years who have suffered similarly from 'normal' flu

[weeksy]

Once everyone has had it they'll either be dead or meh about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59895598

About 1.3 million people in the UK have "long Covid", symptoms lasting more than four weeks after an initial infection, an Office for National Statistics survey suggests.

Of those, 892,000 (70%) first caught the virus at least 12 weeks ago and 506,000 (40%) at least a year ago.

Not quite 'meh'. The person I knew who suffered badly was still having treatment 8 months later.

That's what scares me the most. Being unable to ride pedals. Missing out on that time, jeepers.

[Noggin]

IIRC, Icky had similar, but it lasted a few weeks and then went again. That seems to be the case now - for those that get those sort of symptoms. The early ones were the bad ones

[weeksy]

IIRC, Icky had similar, but it lasted a few weeks and then went again. That seems to be the case now - for those that get those sort of symptoms. The early ones were the bad ones

Seems to be, tends to be

That's great. If that's the case. Maybe I'm just dealing with "restrictions" better than some, I dunno. Bu me, I don't want normal back, unless it's actually normal

[Noggin]

IIRC, Icky had similar, but it lasted a few weeks and then went again. That seems to be the case now - for those that get those sort of symptoms. The early ones were the bad ones

Seems to be, tends to be

That's great. If that's the case. Maybe I'm just dealing with "restrictions" better than some, I dunno. Bu me, I don't want normal back, unless it's actually normal

Maybe you are. But then you can work from home pretty easily!!

For me, I take a risk everytime I go out on skis or a bike. I'm ok with that risk. Now the risk of Covid is so much lower, I am willing to take that risk to get life back. But that isn't a decision I can make on my own because that then puts others at risk (and I can't change laws!!).

But for those that are not risk averse (so people that do 'dangerous' sports!!) I figured that that group would be more willing to get back to something close to normality. But maybe not?

[weeksy]

IIRC, Icky had similar, but it lasted a few weeks and then went again. That seems to be the case now - for those that get those sort of symptoms. The early ones were the bad ones

Seems to be, tends to be

That's great. If that's the case. Maybe I'm just dealing with "restrictions" better than some, I dunno. Bu me, I don't want normal back, unless it's actually normal

Maybe you are. But then you can work from home pretty easily!!

For me, I take a risk everytime I go out on skis or a bike. I'm ok with that risk. Now the risk of Covid is so much lower, I am willing to take that risk to get life back. But that isn't a decision I can make on my own because that then puts others at risk (and I can't change laws!!).

But for those that are not risk averse (so people that do 'dangerous' sports!!) I figured that that group would be more willing to get back to something close to normality. But maybe not?

Weirdly, I don't see Mtb riding or motorbikes as dangerous because I'm in control. I believe I'm in charge of my destiny and the consequences therein. Despite them being clearly risky, I don't feel it.

[Yorick]

Seems to be, tends to be

That's great. If that's the case. Maybe I'm just dealing with "restrictions" better than some, I dunno. Bu me, I don't want normal back, unless it's actually normal

Maybe you are. But then you can work from home pretty easily!!

For me, I take a risk everytime I go out on skis or a bike. I'm ok with that risk. Now the risk of Covid is so much lower, I am willing to take that risk to get life back. But that isn't a decision I can make on my own because that then puts others at risk (and I can't change laws!!).

But for those that are not risk averse (so people that do 'dangerous' sports!!) I figured that that group would be more willing to get back to something close to normality. But maybe not?

Weirdly, I don't see Mtb riding or motorbikes as dangerous because I'm in control. I believe I'm in charge of my destiny and the consequences therein. Despite them being clearly risky, I don't feel it.

Ditto. Pavements are more dangerous

[Noggin]

Maybe you are. But then you can work from home pretty easily!!

For me, I take a risk everytime I go out on skis or a bike. I'm ok with that risk. Now the risk of Covid is so much lower, I am willing to take that risk to get life back. But that isn't a decision I can make on my own because that then puts others at risk (and I can't change laws!!).

But for those that are not risk averse (so people that do 'dangerous' sports!!) I figured that that group would be more willing to get back to something close to normality. But maybe not?

Weirdly, I don't see Mtb riding or motorbikes as dangerous because I'm in control. I believe I'm in charge of my destiny and the consequences therein. Despite them being clearly risky, I don't feel it.

Ditto. Pavements are more dangerous

TBF, I fall over on snow in resort far more than I crash when on skis or motorbikes!! But there is risk in all of life. And whilst we don't perceive the risk of our sports, it's there!

[MingtheMerciless]

Regarding the Long Covid thing, I've got a mate who contracted it in December 2020 and he's still not back at work, previously he was regularly Park Runner and cyclist, he thought he was recovering finally in August/Sept last year and then had a relapse.

[Felix]

Something i have never done through all this is wave my arms about and .......



Been allowed to work through all lockdowns so just been going through my days as normal. OK i need to have a mask on in the shops but hey, its the rules. The book a slot and sitting only is bars is OK but its knocked the life and atmosphere out the pubs. Been for a meal a few times and like the pubs its keep the mask on until seated what seems odd but it makes Nicola happy making new rules up. Like many others i am getting a tad sick of it all now.

Saying that last new year lockdown was great as there was no cross border crossing (or meant to be) so the Mother in aw could not come up. This year she was. What made it worse the street Parties in Edinburgh got cancelled so had to suffer her indoors more also