Coronavirus outbreak

[lane]

I have a houseful of lateral flow tests, sent from the school. We can get as many as we like and could all take them if we wanted. Is it a PCR that is required for holidays?

 

[vickster]

I have a houseful of lateral flow tests, sent from the school. We can get as many as we like and could all take them if we wanted. Is it a PCR that is required for holidays?

Yes

 

[kingrollo]

The people of the UK have really exceeded a lot of expectations throughout, despite or perhaps because of the sensible interface with the countries' leaderships' style and competence:

• broad adherence to very disruptive control measures,
• the sterling effort to keep on top of their work despite the disruptions whilst also embracing home schooling,
• vaccination take-up without any carrot beyond the protection it offers and minimal stick.

Any other positives to share?

You mention no carrot - but the stick was very much the 125k deaths. ! That focussed a lot of people minds !

 

[lane]

A lot of people exceeded expectations but as always there were exceptions for whom the rules did not apply

Jet owned by Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley flew 145,000 miles over pandemic

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jet-owned-sports-direct-boss-24215770

 

[PK99]

A very long read but worth the time.

https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/living-normally-with-covid-19

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Wasn't too long tbh.

A good read and interesting to note outcomes similar to influenza annual outbreaks.

A sensible read is refreshing amongst some of the almost hysterical witterings on social media and in the press.

 

[lane]

They seem more confident at controlling variants that escape the vaccine than I think we will be. They aren't planning just to go back to normal either far from it really.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

They seem more confident at controlling variants that escape the vaccine than I think we will be. They aren't planning just to go back to normal either far from it really.

Who is the 'we' there?

My personal confidence that we will control Covid long-term across the globe to a viable level is very high based on eg how we control the successive Influenza iterations.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Excess deaths (ie above the average based on 2015-2019) is often used as an indication of 'real' numbers as opposed to the numbers shared as reported (and later by what's recorded on the death certificate).
ONS: deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending11june2021
"Across the UK, from the week ending 13 March 2020 up to 11 June 2021, the number of deaths was 877,620. The number of deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) was 152,490, and the number of excess deaths above the five-year average was 115,738.

So going by death certification, deaths not involving COVID-19 during this 15 month period were 36,752 less than the UK would normally(statistically) expect.
(See vaccine thread for comment on 'flu'.)

 

[Ajax Bay]

Flu v COVID-19 Wk 23
"Of the 84 deaths in England and Wales that involved COVID-19 [5-11 Jun], 66 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death. Of the 1,163 deaths that involved influenza and pneumonia, 292 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death (25.1%)."

What measures should we take to try to reduce the huge numbers of people dying with or from flu and pneumonia?
Nevertheless good to see those 1,163 deaths per week rate is well below normal for June (?1800+).

 

[neil_merseyside]

I have an older friend who never had the flu vaccine simply because he didn't want it (as he saw no need) neither did his best mate - guess what killed said friend just prior to C19 (or was it?), roll on to full on C19 onslaught and a few more fell away, so now he takes a jab as and when. Personal lifestyle might mean you can dodge the bullet, but having something akin to kevlar outerwear has to help.

 

[lane]

Flu v COVID-19 Wk 23
"Of the 84 deaths in England and Wales that involved COVID-19 [5-11 Jun], 66 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death. Of the 1,163 deaths that involved influenza and pneumonia, 292 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death (25.1%)."
View attachment 595787
What measures should we take to try to reduce the huge numbers of people dying with or from flu and pneumonia?
Nevertheless good to see those 1,163 deaths per week rate is well below normal for June (?1800+).

Looks like the graph is showing 5 year average is that correct?

 

[Ajax Bay]

Looks like the graph is showing 5 year average is that correct?

Yes - the light green dots show the average weakly death rate (averaged over 2015-2019).
I cannot think of any other explanation for the two spikes on the flu/pneumonia graph other than those much higher than average months (April 2020) and Jan/Feb 2021) are (?knowingly) undiagnosed/untested deaths 'with' COVID-19.

 

[lane]

Yes - the light green dots show the average weakly death rate (averaged over 2015-2019).
I cannot think of any other explanation for the two spikes on the flu/pneumonia graph other than those much higher than average months (April 2020) and Jan/Feb 2021) are (?knowingly) undiagnosed/untested deaths 'with' COVID-19.
View attachment 595812

Thanks I hadn't quite understand the graph but do now - very interesting.

 

[lane]

Flu v COVID-19 Wk 23
"Of the 84 deaths in England and Wales that involved COVID-19 [5-11 Jun], 66 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death. Of the 1,163 deaths that involved influenza and pneumonia, 292 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death (25.1%)."
View attachment 595787
What measures should we take to try to reduce the huge numbers of people dying with or from flu and pneumonia?
Nevertheless good to see those 1,163 deaths per week rate is well below normal for June (?1800+).

In terms of flu and phenmonia deaths and reducing them - I think that the scientists are for example quite keen on mask wearing during the main flu season as it's not particularly disruptive and would reduce deaths and also better hygiene. Not sure if that just spreads the flu season over a longer period at a lower level. In any case it won't happen and wouldn't have public support or compliance.