And to add to the whole tragicomic atmosphere...remember that pesky R rate? Here's its current figure very much above 1 and yet not even talked about anymore
Well, ignoring the R number then, we can still study the number of known infected people in an area.
There are going to be lots of infected people going forward, the issue is not the numbers infected anymore its the numbers getting very sick that are important.
If we had a huge testing system for the common cold, you'd see huge numbers of infected and a high R number every winter, but you wouldn't worry or take extra precautions beyond carrying tissues and maybe hand gel, or avoid leaving the house because hardly anybody gets very poorly or dies from a common cold (even the ones caused by coronaviruses). That's the point we have to hope we reach with Covid, we'll never eliminate it.
The elephant in the room for me is NHS capacity. What we really need to 'learn to live with' Covid is more resources (staff, beds) in the NHS to cope with the extra people who will get sick every year now, so that they can get the best care and have the best chance of recovery. No politicians are bringing that up!
I agree that it is a real problem for people like you @pansyface [ and for me ], but you can't keep the planet totally shut down, just for the likes of us. All that we should do is to encourage and if necessary legislate for some sensible precautions [ face masks ] to continue.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I really don't see why face masks cannot be kept as mandatory on public transport and in hospitals, dentists, GPs surgeries and the like. We can decide not to go to pubs, get our groceries delivered, keep away from crowds generally. But we can't live 'normal' lives if we can't get on a bus or train or get healthcare when we need it. It doesn't in any way stop the economy getting back on track to say 'you must wear a face mask in these specific situations'. It's the social distancing that has the impact, not the mask
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I think it's just good manners to wear a mask in a situation where a worker might feel uncomfortable if you were not wearing one. Frankly, I'd feel a bit strange without one now - a bit like sitting in a car without a seatbelt
There are going to be lots of infected people going forward, the issue is not the numbers infected anymore its the numbers getting very sick that are important.
Yes, but don’t you see, as there will be many more infected people floating around for people like me who are immuno-compromised to bump into, the chances of people like me getting infected rises.
It’s fine for those who have immunity to meet infected people, but what about the millions who don’t?
The common cold can’t kill me, Covid-19 can (and may well if this laissez faire approach continues). I can stay in, like the princess in the tower, or I can go out and be coughed on by an idiot as happened to me yesterday not six feet from my front gate.
Unfortunately there have always been viruses and other organisms out there that are dangerous for immune compromised people.
The answer is not permanent restrictions (although I do feel we are getting rid of some restrictions too soon), the answer is to get a high rate of vaccination and ensure the NHS has capacity to care for everybody who needs it going forward.
The answer is not permanent restrictions (although I do feel we are getting rid of some restrictions too soon), the answer is to get a high rate of vaccination and ensure the NHS has capacity to care for everybody who needs it going forward.
Wearing a face mask isn't a restriction, though. Yes there are plenty of dangerous viruses about, but they are generally not as prevalent as Covid is at the moment. The ones that are common, such as flu and pneumonia, are less deadly than Covid
“Since 1959, which is when ONS monthly death records began, the number of deaths due to influenza and pneumonia in the first eight months of every year have been lower than the number of COVID-19 deaths seen, so far, in 2020.” Sarah Caul, Head of Mortality Analysis
According to the chap on TV at the weekend, I am now 20 times less likely to die of covid than I was before I was vaccinated (I'm in my 50s). I am however still more likely to die of covid than someone under 30 who isn't vaccinated.
This virus is really not the same as flu. But if we all wore face masks in public places as a matter of course, fewer of us would catch the flu or colds, too. It's a matter of course in the countries that were affected by SARS and MERS. What's the problem?
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The answer is not permanent restrictions (although I do feel we are getting rid of some restrictions too soon), the answer is to get a high rate of vaccination and ensure the NHS has capacity to care for everybody who needs it going forward.
Wearing a face mask isn't a restriction, though. Yes there are plenty of dangerous viruses about, but they are generally not as prevalent as Covid is at the moment. The ones that are common, such as flu and pneumonia, are less deadly than Covid
“Since 1959, which is when ONS monthly death records began, the number of deaths due to influenza and pneumonia in the first eight months of every year have been lower than the number of COVID-19 deaths seen, so far, in 2020.” Sarah Caul, Head of Mortality Analysis
According to the chap on TV at the weekend, I am now 20 times less likely to die of covid than I was before I was vaccinated (I'm in my 50s). I am however still more likely to die of covid than someone under 30 who isn't vaccinated.
This virus is really not the same as flu. But if we all wore face masks in public places as a matter of course, fewer of us would catch the flu or colds, too. It's a matter of course in the countries that were affected by SARS and MERS. What's the problem?
I will happily wear a face mask 99 times out of 100 (I have to for work anyway) but there are people for whom it is genuinely very difficult or impossible, for lots of reasons. It also hinders communication greatly, especially for those with hearing loss or learning disabilities, and those people matter too.
Mask wearing is not a big ask in the current circumstances, but let’s not pretend that expecting its forever is not restrictive or harmful to some.
Posts
The science has changed.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
If we had a huge testing system for the common cold, you'd see huge numbers of infected and a high R number every winter, but you wouldn't worry or take extra precautions beyond carrying tissues and maybe hand gel, or avoid leaving the house because hardly anybody gets very poorly or dies from a common cold (even the ones caused by coronaviruses). That's the point we have to hope we reach with Covid, we'll never eliminate it.
The elephant in the room for me is NHS capacity. What we really need to 'learn to live with' Covid is more resources (staff, beds) in the NHS to cope with the extra people who will get sick every year now, so that they can get the best care and have the best chance of recovery. No politicians are bringing that up!
All that we should do is to encourage and if necessary legislate for some sensible precautions [ face masks ] to continue.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Frankly, I'd feel a bit strange without one now - a bit like sitting in a car without a seatbelt
“Since 1959, which is when ONS monthly death records began, the number of deaths due to influenza and pneumonia in the first eight months of every year have been lower than the number of COVID-19 deaths seen, so far, in 2020.” Sarah Caul, Head of Mortality Analysis
According to the chap on TV at the weekend, I am now 20 times less likely to die of covid than I was before I was vaccinated (I'm in my 50s). I am however still more likely to die of covid than someone under 30 who isn't vaccinated.
This virus is really not the same as flu. But if we all wore face masks in public places as a matter of course, fewer of us would catch the flu or colds, too. It's a matter of course in the countries that were affected by SARS and MERS. What's the problem?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Mask wearing is not a big ask in the current circumstances, but let’s not pretend that expecting its forever is not restrictive or harmful to some.