Today's covid news conference

[^woody^]

Key points

• the new variant is more deadly
• the South African variant is more resistant
• the Israeli study on vaccine efficacy lower than expected was not discredited
• Chris Whitty describes NHS in a perilous situation
• no real clear explanation of whether the delay between vaccinations will be successful

The two profs and Boris seem to be "umming and arring" more and a bit worried themselves. And Boris still seems reluctant to lockdown further despite the current situation being worse than last March.

Personally I think it was a very worried impression by the three of them, and I share that. Also its the first time, based on their performance I've actually doubted that they have a handle on this.

I got the impression that we were being primed for something.

 

[charliegolf]

I've wondered a lot about what we'd be looking at now, if back March/April time he'd have said,

"Total lockdown, no work, no travel, borders shut totally, inc Ireland N&S. Trucks for food only. No online shopping deliveries. Weekly pass for food shopping, big 4 shops tasked to triple their home delivery/click n collect slots. And all that goes with it. For 30 days."

I suspect we'd be back in the poop having opened up to fast after, but who knows?

 

[Vinty]

According to the 'experts' in order to become more infectious the virus has to become weaker, now we are told that there is a variant which is not only more infectious but also more deadly.

 

[IT Minion]

According to the 'experts' in order to become more infectious the virus has to become weaker

I don't think any real expert has ever said that, not quite at least. There is a trend that viruses grow weaker as the more dangerous strains kill off their hosts. But thats all averages over a very long time. It doesn't have to happen this century.

, now we are told that there is a variant which is not only more infectious but also more deadly.

Yeah, not great news.

 

[Trazor]

According to the 'experts' in order to become more infectious the virus has to become weaker, now we are told that there is a variant which is not only more infectious but also more deadly.

Don't worry, Regan and Carter, Sooey, ellal and John the plumber, will be along shortly to soothe our brows, and reassure us.

 

[Vinty]

Is the government scaremongering in order to get people to comply with the rules around lockdown.
During the first lockdown last year the streets were deserted, this time around it seems more and more people are ignoring government requests to stay at home.
If appeals to common sense aren't working is the government using fear tactics to get the public to comply.
First were are told that there is a more infectious strain and now we are told that this new strain is not only more infectious but also more deadly, while Boris Johnson says that vaccines are effective against the new strain, his scientific advisors say that this cannot be confirmed.
Is this the goverment turning up the pressure to get people to comply.

 

[Mottie]

Don't worry, Regan and Carter, Sooey, ellal and John the plumber, will be along shortly to soothe our brows, and reassure us.

Yeah, who needs experts in any field while that lot are on here to advise us about everything. Just add JohnwarrenbuffetD on here to advise on investments and we'll have all bases covered.

 

[IT Minion]

Is the government scaremongering in order to get people to comply with the rules around lockdown.

They don't seem to be scaremongering on the infectiousness. Which was suggested when it first cropped up, I was sceptical at the time but it seems they did have enough evidence to back it up.

I don't see a reason to doubt them on the lethality. They've earnt a bit of trust.

 

[Ihavenojob]

Do you believe that China already has covid21 ready for release ?

 

[durhamplumber]

JohnwarrenbuffetD

Lmao

 

[Mottie]

Do you believe that China already has covid21 ready for release ?

Yep. Just waiting for the world to get back on its feet before releasing it.

 

[ajohn]

C4 gave better explanations. A man from NERVtag this time who some don't rate especially the covid is fake lot but when asked he gives straight clear answers. Some of the brief's ummming and arrrrrrrring was down to the number of virus infections that are actually sequenced. He also mentioned the other reasons more are dying -- the over stretched NHS effect. Both the virus change and that are causing an increase. They want more sequencing to be 100% clear but something is going on in that area it's just difficult to be precise.

They also had the behaviourist on. Very unhappy man this time. They use google facilities to see what people are up to, footfall shopping and all sorts. He basically reckons that twice as many people are out and about than there were in the first lock down. Bad news as he sees it and probably is. Not blaming people much more gov's directions. There has been mutterings about peoples behaviour previously when they tried area lock downs but not by him.

Vaccine effectiveness. Tricky one. What does full immunity mean. Looks like no effects from catching covid at all. The important thing is hospitalisation and death. The vaccination primes peoples immune system to fight virus when they become infected with it. It doesn't prevent infection. It can reduce spread if the immune system gets rid of the virus more quickly - they say that vaccination does usually do this. They can't look at this yet, it takes a while but they have looked at people who have caught it and then caught it again. They look at the viral load that they are carrying. People who have had it and think it's all over might be part of the cause of the current situation if it's found that they can give it to others if they get reinfected.

Current state. At the peak 18% of 350,000 tests were positive. Last thursday that had fallen to 12% of 250,000. Hospital tests have roughly levelled off at ~10% of ~25000 test. That's all of England. Regionally there is variations but all pillar 2 seem to be falling. Pillar 1 more mixed due to people continuing to go into hospital in significant numbers.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Vaccine effectiveness. Tricky one.

There was also mention that the new Liverpool mutation may be more resistant to the vaccine.

What does full immunity mean.

It's a misnomer. The vaccine does not provide immunity.

The important thing is hospitalisation and death.

Precisely. The vaccine serves to reduce the pressure on the NHS. It saves lives and serious illness. It does little else. Although, of course, that is an immensely important factor of allowing a return to normal life. But as said previously, it may provide the circumstances for further mutations.

It doesn't prevent infection. It can reduce spread if the immune system gets rid of the virus more quickly - ..... People who have had it and think it's all over might be part of the cause of the current situation if it's found that they can give it to others if they get reinfected.

That is why the vaccine alone will not eradicate the virus. The current and more extreme measures will be required to continue. There is also the added danger of vaccinated people becoming complacent and relaxing the preventative measures, leading to nullifying any beneficial effects of the vaccine reducing the spread.
Those vaccinated must continue with the preventative measures, and act as though they are infected.

 

[Vinty]

It's a misnomer. The vaccine does not provide immunity

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.

Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.

Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity

Like I said, it's a misnomer. It confuses and misguides people, potentially causing complacency.

Will the vaccine protect you?
The COVID-19 vaccine that you have had has been shown to reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. Each vaccine has been tested in more than 20,000 people in several different countries and shown to be safe.

It may take a week or two for your body to build up some protection from the first dose of vaccine. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
..
ull course will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not yet know whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus,
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...hat-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination​