Autumn 2022 Covid wave peaked earlier than predicted

[Peter Mugridge]

I just went to look at those stats for this week, and I had to laugh at this... the Government IT bods have let the security certificate expire!

 

[adc82140]

I still have colleagues doing "routine" testing then wanting a week off when they get a red line, whether they are ill or not. I thought the removal of the special status of Covid sick leave would put a stop to this, but no.

We still get free tests. Time for me to go round their houses and confiscate them!

 

[bramling]

I still have colleagues doing "routine" testing then wanting a week off when they get a red line, whether they are ill or not. I thought the removal of the special status of Covid sick leave would put a stop to this, but no.

We still get free tests. Time for me to go round their houses and confiscate them!

And of course how many people will be storing up a nice positive test nicely in time for Christmas?

Really these people deserve the extra they’re now finding on top of their monthly mortgage repayments, but the unfortunate thing is for every one of these there will be others who haven’t taken the pee.

 

[greyman42]

I still have colleagues doing "routine" testing then wanting a week off when they get a red line, whether they are ill or not. I thought the removal of the special status of Covid sick leave would put a stop to this, but no.

If i had my way i would sack these people, then they could have as much time off as they wanted.

 

[duncanp]

And of course how many people will be storing up a nice positive test nicely in time for Christmas?

...or during the upcoming World Cup

 

[43066]

I still have colleagues doing "routine" testing then wanting a week off when they get a red line, whether they are ill or not. I thought the removal of the special status of Covid sick leave would put a stop to this, but no.

We still get free tests. Time for me to go round their houses and confiscate them!

Certainly where I work Covid absence has long since been treated as “normal” for these purpose, so doing this wouldn’t be any different to calling in sick for any other reason, and would count towards the attendance at work policy.

The “special status” or Covid sickness was allowed to run on for far too long, of course, as with most of the measures.

 

[bramling]

Certainly where I work Covid absence has long since been treated as “normal” for these purpose, so doing this wouldn’t be any different to calling in sick for any other reason, and would count towards the attendance at work policy.

The “special status” or Covid sickness was allowed to run on for far too long, of course, as with most of the measures.

My place still the strange position of being a phoney normal. I was recently at work with a quite nasty cough. If I had a pound for every time I heard “you need to get yourself tested”. Why would I want to?

 

[Richard Scott]

Someone at work today was doing a test when I walked in. Told him how ridiculous and was he testing for all other possible viral infections too? No surprise it was negative!

 

[Dent]

Someone at work today was doing a test when I walked in. Told him how ridiculous and was he testing for all other possible viral infections too? No surprise it was negative!

If he was already at work then what was he planning to do if it was positive?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If he was already at work then what was he planning to do if it was positive?

Go home and watch football...?

 

[bramling]

Go home and watch football...?

… is probably the right answer.

 

[westv]

My place still the strange position of being a phoney normal. I was recently at work with a quite nasty cough. If I had a pound for every time I heard “you need to get yourself tested”. Why would I want to?

I'm sure that, even prior to covid, there'd be people thinking under their breath "What disease has this person brought close to me?!

 

[bramling]

I'm sure that, even prior to covid, there'd be people thinking under their breath "What disease has this person brought close to me?!

The irony being that picking up stuff from time to time is generally regarded as being necessary for a functioning immune system. Certainly colds are a fact of life, though not everyone seems to feel this way.

 

[johnnychips]

It is interesting. I went into work a couple of months ago with what I would call ‘a bit of a cold’ with a runny nose and a lot of sneezing, though I didn’t feel ill at all. Nobody questioned me, and in the past I wouldn’t have thought anything about it. However, I did find myself wondering ‘should I be in work giving my colleagues [whatever it is]’. But I didn’t think too hard, and would rather my colleagues come to work with their sniffles, rather than me having to cover their lessons. If you feel really rough, you should stay off work whatever it is.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

In Wales, at least in my corner of it, masking has been mandated again in healthcare settings (hospitals, GP surgeries etc).
When I asked why, they said it was because of an increase in flu cases (ie not specifically covid).

Having said that, I do know of several local covid cases, with associated testing and isolation.
This is in people who have had covid before, and are fully vaccinated.
I'd say masking in supermarkets is becoming more obvious, but still a small minority, and mainly the elderly.

 

[zero]

I'd say masking in supermarkets is becoming more obvious, but still a small minority, and mainly the elderly.

That would make sense if they wore good masks such as FFP2 and didn't leave a big gap between the mask and their face, but the elderly around here are wearing mainly surgical or cloth masks, and wearing them badly.

 

[102 fan]

That would make sense if they wore good masks such as FFP2 and didn't leave a big gap between the mask and their face, but the elderly around here are wearing mainly surgical or cloth masks, and wearing them badly.

And I've seen plenty who either wear a mask as a chinwarmer or who take it off to talk. I saw a youngish couple last week walk into a restaurant masked, then proceeded to remove the masks when seated. I had to resist the urge to ask them why bother wearing masks?

 

[greyman42]

In Wales, at least in my corner of it, masking has been mandated again in healthcare settings (hospitals, GP surgeries etc).
When I asked why, they said it was because of an increase in flu cases (ie not specifically covid).

Why would we be wearing masks for flu? We have never worn masks for flu before so why are people doing so now?

 

[bramling]

Why would we be wearing masks for flu? We have never worn masks for flu before so why are people doing so now?

Save the NHS…

 

[zero]

Why would we be wearing masks for flu? We have never worn masks for flu before so why are people doing so now?

Just because we have never done something before is not a good reason to not do it. Otherwise we would never make any changes to anything.

(To be clear, I am not in favour of wearing masks to prevent flu transmission, although I might be persuaded to support it in a healthcare setting if there was evidence to show it works and there was a proper cost-benefit analysis.)

 

[Richard Scott]

Just because we have never done something before is not a good reason to not do it. Otherwise we would never make any changes to anything.

(To be clear, I am not in favour of wearing masks to prevent flu transmission, although I might be persuaded to support it in a healthcare setting if there was evidence to show it works and there was a proper cost-benefit analysis.)

I wouldn't because there isn't and never will be.

 

[nw1]

I wouldn't because there isn't and never will be.

The main issue I would have is: are the masks free? If we're expected to pay for them, I wouldn't be impressed.

 

[Richard Scott]

The main issue I would have is: are the masks free? If we're expected to pay for them, I wouldn't be impressed.

We pay for them anyway be it directly or indirectly through taxes. Part of the problem that some people are now beginning to realise about the past couple of years, is that everything has to be paid for!

 

[Class 33]

There will probably be another rise in Covid cases tomorrow when the Covid stats dashboard is updated. The last few weeks the decline in Covid cases has been falling back. And last week's was just a 6.7% drop. So I predict tomorrow there'll be another rise in Covid cases, ranging from somewhere in the region of 0.1% to about 7%. And I can bet the usual suspects such as The Mirror, The Sun, The i, and Sky News will be up to their old tricks again, with headlines such as "Covid Cases up 50%(or however much it is) in a week", and "The terrifying winter Covid wave has begun". You see, I bet it will happen! Some of these media outlets just never give up! Though during the last wave, the mainstream TV news actually largely behaved itself with hardly a mention about the rise in cases. Let's see if that happens or not this time.

I predict this upcoming Covid wave will be no worst than the last minor Covid wave. There'll probably be a rise in cases for barely 3 to 4 weeks before it peaking and cases start falling again. Nothing to worry about atall!

 

[duncanp]

There will probably be another rise in Covid cases tomorrow when the Covid stats dashboard is updated. The last few weeks the decline in Covid cases has been falling back. And last week's was just a 6.7% drop. So I predict tomorrow there'll be another rise in Covid cases, ranging from somewhere in the region of 0.1% to about 7%. And I can bet the usual suspects such as The Mirror, The Sun, The i, and Sky News will be up to their old tricks again, with headlines such as "Covid Cases up 50%(or however much it is) in a week", and "The terrifying winter Covid wave has begun". You see, I bet it will happen! Some of these media outlets just never give up! Though during the last wave, the mainstream TV news actually largely behaved itself with hardly a mention about the rise in cases. Let's see if that happens or not this time.

I predict this upcoming Covid wave will be no worst than the last minor Covid wave. There'll probably be a rise in cases for barely 3 to 4 weeks before it peaking and cases start falling again. Nothing to worry about atall!

• Well it is 10 days since the World Cup started, and the rise in cases is obviously due to all those people irresponsibly mixing in pubs watching the football.
• And all those people out Christmas shopping without wearing face nappies.
• And... <insert excuse of choice>

Then of course the New Year COVID wave will be down to Santa Claus visiting every house in the world on Christmas Eve and not wearing a face covering whilst going down the chimney, thus making him the ultimate superspreader.

 

[yorkie]

Why would we be wearing masks for flu? We have never worn masks for flu before so why are people doing so now?

It's symbolic of the culture wars; the far left support masks (the moderate left, centrists and right do not) and there are a disproportionately high number of far left type people in the health service, sadly. These are the sort of people who like the idea of 'zero Covid' and would fit in really well with the Chinese approach.

They want to change our cultural norms, to be more like China. We need to resist. No more masks should be worn. If asked to wear a mask, say "I am exempt" and don't pander to the loony far left China-esque demands.

There will probably be another rise in Covid cases tomorrow when the Covid stats dashboard is updated. The last few weeks the decline in Covid cases has been falling back. And last week's was just a 6.7% drop. So I predict tomorrow there'll be another rise in Covid cases, ranging from somewhere in the region of 0.1% to about 7%. And I can bet the usual suspects such as The Mirror, The Sun, The i, and Sky News will be up to their old tricks again, with headlines such as "Covid Cases up 50%(or however much it is) in a week", and "The terrifying winter Covid wave has begun". You see, I bet it will happen! Some of these media outlets just never give up! Though during the last wave, the mainstream TV news actually largely behaved itself with hardly a mention about the rise in cases. Let's see if that happens or not this time.

I predict this upcoming Covid wave will be no worst than the last minor Covid wave. There'll probably be a rise in cases for barely 3 to 4 weeks before it peaking and cases start falling again. Nothing to worry about atall!

I really think you need to stop worrying about whatever the media are saying.

Loads of people I know have either had some sort of bug lately or have one now; of those who had a test, nearly all all have been negative.

I know of some who have been off for a week but it wasn't Covid.

There are all sorts of viruses doing the rounds, as is normal for this time of year. Each infection acts as a boost (in a similar way to vaccination) to our immune system, which gains immunity as a result.

The Zoe app data isn't showing much of an uptick in symptomatic Covid.

For most of my days I am not reminded of Covid whatsoever; the only times it crops up is when reading the news (about China), or considering going abroad (e.g. to Spain or Germany; both off the menu for me temporarily), or very rarely when on a train or in a shop and I see someone wearing a mask. When I am at any of my workplaces / carrying out any of the jobs I do, I forget about Covid and it is absolutely 100% like 2019.

While such reminders are unwelcome, they are of no real threat to our way of life and we really need to stop worrying.

We are very lucky to live here and not in somewhere awful like China (or to a lesser extent Germany or Spain).

Events in China are further undermining the case for zero Covid; those who support masks and other nonsense in the UK are now shutting up as they realise the game is up!

 

[Class 33]

It's symbolic of the culture wars; the far left support masks (the moderate left, centrists and right do not) and there are a disproportionately high number of far left type people in the health service, sadly. These are the sort of people who like the idea of 'zero Covid' and would fit in really well with the Chinese approach.

They want to change our cultural norms, to be more like China. We need to resist. No more masks should be worn. If asked to wear a mask, say "I am exempt" and don't pander to the loony far left China-esque demands.


I really think you need to stop worrying about whatever the media are saying.

Loads of people I know have either had some sort of bug lately or have one now; of those who had a test, nearly all all have been negative.

I know of some who have been off for a week but it wasn't Covid.

There are all sorts of viruses doing the rounds, as is normal for this time of year. Each infection acts as a boost (in a similar way to vaccination) to our immune system, which gains immunity as a result.

The Zoe app data isn't showing much of an uptick in symptomatic Covid.

For most of my days I am not reminded of Covid whatsoever; the only times it crops up is when reading the news (about China), or considering going abroad (e.g. to Spain or Germany; both off the menu for me temporarily), or very rarely when on a train or in a shop and I see someone wearing a mask. When I am at any of my workplaces / carrying out any of the jobs I do, I forget about Covid and it is absolutely 100% like 2019.

While such reminders are unwelcome, they are of no real threat to our way of life and we really need to stop worrying.

We are very lucky to live here and not in somewhere awful like China (or to a lesser extent Germany or Spain).

Events in China are further undermining the case for zero Covid; those who support masks and other nonsense in the UK are now shutting up as they realise the game is up!

Trust me, I'm certainly not worried about what the media are/will be saying about COVID. And I think the vast majority of people now are not falling for that nonsense doom mongering anymore. I'm just saying it's likely the press and media will be up to their usual tiresome scare mongering nonsense again from tomorrow .

 

[duncanp]

Trust me, I'm certainly not worried about what the media are/will be saying about COVID. And I think the vast majority of people now are not falling for that nonsense doom mongering anymore. I'm just saying it's likely the press and media will be up to their usual tiresome scare mongering nonsense again from tomorrow .

Talking of nonsense doom mongering

UK playing with fire after Covid jabs U-turn, warn scientists

Dame Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK vaccines taskforce, said the country had 'lost its leadership' of Covid-19 preparedness

inews.co.uk

UK playing with fire after Covid jabs U-turn, warn scientists​

Dame Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK vaccines taskforce, said the country had ‘lost its leadership’ of Covid-19 preparedness​

The UK has gone “backwards” on its Covid vaccine capability and preparedness for a fresh pandemic, experts have warned.

Dame Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK vaccines taskforce, said the country had “lost its leadership”, developed in the early months of the pandemic, by weakening its ability to access jabs that could tackle new Covid variants.

And leading virologist Professor John Bell said there had been an “absolutely dramatic reversion” in the success the UK had made not only on vaccines but also testing and antivirals.

Prof Bell told MPs the lack of surveillance and centralised data to keep track of Covid, which was scaled back earlier this year, meant the UK’s clinical research capacity was “actually much much worse than it’s ever been in my living memory”.

Dame Kate told the joint health and science committee that existing Covid vaccines – including the new bivalent booster shot which offers protection against severe disease from Omicron strains – were “not good enough”, particularly at reducing transmission.

Her comments looked set to spark a political row within the Tory party with a senior MP saying it was “unconscionable” that the UK has not learnt lessons from the Covid-19 vaccine roll out and questioned whether the failure was “deliberate”.

Greg Clarke, chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee, told Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC: “It’s appalling that we should have forgotten them [the lessons of Covid] so quickly. And Dame Kate is right to be so angry about it. She’s a hero for what she achieved. And she did that at huge emotional as well as professional energy. And to be in a position that we were the first country in the world, thanks to her and her colleagues, and of course, the scientists’ endeavours too, to vaccinate against what was a lethal disease until that point, and then finds that we’ve thrown it away is unconscionable.”

He added: “I hesitate at the word forgotten, because it seems to be, and this is a mystery to me… it seems to have been deliberate.”

The MP for Tunbridge Wells also told Marr he would be speaking to Government ministers to urge them for a “reversal of some of these mistakes”.

While the Covid pandemic has been kept largely under control in the UK with the booster programme, and large numbers of the population have developed natural immunity through infection from the Omicron variant and its sublineages, there are fears that the country is not prepared for an entirely new strain of Covid which would need a fresh vaccine.

There are also concerns that, while some aspects of preparedness have improved since 2020, a fresh pandemic – including potentially from bird flu or another dangerous virus – could be just as devastating.

 

[DustyBin]

Talking of nonsense doom mongering

UK playing with fire after Covid jabs U-turn, warn scientists

Dame Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK vaccines taskforce, said the country had 'lost its leadership' of Covid-19 preparedness

inews.co.uk

What on earth do they mean by “an entirely new strain”?

Total unscientific nonsense. Who writes this rubbish?!

 

[kristiang85]

There will probably be another rise in Covid cases tomorrow when the Covid stats dashboard is updated. The last few weeks the decline in Covid cases has been falling back. And last week's was just a 6.7% drop. So I predict tomorrow there'll be another rise in Covid cases, ranging from somewhere in the region of 0.1% to about 7%. And I can bet the usual suspects such as The Mirror, The Sun, The i, and Sky News will be up to their old tricks again, with headlines such as "Covid Cases up 50%(or however much it is) in a week", and "The terrifying winter Covid wave has begun". You see, I bet it will happen! Some of these media outlets just never give up! Though during the last wave, the mainstream TV news actually largely behaved itself with hardly a mention about the rise in cases. Let's see if that happens or not this time.

I predict this upcoming Covid wave will be no worst than the last minor Covid wave. There'll probably be a rise in cases for barely 3 to 4 weeks before it peaking and cases start falling again. Nothing to worry about atall!

To be honest, I'd completely forgotten that dashboard was still around.

By the way, it's 3 years ago today the first case was confirmed in China. I fully intend to not have a fourth winter affected by it.