COVID-19/Coronavirus Information and Support Thread (see OP for useful links)

[Touring Mars]

If it convinces another 10% of the idiots that he has influence over to get the jab, then I'm OK with it. I'd even go as far as saying that giving it to Trump on national TV would be a net positive.

I reckon there are enough pricks in the White House already...

Trump should get vaccinated on TV though, but somehow I doubt he will - or at least not without shameless grandstanding.

 

[Blitz24]

She told me I was fine and should get back to work.

I think she just wants the TV to herself today.

Time to apply lipstick to your truck!

 

[Touring Mars]

Posting a link to a 90+ minute long video without any other information or comment other than a sarcastic quip is useless.

If you have something constructive to say about the video or would like to reference something specific in it, please do that... but otherwise we can find useless crap on Youtube by ourselves.

Bearing in mind the caveat in the OP of this thread - misleading or false information will not be accepted in this thread, nor is it accepted anywhere on GTPlanet for that matter.

 

[ryzno]

Once we get it and wait the 6-8 weeks to achieve immunity we can finally start doing stuff without worry.

I respect your knowledge but I find that to be a false sense of security.

Oh and I can mouth "🤬 you" to people as well and they never know, it's wonderful.

I've doing that without a mask and audible for years. Must come with the territory of my job choices.
🤬 you
🤬 that and
What the 🤬. are staples in my daily vocabulary.
--------
Rona has hit home. My girls sister-in-law tested positive, she got the results hours after us being at her house. She's a pediatrician for whatever that adds. Now I have a 2 week vacation from work just in time for the holidays. Almost a week in, no symptoms yet for us or her, waiting for an opening to get tested so I can go back to work. I'm running out of things to fix/build around the house!

 

[TB]

Time to apply lipstick to your truck!

Stopped home for lunch after the kids appointment. She says she's feeling better after a hit of ibuprofen so I'm back at work.

 

[kikie]

Is getting vaccinated mandatory in the US?

 

[Joey D]

I respect your knowledge but I find that to be a false sense of security.

It could be since we're not sure how long the immunity from the vaccine lasts. We're hoping it's a year, but it could be less time. In theory though if enough people get the vaccine we'll stop the spread of COVID and it won't be a problem in many parts of the world. I can't see it ever going away though since you're going to have some countries where the current crop of vaccines just aren't able to be used. The serum needs to be stored at -70F and while those freezes aren't uncommon in the developed world, they're not exactly common in poor countries.

My hope is that enough people in the US get the vaccine for it to be useful. Right now I believe the number is 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated, which will be difficult since we hover around 50% on the flu shot.

It'll be important to still adhere to some basic precautions for some time. I can't see masks going away anytime soon, nor the plexiglass at stores and whatnot. My guess is that we will see this stuff until 2022. Assuming COVID doesn't mutate a bunch before there's immunity, it's likely by 2022 everyone will have either gotten it, developed immunity to it, or died sort of like how the Spanish Flu stopped being a major thing after a couple of years.

Is getting vaccinated mandatory in the US?

Like as in a law? No. But pretty much every school requires it as do many jobs. The COVID vaccine won't be mandatory and even if it was, half the population would ignore it.

 

[McLaren]

If it convinces another 10% of the idiots that he has influence over to get the jab, then I'm OK with it. I'd even go as far as saying that giving it to Trump on national TV would be a net positive.

Trump should get vaccinated on TV though, but somehow I doubt he will - or at least not without shameless grandstanding.

Last I read on this, the White House predictably didn't comment on whether Trump would get the vaccine on TV like Biden & the former Presidents plan on doing.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Last I read on this, the White House predictably didn't comment on whether Trump would get the vaccine on TV like Biden & the former Presidents plan on doing.

I was thinking about this. The health of the President is always a matter of the utmost paranoia. It wouldn't surprise me that the risk of something going wrong on TV is just too terrifying for his handlers, however simple the procedure.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Whelp California is getting absolutely pounded right now. I'm gonna attribute this to some amount of recklessness on the part of politicians. Gavin's little soiree at The French Laundry was basically a public statement of "guys, seriously, it's fine out there." Seriously, what the **** was that guy thinking? He might have just killed his political future with that boneheaded decision. It's certainly not just optics either. I think a lot of the public perceived it as an "all clear" from the state to just go hang out. I would describe the current scene up here in Marin (until as recently as yesterday, when I had to go out and pick something up) as basically pre-pandemic life except with masks and no indoor dining. Other than those two things, it's life as usual. Masks have clearly become a replacement for social distancing and the results speak for themselves.

 

[Daz555]

Is getting vaccinated mandatory in the US?

No.

 

[Joey D]

Utah among states getting thousands fewer vaccine doses than planned

While the media is making this to be some big mystery, I, along with anyone working in the healthcare world can tell you exactly the reason why: the US government is useless at everything.

Pfizer is keeping up with demand and FedEx and UPS have the capacity to deliver the vaccine, but the asshats in Washington who insist on controlling how the vaccine is rolled out quit communicating to Pfizer on where to send the doses. I have no idea why Pfizer doesn't just tell them to get bent, but I assume there's far more to it than what's known. I have no doubt that Pfizer could keep all capable health systems supplied with the vaccine to meet their demand, but the government is being predictably crap. I'm sure some of it is Trump just not giving a damn since he has 30 some odd days left, but it's not like the other jerkwads we elect couldn't pressure the other jerkwads to do something. But it's clear they don't care, all Washington politicians got their vaccine, or at least most of them did, and we're a week away from Christmas. I suspect the vaccine distribution will be poor until Biden takes over and that's a damn shame.

The government should either have absolutely zero say in the vaccine distribution or have a say and be competent.

 

[Touring Mars]

I spoke to my sister last night and I'm pretty much certain that I'm not going to see my family over Xmas. I've thought long and hard about it and while I think the additional risk I pose to my family is probably minimal, there are also questions about what my parent can or should do, and it's looking like the answer to that should be 'as little as possible'. I have, however, got an invite from a friend to have Xmas dinner with him and his wife, which is a very kind offer, so I may take them up on that - but otherwise I could be spending Xmas day by myself for the first time ever.

That said, I am not any more bothered by that prospect than all the other weekends and dinners with my family that I have already missed since July, and hence I think it is a small extra price to pay in the hope that we can get together more comfortably and safely at a later date. It also means that I'll miss Hogmanay (New Year) and my birthday (though that is pretty normal, since I'm back at work by then anyway), but I know that my parents will be disappointed that I won't be seeing them - even though they will no doubt understand and appreciate why.

 

[Dennisch]

I already told my parents last week that we aren't coming over for Christmas. With the current rise of numbers and the restrictions in place it wouldn't feel right.

 

[TexRex]

My mother in-law had been talking about visiting but declined given recent spikes. She's also trying to reinforce the issue with my father in-law who is definitely at risk, both in terms of health and being one of those who stupidly can't be compelled to make any adjustments. Plus she was here in October.

It'll be myself, my wife and probably our daughter, barring anything unforeseen given that she no longer lives at home.

 

[Touring Mars]

Boris Johnson is set to give a national press conference at 4pm today where he is expected to say that London and most of the South East of England will be put into the highest level of lockdown within days, and reversing the decision to allow family gatherings over the Xmas period.

Needless to say, this is an unprecedented and highly controversial move, but sadly I believe it is necessary and the right thing to do.

The Scottish First Minister is also set to speak this afternoon, where it is possible that restrictions on Xmas gatherings in Scotland will also be scaled back.

 

[TB]

Stopped home for lunch after the kids appointment. She says she's feeling better after a hit of ibuprofen so I'm back at work.

Update. She only took the one hit of ibuprofen and the fever didn't come back. She was feeling a lot better when I got home from work. She was up until 3 or 4am but i don't think that's because of the shot.

Side note, my niece also got the Covid immunization and is feeling fine.

 

[Outspacer]

Boris Johnson is set to give a national press conference at 4pm today where he is expected to say that London and most of the South East of England will be put into the highest level of lockdown within days, and reversing the decision to allow family gatherings over the Xmas period.

Needless to say, this is an unprecedented and highly controversial move, but sadly I believe it is necessary and the right thing to do.

I'm not against lockdown when it's the right thing to do, but this isn't logical. Mainly for the reasons outlined in my previous long post re schools. Not unprecedented, it's the same as last time! Again we have it that places are moved to Tier 3 for a few days, it's given no chance to work, then blam, lockdown. It makes a mockery of saying they are "being led by the data". Aside from whether lockdown is right or not, multiple rapid changes in succession seriously undermines confidence in all decisions made regarding any restrictions, leading to a further lack of adherance.

edit: or Tier 4, whatever the **** that is, sounds like a way not to say lockdown to me.

 

[Touring Mars]

By unprecedented, I really meant the timing i.e. imposing severe restrictions over the Xmas period, but yes, it does have an unwelcome familiarity to it.

The difference between 'Tier 4' and full lockdown is fairly small, but at least there is not (yet) stay at home orders... but unless people abide by the guidance, then another lockdown is all but inevitable.

For once I have some sympathy for Boris Johnson and for Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland, because they are damned if they do and damned if they don't... there are no good options. Hell, there are not even bad and less bad options - there are only terrible options.

They are also struggling with the paradox of trying to impose as few restrictions on as few people as possible, which means a litany of confusing rules, arguments about differences in rules etc., and inevitable (and seemingly constant) changes. In trying to be specific, targeted and measured, they end up with a hot mess and yes, it eventually undermines the basic message. Nationwide lockdown, on the other hand, is simple, 'fair', and clear - but it's a sledgehammer that also comes as tremendous costs.

I seriously don't envy them their jobs right now.

 

[kikie]

No Christmas with family and all churches are closed and still 1 out of 3 Belgians between the age of 18 and 35 are not going to follow these Corona rules.

 

[Outspacer]

By unprecedented, I really meant the timing i.e. imposing severe restrictions over the Xmas period, but yes, it does have an unwelcome familiarity to it.

The difference between 'Tier 4' and full lockdown is fairly small, but at least there is not (yet) stay at home orders... but unless people abide by the guidance, then another lockdown is all but inevitable.

For once I have some sympathy for Boris Johnson and for Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland, because they are damned if they do and damned if they don't... there are no good options. Hell, there are not even bad and less bad options - there are only terrible options.

They are also struggling with the paradox of trying to impose as few restrictions on as few people as possible, which means a litany of confusing rules, arguments about differences in rules etc., and inevitable (and seemingly constant) changes. In trying to be specific, targeted and measured, they end up with a hot mess and yes, it eventually undermines the basic message. Nationwide lockdown, on the other hand, is simple, 'fair', and clear - but it's a sledgehammer that also comes as tremendous costs.

I seriously don't envy them their jobs right now.

I don't share your sympathy for them - this is a bed of their own making. By consistently playing down risks and applying the least restrictions (particularly in Sept at the start of term, when many areas were left in tier 1 as cases were clearly rising), it's almost inevitable that it would get out of hand.

BBC is busy prepping things up making the case that it's the new strain that is causing alarm. Also there's someone saying that further restrictions won't apply to schools...

 

[PzR Slim]

This has all been so predictable, my wife and I have pretty much called exactly what has happened in recent months. The government is the main culprit but the public needs to take some responsibility also. Just because we have been allowed to do certain things since the end of lockdown doesn't mean we should have rushed out and done all of those things. For Christmas to go ahead the government should have either kept the lockdown in place or ensured everyone was in Tier 3. The change today has come about because restrictions in the South East were relaxed too much. What has happened is exactly what my wife and I said would happen in the southeast a couple of weeks ago.

My daughter finished school a week ago and we decided as a family to effectively self-isolate from then until Christmas. I'm working from home, my wife is deputy head at my daughter's school and my daughter has been at home also. We have only left the house to walk the dog and shop for food, which we have done between 9.00 & 10.00 pm on a Friday night to ensure it is as quiet as possible. In reality, this has what we have been doing since the first lockdown began. We can see my parents at Christmas and have no fear that we will infect them. We are having Christmas day on our own and going to my parents for Boxing day. We'll still be doing this despite the announcement a few minutes ago.

 

[Nessy]

For all of us in the UK, i think we should just scrap this silly tier system, and impose a strict lockdown until everyone has slowly been given the vaccine.
I don't care whether it's a hammer blow, i think it just really needs to be done.

 

[Outspacer]

The message is that it's "vital to reduce contacts"... but apart from schools' rules being unchanged, still planned to back in a staged manner in January, communal worship is allowed as a notable difference to full lockdown. Never mind that notably large clusters were traced back to churches in the early months of this thing! WT ruddy F!!! Comparing the risk of frankly an older age group meeting en masse to the small risk of people meeting family members - mostly, as @PzR Slim mentions, taking every precaution they can - this is ridiculous, truly a farce.

 

[Nessy]

The message is that it's "vital to reduce contacts"... but apart from schools' rules being unchanged, still planned to back in a staged manner in January, communal worship is allowed as a notable difference to full lockdown. Never mind that notably large clusters were traced back to churches in the early months of this thing! WT ruddy F!!! Comparing the risk of frankly an older age group meeting en masse to the small risk of people meeting family members - mostly, as @PzR Slim mentions, taking every precaution they can - this is ridiculous, truly a farce.

It's tough not being able to see our friends and loved ones at Christmas, but it's not the end of the world is it? It's one blooming Christmas for heavens sake. Covid doesn't give a 🤬 about Christmas.

 

[Famine]

The government is to blame for confusing messaging, seemingly inconsistent restrictions (which have seemed to be aimed at reducing crowds as much as possible while not killing businesses), and incredibly slow reactions - they absolutely should have overstepped their bounds and told PHE what to do with ports in February, not let them do nob all until August...

... but they're not to blame for conspiracy-touting, anti-science, contrarian imbeciles, like this asshat and everyone who voted "no":



People don't think rules apply to them, because they have the emotional intelligence of a typical 13-year old.

 

[Nessy]

People don't think rules apply to them, because they have the emotional intelligence of a typical 13-year old.

Very much this above.
The majority of my friends and even some family members have broken lockdown measures, because they believe all the conspiracy tripe being touted.
It's led me to fall out with them, but i simply won't accept their selfishness and stupidity.

[EDIT]
And yes, the government is hugely to blame as well as the general public.
I've never voted Tory and never will, so i really don't like our current government. But the people of this nation are of equal blame for not using common sense.
I think everyone should just listen to what the scientific and medical experts are saying, rather than basing all their actions on what the government are saying.

 

[Outspacer]

It's tough not being able to see our friends and loved ones at Christmas, but it's not the end of the world is it? It's one blooming Christmas for heavens sake. Covid doesn't give a 🤬 about Christmas.

Oh please, if you think I'm ranting because of that you couldn't be more wrong. In theory I could still legitimately go ahead with the small xmas we planned, under support bubble rules (but we probably won't). Otherwise, as an anti-social curmugeon who works from home anyway, I barely notice lockdown. Trying to paint any of what I say as a sign of selfishnesss is unwarranted.

 

[Nessy]

Oh please, if you think I'm ranting because of that you couldn't be more wrong. In theory I could still legitimately go ahead with the small xmas we planned, under support bubble rules (but we probably won't). Otherwise, as an anti-social curmugeon who works from home anyway, I barely notice lockdown. Trying to paint any of what I say as a sign of selfishnesss is unwarranted.

Apologies if you think i was painting what you said as being selfish. That wasn't the aim of my mini-rant.

I'm more frustrated with the attitude of the population in general, seeing 'Christmas' as something that cannot be messed with.
I think people just need to get a grip, and realise that Covid doesn't give a 🤬 about our traditional festive celebrations, with our families and friends.

 

[Touring Mars]

Apologies if you think i was painting what you said as being selfish. That wasn't the aim of my mini-rant.

I'm more frustrated with the attitude of the population in general, seeing 'Christmas' as something that cannot be messed with.
I think people just need to get a grip, and realise that Covid doesn't give a 🤬 about our traditional festive celebrations, with our families and friends.

As I said to my Mum and sister, I'm more upset by all the family dinners I've missed since July, and our planned Xmas events are just a few more to add to that list.

Of course, the Xmas and NY period is different - there's no getting around that; but they are not more important than each other's wellbeing, and that's what needs to take priority.

Looks like I may be having Xmas dinner with my friend and his wife in the posh bit of Glasgow (yes, it has one...) - I just hope he has told her. That said, I'm also having second thoughts about that - I wouldn't be surprised if he is now worried about having to tell me that I can't (or shouldn't) come over, but I wouldn't blame him.

Do Domino's deliver on Xmas day?