Coronavirus discussion thread

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sallykate Feb 2021 5:27pm, 2 Feb 2021 7,523 posts	0 sallykate Interesting item on R4 news just now (Ravi Gupta, microbiologist from University of Cambridge). The more complex variants may be originating from people who have weakened immune systems who haven't manage to fight off the infection, so the virus sticks around and evolves to work around the immune system. What I take from that is that as we vaccinate the elderly (who have weak immune systems) we reduce the chances for the virus to mutate in that way. Gupta suggests that we should give over-80s their second dose sooner rather than later. And reiterates the importance of getting the infection rate down as low as possible.
Turtlemama Feb 2021 5:29pm, 2 Feb 2021 1,415 posts	0 Turtlemama Fopp, do you not think it's a little like Children in Need etc... the public are happy to donate to a publicised good cause and get on the bandwagon. If it takes a TV campaign or a well managed social media campaign focusing on a person/challenge/event then it will get funding and attention. I agree that the actual celebrity/notable person starting the ball rolling may not be overly relevant but the snowball effect then happens and gets results. If people need the "look at this old guy/cute kid/celebrity" and maybe the "aren't I great donating" on their social media feed, so be it. Result is the same 😊
Fopp Feb 2021 5:33pm, 2 Feb 2021 26 posts	0 Fopp I hear you Turtle, and the fundraising is all good but I was just never comfortable with making a celebrity out of the man. Can't help but think the fame got to his head and he was snorting coke off strippers in Barbados, hence his declining health.
Tim of Fife Feb 2021 5:33pm, 2 Feb 2021 3,276 posts	0 Tim of Fife On a course, I remember asking what single change would do most to reduce spinal cord injury. The specialist SCI nurse replied "only build bungalows".
Turtlemama Feb 2021 5:35pm, 2 Feb 2021 1,416 posts	0 Turtlemama If I get to 100, snorting coke in Barbados seems a fairly good way to go!!! 🤣🤣🤣
Fopp Feb 2021 5:36pm, 2 Feb 2021 27 posts	0 Fopp A few weeks ago I had to laugh, my children had genuinely left a rollerskate at the top of my stairs, it was like I was in Home Alone 4.
anthonyj89 Feb 2021 5:37pm, 2 Feb 2021 150 posts	0 anthonyj89 ZOE app is not that great for local areas; a few positive clusters can make the charts swing widely day to day. In aggregate it seems to pre-empt the PHE figures by a couple of days though.
sallykate Feb 2021 5:39pm, 2 Feb 2021 7,524 posts	0 sallykate @McG, my local council doesn't seem to produce such a useful update but checking the ZOE app against the figures here: coronalevel.com gives approximately 10% discrepancy (Zoe estimating higher, which is what I'd expect).
McGoohan Feb 2021 5:53pm, 2 Feb 2021 48,377 posts	0 McGoohan Okay, cheers folks. I think I will largely ignore the Zoe figures - they were only stressing me out and I'll go by the PHE ones (as Johnny B pointed out)
run free Feb 2021 5:54pm, 2 Feb 2021 4,675 posts	0 run free Been told we have a case of the South African variant in our area so there will be a sample of households being requested to go for tests. Regarding those who have suddenly found they have Covid symptoms.... am wondering upon the possibility that we can all pick up the virus and have and it is only activated when we have a weakened immune a bit like Shingles. So during Summer many could have picked up Covid and perhaps had a weak response. Our immune system becomes compromised in winter due to: - Poor eating - Lack of exercise - Lack of sunlight Just some thoughts as I ran about in the sunlight today