Coronavirus discussion thread

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Derby Tup Feb 2021 10:30am, 7 Feb 2021 48,891 posts	0 Derby Tup theguardian.com I guess this has been posted before but I thought it makes some really good point, including about the wearing of masks
jda Feb 2021 11:14am, 7 Feb 2021 9,393 posts	0 jda Lots of people still going to school too (legitimately). Less contact doesn't mean no contact, and less risk doesn't mean no risk. I just mentioned, my wife and I managed to pick up a cold, which presumably could just as easily have been covid, by visiting my FiL. People still have to go out and do things. He's also had workmen fixing things in his house over the winter (though not recently AIUI).
geordiegirl Feb 2021 11:42am, 7 Feb 2021 13,324 posts	0 geordiegirl I heard a chap I used to work with many years ago died this week from covid but his daughter died from it in lockdown 1 and his dad only a week ago what a tragedy. My mams friends granddaughter is pregnant and has caught it, her husband also has it and had to be hospitalised this week he’s only 30. He’s home now but far from well and obviously worried for mum and baby.
Bazoaxe Feb 2021 12:44pm, 7 Feb 2021 18,875 posts	0 Bazoaxe On the scientific evidence point, when this was being debated last year I remember reading that there is no scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of parachutes, but you wouldnt jump out a plan without one !
Grast_girl Feb 2021 1:11pm, 7 Feb 2021 1,972 posts	0 Grast_girl The second wave occurred because we introduced activities that didn't involve wearing a mask (schools and eating/drinking in restaurants and cafes). We now also have the more infectious variant. There isn't currently consensus (as far as I'm aware) on the best design and mix of materials for home-made masks so there will be a lot of variation in how much they reduce risk to both wearer and others. Whatever mask you wear a good fit is vital, and that's why people wearing it under their nose etc is pointless. The evidence for masks is improving all the time, although people are still working out what is the best method/methods for testing them. Understandable lab-based methods are easier, but don't reflect the real world, whereas "real world" tests depend on how carefully people follow the best practice instructions. (A bit like condoms are 98% effective in tests, but only 92% in the real world, or whatever the actual figures are.)
Grast_girl Feb 2021 1:11pm, 7 Feb 2021 1,973 posts	0 Grast_girl I'll try the link again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m12EAmGW0DY Important stuff starts about 6.20
Little Miss Happy Feb 2021 1:19pm, 7 Feb 2021 4,268 posts	0 Little Miss Happy Good article DT.
The_Saint Feb 2021 1:24pm, 7 Feb 2021 6,719 posts	0 The_Saint If "science" never changes it is no longer science. I say this aware that there is no such thing as "science" in the bizarre colloquial usage, there is the scientific method which proceeds by falsification of our best existing explanations. Put another way, "when the facts change, I change my mind, what do you do?"
jda Feb 2021 4:29pm, 7 Feb 2021 9,394 posts	0 jda A chunk of the original analysis of masks was based on the idea that they were intended to protect the wearer, and they are rather poor at that. Also that transmission was based primarily on contact and droplets (rather than through exhaled aerosols), ditto. And no-one claims that they are hugely effective, but when the R number is somewhere in the region of 1, being a little lower than that threshold rather than a little higher makes quite a difference to the outcome in the medium to long term.
ThorntonRunner Feb 2021 4:40pm, 7 Feb 2021 4,596 posts	0 ThorntonRunner What jda says. I recognise that lots of people don't like them, but for me wearing one for the few minutes I'm in my local coop doesn't inconvenience me, so why wouldn't I wear one even if the level of benefit is disputed