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Coronavirus discussion thread

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jda Dec 2021 4:09pm, 12 Dec 2021 11,403 posts	Quote Pin jda Well it wasn’t on any of the questions I had to ask of victims when I was booking them in.
Big_G Dec 2021 4:10pm, 12 Dec 2021 1,293 posts	Quote Pin Big_G What do people think about the news coming out of South Africa? Some argue it is actually promising. Any thoughts here? This chap has built up quite a following and seems genuinely relieved in his video yesterday at the data from SA, but I found it interesting that he is putting it down to luck (i.e., he is saying that the current variant is generally causing milder symptoms according to the data coming out of SA, whereas it could just as easily have been more serious, according to him). Is he right? Time will tell I suppose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2vI4XczqZ8
JenHB Dec 2021 4:11pm, 12 Dec 2021 289 posts	Quote Pin JenHB not answering your question jennyh but thanks for the reminder that I need to phone the blood donor people to check if I can donate.
jda Dec 2021 4:15pm, 12 Dec 2021 11,406 posts	Quote Pin jda I think being a bit milder doesn’t really help that much, if it is significantly more infectious. It would need to be a lot milder. Which is still possible, but seems a bit speculative. It’s certainly hospitalising people in the UK right now.
Fields & fountain, moor & mountain Dec 2021 4:20pm, 12 Dec 2021 1,065 posts	Quote Pin Fields & fountain, moor & mountain I’m sceptical of how helpful the lessons from SA data can be given the big difference in median age compared to the UK
JenHB Dec 2021 4:24pm, 12 Dec 2021 290 posts	Quote Pin JenHB in other news - sorted my Covid Pass. It seemed like I needed to register for the more detailed 'travel' one which pulled vaccination details across to the 'domestic' one unless it was just coincidence (although I still have no intention of going anywhere where I may actually need it)
Big_G Dec 2021 4:37pm, 12 Dec 2021 1,294 posts	Quote Pin Big_G Fields, he does mention that in passing in his video too. jda, he is saying it is much milder. He is basically saying that pretty much everyone is going to be exposed to it soon, but those with serious illness will be a small percentage (of course, if millions of people do get it, that could still be a problem for the NHS etc!). But, according to what he is saying, and I quote "it is only making a small minority of people ill". And "Approximately 90% of Covid-19 patients currently in hospital [in an area in SA] require no form of oxygen therapy, and are considered incidental cases". And "Humanity has been fortunate". And "It is probably going to be the end of the pandemic". And "It is not because humans have been particularly clever, it is not because the vaccines have been so successful....". Basically, it is just luck according to him. I am putting all this in quotes as I am definitely not an expert in any of this, but this chap seems reliable, to me anyway. Is he right? I genuinely don't know. Anyway, it is just one video, but I was pleased to see some hope from somewhere in the midst of all this!
K5 Gus Dec 2021 4:40pm, 12 Dec 2021 4,807 posts	Quote Pin K5 Gus He is a retired nurse, not a medical doctor, his Dr title is from a Phd
Big_G Dec 2021 4:44pm, 12 Dec 2021 1,295 posts	Quote Pin Big_G K5, yes I know, but he is just looking at the data and what is being reported in SA. Is he wrong, do you think?
jda Dec 2021 4:45pm, 12 Dec 2021 11,407 posts	Quote Pin jda I think it’s a view that isn’t demonstrably false but as has been said the SA population is relatively young and I don’t think we can just cross our fingers and assume it applies to a much more elderly population too. But yeah it would be great if almost no one got seriously ill from it.