The inevitable impact of Covid19

[Tangled up in Blue]

1.I can link you some studies giving the rationale behind this becoming a milder disease if you like

2.I think to help the isolation issue, I think we should move towards not testing for mild/asymptomatic cases anymore. If the evidence of mildness for the majority keeps coming, the case for changing our policy increases IMO.

I think if we tested for all flu cases in years gone by we would have seen huge numbers of daily infections, but we only test to confirm when cases result in more serious consequences such as visits to GP/hospitalisation. We also didn't treat each other as potential bioweapons back then.

3.As for the rise in hospitalisations, some will be incidental as it's winter and health tends to deteriorate so more people get admitted to hospital anyway and some will test positive during their stay. Otherwise, it can be explained easily by people associating with each other more indoors during colder months. Winter has always been a hotbed for respiratory viruses and that will probably never change unless we lockdown every year (which isn't possible)

1.certainly.

2.Surely the point is that a LFT doesn't tell you if you're asymtomatic or not.Merely if you're postive or negative (or that the test has been incorrectly adminstered) .

3.I was unfder the impression (as you suggest) that many people currently are being admitted to hospital and only then testing positive for covid afterwards.

 

[hlane17]

1.certainly.

2.Surely the point is that a LFT doesn't tell you if you're asymtomatic or not.Merely if you're postive or negative (or that the test has been incorrectly adminstered) .

3.I was unfder the impression (as you suggest) that many people currently are being admitted to hospital and only then testing positive for covid afterwards.

As for the studies, a few papers for you to look at.

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1189219/v1 - pre-print from HKU using human tissue samples and infecting them with Omicron suggests the virus attacks the throat tissue more (like colds/mild flu strains) and is less efficient at infecting the deeper lung, which should in theory lead to less pneumonia and micro-clotting in the lungs, both contributors to more serious illness.

https://joinzoe.com/learn/new-omicron-variant#whats-the-latest-news-on-omicron - COVID app tracker details that current data collated suggests as many as half of all cases are getting confused with colds. Lots of other info bites on there that are useful.

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1211792/v1 - US/Japanese partnership use mice and hamsters that have modified cellular structure to mimic human cells. It would appear the overall viral load is lower and disease is milder compared to all previous studies on variants. Again a pre-print but the signs are promising.

 

[Supershrimper]

1.certainly.

2.Surely the point is that a LFT doesn't tell you if you're asymtomatic or not.Merely if you're postive or negative (or that the test has been incorrectly adminstered) .

3.I was unfder the impression (as you suggest) that many people currently are being admitted to hospital and only then testing positive for covid afterwards.

RE point 2 if your displaying no symptons and you test positive on a LFT, then by definition its telling you that your asymptomatic.

I do believe that we should only really be testing if you have symptons. In previous years we have not tested everyday to see if we have had flu (which you can also by asymptomatic) I'd imagine there are lots of viruses floating around that people can have and be asymptomatic.

Doing a test to confirm is only beneficial in people that are developing symptons. Primarily because if they are developing symptons they may well be the ones that might need hospital treatment, or GP treatment with some of the new Covid drugs coming out (Paxlovid & Molnupiravir)

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

If they don't wear one, they won't be able to attend school. Parents can stand up to it as much as they like but in the mean time, they won't be getting an education.

They can say their child is exempt, simple as that. They don't have to explain why. It's not a legal requirement.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

So Kier is positive and isolating, again, for his 6th (6X) individual status.
He surely is proof that lockdowns and further regimes that go further than basic standards of sense and good practice are largely a waste of time and money.
If he wasn't an important man he would not know he was positive and a potential "spreader" and as such extensive testing is NOT viable or acceptable then what is the answer to the way forward.
I despise BoJo but can not argue against the logic of "get on with it" and treat it as flu.

And for the vulnerable be cautious , doubly so, if you, (or us, me etc) have symptoms of illness behave, risk assess and be responsible.

 

[Shrimper]

Had Covid over Christmas, was Omnicron. Felt like a bad cold

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Both my daughters had it before Christmas, both had "flu" for a week and did not spread it as took could measures.
The eldest is triple jabbed and had it despite that, very mild. She also has medical history that puts her as vulnerable thru immune deficiency BUT was safe and 100% recovery.
Several elderly neighbours I know also got it, isolated, and now normal etc.

 

[hlane17]

So Kier is positive and isolating, again, for his 6th (6X) individual status.
He surely is proof that lockdowns and further regimes that go further than basic standards of sense and good practice are largely a waste of time and money.
If he wasn't an important man he would not know he was positive and a potential "spreader" and as such extensive testing is NOT viable or acceptable then what is the answer to the way forward.
I despise BoJo but can not argue against the logic of "get on with it" and treat it as flu.

And for the vulnerable be cautious , doubly so, if you, (or us, me etc) have symptoms of illness behave, risk assess and be responsible.

I do think this is the end of the pandemic and the beginning of usual preventative measures we take for the flu.

Catch your coughs and sneezes, don't go into work or go out if you feel quite ill, older people being a bit more cautious, etc.

We need to come back down to a logical level of intervention and I have my fingers crossed with optimism.

 

[Supershrimper]

I tested positive for Covid the week before Christmas. Didn't even notice a thing. In fact I now have a bunged up nose and a chesty cough which is just a cold but I've noticed this more than I actually noticed catching covid.

I think with this omicron variant we really just need to allow it to spread, become the dominant variant and hope thats the main variant each year. Treat it like flu if you catch it, where you stay in and rest (who goes out shopping and mixing with people whilst they are laid up in bed ill) and for everyone else that catches it and it develops into a sniffle, treat like a cold and get on with it.

At some point we just need to accept its here, hope the variants get milder and milder and start going back about our normal lives. Allow the vulnerable and elderly a booster jab every year, smilar with flu and lets get back to business.

I don't know about you but i shudder to think about all those lateral flow tests now being just disposed of into landfill. Think of the plastic waste on all those little tests, soon adds up

 

[hlane17]

I don't know about you but i shudder to think about all those lateral flow tests now being just disposed of into landfill. Think of the plastic waste on all those little tests, soon adds up

Not just that but the single use disposable masks, gloves, etc. Crazy amount of plastic waste.

The amount of times I've seen a dirty mask chucked on the floor in the last couple years.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

RE point 2 if your displaying no symptons and you test positive on a LFT, then by definition its telling you that your asymptomatic.

I do believe that we should only really be testing if you have symptons. In previous years we have not tested everyday to see if we have had flu (which you can also by asymptomatic) I'd imagine there are lots of viruses floating around that people can have and be asymptomatic.

Doing a test to confirm is only beneficial in people that are developing symptons. Primarily because if they are developing symptons they may well be the ones that might need hospital treatment, or GP treatment with some of the new Covid drugs coming out (Paxlovid & Molnupiravir)

Yes my wife explained this to me at lunchtime just after she'd had another negative LFT.I had no idea this was the case

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I know many people who tested +ve both young and old in the last couple weeks but none worse than mild flu symptoms.

My youngest son ( 35 ) tested positive today, ironically he was due his booster this morning!.
His suffering hot & cold symptoms, along with a sore throat, cough, & feels totally drained.
If he hadn't tested positive, i'd have said his got Flu.

 

[Holy Joe]

Anyone suffering from loss of taste/smell with this variant?

My daughter had covid in June 2021 (so not Omnicom), wouldn't have noticed she was ill, no cough, fever etc - but she did lose her sense of taste and smell which sadly still haven't returned.

I need to know as I still have a stash of chocolate from Xmas and if there is a risk of losing taste then I need to tuck into the stash before I catch the covid.

 

[hlane17]

Anyone suffering from loss of taste/smell with this variant?

My daughter had covid in June 2021 (so not Omnicom), wouldn't have noticed she was ill, no cough, fever etc - but she did lose her sense of taste and smell which sadly still haven't returned.

I need to know as I still have a stash of chocolate from Xmas and if there is a risk of losing taste then I need to tuck into the stash before I catch the covid.

I had Delta and lost all smell or taste. Most people with Omicron I know have told me they only got cough/sneeze but no loss of smell or taste so your luck might be in.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I had Delta and lost all smell or taste. Most people with Omicron I know have told me they only got cough/sneeze but no loss of smell or taste so your luck might be in.

My son messaged me earlier, said despite all his symptoms, he still hasn't lost his sense of smell or taste.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

My son messaged me earlier, said despite all his symptoms, he still hasn't lost his sense of smell or taste.

That can happen even with the Delta variant.Our younger daughter (and her boyfriend) had covid in Paris back in November.As a good Frogette she was keen not to lose her sense of taste (and didn't apparently).

 

[Jassyfa2]

Had Covid early December, just had cold (not flu) like symptoms for a day. 2 days after coming out of isolation I managed to run a half marathon

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

IIRC it is now over a year since covid vaccines have been universally rolled out across the UK and globe. Many many millions have recieved up to 3, or sometimes 4, jabs.
Initially there were concerns about clots and possible triggered reactions, a very % small number.
Yet in the last 6 months the number of negative reactions seems to have diminished to minimal, & in that same time longer term effects haven't appeared.

So why are these FACTS not being heralded?

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

An interesting fact from yesterday released by the ONS was that the rate of covid infections in England was now !:!5 whereas the rate in Scotland was 1:20 That would indicate that Scotland's tougher covid restrictions (including compulsory mask wearing) are a whopping 33% more effective than England's.That's statistically significant in anyone's language and indicates to me the covid situation is being better managed in Scotland than in England.

 

[pottster]

An interesting fact from yesterday released by the ONS was that the rate of covid infections in England was now !:!5 whereas the rate in Scotland was 1:20 That would indicate that Scotland's tougher covid restrictions (including compulsory mask wearing) are a whopping 33% more effective than England's.That's statistically significant in anyone's language and indicates to me the covid situation is being better managed in Scotland than in England.

You could argue though that we will come out of present restrictions alot sooner, which I think is what their plan is.