Data & analysis thread, started 1 December

[NoGoodPunsLeft]

New thread!

Link to previous:

Data and analysis thread, started 12 November www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4077794-data-and-analysis-thread-started-12-november

@lurker101
I'm interested on what your take is now :)
The fact that in such an important issue there can be "takes" is in itself scary.

Apologies for the clumsy typing tonight with addition of random extra words. Blaming it on long day at work coupled with multitasking MN alongside dealing with fallout from DSS having been told his friend has tested positive and he needs to isolate for a fortnight

@Firefliess
Hope he will be fine!
Playing video games for a fortnight is not that bad surely :) (I'm assuming teenager for some reason)

Yes he is a teen thanks @TheSun. And the type who is quite happy to play video games for a fortnight thankfully. I think we're ok now having agred that he's coming here for Christmas early now, ie tomorrow. Anyway, will stop derailing thread...

I thought they did do mass testing in Liverpool and then made it available to all areas in tier 3? Not just for school children, but for anyone whether they had symptoms or not. Did they not follow through on this
No they did not. Not even when cases in Hull were far in excess of those in Liverpool. London of course is different. They will no doubt have help thrown at them.

[quote moimichme]@MRex I agree. I'm still breastfeeding a toddler who is properly talking now and could easily skip a day if needed, to test out vaccine effects on breastmilk that could put other mums with wee ones at ease. Ah well.[/quote]
Sorry, MRex, the thread has moved on, but I just saw this question after work took over my life temporarily!

I'm not sure what I'll do, but if it's unlikely to affect breastmilk due to the way a particular vaccine works, I may go for it anyway. I teach loads of undergrads face-to-face in poorly ventilated semi-socially distanced rooms, so I'm more at risk of exposure than the rest of my family and don't want to bring it home (again...at least, we all had something awful in late March and I got heart palpitations from it, but thankfully have recovered although I'm not sure if I'll ever run again without wheezing).

@ItsGrimInHull

According to Hull local press the army came in to do mass testing last week

www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/army-in-hull-coronavirus-testing-4757453

@PrayingandHoping"the army" consists of 4 people in planning, not hoards of squaddies testing people. AFAIK the only mass testing has been of students. May be wrong though.
Fortunately rates are well down now compared with 6 weeks ago.

This has really really pissed me off
They will use it to justify keeping gcse and A levels
Here in the North West the kids have been in and out of school like bloody revolving doors. My friend's dd in year 11 has had 2 periods of self isolation and a week out with flu (negative covid test) that's 5 weeks out this term. It's so bloody unjust.

Thank God I have never in my life voted Tory. This and no deal Brexit have just about tipped me over the edge. Those utter, utter bastards.

@TheSunIsStillShining I have re-read the Govt. document and have reverted to my original thinking (that it’s the second part of contact tracing that’s “outsourced” to the household) I.e. if my husband tests positives and gives our household as contacts, then when I answer the phone I’m expected to tell my 6 kids dad’s tested positive and we should all isolate, rather than listing who all we’ve all had contact with. However, I do agree it’s written very clumsily....
there was a good bbc article on it a few weeks ago that shaped my thoughts on it, but I can’t find it just now

The BBC piece about plans to test secondary school children in Essex and some London Boroughs, has an accompanying picture of kids wearing masks in class. Is this happening yet in England? In Scotland, S4-S6 ( years 11-13?) In level 3 and 4 have to wear masks in class, as do the teachers.

Nope, or only in a few schools going under the radar.

@August DSS's independent school has required masks for the last few weeks (not that it appears to have some much good seeing as he's just been told to isolate for a fortnight...) DD's state sixth form requires them for lessons where you move around (ie drama) and also for certain classes taught by more vulnerable teachers I believe. Not sure what the other schools are doing. I think journalists just like pictures of people in masks tbh as it's an easy way to illustrate that the story is about Covid. I was in a meeting at work today discussing a piece to go on our website where we want a photo to go with it. It just needs to be a family in their home, so no reason why they'd be wearing masks but our coms guy didn't want to use a library pic because they wouldn't be in masks and the story is Covid related therefore must be illustrated by people wearing masks!

@lurker101
thanks! I'm actually happy that it's just me who read it sideways. :)

@moimichme - thanks for replying. I'm the same, I'll check up known side effects and latest research when I know which vaccine I'll be offered, but I'm assuming it'll be Oxford and am happy with that. He's robust and was fine with the flu vaccine (mine and his versions) so as far as I see it the risks are low enough to be ignored.

@moimichme and @MRex ;just picking up on the tail end of the bf and vaccine conversation.

Wendy the breastfeeding pharmacist is looking into it all.

I genuinely can't see how or why it would be an issue, unless the baby has severe allergies as potentially there could be an exacerbation simply as it seems to have caused similar in those with an allergy. I can't see how the actual vaccine part could go through bm.

Boobs are thought to be part of the immune system; they make and transfer antibodies and pre /probiotics. If the vaccine creates an immune reaction, that's all it can do but we never use vaccines in mothers in that way with children.

I know it's about the actual data though.

(Despite feeding a toddler currently I hadn't even twigged this might be a barrier to the vaccine for me!)

@ItsGrimInHull

www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/mass-covid-19-testing-hull-4694869 sounds like they went to key workers rather than general population

If this was my area, I would be looking at contacting my local leaders. Asking why it hasnt been done when it's offered nationally

From what an nhs person I know said, each area was given a certain amount and made plans according to how they felt they could best be used.

So decisions may have been based on the amount they had and what services were struggling the most.

Why does our government move so slowly?
I have been saying for the last week that something needed to be done in London. Now they want to do mass testing with less than 2 weeks to go before the Christmas relaxations - how many families are going to want to test their asymptomatic children and then have to self isolate the whole family for 14 days?

@ceeveebee exactly.... take up will be low. Kids don't want to isolate in holidays. I'm convinced that's why Oct half term looked better because they didn't want kids to have to stay home in their holidays!

@NeurotrashWarrior - Yes, as you say there's no logical reason why it would cause a particular issue if you know you and your child don't have particular allergies or other illness that might conflict in the same way as for adults. The dose level might be of concern if he got it directly and would make me a little more nervous without more testing on older children, but not the breast milk transfer.
We signed up for the vaccine test programme (but I was barred and DH didn't get it, though they did add him to REACT recently), so taking it after adult approval is logically even more likely to be safe.

I think they'll be an increase in demand for testing before Christmas. Parents won't want an infected child infecting the rest of the family. DS is working in a Covid testing lab and they're gearing up for an increase in tests. So I don't see parents all rejecting the lateral flow tests, if they actually are offered in many areas. There is a risk though that they feel reassured by a negative result and allow more contact though, including for kids who are in fact incubating the virus when tested or the lateral flow tests fall to detect.

@ItsGrimInHull a Londoner here .I hear you .

I have friends in Doncaster and Leicester that I hardly dare phone .We used to joke about the differences in bus services but I always felt a little guilty .

But life and death ...bloody hell .

@ceeveebee you think that is slow. Try living in Leicester. Nothing has been done, and we have to sit and just watch the big guns being rolled out elsewhere whilst we remain in tier three having spent just 3 weeks out of lockdown since March.

I don't begrudge any region getting help. However, it really is incredibly unfair and it is hard to settle knowing that your community matters less than someone else's.

We really aren't all in it together and it is very sad.

@peridito thanks for understanding and caring. It actually makes a huge difference to know that the unfairness has at least been noticed.