For the first time since this started, I feel quite frightened

[FreeBettyBoop]

Just this really.

I am concerned that there is something they’re not telling us. Is the new strain worse? I know there is chat about easier/faster spread but is it more deadly? Affecting children?

I’m in Scotland and all of a sudden we are looking at lockdown and school closure. Why now?

In a bit of a pit of despair today. I can live with the Christmas restrictions and will comply. But the thought of going back to school closures while trying to hold down a job...😩 gutted for the kids too.

I don't want to be free of the virus. That's impossible. I want to be free of restrictions.

[quote Calmandmeasured1]"**@cardibach*

They’ve known about this strain since September.
How can you say this whilst telling someone you watched the Andrew Marr show today? On the show Matt Hancock corrected what the representative from the WHO or PHE told us (unsure which woman said it). He said it was actually in late October that samples taken in September were sent to them. Tests have been undertaken and it wasn't until Friday afternoon that they came back with the information that has led to this virtually immediate action in London and the South East.[/quote]
Well, for one, I’ve stopped believing pretty much anything Matt Hancock or any representative of this government says. He corrected WHO/PHE? And you think he was telling the truth?
I have a bridge you might be interested in.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I am honestly so sick of your "get on with it" posts like nobody can be annoyed.

There have definitely been multiple strains for a long time. I remember reading an article in the first lock down about how the strain on the west coast of the USA was different to the east coast. One could be traced back to Europe/italy and the other to China.

A very recent scientific paper on the new strain can be found via the below link, the conclusion reads thus:

Conclusion

We report a rapidly growing lineage in the UK associated with an unexpectedly large number of genetic changes including in the receptor-binding domain and associated with the furin cleavage site. Given (i) the experimentally-predicted and plausible phenotypic consequences of some of these mutations, (ii) their unknown effects when present in combination, and (iii) the high growth rate of B.1.1.7 in the UK, this novel lineage requires urgent laboratory characterisation and enhanced genomic surveillance worldwide.

virological.org/t/preliminary-genomic-characterisation-of-an-emergent-sars-cov-2-lineage-in-the-uk-defined-by-a-novel-set-of-spike-mutations/563

I have redd the entire paper and it is my understanding that the scientists are saying:

There has been a rapid and significant mutation of the protien spikes and that this kind of mutation is unprecedented in the history of virology

They are provisionally hypothesising that this rapid mutation may have evolved when long term, extremely unwell, immuno-compromised patients infected with multiple strains (due to the virus mutating while they were sick and infected - it mutates continually) were treated with antibody cocktails via blood plasma, thus creating an opportunity for rapid mutation via a viral vs plasma arms race that happens naturally but usually over longer periods

The mutated strain appears highly infectious and is spreading rapidly

Until they understand the clinical and epidemiological implications of the mutation we need to proceed with extreme caution and limit spread as much as possible.

They are on the case as a matter of urgency but while they do their best to understand what is going on people need to be extremely careful and stick to social distancing and other measures in a very committed manner (hope for the best but plan for the worst)

I am not a doctor or virologist just passionate about science and doing my best to understand the paper - I would welcome corrections from virologists

Today 18:49Nunoftheother

sleepwouldbenice

Which is why the idiots in tier 4 who still just want to be exception to the rule need a big slap right now (apols to the none idiots)

What's a none idiot?

You've answered your own question there

I think if you’re not at least mildly concerned about this, you’re not paying attention. The advisory group thinks the new strain increases R by between 0.39 and 0.93. Even after the long and relatively strict lockdown in the spring, R was never below 0.7. This means that even with the same lockdown as in the spring, R would be above 1 and growth would be exponential. That is bad.

The other thing is the suggestion that children transmit this variant more readily. With R continuously above one, schools will have to close, possibly for an extended period of time. That is not good.

If you want to pretend these things aren’t true, go ahead.

Please forgive me for stating the obvious.

However, a really good way of thinking about looking after your mental health is to care for your own physical needs.

Enough, regular sleep.

Enough, regular food.

Some exercise.

And alcohol etc. only in limited quantities!

I think myself it really helps to plan something to look forward to, even if that is something small.

We are fairy lights a-go-go here and home cooking mince pies etc, it physically warms the place up and the smell of the spices baking is cheering.

That can be seen a sort of basic psychological therapy, as we depend on how we feel physically to have a feeling of well being and we are influenced by the world around us. x

I feel frightened for the first time too.

I'm a student nurse and have worked in ICU at various points throughout the year, always felt relatively 'ok' but my next placement starts the 2nd of Jan and I'm working on the main covid ward, 48 hours a week for 6 months. I'm absolutely bloody terrified, scared I won't know what to do, scared of what is expected of me, scared of what I will see, scared I will bring it home to my family, scared of what happens to my children if I get it. I'm in the SE in a tier 4 area. It's really shit

I live in one of the places with both the highest rates of infection and the biggest increase in infection rate in the last week and it suddenly seems to be everywhere here. I know so many people now who have it at the moment or have had it within the past few weeks so I must admit I'm more worried than I have been up until this point.

.. But, Matt Hancock made a statement to the house on Monday afternoon saying about they new mutant strain of covid? He knew then. .. He told Andrew Marr he knew last Friday?
No idea what any of this means : maybe it was a ' wait and see' on Monday? Hoping it would bugger off on time for Christmas?
I was listening to him this morning ( he looked like he did back in March , stressed)
I couldn't grasp what the thinking was?
Maybe I'm wrong here about timelines but it feels odd ( especially as his boss came out with his 'little Christmas' speech only Wednesday night knowing this mutant one was lurking ?)
I feel a bit lied to and confused.

I don't want to be free of the virus. That's impossible. I want to be free of restrictions.

What do you think the restrictions are for? They are to protect us. All of us

Now we see a "significant" mutation, in the middle of winter, when we know viruses are spread more. Science is already telling us, it has mutated to a state where its easier to catch but what else will we discover in the coming weeks about the mutation? God willing it will be that the virus is not as dangerous anymore in other ways but what if it is? What then? What if, God forbid and I'm not suggesting it will, but what if it affects children more? What then?

I'm not prepared to take any chances with the damn thing and I'm going to carry on trying my best to abide by the science based rules and frankly Xmas, and all the sickly sentimentallaty and gross consumerism associated with it, can fuck off

@CabinClose

I think if you’re not at least mildly concerned about this, you’re not paying attention. The advisory group thinks the new strain increases R by between 0.39 and 0.93. Even after the long and relatively strict lockdown in the spring, R was never below 0.7. This means that even with the same lockdown as in the spring, R would be above 1 and growth would be exponential. That is bad.

The other thing is the suggestion that children transmit this variant more readily. With R continuously above one, schools will have to close, possibly for an extended period of time. That is not good.

If you want to pretend these things aren’t true, go ahead.

I'm not pretending those things aren't true, and I read the news, I just don't give a fuck about any of it.

tigerbread20

I wish I could say something to help your situation

All I can offer is thanks, respect and some virtual flowers which feels massively inadequate

@lavenderlou

I live in one of the places with both the highest rates of infection and the biggest increase in infection rate in the last week and it suddenly seems to be everywhere here. I know so many people now who have it at the moment or have had it within the past few weeks so I must admit I'm more worried than I have been up until this point.

Me too! It's in our road now. Local Schools were bad last few weeks. Circling everywhere. ) tier 4 here now!

Not more scared about the virus. It is part of their strategy to scare us into complying with measures though via their messaging.

Chris Whitty said this wasn’t the worst moment and he’s usually quite Frank.

Not more scared about the virus. It is part of their strategy to scare us into complying with measures though via their messaging

For what purpose?

I think our first winter with this thing was always going to be awful. I don't think the new strain will be more dangerous as actually adapting to kill your hosts more is not a great 'survival technique' for a virus and I'm not especially worried abpout it.

Even having prepared myself, I am feeling pretty down about hauling my arse through the next two months or so....

@MadameBlobby

Chris Whitty said this wasn’t the worst moment and he’s usually quite Frank.

I hope it's what he didn't say that's not true.

Eg it's still to come

@tigerbread20

Do you have any staff support or mentor you could talk to at work? x

I'm sure you know this, but there seems to be support here www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/toolkit/ourfrontline-health/

and here www.rcn.org.uk/get-help/member-support-services/counselling-service/covid-19-and-your-mental-wellbeing

take care x

As for more people getting it now this is because we are testing more than at the peak in April. There were over 100000 people a day getting it then and doubling every 2/3 days. That’s worse than now.

@MadameBlobby

Chris Whitty said this wasn’t the worst moment and he’s usually quite Frank.

He said how important it is that we have the vaccine, and that is something to hold on to.

@southeastdweller So you don’t have children in school or elderly friends or relatives? Or anyone you care about working in the NHS? Well, lucky you, but that’s a great big chunk of society not to be giving a shit about.

I'm not prepared to take any chances with the damn thing and I'm going to carry on trying my best to abide by the science based rules and frankly Xmas, and all the sickly sentimentallaty and gross consumerism associated with it, can fuck off

this

time to pull up our big girl socks and batten down the hatches

pretending that this isn't real or is some conspiracy to oppress the people is extremely dangerous and selfish