Do we all just need to get it?

[friedeggandsauce]

So this new variant is really virulent, we went out just over a week ago and more than half our party of 12 have now got covid.

Thankfully no one is really ill with it, people have got a sore throat, bit of a headache, slight temp but nothing else.

So with that in mind (and I know there may be a few who get it bad) why are we isolating? Do we just need to all get it?

This isn't goady, we're all isolating and have taken the correct tests, just trying to see if this could just end (in an optimistic way!)

@MarshaBradyo I didn’t say they weren’t aware it would bring high growth.

[quote SonicBroom]@MarshaBradyo I didn’t say they weren’t aware it would bring high growth.[/quote]
No you said they were watching in horror re U.K.

I think you are overstating this and it’s a fairly overused phrase on here without much substance by now

I think Covid is here to stay and make multiple rounds again and again every winter. I think it will be more virulent than the common cold with potentially more severe disease. That is just my personal opinion.

Regarding the health service, we need to inspire more people to train and want to join it in the future, improve working conditions and pay etc.

However, just as important for England and U.K. as a whole is people making permanent changes to their lifestyles to improve their health by losing weight, less drinking/smoking/alcohol, fresher foods, more exercise and more fresh air.

I think we need to move quite soon to more “long term” health thinking than we have been. In my group of friends I have already witnessed this happening as they are all university educated with professional jobs. I think it needs to be universal. School closures are absolutely the worst we can do for children’s long term health prospects. I would really like far more exercise and fresh air built into the school curriculum than grammar. With screens, the pandemic, most parents working it is vital we look at this generation now. We have to try and understand why the health of the nation is poorer than it ought to be, especially compared to some other European countries.

@MarshaBradyo

Who is “we”? I ask as at the moment, much of the world is looking on in horror at the UK

Still?

France and Aus have high growth

SA talked about not understanding our reaction in other direction

I don’t think people are that focussed on us, as people think on here

Most are aware omicron will bring high growth

Some people massively overestimate the level of interest the rest of the world has in the UK.

@CorsicaDreaming

The trouble is there isn't yet enough data to know. If it's just like a bad cold for everyone who gets it then you may be right we effectively just ignore it as we do with normal colds.

But no one yet knows what it will be like for older people / CV / etc. And it may be fine for the boosted / young/ fully healthy - but still v serious if unvaccinated / unboosted. We will know in two weeks though as an uncontrolled Christmas of mixing is the "perfect" experiment - despite all advice from SAGE, etc to limit mixing my impression is nearly everyone did, so time will tell now.

Just need to point out that it can still be "just like a bad cold" and yet very serious for a small percentage of the population. The vast majority of those for whom covid is serious, a bog standard cold is just as serious. Honestly I don't think a lot of people realise how ill a cold can make someone who is immunocompromised or that for someone who has severe brittle asthma a sniffle in anyone else could put them in ICU

A close friend was terribly sick with the first covid in Spring 2020, then mildly sick with the Delta variant a few months ago. But she felt much, much worse after her booster vaccine and now thinks it's better to just catch it periodically than suffer again after each vaccination.

@namechangeagain32 my point is though that there already IS a different tactic for omicron. We are at record busting levels with virtually no restrictions and virtually no one calling for significant restrictions unless there’s a real shock in data over next few days which … anecdotally… I wouldn’t expect either unless impact on older / CV people much worse than expected. So short of scrapping testing, isolation and any mitigations which could… without further data (and also without further data on reinfections), I don’t think we can really say that we haven’t been pragmatic enough at this stage?

@bluetongue

This is going to sound selfish but I hope we get to a stage where this who want to wear masks can and nobody is mandated to wear them. I know masks are partially there to protect others but there are masks like N95 you can wear that are more effective and don’t require everyone else to wear a mask to protect you.

I’m in the ‘boosted And don’t care if I catch it’ category but my government is still Covid obsessed so I have no choice but to still live under restrictions.

This I don't get why we didn't invest in manufacturing for those who want to wear them!

Viking yes

Also at about the time Nabarro was on the news with his serious message, SAGE were saying similar and Whitty was talking about voluntary reduction of contacts - which did have big impact - my family were receiving messages re mild as borders opened for first time.

The idea that we haven’t have very strong messaging, which has impacted on behaviour, isn’t correct. The result can be seen in demand falling.

@VikingOnTheFridge

Some people massively overestimate the level of interest the rest of the world has in the UK

No need to be chippy. Some people don’t understand data, therefore don’t understand that the rest of the world is looking at what happens here to work out what to do when it hits them. They’re not interested in what it means for us, only what it means for them, because let’s face it we’d all rather learn from other peoples lessons than our own. So frankly, you’re wrong.

[quote SonicBroom]@VikingOnTheFridge

Some people massively overestimate the level of interest the rest of the world has in the UK

No need to be chippy. Some people don’t understand data, therefore don’t understand that the rest of the world is looking at what happens here to work out what to do when it hits them. They’re not interested in what it means for us, only what it means for them, because let’s face it we’d all rather learn from other peoples lessons than our own. So frankly, you’re wrong.[/quote]
Prove your claim.

Data sharing rather than ‘looking on in horror then’

SA shared data although it’s not always comparable between countries - as has been said

France is experiencing similar numbers and Aus is not limiting very fast growth

There’s nothing wrong with using information, where possible. But there still is uncertainty, we’re getting closer to getting more data soon which is needed, not just by us

@MarshaBradyo

Data sharing rather than ‘looking on in horror then’

SA shared data although it’s not always comparable between countries - as has been said

France is experiencing similar numbers and Aus is not limiting very fast growth

There’s nothing wrong with using information, where possible. But there still is uncertainty, we’re getting closer to getting more data soon which is needed, not just by us

Yes, that was a speedy and blatant moving of the goalposts by sonicbroom there!

@VikingOnTheFridge

Prove your claim

I’m a data researcher and one of the things I work on is global health data. You?

@SonicBroom I don't think we disagree? I haven't said anything to the contrary. I think we are being pragmatic for the moment, but if the data does prove that there is limited impact to CV people then I think we will need to become more pragmatic because it isn't sensible to have thousands of people testing, isolating and bringing services to a standstill if it is proven to be like a cold for the large majority of people, but I know we don't know enough to say we are at that stage yet (if at all).

[quote SonicBroom]@VikingOnTheFridge

Prove your claim

I’m a data researcher and one of the things I work on is global health data. You?[/quote]
That's not proof...

You said much of the world was looking on in horror at the UK. I'm surprised to hear that there's global health data on the rest of the planet's current attitude to UK covid policy, seems a radical undertaking, but doubtless you wouldn't make a claim like that unless you could back it up. And in your field I'm sure it will be easy for you to provide that evidence. So let's have it.

I’m a data researcher and one of the things I work on is global health data. You

How is that proof that the rest of the world is 'looking on in horror'?

Some people massively overestimate the level of interest the rest of the world has in the UK.

I know. It's hilarious.

If people have nothing better to do than fret over Omnicron rates in a small rainy island in the North Atlantic, they need to get a life.

[quote SonicBroom]@VikingOnTheFridge

Prove your claim

I’m a data researcher and one of the things I work on is global health data. You?[/quote]
But you didnt say data sharing you said looking on in horror.

Or do you spend your working day looking on in horror at every piece of data you analyse.

You're just trying to save face after @MarshaBradyo just spectacularly called you out on your idiotic statement.

quick pile on - anyone have any other usernames they can swap to?

I’m not moving any goalposts, I have nothing to prove to armchair experts and people who throw around insults for fun, mostly because you’ve already made your mind up on what you think and nothing will make you think otherwise. FFS people die of this stuff guys, but hey if you get your kicks this way then happy for you all.

@SonicBroom

quick pile on - anyone have any other usernames they can swap to?

I’m not moving any goalposts, I have nothing to prove to armchair experts and people who throw around insults for fun, mostly because you’ve already made your mind up on what you think and nothing will make you think otherwise. FFS people die of this stuff guys, but hey if you get your kicks this way then happy for you all.

People die of all sorts of things

@SonicBroom

quick pile on - anyone have any other usernames they can swap to?

I’m not moving any goalposts, I have nothing to prove to armchair experts and people who throw around insults for fun, mostly because you’ve already made your mind up on what you think and nothing will make you think otherwise. FFS people die of this stuff guys, but hey if you get your kicks this way then happy for you all.

Yes you are. You initially said much of the rest of the world were looking on in horror, then when asked to prove this you evidently realised you'd made a silly claim and tried to change it to a discussion about data sharing. This is a fact that anyone reading the thread will be able to see for themselves.

Nobody is fooled by this sudden, conveniently timed attempt at the moral high ground either. You were happy enough getting your 'kicks' calling people chippy and the like until you realised you'd backed yourself into a corner.

@SonicBroom

quick pile on - anyone have any other usernames they can swap to?

I’m not moving any goalposts, I have nothing to prove to armchair experts and people who throw around insults for fun, mostly because you’ve already made your mind up on what you think and nothing will make you think otherwise. FFS people die of this stuff guys, but hey if you get your kicks this way then happy for you all.

You think it’s not different posters?

The phrase is off that’s why it was picked up on.

Someone has to be first with everything in life, if everyone just waits for someone else to do it then surely we'll all just be sat here looking at each other in 5 years time?

I do get the criticism of BJ and the government, didn't vote for them and have always thought BJ a self serving liar but I've got some grudging respect (if that's the right word) for the fact that he's still turning up everyday and making decisions. I'd be hiding in a cupboard somewhere by now. Every decision made will be wrong in the eyes of probably half the population and will be scrutinised and criticised. It's not a job I'd want!

quick pile on - anyone have any other usernames they can swap to?

That the best you can do?

A quick search will show you we're all long established posters. Has one MNer been perpetuating all this name changing for years in preparation for one magic moment of calling you on your bullshit?