So, coronavirus...

[shaggy]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Biggest snowflakes I have seen in my life this morning whilst walking the dog on Wimbledon Common.

[Slick]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Biggest snowflakes I have seen in my life this morning whilst walking the dog on Wimbledon Common.

Our neighbours had just set up a stunning lunch table outside in the sun for a couple of friends yesterday when it started to snow. Very odd weather.

[Calculon]

You sure it's only sinovac? From what I've read it's combined, but I have little faith in the media articles so who knows. It actually makes little sense to have not evaluated the Pfizer at the same time, how many studies on it's efficacy against the coronavirus varientw found in Chile? It's hardly any extra work to evaluate the Pfizer as well anyway. I think I will have to read the actual study before I can comment any futher

Everything I've read is that it;s Sinovac only. The relative numbers for Pfizer are very low, and given the current caseload in Chile (although it is rising) I could easily believe that even if they were running a study on Pfizer there isn't enough data to stand up to statistical analysis, That was the main reason AZ Phase 3 had to move out of the UK to get enough cases.

Add to that, given that this was a proactively monitored study - i.e. testing for asymptomatic infection - I could very easily believe that they wanted to save some time and money and focus on the vaccine for which they didn't have any data on

Well according to the Chilean science minister we will shorty have a study on the effectiveness of both vaccines in Chile. So maybe we can stop comparing apples with oranges until then.

On Sunday, Chilean science minister Andres Couve said it was important to focus on the data and the vaccine's effectiveness in reducing illness that required medical treatment or being hospitalised or dying, which it achieved in the Brazilian study in 83.7 per cent and 100 per cent of cases respectively.

He said Chile's health ministry will shortly publish a real world study on the effectiveness of both vaccines rolled out in its population and appealed to Chileans to continue to participate in the vaccination programme.

Heriberto Garcia, director of Chile's Public Health Institute which greenlighted CoronaVac's emergency roll-out, said people should not pay attention to headlines.

"The University of Chile study and the study the health ministry will release say the same thing: the number of people who fall ill and are hospitalised has decreased," he told local newspaper La Tercera. "We are going down the right path."

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

You lightweight!

Table booked for 14:00

[Saint]

England opening up Late forties to first jab officially this week. I know quite a lot of people now in this bracket who have already had it

[Ovals]

England opening up Late forties to first jab officially this week. I know quite a lot of people now in this bracket who have already had it

Just booked my 2nd jab for next week

[dpedin]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56713017

I see the app continues to go well!

[Saint]

England opening up Late forties to first jab officially this week. I know quite a lot of people now in this bracket who have already had it

Just booked my 2nd jab for next week

Early forties for me, so if they;re splitting up group 10 like it sounds they are then I;m still waiting for dose 2. Mrs Saint should be close to fully immunised by now; around 3 weeks since her second dose

[Opensides Butler]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Biggest snowflakes I have seen in my life this morning whilst walking the dog on Wimbledon Common.

Sir is quite tall.

[Sandstorm]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

[tabascoboy]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Very predictable but TBF people I have spoken to it's mainly the urgent need for new clothing that is the driver, since not everyone wants to take a chance online. Maybe we'll see the great underwear shortage of 2021...

[Saint]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

There's a reason why I;m leaving it till next week to get my hair cut.

My only acknowledgement of the reopening today is getting a back massage later on - my lower back is absolutely killing me at the moment

[TheNatalShark]

My gym was full shortly after 06:00, equipment spacing/restrictions not as aggressive as when they were last open, and people not being bugged to wear masks moving between exercises.

I hope after the pandemic people learn to keep wiping down equipment

[Insane_Homer]

[SaintK]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Why aren't kids back at school? Easter hols finished at the weekend!!!

[Raggs]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Why aren't kids back at school? Easter hols finished at the weekend!!!

Maybe youngsters? Some schools also use the first/last days of term as teacher training days, so as to not have them in the middle of the school term.

[Saint]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Why aren't kids back at school? Easter hols finished at the weekend!!!

Round here term didn't finish till Good Friday, so Summer isn't starting till 19/04

[Openside]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Biggest snowflakes I have seen in my life this morning whilst walking the dog on Wimbledon Common.

Yes extraordinary when I saw the first couple I assumed they were feathers...

[Openside]

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Biggest snowflakes I have seen in my life this morning whilst walking the dog on Wimbledon Common.

Sir is quite tall.

Snowflake?? That is a first!!

[SaintK]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Why aren't kids back at school? Easter hols finished at the weekend!!!

Round here term didn't finish till Good Friday, so Summer isn't starting till 19/04

Ahh, of course!

[sturginho]

The High Street is carnage!!! Thousands of kids, parents and grand parents all milling around chatting, clearly with a lot of pent-up retail/social energy to release today! Barbers and hairdressers all have queues of 15+ outside and their waiting sofas inside are rammed with people. Social distancing is just an illusion.

No wonder Chile, Spain and Portugal had a big jump in cases after lockdown ended.

Why aren't kids back at school? Easter hols finished at the weekend!!!

Teacher training day innit

[Biffer]

Pubs: Come on down, the beer garden is lovely!

Weather: No.

Stunning day up here!

No pubs.

Yeah, gorgeous in Edinburgh. Public holiday so I was up in the Pentland Hills walking, no jacket. Would've loved the Spylaw or Colinton to be open when I came off the hill.

[Paddington Bear]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

[Sandstorm]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

One of my favourite locals was serving drinks in their garden yesterday......in plastic cups. Fugg. That.

[Paddington Bear]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

One of my favourite locals was serving drinks in their garden yesterday......in plastic cups. Fugg. That.

That's a travesty

[Sandstorm]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

One of my favourite locals was serving drinks in their garden yesterday......in plastic cups. Fugg. That.

That's a travesty

I can only assume that Brit barmaids have never carried a tray before and all the proper wine glasses were smashed during the lunch shift.

[Insane_Homer]

Just booked my 1st Jab for tomorrow, follow up on 1 July.

[Sandstorm]

Just booked my 1st Jab for tomorrow, follow up on 1 July.

[Saint]

Now officially open to 45 and over, so Group 10 has been split in half

[SaintK]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

One of my favourite locals was serving drinks in their garden yesterday......in plastic cups. Fugg. That.

If the bar team at my club try to do that to me with my first pint of Guinness on Saturday I shall resign my membership!!!!

[Insane_Homer]

Now officially open to 45 and over, so Group 10 has been split in half

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

Site is struggling under load but continued in the same place when refreshed.

I put my work post code in, got an appointment for tomorrow @ Guy's hospital vaccination centre - 10 minute walk from the office

[Slick]

Pubs all looked busy walking past them yesterday, pleased for them. Does look like 'pent up demand' is a thing and people won't just be pocketing their savings.

Yes, judging by the photos I've seen we will soon see how effective this all is!

[Slick]

Now officially open to 45 and over, so Group 10 has been split in half

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

Site is struggling under load but continued in the same place when refreshed.

I put my work post code in, got an appointment for tomorrow @ Guy's hospital vaccination centre - 10 minute walk from the office

Very good. Any idea where we are in Scotland Biffer, dpedin? Anxiously waiting for my letter before we head down south in a couple of weeks.

[dpedin]

Now officially open to 45 and over, so Group 10 has been split in half

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ccination/

Site is struggling under load but continued in the same place when refreshed.

I put my work post code in, got an appointment for tomorrow @ Guy's hospital vaccination centre - 10 minute walk from the office

Very good. Any idea where we are in Scotland Biffer, dpedin? Anxiously waiting for my letter before we head down south in a couple of weeks.

Travelling Tabby website gives you a detailed age breakdown ...

https://www.travellingtabby.com/scotlan ... s-tracker/

However it will very considerably by area/health board given very different demographics.83% of 50-54 year olds have been done and rest will be picked up in next few days, already onto next category in many areas. Many of those already done in under 50s will be those with underlying conditions or health and care staff. Past 7 days numbers - tab at top of graph - are a good indicator of current progress though.

PS watch out - the age categories change from 5 to 10 years in the graph ie 50-54 to 40-49.

[Sandstorm]

Covid19 is most dangerous to over 50s in UK who have (almost) all been vaccinated.

So some questions rattling around in my (empty) head:

1) Is it better for a healthy 22 year old to get Covid naturally with minimal symptoms and develop their own immunity or get a couple of jabs?

2) Would it be sensible to do a PCR test on all 18-40 year olds now to see how many have had Covid and developed their own resistance already?

3) Anyone know if the jab or actually surviving Covid makes you more resistant to it next time?

It appears that the UK Govt strategy is to keep jabbing people until everyone over 18 has had one

4) Is this because the AZ jab costs £3.50 a pair vs (probably) a lot more for each PCR test?

5) Anyone now what the cost price of a PCR test is to the Govt?

Thank-you

[SaintK]

ONS reporting that we have hit 150,000+deaths. I thought that the figure was actually higher?

A total of 151,313 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said. I thought that figure had been hit some weeks back?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/202 ... is-shows

[Raggs]

Covid19 is most dangerous to over 50s in UK who have (almost) all been vaccinated.

So some questions rattling around in my (empty) head:

1) Is it better for a healthy 22 year old to get Covid naturally with minimal symptoms and develop their own immunity or get a couple of jabs?

2) Would it be sensible to do a PCR test on all 18-40 year olds now to see how many have had Covid and developed their own resistance already?

3) Anyone know if the jab or actually surviving Covid makes you more resistant to it next time?

It appears that the UK Govt strategy is to keep jabbing people until everyone over 18 has had one

4) Is this because the AZ jab costs £3.50 a pair vs (probably) a lot more for each PCR test?

5) Anyone now what the cost price of a PCR test is to the Govt?

Thank-you

1. You don't know if they're going to get minimal symptoms. Healthy young people have died, or developed long term issues from Covid, seemingly at a "better" rate than risks from the jabs.

2. PCR test wouldn't tell you that, you'd need an antibody test. We can get a fairly good idea of that number from the studies that have been ongoing, and it's unlikely to be a significant proportion of them. Getting a vaccine won't be an issue anyway, as reinfection has been seen.

3. Typically vaccines give better protection than getting the illness itself, I don't think there's been time to be sure of that with Covid, but we can confirm that people have caught covid more than once, and I believe in some cases have suffered more in the later times.

4. It's because someone being in hospital is expensive, and everyone is at risk of that. There's also immunocompromised people who cannot be protected except by the rest of the herd. Getting sick is expensive, the PCR test won't be the larger consideration.

5. No idea, but considering they're running hundreds of thousands of them a day, it's not going to be enormous, and clearly it's worth while. Someone taking up a hospital bed, on oxygen etc, is likely far more expensive.

[Saint]

Covid19 is most dangerous to over 50s in UK who have (almost) all been vaccinated.

So some questions rattling around in my (empty) head:

1) Is it better for a healthy 22 year old to get Covid naturally with minimal symptoms and develop their own immunity or get a couple of jabs?

2) Would it be sensible to do a PCR test on all 18-40 year olds now to see how many have had Covid and developed their own resistance already?

3) Anyone know if the jab or actually surviving Covid makes you more resistant to it next time?

It appears that the UK Govt strategy is to keep jabbing people until everyone over 18 has had one

4) Is this because the AZ jab costs £3.50 a pair vs (probably) a lot more for each PCR test?

5) Anyone now what the cost price of a PCR test is the Govt?

Thank-you

1 - In general, immunity from vaccination is longer lasting. It also tends to be more predictable
2 - Little value as many will have had Covid early on but will no longer be expressing antibodies. However they could still have some level of T-cell response
3 - The jab shows significant resistance to Covid; either you fight it off very rapidly, you contract it asymptomatically bet deal with it, your become symptomatic but don;t require hospitalisation, or finally you require hospitalisation but you survive. The vaccines are effectively 100% for preventing death by Covid. There are cases of people contract the same variant twice, and in some cases dying, but they are extremely rare
4 - The reason to keep jabbing everyone is really to develop herd immunity and reduce the amount of Covid spreading. Once we reach a certain level of immunity in the population, r drops below 0 regardless of social interaction levels and the virus dies out. Bear in mind nearly have of the jabs we're dispensing are the very expensive kind
5 - There's a few articles floating around the web, including a published article in The Lancet, suggesting that at scale PCR tests should only cost approx $5 per test. It's very clear that there's significant profiteering going on for the private testing programmes

[Sandstorm]

Cheers Chappos, most useful!

[Sandstorm]

Seems the anti-body test isn't much cop:

Getting an antibody test
Antibody tests are not widely available yet.

Free antibody tests are currently only available for certain people who work in primary care, social care or education.

These tests are to help the NHS and scientists learn more about who has already had the virus and how it has spread in the UK.

It's not known if having antibodies stops you getting the virus again.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir ... ronavirus/