So, coronavirus...

[Ovals]

Either way, the real problem is that there's travel agents now looking to charter planes to bring as many people over from India as possible before Friday

The FT has done some deeper analysis of India's figures, which make for very sobering reading, in particular their conclusion that all of the official figures are vastly undercounting the real impact, and that daily deaths could be 10X higher than officially reported, ie 17,000 a day rather than 1,700

That's horrific. With 1.4bn people in India, the death toll could be horrendous. And, if it continues at it's current rate, it could see a complete breakdown of society.

[Saint]

Some really good real world data on the efficacy of vaccines. Out of 74,000-odd recent hospital admissions for Covid, there were only 2,000 or so who had received a single dose of either vaccine. Of those, only 32 had received their dose 3 or more weeks earlier

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Some really good real world data on the efficacy of vaccines. Out of 74,000-odd recent hospital admissions for Covid, there were only 2,000 or so who had received a single dose of either vaccine. Of those, only 32 had received their dose 3 or more weeks earlier

Also increasing evidence that the variants are not escaping the vaccines to any significant degree.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 06690.html

[Saint]

Some really good real world data on the efficacy of vaccines. Out of 74,000-odd recent hospital admissions for Covid, there were only 2,000 or so who had received a single dose of either vaccine. Of those, only 32 had received their dose 3 or more weeks earlier

Also increasing evidence that the variants are not escaping the vaccines to any significant degree.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 06690.html

That would be extremely good news if born out by larger datasets

[Saint]

Heathrow has refused permits for an and additional 8 flights from India before India gets red-flagged because the Border is already so understaffed that they can't keep social distancing enforced. The CAA has also confirmed it has received a large number of applications for charter flight permits and it's refused them all

[Sandstorm]

Heathrow has refused permits for an and additional 8 flights from India before India gets red-flagged because the Border is already so understaffed that they can't keep social distancing enforced. The CAA has also confirmed it has received a large number of applications for charter flight permits and it's refused them all

Bout time.

[Bokkom]

Outdoors is much better. I was looking at the Worldometers web site by state, and it’s obvious that the southern states are overall doing much better than the northern ones as far as new cases are concerned, despite generally having few restrictions. I put it down to being outdoors.

If you live north of the 35 latitude in the Northern Hemisphere as well as south of the 35 in the Southern Hemisphere, these kind of viruses will apparently always be a bit of an issue.

You're saying that it's just the 'flu?

No different to other influenza viruses?

Before you get indignant and start attacking me for misinterpreting you, that's pretty much what it appears that you are saying. I have family members who are adamant that the whole pandemic is a hoax designed to massage the egos of scientists and politicians and they pretty much express the same opinion.

You never disappoint. I will leave it to others to judge your "inferences".'

[Biffer]

Heathrow has refused permits for an and additional 8 flights from India before India gets red-flagged because the Border is already so understaffed that they can't keep social distancing enforced. The CAA has also confirmed it has received a large number of applications for charter flight permits and it's refused them all

Glad to see someone is trying to act even if these fucking shysters in government won't.

Watch some kind of pressure get put on them by no 10 to change the decision.

[Biffer]

From the BBC story

A briefing document drawn up by officials at Public Health England shows that between 25 March and 7 April, 3,345 arrivals from India were registered in UK border travel data. Of those 161 - or 4.8% - tested positive for Covid-19 after a PCR test.

[Saint]

Heathrow has refused permits for an and additional 8 flights from India before India gets red-flagged because the Border is already so understaffed that they can't keep social distancing enforced. The CAA has also confirmed it has received a large number of applications for charter flight permits and it's refused them all

Glad to see someone is trying to act even if these fucking shysters in government won't.

Watch some kind of pressure get put on them by no 10 to change the decision.

Heathrow at least can say they need the border to be staffed better if the government wants to push more people through. According to a colleague that has had to pass through, there's barely 1 desk in 20 open

[Calculon]

Bad (if unsurprising) news - the director of the Chinese CDC publicly admitted today that the Chinese vaccines "aren't very good". A recent study of Sinovac vaccine as delivered in Chile shows just 3% efficacy after a single dose, and 56% after a second dose. There's no similar stufy yet on Sinopharm - China are claiming 76% after two doses but that now seems unlikely

Later, the poor man tried to walk back his remarks (doubtless after at least one arm had been broken)

For reference, Sinovac accounts for almost 90% of all vaccine delivered in Chile, and while 56% is definitely better than nothing, we need to get volumes of the higher efficacy vaccines up rapidly

That probably explains why Chile's vaccination rate, which is second only to Israel, appears to be having a negligible effect on its case and death rates.

Indeed.

[Biffer]

Valneva vaccine going in to phase iii trials.

[Uncle fester]

Some really good real world data on the efficacy of vaccines. Out of 74,000-odd recent hospital admissions for Covid, there were only 2,000 or so who had received a single dose of either vaccine. Of those, only 32 had received their dose 3 or more weeks earlier

Also increasing evidence that the variants are not escaping the vaccines to any significant degree.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 06690.html

Great but need to work on the basis that a variant will eventually get past the available vaccines, I.e. roll them out asap and shut down international travel until then. That way individual countries can loosen their own restrictions but prevent the new strains from spreading.

[Calculon]

That probably explains why Chile's vaccination rate, which is second only to Israel, appears to be having a negligible effect on its case and death rates.

This is not true. Chile's death rates and case rates are falling very quickly in people aged 70+ (the ones who have been vaccinated).

Exactly, and the fact that a relatively poor developing country like Chile has already vaccinated a large percentage of their population, really shows up our government's farcical efforts

[sorCrer]

314000 new cases registered in one day in India.

[Paddington Bear]

314000 new cases registered in one day in India.

I guess this is an underestimate as well - really concerning

[Lemoentjie]

From the BBC story

A briefing document drawn up by officials at Public Health England shows that between 25 March and 7 April, 3,345 arrivals from India were registered in UK border travel data. Of those 161 - or 4.8% - tested positive for Covid-19 after a PCR test.

If you scale that to the entire Indian population (although I don't pretend the Indian flying to London is representative of the average Indian), that would be 65m Indians currently with Covid!

[Lemoentjie]

That probably explains why Chile's vaccination rate, which is second only to Israel, appears to be having a negligible effect on its case and death rates.

This is not true. Chile's death rates and case rates are falling very quickly in people aged 70+ (the ones who have been vaccinated).

Exactly, and the fact that a relatively poor developing country like Chile has already vaccinated a large percentage of their population, really shows up our government's farcical efforts

Chile is a developed economy. It's part of the OECD. That's not to whitewash the SA Government's awful efforts, though.

[Calculon]

Fair enough, I thought they were more like Argentina.

[Biffer]

For info, Chile nominal GDP per capita $15,617 (50th globally). South Africa nominal GDP per capita $5,444 (91st globally). Estimated 2021 figures from IMF.

[tabascoboy]

How long do we have to wait for a day when all COVID news is optimisitc and encouraging?

Covid: India sees world's highest daily cases amid oxygen shortage

India has reported 314,835 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours - the highest one-day tally recorded anywhere in the world.

Deaths rose by 2,104 in the same time period, India's worst daily toll.

It brings the country's total confirmed cases close to 16 million, second only to the US.

India is in the grip of a vicious second wave and an acute oxygen shortage is raising more fears about its overwhelmed health care system.

It has led Delhi's highest court to publicly criticise the central government for its handling of the oxygen crisis in the city.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56826645

[Saint]

How long do we have to wait for a day when all COVID news is optimisitc and encouraging?

Covid: India sees world's highest daily cases amid oxygen shortage

India has reported 314,835 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours - the highest one-day tally recorded anywhere in the world.

Deaths rose by 2,104 in the same time period, India's worst daily toll.

It brings the country's total confirmed cases close to 16 million, second only to the US.

India is in the grip of a vicious second wave and an acute oxygen shortage is raising more fears about its overwhelmed health care system.

It has led Delhi's highest court to publicly criticise the central government for its handling of the oxygen crisis in the city.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56826645

That's still some ways off - India is vaccinating at an incredible rate now but the law of large numbers means that they've only got a first jab into 8% of their population - but they're third in terms of total jabs delivered now

[Saint]

And I just got my vaccination appointment confirmed for 1st May

[Raggs]

So USA has apparently placed a few more countries onto their Do Not Travel list, due to high covid levels. Including the UK and Israel....

Surely once Israel is on a list, you pretty much have to just say Do Not Travel?

[tc27]

UK has lower covid infection rates now than the US and further ahead in vaccinations - not that I think anyone should be travelling for all but a very small number or reasons.

[Lobby]

So USA has apparently placed a few more countries onto their Do Not Travel list, due to high covid levels. Including the UK and Israel....

Surely once Israel is on a list, you pretty much have to just say Do Not Travel?

Israel 1.6 cases per 100k, UK 3.7 cases per 100k, US 19.1 cases per 100k, but yes, if Israel is the measure for 'high' Covid levels, then pretty much everywhere should be off the list.

[Fangle]

The local press is reporting re-infections from covid. From about last June.

[Sandstorm]

And I just got my vaccination appointment confirmed for 1st May

[Sandstorm]

The local press is reporting re-infections from covid. From about last June.

Hmmm...less than 9 months immunity post-infection. Not a good stat.

[laurent]

The local press is reporting re-infections from covid. From about last June.

Hmmm...less than 9 months immunity post-infection. Not a good stat.

Brazilian numbers are likely shorter ...

:(

[Saint]

So USA has apparently placed a few more countries onto their Do Not Travel list, due to high covid levels. Including the UK and Israel....

Surely once Israel is on a list, you pretty much have to just say Do Not Travel?

Israel 1.6 cases per 100k, UK 3.7 cases per 100k, US 19.1 cases per 100k, but yes, if Israel is the measure for 'high' Covid levels, then pretty much everywhere should be off the list.

It's a bonkers list. Of the 50 countries that AREN'T at "Do Not Travel", Australia is at "Reconsider Travel" alongside Japan and China

[Saint]

The local press is reporting re-infections from covid. From about last June.

Hmmm...less than 9 months immunity post-infection. Not a good stat.

It's already known that the immunity won't be as strong, nor as long lasting. I'd be interested in knowing whether it's symptomatic, hospitalisation required etc

[Fangle]

Looking at the Worldometers website, it reports a that USA had about 98 thousand cases per million compared to UK at about 64 thousand. But in number of deaths they are very similar at 1,800 thousand per million.

Have I got that right?

[Slick]

I’ve just had my Moderna jab

[Ovals]

I’ve just had my Moderna jab

Had my 2nd AZ jab today.

[Saint]

Looking at the Worldometers website, it reports a that USA had about 98 thousand cases per million compared to UK at about 64 thousand. But in number of deaths they are very similar at 1,800 thousand per million.

Have I got that right?

Both numbers are fairly subjective. Cases are those detected by tests; so the reported number is a function of both the actual infection rate and the number of tests performed. Deaths are really subjective in how they're recorded and reported, so there's absolutely no standardisation between the two numbers. The standard in the USA varies between states, so trying to then compare the USA to another country based on these numbers is a fools errand. Probably the only real comparison that can be made is in excess death numbers

[Saint]

I’ve just had my Moderna jab

Had my 2nd AZ jab today.

Get ready for that blood clot

[Slick]

I’ve just had my Moderna jab

Had my 2nd AZ jab today.

Get ready for that blood clot

Dinnae

[Rinkals]

If you live north of the 35 latitude in the Northern Hemisphere as well as south of the 35 in the Southern Hemisphere, these kind of viruses will apparently always be a bit of an issue.

You're saying that it's just the 'flu?

No different to other influenza viruses?

Before you get indignant and start attacking me for misinterpreting you, that's pretty much what it appears that you are saying. I have family members who are adamant that the whole pandemic is a hoax designed to massage the egos of scientists and politicians and they pretty much express the same opinion.

You never disappoint. I will leave it to others to judge your "inferences".'

Oooh.

Nearly missed this one.

When you said "these kind of viruses", I naturally assumed that you were suggesting that "these kind of viruses" were fairly common occurrences.

If that is not what you are suggesting, then I'd be happy to hear you clarify what you meant.

As I said, I'm hearing the suggestion that Covid is nothing more than a 'flu variant often enough to feel that any implication that the pandemic is not a serious issue needs to be confronted.

[Saint]

In the meantime, the EU Commission wants member states to green light a lawsuit against AstraZeneca by the end of the week; and Germany is negotiating with Russia to purchase 30 million doses of Sputnik V subject to EMA approval