[Zizu]

Originally Posted by All The Jingle Ladies

We have solid data from SA and so far it's been bang on

The South African population is far younger than ours apparently plus they were hit harder by the previous variants due to lower vaccination levels - In South Africa, researchers estimate that about 70 percent of people had Covid infections before the Omicron wave.

As such we cannot make decisions based on their data ... that’s the official line nit mine .. we can take an overall view if and add that info to our data


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bots]

Originally Posted by Zizu

So 200 is a tiny number to be basing decisions on imho

No, 200 is a tiny number given that omicron has been rampant for a good few weeks now. I love you Zizu, but please stop trying to be negative all the time. We have factual data now, omicron is nothing like the threat that delta or any previous variant has been, and it has been the same experience for everyone around the world

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by MeghansLetterToSanta

No, 200 is a tiny number given that omicron has been rampant for a good few weeks now. I love you Zizu, but please stop trying to be negative all the time. We have factual data now, omicron is nothing like the threat that delta or any previous variant has been, and it has been the same experience for everyone around the world

To be fair some of my posts are positive

My caution is shared by many doctors and microbiologists .. I’m not exactly a lone voice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Zizu

The South African population is far younger than ours apparently plus they were hit harder by the previous variants due to lower vaccination levels - In South Africa, researchers estimate that about 70 percent of people had Covid infections before the Omicron wave.

As such we cannot make decisions based on their data ... that’s the official line nit mine .. we can take an overall view if and add that info to our data


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

So everything they have said about this strain has been true and the UK has followed suit

And what else do you have?

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Toy Santa

This thread honestly

Tbf it's the Scientists that are saying that Omicron is milder.

[Mystic Mock]

Although I can understand the Doctors in fairness are scared of a more deadly variant.

Hopefully though Covid will keep mellowing.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by All The Jingle Ladies

So everything they have said about this strain has been true and the UK has followed suit

And what else do you have?

This is the official line from Jenny Harries chief executive of the UKHSA .

Are you really happy to bet all your chips on this ?


I paraphrase... “ our latest analysis shows an ENCOURAGING EARLY SIGNAL that people who contract Omicron MAY be at a SLIGHTLY lower risk of needing hospitalisation “ .




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bots]

Jenny Harries has not been very accurate in her assessment of omicron. She and a few others have been way off the mark. If people are going to speak with authority, accuracy is everything, else they lose credibility. Her credibility has taken a big hit in the last few weeks

[arista]

The Scottish Leader
is going to be Live from 2PM
what new Restrictions does she now want?
Of course, Scotland is still on 10 days, for Isolation


Debated with a Scottish Journalist
in the studio
Live on GBnewsHD


BBC1AM
had the Deputy SNP leader
who gave nothing up.

[Lewismacfarlane]

1 day down nine days to go

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by MeghansLetterToSanta

Jenny Harries has not been very accurate in her assessment of omicron. She and a few others have been way off the mark. If people are going to speak with authority, accuracy is everything, else they lose credibility. Her credibility has taken a big hit in the last few weeks

the last thing she did was talk about Delta strain statistics when she meant Omnicron thus giving hugely exaggerated stats

[Nicky91]

Belgium: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2021/12...-state-ruling/

Cultural sector to reopen after Council of State ruling: "Measures were disproportionate"

The Council of State has suspended the government's decision to close the cultural sector as part of a spate of measures to curb the spreading of corona virus. Theatre rooms, concert halls, operas and probably also cinemas will be allowed to reopen under conditions.

The different Belgian governments had come together on 22 December to work out new corona restrictions in a new Consultative Committee. They decided to ban all cultural events like theatre shows, operas and small concerts, although these were only possible with a maximum of 200 guests indoors, while respecting other corona rules such as social distancing, face masks and a corona passport.

The pubs and restaurants were allowed to stay open meanwhile, as were outdoor Christmas markets, non-essential shops etc. The cultural sector found the new restrictions - which applied as from last Sunday - unfair and took the matter to the Council of State. They won the case: the Council of State called the closure "a disproportionate measure" which "lacked an adequate motivation".

Back to the old situation
Cultural events with up to 200 people will be possible again, and cinemas are also expected to get the green light to reopen, though this still has to be decided by the different government this morning.

It is expected that they will go back to the situation as it was just before the last Consultative Committee, with a maximum of 200 people allowed in indoor venues.

"Historic ruling"
The cultural sector had staged several protest against the latest restrictions and is happy that they won the case. Actor and director Stany Crets calls the ruling of the Council of State "historic, not only for the cultural sector but also for the government's corona policies in general".

Stany Crets and the former actor Michaël Pas, two frontrunners of the cultural protests, underlined that while the ruling sets a first, it is still mainly symbolic for the cultural sector as crowds of maximum 200 people are much too small to make a profit. "However, politicians will have to think twice in the future before taking disproportionate corona measures."



oops

[arista]

Johnson PM has been speaking
from another Hospital visit
with a mask on.

He says sorry to say
but the hospitals are full of the unvaccinated.

Johnson also said there are many who had the 2 vaccines
but not gone, the booster?


The Reporter asked what about Wales and Scotland
people crossing the border at NYE.
He ignored that
but said make sure you are well ventilated

The Reporter just said Final question from ITN
"where have you been the last 10 days?"

Johnson said "I have been in this country"

[Vanessa]

So far masks are keeping our workplace pretty safe.
So we continue wearing them.
But the best thing to to do protect yourself is get vaccinated.

[arista]

Yes that is bad
he needs them

He works for Ch4HDnews and LBC

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes that is bad
he needs them

He works for Ch4HDnews and LBC

I still have some. Got them from the pharmacy

[arista]

Originally Posted by Santa's Little Helper

I still have some. Got them from the pharmacy

Alot, have Stock Piled them

[arista]

[Nicky91]

https://nltimes.nl/2021/12/29/cabine...icron-optimism
Netherlands: Cabinet to decide Monday on extended school closure; De Jonge warns against Omicron optimism

The caretaker Cabinet of the Netherlands said it wants schools to be able to open from January 10, after the winter holidays, but that a decision on the issue will be made on Monday. The decision could depend on new advice from the Outbreak Management Team (OMT).

Primary schools and after-school care were closed from December 17, one week before the winter break was set to start. Initially, after-school care was going to be allowed to reopen on December 27, but that changed with the hasty announcement of a hard lockdown as a precaution against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. At that press conference a week and a half ago, the Cabinet closed secondary schools and higher education, and extended the closure of after-school care.

Forecasts showed that the Omicron variant could trigger a huge new wave of coronavirus infections. Without the strict lockdown measures, the healthcare sector would be in danger of becoming overloaded.

There are "bright spots" in more recent data about the Omicron variant, but Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said he was wary of being too optimistic about the situation. "The virus has rarely surprised us in a positive way."

British research now shows that although the Omicron variant spreads much faster than the Delta variant, it may also be less pathogenic. "But be careful, we don't know enough to say that it will not be so bad," warned De Jonge.

Just before Christmas, the OMT wrote in a recommendation that more research data is needed to draw firm conclusions. The experts expect to conclude that phase of their work next week, and will produce new advice based on it.

According to De Jonge, education will play a central role in policy note. The Cabinet prefers to allow schools to reopen on schedule, he said. "But if the same OMT advice shows another perspective, the Cabinet will of course consider it," said the minister.

[Crimson Dynamo]

British research now shows that although the Omicron variant spreads much faster than the Delta variant, it may also be less pathogenic. "But be careful, we don't know enough to say that it will not be so bad," warned De Jonge.

Every scrap of evidence says that ^^^ is scaremongering BS

[Vicky.]

Kinda surprised this **** is still going on to be honest. How long will the press/governments try to scare people with 'shock' new variants when of course there will be new ****ing variants, forever. And those who wish to be vaccinated have already been so so hows about the promised getting on with it that we were told for ages. Vaccine is endgame. As we were repeatedly told. And we cannot force people to have it, sets off down a fairly dangerous road that one..

[Nicky91]

uh huh, people vaccinated, and still they get infected with covid, and some even end up in hospital

how do we explain that?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

uh huh, people vaccinated, and still they get infected with covid, and some even end up in hospital

how do we explain that?

Omicron causes just a quarter of deaths as previous waves, first data suggests


Researchers looking at South Africa said there had been a clear decoupling of
cases, hospitalisations and deaths compared with other waves

They found that just 4.5 per cent died during the omicron wave, compared
with 21.3 per cent before the variant took hold.

The team said that if the findings were reproduced globally there would be a
‘complete decoupling of case and death rates’ that would end the epidemic
and usher in an endemic phase.

Although the population is younger in South Africa, which would keep death
rates lower, Britain has higher levels of vaccination and seroprevalence.

Writing in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the authors
concluded: “There was decreased severity of disease in the omicron-driven
fourth wave in the City of Tshwane, its first global epicentre, with fewer
deaths, ICU admissions and a shorter length of stay.

“There are clear signs that case and admission rates in South Africa may
decline further over the next few weeks.

“If this pattern continues and is repeated globally, we are likely to see a
complete decoupling of case and death rates suggesting that omicron may be
a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the Covid pandemic
ushering in its endemic phase.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...es-first-data/

I note Nicola made no mention of this but had the data suggested the opposite her the Holland bloke and Dripford would be shouting about it from the rooftops

disgusting

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by All The Jingle Ladies

Omicron causes just a quarter of deaths as previous waves, first data suggests


Researchers looking at South Africa said there had been a clear decoupling of
cases, hospitalisations and deaths compared with other waves

They found that just 4.5 per cent died during the omicron wave, compared
with 21.3 per cent before the variant took hold.

The team said that if the findings were reproduced globally there would be a
‘complete decoupling of case and death rates’ that would end the epidemic
and usher in an endemic phase.

Although the population is younger in South Africa, which would keep death
rates lower, Britain has higher levels of vaccination and seroprevalence.

Writing in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the authors
concluded: “There was decreased severity of disease in the omicron-driven
fourth wave in the City of Tshwane, its first global epicentre, with fewer
deaths, ICU admissions and a shorter length of stay.

“There are clear signs that case and admission rates in South Africa may
decline further over the next few weeks.

“If this pattern continues and is repeated globally, we are likely to see a
complete decoupling of case and death rates suggesting that omicron may be
a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase of the Covid pandemic
ushering in its endemic phase.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...es-first-data/

I note Nicola made no mention of this but had the data suggested the opposite her the Holland bloke and Dripford would be shouting about it from the rooftops

disgusting

So if it causes a quarter of deaths compared to other variants that’s clearly a positive BUT if it’s ten times more virulent and doubles every 3 days then it’s possibly irrelevant that it’s only 25% as dangerous as the others. It could still cause many more hospitalisations and / or deaths


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bots]

Originally Posted by Zizu

So if it causes a quarter of deaths compared to other variants that’s clearly a positive BUT if it’s ten times more virulent and doubles every 3 days then it’s possibly irrelevant that it’s only 25% as dangerous as the others. It could still cause many more hospitalisations and / or deaths


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

thats in the people hospitalised though and as the number being hospitalised because of boosters etc is tiny, its then a much lower percentage of a much lower percentage. Omicron is the best thing that could have happened with covid, and its about time deniers start acknowledging it

Another fact based on actual data is that the average length of stay in hospital before recovery from omicron is 3 days, down from 14+ days with delta