[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


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[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

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by MeghansLetterToSanta

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

Delta cases right down now thanks to Omicron

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by MeghansLetterToSanta

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

It all sounds very hopeful .. thank the lawd .

I do worry about the future variants though .. we surely can’t assume that Covid won’t throw us a curve ball


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Crimson Dynamo]

Results from South Africa are painting a reassuring picture: there, cases have peaked,
rates of hospitalisation are coming down. Reported risk of severe illness with omicron is
about 80 per cent lower than with delta.


Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at East Anglia, said on Tuesday that we should look
to scrap self-isolation in 2022 as Covid’s symptoms reduce to something akin to the
common cold.

So far in the pandemic, the country has been divided on how to deal with spikes in
cases: there’s those who favour a light touch approach and those who want imposed
restraint. Perhaps now is the moment we can look beyond these arguments, toward a
near future where Covid lives with us and we with it. Because what most people do
agree on is that periodically pummelling our pubs and entertainment venues, paralysing
the economy, denting education and destabilising the nation’s mental health to control
outbreaks of variants with uncertain characteristics is just not a sustainable long-term
proposition. As one elderly care home resident put it to me recently: “This is not living.
So what am I living for?”

DR CHRIS SMITH
CONSULTANT VIROLOGIST AND LECTURER, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

GOOD FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-f...race-plan-lwc/

[arista]

[Because of a delay in receiving data
for Northern Ireland,
today's update is delayed]

[arista]

[Scotland's new coronavirus restrictions
expected to last for three weeks,
Nicola Sturgeon says.]

[New COVID restrictions in Scotland will be
in place until 17 January, as she urged people
to "stay at home right now more than normal".]

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-sco...-says-12505772

[Crimson Dynamo]

Seven times fewer Covid 'cases' are ending up in hospital now compared to England's devastating second wave, official data suggests as proof that Omicron is milder continues to pile up.

[arista]

29/12/21

57 Have Died
183,087 Have caught Covid-19

Patients in hospital
Latest available NO Update

Patients in ventilation beds NO Update


148,089 Total UK Deaths of Covid-19

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

[bots]

Originally Posted by arista

29/12/21

57 Have Died
183,087 Have caught Covid-19

Patients in hospital
Latest available NO Update

Patients in ventilation beds NO Update


148,089 Total UK Deaths of Covid-19

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

the number of deaths will have caught up by now after christmas, and that looks like a much lower figure

[arista]

Anti Vaxxers Punks





6:30PM Ch4HDnews showed a clip of this.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by arista

Anti Vaxxers Punks





6:30PM Ch4HDnews showed a clip of this.

Hopefully the law will punish them.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Hopefully the law will punish them.

Well their faces are on clear view ... bet they wish they could wear masks to hide their identity

Seriously though ... they probably won’t get charged but they could be named and shamed on the media sites !


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