lucylocket61
Expert
The trouble is that, at this point in time we don't know for certain who is at risk. We have some wide parameters, but they are not definite enough to safely rely on them when considering exposure to the virus.
People are rather gleefully imagining that Sweden is getting their comeuppance and I note that these articles are mainstream media reporting on ICU levels in Stockholm yet. This is more data based:Some more articles suggesting again that Sweden "didn't get it right!"
https://www.news.com.au/world/coron...y/news-story/ada9705eb2a9b31161aa41d8a09bba16
https://www.ft.com/content/81299a7a-ec53-41fa-bf33-7ea40f4bca07
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...rkers-are-quitting-leaving-icus-short-staffed
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13379457/sweden-shut-schools-january-anders-tegnell/
People are rather gleefully imagining that Sweden is getting their comeuppance and I note that these articles are mainstream media reporting on ICU levels in Stockholm yet. This is more data based:
They haven't completely destroyed their economy and are 22nd in the mortality list in Europe with no excess mortality over 5 year average and are not wondering around in pointless masks hiding in fear which sounds great to me!
Euromomo shows this graphically - you can see the areas where there is excess mortality.
https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps#map-of-z-scores
They haven't completely destroyed their economy and are 22nd in the mortality list in Europe with no excess mortality over 5 year average and are not wondering around in pointless masks hiding in fear which sounds great to me!
Pointless masks hiding in fear'?. wow, is that how you see us mask wearers?
One tricky virus this little parasite is!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55308211
Having said that -
Fergus Walsh - Medical editor
- There are lots of variants and at this stage, I wouldn't interpret too much into it because it's what viruses do, they mutate a bit.
Certainly I've heard virologists talking about 40 or more variants
What's interesting about this one is the suggestion that it may be associated with faster spread in the south east.
Now initially you would say that's a bit worrying if the virus is spreading faster and that could be concerning.
But sometimes the variants that come through spread quicker but they become less deadly, less effective.
So what we don't know is whether it's associated in any way with more serious disease. And Matt Hancock said that there was no evidence of that at the moment.
And also the vaccines we have (and there are three that we now know have efficacy) - there's nothing to suggest that a variant would make the vaccine less effective.
Nothing to panic about now but absolutely right that the geneticists at Porton Down and elsewhere do all the due diligence and look at this.
It sounds immediately very scary but I don't think there's anything to be unduly alarmed about.
It's the comments that I found really interesting, a feeling of Déjà vu. I am in the South East region
People are rather gleefully imagining that Sweden is getting their comeuppance
ITs sad but with anything Today R4 says I check the data behind it. Both sides do want to validate their own narrative on Covid but I don't think the BBC et al should be taking sides!That's rather sad.
ITs sad but with anything Today R4 says I check the data behind it. Both sides do want to validate their own narrative on Covid but I don't think the BBC et al should be taking sides!
I was wondering who had been "gleeful", I gave up on Today as they never ask the questions I would like asked and they give the government such an easy ride, the editor is a true blue apparatchik. Can't say I notice the BBC taking sides, they bend over stupid sometimes trying not.... climate change being the main one..... way more than a passing virus.
I'm not a fan of the BBC for many things but in my post #1873 both the link and the reply are from the BBC website.