☣ Coronavirus ☣

[CasaNegron]

U.S. Travel: Reports That Biden Will Lift EU, U.K. Travel Ban By Mid May

Biden's administration is reportedly aiming to revoke EU, U.K. and Brazil travel bans, as well as relaxing the Mexican and Canadian border, by mid May.

www.forbes.com

this is the big one for us as my gf hasn't seen her folks in LA for over a year Are you able to fly anywhere at the moment CN?

We have been pretty much wide open here in the Americas. I can go to just about anywhere but Brazil and Canada. Surprisingly, I can see the British Virgin Islands on my drive to work (you can almost swim there), but would need to quarantine 5 days to visit. They are about the most strict in the region. My wife's parents flew here to the Caribbean from Argentina in December/January.

Specifically, my island has seen an uptick in overnight tourism versus the cruise ships we had before. There are always losers with any shift, but most locals think things have changed for the better.

If we get the sharp elbow from Spain in June we will probably go to Mexico or Costa Rica. I hope the rumors are true though, as I need my IBZ fix.

 

[Neo95gt]

Is it clear the people vaccinated cant pass it on? Is that not why the testing being discussed includes that group?

My mates whole family are currently positive, wife as well who has had 2 doses of vaccines. All self isolating. She has no symptoms which is a measure of the vaccine impact.

Problem is she could likely pass it on to someone who is not. That is why I suspect all groups being discussed for ongoing testing??

Domestic vaccine passports and systems seem very unfair until everyone has had opportunity for a jab.

Latest research shows that spread from vaccinated people isn’t really a thing. This is for the mRNA vaccines, but can’t imagine AZ is terribly different

Pfizer Vaccine Highly Effective at Preventing COVID-19, Study Shows

Data suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective at preventing asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 in people who are vaccinated against the virus.

www.verywellhealth.com

 

[The Sun God]

Lol, I'm done with government instructions. And luckily loads of people with me. Being a teenager is staying in your room and listening to your parents. Being an adult is making your own risk-based decisions.
Stay a teenager if you wish.

those government/health agencies you so despise possibly saved your life and those of your relatives. One day when (/if..) the arrogance passes you may come to reflect on that.

never mind eh, in circles we go. keep it underground, fight the power yeah

 

[tclubber]

Neither you nor I are qualified to take any unilateral decision on this. Wait for further government instructions and stop being a teenager about it.

It would be easier had the government acted in a more competent and trustworthy way.

Remember, it's the same government who once told us the virus was no concern,that masks don't help and that it was impossible to close borders. Here in Germany, the government also lied that visitor lists in restaurants would only be used for infection tracking (and then used them for police investigations), and last November, the government lied that schools were not Covid-19 spreading grounds (despite schoolteacher being the profession with the highest infection rate).

Harassing vaccinated people by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions and tests ist just an envy reaction that has nothing to do with protecting anyone from Covid. If there is a credible reason for such restrictions, let us hear it. So far I heard nothing apart from "rules are rules"

We are living under unprecedented human rights restrictions, and for continuing them, there must be a clear and very important reason. "We are not 100% sure vaccinated people cannot spread the virus" doesn't cut it, sorry.

 

[kimajy]

Harassing vaccinated people by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions and tests ist just an envy reaction that has nothing to do with protecting anyone from Covid. If there is a credible reason for such restrictions, let us hear it. So far I heard nothing apart from "rules are rules"

They all seem so paranoid that vaccine refusers will start crying about being discriminated against that they seem willing to entertain the idea of denying vaccinated people any freedoms which should rationally accompany taking the jab. As long as the whole population is treated the same then the discrimination bregade can't get at them. It's where such legislation winds up perverting rational outcomes and leads to even more repression and loss of liberty overall for everyone.

On social distancing and masks in public areas where there are fully vaccinated, partly vaccinated and unvaccinated people mixing, policing a different approach for some over others would be practically very difficult so choice is remove for all or impose on all. They have gone for the latter pretty much across Europe. I am much more baffled at the total fixation over maintaining free movement of EU citizens to the extent they can travel in and out of each others' countries when they cannot travel in their own countries. This is one of the craziest politically-driven outcomes I have witnessed over the whole pandemic !

 

[2H76]

It would be easier had the government acted in a more competent and trustworthy way.

Remember, it's the same government who once told us the virus was no concern,that masks don't help and that it was impossible to close borders. Here in Germany, the government also lied that visitor lists in restaurants would only be used for infection tracking (and then used them for police investigations), and last November, the government lied that schools were not Covid-19 spreading grounds (despite schoolteacher being the profession with the highest infection rate).

Harassing vaccinated people by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions and tests ist just an envy reaction that has nothing to do with protecting anyone from Covid. If there is a credible reason for such restrictions, let us hear it. So far I heard nothing apart from "rules are rules"

We are living under unprecedented human rights restrictions, and for continuing them, there must be a clear and very important reason. "We are not 100% sure vaccinated people cannot spread the virus" doesn't cut it, sorry.

This is it - throughout the whole pandemic we've not been treated like adults. So many mixed messages, so many u-turns, sometimes too slow to act, and then baffling policies like the tiers?

Opening schools/colleges/unis but closing hospitality yet without proof that hospitality's an issue, denying adults sporting activities for months on end which would be unlikely to pass covid yet so beneficial to mental and physical health?

And now even those with the full vaccination can't yet meet up indoors with others in a group session - ie the elderly who have been shielding for 12 months. And now we have the do we/don't we issues over certificates and the total lack of clarity over foreign travel....and we can add all the scientific doom-laden prophecies that are being thrown at us daily. Not just the UK either, the French and Germans must be wondering what's going on and "where are our vaccinations??".

 

[Digital2013]

COVID news live - latest updates: Three in five UK adults have now had vaccine - as retailers reveal post-lockdown shopping plans

Coronavirus latest: Three in five UK adults have had at least one jab but experts now expect a continued drop off in vaccinations.

news.sky.com

More flaming doom and misery....but why would hospitalisations be at January's level if the vaccines work?? Are we all being sold something bought on Wish??

I agree something isn't adding up there.

Also if the patient is in hospital for say a broken leg after a fall but happens to have Covid too...does it matter? by that point having Covid should be no different to having normal Flu due to the vacinnes. You'd just want the Hospital to try and stop it spreading around the building like they do with Norovirus and other viruses each year but it shouldn't be a crisis situation.

 

[NilSatis]

COVID news live - latest updates: Three in five UK adults have now had vaccine - as retailers reveal post-lockdown shopping plans

Coronavirus latest: Three in five UK adults have had at least one jab but experts now expect a continued drop off in vaccinations.

news.sky.com

More flaming doom and misery....but why would hospitalisations be at January's level if the vaccines work?? Are we all being sold something bought on Wish??

What happened to Whitty saying no more lockdowns, gonna treat it like flu? Isnt he on SAGE? If the hospitalisations go up to Jan levels again, they wont lock down?! Bo**cks. Its so contradictory.

 

[MrHullMysterious]

Does seem a bit strange, unless the modelling in question is for a Brazil variant running rampage in the uk. As a possible scenario. (After all their job is to model diff scenarios)

 

[Digital2013]

Infection rate down to 2,400, which from what I can see is the lowest rate since the start of September...of course an Easter weekend can delay the reporting but it seems significantly down on the 5.5k rate we had for a few weeks.

 

[CraigyB]

Harassing vaccinated people by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions and tests ist just an envy reaction that has nothing to do with protecting anyone from Covid. If there is a credible reason for such restrictions, let us hear it. So far I heard nothing apart from "rules are rules"

We are living under unprecedented human rights restrictions, and for continuing them, there must be a clear and very important reason. "We are not 100% sure vaccinated people cannot spread the virus" doesn't cut it, sorry.

You could say the exact thing about young people having to be subjected to unnecessary restrictions.

The whole thing has been driven by a culture of "were not sure" whether you think it cuts it or not.

Until everyone has had opportunity to be vaccinated forcing tighter restrictions or controls on those that are not is not fair.

 

[2H76]

Infection rate down to 2,400, which from what I can see is the lowest rate since the start of September...of course an Easter weekend can delay the reporting but it seems significantly down on the 5.5k rate we had for a few weeks.

35% drop on the week, so even if soem holiday cases haven't gone through I doubt if you added those it would drop much below 30%.
Deaths 20 - a 45% drop week on week > some unreported ones to come though which will be added later.

 

[tclubber]

You could say the exact thing about young people having to be subjected to unnecessary restrictions.

Nope - young people also infect vulnerable people, and not just people in their age group. That's why you have to control the spread in young people too - otherwise there will be uncontrollable infections among the elderly too. Ischgl was mostly about young(er) people.

Until everyone has had opportunity to be vaccinated forcing tighter restrictions or controls on those that are not is not fair.

The whole thing with Covid-19 (including the virus itself) has been so unfair, that the fairest thing we can do right now is to release every individual person from restrictions as soon as possible. Even if it means some people will stay longer in the lockdown than others.

Not sure about you, but the realization that unlike me, people on Ibiza are free to have lunch at outdoor restaurants doesn't make my lockdown here any worse Same with people who would go out and meet others, even if I cannot do it yet.

 

[FlatErik]

Harassing vaccinated people by subjecting them to unnecessary restrictions and tests ist just an envy reaction that has nothing to do with protecting anyone from Covid. If there is a credible reason for such restrictions, let us hear it. So far I heard nothing apart from "rules are rules"

We are living under unprecedented human rights restrictions, and for continuing them, there must be a clear and very important reason. "We are not 100% sure vaccinated people cannot spread the virus" doesn't cut it, sorry.

Hear hear

This is it - throughout the whole pandemic we've not been treated like adults. So many mixed messages, so many u-turns, sometimes too slow to act, and then baffling policies like the tiers?

Exactly this. If the government would have informed everyone correctly and fully about risks, treated us as grown up autonome human beings instead of children...we could have all made risk based decisions. I keep saying that this approach has worked for Sweden but every time I mention Sweden everybody gets all worked up and shows me articles about how they've done in the second wave. They have still done better than all the other EU countries, even if you look at it relatively and weigh in the factors such as the spread of their inhabitants.

You could say the exact thing about young people having to be subjected to unnecessary restrictions.

The whole thing has been driven by a culture of "were not sure" whether you think it cuts it or not.

Until everyone has had opportunity to be vaccinated forcing tighter restrictions or controls on those that are not is not fair.

Agree that it's not fair....and if this is our mutual feeling as society...we should keep our governments to their word. Once the curve has flattened we would all go back to normal. So when the vulnerable are vaccinated, we should all stop with the restrictions. Even if the younger groups did not get their jabs yet...that should not be an issue, they can take their own risk based decisions because they won't flood the ICU units and won't infect the vaccinated. Governments should stop moving or changing the goalposts with new variants and other bs.

 

[FlatErik]

Also, we should have had outdoor events for a long time now. Outdoor transmission is VERY unlikely.
Stop the curfews, stop the ban on social gatherings outside.

Edit: also...this research indicates once again governments should have listened to early research saying this virus is airborne. Companies have been investing in plastic curtains instead of good ventilation. But hey...our governments were too busy with facemasks and getting us to clean the shopping carts.

Outdoor transmission accounts for 0.1% of State’s Covid-19 cases

Just 262 cases traced to outdoor activities since pandemic began, official figures reveal

www.irishtimes.com

 

[Springal]

Exactly this. If the government would have informed everyone correctly and fully about risks, treated us as grown up autonome human beings instead of children...we could have all made risk based decisions. I keep saying that this approach has worked for Sweden but every time I mention Sweden everybody gets all worked up and shows me articles about how they've done in the second wave. They have still done better than all the other EU countries, even if you look at it relatively and weigh in the factors such as the spread of their inhabitants.

Maybe in your country, but not in many.

 

[FlatErik]

those government/health agencies you so despise possibly saved your life and those of your relatives. One day when (/if..) the arrogance passes you may come to reflect on that.

never mind eh, in circles we go. keep it underground, fight the power yeah

Did you see the University of Oxford Covid risk calculator I posted a few pages back?

The chance the government/health agencies had to possibly save my life is 1 in 71429.
I would have rather been honestly informed about that risk and made my own decisions instead of being fed with fear and being belittled.

Licence | QCovid™ risk calculator

qcovid.org

 

[FlatErik]

Boris confirms shops CAN reopen Monday - but is roadmap in doubt?

Boris Johnson tried to strike a bullish tone saying the country's hard work is 'paying off' as he held an Easter Monday press briefing in Downing Street, confirming that shops can open on April 12.

www.dailymail.co.uk

So despite the UK being one of the quickest countries with vaccinations demi-lockdowns are on the roadmap? Seems like newly gained control over your people is hard to give back after all.

 

[W_I_C]

Let the government know how you feel about vaccine passports: https://www.yougov.chat/channels/uk-politics/13500

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Boris confirms shops CAN reopen Monday - but is roadmap in doubt?

Boris Johnson tried to strike a bullish tone saying the country's hard work is 'paying off' as he held an Easter Monday press briefing in Downing Street, confirming that shops can open on April 12.

www.dailymail.co.uk

So despite the UK being one of the quickest countries with vaccinations demi-lockdowns are on the roadmap? Seems like newly gained control over your people is hard to give back after all.

Surely it's just about being able to take measures should hospitals get choked up or deaths start to rise again? Given that this is a new virus and we don't really know how vaccines/new variants are going to behave long term, it seems wise to keep those options on the table. Or are you saying there should never be any sort of lockdown ever again regardless? Believe me, the Tories are the last party to want to dampen down economic activity or to have to keep on handing out furlough payments..