Coronavirus... your thoughts?

[Geraldine]

I've had 6,092 thoughts since last Sunday. That's all the deaths recorded from Covid in Scotland. I just hope this winter does not take a heavier toll before it's done but I know, deep down, it's a forlorn one. Keep yourselves safe out there folks where ever you are.

[Cody]

Posted by: @cody
As of this Wednesday, my county moves into tier-3 restrictions.

As of tomorrow, my area moves into tier-4 restrictions (equivalent to lockdown). The new variant seems to be far more transmissible - cases per 100k population continue to increase at an alarming rate! Gimme the fuckin' jab!

[Cody]

The new variant of Covid-19 is "hugely" more transmissible than the virus's previous version, a study has found. It concludes the new variant increases the Reproduction or R number by between 0.4 and 0.7. The UK's latest R number has been estimated at between 1.1 and 1.3. It needs to be below 1.0 for the number of cases to start falling. Prof Jim Naismith, of Oxford University, said he believed that the new findings indicated that even tougher restrictions would soon be needed.

Meanwhile, they've increased the time between first jab and booster from 21 days to 12 weeks, in an attempt to get many more people initially jabbed and partially protected as soon as possible. People who've had the first jab, and had the booster pre-booked, will now have to wait.

[sscadmin]

They are saying this new strain you speak of @cody has appeared in Colorado so its probably in a lot of places by now would be my guess. This month we will know more on the whole lock-down thing, its been put on hold I guess because the presidential election needs to be finalized and the president sworn in then I think we will have more clarity on next steps. But as always we will see how the populous will take this because a lot of folks are struggling here and I doubt it will go over well.
Stay safe all, the decontamination chambers are fully operational on the station so use them as much as you like

[Cody]

Posted by: @sscadmin
the presidential election needs to be finalized and the president sworn in then I think we will have more clarity on next steps

It's been a painful process this time around.

[Cody]

Threat level bumped up to 5 (the highest), nationwide lockdown, my local area's case rate per 100k is double the national average, and the three local hospitals are at their limits. Latest info tells me I won't get the first jab 'til February. I hope that changes!
Meanwhile, in South Africa another variant is causing trouble. Apparently, this is a slightly different and more complex mutation.

[Cody]

And amid the gloom, some light relief!

[D.C.Elington]

Posted by: @cody
And amid the gloom, some light relief!

These are very old-fashioned components in individual packages... so guys: if someone comes to you with a very, very large syringe that looks like it could only fit into a very dark place then it's surely NOT a covid-19 vaccine!!

[Cody]

<chuckles> Don't know much about guitar pedals - drums was my thing!

[Cody]

There was a surge of cases in my area last week. The county's director of public health estimates 6% of the local population are infected. I happen to know one of them. She's in her early twenties and should be able to fight it off, but her mum's worried.

[Gernot66]

You really dare to ask what i think about?
I think it's a mass hysteria a mass-media-hysteria apart from a virus which is far less harmful as the consequences of the acting of those who fear it most without any reason. It's a good thing for media, advertisers pay well for corona because the label corona grants a lot of attraction. It's the peak of decadence i have seen in my life - it might come worse i fear.
Yesterday an old railroad worker i mean one of those who keep the steel running uttered "the chance to become a lotto millionaire is higher" right i said.
To someone risking everyday his life for the comfort for others they all look like bubies, pee-pee.
Edit: and by cost of our health in general - but we don't ask for.

[D.C.Elington]

Posted by: @gernot66
Yesterday an old railroad worker i mean one of those who keep the steel running uttered "the chance to become a lotto millionaire is higher" right i said.

[EDIT] removed many debatable assumptions while trying to do the maths
The facts are that about 3000 people are "losing" at covid-19 every day in the US alone (not counting long-covids) and that is much, much more than happy players winning at lotto unless I'm mistaken

[Cody]

Hmm... not much I can say!

[Blah64]

Posted by: @gernot66
Yesterday an old railroad worker i mean one of those who keep the steel running uttered "the chance to become a lotto millionaire is higher" right i said.

This is flat out, mathematically incorrect.
Becoming a lotto millionaire is orders of magnitude less likely.

[Cody]

My local hospital is now having to ration oxygen!
The damn reCAPTCHA has gone bananas! Took ages, repeat after repeat, to log-in!

[Gaius Konstantine]

Down here it's less volatile, fewer deaths than the European average, all of them 80 years and older in age. 
So far I personally know three people total that had it, here is the run down.
Guy one got off the easiest, described it as less severe than a common cold, with almost no symptoms, he didn't know what to do to pass the time as he didn't feel sick. (Good time to get into space games I think). Age, mid 40s
Gal one (wife of guy above), described it as a bad cold, she had some symptoms including a cough. Age, mid 30s
Guy two, described it as the worst Flu he ever had in his life, symptoms included fever and cough, with almost two entire weeks needed to recover fully. Age late 50s, smoker, cancer history.
So looking at numbers across the world, I'm seeing a highly infectious virus that hits everyone differently. While there are exceptions, a general rule would be that the older you are, combined with preexisting conditions, increase how lethal the bug can be.
As near as I can tell, from studying the material out there, I would have a 99+% chance of recovery if I contracted it, meaning that for me personally, it's a not a major concern. But out there we have a lot of people where that number drops off drastically.
Know your situation and take proper measures accordingly my friends, hopefully this time next year, all of this will be past us. 

[Cody]

Due to an excess of Covid-19 patients, the local hospital has cancelled my follow-up eye appointment. <bangs head on wall> Ouch! The good news is my brother had his first jab yesterday, and he's not turned into a monkey - yet!

[Cody]

Get my first jab later today (the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine). Then I'll have to wait 12 weeks for the booster.

[D.C.Elington]

Posted by: @cody
Get my first jab later today (the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine)

When a "security update" will spare you a painful "malicious wetware removal" session

[Cody]

Posted by: @d-c-elington
When a "security update" will spare you a painful "malicious wetware removal" session

I'm staying clear of 5G masts. Mind you, I'm having to fight the urge to swing from the light fitting.