SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

diarm said:
Does this mean I'm bollocksed for the United game on Thursday?

My flight is 6:30 in the morning. Game at 8pm.
Click to expand...
If the BBC are right then the rules for travel from Ireland to the UK are indeed unchanged - that is no tests or quarantine required.

"Everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second full day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59453744

That could change of course.
 
golden_blunder said:
Got my booster today. Haven’t died yet, though I did get slightly dizzy head for a minute in the recovery area. Grand now
Click to expand...
You might feel it tomorrow. I got mine at 18.00 felt fine went out went to sleep, all was well. Next day it hit me, felt completely knackered for almost 3 days. Took pain killers to help.
 
Last edited:
UnofficialDevil said:
You might feel it tomorrow. I got mine at 18.00 felt fine went out went to sleep, all was well. Next day it hit me, felt completely knackered for almost 3 days. Took pain killers to help.
Click to expand...
Yeah I’ve just got up for the school run and it feels like Mike Tyson has battered me around the ring
 
We are all shitting ourselves ‘cause we’re suffering from global insecurity.

The italicized bit comes from a medically reviewed article entitled “Signs of insecurity” on WebMD.

Some of our thoughts can be filled with doubt…Too much insecurity can lead to other problems…Insecurity produces anxiety about your ability to handle certain situations…It might stem from a traumatic event…It can also stem from general instability...Insecurity often bleeds over from one area of life into another….Insecurity can lead to mental health risks…People with insecurity often want to appear secure, and their explicit comments may be at odds with their automatic responses to certain stimuli…the act of faking then reinforces the social insecurity...Social insecurity can lead people to avoid social interactions, isolating themselves…All types of insecurity can lead to decreased mental wellness. Depressive or anxious behaviour or thinking is often an effect of insecurity…

Has there ever been a time when society has been this insecure? I used to think this COVID shite would prepare us for future medical/biological challenges (of which there would be many), but now I’m wondering if we’ll ever get out of this rut. Is it just going to spiral onwards? Who knows? Perhaps the most disconcerting of all of this is the “anti-science” sentiment that has brainwashed 50% of everyone on earth. If we can’t rely on science during a scientific challenge, who or what can we rely on to get us through this or similar challenges in the future?
 
Last edited:
At this point, would we be better off just closing our borders to any country that doesn’t have a good handle on Covid, e.g. less than 50% fully vaccinated? Because it’s those countries where new variants are more likely to develop. Closing borders after a new variant has emerged is too late imo.
 
Sparky Rhiwabon said:
At this point, would we be better off just closing our borders to any country that doesn’t have a good handle on Covid, e.g. less than 50% fully vaccinated? Because it’s those countries where new variants are more likely to develop. Closing borders after a new variant has emerged is too late imo.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Let's just isolate ourselves completely. Global village? Pah! Let's drop the "global" and get back to "village"
 
Don't Kill Bill said:
I had a PCR test on Friday result came back 24 hrs later to within the hour. Guy said most do but, and you don't want to here this, but he also said ring the number on the back of the form if you haven't heard back in three days.

Its a gamble I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

you can get same day result pcr tests but need to pay a bit more

I just booked mine as I'm arriving in Heathrow next week, getting a test at the airport for £139 - result guaranteed by nidnight
 
Sparky Rhiwabon said:
At this point, would we be better off just closing our borders to any country that doesn’t have a good handle on Covid, e.g. less than 50% fully vaccinated? Because it’s those countries where new variants are more likely to develop. Closing borders after a new variant has emerged is too late imo.
Click to expand...

Bit harsh for the West to take vaccines off these countries, using them instead for their own boosters, and soon no doubt another round of boosters; and then punish these countries for ”not having a good handle on Covid” :lol:
 
Tarrou said:
you can get same day result pcr tests but need to pay a bit more

I just booked mine as I'm arriving in Heathrow next week, getting a test at the airport for £139 - result guaranteed by nidnight
Click to expand...

Is that Collinson in T2? I need to book one soon.
 
11101 said:
Is that Collinson in T2? I need to book one soon.
Click to expand...

I'm glad we're talking about this. My flight is on 27th Dec so obviously I need to be PCR tested by Xmas day / Boxing Day. :nervous: :(:rolleyes:

I'm thinking of using Randox at their clinic on Xmas Eve and praying the results come through. But I will need a backup plan in case I end up also needing that Collinson one at the airport last minute.

Please keep us updated.
 
Last edited:
An interesting sidenote on the "why does South Africa find these variants" question. In part at least it's because they are one of the countries who do routine sequencing of tests and who upload the data for global scientific use.



It wouldn't be right to take it literally for individual countries, because policies do vary on what to do with sequenced data. Some only upload the cases local scientists see as important/novel/interesting, some just send the lot in case there's a pattern someone is chasing. Others though, either don't do much sequencing, or don't want to discuss what they find.
 
Last edited:
Dumbstar said:
I'm glad we're talking about this. My flight is on 27th Dec so obviously I need to be PCR tested by Xmas day / Boxing Day. :nervous: :(:rolleyes:

I'm thinking of using Randox at their clinic on Xmas Eve and praying the results come through. But I will need a backup plan in case I end up also needing that Collinson one at the airport last minute.

Please keep us updated.
Click to expand...

I would be wary of Randox, there was a near 3 hour hour queue last time I used one of their clinics. They have always delivered results on time though.


Tarrou said:
I booked mine at https://conceptoclinic.co.uk/

I think you have to get a shuttle bus there but they leave every 15 minutes
Click to expand...

Thanks, i will have access to a car but i think they will be closed by the time i arrive.
 
11101 said:
Thanks, i will have access to a car but i think they will be closed by the time i arrive.
Click to expand...
Most of the companies are still updating their websites and adding new price options timeslots etc. I'm willing to bet there will be a lot of price hikes from now through to Christmas/New Year to go with any extra rapid testing capacity.

The combination of people suddenly needing PCR tests rather than LFT and people travelling to see family/friends near Christmas, who can't afford to wait days for a result, has potential to be a real mess.
 
jojojo said:
It wouldn't be right to take it literally for individual countries, because policies do vary on what to do with sequenced data. Some only upload the cases local scientists see as important/novel/interesting, some just send the lot in case there's a pattern someone is chasing. Others though, either don't do much sequencing, or don't want to discuss what they find.
Click to expand...
Despite everything, it's still surprising to see China so low on the list.
 
jojojo said:
Most of the companies are still updating their websites and adding new price options timeslots etc. I'm willing to bet there will be a lot of price hikes from now through to Christmas/New Year to go with any extra rapid testing capacity.

The combination of people suddenly needing PCR tests rather than LFT and people travelling to see family/friends near Christmas, who can't afford to wait days for a result, has potential to be a real mess.
Click to expand...

Of course, and Omicron will already be everywhere in the UK by now anyway. When it comes to controls and testing the UK border has been a total mess since the very beginning.


The first case in Italy has released an anonymous statement about his experience. He got back from Mozambique 2 weeks ago and travelled between Rome, Milan and Naples since then. His entire family from 8 to 81 years old all caught it, and it's been mild or asymptomatic in all of them. Backs up the speculation its more transmissible but less dangerous.
 
Last edited:
jojojo said:
An interesting sidenote on the "why does South Africa find these variants" question. In part at least it's because they are one of the countries who do routine sequencing of tests and who upload the data for global scientific use.



It wouldn't be right to take it literally for individual countries, because policies do vary on what to do with sequenced data. Some only upload the cases local scientists see as important/novel/interesting, some just send the lot in case there's a pattern someone is chasing. Others though, either don't do much sequencing, or don't want to discuss what they find.
Click to expand...


Some big/wealthy European countries surprisingly low on that list!
 
Can’t see it being that dangerous based on
Everything I have read. This news comes at a great time to encourage people to get a booster.
 
11101 said:
I would be wary of Randox, there was a near 3 hour hour queue last time I used one of their clinics. They have always delivered results on time though.
Click to expand...

There's more positive than negative in your post. I'm planning to book into the Clapham Junction clinic exactly 72 hours before my flight (Xmas Eve afternoon). I don't mind waiting 3 hours as long as they get me the results.

I just hope the couriers and labs continue to work efficiently on Xmas and/or Boxing Days. :nervous:
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Some big/wealthy European countries surprisingly low on that list!
Click to expand...
Yep. I'm hoping that in some cases they're low on the list because they only upload interesting/odd results. But I know some countries (including wealthy ones) don't do much sequencing at all apart from in the odd university lab etc involved in the research.
 
jojojo said:
Yep. I'm hoping that in some cases they're low on the list because they only upload interesting/odd results. But I know some countries (including wealthy ones) don't do much sequencing at all apart from in the odd university lab etc involved in the research.
Click to expand...
That list seems to be a bit of a joke. Denmark does a lot lot more sequencing than Finland. And it has Finland at 5x to Denmark. I would probably delete that post. Even though you did say it isn't a perfect list.
 
massi83 said:
That list seems to be a bit of a joke. Denmark does a lot lot more sequencing than Finland. And it has Finland at 5x to Denmark. I would probably delete that post. Even though you did say it isn't a perfect list.
Click to expand...
As I said in the post, the list reflects what they actually publish not what they do for their own analysis, and some of that was and is about national policies. It shouldn't be a league table, and it doesn't take account of the size of countries or their case rates.

Finland in particular had concerns in February that they'd identified a mutation that made covid difficult to spot on some of the standard PCR tests. Potentially a hugely important discovery. I'd guess that they not only sequenced everything, they uploaded every sequence while that was under investigation. Denmark presumably only uploads interesting sequences.

I suspect everyone will be uploading every Omicron sequence they find over the next couple of weeks. Once we know more about the spread and the behaviour that may change again.
 
jojojo said:
As I said in the post, the list reflects what they actually publish not what they do for their own analysis, and some of that was and is about national policies.
Click to expand...
Yup, but you can see that several posters ignored that and took numbers at face value. So posting that list does more harm than good. Not a big deal at all but still.
 
Shakesey said:
Yeah. Let's just isolate ourselves completely. Global village? Pah! Let's drop the "global" and get back to "village"
Click to expand...
It would only be a temporary measure, until they’ve sorted themselves out, plus a lot of things can be done remotely now anyway, so it’s not as if we're cutting ourselves off totally.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.