General Discussion/Q&A on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Flashback]

Most Australians are very lax with precautions now. News says Australia now has the highest (per capita) infection rate in the world with over 5300 deaths dramitically up on last year. Go figure.

The infection rates are certainly up there with the best of them: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34223499-post616.html

 

[drron]

An interesting article in the Sunday Times with real world experience. their figures do not support some of the talking heads who suggest Omicron infection gives very little immunity for reinfection.Here is the summary of their findings.

Last month’s ONS report found people who had been infected with Omicron (or the BA sub-variants) had a 77 per cent reduced risk of reinfection. Those infected by Delta had 57 per cent protection, Alpha 41 per cent and the early strain by 40.

And a good graph of the variants.
.

This is what living with Covid looks like

Is Covid back?It never really went away. But yes, we are at the start of the third wave to strike the UK since December. About 1.7 million people were estimated

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[vetrade]

Can't believe the talking heads got it wrong; surely they wouldn't just make stuff up, would they?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The associated issue is that if you do get re-infected the potential seriousness of that infection could be much worse than originally thought… ie it’s not necessarily going to be mild as many are assuming according to Professor Baxter of Melbourne Uni:

'If you get it once, it's bad. If you get it twice, it's even worse': The risks of COVID-19 reinfections

COVID-19 is set to be one of the leading killers of Australians this year, and it doesn't seem to be letting up as early research suggests health risks increase with reinfection.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

The associated issue is that if you do get re-infected the potential seriousness of that infection could be much worse than originally thought… ie it’s not necessarily going to be mild as many are assuming according to Professor Baxter of Melbourne Uni:

'If you get it once, it's bad. If you get it twice, it's even worse': The risks of COVID-19 reinfections

COVID-19 is set to be one of the leading killers of Australians this year, and it doesn't seem to be letting up as early research suggests health risks increase with reinfection.

www.abc.net.au

There just aren't enough studies of second round infections to make any such claims. "If you get it once, it's bad, ". Hyperbole. I'm at the stage where I don't know anyone personally who hasn't had it now, except the two kidlets in the UK and a couple on this forum.

 

[JohnK]

There just aren't enough studies of second round infections to make any such claims. "If you get it once, it's bad, ". Hyperbole. I'm at the stage where I don't know anyone personally who hasn't had it now, except the two kidlets in the UK and a couple on this forum.

And there in lies the problem. Our personal experiences should not shape our thoughts in a pandemic. The collective experience should override any personal thoughts.

I know people who have died from Covid. I know a 2 year old who has died. Try explaining to the parents the majority survive.

In fact I do not know many people who have been infected and have come out the other side without issues. In Australia there are tens of thousands with complications after contracting covid and they say that number is understated. Most of these people are going to be a burden on the health system.

My real estate agent in Sydney got Covid last year. He said he's never experienced anything like it. His voice had changed. My friend got it. Only lasted a week but he said he hadn't seen anything like it in 20+ years. A friend's girlfriend has been infected for a second time. She is in her 40s and experiencing respiratory issues.

And yes it may be similar to the flu but we got that one totally wrong as well. People dying is not a good compromise.

 

[Pushka]

And there in lies the problem. Our personal experiences should not shape our thoughts in a pandemic. The collective experience should override any personal thoughts.

I know people who have died from Covid. I know a 2 year old who has died. Try explaining to the parents the majority survive.

In fact I do not know many people who have been infected and have come out the other side without issues. In Australia there are tens of thousands with complications after contracting covid and they say that number is understated. Most of these people are going to be a burden on the health system.

My real estate agent in Sydney got Covid last year. He said he's never experienced anything like it. His voice had changed. My friend got it. Only lasted a week but he said he hadn't seen anything like it in 20+ years. A friend's girlfriend has been infected for a second time. She is in her 40s and experiencing respiratory issues.

And yes it may be similar to the flu but we got that one totally wrong as well. People dying is not a good compromise.

Well John, I could say the same about your thoughts too. Not sure about other states but kids in SA are extremely unwell with seasonal flu and RSV - much worse than previous bad years. Do you know why? Because kids and society were isolated, segregated and masked up for so long they had no chance to build up natural immunity through exposure. And this is one of the hidden impacts of doing what we did For so long. And this time it's the little kids being impacted.

But my original point is that secondary infection studies are extremely limited.

 

[JohnK]

Well John, I could say the same about your thoughts too. Not sure about other states but kids in SA are extremely unwell with seasonal flu and RSV - much worse than previous bad years. Do you know why? Because kids and society were isolated, segregated and masked up for so long they had no chance to build up natural immunity through exposure. And this is one of the hidden impacts of doing what we did For so long. And this time it's the little kids being impacted.

But my original point is that secondary infection studies are extremely limited.

At which point do you take complications from Covid seriously? When it becomes an issue?

Isolation and segregation are only an issue if you feel you are being forced to isolate. Far from it. We needed to be isolated for our survival. It wasn't an abuse of my human rights.

Why do people feel a need to go out and eat as part of a crowd? For me eating is private. Its not something I need to share with strangers. I prefer to eat at home. No great loss.

Learning to adapt to limitations we face should make us stronger not weaker but we do live in strange times. Society has been spoon fed for far too long.

 

[Pushka]

At which point do you take complications from Covid seriously? When it becomes an issue?

Isolation and segregation are only an issue if you feel you are being forced to isolate. Far from it. We needed to be isolated for our survival. It wasn't an abuse of my human rights.

Why do people feel a need to go out and eat as part of a crowd? For me eating is private. Its not something I need to share with strangers. I prefer to eat at home. No great loss.

Learning to adapt to limitations we face should make us stronger not weaker but we do live in strange times. Society has been spoon fed for far too long.

Because humans are made of communities not just two parents looking after 1 child . Children learn from human interactions from all kinds of people. You judge society based on your needs only. Adapting? Sorry but you don’t know the meaning of the word.

 

[JohnK]

Because humans are made of communities not just two parents looking after 1 child . Children learn from human interactions from all kinds of people. You judge society based on your needs only. Adapting? Sorry but you don’t know the meaning of the word.

I don't know how to adapt? Ok. I must be confusing all the challenges I have faced in life and continue to face.

My daughter did quite ok the past 2 years. She understood early about covid. She accepted it. We went for walks together. We went to the park when it was safe.

P.S. I don't judge society by my needs. I judge society by the stupidity on show.

Society has been in decline for quite some years. Of that I have no doubt but that's not the point of this discussion.

The point is people were faced with a challenge and failed. Coping should be easy when survival is at stake.

By the way there is worse to come. Prepare now or face a much bigger struggle than this obstacle placed in front of us.

 

[drron]

The associated issue is that if you do get re-infected the potential seriousness of that infection could be much worse than originally thought… ie it’s not necessarily going to be mild as many are assuming according to Professor Baxter of Melbourne Uni:

'If you get it once, it's bad. If you get it twice, it's even worse': The risks of COVID-19 reinfections

COVID-19 is set to be one of the leading killers of Australians this year, and it doesn't seem to be letting up as early research suggests health risks increase with reinfection.

www.abc.net.au

And that is by one of the talking heads that have got it wrong.
What if a new variant appears that is stronger. Scientifically not what usually happens. To succeed a new variant needs to infect a lot of people. if it kills more than the variant it is trying to displace it's chance of success is much lower. If less likely to kill people a higher chance of success.

 

[VPS]

There just aren't enough studies of second round infections to make any such claims. "If you get it once, it's bad, ". Hyperbole. I'm at the stage where I don't know anyone personally who hasn't had it now, except the two kidlets in the UK and a couple on this forum.

I haven't had it (YET) On the tram on the weekend less than quarter of the people wore masks

 

[Pushka]

I haven't had it (YET) On the tram on the weekend less than quarter of the people wore masks

That’s unfortunate. I’m all for wearing masks if you feel the need. We wore 95 in all the usual tourist places. But this is such a sneaky virus and we both got it anyway. It just takes one moment and it’s spread. Especially with Covid Mary’s like me.

 

[wandering_fred]

So far it seems that neither Mrs WF nor I have had the dreaded infection.
And Mrs WF attended a gathering where more than half did "succumb".
Is it the rural lifestyle? Or that we are taking those "ineffective" and "unapproved"
(though apparently traditional) OTC anti-virals.....
vitD zinc quercetin Note: YMMV

Have I just jinxed my wandering?
Fred

 

[Pushka]

Have I just jinxed my wandering?
Fred

Yup.

But the thing is, I had it and had no symptoms at all. I’d not have tested but was required to test post arrival back into Australia.

 

[VPS]

Yup.

But the thing is, I had it and had no symptoms at all. I’d not have tested but was required to test post arrival back into Australia.

do you think it might have helped being on your other medication?

 

[blackcat20]

We managed to avoid it until our 1yo got it, then it was pretty much unavoidable.

 

[Pushka]

do you think it might have helped being on your other medication?

I'm not sure. Plaquenil - hydroxychloroquine is what Trump said would help it so I don't think we should go there

 

[Flashback]

So far it seems that neither Mrs WF nor I have had the dreaded infection.
And Mrs WF attended a gathering where more than half did "succumb".
Is it the rural lifestyle? Or that we are taking those "ineffective" and "unapproved"
(though apparently traditional) OTC anti-virals.....
vitD zinc quercetin Note: YMMV

Have I just jinxed my wandering?
Fred

I certainly jinxed myself, was having my annual medical done and commented to the doctor how I'd managed to escape it for so long (2.5 years nearly) even having been to events where pretty much everyone tested positive within 3 days except me ... And then boom, 5 days later ....
Got it.

 

[Warks]

Got my booster booster this week. Man I just love the sore shoulder I get with every Covid-19 vaccination. I thought I must just get it with every injection and I didn't remember it but in amongst these I had a flu shot with no shoulder soreness. Anyway just a thought. Still Covid free in our family, the last ones in our extended family who haven't got it.