Future pandemic as big as Covid is inevitable, says Prof. Whitty

[Bellatrix]

Bit of a non-story.  The key bit is this:

 

Quote

However, experts say that existing vaccines are expected to remain effective against severe illness. Professor Francois Balloux from University College London's Genetics Institute told the BBC that XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" but reassured that vaccinations should continue to provide strong protection.

 

As far as I can tell, the NHS hasn't changed its advice about covid, and certainly not in response to any new variant.

 

Useful article in New Scientist here, where the scientist interviewed calls it the 'same old, same old':

 

Quote

XEC doesn’t appear to be more dangerous or produce more severe disease than past covid-19 variants, says Schaffner. The WHO hasn’t designated it as a variant of concern either. That is because it shares many of the same characteristics as other omicron subvariants, like causing more mild illness than earlier strains.

 

Edited Tuesday at 17:35 by Bellatrix

[Pyrotequila]

I was sat waiting for an appointment earlier in the week, and there was a guy there coughing his head off, not covering his mouth.

Just felt like shouting at him.

[hackey lad]

1 minute ago, Pyrotequila said:

I was sat waiting for an appointment earlier in the week, and there was a guy there coughing his head off, not covering his mouth.

Just felt like shouting at him.

Should’ve leathered him 

[Norbert]

Had covid 2 weeks ago, very mild, was able to carry on with everything except socialising. This week I've got the cold that's going round, it's horrible.

[redruby]

1 hour ago, Pyrotequila said:

I was sat waiting for an appointment earlier in the week, and there was a guy there coughing his head off, not covering his mouth.

Just felt like shouting at him.

I did think people would be better educated on not spreading germs and more considerate of others after Covid but obviously not.  The coughers, splutterers and snivellers are out in force this Autumn.

[pfifes]

Devon care home nurse refused to wear mask as they believed 'Covid was a conspiracy'.

Seven elderly residents all died in March or April 2021 having contracted coronavirus at Holmesley Care Home in Sidford, Devon.

 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/devon-care-home-nurse-refused-9596686.amp

[The_DADDY]

Do we really need a 3rd covid thread?

[The_DADDY]

For those who didn't know. This thread has been unlocked 👍

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, The_DADDY said:

For those who didn't know. This thread has been unlocked 👍

And almost unchanged.👍

[lavery549@yahoo]

12 minutes ago, pfifes said:

Devon care home nurse refused to wear mask as they believed 'Covid was a conspiracy'.

Seven elderly residents all died in March or April 2021 having contracted coronavirus at Holmesley Care Home in Sidford, Devon.

 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/devon-care-home-nurse-refused-9596686.amp

In fairness , the only masks that are found to protect ,are the ones , that a person is Fit Tested for . We had to pass the test ,by various means ,in order to make sure the mask did it's job . So , the masks the Care Homes used would not be much good .