The Covid19 thread

[Falcon Horus]

The covid vaccination strategies are starting to take shape over here.

We'll have central locations in all regions to which people will be invited to go and get their shots.

At the moment, they are well under way vaccinating the elderly in all the carehomes, including staff and volunteers. The medical personnel at hospitals and medical centers are to follow in February.

When they have determined which essential group is next, it might even be that my company is seen as essential and we'll get access sooner. However, I'd feel like I'm taking someone who may need it more now being an at-risk person, so I would deny that opportunity and patiently wait for my turn, somewhere around the summer months.

[SGalisa]

. . . and I had a low opinion of anti-vaxxers anyway. I'm itching to get that vaccination but a quick quiz on our NHS website says I'm unlikely to get it until mid-February at the earliest as there are several higher risk categories in front of me, which is completely understandable. I've seen such an uptick on the internet lately from anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists about this vaccine and the disease as a whole that just sickens me. The spread of disinformation is disturbing.

I believe in just frigging do it.
It's like masks, it's not there to protect you, it's to protect others from you. Anti-vaxxers are just screwed in the head and their is a certain point where "freedom of choice" becomes "my rights are more important than yours"
If you want to think that way, go back into lockdown for life.
I get tested for covid every month because I work in retail and it is my responsibility to take care of my co-workers and customers, and it costs me working time to do it, but it is the right thing to do.
Why is it so hard for people to think about other people??
Just frigging do it.

General comment... just for the "record" -- I am not an "anti-vaxxer". I get "deathly sick" with violent vomiting episodes after flu shots, and a few other (recent) vaccines. All last year, I thought it was weird that every medical facility I had an appointment with, kept asking me (to confirm over and over) what my reactions were to the medical injections from previous years. It's documented in my health records that I have severe reactions to certain vaccinations. So WHY should I get this COVID shot, when every FLU vaccine has made me sick with 102+ degree F fevers. Why does it always feel like experiencing the NOROvirus (symptoms) after I got those flu-shots? Recovery takes well over 5 days or more, now, by taking soups and toast, and ginger ale, IF those are able to stay down and be absorbed into the digestive system... It's not some 3-day illness event (not in my life, anyway)...

If this news is accurate or even close to *realistic*, having a (severe) reaction to "flu shots" is one of the signals the medical community has stated for some people (which I apparently am one of those "some people") NOT to get the COVID19 vaccine... at least not from the top 3 serums that are circulating at the moment in real time or trial phases.

So, AGAIN, for the record, I have stated over and over, IF TPTB can put a COVID19 or whatever # it is vaccine on a sugar cube, I'd take it! Polio vaccine was distributed that way, so why can't the medium vehicle be on a sugar cube? Understood that some SUGARs counter work against something in the vaccine behind the process, and it HAS to be processed some other method, such as a sharp-pyramid "patch" or needle injection. So NOT fair.

I believe in live and let live. If people want to get the needle that is their right. If people do not want to get the needle that is their right.

Thank you. Nevermind, I simple despise NEEDLES... been a pin-cushion with allergy shots for over 15 years and hated it. Saw the multi-micro-needles "patch" for COVID19 and freaked out... ummm. NOoooooooooooooooooo. Bad enough I have lived with people who are diabetics and give themselves injections twice daily... they say, you'd get used to it if you HAD to. Well, I'm doing my utmost best to avoid going down that route... Thank you, all...!

However, back to COVID19 + variant treatments... more news just came out in recent weeks that there is another company trying to create a "pill" method to give the COVID vaccine out. That sounds better, but might end up having to be taken daily like HRT meds, or something. Would rather take the zinc+D3+C+etc. vitamins to do that instead. It's the MIA zinc factor that seems to be the problem with COVID... No Zinc, people are susceptible to getting sick faster. After last year's bout with a "mystery cold illness" I increased my zinc+ vitamins, and managed to avoid getting sick all year. I think wearing the facial mask and "social distancing" helped, too, altho some folks still take a simple passing in the hallway to the extreme... must stay 20 feet away, or don't pass! ugh.

On another extreme *thought* . . . I am also leery of the cytokine storm that can occur when the treatment "protein" (or specialized cell) attacks the healthy cells instead. There is NO illness, and NO COVID variant present. If this occurs at random or for whatever triggers it, THAT right there is a reason to be concerned with some of these COVID variety vaccines.

[SGalisa]

Digging up an ancient discussion because of a NEW 2021 update (woohoo!!)...

I couldn't find where Annoyed said the lock-down *restrictions* would get lifted after the USA elections were over, but I think what just happened in NY (as stated by Gov.Cuomo) was for different reasons than Annoyed may have stated somewhere in these 87 pages... sigh...
Below quote is from August 1st, 2020, 08:12 AM, from Annoyed

The inevitable result re-opening things too early. Bars, restaurants and other social gatherings places should have never re-opened, as well as cubicle farms and other onsite workplaces. I expect we're going to have to close down again and stay closed until we have some effective means of stopping this thing. And it's likely to be a longer shutdown. We allowed the moneymen to push us back open too soon, and now we're gonna have to do it over and do it right this time.

At least your leaders might be able to do that, or some effective course of action. We're screwed until after the elections are decided; everything our leaders do is focused on one thing, politics and the upcoming elections.

Okay Annoyed... you got your wish. Everything in our regional area has been on lock-down since March 2020. Lots of businesses economically destroyed. People were dying from suicides, because they couldn't handle the economic losses. COVID19 never touched them. The mandatory restrictions *touched* them instead and destroyed their life. How's that working out?

UPDATE. Elections are now over. New guy, Biden being put into POTUS soon. Different topic there, except Biden has stated over and over that he "plans" on having mandatory (facial-COVID related) MASKs worn for the next 100 days NATIONWIDE (USA).

Just last week, (*emperor*) Gov.Cuomo suddenly decided *OMG! These Lockdowns *have* to END! We NEED TO OPEN UP!!! Our economy is a disaster!! There's NO MONEY left to keep us (NY) afloat* -- (paraphrase of what he basically stated).

(Well, WHO put it there to become that way Mr.Governor? Cuomo, Murphy, Newsome, and a few others ALL in *D* controlled states. ALL of them have had forced shut-downs or lockdowns and lost many "small" businesses. The few still remaining are basically on proverbial LIFE SUPPORT...)
Oh... so not to *rub it in* but Annoyed's "We allowed the moneymen to push us back open too soon" comment factors strongly in this, as well... the USA is NOT yet there yet with being protected from the virus... so WHY the sudden change of heart in Cuomo? (Should be obvious... the wealthy folks who could do so, moved out of state to less taxing vacation / relatives homes in other states, to avoid suffering from the fallouts of the economic collapse... they entered other states and bought out supplies from local nobody stores... so the local residents were suddenly stuck without supplies for MONTHS, too).

Still NO Lysol disinfectant on the store shelves yet... btw. just saying so... And current "disinfectant" has to go to non-virus protective, but nice smelling odor sprays instead.


So... why is Cuomo doing such an about face so suddenly? The guy is a living hypocrite. He knows his state will get federal AID from closing down businesses and forcing them to lose $$ revenue for state of NY. Been reading elsewhere that basically "there are *reasons* WHY those shut-downs occurred. (Some folks in internet land figured it out...) had to do with discrediting and ousting the residing *businessman* guy (2017-2020) in the WH... slippery slope with COVID19 as a cover excuse?" That's still just a *Theory*... but seems logical, considering the attitudes of the world, not just in the USA.

Anywho... If Biden forces any lock-downs with COVID19 as a reason for doing so, it will further cripple the USA. That is a GIVEN. Too obvious. However, IF the people in the rest of the USA are able to NOT endure what we have in these endless lock-down states, and ONLY have to wear a *protective* facial mask / shield, often wash their hands (they should be doing THAT part anyway!) , continue to "social distance", ALWAYS COVER your cough and sneezes, then those folks got much luckier than the many others who were trapped in locked-down states.

*Godspeed* to all who are able to be staying as healthy as possible. BTW, some of us are still convinced we already HAD the COVID bug, but couldn't get tested for it at the time, because the tested was NOT yet available. Any antibodies developed in the interim, disappeared over time and caused a negative result in the blood tests when those were finally approved, too.

Now, if the rest of the USA only deals with what it's like wearing a MASK at all times in public... seriously -- that is the least worrisome portion of this entire (COVID19 *LOCK-DOWN*) experience. You can recover from wearing a mask.. *whew!*. You can't *always* recover from a collapsed financial system... serious domino effects have occurred, as predicted. Something else is in the works to restore a new economy... it'll be in the news within a year or so, if not sooner (possibly under some global "great reset" term). It's been in the internet grapevine for months, but deals with other world issues... maybe someone can start a new topic when that finally reveals itself?

From what I've been reading, it'll be *something* well worth keeping track of for the next decade... COVID19 issues helped bring this other *issue* into existence a lot sooner than TPTB had ever hoped to see it happen. Not sure if that is all good news either. Massive regulatory changes coming too (more work for environmentalists, specifically).

[SGalisa]

The covid vaccination strategies are starting to take shape over here.

We'll have central locations in all regions to which people will be invited to go and get their shots.

At the moment, they are well under way vaccinating the elderly in all the carehomes, including staff and volunteers. The medical personnel at hospitals and medical centers are to follow in February.

When they have determined which essential group is next, it might even be that my company is seen as essential and we'll get access sooner. However, I'd feel like I'm taking someone who may need it more now being an at-risk person, so I would deny that opportunity and patiently wait for my turn, somewhere around the summer months.

In the meantime, as I've been trying to say before ---- instead of hiding in a corner or under a desk/whatever or wherever, take those *immune* saving vitamins! They seem to have worked so far in many people who have stated so. It's just a matter of knowing how much of which vitamins+Zinc is enough. Otherwise, stay hidden in a (cubby)hole and stay there, until the "vaccine" comes to the rescue for (generic) *your* turn on the line.

I can wait... Let everyone else go on ahead first. Registration and waiting times won't be so time-consuming by the time I discuss getting the dreaded vaccine with my doctor(s). Plus, by then, most of the "side-effects" should have shown up in most people.

[Falcon Horus]

In the meantime, as I've been trying to say before ---- instead of hiding in a corner or under a desk/whatever or wherever, take those *immune* saving vitamins! They seem to have worked so far in many people who have stated so. It's just a matter of knowing how much of which vitamins+Zinc is enough. Otherwise, stay hidden in a (cubby)hole and stay there, until the "vaccine" comes to the rescue for (generic) *your* turn on the line.

Belgium is in a semi-lockdown, which means that restaurants and bars are still closed, as are hairdressers and close-contact professions such as beauty parlors and the likes. Economic unemployement has been extended until the end of the year, as has the government support for everyone having to close down. Working from home is still mandatory. We have 2 different curfews depending where you are in the country: Flanders goes from midnight to 5am, Walloon and Brussels go from 10pm to 6am. These rules and regulations are in place until March 1st, 2021 at the latest.

We have mandatory quarantine in place for anyone coming from a red zone, or who has been abroad for more than 48hours. You have to fill out the Passenger Locator Form, get tested on the day of your return and on the 7th day of quarantine. If the latter is negative, your quarantine ends. Officials can come by for spot checks to make sure you are, in fact, maintaining quarantine.

The 48h do not apply to returning from the UK. It doesn't matter how long you've been there, even if only for an hour, mandatory quarantine and testing is a must because of the British variation of covid.

We are still not allowed to have more than one cuddle-contact, or meet more than 4 people (yourself included, so for us that's 2 other people) in an outdoor setting.

If you get caught breaking the rules as far as gatherings go, adults get fined 750 euro and the organizer risks getting served to appear in court -- fines go up significantly and prison time is probable.

Our numbers today:
Last week an average of 116 people were admitted to a hospital per day, which is a 14% drop from the week before (135 people). There are a total of 1818 patients currently in hospitals around the country, of which 353 are in the intensive care unit, and of those 353, 188 are on ventilators.

Deaths have gone down by 15,8% from the week before. Between the 31st of December and the 6th of January, there were an average of 70 people dying of covid-19. This number went down to 50 on average per day.

There were an average of 1997 infections a day between the 7th and the 13th of January, which is a rise of 11% from the week before -- there was a 36% increase in testing, approximately 45500 tests (which includes the double testing people who return from holidays).

The ratio of positive tests is 5% which means that for every 100 tests there are 5 people testing positive.

Compare that to the USA:
Today you had 202,000 extra cases and 3,533 new deaths to count.
You are totalling a death total of 407,164, which ranks you at the top of the covid death chart worldwide.

You are followed by India (152K) & Brazil (209K).

So maybe it's time you started wearing that facemask a little more, and stop complaining about how the economy is crashing. I'm fairly certain your medical staff is crashing at a rate ten times worse than the economy and for the record, you do not want a veterinarian taking your temperature when there are no more human doctors left.

[Who Knows]

Covid injections anyone?

[Falcon Horus]

Covid injections anyone?

I'll take the mRNA shot -- you can keep the covid-shot.

[Falcon Horus]

Hallelujah!!

2 schools in the Antwerp region are going into quarantine because some folks thought the mandatory quarantine did not apply to them so -- BOOM -- the British variation has been detected in 2 kids.
Basically over a 1000 people have to go into mandatory quarantine which means kids and their parents and everyone who they came in contact with.

Mayors of both communities are far from amused.

In another school, an 11-year old tested positive for the British variation. His dad neglected the mandatory quarantine. He returned from the UK recently. Dumbass!

[SGalisa]

So maybe it's time you started wearing that facemask a little more, and stop complaining about how the economy is crashing. I'm fairly certain your medical staff is crashing at a rate ten times worse than the economy and for the record, you do not want a veterinarian taking your temperature when there are no more human doctors left.

For FYI... I DO wear the stupid mask.. with a filter, too. In HOT humidity and COLD weather, outside/inside whatever, wherever it is *required*. Mandatory to be worn at work, too, or whoever is NOT in compliance with that *policy* will get shown the door... and stay OUT... forever.

As for medical... Medical procedures have *improved* since the health systems finally placed a temporary cap on WHO shows up at WHAT appointment, than cramming 3 people into the same time slot. Medical isn't a problem lately. It was when the shut-downs first began, because of lack of "social distancing" and proper PPE. I've seen nurses wearing 3 masks, which they only remove when not in the same room with another person. Otherwise, gloves, PPE, masks, they don't take unnecessary *risks* and shouldn't have to, either.

I've been in lock down, shut-down mode ever since March 2020... Murphy kept following NY's Cuomo's rules. Locked up a lot of businesses that ended up shutting down permanently... never to open again. Lost incomes, lost everything with those people. *They* are the ones who are hurting the most.

Anywho. NY's Cuomo was complaining he needs $15 BILLION USA dollars to rebuild the Empire State (New York has always been designated as the "Empire State" which was adopted as late as the 19th century, as per Wikipedia's historical notes)... Biden will approve giving NY the money Cuomo is asking for, so the rest of the USA will be PAYING for it in taxes (hidden or some other route). This is Cuomo's whining... Lots of USA tax-payers from other states will have to "penny up" or watch the whole economy collapse. That includes helping the other states too, which are collapsing financially speaking. Domino effect.

I'll take the mRNA shot -- you can keep the covid-shot.

I heard the 2nd shot has worse side effects than the first. However, my relative got the first mRNA shot and hasn't said anything about severe reactions. Her next injection is soon. Will know how that works out, because she's in her 90's.

In the meantime, as I've been trying to say before ---- instead of hiding in a corner or under a desk/whatever or wherever, take those *immune* saving vitamins! They seem to have worked so far in many people who have stated so. It's just a matter of knowing how much of which vitamins+Zinc is enough. Otherwise, stay hidden in a (cubby)hole and stay there, until the "vaccine" comes to the rescue for (generic) *your* turn on the line.

BTW, that wasn't directed at you, FH. Just my crazy coworkers who are hiding in their corners until they get vaxxed. They strongly believe it will be the CURE-all. But I've been hearing *rumors* of other variants (wild versions, too maybe) that are worse than the original COVID19. It's the "wild" version that can still kill a person, regardless of the mRNA. Plus, there's the "cytokine storm that can occur when the treatment "protein" (or specialized cell) attacks the healthy cells instead. There is NO illness, and NO COVID variant present."

However, if you can take the zinc+ vitamins, lots of other people have been recommending this route, and it's worth the try if you can tolerate zinc. I have to break up a 50mg tablet into 3 portions thruout the day. So, it doesn't give me a migraine, and is spread out more evenly thruout the entire day's meals. It has protected me the entire 2020 year, especially when I had to go into the Senior Living complex to pack and move my relative's stuff (because she was in total lock-down on another floor there), where I had NO idea who had what exposure to COVID19, and *that* was a scary time, getting grilled with paperwork and temp checks, etc. Mandatory mask, and the first security guy who escorted me thru the building to where I had to work, HAD the virus... (just recovered, so he said) aggggh...!!! No one else was available nearby to help my relative, and I kept asking "why me...???!"

On the other extreme... Because of my severe reactions to flu shots, if I get the COVID Pfizer vax or the Moderna, I might die or have serious neurological impairments. I already have neurological problems from other issues, and the specific side effect from COVID19/variant could make those existing conditions much worse. Some other people who have neurological issues are having worse ones, after they got vaxxed. So, if ya'll don't ever hear from me ever again, my motor co-ordination has been further impaired. Toodles...

I'm not worried about the lung issues, as long as the zinc+ keeps working. In 2019, I was already heading towards pneumonia with previous sinusitis issues getting worse. Last year, I only avoided it, because I wasn't (volunteer) working for the Santa Claus teams in December 2020 from being around approximately 11,000 other people. Our state was on lock-down, and the manager cancelled all activities after 2 crew members showed signs of getting ill in November 2020. All advance purchases from customers had to be returned. My hubby was saddened that the place was dark and desolated the whole month. Some of the equipment in LOCKED storage got vandalized too, because no one was there.

[imzadi35]

I live in South Dakota, so this article about a Minnesota GOP lawmaker's death hits a little too close to home, literally...

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/u...-pandemic.html

[Falcon Horus]

Update on the schools in lockdown -- 1 school has been completely tested, the other one today.

So far a couple 1000 people have had to go into mandatory lockdown because one person thought that it was okay to not quarantine when her first test came back negative. She neglected the 7-day mandatory quarantine and the second test at the end of it which obviously had to be negative to cut it short (the British and South-African variation require a 10-day mandatory quarantine).

For FYI... I DO wear the stupid mask.. with a filter, too. In HOT humidity and COLD weather, outside/inside whatever, wherever it is *required*. Mandatory to be worn at work, too, or whoever is NOT in compliance with that *policy* will get shown the door... and stay OUT... forever.

But not everyone is, and it's showing in the statistics.

Yeah, plenty say it's "just a flu" and recover but a lot don't and while the deaths over here range in the elderly population for the most part, I don't see that reflected in the statistics collected by John's Hopkins University. Every age range is affected in the USA -- and dies by the dozens every day.

An economy can be rebuild, humans stay dead.

As for medical... Medical procedures have *improved* since the health systems finally placed a temporary cap on WHO shows up at WHAT appointment...

Delaying appointments doesn't feel like an improvement.
And that's what happened over here.

I have a nurse-friend who works the ER -- I've had my fair share of (horror)stories.

...so the rest of the USA will be PAYING for it in taxes (hidden or some other route).

Doesn't California already do that for most of the other states?

The economy of the State of California is the largest in the United States, boasting a $3.2 trillion gross state product (GSP) as of 2019. If California were a sovereign nation (2019), it would rank as the world's fifth largest economy, ahead of India and behind Germany.

Sidenote: on the same note if New York were a country, it would rank 10th.

Sidenote 2: Top 3 states as far as GDP goes in the USA: 1. California, 2. Texas, 3. New York

Anywho...

I heard the 2nd shot has worse side effects than the first. However, my relative got the first mRNA shot and hasn't said anything about severe reactions. Her next injection is soon. Will know how that works out, because she's in her 90's.

It has been noted, yes, but I've also heard the opposite so I guess it depends on the receiver.

I did see that a batch of Moderna vaccines caused some allergic reactions that required further investigation.

BTW, that wasn't directed at you, FH. Just my crazy coworkers who are hiding in their corners until they get vaxxed.

Considering that might be a while, they'll have to hunker down a little while longer.
If they stick to the guidelines, they should be fine.

One can never be 100% sure. There's always a chance of getting infected... I just hope to avoid it.
I don't need a membership to that club.

They strongly believe it will be the CURE-all.

I'm afraid they're going to be disappointed about that. It looks highly likely that the anti-covid-shot will be yearly thing. However, if we can contain it now by inoculating everyone, or most everyone, we actually have a fighting chance.

But I've been hearing *rumors* of other variants...

Covid-19 is related to the common cold, related to the MERS-virus from a few years back, so... yeah, there are other variations available for pandemic-fun.

Wait till you hear what's currently dorment in the melting ice.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/u...-pandemic.html

I don't think the reality has hit heard enough for a lot of people.

I mean, 400K deaths and counting.

[Falcon Horus]

More than 5000 people affected by the closing and quarantining of those 2 schools in Antwerp.
10 positive tests but only 2 with the newish Bristish variation.

In the meantime, vaccinations continue -- they have started with the medical workers at hospitals though a shortage of dosages has put a wrench in that plan. It's not up to speed yet.

All locations, however, where the Belgian population has to go to once it's the rest's turn, are finalized.

Plans are coming together.

[Womble]

I'm getting vaccinated on February 2. They still won't let me vaccinate my wife because vaccination right now is for people over 40, and wifey is 30 (29 on paper due to birth certificate error that's too much hassle to correct).

[Falcon Horus]

The vigorous testing of all those kids meant they found and managed to contain a little super-spreader. An asymptomatic kid who had a "healthy" supply of virus in their system, ready to deploy.

Disaster averted.

Second round of testing is happening today and those kids testing negative, they can go back to school next week.

In the meantime, there will be talks today at federal level to discuss the closing of the borders to non-essential travelling. Belgium has the OK from Europe to shut down "fun travel".
We already have a rule in place that you need to have tested negative before arrival, which France and The Netherlands too have in place.

[mad_gater]

The vigorous testing of all those kids meant they found and managed to contain a little super-spreader. An asymptomatic kid who had a "healthy" supply of virus in their system, ready to deploy.

Disaster averted.

Second round of testing is happening today and those kids testing negative, they can go back to school next week.

In the meantime, there will be talks today at federal level to discuss the closing of the borders to non-essential travelling. Belgium has the OK from Europe to shut down "fun travel".
We already have a rule in place that you need to have tested negative before arrival, which France and The Netherlands too have in place.

who'd WANT to visit you guys anyway?

[jelgate]

Soul would....for reasons

[Falcon Horus]

who'd WANT to visit you guys anyway?

I know, right.

IF you want to visit, you have to proof you're good with a negative test.

Our travel is restricted as of wednesday though. Non-essential travelling is forbidden.

The Netherlands have a curfew since last friday -- 9pm to 4:30am.
France altered their curfew from 9pm to 6pm.
Germany doesn't have a curfew (I think).

In any case, Belgium's boxed in by these so curfews all around.