Coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2) outbreak discussion

[cynic]

Silver lining and all that, or just statistics?

Aussie excess deaths fall over pandemic

Australia has recorded 4,201 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. However, it is estimated that the nation has recorded 12,881 fewer deaths from all causes over the last two years than would normally have occurred: Excess COVID-19 deaths is the difference between the total reported...

www.macrobusiness.com.au

From the article:
Australia has recorded 4,201 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. However, it is estimated that the nation has recorded 12,881 fewer deaths from all causes over the last two years than would normally have occurred:

I'd certainly expect a reduction in fatalities from vehicular and industrial accidents. But those would need to be contrasted against , increased deaths from adverse vaccine reactions, excessive alcohol consumption, suicides, domestic violence etc.

In the (somewhat unlikely) event my own circle of acquaintances, were to be seen as representative of the broader community, excess deaths would be up!

Anyhow, I am generally sceptical of quoted statisitics unless published transparently with raw data and associated assumptions/projections clearly defined.

 

[sptrawler]

Looks like Canada are having trouble, with truckers unhappy with mandates.

Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency amid paralysing anti-mandate protests

Due to security concerns, PM Justin Trudeau and his family left their downtown home last weekend and his location has not been disclosed.

www.theage.com.au

Ottawa: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Monday AEDT declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital.
“(This) reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,” he said in a statement.

 

[wayneL]

Looks like Canada are having trouble, with truckers unhappy with mandates.

Ottawa mayor declares state of emergency amid paralysing anti-mandate protests

Due to security concerns, PM Justin Trudeau and his family left their downtown home last weekend and his location has not been disclosed.

www.theage.com.au

Ottawa: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on Monday AEDT declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital.
“(This) reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,” he said in a statement.

Whodathunkit? The Canucks have more balls than Aussies.

Dusting off my Canadian passport...

 

[sptrawler]

Whodathunkit? The Canucks have more balls than Aussies.

Dusting off my Canadian passport...

Plenty of work for you there, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, when I first heard that I thought it was a bit rude. ?

 

[barney]

Whodathunkit? The Canucks have more balls than Aussies.

Dusting off my Canadian passport...

I listened to some of the "Truckers" speaking the other day. Apparently they intend to stay as long as it takes to get some action from True-doh or whoever can/will make a decision.

Part of the plan of action is to "replace" the current trucker with fresh incoming truckers on a rotating basis. I think one trucker said they have the resources to stay it out for up to 4 years!? (don't quote me, but I think that was the time frame )

Great boost for some of the local economy/food outlets etc you would think.

By all accounts the "protest" has been totally peaceful and the locals, including police etc have been sympathetic to the truckers stance.

Whether people agree or not, it certainly is an historic course of action

 

[SirRumpole]

Makes me wonder why we are letting tourists in with only 2 shots.

What’s the difference in protection against Omicron between 2 doses and 3 doses of vaccine?

Emerging evidence suggests the highly infectious Omicron variant has the ability to escape the protection two vaccine doses offer.

theconversation.com

 

[mullokintyre]

Makes me wonder why we are letting tourists in with only 2 shots.

What’s the difference in protection against Omicron between 2 doses and 3 doses of vaccine?

Emerging evidence suggests the highly infectious Omicron variant has the ability to escape the protection two vaccine doses offer.

theconversation.com

The actual wording says that tourists, like the states have said for entering some premises, must be fully vaccinated.
ATAGi and the government health bureacrats are going to change the deffinition of fully vaccinated to include at least one booster within a certain time of arrival, and have indicated they will change it every time a new variant comes along.
Mick

 

[wayneL]

Kennedy Junior on why they're jabbing our kids

 

[moXJO]

Makes me wonder why we are letting tourists in with only 2 shots.

What’s the difference in protection against Omicron between 2 doses and 3 doses of vaccine?

Emerging evidence suggests the highly infectious Omicron variant has the ability to escape the protection two vaccine doses offer.

theconversation.com

It's a sham that's why.

We are losing holidaymakers to other countries to such a degree that we may not be able to turn it around.

Meanwhile Australians are wanting 50 jabs to become compliant. In nsw, covid is all but over. Drop the lot and focus on at risk groups. Not on bankrupting the country.

 

[sptrawler]

I guess as time goes by more accurate info is forthcoming, eventually the truth about all this will come out IMO.

'Broad implications': New study finds 'lasting damage' caused by Covid

Researchers say their findings have 'broad implications on economic productivity and life expectancy'.

au.news.yahoo.com

New research has pointed to the long-term medical affects of contracting Covid-19 with scientists warning governments should expect more cardiovascular problems among society including heart disease and stroke which could reduce life expectancy.

While the immediate impact of acute cases of Covid-19 is well understood, researchers say the "post-acute cardiovascular manifestations" are still not well known and comprehensively characterised.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, used a national health database in the United States to analyse more than 153,000 people who contracted Covid-19, as well as using more than 5 million historical controls without evidence of infection.

 

[mullokintyre]

5agh, I see that the Queensland government has got the first stage of the 1000 bed wellcamp quarantine facility open
from Brisbane Times

The first guests will bed down at Wellcamp quarantine facility on Saturday, as the hub finally opens its doors after months of fighting between the Queensland government and the Commonwealth.

A group of travellers is due to arrive via an Air New Zealand flight and will touch down in Brisbane before an hour-and-a-half bus trip west to the facility, near Toowoomba.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles spoke with an air of vindication on the eve of the facility opening.
“You’ll recall all the debates about why it was important to phase out hotel quarantine and have a dedicated facility and I’m certainly pleased to have it now,” he said on Friday.

While the group was expected to be small, possibly fewer than 10, the facility had an initial capacity for 500 people, expanding to 1000 beds by the middle of this year.
It was expected to take in mostly unvaccinated international arrivals as well as arrivals from countries with vaccines not recognised as effective by Australia’s medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

I am not sure if the writers of this article have been on a different planet or what.
Firstly, unless there are special circumstances, no one get into the country without being vaccinated (just ask Djokovic).
From DFAT

Australia considers you to be fully vaccinated if you have completed a course, including a mixed dose, of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised vaccine. Current vaccines and dosages accepted for the purposes of travel are:

Two doses at least 14 days apart of:

· AstraZeneca Vaxzevria

· AstraZeneca Covishield

· Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty

· Moderna Spikevax

· Sinovac Coronavac

· Bharat Biotech Covaxin

· Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (for people under 60 years of age on arrival in Australia) (read more about acceptable variations of this vaccine).

· Gamaleya Institute Sputnik V

· Biocelect Novavax

Or one dose of:

· Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag COVID Vaccine.

Seven days must have passed since the final dose of vaccine in a course of immunisation for you to be considered fully vaccinated. Mixed doses count towards being fully vaccinated as long as all vaccines are approved or recognised by the TGA.

If you have not been vaccinated with the above doses or schedule, you do not meet Australia’s definition of ‘fully vaccinated.’ This includes instances where the dosing schedule or vaccine eligibility differs in your country of origin.

If you do not meet Australia’s definition of fully vaccinated, border restrictions apply to you. Restrictions may include seeking an exemption to travel, travelling within international passenger caps and undertaking mandatory 14 days managed quarantine.

So you have to have got an exemption to travel from the federal government.
Ten people with exemptions.
Maybe they kids bewween 12 and 17 for whom injections are not mandated in all countries.
Who knows, as usual the governments are not forthcoming.
Secondly, the Queensland government are not checking the border between NSW and QLD to see if anyone who flew into NSW or other states do not fit into their categories.
Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

yesterday, the feds released this statement

And it's very important that people understand that requirement if they're seeking to come to Australia. But if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia, and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that, and over the next two weeks they will have the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia.

Your visa is one thing, but your entry into Australia requires you also to be double vaccinated. And I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message, I think, to everyone around the world that that is the requirement to enter into Australia.

And of course, not to be outdone, Victoria has announced that you must be Triple Vaxed to enter the state as an international arrival.
So that means most people will come in via Sydney, and like QLD, Victoria will not be checking the intra country borders for "illegals".
Politics, pure and simple.
Mick

 

[basilio]

Arguments against the compulsory fitting of winter tires in Canada

I refuse to put on winter tires because:
• It’s my car, my choice, my freedom.
• The effectiveness of winter tires is not proven, except by studies carried out by the manufacturers (like I’m supposed to trust them).
• My neighbor Bob had an accident even after putting on winter tires.
• Some drivers are already on their 3rd set of tires, which proves their ineffectiveness.
• We do not know what the tires are made of.
• The tire manufacturers scare us with winter just to enrich themselves.
• In fact, I read on the internet that the tire giants invented snow and spread it at night when you sleep.
• If I have winter tires, the government can track me in the snow.
Educate yourself, open your eyes, stop being sheep!
This year, I say no to winter tires!

 

[The Triangle]

Arguments against the compulsory fitting of winter tires in Canada

I refuse to put on winter tires because:
• It’s my car, my choice, my freedom.
• The effectiveness of winter tires is not proven, except by studies carried out by the manufacturers (like I’m supposed to trust them).
• My neighbor Bob had an accident even after putting on winter tires.
• Some drivers are already on their 3rd set of tires, which proves their ineffectiveness.
• We do not know what the tires are made of.
• The tire manufacturers scare us with winter just to enrich themselves.
• In fact, I read on the internet that the tire giants invented snow and spread it at night when you sleep.
• If I have winter tires, the government can track me in the snow.
Educate yourself, open your eyes, stop being sheep!
This year, I say no to winter tires!

Did you forget the link to an ABC or Guardian article?

When you put on winter tyres you can see immediately the difference in grip while driving (if driving on the right surfaces). You can try winter tyres and then take them off if you don't like them and your car has zero risk of being damaged. You also have alternatives like snow chains, or driving cars with AWD as other mechanisms to cope with difficult winter driving conditions. There is zero chance the winter tyres are suddenly going to block your fuel lines and blow up your engine. And there is probably over 50 years of research on winter tyres.

 

[moXJO]

Arguments against the compulsory fitting of winter tires in Canada

I refuse to put on winter tires because:
• It’s my car, my choice, my freedom.
• The effectiveness of winter tires is not proven, except by studies carried out by the manufacturers (like I’m supposed to trust them).
• My neighbor Bob had an accident even after putting on winter tires.
• Some drivers are already on their 3rd set of tires, which proves their ineffectiveness.
• We do not know what the tires are made of.
• The tire manufacturers scare us with winter just to enrich themselves.
• In fact, I read on the internet that the tire giants invented snow and spread it at night when you sleep.
• If I have winter tires, the government can track me in the snow.
Educate yourself, open your eyes, stop being sheep!
This year, I say no to winter tires!

Unless it's mandated that you have to fit those tires up your ar5e then the above is a stupid.

 

[sptrawler]

Unless it's mandated that you have to fit those tires up your ar5e then the above is a stupid.

When you're running with the narrative, a bit of freelancing is fine, any tripe is acceptable.

 

[Investoradam]

Makes me wonder why we are letting tourists in with only 2 shots.

What’s the difference in protection against Omicron between 2 doses and 3 doses of vaccine?

Emerging evidence suggests the highly infectious Omicron variant has the ability to escape the protection two vaccine doses offer.

theconversation.com

do how many shots will they need?
thanks to this poor innocent bloke who ate a bat in wuhan!

 

[IFocus]

I guess as time goes by more accurate info is forthcoming, eventually the truth about all this will come out IMO.

'Broad implications': New study finds 'lasting damage' caused by Covid

Researchers say their findings have 'broad implications on economic productivity and life expectancy'.

au.news.yahoo.com

New research has pointed to the long-term medical affects of contracting Covid-19 with scientists warning governments should expect more cardiovascular problems among society including heart disease and stroke which could reduce life expectancy.

While the immediate impact of acute cases of Covid-19 is well understood, researchers say the "post-acute cardiovascular manifestations" are still not well known and comprehensively characterised.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, used a national health database in the United States to analyse more than 153,000 people who contracted Covid-19, as well as using more than 5 million historical controls without evidence of infection.

That paper kills its just the flu narrative massive study cohort wise

 

[moXJO]

Does anyone know someone with long covid?

 

[SirRumpole]

Does anyone know someone with long covid?

Not yet, but my family in Melbourne has just had it, so I'll keep you informed if they have long term effects.