Covid tests

When I typed that there has been a post postulating another lockdown. That's over reacting, despite anything you say.

The person in the article saying we should do what the Italians are doing was Health Minister during the pandemic, so he's hardly covered himself in glory.

Now we have a post saying that China have a "largely unvaccinated population". Which isn't true.

Its about time we realised how much half truth and misinformation is flying around, and that its not March 2020 any more. I don't know what will happen because I'm not an expert, and neither is anybody else on here. Except maybe growstuff But I know over-reaction when I see it.

If it was virtually any country other than China I wouldn’t be concerned but we just don’t know the truth about the covid situation there do we?
What we do know is that it has a largely unvaccinated population, with a vaccine which has shown to be not so effective as western produced ones.

The January sales here have always been a big draw to the Chinese, so we potentially have a large number of possibly infected people heading our way.

We are continually told how our health service is struggling, not to mention the strikes which are set to continue apparently, so what we don’t need is it put under extra pressure.
Yes of course we are a well protected country with a high level of vaccine protection but why put ourselves and the NHS at unnecessary risk by giving free access?

Surely it would be perfectly simple to insist that anyone from China wishing to visit will need to produce negative covid tests.

I've not had the vaccine this time because I was so ill the last time I had it, it was actually frightening. I don't feel like I am being selfish but I tend t stay indoors and away from people if I am ill anyway

volver

I think some people might just be over-reacting a bit...

That’s what several people said in January 2020!

Frankly, if people won’t have the vaccine, assuming there is no medical reason why they shouldn’t, then I’m afraid be it on their own heads as my mother used to say.
The problem of course is that it’s possibly not just themselves they hurt, it could be a very vulnerable person, or a person who cannot have the vaccination for good medical reasons, or the doctors and nurses who are supposed to be at work but are off work sick with Covid. Not having the vaccination is selfish in my opinion.

The hospital where I volunteer has never dropped mask wearing and sanitising. My ward was recently closed due to Covid. It's open again but there are still several cases. It's not gone away.

Our local hospitals have reinstated mask wearing etc and stopped most visiting because their wards are very full with Covid patients again. They are mostly unvaccinated. Don’t forget there are a lot out there who won’t take the vaccinations.

What the Italians are doing is post-flight surveillance of arrivals in Italy, in order to understand whether there are any emerging variants and to understand the impact of the virus on the Italian health system," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme
That is a sensible thing to do and something the British government should be seriously looking at

As I said - but was summarily dismissed and mocked as being “an expert”

Good link.

A proportionate response.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64116416

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Without testing there is no way of genomic sequencing and in the absence of genomic sequencing we cannot track the possible mutation of hitherto unknown variants.
I have just heard on Today that Malaysia and I think Italy are to test the waste water from planes arriving from China.
Testing makes sense. Why ignore the experience of the last 3 years?

MayBee70

So, as you seem to be an expert, what action do you think should be taken at this moment in time. Or should we just do nothing?

I'm not an expert MayBee70. I've never claimed to be and adopting that tone makes you sound petulant.

We're not doing nothing in this country. Were just not adopting the same scheme that the USA and a handful of other countries are.

Maybe monitoring the situation in other countries and in the UK. I know Covid data is no longer going to be published but it will be monitored in the same way that flu is monitored. If there is to be no testing and isolating, at present anyway, then I can’t see what else can be done. I’m not expecting there to be another outbreak such as we had in 2020 unless a serious new variant emerges. But I’m not a scientist so what do I know?
I’m not really writing on Gransnet at 4.30 in the morning, it’s 5.30 in the afternoon here.

So, as you seem to be an expert, what action do you think should be taken at this moment in time. Or should we just do nothing?

Can you show me the post where I say that it has?

All I've said is that panic (aka running around with your hands in the air, which you appear to have recommended as a viable option) is useless.

Which it is.

So what prompt and appropriate action has been taken over the past few years?

Running around with your hands in the air never solves anything. Panic never solves anything.

Prompt and appropriate action does.

volver

I think I get really irritated by the "its madness" "I despair" "will they never learn!" comments. That's my problem, I have to deal with it and I'm not suggesting anybody stops saying that, I'm just using that to explain where I'm coming from.

It shows a rather excitable reaction to something I suppose. I prefer to actually understand what is going on and how it works, rather than running around with my hands in the air.

Just me, I suppose.

Maybe if we’d ran around with our hands in the air panicking we might have stopped the pandemic from happening. As it was the WHO waited to see what would happen and by the time they reacted it was too late.

Thank you for your kind good wishes volver.

As said before, I think the Gransnet demographic probably worries more than other demographics. However, older people are more susceptible to this virus so perhaps concern is justified. I think we do have to put our faith in our vaccinations and the community immunity which is steadily building up. Covid will probably be with us forever now and we have to get on with it.
I still feel, unlike you volver that testing people coming into the country from China would at least tell us what the situation is re those arriving from a badly affected area, but what then? Would they simply be advised to isolate for five days? I can’t see what else could be done. This terrible wave in China will run its course and then the whole world will have to live with it in the same way we live with flu. Get the vaccinations, test if symptomatic, isolate if positive, and seek medical advice or intervention if necessary.

Harris27

I’m worried. Read about this today. Have we never learnt?

We have learned the vaccine was produced and has a pretty good take up in the UK.
We can if we wish wear masks but in my experience I am much more likely to pick Covid up from family or social occasions than from a walk round the shops.

Normandygirl

GagaJo

Normandygirl

If you have the "protection" of your vaccination, why is anyone worried? I don't get it.

Because they don't make us invincible.

If invincibility is your goal, then you are bound for disappointment. The massive excess death toll due to Non Covid related illness, is surely much more of a concern to people in the UK right now. I don't believe that has anything to do with the people from China.

Do you have confirmed figures for the "massive" excess death toll?

Normandygirl

If you have the "protection" of your vaccination, why is anyone worried? I don't get it.

It's not about protecting yourself. It's about thinking about the other people you could infect if you have Covid. It's also about getting prompt treatment if you are especially vulnerable, which is why the NHS are sending free tests to some people.

I’m worried. Read about this today. Have we never learnt?