Pretending that covid is over really looks to be helping the economy [hmm]

Germany also pays 100% of wages for the first six weeks of illness, including Covid, so there's less pressure to hide an infection and carry on working.

Ah, yes.
To be honest, I'm nowhere near as clued up on the rules here.

I used to be quite fastidious about making sure I knew what the latest info was, due to my work, but now, not at all really.

MissAdventure

I wonder how people with covid are treated in Germany?
Is there more incentive to report?

My understanding from a friend in Germany is that there is still a legal requirement to report all positive cases, whether confirmed by LFT or PCR test. Employers also have to report anybody who is off sick with Covid.

Oh thank you.
It's nice to have a bit more info to hand.
I'm off for a read of that link.

I wonder how people with covid are treated in Germany?
Is there more incentive to report?

MissAdventure

I know,it spreads far more easily than the previous variant (well, I read it somwhere)

Perhaps it is spread in more ways?

It all gets too wearing to try and unravel, so it would be good to have an official update, at least.
Z

No, it spreads in exactly the same way - in airborne droplets. However, it has mutations to the spike protein, which mean it's more capable of evading antibodies and latching on to ACE2 receptors. One advantage from the infected person's point of view is that it tends to infect the upper respiratory tract rather than the deeper in the airways in the lungs. That's why people report symptoms such as sneezing and itching, as it's an irritant and the body tries to get rid of it, as it does with a cold.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/omicrons-surprising-anatomy-explains-why-it-is-wildly-contagious/#:~:text=Scientists%20are%20reaching%20a%20consensus,hide%20from%20the%20immune%20system.

rosie1959

MissAdventure

It seems every time we are on the brink of getting ahead of the game, it's masks off, as you were, off you go...

But what I can’t quite work out is that Germany is still wearing masks and their rate is much higher. So I question if masks make any difference with Omicron

Something strange is going on. Germany does indeed have more cases than the UK, but it also has a bigger population.

However, the Covid death rate per head of population in Germany is slightly lower than the UK.

That would suggest that many cases in the UK aren't being reported or that treatment in Germany for reported cases is better. It's more difficult to ignore deaths than cases.

I know,it spreads far more easily than the previous variant (well, I read it somwhere)

Perhaps it is spread in more ways?

It all gets too wearing to try and unravel, so it would be good to have an official update, at least.
Z

MissAdventure

It seems every time we are on the brink of getting ahead of the game, it's masks off, as you were, off you go...

But what I can’t quite work out is that Germany is still wearing masks and their rate is much higher. So I question if masks make any difference with Omicron

It seems every time we are on the brink of getting ahead of the game, it's masks off, as you were, off you go...

IMO its irrelevant to hope the next variant is weaker. It will be whatever it is. If we are badly affected again, then we have to bring back restrictions. But we can't live with restrictions that might not be doing any good in case things get worse in the future.

I'm not minimising the problems that people have now, please don't assume that.

Very true.
We just have to manage, and hope the next variant is weaker...

The horse has bolted now though MissAdventure, the infection rate is the highest it’s ever been, and millions of people wouldn’t follow rules because they have had it recently and are immune, so reintroducing measures won’t work. I think it’s been managed badly, but it can’t be undone.

That's easy to say, but we can't have the workforce at home, 'just in case', bearing in mind the retirement age now.

If the current rate of infection continues (4.9m last week), given that the rate has already been high for a few weeks, most people in the UK will catch it, and the rate will then drop quite quickly presumably (unless there’s another variant). If you are very concerned about being infected, now is the time to stay at home I think.

The government response has been pathetic. Only today the number of recognised symptoms have risen just days after the abolition of free testing. Tim Spector has been campaigning for years now to get it changed. Cynical or what? The other day I heard a report that said 1 in 7 companies were having operational difficulties because of staff absence. This can't be good for the economy, education, public health. Bumped into a friend over the weekend in response to the general question how's things? was told that their mother had died of Covid last week. Yet the Government response is Covid? What Covid?

I had an email yesterday from a friend who, together with her DH has covid. They had met with someone whose son has covid but didn't tell anyone. My friend knows that 7 other people have got it. It seems to me that we should still be taking precautions. I am myself and most people I know are but perhaps masks should become mandatory again in public transport and possible supermarkets which can get very crowded.

MaizieD

rosie1959

I notice other European countries like France and Germany also have very high rates of Covid so it’s not just the UK regardless of their various Covid restrictions
I don’t think anyone is pretending it’s over but it is what it is and trying to control Omicron seems to be difficult.

At least they're acknowledging that covid is still rampant and trying to do something about it.

Our government seems to have washed their hands of us, all, supposedly, in the interests of getting the economy moving again.

But the question I'm asking is when high rates of infection are seriously disrupting places of work and services, such as air travel, is it helping the economy at all?

I suppose it’s fine doing something about it if it actually works.
Obviously high infection doesn’t help the economy but what will help high infection Germany still has restrictions but the figures are higher than ours.
Perhaps they just have to let the peak run its course

karmalady

just letting you know from a doc at a large hospital covid testing unit. Covid positives via pcr test has become extremely difficult ie there are very many false negatives even via pcr

That sounds right to me! I tested negative using a PCR test, but had every single Covid symptom and was really quite poorly. I’m still not right now - six months later.

France is similar to England MaizieD unvaccinated visitors allowed, no more covid pass required to enter bars/restaurants etc. Masks only required on public transport, I don’t know about Germany.

rosie1959

I notice other European countries like France and Germany also have very high rates of Covid so it’s not just the UK regardless of their various Covid restrictions
I don’t think anyone is pretending it’s over but it is what it is and trying to control Omicron seems to be difficult.

At least they're acknowledging that covid is still rampant and trying to do something about it.

Our government seems to have washed their hands of us, all, supposedly, in the interests of getting the economy moving again.

But the question I'm asking is when high rates of infection are seriously disrupting places of work and services, such as air travel, is it helping the economy at all?

My friend tested positive after her DH fell ill with covid. She has had no symptoms at all and if he hadn't been ill she would not have known she had covid.
She was due to go to a party last night and an aerobics class this morning where she would have spread it around without knowing. She has cancelled everything for this week.
There must be others who are spreading covid and have no idea they have it.

I notice other European countries like France and Germany also have very high rates of Covid so it’s not just the UK regardless of their various Covid restrictions
I don’t think anyone is pretending it’s over but it is what it is and trying to control Omicron seems to be difficult.

My DH too MisAdventure. Reason why Omicron is spreading so fast?

karmalady

just letting you know from a doc at a large hospital covid testing unit. Covid positives via pcr test has become extremely difficult ie there are very many false negatives even via pcr

Don't 'quite' understand that, but I think you're saying that there are more people covid positive than the test results suggest.

Am I right?