http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-world-struggles-as-confirmed-cases-pass-40-million/QRQVDWL2DAF2NUKGYYNC552PFQ/

Will be interesting to see what affect the coming winter will have on covid .

Ferret lives matter!

It IS totally unnecessary. I'm not sure the best sample is by that method, but I personally have had the stick jab in the back of my throat, which made me gag, know somebody that got the nose thing, and watched a child get a nice and peaceful ring around the mouth with a swab. I'm not sure why the different methods, but if they are getting results with the swirl around the mouth, I don't understand why that method isn't a standard

I'm self-isolating for the next twelve days after recovering from my second Covid-19 infection. The first was in late November/early December 2019 and this one was much less unpleasant and less feverish than the first. You can't really avoid it but you should take whatever precautions seem reasonable.

I don't get it either, just that it's ridiculous.

Glad to hear it's not too bad!
How do yo know btw it was this virus last year? At that time there was no outbreak of that yet, nor tests I think.

well, the evidence is symptomatic and circumstantial but it does seem the likeliest explanation. Although everyone in my immediate family caught an unusual disease with a forty-eight hour fever and all the other symptoms of Covid, my youngest brother's five-week old daughter was in intensive care for a fortnight and was only kept alive with a ventilator etc. She even had the purple toes. At the same time, dozens of infants and young children also had the same symptoms and my neice got the last intensive care bed in the North West, the other children were sent to Wales. Since then the health authorities have admitted that Covid was circulating in England as early as November and since the symptoms were exactly the same, it seems likely.

Okay. That is indeed weird.
I asked cos it also could've been normal flu. Not as a bad cold, but flu.

Anywho, hope you get well soon!

Thanks, it's not that bad at the moment, certainly no worse than an ordinary cold. I wouldn't have realised that it wasn't just a cold unless the school that my nephew attends hadn't sent out letters saying that every child and their family (and support bubbles, as they are calling the legitimate outside contacts) had to test and self-isolate after a pupil in a certain class tested positive for the virus.

Glad to hear it's not that bad!

OT - I never really questioned the virus and/or tests etc, I always try to keep an open mind to all options.

But now, with the numbers that are being presented to us, I seriously begin to question the truth of it all.
Especially because they're doing these test in REALLY weird ways, in ways that can cause harm. It was said that this deep nasal probe goes through some membrane.
Now what is the reason for that? Infect people with something else?

I question the validity of the stories, the numbers, and even the validity of these tests.
I'm not easily swayed to go for conspiracy theories, but now I'm not certain of what they're doing to us.

It is also typical that we western people now begin to look like Muslims, only the eyes visible. No facial expression can be made out really.
I've now even seen facial masks that are like a scarf. So a scarf with a facial mask attached to it. Making you look like a reversed Muslim (not the hair but the lower part covered, but still the face) or a freaking assassin.
Assassin's creed in the street...

A friend of mine has asthma. She works in supermarket and had to wear a mask like all personnel. After a day she got ill because of it, then they ordered such a plexi glass face screen. She used that a few days, but again now ill.
Her GP told her to stay home sick for 2 weeks.

Now most of us don't have asthma but it shows how bad wearing a face mask is. It really does not allow proper air passage and as such is harmful to the lungs.

And looking at all the numbers, the curves, of several countries, I'm really wondering what is really going on. But for the first time since this began I'm leaning towards us being lied to.

I quite understand and I agree, whatever else is going on, we are being lied to about Corona virus and its seriousness. I don't doubt that it exists, it's just that the death rate from it appears to be somewhere between one in a thousand and one in 300 and then only if you're very young, elderly or otherwise vulnerable because of underlying health problems.
My basic assumption is that the Western Economy has collapsed again, worst that it did in 2010 and the virus provided a useful cover story to allow for yet another bail-out for business.
I can't understand why any Government would deliberately destroy the economy of its own country, which is what the last lockdown did, unless their was nothing to be saved in the first place.
I expect rationing and martial law.

The funny thing is that some businesses did better than normal. Since people couldn't go on holiday many decided to do some home renovations. So the DIY shops have done well. And furniture shops.
As for some others I don't know. Supermarkets haven't suffered, certainly not the one in my village. We had more tourists this years on the island than usual so I think the supermarket made a fortune (was busier there too).

The chip shop dude said that that didn't make up for the slower months before, but I wonder about that as before tourist season it's always slow anyways.
And many make good use of what the internet offers. A lot of restaurants who could adept their menu began doing take-away. Even simple meals -or maybe esp simpler, normal meals- like hotchpotch, pea soup, sandwiches etc.
I don't know if that earns them enough to keep going of course.

So in how far the economy has suffered... airliners will have suffered for sure.

But I don't understand what the heck they're doing either. I don't think anyone does, except for the ones at the top.

We had this awkward thing of our king and his family going on holiday abroad just when people were being told to stay home, stricter rules etc. etc.
That created quite the uproar.
It does make me think... if it was really as bad as we're being told would he have gone?

It's all just weird.

Whatever is going on, it's certainly not the Corona virus that's the root cause. Like you say, it's just weird .

Hi Seamus .. hope you are feeling better . You could ask your health provider for a blood test to detect if you have covid antibodies . Otherwise it really is just an assumption you have been infected .

Personally .. I believe the threat of covid is real . Perhaps if there was an effective treatment and global health systems were resourced to cope with potential hospitalisations , my risk assessment would be different .

This coming winter for the northern hemisphere will likely demonstrate just how virulent covid is and at what level global control is progressing .

Something to consider .. Hypothetically .. if all covid infections resulted in death .. would that change your personal risk assessment and how you react to covid ?? At what stage would you prioritise health over economy ??
Do you feel science knows enough about covid to provide any absolute certainties ?(short term and longterm )?? .
Is the potential for viral mutation worthy of caution ??? Or is it healthier to assume a mutation would be insignificant ???

No pressure to answer

I have a bias when it comes to health and science which obviously influences my perception of covid . Conspiracies, and misinformation are not part of my agenda .

Stay safe and healthy

Covid-19: England gets ready for new four-week lockdown

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54767118

"England will begin a month-long lockdown on Thursday - with Boris Johnson saying acting now could allow families to spend Christmas together."

100% fatal covid...Depends how fast it kills. Fast killing plagues are less viral because infection rates drop significantly with isolation and since it kills its host fast, it dies out.
If it is a slow viral rate, more infected people have a higher degree of spread resulting in a larger portion of the population becoming infected and eventually dying.
Of the two, I think a slow viral rate would be worse because it would change society in very significant ways from isolation. It would be a ramped up response of what we currently experience.

I believe a 100% fatal virus would change the economy significantly. I believe job markets would change to support isolation standards and some countries would change from service-oriented to self-sufficiency.
I imagine there would be an online market for "How-To" tutorials where consumers would buy video packages on a whole new range of subjects to teach self-sufficiency.
There might even be a change in money standards geared to virtual wealth.
Robotics would be extensive in manufacturing and resource collection. Until automation becomes standard, people might work from home using a joystick or controller to operate drone machines at a distance.
In special circumstances, work crews might have to be tested each day before beginning a job and carry 'Certified Virus Free' credentials with daily stamps or punch holes. Work crews might be augmented with virtual-helper machines operated by home remote systems which would allow increased on-job isolation.
With the right cameras, microphones and feedback sensors many jobs could be done by remote from home. From running a bulldozer to building computers.
World economy could potentially increase once the change to virtual business takes hold.

On a flip-side, all strangers might be considered a threat and it could result in an increase in personal attacks if someone violates another person's safety cushion. I imagine more privacy fences and home protection devices would be in high demand.

City populations would decrease and many office buildings would be abandoned.
We already see a decrease in brick & mortar stock levels. I imagine store layouts and shelf stock would significantly change to reflect fewer shoppers.
Paper and coin money may be phased out.


Potential for mutation is always worthy of caution.


No, but science has the potential.
In long-term, I believe nearly all viruses could be cured/rendered inert thru nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential to not only heal the body but also heal the environment.
See https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/reports/reportpdf/report47.pdf
Engines of Creation by K. Eric Drexler

Fake News!! Wrong!

This would seem to make a personal reply pointless. I'm not interested in conspiracy theories as most of them require too many assumptions as well as a level of competence that you simply don't see in government or people in general. However, the response to Covid makes no sense whatsoever given the threat level and in this case I am forced to the conclusion that something else is happening.

I agree.
Its my opinion, the response is triggered by media induced frenzy from over sensationalizing it. People nowadays live remotely thru media and ignore the reality which surrounds them. They think they are well-informed but do not see how the media manipulates them. I say 'media' because its more than just TV and NEWS. It includes social networking platforms and 'official' statements about events where they do not live.

My son called to check on me after the hurricane. He said he 'heard' there was many deaths in my area and buildings were blown apart (The "Killer" hurricane), LOL.
As far as I know, Zeta did not kill anyone and while there are a few roofs ripped off and lots of trees down the biggest impact was the 4 day loss of electrical power (which is back on now, at least for me). There are a few areas still without power tho.

Its like the media says "Everybody Panic!" so everybody panics.

Curious what would be an appropriate response ... Perhaps you can share what you perceive the threat level to be ???

when it comes to a pandemic and public health management .. which is more harmful oversensationalism or denial ???

Sure .. the media has to take responsibility for its role in circulating misinformation .. but as always with trust in any information it comes down to the source , qualifications and intent.

Covid-19 has been scientifically sequenced ., it exists and meets the criteria for a global pandemic .

The strain on Hospital capacity and resources Is a reality not an embellishment . Peer reviewed retrospective medical reports addressing how easily systems became overwhelmed are factual . Even if you choose not to be concerned about covid .. the impact of covid on non covid hospitalisations is surely worthy of concern .

Likewise you can choose not to follow public health advice or to do your bit to help limit covid’s potential to create harm . The reality is you are helping the virus to replicate. Perhaps you will be lucky and the consequence for you and your loved ones will be minimal . How confident are you that will be the outcome ?

“You” is not referring to you personally Tom :-)