Coronavirus update - NO MORE RESTRICTIONS

Boris Johnson saying how our response to Covid has been a success.

Population of the UK as a percentage of worldwide: roughly 0.85%.
Covid deaths in the UK as a percentage of worldwide: roughly 7.7%.

and this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53443724

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called for an urgent review into how coronavirus deaths have been recorded in England.

It follows confirmation from Public Health England that reported deaths may have included people who tested positive months before they died.

The other UK nations only include those who die within 28 days of a positive test.

There have been 40,528 deaths linked to the virus in England.

Prof Carl Heneghan from University of Oxford, who spotted the issue with the data, told the BBC there was "huge variation" in the numbers of daily deaths reported in England by PHE.

While NHS England currently reports 30-35 deaths per day, Public Health England (PHE) data often shows double that or more, he said.

The reason is that anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus but then died at a later date of another cause would still be included in PHE's Covid-19 death figures.

"By this PHE definition, no one with Covid in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness," Prof Heneghan says.

"We need correct and accurate statistics so we can really understand the trend - otherwise it's very difficult to know what's going on," he added.

Figures release from PHE today show that just under 10% of coronavirus deaths in England happened more than 28 days after a positive test.

In almost half of those cases, Covid-19 was recorded as the main cause of death.


Dr Susan Hopkins, from Public Health England, said there was no agreed method of counting deaths from Covid-19.

"In England, we count all those that have died who had a positive Covid-19 test at any point, to ensure our data is as complete as possible.

"We must remember that this is a new and emerging infection and there is increasing evidence of long-term health problems for some of those affected."

"Now is the right time to review how deaths are calculated," Dr Hopkins said.

Prof David Spiegelhalter, professor of the public understanding of risk at the University of Cambridge, has called for the same systems for collecting data on deaths to be used across the UK.

There are also concerns over the impact on a potential second wave.

"As we go into the winter, it will get incredibly confusing and concerning if you have an increase in deaths while you are still counting and combining deaths from within the first phase," Prof Heneghan said.

"This means we might be unable to detect early trends in rising deaths if we put them down to historical deaths due to the inadequacies of the current system."

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Originally Posted by life on mars

and this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53443724

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called for an urgent review into how coronavirus deaths have been recorded in England.

It follows confirmation from Public Health England that reported deaths may have included people who tested positive months before they died.

The other UK nations only include those who die within 28 days of a positive test.

There have been 40,528 deaths linked to the virus in England.

Prof Carl Heneghan from University of Oxford, who spotted the issue with the data, told the BBC there was "huge variation" in the numbers of daily deaths reported in England by PHE.

While NHS England currently reports 30-35 deaths per day, Public Health England (PHE) data often shows double that or more, he said.

The reason is that anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus but then died at a later date of another cause would still be included in PHE's Covid-19 death figures.

"By this PHE definition, no one with Covid in England is allowed to ever recover from their illness," Prof Heneghan says.

"We need correct and accurate statistics so we can really understand the trend - otherwise it's very difficult to know what's going on," he added.

Figures release from PHE today show that just under 10% of coronavirus deaths in England happened more than 28 days after a positive test.

In almost half of those cases, Covid-19 was recorded as the main cause of death.


Dr Susan Hopkins, from Public Health England, said there was no agreed method of counting deaths from Covid-19.

"In England, we count all those that have died who had a positive Covid-19 test at any point, to ensure our data is as complete as possible.

"We must remember that this is a new and emerging infection and there is increasing evidence of long-term health problems for some of those affected."

"Now is the right time to review how deaths are calculated," Dr Hopkins said.

Prof David Spiegelhalter, professor of the public understanding of risk at the University of Cambridge, has called for the same systems for collecting data on deaths to be used across the UK.

There are also concerns over the impact on a potential second wave.

"As we go into the winter, it will get incredibly confusing and concerning if you have an increase in deaths while you are still counting and combining deaths from within the first phase," Prof Heneghan said.

"This means we might be unable to detect early trends in rising deaths if we put them down to historical deaths due to the inadequacies of the current system."

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So nearly 10% of deaths over 28 days after positive Covid test and just under half of those Covid recorded as primary cause of death. So potentially nearly 5% over reporting in England compared to rest of UK - is that right?

New cases figures were up to over 800 on Saturday and over 700 yesterday - seems to me more of the same today would represent a definite upward trend.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

New cases figures were up to over 800 on Saturday and over 700 yesterday - seems to me more of the same today would represent a definite upward trend.

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Better track, trace and testing perhaps?

Don’t laugh I’m being serious.

Encouraging news on the vaccine front;-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53469839

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Encouraging news on the vaccine front;-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53469839

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Good to hear , fingers crossed , got to get back to footy and pubs and music gigs , its interesting they say we may not have enough cases to test in the UK .

It was one thing the government chucked money at very early on "" £65.5 million of new funding for the vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford as coronavirus ...""

Sweden; where i live is having a hard time to find covid 19 study cases. I'm not sure how hard they are trying but in my county there have been about 3600 cases and about 260 deaths...same population as Birmingham.
I still feel they threw people under the bus butatm its looking positive case wise.

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Originally Posted by life on mars

Good to hear , fingers crossed , got to get back to footy and pubs and music gigs , its interesting they say we may not have enough cases to test in the UK .

It was one thing the government chucked money at very early on "" £65.5 million of new funding for the vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford as coronavirus ...""

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We should be random testing, not just testing people who report they have symptoms. We have no idea who is asymptomatic with the virus or is virus free. We have a limited idea of who has the virus with symptoms. And a week later the picture will have changed. The testing should be about mapping the presence of the virus in the whole population, not just a yes/no on the relatively few people who self refer.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...mings-ruth-may

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Originally Posted by jon1959

We should be random testing, not just testing people who report they have symptoms. We have no idea who is asymptomatic with the virus or is virus free. We have a limited idea of who has the virus with symptoms. And a week later the picture will have changed. The testing should be about mapping the presence of the virus in the whole population, not just a yes/no on the relatively few people who self refer.

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Completely agree although, to be fair, care workers and NHS staff are now getting tested routinely - so that will provide some valuable data about infection rates.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

We should be random testing, not just testing people who report they have symptoms. We have no idea who is asymptomatic with the virus or is virus free. We have a limited idea of who has the virus with symptoms. And a week later the picture will have changed. The testing should be about mapping the presence of the virus in the whole population, not just a yes/no on the relatively few people who self refer.

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But anyone can go and get a test. you can walk up register and get tested. how more random can you get?

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

But anyone can go and get a test. you can walk up register and get tested. how more random can you get?

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Walk up to where?

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

Walk up to where?

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A test centre, but drive up would be more correct.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

A test centre, but drive up would be more correct.

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Really?

https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test - seems to contradict you.

I don't give a toss what that says. I know for a fact you can do it.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

I don't give a toss what that says. I know for a fact you can do it.

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Have you done it then?

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

Have you done it then?

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Yes. I don't know where you live but you can drive to the test centre eg, in Abercynon and they will register you for a test there and then and take the samples.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

Yes. I don't know where you live but you can drive to the test centre eg, in Abercynon and they will register you for a test there and then and take the samples.

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I'll try at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

I'll try at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

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Yes, I think you should be able to do it there too. Let people know what they say.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

But anyone can go and get a test. you can walk up register and get tested. how more random can you get?

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I didn't know that was on offer across the UK - or that there are enough test centres in places everyone can access to allow it to happen - but even if it is it should be something led (messages from the top, co-ordination with local councils and services, mobile test centres in residential areas and workplaces) by the government not left to Joe and Jane to decide it is something they want to do.

I think I am right in saying that some countries (South Korea, Taiwan...?) got very close to regular testing of their whole populations and were able to scale back once they knew what was really happening with the virus.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

New cases figures were up to over 800 on Saturday and over 700 yesterday - seems to me more of the same today would represent a definite upward trend.

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Down to 580 yesterday from nearly 300,000 tests which is better news, but I note the BBC are now using the headline "Fall in Cornonavirus stalls" above their graph of new daily cases and the line on that graph has headed slightly upwards since reaching its lowest point about ten days ago. I suppose that's to be expected with all of the restrictions that have been lifted in recent weeks in England in particular, but new cases are inching upwards again in many countries on mainland Europe and it's reasonable to expect the same thing to happen here in that case.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

I don't give a toss what that says. I know for a fact you can do it.

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They were stringent with me. I was given an appointment with specific time slot and location that wasn’t the nearest centre to me, in order to minimise any contact with other people. I was also under the impression that they’re prioritising key workers etc.

I didn’t realise they were offering ‘drop in’ Covid tests?

It’s a good idea.

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Originally Posted by Jordi Culé

They were stringent with me. I was given an appointment with specific time slot and location that wasn’t the nearest centre to me, in order to minimise any contact with other people. I was also under the impression that they’re prioritising key workers etc.

I didn’t realise they were offering ‘drop in’ Covid tests?

It’s a good idea.

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I work with these centres and the people operating them have told me that anyone who wants one can have a test. I was even invited to bring my family with me if I wanted one. If they refuse you there is something wrong.

Can you book one of the tests to see if you've had it as well?

Five weeks ago, I noticed that my sense of smell was weaker and that a lot of the food I ate had I slight tang to it. I thought of booking a test, but was influenced by a radio interview I heard saying that it was only a complete loss of those senses which was a possible symptom of Covid and by the time I realised this was wrong, it was well past the five days from when symptoms first develop period they talk about for the test to be effective.

I've read the NHS guidance which says that people who live by themselves who self isolate can come out of it if the only symptoms they're still showing is a loss of smell/taste and/or a cough (apparently these symptoms can linger for weeks after the virus). I've always got a cough and my sense of smell has, if anything, got worse over the past five weeks (my sense of taste is better than it was, but still not quite right), but my GP told me that if it was COVID that affected my senses I must have had a very mild dose of it and it's more likely it's something else which can be investigated when things get back to something like normal - she told me not to be concerned about affecting other people with Covid or that I may still develop serious symptoms, if that was going to happen it would have done so weeks ago.

So, although there's no point being tested to see if I have it now, it might be worth finding out if I have had it in the past.

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

I work with these centres and the people operating them have told me that anyone who wants one can have a test. I was even invited to bring my family with me if I wanted one. If they refuse you there is something wrong.

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But did you want a family?

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Can you book one of the tests to see if you've had it as well?

Five weeks ago, I noticed that my sense of smell was weaker and that a lot of the food I ate had I slight tang to it. I thought of booking a test, but was influenced by a radio interview I heard saying that it was only a complete loss of those senses which was a possible symptom of Covid and by the time I realised this was wrong, it was well past the five days from when symptoms first develop period they talk about for the test to be effective.

I've read the NHS guidance which says that people who live by themselves who self isolate can come out of it if the only symptoms they're still showing is a loss of smell/taste and/or a cough (apparently these symptoms can linger for weeks after the virus). I've always got a cough and my sense of smell has, if anything, got worse over the past five weeks (my sense of taste is better than it was, but still not quite right), but my GP told me that if it was COVID that affected my senses I must have had a very mild dose of it and it's more likely it's something else which can be investigated when things get back to something like normal - she told me not to be concerned about affecting other people with Covid or that I may still develop serious symptoms, if that was going to happen it would have done so weeks ago.

So, although there's no point being tested to see if I have it now, it might be worth finding out if I have had it in the past.

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If you are married I would check if the wife is poisoning you.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

If you are married I would check if the wife is poisoning you.

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Nope, can't blame anyone else for it I'm afraid. One of the possibilities that have come up in discussions is that I may have done a Donald Trump and been affected by the bleach I was cleaning my sink and work surfaces with (I did that for the first two or three months after lockdown about once a week).

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Originally Posted by Jordi Culé

They were stringent with me. I was given an appointment with specific time slot and location that wasn’t the nearest centre to me, in order to minimise any contact with other people. I was also under the impression that they’re prioritising key workers etc.

I didn’t realise they were offering ‘drop in’ Covid tests?

It’s a good idea.

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There's a hell of a lot of incorrect "APPOINTMENT ONLY" signs at the Leckwith one. If they took them down they might actually test someone mind

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

But did you want a family?

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God no, two are enough thank you!!

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Can you book one of the tests to see if you've had it as well?

Five weeks ago, I noticed that my sense of smell was weaker and that a lot of the food I ate had I slight tang to it. I thought of booking a test, but was influenced by a radio interview I heard saying that it was only a complete loss of those senses which was a possible symptom of Covid and by the time I realised this was wrong, it was well past the five days from when symptoms first develop period they talk about for the test to be effective.

I've read the NHS guidance which says that people who live by themselves who self isolate can come out of it if the only symptoms they're still showing is a loss of smell/taste and/or a cough (apparently these symptoms can linger for weeks after the virus). I've always got a cough and my sense of smell has, if anything, got worse over the past five weeks (my sense of taste is better than it was, but still not quite right), but my GP told me that if it was COVID that affected my senses I must have had a very mild dose of it and it's more likely it's something else which can be investigated when things get back to something like normal - she told me not to be concerned about affecting other people with Covid or that I may still develop serious symptoms, if that was going to happen it would have done so weeks ago.

So, although there's no point being tested to see if I have it now, it might be worth finding out if I have had it in the past.

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The anti-body tests aren't readily available yet.

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Originally Posted by delmbox

There's a hell of a lot of incorrect "APPOINTMENT ONLY" signs at the Leckwith one. If they took them down they might actually test someone mind

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Well, I went to Rodney Parade for a test, after being told I can just drive up, and was sent away with a phone number to call to make an appointment. So, yet again, xsnaggle comes up trumps.

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

Well, I went to Rodney Parade for a test, after being told I can just drive up, and was sent away with a phone number to call to make an appointment. So, yet again, xsnaggle comes up trumps.

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I’ve been waiting for this all day:biggrin:

The wife got tested today in Tonyrefail, same script as I undertook recently. My observations were they weren’t exactly inundated but I’m wondering if these ‘drop in’ covid19 tests were a ‘one off’ or perhaps the ‘clap clinic’?

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Originally Posted by Jordi Culé

I’ve been waiting for this all day:biggrin:

The wife got tested today in Tonyrefail, same script as I undertook recently. My observations were they weren’t exactly inundated but I’m wondering if these ‘drop in’ covid19 tests were a ‘one off’ or perhaps the ‘clap clinic’?

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The thing is, I posted a link to the Welsh Government site yesterday and xSnaggle said he didn't give a toss what the official site said. He knew better. And, despite his record of getting things wrong in practically everything he spouts, a few people still seemed to take his assertion over the Welsh Government site.

xsnaggle, I have the day off on Friday - I can pop down to Cwm where there is a new site and check there if you want me to.

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

The thing is, I posted a link to the Welsh Government site yesterday and xSnaggle said he didn't give a toss what the official site said. He knew better. And, despite his record of getting things wrong in practically everything he spouts, a few people still seemed to take his assertion over the Welsh Government site.

xsnaggle, I have the day off on Friday - I can pop down to Cwm where there is a new site and check there if you want me to.

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I was anticipating this, Murphy's Law!
This is not a wind-up!
I spoke to the guys in Cwm today and in Abercynon. They confirmed you can drive up and get a test. I'm quite serious, if you need one then you should have one, I'm not taking the piss.
If they refuse you ask the guy his name and tell me please!

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Originally Posted by xsnaggle

I spoke to the guys in Cwm today. They confirmed you can drive up and get a test. I'm quite serious, if you need one then you should have one, I'm not taking the piss.
If they refuse you ask the guy his name and tell me please!

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I don't particularly need one - I don't live far from Rodney Parade so it was no bother for me to pop across in my lunch break.

The point is you are giving information that currently contradicts the Government site. If you are right, then there's little wonder that there is loads of confusion around because the Welsh Government are giving misleading information.

But, currently, I have to say that what I was told at Rodney Parade matches the Welsh Government site and so you are wrong in what you are saying as far as Newport goes. I'm not speaking for other sites, others have mentioned how it is in Cardiff, I have seen how it is in Newport.

When I booked a test for my wife at Abercynon I asked could I have one and was told no as I had no symptoms.

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Originally Posted by CCFCC3PO

I don't particularly need one - I don't live far from Rodney Parade so it was no bother for me to pop across in my lunch break.

The point is you are giving information that currently contradicts the Government site. If you are right, then there's little wonder that there is loads of confusion around because the Welsh Government are giving misleading information.

But, currently, I have to say that what I was told at Rodney Parade matches the Welsh Government site and so you are wrong in what you are saying as far as Newport goes. I'm not speaking for other sites, others have mentioned how it is in Cardiff, I have seen how it is in Newport.

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I'm only telling you what the operatives at the centres are telling me. not one centre or one man but several people at several centres. I'll ask again tomorrow and find out what is going on. I was like you and believed you had to have an appointment and I was told that is no longer so.
I will check.

I do not mean to misinform anyone, it may be too important, its not point scoring.
It is what I have actually been told by the people operating the sites .They say you can drive up register and have a test taken.

As I said, I'll ask again tomorrow and find out what is going on

xsnaggle if you deal with these centres then you are terrible at your job :hehe: