Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Adamski]

46 minutes ago, oaksoft said:

Adamski, with the utmost respect, I can't speak for anyone else but personally I'm absolutely done with people producing models for infections.

It's pretty clear that as humans we don't understand anywhere near enough about how viruses spread and it's also crystal clear that our scientists don't have enough of a clue about how humans behave to produce credible numbers.

I'm sure you're a good scientist but after 2 years of people climbing over themselves to give predictions as "experts" I'm done with all of it, whether those models predict numbers I like or don't like.

And I'm saying that as a former scientist who specialised in computational work.

I've got a few irons in the fire as far as Covid is concerned, but I'm definitely no expert. And I don't think models tell the whole story, but they do have a part to play. If they're good then they should give forewarning of things that are worth preparing for or highlighting when that's not the case. And there's some things that aren't exactly rocket science: if on Monday to Thursday the case rates are about 1.5 times what they were last week, then on Friday they'll most likely they'll be about 1.5 times what they were last Friday too. They might not be, but it's a best guess. I don't think it'll surprise anyone that the biggest rises in cases this year happened during the initial unlocking in May, the Euros (which has the record for the current week to week rise), when the schools went back, and now.

I personally know quite a few of the people who have been in the press and on TV throughout all of this, including one very high profile one. Certainly of them, I'd be very surprised if there's anyone who sees this as their fifteen minutes of fame and an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Mainly people who hope that their expertise can add to the general understanding of the virus and make a bit of a difference to the outcome, and who would rather it was all done so that they can get back to their normal lives and doing the types of science they enjoy. And it's not hard to find people in the community who are opposed to the types of restrictions currently being put in place.

People want clear answers. All scientists can do is offer their best guess based on their experiences of other respiratory viruses, plus the two years or so to learn about this one. And if possible present those guesses clearly, and taking into account the economic/social/mental factors that might not point to the same conclusions as the scientific ones.

[Robin.Hood]

57 minutes ago, Aladdin said:

Im meant to be going to a party tonight.  The issue I have is, should I catch it, my wife would also have to isolate for 10 days.  Meant to be going down to her mums in England on 24th for her to see her gran, who isnt in the best of health, which would be scuppered by a positive test.

So, do I play rona roulette tonight or bide in, thus avoiding a potential situation of a prolonged period of her absolutely fuming if end up positive and scupper her family Xmas plans.

Head to your local supermarket. Busy enough and you won't feel guilty, then go out and party 

[Meldrew]

3 hours ago, thisal said:

I was double jabbed by AZ and caught Covid. My symptoms were negligable compared to my two mates of similar age and fitness. They both caught it pre-vaccine and ended in hospital.  So even by my small non scientific study you're talking shite.

did i say it was it didn't work ? No, i said it was shite in comparison to Pfizer & Moderna, stop being so angry, its almost Christmas

[Clown Job]

f**k it

I’m going for a pizza and pint with a few mates tonight 

[renton]

93K in the UK today, full figured or same data lag issue as Scotland?

[Hedgecutter]

1 hour ago, MONKMAN said:

As someone who utterly despised tories and everything they stand for, I’m delighted Boris has told her to fucking do one. We’d be locked down by now, but instead I’ll be going to hospitality at Palmerston tomorrow then the pub with my mates. 

This is the part that I find most interesting Nicola... you have actually made more people want to go to the pub.  Isn't that great?!

[GiGi]

3 minutes ago, Hedgecutter said:

This is the part that I find most interesting Nicola... you have actually made more people want to go to the pub.  Isn't that great?!

Anecdotally I know of a few people who are giving the pubs a bye this weekend because they don't want to risk covid wrecking Christmas. 

Statements like all the UK governments have made this week will seriously hit hospitality while doing f**k all to compensate them.

Which is why said pubs will likely stick two fingers up at any attempt to make them do more to "be safe". 

[Bairnardo]

8 minutes ago, GiGi said:

Anecdotally I know of a few people who are giving the pubs a bye this weekend because they don't want to risk covid wrecking Christmas. 

Statements like all the UK governments have made this week will seriously hit hospitality while doing f**k all to compensate them.

Which is why said pubs will likely stick two fingers up at any attempt to make them do more to "be safe". 

I hope so. I'll be reverting back to my previous policy of giving the short shrift to any pub that indulges in theatre in favour of ones who simply continue as they ever were

[pozbaird]

13 minutes ago, GiGi said:

Anecdotally I know of a few people who are giving the pubs a bye this weekend because they don't want to risk covid wrecking Christmas. 

Statements like all the UK governments have made this week will seriously hit hospitality while doing f**k all to compensate them.

Which is why said pubs will likely stick two fingers up at any attempt to make them do more to "be safe". 

Yeah, I know more than one person who has decided not to go to a gig, go to a function of some description, or go to a hotel for a ‘wee overnighter’ they had booked ahead of Christmas…just in case. 
 

Personally, I was happy to take my life in my hands and go to the Barras’ to see Del Amitri this week, but it’s been kyboshed. If I was shitting myself about catching Covid ahead of Christmas, I would have avoided the gym, where people are standing on a treadmill right next to me, sweating profusely and breathing their Omicron-riddled breath in my airspace. No mask or anything either. No, hold on, been to the gym on average three days a week since they were allowed to re-open, and I’m fine and dandy. 
 

Better not go tomorrow morning. Just in case.

Edited December 17, 2021 by pozbaird

[Distant Doonhamer]

12 minutes ago, GiGi said:

Anecdotally I know of a few people who are giving the pubs a bye this weekend because they don't want to risk covid wrecking Christmas. 

Statements like all the UK governments have made this week will seriously hit hospitality while doing f**k all to compensate them.

Which is why said pubs will likely stick two fingers up at any attempt to make them do more to "be safe". 

Yep I know a load of folk who've binned pub visits and nights out this weekend. Main reason is to try to decrease the chance of having to self isolate over Christmas. We were due to be at a night out in St Andrews tomorrow night. It's been cancelled given a large number of call offs. Full refunds provided by the venue.

[superbigal]

Yep I know a load of folk who've binned pub visits and nights out this weekend. Main reason is to try to decrease the chance of having to self isolate over Christmas. We were due to be at a night out in St Andrews tomorrow night. It's been cancelled given a large number of call offs. Full refunds provided by the venue.

If you were going to the fairmont then I'm not too surprised.
They have been particularly hard hit with outbreaks.
Just had my works Xmas Dinner courtesy of the WestPort in St Andrews. Badly hit by cancellations unfortunately.

[pozbaird]

How are other P&Bers finding their hometowns just now? Please don’t say ‘I just take the bus as usual and there it is’….

Was up in Cumbernauld town centre earlier, and it was very quiet. Wasn’t even a queue at Greggs in the Antonine Centre, and that’s a first. Folk avoiding towns ‘just in case’, or maybe just quiet because the turkey, sprouts and stuff is still only dated to December 20th?

Edited December 17, 2021 by pozbaird

[Abdul_Latif]

2 minutes ago, pozbaird said:

How are other P&Bers finding their hometowns just now? (Please don’t say ‘I just take the bus as usual and there it is).

Was up in Cumbernauld town centre earlier, and it was very quiet. Wasn’t even a queue at Greggs in the Antonine Centre, and that’s a first. Folk avoiding towns ‘just in case’, or maybe just quiet because the turkey, sprouts and stuff is still only dated to December 20th?

Was in Dundee earlier this afternoon and tbh it was exactly like I would expect a Friday afternoon to be.
 

More than a few party groups going about for Black Friday.

Edited December 17, 2021 by Abdul_Latif

[Billy Jean King]

As a Dundee fan I'd be delighted to get the season stopped right now . . . [emoji58]

Saints are torture but it's one thing folk look forward to regardless. It's a social thing for our crowd as much as the actual game. We all live umpteen miles apart and it's the one focal point every fortnight oh and the Scottish cup jolly to Ayr is on the horizon, a great day out.

[renton]

That's Denmark going into a partial lockdown/wetting the bed (delete as appropriate):

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said on Friday that theatres, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, museums and art galleries must shut down to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Frederiksen said stores smaller than 2,000 sq metres (21,528 sq ft) and restaurants in Denmark also must limit their number of customers. The government is advising residents to limit social contacts over the Christmas holidays.

“We are not talking about shutting down the whole country as we did last year,” Frederiksen said.

The shutdown order requires parliamentary approval. Lawmakers on the epidemic committee meet on Friday afternoon.

Like many other European countries, Denmark is seeing an rise in Covid-19 cases, with health authorities saying the number of infections and hospitalisations has risen faster than expected.

The country reported 9,999 new cases on Thursday, and the number was above 11,000 on Friday, the prime minister said.

Last year, Denmark was one of the first European countries to close schools because of the pandemic.

[RH33]

2 minutes ago, Abdul_Latif said:

Was in Dundee earlier this afternoon and tbh it was exactly like I would expect a Friday afternoon to be.
 

More than a few party groups going about for Black Friday.

Surely next Friday is black Friday?

[pozbaird]

Just now, Abdul_Latif said:

Was in Dundee earlier this afternoon and tbh it was exactly like I was expect a Friday afternoon to be. More than a few party groups going about for Black Friday.

Busy in Dundee then? Glad to hear it. Cumbernauld was busy before the ‘think about cancelling your Christmas parties’ spiel. The atmosphere in and around the town centre was very good. Was a different story today.

[Billy Jean King]

Pub owners when they're asked to limit numbers at their busiest time of year after being fucked about for 18 months

I just walked through Ayr and it's akin to January rather than freaky Friday. Police will be delighted I suppose as the pubs were dead.

[The Master]

Just now, RH33 said:

Surely next Friday is black Friday?

I've always known Black Friday to be the last Friday before Christmas Eve, but I don't profess to be an authority on the matter.

 

[peasy23]

Went for my booster this morning at Barmulloch, feared the worst after coming off nightshift and hearing horror stories about people waiting for hours as that was the last thing I needed to be doing. Appointment was at 9.10, dropped the daughter at school and joined the queue which was outside the building at about 8.50. Reckon there were about 40 people in front of me, so I was pleasantly surprised to be jagged and back in the house for 9.20.