Coronavirus: Please use this thread for all COVID19 talk!

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I grew up poor, too, and my weight has generally wavered between normal to downright waifish. But it helped that both of my parents worked from home, and consequently we ate home-cooked meals consistently. For a lot of poor families, that isn't really an option; poorer people are less likely to work standard 9-5s, and consequently it's harder for them to cook from scratch. And because these habits are generally ingrained in children, that means that a lot of people grow up eating a lot of prepackaged food out of simple necessity. I didn't, so I am fortunate that I never developed much of a taste for a lot of it, but fortunate is the key word there.

Well my parents worked full time and my mum worked nights. She was still able to bake bread for us as it was cheaper than buying sliced bread back then. We never had a takeaway and I never heard anyone blamed for our situation in life.

We cannot undo history and you know what, we wouldn't if we could. Am I going to give up my home to someone else after working hard my whole life for it? History's breath might stink but you play the hand you are given. Too many people making excuses for themselves and for others.

I would say there are two kinds of poor. The hardworking poor who want more and those who have given up. All this victim talk does nothing to help people move on: it just entrenches a feeling of inevitable failure.

Indian Asians, btw, are above average for finances in the UK but still above average for covid deaths. Pakistani Asians are poorer and also more likely to die of covid. We cannot just blame wealth and historic racism - especially as lots of Asians come here with a lot of money.

 

[Schad]

Well my parents worked full time and my mum worked nights. She was still able to bake bread for us as it was cheaper than buying sliced bread back then. We never had a takeaway and I never heard anyone blamed for our situation in life.

We cannot undo history and you know what, we wouldn't if we could. Am I going to give up my home to someone else after working hard my whole life for it? History's breath might stink but you play the hand you are given. Too many people making excuses for themselves and for others.

I would say there are two kinds of poor. The hardworking poor who want more and those who have given up. All this victim talk does nothing to help people move on: it just entrenches a feeling of inevitable failure.

Honestly, most of the hardest-working people I know are poor; jobs that pay less often involve hard, difficult labour, and many poor people work multiple jobs besides. I think that I work pretty hard, but not as hard as the people I know holding down minimum-wage jobs (for instance, I'm able to post on Not606 from work, as I am now!). It's just that there's zero direct correlation between hard work and financial success.

Indian Asians, btw, are above average for finances in the UK but still above average for covid deaths. Pakistani Asians are poorer and also more likely to die of covid. We cannot just blame wealth and historic racism - especially as lots of Asians come here with a lot of money.

But, I mean, there are very well-established links between racism and poor health outcomes broadly, and as it pertains to COVID. And the Office of National Statistics found that, even when controlling for health factors, BAME individuals in the UK were still much more likely to die from COVID:

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54567866

 

[Ian Thumwood]

Morning! I am kind of obsessed at the moment with the way the country / world is trying to find its feet with how do we deal with race after Black Lives Matter, and one of my particular fascinations is the media's engagement with Covid and the impact on BAME communities.

If you are black or Sub-continental Asian, you are more likely to die of Covid. This is absolutely a fact. However, diseases are not racist. They do not see colour. So, where is culpability for this difference to be found? Well, I have seen a fair amount of stuff about the NHS being culpable, and certainly if the BAME community does not have access to equal medical provision - say they live in areas with failing or too-busy hospitals - then this will impact them. Also, the BAME community are often nurses or work in the lower echelons of the NHS. So, rightly, NHS and national culpability is questioned.

However, when did it become totally unacceptable to question the culpability of certain cultures? Black people are the fattest - by NHS statistics - in the nation. They are more likely to be obese than any other section of society. Black people are 3 times as likely to have diabetes (type 2) than white people. Sub continental asian people are 6 times - SIX TIMES - as likely to have type 2 diabetes. They are also more likely to live in large households with their elderly relatives. They are also the least likely to take up the Covid vaccine. Again I have seen this blamed on a deep-seated distrust of UK government and the NHS - but I would call this superstition and nonsense.

So, what is my point? Everything I have written here is fact, so I am trying to avoid being called a racist! My worry is there is a real move towards cultural appeasement which endangers accurate thinking. If there is one thing I hope society takes from this it is that staying fit and healthy - no matter your colour - is massively important, but the media rhetoric around this "racist" disease" may fool some communities into thinking they were just victims and not at all responsible for their own well-being. (Also I am bored)

I think that this is an interesting post and it has prompted some well-thought out replies. The question of genetics was raised when this trend was first identified last year and it was quickly discounted. I do not doubt that there are economic reasons for this and whilst the comment about eating junk food is intriguing, you have to ask yourself why people are choosing to eat unhealthily and whether this is a matter of choice or economics. Oddly enough, I do not think KFC is inexpensive. I would not call it value for money! There are definitely factors as work from a cultural perspective but I do wonder just how much economics plays a part in this too. In the first wave, the areas badly affected where those with houses that had multi-generational households which also reflects the occupants' economic status as well as culture. The comment made in this thread about body mass and diabetes is well made but, again, I think there is an economic as well as cultural element to this. What I have been surprised with is that no one here has drawn a line between risk to Covid and poor diet which can lead to diabetes. Should KFC and MacDonald's be taxed to fund the NHS which is suffering as a consequence of people eating their poor nutritional products? People are quick to rightly castigate Amazon or Facebook for their detrimental effects but I feel that junk food chains also have a culpability.

There was a brilliant article in the Sunday Telegraph about a month ago which included a series of graphs which showed the effect of vaccine efficacy and vaccine take-up when the proportion of the BAME population was expressed as a percentage of the population. It assumed that vaccination would be rejected for a number of reasons in the Asian population for reasons similar to the cultural resistance to the polio vaccination in places like Pakistan. This was before the vaccine was found to be as effective as preventing the transmission of the virus as we now know it to me. Effectively the graphs demonstrated that this only left about 65% of the population protected and the graphs all predicted a third wave in the UK July / August. This was based on 85% efficacy. What the article drove home that it is in everybody's interest that as many people are inoculated as possible as those rejecting the jab will create a community where the virus could mutate to the detriment of everyone.

For me, the most interesting comparison is how less democratic countries have faired in comparison with Western, capitalist democracies. Cuba is a success story which never gets any coverage in the Western media other than the Morning Star where it's performance does get the attention it deserves. The highest mortality rate is in US which is effectively the "head" of the capitalist world. I am beginning to think that Covid is stripping back some uncomfortable truths. It is exposing the unfair and unequal world in which most BAME live but, beyond this, it is also revealing that capitalism is extremely vulnerable to these kinds of risks too. Ironically, I think some of the SE Asian approaches to capitalism have a lot to answer for too! It is not just the West.

 

[Ian Thumwood]

I agree, mate! I’m desperate to go back to the frustration of watching golf balls disappear into thick undergrowth or lakes and getting seriously annoyed with myself. I play up at South Winchester and they’re supposedly taking bookings from next week for March 29 onwards. I need to get out and walk off some of this lard I’ve developed since before Xmas!!!

you had better get your game booked quickly before this site disappears under the proposed Royaldown development! This is looking increasingly likely due to the ineptitude of Winchester City Council.

 

[Libby]

Nipper is delighted to be going back to school next week. First step on our way back to normality.

Weather has shown signs of improving recently.too. Light at the end of the tunnel

 

[Billy Bates]

Nipper is delighted to be going back to school next week. First step on our way back to normality.

Weather has shown signs of improving recently.too. Light at the end of the tunnel

Exactly. Mine 2 aren't so looking forward to it. At least their parents are - we are the happiest in the household.

And you can tell improvement is happening right across the country - we only lost by 1 goal in our last match.

[HASHTAG]#keepingtheralph[/HASHTAG]

 

[davecg69]

you had better get your game booked quickly before this site disappears under the proposed Royaldown development! This is looking increasingly likely due to the ineptitude of Winchester City Council.

I know .... there have been loads of rumours of it being developed for years - but this time it seems more serious, though it’s total madness to consider a development like that when 1. There’s no apparent change in the road system, 2. The Badger Farm development still hasn’t been 100% taken up and 3. There’s not really the need for more 3 & 4 bedroom houses around here.
I’ve added my name to the objections and am planning on attending the meetings. However, sadly, my feeling is that it’s basically a done deal, seeing as there’s a ****-load of money to be made .....

 

[Billy Bates]

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I recall discussing on here with someone, not sure who and actually, not important, about attitudes to people obeying the lockdown rules.

Whilst I believe 'younger' people naturally have also broken them, I did point out in my experience, I had seen a lot of elderly people who I thought could be breaking rules.

Not sure what else to say.

 

[davecg69]

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I recall discussing on here with someone, not sure who and actually, not important, about attitudes to people obeying the lockdown rules.

Whilst I believe 'younger' people naturally have also broken them, I did point out in my experience, I had seen a lot of elderly people who I thought could be breaking rules.

Not sure what else to say.

That’s maddening. I haven’t changed any of my routine since having the jab and I’m bloody annoyed at anyone ignoring advice just because they’ve been inoculated. Sadly, it seems that so many people are just stupid, selfish .... I don’t know what. And it’s probably why we’re going to have to accept that this virus and it’s variants are likely to be with us for a long time

 

[St. Luigi Scrosoppi]

You can rest assured that the very lovely Mrs Godders and I continue to maintain a strict regime of isolation. If truth be known I prefer it that way. Who the **** wants to meet other people anyway? They're generally all a pain in the arse.

 

[Archers Road]

You can rest assured that the very lovely Mrs Godders and I continue to maintain a strict regime of isolation. If truth be known I prefer it that way. Who the **** wants to meet other people anyway? They're generally all a pain in the arse.

I have no problem with you or anyone else spending the rest of your days under self imposed house arrest, if that's what makes you happy. But please don't expect the rest of us to follow suit. I don't know how much longer I have left myself, but I'd quite like to go to the pictures, visit an art gallery, and watch some live sport, before I pop my clogs.

 

[Ian Thumwood]

I know .... there have been loads of rumours of it being developed for years - but this time it seems more serious, though it’s total madness to consider a development like that when 1. There’s no apparent change in the road system, 2. The Badger Farm development still hasn’t been 100% taken up and 3. There’s not really the need for more 3 & 4 bedroom houses around here.
I’ve added my name to the objections and am planning on attending the meetings. However, sadly, my feeling is that it’s basically a done deal, seeing as there’s a ****-load of money to be made .....

Dave

I think that the problem stems with WCC being too weak to fight against this development which is supposedly going to actually enhance the environment because the scheme is so good. What intrigues me is that the positions taken by the Liberals and Conservatives in WCC and Hants CC are not consistent. i..e Winchester Tories are opposed by Hants Tories are in favour! Don't even get me on the subject of the Liberals !

It is a shame that Covid prevented the demonstration against this development and the protest when on line with only a few hundred people in attendance. It makes you wonder just how much Covid has allowed developers to exploit the situation with schemes elsewhere that might never get off the ground. The annoying thing is that this development seems to centre around two parcels of land, one of which is owned by one farmer who would be likely to make an absolute mint after this deal. I am wondering if the nature reserve at Yew Tree Hill will be affected.

 

[fran-MLs little camera]

That’s maddening. I haven’t changed any of my routine since having the jab and I’m bloody annoyed at anyone ignoring advice just because they’ve been inoculated. Sadly, it seems that so many people are just stupid, selfish .... I don’t know what. And it’s probably why we’re going to have to accept that this virus and it’s variants are likely to be with us for a long time

I don't think the over-80s are attending raves....most of this rule breaking will consist of visiting another elderly person who has also been vaccinated. Minimal risk in my opinion. The main risks are pockets of vaccine deniers and the casual observation of social distancing in crowds. I am surprised by videos of people in cities who are not wearing masks in crowded streets....where you can't easily step out of someone's way or avoid their breaths. They say the risk is low outside, but not sure I'd take that chance.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

My Dad and his wife (79 & 64) both been jabbed.

I was surprised when I called him last Sunday and he said he was at my brother's for Sunday lunch. I told him that he was an idiot for going, but he felt safer now he has been jabbed.

As Fran said, low risk, but annoys the hell out of me as I would love to go and have dinner out (not with my brother though - long story) and we are now at this critical moment where if we stick to the rules for another 6 weeks or so, it won't give the virus a chance to mutate and put us all back at square one again.

However, I can understand it. It's been 12 months since anything resembling a normal existence. Stick to the rules for a bit longer and we'll get there i say.

As it's a football forum, it's like this:

We were 2-0 down at halftime, then 3-0 after 50 mins. on 60 mins we got back to 3-2, but then two quick goals put us 5-2 behind with 15 mins to go. Then we brought on our super sub, Astro Zen-i-ker and he got a hat trick - with the equaliser with the last kick of the ball. We're in extra time now and tiring fast.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

My Dad and his wife (79 & 64) both been jabbed.

I was surprised when I called him last Sunday and he said he was at my brother's for Sunday lunch. I told him that he was an idiot for going, but he felt safer now he has been jabbed.

As Fran said, low risk, but annoys the hell out of me as I would love to go and have dinner out (not with my brother though - long story) and we are now at this critical moment where if we stick to the rules for another 6 weeks or so, it won't give the virus a chance to mutate and put us all back at square one again.

However, I can understand it. It's been 12 months since anything resembling a normal existence. Stick to the rules for a bit longer and we'll get there i say.

As it's a football forum, it's like this:

We were 2-0 down at halftime, then 3-0 after 50 mins. on 60 mins we got back to 3-2, but then two quick goals put us 5-2 behind with 15 mins to go. Then we brought on our super sub, Astro Zen-i-ker and he got a hat trick - with the equaliser with the last kick of the ball. We're in extra time now and tiring fast.

Second half collapse you say? Who could we have been playing!?

 

[Archers Road]

My Dad and his wife (79 & 64) both been jabbed.

I was surprised when I called him last Sunday and he said he was at my brother's for Sunday lunch. I told him that he was an idiot for going, but he felt safer now he has been jabbed.

As Fran said, low risk, but annoys the hell out of me as I would love to go and have dinner out (not with my brother though - long story) and we are now at this critical moment where if we stick to the rules for another 6 weeks or so, it won't give the virus a chance to mutate and put us all back at square one again.

However, I can understand it. It's been 12 months since anything resembling a normal existence. Stick to the rules for a bit longer and we'll get there i say.

As it's a football forum, it's like this:

We were 2-0 down at halftime, then 3-0 after 50 mins. on 60 mins we got back to 3-2, but then two quick goals put us 5-2 behind with 15 mins to go. Then we brought on our super sub, Astro Zen-i-ker and he got a hat trick - with the equaliser with the last kick of the ball. We're in extra time now and tiring fast.

I’m a little concerned that VAR is going to force a rethink and stretch this out indefinitely. My worry is that we have placed unprecedented powers in the hands of the officials, and the game - of life - may never be the same again.

Okay, I’m probably paranoid. But I never thought I’d see the day when people could be fined for walking in the fresh air.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

I’m a little concerned that VAR is going to force a rethink and stretch this out indefinitely. My worry is that we have placed unprecedented powers in the hands of the officials, and the game - of life - may never be the same again.

Okay, I’m probably paranoid. But I never thought I’d see the day when people could be fined for walking in the fresh air.

I'm with you on that.

I saw someone ranting on FB the other day that the day the government pay their mortgage is the day they can tell them how many people are allowed in their house. I sort of get that, but I can also see the need to minimise contact and get the worst out of the way so we can get on.

As you say though, we have now set a dangerous precedent - the state has to a degree (quite a degree actually for a democracy) controlled us as we are in a pandemic. Let's hope they don't get used to it.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Had my AZ jab today .

 

[davecg69]

Had my AZ jab today .

Great stuff! Hope you don’t get any after effects. I was ok, but my older brother had a pretty bad reaction.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

That’s maddening. I haven’t changed any of my routine since having the jab and I’m bloody annoyed at anyone ignoring advice just because they’ve been inoculated. Sadly, it seems that so many people are just stupid, selfish .... I don’t know what. And it’s probably why we’re going to have to accept that this virus and it’s variants are likely to be with us for a long time

Seems to me a lot of people think the vaccine is a magic bullet . Its not!