I think you've made some big assumptions there, which you're entitled to do but I don't think they're entirely accurate. I didn't once say that I don't believe the medics or scientists. I think they're the ones we should be listening to. My problem is with the media and the suppression of differing opinions and the avoidance of an open discussion with regards to vaccination which you also seem reluctant to engage in without emotion driving the conversation. You've made your mind up and it seems like there's no changing that regardless of the information presented. My opinion is fluid and is open to change. As said before, I know enough to know that I don't know anything and am open to hearing other peoples opinions which is why I am here. Not just to tell others what I think, but to listen to what they think and why without dismissing them as whacky reasons. I also didn't say that 'people just hear what they want to hear, where they want to hear it.' I said people exist in echo chambers. Which we do. We tend to surround ourselves with people with similar opinions.
I think the media have been appalling throughout. I don't get my information on this stuff from MSM. I presumed that you didn't agree with the science on people being asymptomatic from your original post. That's why I asked why you disagree with the medics and scientists. You now say they're the ones we should be listening to, which seems a tad contradictory. I'm not at all emotional about the vaccines. I've listened to all sides and made my own mind up on what is best for me and mine. You are entitled to your opinions on all this stuff. I haven't made my mind up 'regardless of the information presented'. I've made my mind up after listening to as wide a range of opinions as I could find. We'll leave it there. Just can't be arsed with 'you said', 'I said' etc.
Some fantastic posts there Hills. My sister in law is very much in agreement with the majority of what you say. Shes not an anti vaxer either. I believe the majority of unvaxinated arent.
Jeez. I didn't misquote you. You've completely contradicted yourself. Anyway, apologies. Not in the best of moods.
Beth knows much more about the actual science than I can ever claim to, because she’s an actual scientist.
Cheers Stan. On this I will admit to being a scientist, a neuroimmunologist before retiring...and my other claim to fame is...I have twice been Covid positive with out showing symptoms ( asymptomatic). The first time last August, I am pretty sure I passed the disease onto my hubbie..who became strongly positive after I did, and was quite ill and had long covid, and is only just getting back to being back to normal. I am sure both scientifically and personally that asymptomatic transmission happens. It is the asymptomatic transmission that has made this pandemic so dangerous...HSB. If we all knew we had it and were ill, we would stay at home and suffer, like Col is at the moment. It is the people who don't know they have it...who transmit it through the population, and why it has spread so rapidly for two years. Which is why I would like everyone (including young healthy people) to be vaccinated. But obviously what one does with your own body is one owns business. And I respect all such views, when thought out sensibly like you have Hill Street. Thank you for expressing them so eloquently But I have no time for the lies that come out from some antiVaxxers though obviously
Just done another test and the positive red line appeared almost immediately and was the strongest line yet!! Could someone (Beth, Stan I'm looking at you!) explain what's going on? I'm being told by test and trace that I can stop isolating after tomorrow, which they calculated as my day 10. I make it my day 8 after testing positive last Wednesday. Does this mean that I'm much less contagious after tomorrow? I think I've seen data saying that you're under 10% contagious by day 10 or something. Why is the result much stronger than the earlier ones, or does this mean nothing? I now have a more regular cough along with the tiredness, brain fog and stitch in my side. Probably going to need to talk to our show's MD about a contingency plan. Is this turning into a more long covid situation? That's my worry.
What your test shows you Col is that you still have virus in your throat/ nose... And so when you breathe or cough it is expelled...and so potentially contagious. You will next ask, why so ( more) positive. It could be difference in the way you do tests or tests themselves. Or it could nean you are still contagious. The 6 or 10 day cut off is a completely arbitrary number, when population studies show most people are no longer infectious...but not all... a few ( maybe you) remain contagious longer. You ask about long covid, no it does not mean that ...long civid is a chronic long term disease, which is "probably caused" by damage to lungs and/ or nervous system... having covid longer doesn't mean you will have long covid...but only time will tell. Finally, from Thursday you do not need to isolate even if you are positive (!!°°). So what you do then...is entirely up to you.
You're only classed as having Long Covid if you have symptoms lasting more than four weeks, so a way to go yet. However, the brain fog and tiredness are both Long Covid symptoms - start taking some multivits and iron supliments, and plenty of fluids. And don't rush back to work until you feel strong enough, it'll only exacerbate the tiredness and aches and you'll possibly end up unwell again.
I can’t explain the tests Col, but the same thing was happening with my son, still testing positive on day 9, although his symptoms were long gone by then. Beth will know better how these tests work, but I know the PCR tests can show positive weeks after initial infection. The duration of isolation is meant to be from when you first had symptoms, I think. I’ve read that being vaccinated, and especially triple vaccinated, is a very good protection against long covid and I really hope that this is the case. The lateral flow tests detect antigens (proteins) present when you have COVID 19. I’m guessing you can still have these after you are infectious, but Beth will know more (and she doesn’t have much faith in them anyway). The PCR test detects bits of the virus itself, and these can linger long after you are infectious.
Thanks Bob. It seems the definition of what an anti-vaxxer is is rapidly changing before our eyes and is now being used by the media as a large blanket to cover anyone who is taking their time to make a decision over whether or not to get vaccinated. I appreciate how fortunate I am to be part of a demographic that is not at high-risk and so I have been afforded a bit of extra time to deliberate and wait for the long term data when it becomes available. However, I also understand that not everyone is in the same position as I am and don't necessarily feel like they have the time to wait for that data to become available before taking action to protect themselves. Thanks for your valuable input, Beth. On reflection, I was too hasty in saying I don't buy the asymptomatic transmission narrative and even when writing my response it was the one bit I considered deleting. I do believe that asymptomatic transmission is likely and very probable (I'm no scientist), but I suppose it is more that I don't want everyone to live in fear for the rest of their lives that they could be a risk to others health around them even when they feel 100% healthy and have no symptoms of any illness at all. Otherwise we'd all spend the rest of our lives thinking that we could be harming others even when we feel fine which I'd imagine will become very psychologically and emotionally exhausting for us all.
Still testing positive today. It's supposedly the last day I legally have to isolate. First positive test was last Wednesday. Feeling gradually better though.
Good one mate. My friend had to wait 10 days before getting a negative reading. For me it was more worrying than actual illness. keep looking at those bloody lines stressed me out. Chin up Col, stay safe and I hope you get rid of it soonest.
Yeah, reading up on it, it seems that I'm now quite unlikely to be infectious, but I need to test negative before I can enter the theatre.
BBC headline ‘Millions of COVID vaccines wasted in England’ Then when you read the article it turns out that 4.7m doses, or 4% of the total was not used. In the circumstances of an unprecedented scale roll out in very little time, covering new and untested ground every step of the way, I think this is a remarkable achievement, and wholly positive, huge respect to those involved, at every level. It’s too early for my brain to function well enough to look it up effectively and I have a plane to catch, but I’m willing to bet this is a much lower wastage rate than across the NHS as whole, and much, much lower than wastage in primary and community care. Really bad reporting/sub editing.
I have spent the morning reading these two scientific papers...( links contained within the tweet thread) A magnificent effort The pandemic was started by the selling of illegal live mammals at the market in Huanan. The science is magnificent..
