Off Topic Coronavirus

Sadly, Uber I can relate to your experience, the "care" provided in hospitals is appalling and would probably be better served by the private sector where you have a choice, but that's a debate for a different day.
Regarding GP's, when are they are ever going to realise that we are out of lockdown and they should revert to seeing patients face-to-face and providing community care, not hiding behind telephone consultations. Maybe this is their "new normal" even though it doesn't help the patients.
I hope your mum recovers well and the medication does the trick.

 

Lack of funding has left everyone counting their pennies. ....and not doing what they should be doing.

I have has a recent opposite experience with my daughter who had a gynecology problem... that could not be sorted locally. 3 days later saw a gynecology consultant....who could not sort the problem ( mum panic stricken at this point). . One week later...an operation, and sorted.

They sent her home 3 hours early to clear the bed I admit but I sorted that bit)..but now all okay...and so relieved...so relieved I cannot say.

And ig would have cost us thousands in USA.


I do think diseases of old age and social care is the problem here...and the interaction is completely lacking

 

Hope your ma is recovering OK Uber, despite the ineptitude.

 

The amazingly low death toll from the virus in China has always been an area of debate and doubt……until yesterday they claimed no deaths since March 2020. Now they say 3 people have died in Shanghai, all aged over 85. This in a country where only 38% of over 60s are fully vaccinated, and vaccinated with home grown vaccines at that.

…..turns out that they don’t attribute a death to COVID if there is ANY other underlying illness present, and that COVID has to be proved by a scan showing scarring to the lungs. A pretty high bar. Gaps are beginning to show as care home managers are (anonymously) admitting that in some cases the majority of their residents have died from the virus.

 

You probably heard it but the WHO reported yesterday they reckoned 15 million have died from Covid globally, a big increase on previously reported numbers, 6.2 million for instance in Norwegian media today.

 

Yay! No more Covid in Scotland! Well, the mask rules have been lifted anyway......although when I was out at the shops earlier, I'd reckon at least 70% of folk were still wearing them....

Mrs still has to wear one at work though whether or not she's dealing with patients, and there are a few establishments that will require a mask for entry.

Cases are a lot down on where they were a few weeks ago, but there's still a large number in hospital, although I'm not sure how many are in ITU.

Still difficult to get a face-to-face with a GP though.....

 

There were another 2 deaths reported last month that you seemed to have missed

 

Yeah, my mistake. 12 deaths reported in the last year, until this week, now ten deaths in Shanghai. But these are being attributed to ‘underlying causes’.

Do you believe these numbers?

 

The same amount of belief as when I sing “we’re the finest football team the world has ever seen”

 

I have no evidence to say either way, but my belief is that it could well be higher during the initial phase of the outbreak. Since then the country has been relatively free of any outbreaks until recently. Now things are flaring up again, particularly among the older generations.

 

Well, what a bummer. On my last work trip to Indianapolis pre retirement, had a heavy weekend in Chicago with mates, felt I was going down with a sinus thing which I often get after long flights and time in over air conditioned rooms, but thought it best to get a test….positive (PCR, so yeah, positive).

Very, very mild version, slight catch in the throat, blocked nose, intermittent headache. Thankfully the local rules say I can still fly home on Thursday, but that’s goodbye to the office for me, and was being taken to a variety of restaurants and bars this week, but holed up in hotel until then. Bit of a bastard but worse things happen at sea etc.

 

Nitemare! Get well soon

 

So sorry Stan. I know you were looking forward to it so much

Got to say one feature of coronavirus is it seems to have an inbuilt ability to know the most annoying time to hit you.

Enjoy the yank TV...

 

What a spoiler! Hotel food will definitely not stand up to all those fantastic restaurants and lovely wines. Cheer up, there’s always Wordle and Not606 to keep you smiling (just don’t read Hammersmiths posts if you want to stay positive ).

I’m sure you’ll make the best of a bad situation Sb.

 

****ing wordle pissed me off today

 

Watch out for monkey pox

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates
Latest updates on cases of monkeypox identified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
14 May 2022
Last updated
16 May 2022 — See all updates
monkey pox
Latest
Four more cases of monkeypox indentified by UKHSA
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected 4 additional cases of monkeypox, 3 in London and one linked case in the north east of England.

The 4 new cases do not have known connections with the previous confirmed cases announced on 14 May and the case announced on 7 May.

Investigations are underway to establish links between the latest 4 cases, who all appear to have been infected in London. All 4 of these cases self-identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (MSM).

Currently, common contacts have been identified for 2 of the 4 latest cases.

There is no link to travel to a country where monkeypox is endemic, and exactly where and how they acquired their infections remains under urgent investigation, including whether they have further links to each other.

Those patients needing medical care are all in specialist infectious disease units at the Royal Free Hosptial, Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne and Guys’ and St Thomas’. The individuals have the West African clade of the virus, which is mild compared to the Central African clade.

These latest cases mean that there are currently 7 confirmed monkeypox cases in the UK, diagnosed between 6 and 15 May.

Due to the recent increase in cases and uncertainties around where some of these individuals acquired their infection, we are working closely with NHS partners to identify if there may have been more cases in recent weeks, as well as international partners to understand if similar rises have been seen in other countries.

Monkeypox is a viral infection usually associated with travel to West Africa. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness, spread by very close contact with someone with monkeypox and most people recover within a few weeks.

The virus does not spread easily between people and the risk to the UK population is low. However, the most recent cases are in gay, bisexual and other MSM communities, and as the virus spreads through close contact, we are advising these groups to be alert to any unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, and to contact a sexual health service if they have concerns.

Anyone with concerns that they could be infected with monkeypox is advised to make contact with clinics ahead of their visit. We can assure them their call or discussion will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser, UKHSA, said:

This is rare and unusual. UKHSA is rapidly investigating the source of these infections because the evidence suggests that there may be transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact.

We are particularly urging men who are gay and bisexual to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay.

We are contacting any potential close contacts of the cases to provide health information and advice.

Clinicians should be alert to individuals presenting with rashes without a clear alternative diagnosis and should contact specialist services for advice.

Symptoms
Initial symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body including the genitals.

The rash changes and goes through different stages, and can look like chickenpox or syphilis, before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

Previous
Saturday 14 May 2022
Two additional cases of monkeypox identified in London
Two individuals have been diagnosed with monkeypox in London, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.

The cases live together in the same household. They are not linked to the previous confirmed case announced on 7 May. Where and how they acquired their infection remains under investigation.

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between people. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some people.

The infection can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person, however, there is a very low risk of transmission to the general population.

One of the cases is receiving care at the expert infectious disease unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London. The other case is isolating and does not currently require hospital treatment.

As a precautionary measure, UKHSA experts are working closely with the individuals and NHS colleagues and will be contacting people who might have been in close contact to provide information and health advice.

People without symptoms are not considered infectious but, as a precaution, those who have been in close proximity to the individuals are being contacted to ensure that, if they do become unwell, they can be treated quickly.

Dr Colin Brown, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA, said:

We have confirmed 2 new monkeypox cases in England that are not linked to the case announced on May 7. While investigations remain ongoing to determine the source of infection, it is important to emphasise it does not spread easily between people and requires close personal contact with an infected symptomatic person. The overall risk to the general public remains very low.

We are contacting any potential close contacts of the case. We are also working with the NHS to reach any healthcare contacts who have had close contact with the cases prior to confirmation of their infection, to assess them as necessary and provide advice.

UKHSA and the NHS have well established and robust infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease and these will be strictly followed.

Professor Julian Redhead, medical director at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said:

We are caring for a patient in our specialist high consequence infectious diseases unit at St Mary’s Hospital. All of the necessary infectious control procedures have been followed and we are working closely with UKHSA and NHS England.

Symptoms

 

Australia apparently now holds the record of most co-vid cases per capita than anywhere else in the world.

My son had it, my son-in-law had it, l’ve just spent several weeks in bed with all thee symptoms and bad flu and after having rat test ( several varieties of brands )…. I tested negative every time.

It’s now been four weeks since l was bed ridden but still suffer menopausal sweats, complete lack of energy and downright feeling crap one minute, ok the next.

Doctor says l fine…… go figure.

 

Hope it remains mild mate.

 

Hope it passes easily enough without too many symptoms. I'm beginning to feel left out as my wife and I and my elderly parents are the only remaining bubbles I know that have not had it yet. Even a trip to three different locations in the plague ridden South (to visit family and count how many working limbs the wrinklies still have has not infected us.

 

drink lots of gin and eat lots of pizza