Coronavirus Discussion

Takethedogalong

Weekend statistics always look better. Tuesday is usually a reverse, but thankfully the weekly average does still seem to be coming down

The figures this weekend for USA and Brazil have been dreadful in terms of number of new cases. 

Interesting about statins. Not something I take.

JVB66

Interesting    this thread was closed who has reopened it?

 As above  ,weekends have never been correct

Both oh and i are on statins and i am also on vit D tablets which  doc said when she visited couple of weeks ago gave us a stronger defence according to latest information

ABM

JVB.  Can you get some Vit  D tablets  issued to Stoke City's  team then please, they need all the help they can get  

 { With apologies of course  !! }

JVB66

AnnB

If anyone is interested in keeping an eye on the information that was used in the now ‘paused’ a Press Briefings you can find it here...

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/slides-and-datasets-to-accompany-coronavirus-press-conferences.

Dont think they update it at weekend but you can usually see all the daily info.

JVB66

Only one corvid fatality in the East of England this weekend so far

Compo

I think the number of confirmed coronavirus cases each day is best read against the number of tests done. That gives a better idea of how the virus is progressing.

DavidKlyne

Very true but the number of tests being done also seems to be falling?

David

brue

Bristol Uni say that 20% of tests produce a false negative, with that plus repeat testing for some it's difficult to really get a grasp on the subject.

Compo

Not good news then. Just shows the virus is not going away any time soon.

DaveCyn

I see both SKY &  BBC NEWS are reporting that some MP's are suggesting a local lockdown  e imposed in Leicester 

Not out of the woods yet by quite a way.

DavidKlyne

Difficult to tell because if there are few new cases, apart from a few hotspots where testing should be concentrated, there is no point in testing without a reason as it's not likely to show much. Obviously important to continue testing anyone in the medical/care system and other vulnerable groups but not sure it works in the wider community unless there is some evidence of COVID 19?

David

SteveL

The Office for national statistics does not agree David. Because we took part in another study recently and indicated we would not be adverse to taking part in others, we received a letter on Friday asking if we wanted to register for one related to Covid.

In what is the study about,  it says, it aims to work out how many people have Covid, either with or without symptoms. Processing of the data to be done by Oxford University and the National Biosample Centre. They will send a nurse to ask us some questions and take a swab. It does not say if you will be told the results though. It goes on to say they might ask you to repeat the test over the next year.

EasyT

These tests have, from memory, been going on at least since sometime in April to gather statistics of the proportion of folk infected. 

JVB66

I have been using the  covid 19 app from Kings College London for several weeks now 

SteveL

It may be that they want some new blood. Possibly literally😂 as they say you may be asked for a blood sample.

EasyT

A friend of ours posted about 10 days go on the forum that Fliss runs to say she had received a letter and wondered it was a scam. I was able to reassure her and direct her to the relevant sites to put her mind at rest.

Compo

" Scotland should consider making travellers from England self isolate for 14 days because Scotland is on track to be Covid free in a few months." This would be interesting for the Scottish Tourist Industry if this were to come into force.

SteveL

Indeed phone, post and internet scams all seem to have picked up recently. Perhaps because other sources of illegally obtaining money or information, particularly physically calling at the front door, have dried up.

DavidKlyne

Steve

I imagine there would be a difference between a controlled study and general testing. If they decide to test a whole town,for example, that would provide useful data as to the prevalence of the virus in a certain location. Likewise a random sample of people, perhaps like what you have volunteered for, could also be helpful in understanding the general spread. What I am referring to is more general testing where the data is not really collated other than to provide general statistics. 

Are you going to be part of any antigen testing?

David

SteveL

Are you going to be part of any antigen testing?

It does not say. Although perhaps that is why they state you might ask for a blood sample. I assume more information will be provided when they come to ask the questions and do the swabs.

Tinwheeler

Antigen or swab testing is to see if you have the disease.

It's not something I would wish to repeat😟

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SteveL

We will see how we go with one. It says on the letter you can decide if you want to sign up to further testing.

Tinwheeler

I guess it depends who carries out the antigen test. I’ve seen them done on TV where they seemed nothing more than a quick rub around with a swab. Mine was a 'deep throat' gag inducing swab and the nasal one was painful as it went right up into the nasal cavity. The antibody blood test would have been preferable!

ForestR

You are right ET.

I was asked to take part in the latest study by DOH and Imperial College London of a new antibody test to which I agreed.

Last week I was sent a test kit to take a pin prick blood sample and apply to a test strip with a result in less than 15 minutes. I then had to log in and complete questionnaire and send a photograph of the completed test.

My result was negative !

Cornersteady

same here, eyes didn't stop watering for hours.

Tinwheeler

That’s a shame, FR. I expect we would all hope for positive antibody tests as it would be nice to know if we had some degree of immunity.

Tinwheeler

I’m glad it wasn’t just me 😀

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