Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Coronavirus
Hopalong:
Same disease but a little different; it spreads more easily. (There are heavier viral loads in those who spread the variant; that's why.)
Hence, this means "usual precautions" such as continuing to shop in stores while wearing a mask is inadequate. Instead, if one has the option, do real lockdown for protection except for urgent/emergency needs. Vaccination levels when they reach herd immunity will protect everybody but we're not there yet as vaccination distribution just got underway. We all have to dig deep to find the patience to continue with personal quarantine to the max we can, but that's what safety reuires, as I've understood it.
I figure when the variant arrives in one's area, one just needs to assume there are a lot more virus particles around than there were before, so extra care is necessary. Hence, new lockdowns. (I actually think they're responding to what the science indicates.)
Dr. Fauci told us this winter would be bad. I trust him. So I'm just more literal about the cautions than ever, rather than dropping my guard.
I found this a helpful article:
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/12/27/what-you-should-know/
hugs
Hops
Twoapenny:
Thanks, Hops, that is helpful, that article is clearer than the ones I've been reading over here (odd how other countries often have a clearer picture of what's going on than our own seems to at times). I'm still muddled about the viral load though - it means you have more of the virus to pass on to other people? But it doesn't make you yourself sicker than the other variant did? Is that right? And is the other variant still circulating or has this one replaced it now? Either way we are staying in for the foreseeable future. We're pretty well stocked food wise and I'm just stocking up on vitamins again; I got son's meds in before Christmas so we're alright for that for a while as well. I feel I'm at the bottom of my digging deep capabilities just now. I'm focusing on the house and garden, son seems to be doing alright at the minute. The birds are enjoying the extra food. I've just ordered next year's diary and a book on making your own cleaning products, toiletries and so on. I feel let down that so many people who aren't at risk don't seem to understand that those who are can't cope with being shut in all day any better than they can. I caught up with a friend over Christmas who I assumed didn't know we'd been shielding since March, but it turned out she did but just hadn't thought to call or return my calls in all that time. That prickles me. I think I am just feeling extra prickly at the moment xx
Hopalong:
Hi Tupp!
I'm no scientist but this is what I believe are the answers to your questions (which should all be double-checked....):
--- Quote ---I'm still muddled about the viral load though - it means you have more of the virus to pass on to other people? YES; That's why more people will get this strain, because nearby carriers--including asymptomatic--have in their respiratory systems and thus are emitting more infectious microparticles. And masks do leak and are only 65% effective: https://www.ucdavis.edu/coronavirus/news/your-mask-cuts-own-risk-65-percent/. [Since you can't know who's got which once the new variant hits your area and asymptomatic infection's still possible, quarantine (lockdown) is the primary protection. The only addition so far to my routine is being more careful to also wear a mask outdoors (dangling from one ear but easy to whip back on when a walker comes too close.) But it doesn't make you yourself sicker than the other variant did? SEE Dr VALLANCE QUOTE BELOW. Is that right? YES. And is the other variant still circulating or has this one replaced it now? IT HAS NOT REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FORM OF COVID-19 AS THE ORIGINAL STRAIN IS STILL INFECTING PEOPLE.
--- End quote ---
I don't blame you for feeling prickly, Tupp. I think each new development feels threatening until we realize we really can cope. I do trust that by summer life will be a lot better again, even though we may all tote masks for shopping or crowds as new normal behavior. (Maybe next year's vaccine will be reformulated like the flu vaccine is from year to year, but even scientists don't know what they don't know yet. In time they will. Even a pandemic is not a brand-new event; this one's just extra nasty. Scientists have what's real to offer; selfish politicians -- oy.)
[from US News, reliable mainstream--if you don't trust Johnson just focus on what Vallance says] "There's no evidence that it causes more severe illness or higher mortality, but it does appear to be passed on significantly more easily," [Boris] Johnson told a news conference to announce tougher lockdown restrictions for millions of people.
"Although there's considerable uncertainty, it may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant, the original version of the disease. This is early data and it's subject to review.
"But it's the best that we have at the moment and we have to act on information as we have it, because this is now spreading very fast." [....]
Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be adequate in generating an immune response to the variant of the coronavirus.
"We think it (the variant) may be in other countries as well," Vallance told reporters. "It may have started here, we don't know for sure."
Vallance said in parts of England, including London, the south east and east of England, the new variant was becoming the dominant form.
"This virus has taken off," he said of the mutation. "It's moving fast and it's leading inevitably to a sharp increase in hospital admissions."
"There is no evidence it causes a more severe disease, causes more hospitalisation, causes more trouble than the other virus, it basically looks similar."
Scientists do hedge their bets with ambiguous responses before they are absolutely, precisely certain of something; that's their training. But when they add words like "may" or "preliminary indications" or "looks like" I don't think they're being deceptive, just saying what they know and what they don't yet have rock-solid evidence for about a virus' or virus strain's behavior. I have no anxiety about scientific deception of the public. Political, sure--this country's super sick in that way. And politics has undercut scientists' attempts to inform and explain. That's affected the public's reaction in disastrous fashion. Hence, our numbers now are the worst in the world. THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
One way I cope is setting up semi-regular Zooms. I have a Zoom with a neighbor I'm close to, which we do at least twice a month. Then there's weekly Zoom therapy and even online church services, which I avoid in December but probably will return to in the new year. (I mostly lurk, using an icon instead of a photo as my image. I don't even get dressed, just have it running while I loll around. During the boring bits I open up a new window with a subscription and read something interesting.)
The other thing that helps me cope is to remind myself that I've gotten through 9 months of this without losing my mind or burning the house down, and even though it's felt very acute at times, I know I can cope with 4 more months. I look at what Britons endured during WWII and Americans during the Great Depression and figure--this is not unendurable, though it really sucks.
hugs
Hops
Twoapenny:
Thanks, Hops, I think I am starting to understand it better now. I get bits I don't understand and I don't like to go hunting online for answers because I invariably end up reading stuff that either upsets, frightens or infuriates me. Vallance always sounds fairly sane, unlike Johnson, and it's the lack of trust that the government is showing in science that's causing problems, I think - they keep not doing what the science people advise re lockdowns, closing schools etc - and then how do you get the general public to follow the science when the government don't? Large parts of the country are locked down again now but people keep traveling to places that aren't locked down. And schools are all due back next week despite the fact the boffins are saying keep them closed until we get on top of this again. Mercifully, the evenings get lighter quickly at this time of year so we're already getting an extra thirty to forty minutes of daylight which for me makes a huge difference. Beautiful full moon tonight as well. Just got to dig deep and hold on in there a bit longer. I think the noise today has been a problem as well - one neighbour has been doing DIY stuff with many power tools all day, which means the dogs have barked constantly and that on top of everything else doesn't help. Breathe. The house is looking cleaner and more orderly and I'm hoping to get out for a long walk early tomorrow morning; that will help as well xx
Bettyanne:
OMG Two A Penny......
I hope you get out for a walk.....tomorrow....and day after.....
Its a lot to deal with noise of power tools.......and dogs barking
reminds me of my Nanny and mother always at each others throats...
Its not that I hear them now forsure but the memories don't seem to fade
I think it was pure abuse.....or maybe my age?
Who knows
Love, Bettyanne
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