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The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

theatlantic.com

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Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#141

Post by x1ph0z »

hcurtiss wrote: post #72
luffapi wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are risks to all of us when we let millions of children act as a breeding and mutation substrate for the virus. I would think that would be blinding obvious to anyone with even a basic grasp of biology. It’s also completely unknown what the long term effects of the virus are. Edit: Disappointed but not surprised by the amount of anti-science on this site. I feel like a lot of people have let politics destroy th…

Given global vaccination rates, it will have abundant and plentiful opportunities for breeding and mutation forever. There is no vaccinating the entire globe for coronavirus. Certainly not in our lifetimes. And not given the declining effectiveness of the vaccines.

> And not given the declining effectiveness of the vaccines.

Times like these I wish HN had a downvote button, since that’s total misinformation.

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#142

Post by lokedhs »

dota_fanatic wrote: post #47
cm2187 wrote: post #16

That's why I don't really understand why there are still covid restrictions in countries that are close to full vaccination, like the UK. There isn't really a next step after having vaccinated the population, it is "steady state". So do they want us to have these restrictions (countries you can't travel to, endless testing, mask requirements) forever?

Aren't the vaccines still not available for those under 12? And they're emergency use only in many of those countries? Not sure how you can say any country, even Israel, is "close to full vaccination". 28% of their population is 14 and under . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Israel#Age_str...

There are studies ongoing and Singapore is planning to vaccinate kids below 12 as early as next year. https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/3rd-shot-covid-19-vaccine-...

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#143

Post by sleepysysadmin »

cm2187 wrote: post #16

That's why I don't really understand why there are still covid restrictions in countries that are close to full vaccination, like the UK. There isn't really a next step after having vaccinated the population, it is "steady state". So do they want us to have these restrictions (countries you can't travel to, endless testing, mask requirements) forever?

>That's why I don't really understand why there are still covid restrictions in countries that are close to full vaccination, like the UK. There isn't really a next step after having vaccinated the population, it is "steady state". So do they want us to have these restrictions (countries you can't travel to, endless testing, mask requirements) forever?

Our government loves to pat themselves on the back having 80% vaccination. Which is more than double the usual flu shot rates. Yet here we are with a 4th wave, talk about complete lockdown.

At what point do you say that our approach is no different than the usual flu season? In my opinion that was long ago.

So why? Technically don't know the answer. You can look at it from liberties point of view. That the reason these restrictions haven't lifted has nothing to do with covid.

Another theory which seems legit. Vaccine doesnt work. If you follow texas gov abbot. TONS of articles slamming him for getting covid. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/17/texas-gov-abbott-who-banned-...

Texas Gov. Abbott, who banned mask and vaccine mandates, tests positive for Covid

But wait... Abbott is fully vaccinated. That's a huge issue. You can't slam him banning masks and all that. Vaccination is vaccination.

Article title should be "Texas Gov. Abbott, who is fully vaccinated, tests positive for Covid"

But that's where the politics of the situation come in. It's very evident covid-19 is completely influenced by politics. Which brings you right back to liberties point of view.

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#144

Post by CountDrewku »

HarryHirsch wrote: post #107
leoedin wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But what's the end goal? Do we keep lockdown restrictions forever? The case fatality rate for a vaccinated population is really low. There must be an acceptable level - after all we don't lock down for other endemic viruses which also have non-zero CFRs. What is it? Have we reached it?

We'll have to have some restrictions in place for the highest-risk activities. I really wouldn't want to give introductory lectures in a room that seats 250 people and has been in use all day and then find out, like the Reverend Jackson, that the vaccine protection has worn off.

>I really wouldn't want to give introductory lectures in a room that seats 250 people and has been in use all day and then find out, like the Reverend Jackson, that the vaccine protection has worn off.

Ok then don't? No one is forcing you to go out.

Let everyone else make their own decisions. I'm kinda tired of the hypochondriacs forcing everyone else to do what they want. Everyone has access to the vaccine, they can stay in and mask all they want, they do not have to go near people. There's absolutely no reason to be locking down the rest of society. The only argument to keep these restrictions in place is if the hospitals get over capacity and that's not happening.

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#145

Post by 001spartan »

qwerty456127 wrote: post #95
SamBam wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since no one under 16 has been vaccinated yet, about 70% of the population is vaccinated (44M out of 67M). That might be barely enough for herd immunity for some diseases, but the case numbers in the UK are still very high and trending back upward, showing that this isn't enough for herd immunity for Covid. Hospitalization rates are also back up to significantly higher than they were this time last year. And that's w…

I'm almost sure 100% vaccination rate with the vaccines currently available won't change much. I hope I'm wrong. But there already are cases apparently confirming this. IMHO we should just return to normal, consider this a new kind of flu and deal with the fact it's more deadly. I always knew there is a chance a flu can kill me one day. I'm Ok with the fact the chance is higher now. My personal (apparently risky, I d…

Returning to normal is a terrible idea when COVID patients are overwhelming hospitals across the world. How can things be normal if our healthcare systems are nearing collapse?

You might be willing to accept the risk of getting sick on your behalf, but by advocating a return to 'normal' before we have the capabilities to deal with this virus, you are advocating for putting even more stress on healthcare systems across the globe already on the verge of failure. There are patients in heavily-impacted areas who cannot access healthcare for other life-or-death concerns because hospitals are crumbling under the workload of COVID cases.

The article even states this; COVID is likely to reach endemic status eventually, but we are still nowhere near that. Ignoring it will have enormous costs on vulnerable populations -- even more than it already has.

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#146

Post by brown9-2 »

cm2187 wrote: post #75
laputan_machine wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about children getting it and being ill, it's about children getting it and spreading it. This is the concept behind 'herd immunity'. If we can cut the chain, we mitigate older and people with weakened immune systems from getting it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity

But if vaccinated people are also spreading it, I don't get the point of waiting for kids to be vaccinated. The population at risk being vaccinated was the big deal, but that's done now (apart from those who refuse to be vaccinated, but then it is their problem).

> But if vaccinated people are also spreading it

It is not a binary 0 or 1 as far as if vaccinated people will spread the infection if they are infected. The vaccine lowers the chances, so the more people we can get vaccinated, the lower the chances can get.

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#147

Post by rajin444 »

jfengel wrote: post #125
alphager wrote: post #37

> close to full vaccination, like the UK. Why do people not consider kids younger than 12yo as part of the population? MILLIONS of kids can't be vaccinated yet (but will hopefully come december). Any talk of lifting restrictions before march is basically a re-formulated "fuck the kids".

It's not so much "fuck the kids" as "fuck the teachers". Even if you believe that "kids don't get sick from COVID", you can't ignore that teachers do. And many of them are in high-risk groups -- older, with comorbidities. Most are vaccinated, but they're still taking a risk. Teachers are already smarting over the fact that (in the US) they're literally trained to take a bullet for their kids. So when you tell them to…

> Most are vaccinated, but they're still taking a risk

Pre pandemic they took a risk every day as well, so it's a matter of acceptable risk, which I believe is what the article was focused on. What level of risk is that?

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#148

Post by Expirat »

smallerfish wrote: post #49
nickthemagicman wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Condoms have a 99.9% effectiveness. Studies have shown that face mask policies have around a 1% effectiveness.

What studies?

Do you need a study to understand that a latex condom can catch infected seminal fluids while a cloth mask cannot stop the spread of droplets, or aerosols containing covid?

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#149

Post by chitowneats »

sleepysysadmin wrote: post #143
cm2187 wrote: post #16

That's why I don't really understand why there are still covid restrictions in countries that are close to full vaccination, like the UK. There isn't really a next step after having vaccinated the population, it is "steady state". So do they want us to have these restrictions (countries you can't travel to, endless testing, mask requirements) forever?

>That's why I don't really understand why there are still covid restrictions in countries that are close to full vaccination, like the UK. There isn't really a next step after having vaccinated the population, it is "steady state". So do they want us to have these restrictions (countries you can't travel to, endless testing, mask requirements) forever? Our government loves to pat themselves on the back having 80% vac…

Greg Abbot even received a booster shot prior to infection.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/texas-gov-gre...

Re: The Coronavirus Is Here Forever

#150

Post by cortesoft »

jfengel wrote: post #125
alphager wrote: post #37

> close to full vaccination, like the UK. Why do people not consider kids younger than 12yo as part of the population? MILLIONS of kids can't be vaccinated yet (but will hopefully come december). Any talk of lifting restrictions before march is basically a re-formulated "fuck the kids".

It's not so much "fuck the kids" as "fuck the teachers". Even if you believe that "kids don't get sick from COVID", you can't ignore that teachers do. And many of them are in high-risk groups -- older, with comorbidities. Most are vaccinated, but they're still taking a risk. Teachers are already smarting over the fact that (in the US) they're literally trained to take a bullet for their kids. So when you tell them to…

Also, kids are absolutely getting sick from Delta.
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