South African Covid-19 News and Discussions 3

[noxibox]

Compare that to Cape Town...

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Looking at the numbers for individual suburbs it looks like it is again a handful of Cape Town suburbs that are the true hotspots.

According to the very interesting media briefing last night,
A new variant has been identified in SA.
The experts are reluctant to call it a new strain just yet though as the research still has to be peer reviewed.

What I found interesting is the admission that this virus IS a coronavirus and it WILL behave like other corona viruses.
It WILL mutate. The mutations will in all probability be to adjust it ability to infect. But that the mutation will lose its ability to lead to death.
The evidence is there that it is spreading much faster, and hence is far more difficult to contain.
The evidence that it is less dangerous is not yet clear.
The new "wave" IS going to stretch our already non existent health system further. And even if the new variant is in fact less dangerous, people may die because they don't have access to treatment.
What is far more of a concern and the presentation highlighted this issue, is that no one knows how this new variant will affect the effectiveness of the much vaunted vaccines which were developed to deal with the existing known strains.
I am far more concerned about how our daft NCCC and the politicians are going to react to the scientific evidence.
Maybe the scientists pulled a fast one on the politicians by ensuring the public is aware of the real facts this time around, which should mean that the politicians are going to have a hard time when introducing BS rules and regulations.

Mkhize is trying to have it both ways - more infectious and more deadly. He's also peddling scaremongering tripe to the media then saying that we must stick to the science. He's already telling the media it is more infectious, which appears to be an assumption, and that it is putting many younger people into hospital, for which he has no evidence.

I think the thinking behind the curfew is the government is attempting to avoid super-spreader events, which occur largely inside and where there are masses of people close together. So with a curfew - at least for restaurants and bars - there will be less time spent with other people. Yes, you can theoretically go earlier to the bar and make up for the 'lost time' as a result of the curfew, but I don't many people's planning abilities extend that far.

Given where the cases are actually occurring and the real reasons those areas tend to have more cases I'd be surprised if an hour or two less of restaurant time is a major contributor.

 

[noxibox]

Records tumble on grimmest day yet for Covid-19 in Western Cape

Highest number of daily infections and deaths and a new record for active infections.Those are Saturday's grim Covid-19 milestones in the Western Cape.

www.timeslive.co.za

Grimmest? And where are the news articles when it drops to low levels? Have to keep the fear train rolling?

 

[Supervan II]

We've been highly fortunate, partly because of the age demographic, but also because of some underlying factor that is assisting people in terms of preventing them from becoming severely ill," said Prof Madhi.

Uhm, like plenty of sunshine for instance?

You know, the type which one is exposed to all over when at the beaches ...

 

[Paulsie]

I just really hope our "elected" leaders do not take a leaf out of the book of the UK "elected" leaders and ban christmas and inter-household visits, overnight.

 

[Paulsie]

OPINIONISTA: Reality check: Getting Covid-19 is more dangerous than going to war

There is a lot we don’t know yet about Covid-19 and how it will evolve. What we do know is that wearing masks and sanitising are key, while physical distancing and ventilation of enclosed spaces are vital. So, let’s not be selfish.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

According to the Guardian newspaper, the British mortality rate in Afghanistan during that period was 2.8 per 100,000 deployed. The US rate was slightly better at 2.5 per 100,000 soldiers. But here’s the thing: In August 2020, according to German firm Statista, the Covid mortality rate per 100,000 people was 70.16 in the UK, 49.65 in the US and 17.67 in South Africa.

Covid-19 is a killer. Getting it is more dangerous than going to war. The numbers don’t lie, even though our opinions might.

While the rest of the opinion piece has some substance, headlines like these should be banished as inflammatory.

 

[neoprema]

Uhm, like plenty of sunshine for instance?

You know, the type which one is exposed to all over when at the beaches ...

This. Lots of links between Vit D and reduced bad effects of COVID across age groups. And in ZA we have oodles of Sun (major source of Vit D). We should be spending more time outdoors.

 

[ViciousClone]

This. Lots of links between Vit D and reduced bad effects of COVID across age groups. And in ZA we have oodles of Sun (major source of Vit D). We should be spending more time outdoors.

Go out and show the world that boep. Get in some rays..

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

I just really hope our "elected" leaders do not take a leaf out of the book of the UK "elected" leaders and ban christmas and inter-household visits, overnight.

Yes, governments really do think they can eliminate the virus through government decree.

 

[Grant]

OPINIONISTA: Reality check: Getting Covid-19 is more dangerous than going to war

There is a lot we don’t know yet about Covid-19 and how it will evolve. What we do know is that wearing masks and sanitising are key, while physical distancing and ventilation of enclosed spaces are vital. So, let’s not be selfish.

www.dailymaverick.co.za

While the rest of the opinion piece has some substance, headlines like these should be banished as inflammatory.

I have not read it, but I imagine you would like it banished because it runs against your narrative.

you should read this - but it may cause your head to implode:

Infodemic to infowar: The circus of disinformation will spin on

Hindsight is a strange thing to attempt in a year when so many markers of time are missing — birthdays, weddings, funerals, Easter, Passover, Eid. Even performing rituals online still felt a little like being inside a casino, a room with no clocks and no windows...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[daveza]

Looking at the numbers for individual suburbs it looks like it is again a handful of Cape Town suburbs that are the true hotspots.

A handful of informal settlements.

 

[Paulsie]

I have not read it, but I imagine you would like it banished because it runs against your narrative.

you should read this - but it may cause your head to implode:

Infodemic to infowar: The circus of disinformation will spin on

Hindsight is a strange thing to attempt in a year when so many markers of time are missing — birthdays, weddings, funerals, Easter, Passover, Eid. Even performing rituals online still felt a little like being inside a casino, a room with no clocks and no windows...

mybroadband.co.za

Thank you @Grant, will engage on that thread.

You did however miss the part where I said the article did have its merits. What I have a huge problem with though is comparing covid to the war in Afghanistan. Yes the UK and US forces present might have a low mortality rate due to hiding away in barracks and being protected by warships parked in the gulf.

This does not take into account all the civilian deaths on the other side. If anything, such comparison is rather insensitive.

 

[MiW]

Germany considers ban of South Africa, UK flights over coronavirus fears - report | News24

Germany is considering banning flights from Britain and South Africa to prevent the spread of new, more infectious coronavirus strain circulating, a source says.

www.news24.com

Here it comes.

 

[sand_man]

Church gathering ignites 48 Covid-19 cases as virus spreads in KZN

A church gathering attended by more than 2,000 people has contributed to the increased rate of Covid-19 infections in KwaZulu-Natal.

www.timeslive.co.za

This is why we have tons of rules and regulations and lock downs of varying degrees... As I said In a pervious thread, some societies need regulating, some don't. 6 nuns died of covid caught as a result of this event attended by 2000. Organizers should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

 

[Paulsie]

Church gathering ignites 48 Covid-19 cases as virus spreads in KZN

A church gathering attended by more than 2,000 people has contributed to the increased rate of Covid-19 infections in KwaZulu-Natal.

www.timeslive.co.za

This is why we have tons of rules and regulations and lock downs of varying degrees... As I said In a pervious thread, some societies need regulating, some don't. 6 nuns died of covid caught as a result of this event attended by 2000. Organizers should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Those that would have been likely to follow guidelines get locked down and restricted through these regulations, while the rest go on with their lives.

You cannot regulate those that do not want to be regulated.

 

[MrGray]

Germany considers ban of South Africa, UK flights over coronavirus fears - report | News24

Germany is considering banning flights from Britain and South Africa to prevent the spread of new, more infectious coronavirus strain circulating, a source says.

www.news24.com

Here it comes.

Let them try. If they’re deluded enough to think they can stop the progression of any variant of Covid, let alone a variant that is so potent it displaced all other genomes in the space of a few weeks, more power to them. It will be short lived.

 

[Lupus]

Church gathering ignites 48 Covid-19 cases as virus spreads in KZN

A church gathering attended by more than 2,000 people has contributed to the increased rate of Covid-19 infections in KwaZulu-Natal.

www.timeslive.co.za

This is why we have tons of rules and regulations and lock downs of varying degrees... As I said In a pervious thread, some societies need regulating, some don't. 6 nuns died of covid caught as a result of this event attended by 2000. Organizers should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

48 out of 2000? 48 cases out of 2000? Yet some how there were more from the rage. Also why was there 2000 people? Thought the limit was 250?

 

[Lupus]

Let them try. If they’re deluded enough to think they can stop the progression of any variant of Covid, let alone a variant that is so potent it displaced all other genomes in the space of a few weeks, more power to them. It will be short lived.

A virus so virulent it only infected 48 out of 2000 at that church event, I mean that's 2.4% of the people there.

 

[daveza]

48 who will go home and pass it on to more people.

 

[azbob]

A handful of informal settlements.

The poor people in the informal settlements have to suffer because of a disease brought here by the rich people in the suburbs.

 

[Grant]

48 out of 2000? 48 cases out of 2000

How many of the 2000 were tested?