Wuhan virus 2020

[Skybird]

Several leading German high-profile virologists declare the pandemic over (in Germany at least), and say that this winter marks the beginning of the endemic phase. Immunity is now so widely spread in the popuation pool that it is unlikely that Corona will ever raise to immense waves again as in the past, or that a new dangerous break-through mutation could appear.

[Buddahaid]

And, oddly enough, last year one of my friends had Covid while this year three currently have it.

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

And, oddly enough, last year one of my friends had Covid while this year three currently have it.

In other words like the common flu.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

And, oddly enough, last year one of my friends had Covid while this year three currently have it.

It never was about not getting it, but about not getting knocked out by it. Endemic does not mean a desease is not around anymore, but that the population is no logner exposed and has formed immunity levels that pull the snake its poison teeth.


Also the situation the virologists refered to is that in Germany. Which is very different from lets say China, obviously.



I have no clue whether I ever got it or not. If I got it, I did not feel anything.

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by August

In other words like the common flu.

No. They all said it's the worst they've experienced.

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

No. They all said it's the worst they've experienced.

So a bad case of the flu then.

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

No. They all said it's the worst they've experienced.

Which is not surprising, because they are two different diseases that attack different parts of the organ system. The Sars-Cov-2 virus attacks not only the lower respiratory tract like the influenza virus, but also organs, brain, the functionality of various metabolic systems, the energy (ATP) production at the mitochondrial level (possibly the reason for so-called long covid), and the integrity of cell membranes. Influenza viruses for the most part do not, cannot, do any of these things. One should not conclude a biological sameness of the disease patterns just because the pandemic event in both pathogens is - necessarily - similar when it encounters an immunologically not yet prepared population. The sameness of the wave patterns is explained by the absence of immune protection, not by the sameness of the pathogens.

[Jimbuna]

UK Covid modelling data to stop being published

Coronavirus modelling data will stop being published in early January, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says.

Statistics covering the growth rate of the virus are currently released fortnightly, but the agency says this is no longer necessary.

Chief data scientist Dr Nick Watkins said this is due to the UK living with Covid-19 because of vaccines and therapeutics.

Covid will continue to be monitored in other ways, the agency added.

The reproductive rate - known as the R rate - refers to the number of people an infected person will pass the virus onto.

At the height of the pandemic both the R rate and growth rate for England were published weekly.

Since April this year it has been published fortnightly.

Dr Watkins said it served as a useful and simple indicator to inform public health action and government decisions.

"Vaccines and therapeutics have allowed us to move to a phase where we are living with Covid-19," Dr Watkins said.

"We continue to monitor Covid-19 activity in a similar way to how we monitor a number of other common illnesses and diseases.

"All data publications are kept under constant review and this modelling data can be reintroduced promptly if needed, for example, if a new variant of concern was to be identified."

All remaining Covid restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate at home with symptoms, were removed earlier this year.

However, health officials have urged those with signs of respiratory illness should avoid mixing during the festive season, particularly with vulnerable people.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64093155

[Jimbuna]

Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules

By Kathryn Armstrong
BBC News

Hong Kong is dropping almost all its Covid restrictions this week, following a similar move by mainland China.

From Thursday, people arriving in the city - a special administrative region of China - will no longer have to do mandatory PCR tests.

The vaccine pass system will also be scrapped - but compulsory masks in public places will continue.

It is a dramatic move by the city, which once had some of the toughest restrictions in the world.

Also being scrapped from Thursday is the rule that limits the number of people allowed to gather outside to 12.

This was increased from four people in October as part of measures to begin reopening the city.

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, cited high vaccine rates as one of the reasons for lifting restrictions.

According to government figures, 93% of the population have had two vaccine does, while more than 83% have received three.

Unlike mainland China, which has developed its own vaccines, Hong Kong has also used mRNA vaccines - including the BioNTech jab made in Germany - that have been shown to be more effective.

"Hong Kong has a sufficient amount of medicine to fight Covid, and healthcare workers have gained rich experience in facing the pandemic," Mr Lee said on Wednesday.

"The society has established a relatively extensive and overall anti-epidemic barrier."

Mr Lee added that instead of the vaccine pass, which has limited access to public places for unvaccinated since it was introduced in February, the city would take "more targeted measures" - including promoting vaccination for the elderly and children.

More than 11,000 people have died with Covid in Hong Kong, according to official numbers, from more than 2.5m cases.

Since the pandemic began, the city has largely followed mainland China's lead in efforts to tackle the virus, including attempts to eliminate it with a "zero-Covid" strategy.

This has been criticised by some residents and business owners - who said the policy damaged Hong Kong's economy and international standing.

The scrapping of the Hong Kong's Covid restrictions comes weeks after mainland China made a similar move following landmark protests against the strict controls.

On Monday and Tuesday, Beijing announced further plans to ease travel restrictions. Hong Kong has said that it will fully reopen its borders with the rest of China before mid-January.

The mainland is currently experiencing a surge in cases, with reports suggesting hospitals are overwhelmed and elderly people are dying.

Hong Kong is part of China and is governed by the "one country, two systems" principle, but Beijing has tightened control in recent years.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-64107851

[Jimbuna]

China Covid: US considers restrictions on Chinese arrivals

By Sam Hancock
BBC News

The US is considering imposing new Covid restrictions on Chinese arrivals, after Beijing announced it would reopen its borders next month.

American officials say this is due to a lack of transparency surrounding the virus in China, as cases surge.

Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan - worried at importing Covid cases - have already outlined tighter measures for Chinese travellers, including negative tests.

Beijing has said Covid rules should be brought in on a "scientific" basis.

India is also stepping up measures for Chinese arrivals, but this was announced before Beijing said it would relax its strict border policy.

Passport applications for Chinese citizens wishing to travel internationally will resume from 8 January, the country's immigration authorities have said.

Travel sites have reported a spike in traffic, leaving some countries fearful over the potential spread of Covid.

"There are mounting concerns in the international community on the ongoing Covid-19 surges in China and the lack of transparent data, including viral genomic sequence data," US officials said in a statement quoted by news agencies.

Wang Wenbin, China's foreign minister spokesperson, subsequently accused Western countries and media of "hyping up" and "distorting China's Covid policy adjustments".

He said China believed all countries' Covid responses should be "science-based and proportionate", and should "not affect normal people-to-people exchange".

Mr Wang called for "joint efforts to ensure safe cross-border travel, maintain stability of global industrial supply chains and promote economic recovery and growth".

The UK and Germany each said they are monitoring the situation closely, but are not currently considering new restrictions for Chinese travellers.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the number of cases in Britain was still "relatively low".

Meanwhile, a German health ministry official said there was "no indication that a more dangerous mutation [of Covid] had developed".

The true toll of daily cases and deaths in China is unknown because officials have stopped releasing the necessary data. Reports say hospitals are overwhelmed and elderly people are dying.

Last week, Beijing reported about 4,000 new Covid infections each day and few deaths.

Before the relaxation of travel rules, people were strongly discouraged from travelling abroad. The sale of outbound group and package travel was banned, according to marketing solutions company Dragon Trail International.

Within half an hour of Monday's notice that China's borders would reopen, data from travel site Trip.com - cited in Chinese media - showed searches for popular destinations had increased ten-fold on last year.

Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and South Korea were the most popular destinations.

Separately on Wednesday, Hong Kong's leader John Lee announced that his city was scrapping the last of its Covid rules almost immediately - apart from the wearing of face masks, which will remain compulsory.

"The city has reached a relatively high vaccination rate which builds an anti-epidemic barrier," Mr Lee told a media briefing.

The US still requires international travellers to show proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid on entering the country.

The website for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that anyone travelling to the US gets a Covid test beforehand and has their result to hand - but this is not a legal obligation.

In their statement, the unnamed US officials added they were "following the science and advice of public health experts" and "consulting with partners".

China's loosening of travel measures - the last part of the country's controversial zero-Covid policy - follows weeks of unrest which saw people take to the streets in rare protests against President Xi Jinping and his government.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64107553

[Jimbuna]

[mapuc]

Reading what she wrote to the video clip in this tweet made me sad.

The person behind this tweet is a doctor and she KNOWS nothing about psychology it seems.

So these doctors and nurses are fouling around in this video clip..well how would you react to all the death on daily basis-You would crack if you didn't let out...Remember the movie and series M*A*S*H

https://twitter.com/DrLoupis/status/1608053921628422145

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Covid in China: Countries tighten rules as tourism set to resume

Italy has become the latest country to impose mandatory Covid tests on Chinese tourists, after China announced it would reopen its borders next week.

Tighter measures have also been brought in by Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and India - while the US said it is considering imposing more rules.

After almost three years of restrictions, China will let people travel more easily from 8 January.

At the same time, the country is facing a surge in Covid cases.

That has led to wariness among some countries - but Beijing said coronavirus rules should be brought in on a "scientific" basis, and accused some countries and media of "hyping up" the situation.

On Monday and Tuesday, China announced it would ease its restrictions on travel to and from the country.

From 8 January, quarantine for travellers entering China will end, and passport applications for Chinese citizens will resume, authorities said.

Travel sites reported a spike in traffic following the announcements - and some countries revised their travel rules.

Italy - once the global epicentre of the virus after it spread from China in late 2019 and 2020 - said it was bringing in mandatory Covid testing for all passengers coming from China.

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said this was "essential to ensure the surveillance and identification" of any new variants of the virus, and to "protect the Italian population".

Before his announcement, flights arriving in Milan were already testing passengers flying from China.

On one flight, which landed at the city's Malpensa Airport on 26 December, 52% of passengers were found to be positive for Covid, la Repubblica reports.

Other countries had already imposed some restrictions on travellers coming from China:

In Japan, from Friday all travellers from China and those who visited it within seven days will be tested for Covid upon arrival, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days if they have symptoms, or five days if asymptomatic. The number of flights to and from China will also be restricted

In India, people travelling from China and four other Asian countries must produce a negative Covid test before arriving. Passengers will be put in quarantine if they have symptoms or test positive

Taiwan says people arriving on flights from China, as well as by boat at two islands, will have to take Covid tests on arrival from 1 January to 31 January. Those who test positive will be able to isolate at home, Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre said

Malaysia has also put additional tracking and surveillance measures in place.

Elsewhere, the US said it was considering taking "similar steps" to countries such as Japan.

"There are mounting concerns in the international community on the ongoing Covid-19 surges in China and the lack of transparent data, including viral genomic sequence data," US officials said.

Wang Wenbin, China's foreign minister spokesperson, subsequently accused Western countries and media of "hyping up" and "distorting China's Covid policy adjustments".

He said China believed all countries' Covid responses should be "science-based and proportionate", and should "not affect normal people-to-people exchange".

Mr Wang called for "joint efforts to ensure safe cross-border travel, maintain stability of global industrial supply chains and promote economic recovery and growth".

The UK and Germany each said they were monitoring the situation closely, but were not considering new restrictions for Chinese travellers.

In Belgium, the mayor of tourist hub Bruges called for Chinese visitors to face Covid tests or mandatory vaccine requirements.

The true toll of daily cases and deaths in China is unknown because officials have stopped releasing the data. Reports say hospitals are overwhelmed and elderly people are dying.

Last week, Beijing reported about 4,000 new Covid infections each day and few deaths.

Despite the rise in infections, China has continued its programme of loosening its strict Covid measures.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-64111492

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Covid in China: Countries tighten rules as tourism set to resume
Italy has become the latest country to impose mandatory Covid tests on Chinese tourists, after China announced it would reopen its borders next week.
Tighter measures have also been brought in by Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and India - while the US said it is considering imposing more rules.
After almost three years of restrictions, China will let people travel more easily from 8 January.
At the same time, the country is facing a surge in Covid cases.
That has led to wariness among some countries - but Beijing said coronavirus rules should be brought in on a "scientific" basis, and accused some countries and media of "hyping up" the situation.
On Monday and Tuesday, China announced it would ease its restrictions on travel to and from the country.
From 8 January, quarantine for travellers entering China will end, and passport applications for Chinese citizens will resume, authorities said.
Travel sites reported a spike in traffic following the announcements - and some countries revised their travel rules.
Italy - once the global epicentre of the virus after it spread from China in late 2019 and 2020 - said it was bringing in mandatory Covid testing for all passengers coming from China.
Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said this was "essential to ensure the surveillance and identification" of any new variants of the virus, and to "protect the Italian population".
Before his announcement, flights arriving in Milan were already testing passengers flying from China.
On one flight, which landed at the city's Malpensa Airport on 26 December, 52% of passengers were found to be positive for Covid, la Repubblica reports.
Other countries had already imposed some restrictions on travellers coming from China:
In Japan, from Friday all travellers from China and those who visited it within seven days will be tested for Covid upon arrival, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days if they have symptoms, or five days if asymptomatic. The number of flights to and from China will also be restricted
In India, people travelling from China and four other Asian countries must produce a negative Covid test before arriving. Passengers will be put in quarantine if they have symptoms or test positive
Taiwan says people arriving on flights from China, as well as by boat at two islands, will have to take Covid tests on arrival from 1 January to 31 January. Those who test positive will be able to isolate at home, Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre said
Malaysia has also put additional tracking and surveillance measures in place.
Elsewhere, the US said it was considering taking "similar steps" to countries such as Japan.
"There are mounting concerns in the international community on the ongoing Covid-19 surges in China and the lack of transparent data, including viral genomic sequence data," US officials said.
Wang Wenbin, China's foreign minister spokesperson, subsequently accused Western countries and media of "hyping up" and "distorting China's Covid policy adjustments".
He said China believed all countries' Covid responses should be "science-based and proportionate", and should "not affect normal people-to-people exchange".
Mr Wang called for "joint efforts to ensure safe cross-border travel, maintain stability of global industrial supply chains and promote economic recovery and growth".what it's really all about!
The UK and Germany each said they were monitoring the situation closely, but were not considering new restrictions for Chinese travellers.
In Belgium, the mayor of tourist hub Bruges called for Chinese visitors to face Covid tests or mandatory vaccine requirements.
The true toll of daily cases and deaths in China is unknown because officials have stopped releasing the data. Reports say hospitals are overwhelmed and elderly people are dying.
Last week, Beijing reported about 4,000 new Covid infections each day and few deaths.
Despite the rise in infections, China has continued its programme of loosening its strict Covid measures.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-64111492

Considering that Sir Jeffery Amherst, the British Governor General of North America, ca 1750's, touted giving North American native populations imported smallpox infected blankets against which indigenous populations were utterly helpless, to reduce their numbers as a condition of expanding white settlement of native treaty lands, it amazes me that we allow Chinese tourist to arrive here after what has befallen the globe in the past 3 years. Disruption, chaos, and economic collapse in favor of Sino political/economic expansion only serves Xi's long-range vision of China's uncontested political hegemony made easier by feeble western resistance. All diseased tourists arriving are expendible by China's standards in the pursuit of political/economic goals. 1.4 billion Chinese with relatively few natural assets desperately need other nation's global assets to attain their perceived "place in the sun". Having suffered the ravages of Covid either from a failed Wuhan lab-leak or some bat-cave virus in the Sino-boondocks, we ought to take no chances on a Chinese so-called tourist diaspora with the latest Covid variants, and those as yet unknown bringing more years of misery to the planet. Further disruption only serves a long-range global Chinese vision and no one else's. In short, let's keep Covid in the nation where it originated with a population that can absorb the losses even as they did in the Great Starvation under Mao's failed Communist policies. The bottom line is: If I can think like this, then Premier Xi already has...