The Coronavirus Thread

[Sean Hayden]

Mac strikes me as well informed and responsible. I'm not sure why his bike rides bother you so much. I'd like to get one but you have to be crazy to ride around here.

He is not well informed so how are you to judge? He understands zilch of Dutch politics. His bike rides are totally irresponsible and if you cant see that then it says all about your judgement.

Oh, about Dutch politics, maybe. I meant covid and in general. In general Mac strikes me as well informed.

I read the Dutch can't stand anyone doing much of anything different, even spending a bit more on a fancy coffee being frowned upon. "Who does he think he is, wasting money like that". So I'm not surprised you hate "unnecessary" bike rides. It's still odd.

[Scot Dutchy]

Mac strikes me as well informed and responsible. I'm not sure why his bike rides bother you so much. I'd like to get one but you have to be crazy to ride around here.

He is not well informed so how are you to judge? He understands zilch of Dutch politics. His bike rides are totally irresponsible and if you cant see that then it says all about your judgement.

Oh, about Dutch politics, maybe. I meant covid and in general. In general Mac strikes me as well informed.

I read the Dutch can't stand anyone doing much of anything different, even spending a bit more on a fancy coffee being frowned upon. "Who does he think he is, wasting money like that". So I'm not surprised you hate "unnecessary" bike rides. It's still odd.

I see you read the same rags as he does.

[Brian Peacock]

Austria has the right idea:

Austria orders nationwide lockdown for those not fully vaccinated against Covid

Chancellor announces measure that will come into effect on Monday as country faces record numbers of cases

Austria will place millions of people not fully vaccinated against coronavirus in lockdown as of Monday in an effort to deal with a surge in infections, the country’s chancellor has said.

“We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low,” Alexander Schallenberg told a news conference on Sunday, announcing the measure after a video call with the governors of Austria’s nine provinces. Lockdowns for two of the provinces, Upper Austria and Salzburg, were announced on Friday, but Sunday’s move extends that to the whole country.

Approximately 65% of the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.

Europe has again become the centre of the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting some governments to consider reimposing unpopular lockdowns.

Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom party, the third biggest in parliament.

While the Netherlands is dealing with its surge in infections by imposing a partial lockdown that applies to all, Austria’s conservative-led government has said it wants to avoid imposing further restrictions on those who are fully vaccinated.

Our partial lockdown is political.

Austrian dictators are the best dictators.

[Brian Peacock]

I'm wondering if there's a strain of male pride that accounts for a proportion of those not taking up the vaccines? You know, the kind of bloke who won't take paracetamol for a headache, who equate sickness or injury with weakness and/or personal failing.

In other words, how many Covid deaths are the result of toxic masculinity?

[Scot Dutchy]

Between that and religious nutters quite a few.

[JimC]

Resentment at being told what to do by authority figures is another major reason, I suspect...

"You're not the boss of me!"

[Sean Hayden]

toxic masculinity

[Tero]

If you are a libertarian and oppose gov't mandates and are under 44, you can get away with. If you are willing to take the Merck pill, you will survive.

[macdoc]

that's way old.

[Tero]

that's way old.

In the US, deaths in the 25-44 group are still under 18 000. Of 762 000.

[Scot Dutchy]

What is a Covid death?

[pErvinalia]

What is chumocracy?

[Brian Peacock]

What is a Covid death?

A death in which Covid is listed as the cause or a contributing factor, and/or within 28 days of a positive test.

But everybody dies of heart failure, right?

[Scot Dutchy]

Here is the WHO definition which is not as clear cut as that:

INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION AND
CLASSIFICATION (CODING) OF COVID-19 AS CAUSE OF
DEATH

2. DEFINITION FOR DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19
A death due to COVID-19 is defined for surveillance purposes as a death resulting from a clinically
compatible illness, in a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case, unless there is a clear alternative
cause of death that cannot be related to COVID disease (e.g. trauma). There should be no period of
complete recovery from COVID-19 between illness and death.

A death due to COVID-19 may not be attributed to another disease (e.g. cancer) and should be
counted independently of preexisting conditions that are suspected of triggering a severe course of
COVID-19.

Not very clear and leaves a lot to be desired. This is the one used in this country. The word "probable" is in there. Dont like vague words.

[Brian Peacock]

... it says 'probable' or 'confirmed', and 'and should be counted independently of pre-existing conditions that are suspected of triggering a severe course of COVID-19'. Seems pretty clear really. I think you're making that 'probably' do too much work in justifying your scepticism. I mean, do you think it means there's probably fewer Covid deaths than those reported, or probably more?