Lockdown diaries - COVID-19 matters!

[Feliks Karp]

Never in the history of mankind have we reached a stage where we agree with each other. There is no need to call each other dumb because of our beliefs, we are dumb because we are human.

At one end of the spectrum we had Mother Theresa ..... the other Ted Bundy. Yet both of these folks have been aggrandized and vilified. Now the battle rages between vaxxers and anti vaxxers, both of whom believe that they are right. In this instance I choose apathetic and will choose my own path and actions.

True to a degree. When we're in a situation where individual actions can results in 10s of 1000s of infections leading to damage or death. Your individual sovereignty starts to be waved for the greater good of the society in which you live.

And while it's true that we all are subjective to our own ignorance at some point that doesn't mean certain actions are not dumb, in fact it pretty much proves that they are.

As much as every human is entitled to their own beliefs when an existential threat is laid out to civilization at large the innate human rights of the many to be safe will out weigh your own needs to believe in whatever.

 

[Adephi]

This a copy + paste from a fb post.



I've seen a few posts about the "debate" on covid-19 vaccines that I find strange. They are posts that in essence say the following: "I am sooo tired of people debating whether or not we should get vaccinated. Can these debates stop already and all of you debating each other fill my timeline with pictures of cats instead and like maybe links to Boney-M in the spirit of Christmas?"

I say three things to this kind of sentiment:

1. You are NOT virtuous for opting out of a debate in the middle of a serious pandemic with massive existential threats to all of humanity.

The idea of being above the fray is a weird kind of imagined comfort in the middle of a pandemic.

2. Imagined neutrality doesn't guarantee actual neutrality.

Your sincere intention may be to 'not take sides' in a debate around you but the IMPACT of your position may be to prop up a side. Indifference to the consequences of fake news and disinformation generally about vaccines has disastrous societal consequences. Urging your friends to stop "debating" helps to keep misinformation unchallenged and proliferating. That is not neutrality.

3. Viewpoints aren't equally strong just because those who disagree with each other hold their views equally strongly.

Side with evidence and truth. Use your analytical skill to adjudicate debates and don't commit the error some journalists commit when they report "Some say it is raining. Some say it is not raining". There is a fact of the matter. Make facts, evidence and sound reasoning your friends.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

 

[Hooked]

So my guys at my office today told me that they don’t have to wear masks because the councillors in their area have told them the the covid numbers are going down and it’s going away

Someone who came to my house the other day was surprised that I was wearing a mask. He said he thought Covid was finished! Which planet is he on??

 

[Grand Guru]

We passed the 20k mark

 

[Paul33]

We passed the 20k mark

And frighteningly fast as well holy cr@p

 

[Adephi]

View attachment 245939View attachment 245940
We passed the 20k mark

That positivity rate is looking rough. The peak of the third wave was 33%. Almost there.

Edit: it was just before the peak of the second that it was 33%.

 

[Paul33]

That positivity rate is looking rough. The peak of the third wave was 33%. Almost there.

Edit: it was just before the peak of the second that it was 33%.

I was trying to explain to my 11 year old about the positivity rate and even he was stunned silent when I simplified it to almost every 1 in 3 people who tested are positive.

that’s scary dad was the rather apt response.

 

[Stranger]

As much as every human is entitled to their own beliefs when an existential threat is laid out to civilization at large the innate human rights of the many to be safe will out weigh your own needs to believe in whatever.

and so therein is the dilemma. We have worldwide elected people to govern us (let's not debate this at this time) and they are the decision makers as far as policy is concerned. Now they make policy or not as the case may be, and as a society we then disagree with the policies made and rebel against it. So we agree that we have a police force authorized to shoot people dead if they threaten our lives but we can't shoot an anti vaxxer who also threatens our lives. Where do we draw the line ?

 

[Intuthu Kagesi]

and so therein is the dilemma. We have worldwide elected people to govern us (let's not debate this at this time) and they are the decision makers as far as policy is concerned. Now they make policy or not as the case may be, and as a society we then disagree with the policies made and rebel against it. So we agree that we have a police force authorized to shoot people dead if they threaten our lives but we can't shoot an anti vaxxer who also threatens our lives. Where do we draw the line ?

This forum has a number of members brought together by an obvious mutual interest, however we need to be cognisant of the fact that we all have different beliefs, morals, values and ethics, all of which form a part of a field of study called Philosophy, which to broach it, one would have to first forfeit opinion, (ego in this context), and that ain't happening in a hurry on this forum!

On morals, ethics and values however, whilst ethics and morals are very similar, they differ in that morals are concerned with individuals feeling "good" or "bad," whilst ethics determine what behaviors are "right" or "wrong." ... note the subjectivity! ... Ethics also dictate what practical behaviors are allowed, while morals reflect our intentions. Consider morals as the rulebook and ethics as the motivator that leads to proper or improper action, and that still has to be filtered by individual values , and ... individual belief system(s) ... and then "we" try and shove this clearly biased opinion on others .... I'll side with with the Darwinian approach to the "moral dilemma" you posed for now

 

[Dela Rey Steyn]

This forum has a number of members brought together by an obvious mutual interest, however we need to be cognisant of the fact that we all have different beliefs, morals, values and ethics, all of which form a part of a field of study called Philosophy, which to broach it, one would have to first forfeit opinion, (ego in this context), and that ain't happening in a hurry on this forum!

On morals, ethics and values however, whilst ethics and morals are very similar, they differ in that morals are concerned with individuals feeling "good" or "bad," whilst ethics determine what behaviors are "right" or "wrong." ... note the subjectivity! ... Ethics also dictate what practical behaviors are allowed, while morals reflect our intentions. Consider morals as the rulebook and ethics as the motivator that leads to proper or improper action, and that still has to be filtered by individual values , and ... individual belief system(s) ... and then "we" try and shove this clearly biased opinion on others .... I'll side with with the Darwinian approach to the "moral dilemma" you posed for now

My personal philosophy is: With enough wood to burn and whiskey to drink, we can solve all the worlds problems.... just as long as we don't actually have to do anything the next day.....

 

[Grand Guru]

 

[Grand Guru]

This is true. I've never seen so many colleagues affected in such a short period of time since the first wave. This is actually much worse.
https://mg.co.za/coronavirus-essent...th-africas-healthcare-workers-contract-covid/

Alarm as almost 20% of South Africa’s healthcare workers contract Covid

 

[Adephi]

This is true. I've never seen so many colleagues affected in such a short period of time since the first wave. This is actually much worse.
https://mg.co.za/coronavirus-essent...th-africas-healthcare-workers-contract-covid/

Alarm as almost 20% of South Africa’s healthcare workers contract Covid

I had to send 2 staff members home last night. I believe our dayshift has been hectic with staff being off.

We don't even use nurses anymore to swab the staff. You get the swab and do it yourself.

 

[Grand Guru]

 

[Hooked]

A South African mom had trouble with sanitisers. Now her armband solution is in Checkers
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/a...mband-solution-is-in-checkers-sq-easy-2021-12
10 Dec. 2021

"A South African mom has created an easy-to-use wristband that dispenses sanitiser on-the-go.

Jolene de Sousa from Welkom noticed that her children's sanitiser bottles remained full and unused after school, so she came up with a simple solution to a problem that won't be leaving us for a good while.

Called SQ-easy, the wristband dispenses sanitiser as you need it. De Sousa approached Checkers with the idea, and the buyers loved it. The product is now available at 23 Checkers outlets in the Free State and Northern Cape.

De Sousa says the transaction between the two parties was "seamless", adding that the buyers advised and guided her through the process. "Checkers really transformed our dream into a reality," she said.

And it can be used for more than just sanitiser.

"It was apparent that Covid-19 sanitisation rituals would be the norm for us for many years to come. However, the versatility of this wrist band in combination with our weather in South Africa further allows it to be filled with products like sunscreen," De Sousa explains.

The multi-purpose band which comes in a variety of colours has received a seal of approval from South African cricket player Dean Elgar who uses it for sunscreen on the cricket pitch.

If you're an interested buyer not located in the Free State or Northern Cape you can also purchase the wristband on the SQ-easy company site at a cost of R89.99. The wristband comes with a refillable applicator bottle.

Here's how to fill and use a SQ-easy:
Choose your desired hand sanitiser or liquid.
Twist the cap off the refillable applicator and fill that bottle with the liquid.
Twist the cap back on and fill the wristband with the sanitiser/chosen liquid in the small opening on the wristband.



Wipe any excess liquid and go. Squeeze the wristband when desired.

 

[Hooked]

Japanese scientists are developing face masks that glow under UV light if the wearer has Covid-19
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/japanese-scientists-masks-glow-if-wearer-has-covid-2021-12
10 Dec. 2021

• Researchers at a Japanese university are working on a face mask that glows under UV light if the wearer has Covid-19.
• The mask includes a filter that shows traces of the virus when sprayed with a fluorescent dye containing antibodies.
• The research team behind the project hopes to obtain authorization to sell the masks in 2022.

 

[Intuthu Kagesi]

A couple of questions for @Grand Guru and @Adephi if you wouldn't mind;

With respect to specifically the South African "waves" ...
If I look at the graphs in this thread, the period between waves seem to be shortening, and the infection intensity increasing with each wave, however the mortality rates seem to be dropping ... Is this the natural order / life cycle of viruses? or am I misreading the information presented? and;

Is there any information regarding who has vs. who hasn't been vaccinated in the current New Infections, Recovery and Deaths numbers? as a measure of the vaccines efficacy.

Thanking you in advance

 

[Feliks Karp]

A South African mom had trouble with sanitisers. Now her armband solution is in Checkers
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/a...mband-solution-is-in-checkers-sq-easy-2021-12
10 Dec. 2021

"A South African mom has created an easy-to-use wristband that dispenses sanitiser on-the-go.

Jolene de Sousa from Welkom noticed that her children's sanitiser bottles remained full and unused after school, so she came up with a simple solution to a problem that won't be leaving us for a good while.

Called SQ-easy, the wristband dispenses sanitiser as you need it. De Sousa approached Checkers with the idea, and the buyers loved it. The product is now available at 23 Checkers outlets in the Free State and Northern Cape.

De Sousa says the transaction between the two parties was "seamless", adding that the buyers advised and guided her through the process. "Checkers really transformed our dream into a reality," she said.

And it can be used for more than just sanitiser.

"It was apparent that Covid-19 sanitisation rituals would be the norm for us for many years to come. However, the versatility of this wrist band in combination with our weather in South Africa further allows it to be filled with products like sunscreen," De Sousa explains.

The multi-purpose band which comes in a variety of colours has received a seal of approval from South African cricket player Dean Elgar who uses it for sunscreen on the cricket pitch.

If you're an interested buyer not located in the Free State or Northern Cape you can also purchase the wristband on the SQ-easy company site at a cost of R89.99. The wristband comes with a refillable applicator bottle.

Here's how to fill and use a SQ-easy:
Choose your desired hand sanitiser or liquid.
Twist the cap off the refillable applicator and fill that bottle with the liquid.
Twist the cap back on and fill the wristband with the sanitiser/chosen liquid in the small opening on the wristband.

View attachment 246084

Wipe any excess liquid and go. Squeeze the wristband when desired.

I'd love to know when she "created" this obviously one of a kind totally original idea. Seen a new trend lately where local people "create" local brands where all they do is rebrand drop shipped stuff.

 

[Adephi]

A couple of questions for @Grand Guru and @Adephi if you wouldn't mind;

With respect to specifically the South African "waves" ...
If I look at the graphs in this thread, the period between waves seem to be shortening, and the infection intensity increasing with each wave, however the mortality rates seem to be dropping ... Is this the natural order / life cycle of viruses? or am I misreading the information presented? and;

Is there any information regarding who has vs. who hasn't been vaccinated in the current New Infections, Recovery and Deaths numbers? as a measure of the vaccines efficacy.

Thanking you in advance

That is exactly what happened to the Spanish flu and the guys in white coats are hoping that is what is happening here. But every pandemic is different and we will jave to wait and see.

As for the vaccine status, I wish they can give more info. What I do hear from nurses and doctors is it's mostly unvaccinated in the hospitals. But that's not concrete stats. As soon as I get something I will share it here.

As for my personal experience this week: 11 staff members, 10 vaccinated, 2 tested positive, 1 unvaccinated with a bad cough and fever developing, 1 vaccinated completely asymptomatic.

 

[Grand Guru]

From what I see around me, we had more than 40 staff members testing positive in the last 10 days (a little less than 10% of the staff) and ALL were vaccinated, some have even received a booster shot…. I can’t comment on the rest for now but a few things are certain:
The hospitals are better prepared with equipment and staff (I’m not saying it’s up to standards)
We have gained more experience in treating covid19 pneumonia and its other complications
People are more willingly testing earlier during their disease (there’s less stigma)

 

[DarthBranMuffin]

 

[Intuthu Kagesi]

View attachment 246099

Thanks @DarthBranMuffin ... I only wish we could split out vaccinated vs. unvaccinated in them graphs to see the efficacy of the vaccine(s), particularly wrt hospitalisation and death

 

[Paul33]

View attachment 246099

We need an “Eish” emoji

 

[Intuthu Kagesi]

Does anyone have any information about a "Family Meeting" tomorrow night?
Apparently it's to do with inter provincial travel

Covid-19: Ramaphosa convenes urgent command council meeting over Omicron

NO WORD ON THE NEXT FAMILY MEETING AS CABINET EXTENDS NATIONAL STATE OF DISASTER

 

[Drikusw]

Does anyone have any information about a "Family Meeting" tomorrow night?
Apparently it's to do with inter provincial travel
http://www.702.co.za/articles/40540...as-coronavirus-command-council-meets-tomorrow

Article from January 2021