No new Covid deaths reported in Wales today. First time since 5th October. I know it’s weekend reporting lag and everything but it still makes you feel good.

There's research being carried out to see whether there is a link between COVID-19 and Type 1 Diabetes. I wouldn't have thought that one could cause the other, but then again until relatively recently we didn't realise there was a link between heading a football and dementia, so will be following this study with interest.

I am hoping Covid testing becomes quicker by the summer so they can test people before they go into the higher risk places when they open. At the minute the test turnaround is 30 minutes apparently for lateral flow testing.

I am hoping Covid testing becomes quicker by the summer so they can test people before they go into the higher risk places when they open. At the minute the test turnaround is 30 minutes apparently for lateral flow testing.

 

But they’re also not that accurate so your proposal is unlikely. I’m doing my first lateral flow test on Thursday and if positive, I’ll have to do a PCR test and won’t be allowed at school until that is negative or, if positive, I’ve isolated for 10 days.

We’ve decided antigen testing is the way forward because German Bürokratie (I cannot spell that word in English to save my actual life) means the vaccine roll out is going as well as anyone who has experienced Deutschebürokratie expected

I am hoping Covid testing becomes quicker by the summer so they can test people before they go into the higher risk places when they open. At the minute the test turnaround is 30 minutes apparently for lateral flow testing.

 

I think they will become more accurate over time once they refine the technology. Ideally you'd just be able to take a swap and find out straight away- but I think we are a long time away from that/ I am not sure if it is ever achieveable. But loads of reasons to be positive going forwards, Witty & Vallance sounded reasonably upbeat today. Going to accept there will be some bump in the roads and a few things will get pushed back but they key thing is still the vaccination programme and not getting too ahead of ourselves.

But they’re also not that accurate so your proposal is unlikely. I’m doing my first lateral flow test on Thursday and if positive, I’ll have to do a PCR test and won’t be allowed at school until that is negative or, if positive, I’ve isolated for 10 days.

 

Yeah, we've got it at work now and if you get a negative they say you shouldn't take it as a green light. It bascially just picks up the highly contagious people.

According to tomorrow's papers there's going to be a dog and cat food shortage, especially of the wet meat food in pouches.

 

From Daily Star:

 

"Shoppers are stockpiling pet food from Sainsbury's and Tesco over fears of a national shortage. The blame is being put on a surge in pet owners during the coronavirus lockdown.#

 

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest ... ource=push

 

Tesco has also been hit with a strong demand for packets of tasty treats for people’s precious pets.

 

But the chains insisted tinned and dry food was unaffected.

 

The blame is being put on a surge in pet owners during lockdown, and follows toilet rolls flying off the shelves last year.

 

Sainsbury’s said in an email to customers: “Due to a national shortage of dog and cat food pouches, we’re sorry if you’re not able to find your usual product at Sainsbury’s.

 

We’re working hard to resolve this.”

 

One angry customer tweeted: “I just had an email from Sainsbury’s apologising for the shortage of cat and dog food pouches and they expect it to last all year!"

 

 

Wonder why it's pouches in particular. I buy tins as weight for weight they workout cheaper.

Edited March 10, 20214 yr by common sense

That's true loads of people I know now have cats and/or dogs.

Off-topic slightly but the pandemic... has not done much for the birth rate. Life put on hold. Literally.

 

This is data from France.

 

@1369648969849143302

Off-topic slightly but the pandemic... has not done much for the birth rate. Life put on hold. Literally.

 

This is data from France.

 

@1369648969849143302

 

It'll be interesting if this acceleration of declining birth rates is a blip and if there'll be a "boom" once things go back to some sort of normality. Although it could be a permnant blip given the declining birth rates across the western world. We're likely going to see a rather large population decline in the UK/population growth revised down in the future.

It's weird, I would have thought the exact opposite!

 

My Facebook is filled with pregnant women (including my sister), had me thinking is that all they were doing in the first couple of months into the pandemic! :lol:

Yeah there still seems to be the same amount of people getting pregnant on my social media. I’m guessing though that this might be because there are fewer casual hookups resulting in pregnancy? With people not being able to go out.

I think it's partially down to less opportunity - the COVID guidelines have effectively made having sex with someone who doesn't live in your household illegal (Catholicism intensifies), so there is less chance of getting pregnant. Conversely, within my own circle of friends, five of them have had or are having babies within the period of November - July this year, although in all those cases they are either married or long-term relationships, plus they're all around the age (late 20s/early 30s) where they would be expecting to have children. There might also be some subtle peer pressure there, as it is shown that if one person in a peer group has a child, it is very likely that other members of that circle will have children.

 

I do think that there's also the psychological impact that many people don't want to have children during times of great peril, so I'd say the interesting month to look out for is 9 months after the restrictions are finally over.

Yeah I reckon the only pregnancies are people who were already in relationships pre-pandemic. That's the case anyway with everyone I know who have had or are having children in the last year.

 

As Brett said the fact there's been no opportunities in the last year is obviously the biggest factor but a presumably positive by-product of that will be less unplanned/unwanted pregnancies resulting from boozy nights out.

Yeah I reckon the only pregnancies are people who were already in relationships pre-pandemic. That's the case anyway with everyone I know who have had or are having children in the last year.

 

As Brett said the fact there's been no opportunities in the last year is obviously the biggest factor but a presumably positive by-product of that will be less unplanned/unwanted pregnancies resulting from boozy nights out.

 

And another positive is probably less cases of sexual harassment too during the pandemic.

And another positive is probably less cases of sexual harassment too during the pandemic.

 

I’m not so sure. You can sexually harass someone without leaving the house.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56357760

 

Worrying. Anti-vaxxers will go into overdrive at the news of this.

Not looking good!

The anti-vaxxers don't need any more fuel anyway they're never gonna chance their stance.

 

Can't see this having too much of an impact on uptake. The article says there's no confirmed link anyway.