oh shit, the mutated UK variant mutated again!

This virus seems stronger than us. The world is overpopulated.

What are the British doing to cause so many mutations? Shut them down.

Viruses mutate all the time...that’s the point and why we need to get to herd immunity ASAP

People not masking, people traveling, and people thinking getting infected once makes them immune so they get re-infected, is all exacerbating the evolution & mutation of the virus.

I read an article today that said based on current trends, this pandemic is going to last the next seven years.

And we're probably going to need annual vaccinations, like with the flu.

The other new mutation is 867-5309

It was first discovered in a woman named Jenny...

Boris the Butcher is to blame. He fucked up big time when he did nothing to limit air passengers in and out of Britain. The UK would have faired better if Nicola were in charge.

R2 well I think it has something to do with their initial government stance on Covid, IIRC the Boris government tried the herd immunity as the approach but after two months, it proved not working, basically they wasted two months and let the virus spread/mutate freely.

I really have to say I’ve enjoyed having less people around.

[quote]having less people around.

oh, dear

The British are supposed to be the best in the world at tracking these mutations. The US lags far behind in prioritizing this. That’s why they keep finding them there but really we probably have hundreds of versions floating around here too.

R10 "Less" could mean "less (un)healthy"

just expose it to the scallies and it'll run screaming back where it came from.

we're all going to die.

The current spate of mutations turns out to be the big argument against "letting it go till we get herd immunity" which was proposed at the beginning by the morons in charge of the UK, US and Sweden. At that time, the medical fraternity returned in horror, "Millions of people will die!" To which the pollies responded quietly, "Yeah, but they'll all be old so it doesn't matter."

The medicos must have known, but somehow forgot to mention, the perhaps more persuasive argument, to a politician, "The more people get it, the more chances you give it to mutate. If it takes at least a year to get an effective vaccine, and the virus mutates even as rarely as every six months, it stands to reason we'll never catch it. So pull your heads in and lock everyone down so as few people as possible get it in the first place."

The Pikeys are to blame.

[quote] At that time, the medical fraternity returned in horror, "Millions of people will die!" To which the pollies responded quietly, "Yeah, but they'll all be old so it doesn't matter."

I’ll never forget when BoJo got on television and, when talking about herd immunity, he said, “Many of our loved ones may die, which will be very sad, but...”. It was one of his first daily briefings on CV, and it was horrifying.

The only way to stop this now is to adopt a COVID zero style lockdown similar to NZ, otherwise we are going to be stuck in this cycle of mutation/lock down/wait for vaccines for years.

Yep, R18's right. Our thoughts and prayers that are with you, are that you get some decent leadership, so your communities can have faith in what they ask you to do. That was the huge benefit we had from the start in NZ and Oz, along with adequate economic support for most people. Hopefully Biden will have that effect in the US now.

One thing I'd love Brits and Americans to understand is how much pride in yourself and your community it engenders to know that We the People united to defeat a pandemic, by enduring lockdowns, wearing masks when told, and so on. Long lockdowns are horrible, but when you emerge from them to a Covid-free world it's the best feeling. Instead of applauding frontline workers, you're applauding each other. And if there's a problem and you have to do it again, you do, because you've seen it work with your own eyes.

Compliance is not the opposite of freedom. Freedom is being at the beach or on holiday, having all the kids back at school, being able to sell 75% of capacity at the cricket and at Frozen, and to tell the majority of your hospital workers they can get rid of the PPE. Living under the constant shadow of disease and death is the opposite of freedom. Feeling disempowered and as though it'll never end is the opposite of freedom.

Just read something that indicated we're going to be in this pandemic for 7 years, and I'm just depressed. Especially when I see so many people just refusing to take it seriously. This is going to drag out forever thanks to the selfish morons that refuse to wear masks, refuse to social distance, and insist on going out to packed bars and restaurants, and hold big parties (birthday, Christmas, New Years, SuperBowl) in their homes.

R16, I just snorted with laughter at your post. It seems so incongruous on a Datalounge thread.

My understanding is that at present even if mutated strains can resist present vaccines they, because of partial immunity caused by the vaccines, do not lead to hospitalizations or death.

Am I correct?

You are r22. Viruses mutate, and through mutation they weaken.

The UK needs to be nuked already.

[quote]Just read something that indicated we're going to be in this pandemic for 7 years

Yeah, a bunch of you have, yet somehow you never manage to say what you read, let alone link to it.

Exterminate!

The coronavirus variant first found in Kent could become the world's dominant strain, the head of the UK's genetic surveillance programme has predicted.

Prof Sharon Peacock told the BBC's Newscast podcast the new variant has "swept the country" and "it's going to sweep the world, in all probability".

She said her work sequencing variants of the virus could be required for at least 10 years.

The Kent variant has already been detected in more than 50 countries.

It was first detected in September 2020 in south-east England and its rapid spread over the following months was cited as the reason for the introduction of new lockdown rules across the UK in January.

They can keep tweaking the vaccine as the virus mutates - that implies it'll become like the flu shot and you'll need to get repeated vaccinations. How often has yet to be figured out - they'll have to check antibodies in people's blood post vaccination until they figure out how long the protection lasts. And I guess if a particularly virulent mutation occurs, they could go ahead and re-vaccinate people right away?

I don't think it's true that viruses always get weaker as they mutate, though they usually do. If they kill people too quickly, that hurts their survivability. However, if enough people had this virus for a while before getting symptoms, yet were still contagious, I don't see why the virus would necessarily get weaker.

My 90 yr old aunt started crying the other day, asking if Covid is going to go on forever. She wants to go out and visit her friends. I told her that the vaccines will protect her, just to calm her down. But at her age, she will never see any kind of normalcy again, will she?

Hold me David. I'm scared.

@r28 I don't think it's true that viruses always get weaker as they mutate, though they usually do

What???

That is the point. Most viruses mutate to become weaker, but this one mutates to become more dangerous.

The fat, ugly British gene pool is a cesspool for all virulent and terrifying diseases.

Covid has been shown to mutate in blood with alcohol content over 0.2, so of course UK is a petri dish of mutations two days a week.

We either keep this way off life or we just open up and deal with it. By this time next year, most will be begging to open up like normal even the mutations.

The article that I read months ago was wrong. It stated that although the virus would mutate, the mutations would be weaker variations of the virus, however, the mutations are reaportedly stronger. I do not remember where I read that, but we were getting misleading information from many sources who were aware that they were lying to us . My state only locked down for two weeks at the beginning. More than half of the ppl in this state do not bother with masks and those who do wear them incorrectly. These selfish idiots go to church, eat at buffets, ECT. No pandemic here!!!!! It is a big lie by the deep state. I dream of getting out knowing I am trapped. It is not safe anywhere here.

This is why this virus seems so, how shall I put it, "unnatural".

It mutated from animal to human transmission into human to human transmission seemingly overnight. That is not the typical evolutionary process. They have tried to find evidence of sars cov2 in some other place before Wuhan where this evolution could have occurred but there's no evidence of it.

I just don't trust anymore so much of what we have been told or what we are being told. There is a political component to public statements from too many sources -WHO, CDC are two now tainted sources - for us to completely trust these entities and governments saving face and protecting themselves.

Couple that with arrogance and attempts at censorship of those who dare to propose different POVs - including scientists - and you get "we are fucked."

All other EU countries are now feverishly in support of Brexit!

I am no Trumper, nor am I right wing—I am not even American. But why the fuck are the Chinese not in a little bit of trouble for all this? And how the fuck did it become politically incorrect to point it that it is cHina responsible for this?

R39 well, maybe it's because they are able to control it, and you cannot, and you are still trying to blame it all on them after one year has passed since.

Has everyone banned travelers from the UK by this point? I hope so.

The fear based press loves this.

R39, why aren’t the Spanish in trouble for the Spanish flu? I think we need to find out what exactly the Chinese government did or didn’t do and then act accordingly and hold them accountable IF they’re at fault.

You can say China could have reacted quicker after the initial cases emerged, but what did OUR government do after the first cases occurred in the US? Nothing. What difference would it have made with Trump in charge?

The government are honestly making things up as they go along now, they've got no intention of EVER letting the lockdown end.

R44, what are you saying? That people should socialize and dance in the streets during a deadly pandemic?

What does the government gain from your ass sitting at home in quarantine? Nothing! They need us in the streets buying shit to help the economy.

Mutation E-Cov2-Zrt has been discovered in Dallas! This one kills 100%.

[quote]What does the government gain from your ass sitting at home in quarantine? Nothing!

You're being logical. Logic doesn't play well with the conspiracy crowd.

R41. It is currently illegal, except in very limited circumstances ie. driving a lorry, for people to leave the UK.

So I wouldn't worry too much about travellers from the UK. It's South Africa you need to worry about.

[quote]I don't think it's true that viruses always get weaker as they mutate

There's something paradoxical I read about this mutant virus theory r28 - yes, it may be less lethal as it mutates but I think if I remember correctly, it transmits quicker, faster. I just remember there was a "down side" to that mutation theory about weakening the viral load or whatever. Not all good news.

I know a number of insane compulsive travellers (they travel like other people drink or shoot up) and I wondered what would happen to them during lockdown. They are middle class people who have no actual need to go anywhere, but go on international trips 7-12 a year under normal circumstances. They are people like your dental hygienist who just got back from Thailand and is going to Russia next week. They are totally insufferable, and guess what—the fuckers are still travelling. Maybe domestically, but they are still out there, presumably spreading the virus.

[quote] One thing I'd love Brits and Americans to understand is how much pride in yourself and your community it engenders to know that We the People united to defeat a pandemic, by enduring lockdowns, wearing masks when told, and so on. Long lockdowns are horrible, but when you emerge from them to a Covid-free world it's the best feeling. Instead of applauding frontline workers, you're applauding each other.

R19 thanks for reminding me again why Kiwis are a pack of insufferable smug insular pod-people. How convenient that you overlook the enormous mitigating factor of low population density in your success story.

Don’t you think the majority of the U.K. *have* been following guidelines? It’s the small monied minority of farmers (importing/smuggling migrant workers), toff layabouts & jetsetters, and Tory scum in Parliament who keep breaking lockdown rules and endangering the entire populace Short of causing mass civil unrest by burning barns and stringing up politicians, what exactly are we to do? Since you’re such an intellect, I’d love to hear ideas.

[quote] The UK would have faired better

Oh, dear!

[quote]Most viruses mutate to become weaker, but this one mutates to become more dangerous.

It’s only more “dangerous” because it’s easier to catch, resulting in all its attendant problems, overwhelming healthcare, more people ill, etc. It is not more virulent. There’s a huge difference.

[quote] It stated that although the virus would mutate, the mutations would be weaker variations of the virus, however, the mutations are reaportedly stronger.

No, they’re not. They really aren’t. They are easier to catch, not stronger. If they were stronger you’d see the death and hospitalizations consistently rising here in the States when actually the opposite is happening. You’d also see the death rate (not number of people, the rate) go up, and that has maintained.

[quote] on the outskirts of Liverpool

I knew it! Liverpool hasn’t sent us anything good ever. Including that ragtag bunch of hippies singing those songs.

Dammit, where’s my geritol?

I recently moved to the UK from the US. People love to call out Americans, but it seems like most people in the US are taking in seriously. Most people in stores wear mask in the US, and few people congregate outside.

Here it is scary! While most people in stores do wear mask, far more people, including workers are maskless than in the US. Huge crowds of people without mask are outside and not 6 feet apart and clearly not the same house hold.

Sorry for being a little off topic, r55, but my curiosity got the better of me:

How are you faring with driving on the “wrong side” of the road?

The UK has shit all over the place. It’s incredibly dirty. Not surprised at all.

That’s not true!

I’ve seen Mr. Bean.

R53 is correct that the UK variant isn't stronger -- but deaths will go up because it's more transmissible and more people will get it. Higher transmissibility can actually lead to more deaths than a more lethal virus.

Britain, besieged by a more contagious coronavirus strain and alarmed by the potential of new and imported variants, is about to launch the toughest travel restrictions in Europe, including mandatory hotel quarantines and 10-year prison terms for those who lie on entry forms.

The government has already has shut down almost all travel by international visitors from 33 countries seen as viral hot spots, including Brazil and South Africa.

Beginning Monday, British citizens returning from those “red list” countries must quarantine for 10 days in designated hotels, under police guard, costing travelers 1,750 pounds, or about $2,400. Travelers must submit to multiple coronavirus tests before release. Those who try to elude quarantine face fines of up to $14,000.

I wish that would happen here. It would probably start a civil war with half of our country now legally insane. It may be that our President fears this. I do not know, just guessing.

I blame Big Liz.

Harry was right to get the hell out.

Interesting a whole bunch of new posts and no one discusses the migrants who have been entering England, by dinghy, via Kent. I guess you're all Americans and don't really know what's going on. Maybe this aspect is hidden from you in the American MSM.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

It's weird that you don't sound like a native English speaker, R55.

R63 You're welcome to try and cross the English Channel in a dingy in February if you want.

Chances of a successful crossing would be about zero today.

R56 I actually have not started driving here yet; I plan to take a few driving lessons first.

R65 Believe it or not, I am. But, I admit I don’t always express myself best online or in writing. I just don’t give a shit. Still, I pull 6 figures so I guess something is working.

You nervous nellies seem to get off everytime there is bad news about covid. How explosive was the orgasm this this?