As We Thought

[piper107]

scaremongering

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10305417/Fury-lack-transparency-UKs-Omicron-death-victim-fully-jabbed-vulnerable.html

[Deskdiary]

Context is everything.

I know some on this site don't like context, the worst offender being Gromit who has willfully never provided context from the very start, but there's a whole word of difference between a vulnerable 90 year old already on their way out who succumbs WITH Covid, rather than a 20 year old healthy person who has died OF Covid.

A banner headline that we've had the first Omicron death in the world* without any context is meaningless.

*I honestly try not to be too cynical and sceptical, but given RSA is a few weeks ahead of us, and their vax take-up is only about 25% of adults, let's say I'm 'surprised' we've had the first death!

[naomi24]

// I'm 'surprised' we've had the first death! //

As I said, we're not too good at sums ...

[Deskdiary]

Is Dr Angelique Coetzee the 'wrong' sort of expert because of her message?

I suspect to some on AB she will be because she's 'only' a GP and only the head of RSA's equivalent to the BMA, and because (even though she's been on the front line with Omicron) she states "...I can reassure you that the symptoms presenting in those with Omicron are very, very mild compared with those we see with the far more dangerous Delta variant."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10306211/DR-ANGELIQUE-COETZEE-alerted-wider-world-Omicron-believe-Britain-overreacting.html

[royfromaus]

We have become a nation of neurotics.

[naomi24]

^Indeed! That worries me more than Covid!

[Spicerack]

And me. Can we get a test for it?

[THECORBYLOON]

"Odd that it should happen here … which leads me to believe those who have questioned statistics in the past were right to do so."

The first death had to happen somewhere so why not in the UK, what is odd about that?

What are you questioning about the stats in particular?

[naomi24]

Corby, //What are you questioning about the stats in particular? //

Their accuracy.

[Gromit]

// As We Thought scaremongering //

No its not.
Boris made a pigs ear of report the first death. He should have let his scientific advisors relay the news, not blurt it out off the cuff. The lack of detail and the imprecise words have led to speculation, which is never helpful.

The Mail report in the link is just speculation. It is exactly what ABers were saying yesterday.

[THECORBYLOON]

Which ones in particular?

[naomi24]

All of them, Corby.

[naomi24]

Gromit, //The lack of detail and the imprecise words have led to speculation, //

I'm not sure that wasn't intended. Vagueness causes people to be wary - and the government wants people to be wary.

[Stickybottle]

royfromaus
We have become a nation of neurotics.

I feel that is more from the utter ***** that is posted on facebook as ‘gospel’ than from reporting of news and actual facts

The asterisked word rhymes with kite

[Stickybottle]

As an aside my sister works at the vaccination centre in Edgbaston cricket ground and she tells me her nhs friends are getting very twitchy

[jim360]

To what end, I wonder.

Really, it's too early to evaluate the impact of Omicron on the UK. With any luck, by the end of the year it will be clear that the variant is at least no more deadly than previous variants, and that the vaccines/boosters are enough to keep it under control. If the data and reporting from South Africa is anything to go by, then the impact is likely being overestimated by the Government. Still, I'd prefer they act with too much caution than not enough.

[THECORBYLOON]

Why does that single death lead you to doubt all the stats?

[Spicerack]

You would.

[naomi24]

Corby, I've always doubted the stats. That single death is just another I doubt.

[Stickybottle]

naomi24
Corby, I've always doubted the stats. That single death is just another I doubt.

Said like Stalin !

[pat2604]

Yep, tread carefully and use common sense. Unfortunately, it's in short supply which is exactly why the government is now acting like the are!