It's clearly not the way out of anything. By your own argument most won't be doing it so it's therefore less effective even if you do. It's definitely a useful, and I won't deny, community minded step (much like wearing a quality mask in that you can only do what you do, but many others won't bother so it will diminish its effectiveness) but the single most sensible and useful step to limit the damage caused of almost inevitable infection by covid no matter what steps you take is to be vaccinated before it happens. It has helped it become much less of an issue issue even to those who it previously would've hit hard, and combined with a later natural infection puts people in good stead for whatever (if anything) comes next.

Edited by BlueJay (22 Dec 2021 12.02pm)

If you're going to operate on the 'no one can die' principle of running a society then he is in fact more correct.....Not that I believe society should be run like that but whatever....I'm waiting for the 30 mph speed limit enforcements.

It's practically impossible to have everyone vaccinated regardless....However, if you require a dated negative test to go anywhere then it makes sense.

It's more accurate than vaccination as that's no certainty of not being positive and spreading nor of not dying anyway.....but a dated negative test says you were clear at a specific time.

As for accuracy....well these tests have been accepted wholesale and that was with much lower than a ninety percent accuracy rate.

Edited by Stirlingsays (22 Dec 2021 12.16pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Plenty of people have and will die. Sensible measures such as wearing masks, and testing make sense, but it was always a delaying tactic with some pros and some cons. This variant appears to spread so easily that even extreme measures such as weeks long lockdowns would likely only delay a bounce back within days (and i'm sure you'd agree cause all manner of other societal issues in the process). There are too many routes to be able to come into contact with this in my view to overlook vaccination as the key way of helping as many people as possible. I would agree due to how widespread vaccination has become more about people protecting themselves than others though (even though I'm sure it somewhat reduces the chance of passing it on) and therefore on that basis it makes sense for the decision to be made by the individual as to whether they want it or not (even though across many groups it seems to be the best option from both a health and immunity perspective).

People can be fine one hour, positive the next with covid, especially omicron as it appears to have a faster incubation period. There have been many recent cases of everyone testing negative prior to an event, then half of them getting it via someone there anyway. It's a false sense of security unless maybe we're talking about small family gatherings where there's less scope for positives to emerge or slip through the net (around someone elderly or vulnerable who rarely goes out - that would certainly be a good and considerate move). Really unless people are going to opt of of society I see it as unavoidable to get covid and so all anyone can do is attempt to put themselves in the best position possible. Typically that's vaccination, but for those who don't bother, they will either continue to be disproportionately impacted by the virus, or gradually develop enough immunity that everyone ends up on the same page anyway.

All in all I think the numbers getting vaccinated has been impressive and has elevated levels of immunity and recognition of covid society wide in as safe a way as possible. With anything there are always going to be opt outs, but it was never going to be the case that everyone got vaccinated, so it's probably about as good as it gets.

Being that most of us now have through vaccination and infection some recognition of and protection against variants of covid-19, perhaps even the idea of testing all of the time eventually becomes somewhat redundant. As I say it's community minded, but in a way once we're able to cope with covid, its constant circulation isn't something we'll be able to do much about, and secondly isn't really a bad thing through ongoing topped up protection through routine exposure to it. Delta acted as a 'booster' in most receiving it, especially those in the safest fashion (post vaccination). This will likely or at least hopefully be the same. As in, it's a worry but may end up having a positive side to it especially if it doesn't impact as many people. I can understand concerns, but don't really think the emerging data matches the talk from government so far.

Edited by BlueJay (22 Dec 2021 12.36pm)

Indeed.

It's been a surreal couple of years and the surrealism continues unabated as if the host has become addicted to it.....Every 5 is reported as a 10.....almost like a dating app.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I think we should just forget about lockdowns unless there is an unthinkably terrible twist. Enough has been done to get people vaccinated and to very substantially improve the likelihood of people surviving covid. It's impossible to make people completely safe at every turn though and while it's very important to care for our elderly a thought also has to be given to the young, who are making years of sacrifices for others health rather than their own health or futures. In a way we're 'in it together' but really they are the ones making very real sacrifices for others above and beyond whenever there is a lockdown, or their job disappears. That perspective isn't often talked about.

Anyway as I say, regardless of your take on vaccination, that you test so frequently as at least a real positive for those you are around.