[eltonioni]

Russian vaccine provokes division within Europe:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56735931

Seems the EU tanker-like decision making is provoking division.

Russian vaccine is merely a solution to Ursula’s impression of the Exxon Valdez

Let's hope that the EU gets the same Sputknik V as was tested for the Lancet review and not the other stuff that Russia has been sending instead.

This is yet another soldiers with broomsticks moment on her watch, it's just not amusing any more.

As reported the other day in the NYT:

Slovakia’s regulator, the State Institute for Drug Control, however, said in a statement that vaccine batches imported into the East European country did “not have the same characteristics and properties” as the version of Sputnik V reviewed by The Lancet.

[johnm]

It's not obvious that anyone has managed to establish an effective approach to dealing with Putin's Russia and the translation of Sputnik is "companion" so there is a clear expectation the the vaccine will be with you for a while

It's also worth pointing out that Health is a national not an EU issue but there has been an attempt to have a coherent approach following the idea that "no-one is safe until everyone is safe" very tricky political philosophy to sell, altruism is not a common human trait

[Propwash]

It's also worth pointing out that Health is a national not an EU issue but there has been an attempt to have a coherent approach following the idea that "no-one is safe until everyone is safe" very tricky political philosophy to sell, altruism is not a common human trait

Or, at the risk of straying into forbidden territory, it is yet one more example of the EU using any pretext, crisis or opportunity to push for “more Europe”. The obsession with ever closer union and harmonisation at every level is always considered more important than the welfare or interests of those who pay the piper.

Other interpretations are available.

PW

[Jim Jones]

The USA at the moment is showing how possible it is for individual states to have a lot of autonomy even under a federal system, ( but needed Washington to get their vaccine programme firing on all cylinders).

[skydriller]

( but needed Washington to get their vaccine programme firing on all cylinders).

Well, that would be because if the documentary I saw a month or so ago is accurate, only the FDA can authorise any drug testing or use in the US, it is not something a state can bypass... apparently this caused problems at the beginning of the pandemic in the US with C19 testing kits?

[kanga]

The USA at the moment is showing how possible it is for individual states to have a lot of autonomy even under a federal system, ( but needed Washington to get their vaccine programme firing on all cylinders).

similar lessons from Canada (and, for that matter, Germany) This gloomy story about 'Canada' is actually nearly all about Ontario (admittedly, some Ontarians sometimes seem to think they're the same, rather as some New Yorkers regard the USA or some Londoners England and some English the UK ); which is, by the way, not the 'biggest' Province (that is Quebec), but is the most populous

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56779428

My contacts in the Maritimes (mostly but not all in N&L) are very glad they've kept their strict exclusionary 'bubbles', although tourism is for many in the area much the biggest industry.

[Paultheparaglider]

Taking into account that everyone in England is now entitled to two lateral flow tests each week, this article on Bayes theorem is an interesting read on the maths behind false positives. It is worth a read, as it explains why things aren't as most would first assume from a layman's understanding.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... robability

[Charles Hunt]

I'll have a look in a minute. In the mean time if the Government is going to make available this huge number of tests why have we got to pay a fortune for tests either to go on or come back from a holiday.

Either a test gives a usable result or it doesn't.

[Paultheparaglider]

Either a test gives a usable result or it doesn't.

Unfortunately, Charles, statistics aren't always that black or white - which is why it is worth taking the time to understand the point made in the article.

[kanga]

3 members of same family appear from genomic sequence to have been infected by family of 4 on same floor in an Australian quarantine hotel

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-18/ ... /100077176

The vaccination programme, at least in NSW, has barely started, but their test and trace seems impressive

[kanga]

Australia-NZ 'travel bubble' reopens:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-56796679

[PeteSpencer]

Thank goodness Boris has binned his trip to India .

Far north important stuff to deal with at home like stopping Abramovich the Russki creaming off even more football money/loot to his offshore bank accounts .......

[johnm]

Now he’s not going will India go on the red list at last

[kanga]

19 April BBC summary for Europe


"Portugal and Switzerland are easing their Covid restrictions from today, but in much of Europe the infection rates are deemed too high for any relaxation.

In Portugal, shopping centres have reopened for the first time in two months in most areas, and all pupils are now back in school. The government is easing a lockdown imposed in mid-January. Back then Portugal was among the worst-hit countries in Europe. Cafes and restaurants can serve customers indoors too now, while restricting numbers

In Switzerland restaurants have reopened outdoor terraces and people can return to the gym. It is seen as a calculated gamble by the government, as infections are still rising, and there is some opposition from scientists and the general public, the BBC’s Imogen Foulkes reports. Infections are rising fairly slowly and vaccinations are speeding up

Turkey had its highest daily death toll from Covid on Sunday – 318, with 55,800 new infections in 24 hours, officials said. The total infected in Turkey in the pandemic has risen to nearly 4.3m

Germany’s infection rate nationally has risen to 165 per 100,000 people across seven days, the RKI medical centre says. A national emergency brake – meaning tighter lockdown measures – kicks in when the rate passes 100."

[OCB]

Ever seen the film Soylent Green, Peter?

PW

I generally don't comment until I've caught up - which is 10 days in this instance - and I apologise for gatecrashing the current conversation, but as someone who had more than a few beers with Harry Harrison ...that was a genuine "Laugh Out Loud" moment!