Thread by @danielgoyal

This week in Covid, those leaders pummelled and defeated by SARS2 begin trying to re-write history.

They, yet again, forget that pesky thing called science!

#TheWeekInCovid - a weekly "slightly" sarcastic summary of the pandemonium caused by the pandemic.
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1. A new analysis from WHO that estimated around 20million Covid deaths have occurred worldwide was ceased upon by anti-public health commentators, as on initial inspection it seemed to paint a less damning picture. On closer inspection, it didn’t.

2. On the leader board of pandemic responses (excess deaths) the UK came 140th out of 200. Not as bad as Somalia at 141st.

3. At least it was better than the US at 156th, stuck between Namibia and Paraguay. In fairness, fewer people survive to old age in LICs, so that's OK.

4. On further inspection it seems that in the first two years of the pandemic the only time the UK has been at or below expected death rates was during the Summer of 2021, when public health measures were actually in force.

5. The United States have continued to lose more people each month than they would have if advertising revenue wasn't as important as not allowing any nut job with a theory a platform to derail public health messaging. You live and learn, or...

6. Despite this inconvenient truth, both Downing Street and White House continue to claim victory, getting the “big calls right”.

7. Always a bit dubious when an Etonian who read Classics at Oxford calls a pandemic over before actual scientists who know WTF they're talking about

8. The UK Gov tried to change focus to the economic recovery “the fastest recovery in the G7” (due to the previous greatest fall in G7) quickly turned sour as inflation grew to 9% and the Bank of England raised grave concerns about the impact Long Covid is having on the economy.

9. As we rush headlong into the second economic wave of Covid - Long Covid - with an estimated 100million cases worldwide, the same anti-public health commentators tried pretending Long Covid was folk just a bit stressed...forgetting, again, that pesky thing called science.

10. More evidence emerges that Long Covid has actual physical pathology emerges this week. Did seem a bit bold suggesting the after effects of a novel coronavirus was “nothing”. I guess the clue is in the name, “novel”. Usually means we don't know it and it needs studied.

11. In other news, Australian scientists suggest tracking what effects this mutating virus can have on the human body is a good idea. Genius!

12. It seems simply hoping it will mutate into a friendlier version isn't science. Who knew? Less Avengers movies for some, maybe.

13. Australia also makes the news this week as elections begin. After leading the world in lives saved, the Australian PM decided to go another way and try winning an election with Covid by throwing it all away.

14. As Australia experiences its worse period in the pandemic, hospitals become overwhelmed, and Aussies start asking, “why do I feel so knackered”, elections kick off. Maybe Morrison is bored and needs a challenge?

15. Meanwhile, a number of countries remain defiant.

16. Japan remains a beacon of intelligent governance, managing to save more people during the pandemic than prior to it. Yes, fewer people died during Covid than would have if Covid hadn’t hit (along with 29 other countries).

17. More defiantly still, they achieved it with mask wearing, ventilation, vaccine coverage, self-isolation, and no lockdowns.

18. Fundamental public health measures proven over centuries are effective. Who knew? Oh wait. It’s just basic common sense, even to school children…

19.…who continue to enjoy a full and rich education in Japan without repeated Covid infections or school closures.

20. So hang on…an effective, early response to Covid actually allows kids to remain in school? We are making some breakthrough revelations this week!

21. With an over 80% fully vaccinated population, Japan are opening up for tourists again, even those from the US and UK, so long as they are tripled jabbed, and chaperoned (probably a good idea!).

22. Japan once again putting the “advanced” into the term “advanced nation”.

23. But Japan certainly haven’t got everything right. This week they accidentally sent all £500k of a community’s Covid funds (yes, they still actually get government support to survive a pandemic - shocking!) to one man.

24. He duly gambled it all away in an online Casino.

25. He was then subsequently arrested.

26. In other news, £5bn of the UK’s Covid relief fund goes missing. No arrests follow. They do however discover the money. Curiously it all landed within spitting distance of The UK Government’s Ministers. Odd that.

27. In fairness The UK Prime Minister did get a £50 fine for having parties during the countries worst ever public health disaster, as thousands died, millions remained locked down and healthcare staff cried in closets so as not to spread the virus they were carrying due...

...to the ineffective paper masks and plastic aprons supplied by…yes,.. mates of the Government, who skimped on safety standards to make a quick buck, as millions suffered. No, not Britains finest hour!

28. And to add insult to injury, the threat of a new pandemic emerges…Monkeypox. No, seriously, Monkeypox. Dozens of cases popping up around the world. The CDC or UKHPA are investigating though, so that should be reassuring.

29. But it does genuinely seem less of a threat than Covid-19 does, or climate change, or disinformation.

30. The reported mortality of 1% is thought to only be applicable if healthcare services are inadequate or there is limited access to healthcare. We should be fine then!

31. Finally, as we try to re-write the re-write with facts, we are realising the impact of an unmitigated novel coronavirus ripples way beyond the acute disease. Let’s just hope enough truth gets out so we’re not reading #TheWeekInMonkeypox or #TheWeekInBirdFlu anytime soon.
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