This thread 🧵 is a ‘Cat in the Hat’ special for those of you who are totally & utterly fed up of hearing about Covid.
Those who feel you made enough sacrifices already during the endless months of lockdown.
Those who just want to get on with living your lives.
I see you.
1/
Those who feel you made enough sacrifices already during the endless months of lockdown.
Those who just want to get on with living your lives.
I see you.
1/
I know you followed the rules to the letter during lockdown..
That you clapped and banged your pots & pans at 8pm every Thursday to celebrate the courageous NHS key workers.
But that was a long time ago.
It all changed for you once the Covid vaccines came along, right?
2/
That you clapped and banged your pots & pans at 8pm every Thursday to celebrate the courageous NHS key workers.
But that was a long time ago.
It all changed for you once the Covid vaccines came along, right?
2/
You probably heard that the Covid jab doesn’t prevent infection but it does massively reduce the risk of serious illness & death, which is the important thing, after all.
Now you can just “vax & relax”.
The pandemic is over. You’ve moved on.
Things are back to normal.
3/
Now you can just “vax & relax”.
The pandemic is over. You’ve moved on.
Things are back to normal.
3/
It’s great being able to do all the things you missed out on during the lockdowns…
Meals out with friends, trips to the theatre, holidays to exotic locations, concerts, football matches and so much more.
Besides, there are far bigger issues to worry about than Covid now.
4/
Meals out with friends, trips to the theatre, holidays to exotic locations, concerts, football matches and so much more.
Besides, there are far bigger issues to worry about than Covid now.
4/
Everything in life comes with risks…
You can’t live in fear of Covid forever.
After all, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow!
It’s totally irrelevant that the risk of dying from being hit by a bus is 1,337 times lower than dying from Covid (even after the vax campaign)…
5/
You can’t live in fear of Covid forever.
After all, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow!
It’s totally irrelevant that the risk of dying from being hit by a bus is 1,337 times lower than dying from Covid (even after the vax campaign)…
5/
📍In 2019, 29 pedestrians were killed in accidents involving buses or coaches in the UK.
(Source: Dept for Transport)
📍In 2022, 38,784 people died where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate as one of the causes. (Source: ONS)
6/
(Source: Dept for Transport)
📍In 2022, 38,784 people died where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate as one of the causes. (Source: ONS)
6/
I’m sure you’d rather not be reminded that infection rates are currently higher than at the peak of Jan 2021 when we went into national lockdown.
Back then, 1 in 40 people being infected was a terrifying prospect. Now it’s the norm.
But you don’t want to hear that, do you?
7/
Back then, 1 in 40 people being infected was a terrifying prospect. Now it’s the norm.
But you don’t want to hear that, do you?
7/
You’d probably prefer to turn a blind eye to the fact that 1 in 20 (5%) of over 70’s (the highest risk age group) currently have Covid which is inevitably going to lead to a big spike in hospitalisations in the coming weeks.
8/
8/
You’d rather ignore the fact that there are still around 1,000 Covid hospitalisations EVERY SINGLE DAY…
And that this is still putting immense pressure on the NHS - longer waiting lists, longer A&E waits etc.
As long as you don’t need medical treatment, you’ll be fine…
9/
And that this is still putting immense pressure on the NHS - longer waiting lists, longer A&E waits etc.
As long as you don’t need medical treatment, you’ll be fine…
9/
I understand that you don’t want to have to think about the 521 people who sadly died due to Covid LAST WEEK. That was nearly 5% of all deaths that week.
I mean, it’s mainly just the old people, right?
10/
I mean, it’s mainly just the old people, right?
10/
I’m sure you’d rather not know that 165 children have now died from Covid in the UK.
And that Covid kills more children annually than any other vaccine preventable disease, including flu, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.
But it’s mild for most kids though, right?
11/
And that Covid kills more children annually than any other vaccine preventable disease, including flu, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.
But it’s mild for most kids though, right?
11/
I realise that you don’t want to hear that Covid has killed off so many vulnerable elderly that life expectancy has dropped by several years in Europe.
Instead, you’d rather focus on the positives: at least the government aren’t raising the UK state pension age now! 🥳
12/
Instead, you’d rather focus on the positives: at least the government aren’t raising the UK state pension age now! 🥳
12/
I know you don’t have the time or inclination to read the studies which detail the harm that Covid is causing to your vital organs.
You most definitely won’t want to look at websites like this which have collated all the research in one handy place:
longcovidlearning.org/the-research
13/
You most definitely won’t want to look at websites like this which have collated all the research in one handy place:
longcovidlearning.org/the-research
13/
Frankly, you don’t want to hear about Long Covid. AT ALL.
You’re sure it can’t be true that it can cause serious long-term effects on the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, immune system.
I mean, if it was that bad, the government would tell you, right?
nature.com/articles/s4157…
14/
You’re sure it can’t be true that it can cause serious long-term effects on the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, immune system.
I mean, if it was that bad, the government would tell you, right?
nature.com/articles/s4157…
14/
Those 2 million people already suffering from Long Covid in the UK…
Of course you feel very sorry for them, but they just got unlucky. Maybe they’d have got sick anyway and it’s nothing to do with Covid.
You’re sure it won’t happen to you.
You’ll be just fine & dandy.
15/
Of course you feel very sorry for them, but they just got unlucky. Maybe they’d have got sick anyway and it’s nothing to do with Covid.
You’re sure it won’t happen to you.
You’ll be just fine & dandy.
15/
https://twitter.com/ons/status/1621079005762838528
You’d rather stick your fingers in your ears when people point out that there’s actually a pretty big risk to ANYONE who gets infected.
It can’t possibly be true that 1 in 10 people who get infected with Covid end up with Long Covid… can it?!
smh.com.au/national/we-re…
16/
It can’t possibly be true that 1 in 10 people who get infected with Covid end up with Long Covid… can it?!
smh.com.au/national/we-re…
16/
Some studies even say it’s 1 in 5 people infected who suffer from the chronic effects of Long Covid…
1 in 5? That’s 20%!
You’re probably thinking: “There’s no way that can be true.”
All those studies from around the world must be wrong.
reuters.com/business/healt…
17/
1 in 5? That’s 20%!
You’re probably thinking: “There’s no way that can be true.”
All those studies from around the world must be wrong.
reuters.com/business/healt…
17/
And you most certainly don’t want to think about the neurological damage that Covid can do to your brain.
It all seems a bit far-fetched... it’s probably just stress.
The government would be doing something about it if it was that bad, right…?!
scientificamerican.com/article/long-c…
18/
It all seems a bit far-fetched... it’s probably just stress.
The government would be doing something about it if it was that bad, right…?!
scientificamerican.com/article/long-c…
18/
I know you’re not interested in hearing about how the risk of severe health outcomes increases with each successive reinfection.
You’ve been fine so far… this won’t apply to you.
You haven’t got the bandwidth to worry about every little thing.
nature.com/articles/s4159…
19/
You’ve been fine so far… this won’t apply to you.
You haven’t got the bandwidth to worry about every little thing.
nature.com/articles/s4159…
19/
You may have heard rumours about the sharp increase in people with long-term sickness.
Surely these people just need to toughen up a bit?
Maybe they got used to being home during lockdown and are too lazy to work now?
This would never happen to you though - you’re strong!
20/
Surely these people just need to toughen up a bit?
Maybe they got used to being home during lockdown and are too lazy to work now?
This would never happen to you though - you’re strong!
20/
I’m sure you’d rather not know that Canada’s Chief Scientific Adviser has warned that Long Covid could be a ‘mass disabling’ event.
They can be so dramatic, those Canadians!
Their Long Covid is probably different to our long Covid.
Us Brits are doing just fine.
21/
They can be so dramatic, those Canadians!
Their Long Covid is probably different to our long Covid.
Us Brits are doing just fine.
21/
You’re adamant that none of this stuff applies to you.
You don’t want to hear it.
They told you you need to learn to “Live with Covid” and that’s what you’re doing.
You’re living your best life!
Besides, you’ve had Covid twice already and you were completely fine...
22/
You don’t want to hear it.
They told you you need to learn to “Live with Covid” and that’s what you’re doing.
You’re living your best life!
Besides, you’ve had Covid twice already and you were completely fine...
22/
You did feel a bit crappy at the time and stayed in bed for a few days. But after that, you were fully back to normal. All good!
Well, apart from that nasty cough you still haven’t been able to shift.
And those weird heart palpitations you now get when you walk up stairs.
23/
Well, apart from that nasty cough you still haven’t been able to shift.
And those weird heart palpitations you now get when you walk up stairs.
23/
Come to think of it, perhaps your kids have been sick much more than usual and have missed rather a lot of school recently… 🤔
Now they seem to catch every bug doing the rounds.
Maybe you even got a letter from school because their attendance has dropped below the target?
24/
Now they seem to catch every bug doing the rounds.
Maybe you even got a letter from school because their attendance has dropped below the target?
24/
But you’ve heard there’s an easy explanation: they’re just playing catch-up on all the bugs they didn’t get exposed to during lockdown (the lockdown that was 2 years ago now).
It couldn’t possibly be because Covid has damaged their immune system.
whn.global/scientific/cov…
25/
It couldn’t possibly be because Covid has damaged their immune system.
whn.global/scientific/cov…
25/
I get that all of these facts & figures and research reports are way too much for you.
I mean, there’s new studies coming out almost every day with yet more bad news… it’s all soooo depressing!
You’re tired of it all. Covid is over.
You have no intention of looking up.
26/
I mean, there’s new studies coming out almost every day with yet more bad news… it’s all soooo depressing!
You’re tired of it all. Covid is over.
You have no intention of looking up.
26/
Even if you have the slightest inkling about any of these things, I do understand that mitigations like mask wearing may seem restrictive and excessive.
You don’t want to stand out. To be different. People might stare.
No one else is masking, so why should you?
27/
You don’t want to stand out. To be different. People might stare.
No one else is masking, so why should you?
27/
Similarly with testing… hardly anyone else is testing, so what difference will it make?
You may feel a bit under the weather, but it’s probably just a little cold. Nothing to worry about.
Stiff upper lip. Keep calm & carry on.
That’s the very essence of being British!
28/
You may feel a bit under the weather, but it’s probably just a little cold. Nothing to worry about.
Stiff upper lip. Keep calm & carry on.
That’s the very essence of being British!
28/
Besides, you’re supposed to be going to the theatre with friends tonight - you can’t possibly miss out on that. The theatre tickets cost a fortune and there’s no refunds.
Better not test, just in case…
There’s no legal requirement to test anyway. You’d rather not know.
29/
Better not test, just in case…
There’s no legal requirement to test anyway. You’d rather not know.
29/
I’m sure you’ll be far too busy enjoying yourself at the show to think about the wider ramifications of your actions…
The friend you infected who went on to infect their 80 year old father… who is now on a ventilator in hospital and not expected to survive the night.
30/
The friend you infected who went on to infect their 80 year old father… who is now on a ventilator in hospital and not expected to survive the night.
30/
https://twitter.com/DrPieterPeach/status/1521328132338614272
(Please click “Show replies” to see rest of the thread) 👇🏻
In the new age of “personal responsibility”, it seems to be more about following what everyone else is doing than actually doing the right thing.
You’re just an innocent bystander in all this.
It would be great if someone ELSE did something about it, but it won’t be you.
31/
You’re just an innocent bystander in all this.
It would be great if someone ELSE did something about it, but it won’t be you.
31/
https://twitter.com/samuelotigba/status/1636619549087858690
Nearly everyone I know now thinks like this and I’ve talked to enough of you to understand how you justify it all to yourselves.
The desperate need for everything to be “ok” prevents you from digging any deeper.
Ignorance is bliss!
32/
The desperate need for everything to be “ok” prevents you from digging any deeper.
Ignorance is bliss!
32/
The one thing I still DON’T understand is why people are so reticent about cleaning the air…
Improving ventilation & adding in air filtration is such a simple, low cost, non-intrusive measure that could make a BIG difference to the spread of Covid.
reuters.com/world/europe/i…
33/
Improving ventilation & adding in air filtration is such a simple, low cost, non-intrusive measure that could make a BIG difference to the spread of Covid.
reuters.com/world/europe/i…
33/
Clean air is not a restrictive mitigation… it’s an ENABLING mitigation.
It would allow us to live our lives more normally with a little less risk… a little less sickness… a little less absence from school or work.
Surely that’s a good thing? Who can argue against that?
34/
It would allow us to live our lives more normally with a little less risk… a little less sickness… a little less absence from school or work.
Surely that’s a good thing? Who can argue against that?
34/
https://twitter.com/cc14_cc14/status/1624718871776067590
There’s so much scientific evidence now that improving ventilation can hugely reduce the spread of airborne illnesses.
It’s such a no brainer.
Why are we even talking about it? Why are we not just DOING it?!
If Illinois can do it, why can’t we?
countryherald.com/news/local/ill…
35/
It’s such a no brainer.
Why are we even talking about it? Why are we not just DOING it?!
If Illinois can do it, why can’t we?
countryherald.com/news/local/ill…
35/
They say: “It might be a good thing to do, but it’s all a bit complicated to implement, isn’t it?”
Well, for starters, it’s not exactly hard to open a few windows, is it?!
Let that stale indoor air out and bring fresh air in.
36/
Well, for starters, it’s not exactly hard to open a few windows, is it?!
Let that stale indoor air out and bring fresh air in.
36/
“But we can’t have the windows open all day long. It’s too cold and heating costs so much nowadays with the energy crisis.”
Well, that’s where HEPA air filters come in. They can supplement natural ventilation by cleaning the air already within the room.
37/
Well, that’s where HEPA air filters come in. They can supplement natural ventilation by cleaning the air already within the room.
37/
https://twitter.com/CC14_CC14/status/1637151470725234695
HEPA air filters are readily available on Amazon and other online retailers which can be purchased in just a few clicks and on your doorstep a day or two later!
Then you just plug them in, switch them on… job done!
It’s really not hard. Trust me. I’ve done it.
38/
Then you just plug them in, switch them on… job done!
It’s really not hard. Trust me. I’ve done it.
38/
“But air filters are so expensive.”
Well no, not really. You can buy a really great air filter for under £400.
You can even build your own DIY CR Box filter for under £200. For a class of 30 kids, that works out at under £7 a head, less than the price of a text book!
39/
Well no, not really. You can buy a really great air filter for under £400.
You can even build your own DIY CR Box filter for under £200. For a class of 30 kids, that works out at under £7 a head, less than the price of a text book!
39/
https://twitter.com/3m/status/1511072683215233026
It’s also worth bearing in mind the cost SAVING aspect of cleaning the air…
£622 MILLION was spent on supply teacher costs last academic year.
Just imagine how much money could be saved if we reduced the spread of illness even a little bit…
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-supply-…
40/
£622 MILLION was spent on supply teacher costs last academic year.
Just imagine how much money could be saved if we reduced the spread of illness even a little bit…
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-supply-…
40/
“Yes, but it’s not just about the upfront cost, is it? They’re expensive to run and electricity costs soooo much these days!”
Actually most air filters are extremely energy efficient and the running costs are about the same as the cost to run a lightbulb.
41/
Actually most air filters are extremely energy efficient and the running costs are about the same as the cost to run a lightbulb.
41/
“You have to keep changing the filters too, don’t you?”
Many filters only need replacing about once a year, although this does vary by brand.
The cost of replacement filters also varies by brand so it’s worth researching this before buying a device.
42/
Many filters only need replacing about once a year, although this does vary by brand.
The cost of replacement filters also varies by brand so it’s worth researching this before buying a device.
42/
Apart from a relatively small cost, there is literally no downside to clean indoor air…
I genuinely don’t understand why it’s proving such an uphill battle to convince people to actually do something about it!
43/
I genuinely don’t understand why it’s proving such an uphill battle to convince people to actually do something about it!
43/
Even when parents offering to fund the cost for HEPA air filters themselves, they are often still rejected.
Many of the replies to the embedded tweet below make for depressing reading 😢
It makes no sense to me.
44/
Many of the replies to the embedded tweet below make for depressing reading 😢
It makes no sense to me.
44/
https://twitter.com/peteuk7/status/1616821087865643008
Even 160 years ago, Florence Nightingale knew with absolute certainly how important ventilation was for infection control...
…and yet, it seems we’ve learned nothing at all, despite the massive advancements in science and technology since then.
45/
…and yet, it seems we’ve learned nothing at all, despite the massive advancements in science and technology since then.
45/
https://twitter.com/cc14_cc14/status/1579572320141987840
We don’t have to worry about the water we drink, because we invest in water treatment plants which filter & clean it to a high standard.
It’s just one of those things we accept as a given.
We wouldn’t drink dirty water, so why are we breathing dirty indoor air?
46/
It’s just one of those things we accept as a given.
We wouldn’t drink dirty water, so why are we breathing dirty indoor air?
46/
The really sad thing is that we already have all the tools; we’re just not using them.
It’s time for a revolution in clean indoor air!
47/
It’s time for a revolution in clean indoor air!
47/
“The thing about cleaner indoor air is that it works on any variant and any airborne disease; it helps against pollution; it helps against all kinds of things. And it doesn’t take away anyone’s freedoms.”
(quote from @chrischirp)
thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/…
48/
(quote from @chrischirp)
thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/…
48/
Clean air is literally the last mitigation we’ve got left to reduce the spread of Covid…
I think that’s worth fighting for!
If you got all the way to the end of this very long thread, well done & thank you! 🙏🏻
So what do you think?
Is clean air worth fighting for?
49/
I think that’s worth fighting for!
If you got all the way to the end of this very long thread, well done & thank you! 🙏🏻
So what do you think?
Is clean air worth fighting for?
49/
https://twitter.com/cc14_cc14/status/1634491544290951168
Last tweet (I promise)…
If you enjoyed the brilliant satirical ‘The Vertlarntic’ headlines I added to a few of the tweets in this thread, please do check out their Twitter profile for many more like this.
Whoever is running this account is doing an incredible job! 👏🏻
50/
If you enjoyed the brilliant satirical ‘The Vertlarntic’ headlines I added to a few of the tweets in this thread, please do check out their Twitter profile for many more like this.
Whoever is running this account is doing an incredible job! 👏🏻
50/
https://twitter.com/thevertlartnic/status/1640447252534632449
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
