Northern Europe during Pandemic -- Summers 2020 & 2021 & onwards

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

snip..
All of your comments apply equally to the use of the words "boat" and "ship". Some people call big cruise ships "boats" (hell, the "Love Boat", right?). You can find plenty of cites for "boat" used for anything manmade which floats. I prefer to use the word "boat" in a more precise manner, distinguished from other vessels like ships. Likewise with "lockdown". Your choice how you use the word, and I didn't criticize anyone, except to beg people to at least be consistent.

Serious thread drift.
On the use of the word 'boat' .
Back when the UK still had a Merchant Navy I worked for the company with the fourth largest fleet under the British flag, about 100 ships. Throughout the company - and the entire Merchant Navy - they were known to operate mail boats ( some of the largest passenger liners under the British flag - indeed some of the largest in the world), fruit boats, black boats and Clan boats amongst others. The special trains that ran from Waterloo to Southampton to connect with the mailboats - and other liners - arrivals and departures were known throughout Britain as 'boat trains'.
Meanwhile seafarers in Australia refered to all UK flagged cargo liners running to Australia as 'home boats'.
So the use of the word 'boat' for big ships was not just a Hollywood thing.

End of drift.

[Montanan]

Sperm count, motility may be low for months after COVID-19

Sperm quality is impaired for months for some people after recovery from COVID-19, researchers have found.

The semen itself was not infectious, the researchers found.

But among 35 men who provided samples within a month after recovery from symptomatic infection, reductions in sperm motility were evident in 60% and sperm counts were reduced in 37%. As reported on Monday in Fertility and Sterility, semen samples were obtained from 120 Belgian men with an average age of 35 years, at an average of 52 days after their COVID-19 symptoms had resolved. Among 51 men tested between one and two months after recovery, 37% had reduced sperm motility and 29% had low sperm counts. Among 34 men who provided semen samples at least two months after recovery, sperm motility was impaired in 28% and sperm counts were low in 6%. The severity of COVID-19 infection was not correlated with sperm characteristics.

"Couples with a desire for pregnancy should be warned that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection can be suboptimal," the researchers concluded. "The estimated recovery time is 3 months, but further follow-up studies are under way to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-i...195632713.html

[Montanan]

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Sperm count, motility may be low for months after COVID-19

Sperm quality is impaired for months for some people after recovery from COVID-19, researchers have found.

The semen itself was not infectious, the researchers found.

But among 35 men who provided samples within a month after recovery from symptomatic infection, reductions in sperm motility were evident in 60% and sperm counts were reduced in 37%. As reported on Monday in Fertility and Sterility, semen samples were obtained from 120 Belgian men with an average age of 35 years, at an average of 52 days after their COVID-19 symptoms had resolved. Among 51 men tested between one and two months after recovery, 37% had reduced sperm motility and 29% had low sperm counts. Among 34 men who provided semen samples at least two months after recovery, sperm motility was impaired in 28% and sperm counts were low in 6%. The severity of COVID-19 infection was not correlated with sperm characteristics.

"Couples with a desire for pregnancy should be warned that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection can be suboptimal," the researchers concluded. "The estimated recovery time is 3 months, but further follow-up studies are under way to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-i...195632713.html

Well, that does it. I'm going for a 2nd booster, along with a 3rd if I can get it. I've already ordered up a face mask that covers my entire body and will no longer allow anyone to approach me at less than 100 yards. I'm afraid that even the most restrictive "lockdown" -- under any defn -- will not suffice, and I'm going to lobby my elected representative for new laws prescribing mandatory lifetime quarantine for the unvaccinated.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Montanan

[Alarmism & Fear]

Not according to the latest science, i.e. stats out of S. Africa & the UK. So far, that is. Hospitalizations & deaths remarkably low given the number of confirmed Omicron cases. And yes, US cases starting to (predictably) surge, and concerns about the vulnerable & possibly unvaccinated overwhelming hospitals remain real.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdVymGK3OzM

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Sperm count, motility may be low for months after COVID-19

Sperm quality is impaired for months for some people after recovery from COVID-19, researchers have found.

The semen itself was not infectious, the researchers found.

But among 35 men who provided samples within a month after recovery from symptomatic infection, reductions in sperm motility were evident in 60% and sperm counts were reduced in 37%. As reported on Monday in Fertility and Sterility, semen samples were obtained from 120 Belgian men with an average age of 35 years, at an average of 52 days after their COVID-19 symptoms had resolved. Among 51 men tested between one and two months after recovery, 37% had reduced sperm motility and 29% had low sperm counts. Among 34 men who provided semen samples at least two months after recovery, sperm motility was impaired in 28% and sperm counts were low in 6%. The severity of COVID-19 infection was not correlated with sperm characteristics.

"Couples with a desire for pregnancy should be warned that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection can be suboptimal," the researchers concluded. "The estimated recovery time is 3 months, but further follow-up studies are under way to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-i...195632713.html

Cloud/silver lining
Anything that stops humans breeding has to be good.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Cloud/silver lining
Anything that stops humans breeding has to be good.

Won't stop; only slow it down for a few months. According to the study that is. But nice having another optimist in the group!

[boatman61]

According to Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor, the majority of the unvaccinated in London are in the Black, Muslim and East European communities.. that's at least one third of the population.
Maybe news that Covid kills sperm will motivate them.. or.. they'll put it down to white folk propaganda and just harden their attitude.

[El Pinguino]

Continuing with the optimistic view.

The daily cases , along with the 3 day and 7 day averages for infection in South Africa have both been falling for a few days, since the 12th for the daily cases

This, coupled with the fact that the moving average for daily deaths dropped below 40 a day in late october and is showing no sign of increasing, gives me hope.

https://www.worldometers.info/corona.../south-africa/

[poiu]

Originally Posted by boatman61

According to Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor, the majority of the unvaccinated in London are in the Black, Muslim and East European communities..

I always thought he was a racist. I never thought he would diss his people though.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Continuing with the optimistic view.

The daily cases , along with the 3 day and 7 day averages for infection in South Africa have both been falling for a few days, since the 12th for the daily cases

This, coupled with the fact that the moving average for daily deaths dropped below 40 a day in late october and is showing no sign of increasing, gives me hope.

https://www.worldometers.info/corona.../south-africa/

Could be the result of much of the population having already gained natural immunity via Omicron infection but mild or no symptoms.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by poiu

I always thought he was a racist. I never thought he would diss his people though.

The mayor could just be stating facts, in which case there's nothing racist about it. It also wouldn't be considered a diss by the people choosing not to get vaccinated for what they believe are legitimate reasons. Religious maybe?

There have been many urban Black communities in the US who have had low vax rates, and they have been quite open that it is because they don't trust meds pushed by the govt given the rather horrific history of experimentation on their forebears. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense objectively, but it obviously does to many of them. Once there's a significant loss of public trust it can be a long road back.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Sperm count, motility may be low for months after COVID-19 ...
... https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-i...195632713.html

As reported [1] on Monday [Dec 20/21], semen samples were obtained from 120 Belgian men, with an average age of 35 years, at an average of 52 days after their COVID-19 symptoms had resolved.

Among 51 men tested, between one and two months after recovery, 37% had reduced sperm motility, and 29% had low sperm counts.

[1] “Sperm quality and absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen after COVID-19 infection: a prospective, observational study and validation of the SpermCOVID test” ~ by Gilbert G.G.DondersM.D., Ph.D. et al

... Conclusion(s)
Semen is not infectious with SARS-CoV-2 at 1 week or more after COVID-19 infection (mean, 53 days). However, couples with a desire for pregnancy should be warned that sperm quality after COVID-19 infection can be suboptimal. The estimated recovery time is 3 months, but further follow-up studies are under way to confirm this and to determine if permanent damage occurred in a minority of men ...

➥ https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...15028221021567

[GordMay]

Dutch border-hoppers ignore Belgium and Germany’s ‘stay away’ plea

People hopping over the border to Belgium and Germany to avoid the Dutch lockdown are filling the neighbouring countries’ restaurants and shops despite calls for them to “stay away”.

More ➥ https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...stay-away-plea

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by GordMay

As reported [1] on Monday [Dec 20/21], semen samples were obtained from 120 Belgian men, with an average age of 35 years, at an average of 52 days after their COVID-19 symptoms had resolved.

Among 51 men tested, between one and two months after recovery, 37% had reduced sperm motility, and 29% had low sperm counts.

[1] “Sperm quality and absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen after COVID-19 infection: a prospective, observational study and validation of the SpermCOVID test” ~ by Gilbert G.G.DondersM.D., Ph.D. et al

➥ https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...15028221021567

Could be vaccine-induced too, who knows.