Bright but chilly . Perfect PON conditions. The health centre has now informed us that the Astra vaccine will only be available for those in our age group with comorbidities. Comorbidity is a previously little ( if ever ) used word that has suddenly entered into every day conversation. We don't have them so it looks like we will have to wait until the summer for a jab. Germany has extended its lockdown through to Easter. France remains with a six pm curfew and is considering whether a weekend curfew should also be imposed. Despite the uncertainty the schools have opened up again. We know this because the two village tikes were at the war memorial waiting for the school bus. They did not look happy.
And so another day rolls around in a little French village where nothing ever happens.
Thought for the day : https://twitter.com/humorandanimals/status/1365747815264231426
9 comments:
A beautiful spring portrait of Sophie. We had a cold front blow in yesterday, so it does not feel much like spring right now in Tokyo. The state of the virus in Tokyo is something of a mystery. The daily numbers have dropped, but apparently testing has also dropped about 75%, and the government seems oddly nervous about lifting the state of emergency this Sunday as planned. Vaccinations have not even started yet here, so we are also most likely looking at the summer. I can't quite see where the Olympics fits into this kind of leisurely approach. Meanwhile our campus tour guide son has been declared an "essential worker" in Ohio, which will give him some priority.
Per La Depêche, only 25% of Astrazeneca stocks have been injected in French arms. People don't want it--not as "good" as the others, and some flu-like symptoms after. I wish it were more of a free for all, because I would take it happily. I think I'm in your general age group, with no health issues, and will have to wait.
I see a rapid change in French attitudes. Whereas 99.9% of people, at least around here, were masked up to a couple of weeks ago, in the past week it has dropped to about 70%, maybe less. Not even masks under the chin, like "oh, I forgot to pull it back up." No masks at all. Big groups having drinks at cafés (outdoors), not a mask in sight. My 80-something neighbor has not stopped seeing her friends daily (no masks coming or going), with about a dozen gathering on Saturdays, even throughout the first lockdown a year ago. And a steady stream of tourists to her AirBnBs, mostly Spaniards. Coming home at curfew the other day, there were tons of people out, so it looks like that is slipping, too. There's a hole in the dike, and it's giving way fast.
Greece the same (well observationally based on Athens/Piraeus)
Sophie's coat is looking magnificent to those of us who don't bear the responsibility for washing and grooming her.
Received an email this morning from my friend in Washington State. Just had her second jab, no side effects, and now heading off today with a friend for a two month road trip, visiting friends in California, Arizona and Texas (where she'll be joining a two week cycling trip with twenty other cyclists) then up to see family in Missouri.
Am I envious? Am I sitting here in still locked down Aberdeen, grinding my teeth in frustration...?
At least I have Bertie.
Cheers! Gail.
Yet in Britain no flu like symptoms are recorded - or if so are rare and minimal. Give me something that reduces my risk by at least 75% and I'd happily take it. By the summer everyone in the UK should be vaccinated. Same in Denmark and Sweden. Here everything seems to be very relaxed and low key which is doing nothing to stop the spread. How hotels and restaurants will survive a second dismal summer is left unanswered. There will be consequences when people finally wake up to what's not happening.
I'm a Frontline health worker here in NZ so expect to get my jab in the next month or two. I think that we won't be safe until 98% of the pop are vaccinated, if that is possible. I would still be weary of packing my bags to travel for some time.
Julie
Finally, I actually know someone here who has had their first jab! A friend was phoned last Friday afternoon and given 45 minutes to get to the local Health Centre! She thought she was going for her bi-annual anti-osteoporosis injection. She has to collect the serum for that from the local Farmacia, store it in her fridge (it's been there since the beginning of December), and wait for a suitable appointment. After that injection, much to her surprise, she sent to another part of the building and given her first anti-virus jab - her second one promised sometime in May. So far she has had no side effects whatsoever. She was so delighted - almost as though all her Birthdays and Christmases had come at once!
On our walk along the promenade the other morning I noticed that everyone was still wearing a mask, but locally, in the afternoon, no one seemed to bother. Could it be that proximity to home makes us feel less at risk?
Cafés should have opened up again, and I planned to go down to check out the situation, but so far this week the weather has been so diabolical that I'm not even tempted to try!
I have received both jabs. Mild side-effects after the second, treated with ibuprofen. My understanding is that the side-effects are just the immune system waking up. While I still wear a mask outside of my house, I'm looking forward to meeting another vaccinated old gal for lunch in a month or so. A hug! A maskless conversation in the fresh air!! Meantime, online work continues and masked dog walks our daily reprieve!
Just catching up Angus, we too have no comorbidities, but our doctor has given us an appointment for the end of March on the understanding that if someone more worthy comes along we will be bumped off. But at least he knows we are happy to have the AZ vaccine, we are on the list and hopefully by then distribution will have improved beyond the 10 a week he's getting at the moment. It might be worth your while making a fuss. Good luck!
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