Amethyst

Self-reported coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and associated symptoms, England and Scotland: November 2023 to March 2024 In-depth analysis of Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study data looking at trends in self-reported symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), including ongoing symptoms and associated risk factors. Main points An estimated 3.3% (2 million) of people living in private households in England and Scotland were experiencing self-reported long COVID (symptoms continuing for more than four weeks after a confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that were not explained by something else). Long COVID symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 1.5 million people (74.7% of those with self-reported long COVID), with 381,000 (19.2% of those with self-reported long COVID) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been "limited a lot". The Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study (Winter CIS) asked participants if they would describe themselves as currently having long COVID (defined as experiencing symptoms more than four weeks after a coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, that are not explained by something else). Therefore, estimates in this article relate to self-reported long COVID, as experienced by study participants, rather than clinically diagnosed ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome. (more) https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/selfreportedcoronaviruscovid19infectionsandassociatedsymptomsenglandandscotland/november2023tomarch2024

Two-million people across England and Scotland are still suffering from long Covid-19 symptoms, of whom 381,000 have had their day-to-day activities limited a lot, according to an official study published on Thursday. Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 3.3% of people surveyed between February 6 and March 7 reported having Covid-19 symptoms that had lasted more than four weeks since an initial infection [a shorter definition of long COVID, see below] and were not explained by another medical condition. This was up slightly from the 2.9% of people who reported long Covid-19 in a similar ONS survey in March 2023 which covered the whole UK, although the ONS said the two surveys' methods were not exactly comparable. (more) https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2024-04-25-two-million-britons-suffer-long-covid-19-symptoms-survey-shows/ How many of us are really suffering with long Covid? The first long Covid prevalance report in more than a year from the ONS provides valuable clues about the state of the condition in the UK The headline figure is that 2 million people in England and Scotland – or 3.3 per cent of the population – have had Covid symptoms for four weeks or more. However, the generally accepted definition of long Covid is for symptoms lasting 12 weeks or more – in part because some colds can take several weeks to go away completely. By that definition – and using the most recent data, collected between 6 February and 7 March – the ONS estimates that about 1.1 million people over three-years-old in England and Scotland are living with long Covid. This is just under 2 per cent cent of the population. ... The fact that the ONS figures show that so many reported suffering from long Covid, many of which have been doing so for two years or longer, is an absolute public health crisis. It may not be an acute crisis like we saw in 2020 and 2021 and the early peaks of pre-vaccination Covid, but its more of an ongoing chronic crisis,” said Simon Williams, of Swansea University. (more) https://inews.co.uk/news/science/how-many-really-suffering-long-covid-3026309

A post with an unsourced and unsubstantiated claim has been removed, per the forum's rules. "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source."

A post with unsourced and unsubstantiated claims has been removed.

A conspiracy theory post has been removed, along with a post of unsourced and unsubstantiated claims. Per the local rules for this subforum: "A forum dedicated to information and discussion of COVID-19 topics. This forum is not for conspiracy theories or any form of political discussion."

Posts making unsourced, unsubstantiated, trolling and off-topic claims have been removed. See the following forum rules that include: "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source." and "10. You will not post troll messages."

In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met — some online, some in-person in Geneva — hoping to forestall a future worldwide outbreak by developing the first-ever global pandemic accord. The deadline for a deal? May 2024. ... But even as negotiators pack in extra hours, the goal of clinching a legally binding pact by next month is far from certain — despite a new draft document being delivered in recent days. The main sticking point involves access to vital information about new threats that may emerge — and to the vaccines and medicines that could contain that threat. (more) https://archive.ph/4Wu2M

A post with a trolling reference and several ensuing replies have been removed.

See below:

A post linking to a disallowed social media source has been removed. Please note the following forum rule: "in factual areas such as but not limited to news, current affairs and health topics, social media cannot be used unless it is from a credible news media source or a government agency, and must include a link to the original source."

A post making an entirely unsourced and unsubstantiated claim has been removed. Please note the following forum rule: "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source." https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/

A post with entirely unsourced and unsubstantiated claims has been removed. Please note the following forum rule: "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source." https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/

An off-topic and unsourced meme graphic post has been removed, along with ensuing replies.

A post has been removed for not complying with the following forum rule: "In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source." https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/

Several off-topic and bickering posts have been removed, along with some unsubstantiated claims. Please stick to commenting on the topic, and not on fellow forum members.

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory. Israel’s war against the Islamic militant group Hamas has led to a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, notably between Israel and Iran in recent weeks. Now attention returns to Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population of about 2.3 million people are sheltering, many displaced by fighting elsewhere. Relatives sobbed and hugged children’s shrouded bodies at al-Najjar hospital. “Hamza my beloved. Your hair looks so pretty,” a mourning grandmother said. ... The war was sparked by an unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups that left about 1,200 people dead, the vast majority civilians, and saw about 250 kidnapped and taken into Gaza. Israel says about 130 hostages remain in Gaza, although more than 30 have died. (more) https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-20-2024-05df312cfce4dc546837b2499fdbae02

Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have already brought charges against people who posed as electors for Donald Trump, and Arizona and Wisconsin have active investigations The chairman of the Nevada Republican Party has been indicted. So has the former chairman of the Georgia G.O.P. In Michigan, a former co-chairwoman of the state party is facing charges. As Donald J. Trump goes on trial in the New York criminal case, other investigations and prosecutions in five crucial swing states are continuing to scrutinize the steps that he and his allies took in trying to circumvent the will of voters after the 2020 election. The investigations focus largely on the plan to deploy fake electors in states that Mr. Trump lost. Documents emerging from the state cases highlight divisions among Trump advisers after the 2020 election about whether to use hedging language in the phony certificates that they sent to Washington purporting to designate electoral votes for Mr. Trump. They also undercut claims by some Trump aides that they played little role in the fake-electors plan. (more) https://archive.ph/GBCcP#selection-4493.0-4513.454

Moscow says 50 Ukrainian drones shot down as attacks spark fires at Russian power stations KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine launched a barrage of drones across Russia overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said Saturday, in attacks that appeared to target the country’s energy infrastructure. Fifty drones were shot down by air defences over eight Russian regions, including 26 over the country’s western Belgorod region close to the Ukrainian border. Two people — a woman with a broken leg and the man caring for her — died during the overnight barrage, after explosions sparked a blaze that set their home alight, Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on social media. (more) https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-energy-68f8e26eaff94e440f71578c43334332

(CNN) -- Ukraine launched attacks on eight Russian regions with long-range strike drones in the early hours of Saturday morning, targeting a fuel depot and power substations, according to a statement from a Ukrainian special services source. The overnight attacks, which were confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, come amid a renewed effort by Moscow to disable Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and plunge its citizens into darkness, using the freezing temperatures as a weapon of war. “Russian Defense Ministry is complaining that dozens of Ukrainian drones popped up in some eight regions - Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Tula, Smolensk, Ryazan, Kaluga regions, and even Moscow region. At least three power substations and a fuel storage facility were damaged and caught fire,” the source said, adding that the attacks were part of a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Defence Intelligence, and the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/20/europe/ukraine-drone-attacks-russia-intl/index.html

Per Reuters: The vote on passage of the Ukraine funding was 311-112. Significantly, 112 Republicans opposed the legislation, with only 101 in support. The Israel aid was passed 366-58, had 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans in opposition. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/

‘Thank You America!’: Ukraine’s Zelensky and Israel’s Netanyahu hail House passage of $95 billion foreign aid package Kyiv (CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu have thanked US lawmakers after they voted in favor of new aid packages for their countries worth billions of dollars. “Thank you, America!” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram on Saturday, shortly after the House of Representatives passed the long-delayed Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act by a vote of 311-112. ... “Thank you friends, thank you America!” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a post on social media, adding that the bill demonstrates “strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization.” However, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the aid package for Israel, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and act of aggression that would lead to more Palestinian casualties in Israel’s war on Hamas. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/20/world/foreign-aid-bill-ukraine-israel-thank-you-intl-latam/index.html

Johnson temporarily dodges ouster vote as House passes foreign aid Conservative rebels are hoping the week-long recess will build support for their pending effort to boot the speaker Speaker Mike Johnson ultimately succeeded in passing foreign aid Saturday, after months of fierce infighting over sending additional funds to Ukraine. Whether he can survive a looming effort to boot him from the speakership still remains to be seen. Johnson had plowed ahead with the votes to send money to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan despite rising conservative anger — passing every part of the foreign aid plan with widespread Democratic help. Some Republicans are openly entertaining the idea of backing the ouster threat led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), but those already backing the effort opted to wait on triggering the vote. Instead, they indicated members should go back home and hear from their constituents. (more) https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/20/johnson-mvp-house-foreign-aid-00153497

//Thread CLOSED//

Please continue the discussion of this topic in the following World News thread:

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Furious Reaction After Ukraine Aid Passes Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, decried the House of Representatives for passing a Ukraine aid bill on Saturday. As Ukraine continues to fight against the full-scale invasion that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in February 2022, the United States has proven to be a strong ally to Kyiv, with the House passing a $60.8 billion aid bill on Saturday to help restock its arsenal. After months of U.S. lawmakers urging House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to take up legislation that would help fund Ukraine, Johnson worked to get it passed in a 311-112 vote. There was some resistance from Republican lawmakers who opposed additional aid to the war-torn nation, with Johnson having to rely on the help of Democrats. In total, 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 112 Republicans voted against it. (more) https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-ukraine-aid-passes-reaction-1892521