Peter wrote:
on side effects of Sputnik?
Same as with any vodka – hangover ;-))
yes clearly within those who are vaccined that fact that they can still to a degree carry and spread the virus is not significant, as they won’t get sick.
What I question however is that if the currently estimated 30-40% won’t get vaccined, either because they don’t want or because there is no vaccine, then it is significant that those vaccined can still spread the virus, because it can infect the non-vaccined folks. 30% of the population is still almost one third, I would think that they are more than enough to cause further hospitalisation cases and worse. The question is, how many.
Unless close to everyone gets vaccined, I just don’t see how the threat of overwhelming the health sector can go away…hence the predictions that masks and distancing will have to remain. BTW, I am quite concerned about the fact that this is now more and more propagated as it may well keep people from accepting vaccination, even though it should be clear to everyone that it will prevent severe illness and hospitalisation almost perfectly. It’s also not logical as it is something which you do for yourself to a larger extent than for others, one big beef many have with maks and s-d.
Mooney_Driver wrote:
hence the predictions that masks and distancing will have to remain.
This is not the first pandemic – and hence one can learn a bit from the past.
Yes, some new “habits” are here to last. Like in Asia after SARS there will be some people who will wear masks in crowded places even after Covid is no longer a serious thread. Not because they have to but because they want to. And I would also assume that a lot of people no longer think it is a good idea to spit on a birthday cake before it is served to the guests. Finally I think (hope) that the new practice of keeping distance when in queue for something is also here to stay.
But all of this is more the long time outlook – in short time in the view of upcoming elections in Germany in fall our politicians are preparing to start the 4th wave today. So we will have business as New usual for quite some months here…
Malibuflyer wrote:
And I would also assume that a lot of people no longer think it is a good idea to spit on a birthday cake before it is served to the guests.
Is that a German tradition, or what…?
Airborne_Again wrote:
Is that a German tradition, or what…?
I guess blowing birthday cake candles is popular in Sweden as well 
but the actual result is spitting 
Emir wrote:
I guess blowing birthday cake candles is popular in Sweden as well but the actual result is spitting
Ok.
Malibuflyer wrote:
This is not the first pandemic – and hence one can learn a bit from the past.
And it won’t be the last, so maybe we can learn for the future.
Malibuflyer wrote:
Like in Asia after SARS there will be some people who will wear masks in crowded places even after Covid is no longer a serious thread. Not because they have to but because they want to.
Well, there it is a question of curtesy towards their fellow people, particularly if they feel ill, enforced in some way by social pressure. No objection from me.
Malibuflyer wrote:
Finally I think (hope) that the new practice of keeping distance when in queue for something is also here to stay.
Add to that the horrible habit of exchanging kisses and handshakes. That can go for good as well.
Malibuflyer wrote:
But all of this is more the long time outlook – in short time in the view of upcoming elections in Germany in fall our politicians are preparing to start the 4th wave today. So we will have business as New usual for quite some months here…
Darn well looks like it… and a Green chancellor? Who would have thought it remotely possible? Even though they read their program?
Well, I recall that some 100 years ago someone else wrote their programmes and still got elected. Learning from history?
@Mooney_Driver what you think of as a horrible habit often plays an important role in the culture of other countries.
In France in particular it is sad to be forced by a virus to give up something which is cherished as a social interaction from cradle to grave.
Mooney_Driver wrote:
Unless close to everyone gets vaccined, I just don’t see how the threat of overwhelming the health sector can go away…
I think we’re up to 40% full vaccination in my area, plus natural immunity and one shot only, and here is the hospital occupancy data. A little under 3% of capacity is treating CV. I don’t think anybody has a model of any reasonable accuracy.
Mooney_Driver wrote:
a Green chancellor? Who would have thought it remotely possible? Even though they read their program? Well, I recall that some 100 years ago someone else wrote their programmes and still got elected. Learning from history?
It reminds me somehow of the Spanish revolution of the 30s. Equally lacking in coherent thought.
@gallois
Norms of social interactions are very different across different cultures, indeed. But they are also constantly changing.
Up until very recently, e.g. it has been a completely accepted if not welcomed social greeting norm in some socialist country to kiss a stranger on the mouth. My feeling is, it has come out of fashion more recently but is not yet completely gone.
In most western societies there is a longer trend that started long before Covid that touching other people w/o explicit consent becomes less accepted. Even if it is a tradition in France (and some other cultures) to kiss somebody as a greeting in many other countries it is already perceived as close to harassment. Therefore in many societies I would not say that Covid has introduced a completely new trend of “touches greetings” but might rather have accelerated a trend that has already been there.
It will, indeed, be interesting to see its impact on France.
