Harold SaxonOct 16, 2023
Prof Christina Pagel

My response to *that* BBC article framing Covid as just another winter bug, "like flu", is here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/christinapagel/p/covid-is-not-just-a-regular-winter?r=8zv6v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

TLDR: it is NOT, because flu is "not just a bug", Covid is not a *winter* bug, and Long Covid remains a serious issue

Covid is not "just a regular winter bug"

Three points against a recent BBC article framing Covid as "just a regular winter bug"

Diving into Data & Decision making
Oct 16, 2023 at 8:15pmWeb
Show threadJennifer Moore 😷Oct 16, 2023

@chrischirp

Thank you for this!

Show threadDigitalStefanOct 16, 2023

@chrischirp anecdotally, COVID knocked me off my feet in August. Not just another winter bug.

Fully vaccinated and have already had COVID more than once. First time was April 2020. I should theoretically have a lot of protection, but the variant I caught in August was also the first one that destroyed my sense of taste, thankfully temporarily.

Never had a winter bug do that.

Show threadProf Christina PagelOct 16, 2023
@digitalstefan
yes it's infuriating how some keep trying to pretend it's just a cold.
It can be that mild for some, but for many it knocks you out for a while. And not nec just first infection!
Show threadTriciaBOct 16, 2023
@chrischirp Thank you! I saw the #bbc article earlier today. Thank you so much for responding.
Show threadWOMUMPOct 16, 2023
@chrischirp Knew before looking that it'd be by Nick flippin' Triggle
Show threadBy-TorOct 16, 2023

@chrischirp BBC article headline classic case of Betteridge's law.

Pretty disappointed by the BBC here. The article itself is a little more nuanced and balanced, but the headline is typical click-bait.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines

@ianbetteridge

Betteridge's law of headlines - Wikipedia

Show threadH4Heights 🇪🇺🇵🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦Oct 17, 2023
@chrischirp Which is why the democodal Tory maniacs have declined covid jabs for all but the already vulnerable. Those working in customer facing roles (like retail for instance) are in grave danger. “Let the bodied pile high in their thousands”
Show threadSideWalkAstonomyNetherlandsOct 17, 2023
@chrischirp Had my update vaccine anyhow :) It's free after all, and I'm Dutch :)