Not my fault you thought bloody MAD MAY was better than a sensible socialist :shrug: :lol:

Anyway!

Yes, anyway....

 

 

Increasing data showing the percentage of cases hospitalised is lower. Could be a couple of things driving that (ripping through a population full of either natural or vaccine immunity for example) or it could be that in order to mutate itself to spread more, it lost a bit of its power. If that is the case this could be the variant to end the pandemic and get us to endemic.

@1473708890881728519

 

Indeed - plenty of positive data coming out yesterday about the new variant Omicron. Key point here IMO is not only less risk of hospitalisation but a much shorter stay required.

 

It looks like the UK Government have made the right call in not bringing in further restrictions (although this is probably more by good luck than actually anything else) however note the caveat from Prof Neil Ferguson:

 

'However, this appears to be offset by reduced efficacy of vaccines against infection with Omicron. Given high transmissibility, there remains the potential for health services to face increasing demand if cases continue to grow at rate that in recent weeks.'

 

Even so, I fail to see the logic in bringing in further restrictions AFTER Christmas when the whole point of restrictions is to prevent spread, new cases etc. and therefore an overwhelming peak in hospitalisations which paralyse the NHS, when it looks like cases have already peaked in London and will likely peak in the rest of the UK over the next few days. Bringing in restrictions from 28th won't stop the peak in hospitalisations that are already baked in so what is it really achieving? That said - would be nice for them to explicitly say that now tbh.

@1473708890881728519

 

Indeed - plenty of positive data coming out yesterday about the new variant Omicron. Key point here IMO is not only less risk of hospitalisation but a much shorter stay required.

 

It looks like the UK Government have made the right call in not bringing in further restrictions (although this is probably more by good luck than actually anything else) however note the caveat from Prof Neil Ferguson:

 

'However, this appears to be offset by reduced efficacy of vaccines against infection with Omicron. Given high transmissibility, there remains the potential for health services to face increasing demand if cases continue to grow at rate that in recent weeks.'

 

Even so, I fail to see the logic in bringing in further restrictions AFTER Christmas when the whole point of restrictions is to prevent spread, new cases etc. and therefore an overwhelming peak in hospitalisations which paralyse the NHS, when it looks like cases have already peaked in London and will likely peak in the rest of the UK over the next few days. Bringing in restrictions from 28th won't stop the peak in hospitalisations that are already baked in so what is it really achieving? That said - would be nice for them to explicitly say that now tbh.

 

I disagree and think further restrictions are still needed in England such as social distancing at least and limits on sporting events and indoor gatherings. Other parts of the U.K. and Europe are doing it. There is still a lot they don’t know about Omicron and it’s impact. Number of infections have substantially increased and while the current data suggests there is a slightly lower risk of serious illness, Omicron is highly transmittable. The NHS is already overstretched and only a small percentage of cases becoming seriously unwell will cause serious problems for the healthcare system. There is also still a large percentage of people who are not vaccinated and not to mention the significant disruption that will be cause to business through staff going off sick. The government are failing to see the full picture.

The government claims to be monitoring the data hour by hour, yet has decided that there will be no new rules over New Year. How does that work?

The government claims to be monitoring the data hour by hour, yet has decided that there will be no new rules over New Year. How does that work?

 

It works because they look amazing for not ruining New Years Eve for anyone and then can turn round in January and blame the public and their behaviour for new restrictions.

I didn't expect him to. It's clear as anything that Johnson is just trying to stay popular with his backbenchers and not actually following data, he'll only introduce new restrictions if it becomes totally unavoidable.

 

Good news is that the variant isn't resulting in increased hospitalisations and deaths, I just hope the lack of any restrictions doesn't make the cases run so wild, hospitals become overwhelmed.

I didn't expect him to. It's clear as anything that Johnson is just trying to stay popular with his backbenchers and not actually following data, he'll only introduce new restrictions if it becomes totally unavoidable.

 

Good news is that the variant isn't resulting in increased hospitalisations and deaths, I just hope the lack of any restrictions doesn't make the cases run so wild, hospitals become overwhelmed.

 

Agreed with the first point. It is crazy that England has still not introduced any further measures when Scotland, Wales and NI have done so and infections are actually higher in England out of the four areas. Johnson clearly doesn’t want to introduce any further restrictions to avoid a backlash from his MPs. However, hospitalisations are actually increasing particularly in London. The overall deaths were also up 100 yesterday on the previous week. I think we will see further rises, perhaps not to the degree that the media were speculating about but enough to cause significant problems for the NHS and social care.

It’s not just number of people in hospital. By letting it run rampant you face another pingdemic where critical infrastructure starts to fail through lack of staff.

 

Scotrail are bringing in a temporary timetable for January to cope with the amount of Covid sick they have.

 

 

 

This is what the new German health minister was saying when Germany ratcheted up the level of restrictions. Allowing this to run rampant is economic suicide

It’s not just number of people in hospital. By letting it run rampant you face another pingdemic where critical infrastructure starts to fail through lack of staff.

 

Scotrail are bringing in a temporary timetable for January to cope with the amount of Covid sick they have.

This is what the new German health minister was saying when Germany ratcheted up the level of restrictions. Allowing this to run rampant is economic suicide

Belgian bus services and Dutch train services are also bringing in temporary cancellations of lines.

Our car service actually called us to see if we could change our appointment for the yearly check cause there was too many covid cases with them

And the animal clinic I work at had about 8 cases so we had to put a stop on new appointments and surgeries.

 

And this is with declining cases as well :rip:

 

England is being super irresponsible

Omicron has it claws well and truly stuck in here too.

 

Biggest day ever yesterday for infections here in Iceland . 893 :( , beating the previous record of 494 which set....two days ago.

 

Proportionally these are UK/Denmark type numbers for us.

 

What's more concerning is we've had relative restrictions for the past month - masks, 2m rule and 11pm closing for bars and restaurants, 20 people, AND we are at about 50% already for the booster shot and YET we still have these numbers.

 

So God knows what England is playing at.

Edited December 28, 20213 yr by mald487

The difference in England is we are already way ahead. At this point I don’t know what good some of the mooted restrictions do in terms of slowing the spread. I think we’d have to do something slightly more aggressive here to get full control. There must be something in the data which pleases ministers- looks an awful like Omicorn gives added immunity against Delta and the States have cut self isolation if asymptomatic to 5 days.

Here in SA, life feels normal perhaps because we are large country with a not as great population density. Cases and deaths have peaked a while back. We are still on the same level 1 restrictions we have been on for ages and people (myself included) are hoping for the 12am curfew to be taken away for new years eve at least just so we can some joy and relief after this awful year.

 

My friend who is visiting from the UK told me we are much much stricter when it comes to masks etc compared to the UK

Here in SA, life feels normal perhaps because we are large country with a not as great population density. Cases and deaths have peaked a while back. We are still on the same level 1 restrictions we have been on for ages and people (myself included) are hoping for the 12am curfew to be taken away for new years eve at least just so we can some joy and relief after this awful year.

 

My friend who is visiting from the UK told me we are much much stricter when it comes to masks etc compared to the UK

Mess, y'all got a curfew? Hoping that'll be taken away soon. I remember when we had one. It was so draining. Although it was funny to see all the coronasceptics cry about living in the North Korea of Europe

Mess, y'all got a curfew? Hoping that'll be taken away soon. I remember when we had one. It was so draining. Although it was funny to see all the coronasceptics cry about living in the North Korea of Europe

Yeah we have had a curfew for 2 years straight. It used to be 9pm at one point. Absolute joke. My mate from the UK wants to go back home now because of it :lol:

2021 has been alright for me, I’ve seen even worse years even with no pandemics

So the Scots and Welsh left with egg on their faces as Boris doesn't bring in any restrictions for NYE. Sturgeon is power mad and should stop ruining the live's of families at Hogmanay.

So the Scots and Welsh left with egg on their faces as Boris doesn't bring in any restrictions for NYE. Sturgeon is power mad and should stop ruining the live's of families at Hogmanay.

 

It’s taken you longer than I thought to bring up this right wing clap trap. Perhaps time will show public health measures in Scotland and Wales are too cautious and unnecessary but that time is not now. At least people in those nations have access to LFT devices and PCR testing appointments that the UK government have advised people to do before going out on NYE. It would be really silly if any nation ran out of those.

 

The way Sturgeon and Drakeford are being treated in the media is absolutely disgusting. Considering everything the tories get up to, it’s insane to see politicians who are actively caring be vilified.

So the Scots and Welsh left with egg on their faces as Boris doesn't bring in any restrictions for NYE. Sturgeon is power mad and should stop ruining the live's of families at Hogmanay.

Is Sturgeon introducing legislation making it harder for people to vote? Is she curtailing the right to protest? Is she trying to limit the powers of the courts to make rulings against the government?

 

No, all those power mad initiatives are coming from the lazy, lying, incompetent blob of flesh you support.