Seems we are not unlocking.

Just seen on the news Welsh football supporters in Baku, ok for them to travel?

I agree there will be others who refuse but I too would like to see the data. The very fact that transmissibility is much higher in this virus - hopefully they will know more about that too - is an area of concern.

In a BBC article of 5 days ago they were saying it is between 30 and 100% higher than the Alpha variant. They then compared those who go on to develop the Delta with those developing the Alpha.

Roughly 12% of contacts of people with the Indian variant went on to develop coronavirus, compared with 8% of those who had the so-called Kent variant, according to Public Health England analysis - suggesting it is roughly 50% more transmissible.

On Sky earlier I heard someone quoting 70%. If it is so much more infectious we do need to take that into account.

This will settle as they get more data and to get that we sadly need time for things to happen - or not - but it is very apparent it is much higher than the Alpha (Kent) variant which, in itself, was higher than the original.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57157496

PippaZ I am not blaming anyone, I would just like to be made aware of the data.

As for folks refusing the vaccine, there are GN members who have posted that they will not take up the vaccine, so by the law of averages one can assume that there are others in the UK who also refuse to be vaccinated for various reasons?

Perhaps they will give that information on Monday GrannyGravy. I'm assuming that Johnson will address the nation and we will see the evidence then. At least I hope so.

I haven't seen any stats so far that tells us that those in hospitals deliberately didn't have the vaccines when they were offered - have you actually seen details of this? More are being offered to younger people now but, there is a lag in the efficacy of vaccination of course and then the gap, the second vaccine and then a couple more weeks before they are as safe as possible. Also, we cannot use our homegrown one on the younger cohort because of worries about the blood clots so that may mean fewer have been available - but I haven't seen any reports on that either.

I do think you need to take all this into account before you blame the poor person with the virus who may not have had access to the vaccine some eight weeks ago, minimum. No one has a magic wand and no one wants to see people lose their business but we do have help in place if they do. This has stayed the same as it has always been as far as I'm aware.

PippaZ not self centred in anyway, I can afford the increases.
Unfortunately many other folks cannot, many folks risk losing their businesses and having to lay off staff.

We have worked throughout the pandemic, it hasn’t always been easy but we have managed, we are extremely fortunate.

I would like to see the data on current hospitalisations, whether or not patients have had two, one or no jabs.

If they are not vaccinated why? Is it because of age, i.e. not being in the current age cohort ( our local vaccine hub has held a walk-in clinic today for anyone aged over 18) Are some of the hospitalisations due to folks not taking up the vaccine, if so how long is the rest of the population expected to put their life on hold due to their vaccine hesitancy/refusal?

Urmstongran and GrannyGravy what did you expect? If we are lucky enough to be able to do these things then we must pay the proper rate. That was always going to be the case. Some posts seem to be incredibly self-centred.

GrannyGravy13

I have just seen a clip of Theresa May in H of P this week saying that continued lockdowns and travel restrictions are lunacy I tend to agree with her.

But no one intends them to continue forever. What a silly thing for her to say. We must work at, and I would say we are, increasing vaccination - it is our only way back to some sort of normality. However, until we see that as including the rest of the world we will keep finding ourselves restricted in what we can do safely. With an exponential rise, what would you suggest?

We know that the last wave happened when schools and universities went back and the same has happened this time and will until we recognise and strengthen the infection controls, as MayBee suggests, but particularly with older school children.

Exaggerated and extreme individual views don't help.

rosie1959

MayBee70

If only people would accept hands face space ventilate as the new normal we could get back to a more ‘normal’ way of living. It’s a small price to pay for that. And yet some people are desperate for those measures to be stopped.

Not desperate but I can empathise with business that is unable to function in profit with these rules in place
It is not a small price for them but the difference between continuing to trade or loosing their business

It is rosie and like everyone, I have sympathy. However, the answer may not be for us to rush so they can open. What I do feel is that if we can't then the government must look at ways to help them. If this is going to take longer than we would have hoped they will have to review who is on furlough, etc. and perhaps move the support to other areas.

I’m pleased to hear that Barmey, and no I don’t think we should hero worship GPs, but it is a fact that there far fewer of them than there were at the beginning of the pandemic. Why is that do you think? Please do answer my question because I really would like to know what the public thinks about diminishing numbers of GPs.

I think I have a little bit of a right to be upset about what’s happened. My daughter told me they would never have gone if it wasn’t for the unremitting stress caused by the pandemic. It’s my beloved girl who’s gone, and yes, I’m upset about it.

Maddyone, there are good and bad GP's and I don't think we should hero worship them all as being good. I am pleased to say that at last my complaint that I have been let down badly by my GP surgery was upheld on Thursday.

Very true Urmstongran all our local restaurants and bars have had to put up their prices to cover extra staff needed for table service and limited numbers of clientele at any given time.

A friend said last week “In my local spa l now have to book a swimming and gym slot , always guaranteed a lane, gym, hot tub and sauna not overcrowded , must admit l rather like it!”

“You wont like it when the prices rise to sustain that” said another lady at the table, drily.

Well anyway, we’re two fewer GPs now, and from what I’ve read,a substantial number of GPs have left for other countries during this pandemic. No doubt, the public will criticise the GPs and wonder why they can’t get an appointment now, preferably in the next ten minutes!

Callistemon

Whitewavemark2

janejudge quite a lot of puerile me,me,me about it seems.?

Oh dear, my post was me, me, me.
Or rather, expressing astonishment at the number of people out and about.

My earlier post wasn't all about me, though.

It wasn’t pointing at anyone in particular? rather some comments you see throughout the country

I have just seen a clip of Theresa May in H of P this week saying that continued lockdowns and travel restrictions are lunacy I tend to agree with her.

If we don’t look after them we can’t blame them maddyone.

I absolutely agree with you on this Pippa. It was the unremitting stress and as GPs, they got such a lot of flack from the public. On one thread last year, I listed 15 different tasks GPs were engaged in, many additional to their usual duties, but it didn’t make any difference. Even Gransnetters were more than happy to criticise the GPs, who were actually working their socks off in their practices and at the Covid Hub.

There are two reported cases of monkeypox in Wales, same household I hope that is contained!

Biscuitmuncher

Did anyone ever say that zero Covid is the answer to lockdown, masks and vaccinations?

It is here and possibly for the long-term future as are other viruses and we have to do our best to combat it, vaccinate and take precautions to reduce spread and severity so that we can live more normal lives.

I doubt we will eradicate it totally in the foreseeable future although we have managed to do that with smallpox and we are still striving to eradicate other diseases.
Like other viruses eg H1N1, traces will be with us in mutated form for a long time unless a miracle happens.

Biscuitmuncher

Lucca I'm not sure what the answer is but masks, lockdowns and vaccinations dont seem to be working because zero covid is the answer apparently and that's never going to happen

Well it would help if people accepted vaccinations, stuck to lockdown rules etc. Surely if you criticise actions you should have some idea if what would be better ?

Whitewavemark2

janejudge quite a lot of puerile me,me,me about it seems.?

Oh dear, my post was me, me, me.
Or rather, expressing astonishment at the number of people out and about.

My earlier post wasn't all about me, though.

Goodness! So many posts to catch up on whilst I popped out for 10 minutes (ha ha, 1.5 hours), stuck in traffic jams as everyone rushes out before another lockdown.

Or perhaps it was before the ⚽️ at 1.15pm.

MayBee70

If only people would accept hands face space ventilate as the new normal we could get back to a more ‘normal’ way of living. It’s a small price to pay for that. And yet some people are desperate for those measures to be stopped.

Not desperate but I can empathise with business that is unable to function in profit with these rules in place
It is not a small price for them but the difference between continuing to trade or loosing their business

maddyone

Some of our troops have fled, to New Zealand. Had enough of the stress in the NHS. Sadly, they’re mine, and I miss them.

If we don't look after them we can't blame them maddyone.

I am so sorry this has hit you personally but I have to say, miss them though I do - and I can't tell you how much, I am glad my grandchildren, my son and my DiL are safely (comparatively) in Australia. It gives you an insight into how parents of the evacuees must have felt.

If only people would accept hands face space ventilate as the new normal we could get back to a more ‘normal’ way of living. It’s a small price to pay for that. And yet some people are desperate for those measures to be stopped.

rosie1959

PippaZ the death rate is now very low the health service is not overrun

That is not taking into account the state of those working in it. It would take far, far less for it to collapse in a third wave. It is also not taking into account the fact that we will be counting the dead from other causes in far greater numbers if we still cannot treat them.