Indian variant - Is anyone else incredulous at Boris yet again having shut the stable door after the horse has bolted?!

This is from the New Statesman morning email. It is probably worth bearing this in mind as we watch how things pan out.

The plain facts are these: the evidence so far is that the B.1.617.2 variant responds well to vaccines, it just spreads faster. But it is a cause of particular anxiety for the government because of how long India - from where this variant springs - remained off the United Kingdom's red list. If B.1.617.2 does mean a delay to the great unlocking, that will be in no small part the government's fault, not least because 18 months on we are still no closer to having an effective approach on isolation, whether through central quarantine or sufficiently generous sick pay.

So you can see why it suits Downing Street to nudge the conversation away from that issue and towards the minority of vaccine-hesitant Brits. But again, there are some important facts to be aware of: the most vaccine-hesitant British person, regardless of class, race or religion, is more likely to be keen on getting vaccinated than the median person in most other countries.

The full article here

Someone I know on another forum is moaning about the fact that masks need to be worn at sporting events. This is someone who had had covid but with no long term effects and has had both vaccines. Has anyone else found that some people that have had the virus and survived with no problems seem to act a bit superior to those that haven’t had it and are vulnerable.I’m not going to get into an argument with him ut it’s really annoyed me.

Watching J Vine this morning, first time that they've had guests in the studio, they were commenting on how they hadn't caught any colds since the first lockdown. Being prone to bronchitis and invariably getting infected whenever I travel byt rain or plane, I shall continue to wear a mask in some circumstances.

Many years ago, when flying to Puglia for a holiday I took a mask from my OH's workshop, fully intending to wear it on the flight. I didn't because I felt stupid, but I did end up with 2 or 3 days reclining either in bed or under a tree with a book whilst he went off on his own. In fact, he's refused to go on holiday with me since virtually every holiday we've had since then, I've caught a virus during the journey.

Following on from covid, I shall be wearing a mask when traveling and I doubt if I will be the only one.

I don’t know why they don’t just continue doing zoom interviews. I’ve got used to them now and they’re better for the environment.

Early data is showing that current vaccines are effective against the Indian variant of Covid-19 UK Government have confirmed.

That’s true. But they might not have been.

Even if they are "effective", and I am sure they are, I don't feel inclined to go out any more than I have been and test it. Boris just doesn't seem to have learned any lessons.

Given that it’s more transmissible than the Kent variant which was more transmissible than the original one it’s going to spread like wildfire amongst younger, unvaccinated groups.

eazybee

No, I am incredulous at all the criminally stupid people who thought it was all right to fly to India knowing the pandemic was raging there, and then considered it was equally all right to return to Britain with a good chance of carrying the disease.
I am also incredulous at the number of people in the Bolton area who have steadfastly refused to take the vaccine, and are having to be persuaded to accept it.

This post says everything there is to say. Depressing.

So the nurse that looked after Johnson when he had covid is leaving this country because of the way the government treats NHS staff and the way it handled the pandemic. And to think he used her as publicity at the time.

If the border had been closed earlier and India put on the red list hundreds of people wouldn’t have been able to fly to and from India without any checks. So don’t blame people for doing what the government allowed. India wasn’t put on the red list earlier as Johnson was planning a trip there for a photo op no doubt in another of his dressing up box outfits.

I don’t think it’s just mask wearing that has prevented so many people getting colds this year. It’s also because we just haven’t mixed the same, and haven’t been hugging and kissing all and sundry.

DH and I usually get the odd cough and cold in winter, maybe because we used to have the GC round for tea a couple of times a week, and they would often be sniffling and sneezing.

None this last year when that hadn’t happened.

eazybee

No, I am incredulous at all the criminally stupid people who thought it was all right to fly to India knowing the pandemic was raging there, and then considered it was equally all right to return to Britain with a good chance of carrying the disease.
I am also incredulous at the number of people in the Bolton area who have steadfastly refused to take the vaccine, and are having to be persuaded to accept it.

The take-up of vaccine in Bolton is broadly consistent with national averages, so you can spare your incredulity.

Even in local areas where the take-up is slightly lower, the difference doesn't account for the huge surge in cases.

Something else is behind the case numbers.

Incidentally, the biggest rise in cases has been in younger people, who weren't eligible to be vaccinated.

I have started a new thread called "The Science. It's not vaccine hesitancy. It's was imported by travel but it is the transmissibility that matters." which is a transcript of an interview on Today.

After the science comes the politics.

I have started a new thread called The Science. It's not vaccine hesitancy. It's was imported by travel but it is the transmissibility that matters. which posters on this thread may find interesting.