Covid: What's the situation where you are?

FannyCornforth I think most were school age, a couple were disabled children. I'm not sure about their vaccinations, certainly the children wouldn't have had any, but I'm not sure about the adults. I think a few have only recently come into the age bracket to be called so it would depend on infection vs vaccine dates to be sure. Its possible that some would have only had one jab as there wouldn't be time to get the second jab in.

Covid numbers are rising in the south-west, particularly in Cornwall I think. Obviously tourism plays a big part. But relatively the numbers are low compared to some parts of the uk.
I'm glad that young people are now being vaccinated. My two younger grandchildren aged 18 and 22 have appointments tomorrow.
I took them out for a pub meal this week and was surprised that the pub was half empty.

Our dear grandsons wedding is in two weeks, postponed since June last year, and although some restrictions are raisedthere are still many that are still to be followed, so far a marquee, mask wearing, no dance floor, social distancing on and on.
But just thankful still taking place like many more. I think their memories will be rather different to any we have of our wedding.??

Ah, thank you growstuff
Your second point is certainly food for thought

FannyCornforth If you look at the breakdown of cases over the last couple of weeks, over 50% have been in the 10-29 age group, who have mainly not been vaccinated up to now.

There are also reports that some people who have previously been infected but not vaccinated, possibly because they thought they didn't need it, haven't acquired immunity.

Thank you all so much for your replies
It's certainly a concerning time
It feels like we are on the cusp of something - but I don't understand why if so many have been double vaccinated.

Savvy the situation that you describe sounds very worrying
When you say that 'half the street got it', were they all young and unvaccinated?

Where's your evidence that current figures for cases and deaths are reducing? We must be looking at different statistics.

I agree that they are not currently anywhere near as high as they were at the peak, but they are on the rise and aren't a reason for complacency.

We live an area which has had a consistent low COVID rate since the pandemic began.

We are both fully vaccinated and, masks and social distancinging apart life has returne to normal. We have eaten out half a dozen times since the last relaxation, usually outside and under cover because the weather has been so nice, but last night we ate inside the restaurant because the weather was so dreadful. We have been away to a busy seaside resort for a weekend and had family staying.

The victims of the current surge are mainly the unvacccinated, which means, mainly, the young who generally do not require hospitalisation, and if hospitalised are less ill, less likely to need ventilation and have much shorter stays.

If you are fully vaccinated, you stand very little risk of getting the new variant. And as ever the figures are being made unnecessarily alarmist. The current incidence of COVID is no higher than it was this April. 10s of 1,000s short of what it was when the pandemic was at its peak, and there are already indications that the figures are reducing

North East coastal; half my street had it a couple of weeks ago after one household decided to go on holiday a few miles up the coast and bought it back with them. They were mingling with other households outside, all the kids playing together etc., just as they have done throughout and not wearing masks.

Our rates have skyrocketed in quite a short time.

At least six children in DGC’s primary have tested positive, the entire class are self isolating. Two of the children are friends of DGC and one of them is quite unwell as are both parents of the other despite having had their first vaccine dose. It feels a little precarious again but I’ve got everything crossed that the outbreak has been contained to one class.

I’m in a rural northern area. There’s 16 cases in our msoa - which is three villages across quite a wide area. The highest it’s been for ages. I’m incapacitated currently so not out and about much and not at work (thankfully cos it’s v bad there). We’ve not been out to eat anywhere but looking forward to doing so at some point. We’re off to an event in another area next weekend so we can see family. We have been on holiday - about two hours away and it all generally felt quite normal.

Our local town is having surge testing now as rates have shot up 6 times in the last week.

Sorry I'm in Midlothian.

Carmarthenshire. 9.5 in the last 7 days.

Low here too, I think less than 17 cases per 100,000 which probably means about 15 in our whole area.

We have a low rate in Powys too, in fact there are only 28 covid patients in hospital in the whole of Wales at the moment. The case rates are rising everywhere though, and we have loads of tourists here, so still being vigilant. I’d have a meal outside at a pub with no qualms - we’re trying to make the best of the opportunities in case it gets worse again.

Rates currently low on the Isle of Anglesey but thousands of holidaymakers have arrived from many areas of the U.K. so we have decided to stick to lunch in the garden with our closest friends who we know are as cautious as we are.
We’ll wait and see how things go at the end of the holiday season.
If I lived in an area that wasn’t full of tourists and had low covid rates I’d love to go and eat in a pub garden.
I hope you can venture out a bit FannyC, it’s nice to socialise and have a change of scenery.

Our local Somerset NHS trust has had 1 hospital admission in 7 weeks according to our local online newspaper.
Numbers of cases are up but obviously the vaccination programme is working here. We are a rural county so can't be compared to cities or densely populated areas that others of you live in.
I do think we need to focus on hospital figures rather than number of cases.

We have rising cases in our area. Primary school where DD1 teaches have had several classes off self isolating and 2 teachers have it, one quite unwell. Yesterday she had 3 children in her class who were absent when the covid contact was in school. Rest of class self isolating. She gets her first jag tomorrow as teachers not prioritised. Some parents have withdrawn their children from school because there is only a week left till summer holidays.
Childminder for DGS2 just posted to say another minder in her group's daughter has tested positive and if this minder is positive DGS2 childminder will have to self isolate so no doubt I will have him again! I know they have same working rights as everyone but seriously she has had so much money for NOT looking after him that it does not seem right. She won't take children with a runny nose or slight cold either despite the child minding association and Jason Leitch stating on their websites that children with a cold can attend nursery/childcare unless they are ill obviously or have covid symptoms. I don't mind having him but means I have to leave DH who is recovering from a stroke and I was meeting a friend for a walk on Monday as it is my birthday on Tuesday so that is also in jeopardy. Oh well best to be safe.

Cases are going up in Cornwall but it depends where you are. We’re double vaccinated so we eat out-indoors or out, visit the hairdresser, gym, etc. and I have continued to work. We have visited friends and family and stayed in a hotel a fortnight ago. Face masks, LF tests, distance and sanitiser are what passes for normal nowadays.

Cases going up here in north Wales but not too alarming yet.

We have 6 per 100,000 people, just two admitted to hospital and 0 deaths. Within commuting distance of London too!

low but wibbly rates here

North East. Semi rural area. Numbers of cases are zipping upwards in Co. Durham as a whole (679 in last 7 days as opposed to 233 in previous 7) , but very low in our post code. My DD says that a lot of the Durham Uni students are getting the virus; I suspect that's what's pushing up our numbers. My grandson's school (local) had 3 year groups isolating a couple of weeks ago. One case in the staff.

Still living 'quietly'. Shopping as 'normal', excellent mask wearing compliance in our area. Would go for a drink or meal outside but would be dubious about doing either inside. Volunteering but in a huge, airy building with low 'inside' visitor numbers (everyone being cautious, I think). Lots of people are visiting its grounds. DP doing outdoor volunteering and playing lots of golf...

Cases have been going up again here so we’re being careful. There is a huge drive to get people vaccinated, walk in vaccinations available at local colleges.