COVID cases on the brink of breaking 100k a day (Zoe Covid Study)

Of course it is good that the number of reported cases has reduced compared with last week, but as that is what was predicted because of the impact of the half term break, it’s too early to assume the trend will continue - although we all hope it will. We have another review in Wales in three weeks. The regulations were tightened last week, and the FM has already said they will be tightened again if there is a further increase, which implies that is what they are anticipating.

Don't forget the Deaths total is a running total coming up to it's third winter. Normally each year has it's own totals.

DH has just said that MP’s are now going to have to wear face masks in parliament. Rees Mogg is going to look silly.

Sir Jeremy Farrar has resigned from SAGE:

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-sir-jeremy-farrar-quits-sage-advisory-group-amid-concerning-coronavirus-transmission-rate-in-the-uk-12458214

He has been one of the more sensible members, who has not given into political pressure.

Casdon

Of course it is good that the number of reported cases has reduced compared with last week, but as that is what was predicted because of the impact of the half term break, it’s too early to assume the trend will continue - although we all hope it will. We have another review in Wales in three weeks. The regulations were tightened last week, and the FM has already said they will be tightened again if there is a further increase, which implies that is what they are anticipating.

UK deaths are still on an upward trajectory.

MayBee70

Is that the Jenny Harries who said PPE shortages were due to NHS staff using them incorrectly or overusing them (or something like that).

The one and the same!

Death rates are about three weeks behind infection rates I believe growstuff, so it will get worse before it gets better.

Casdon

Death rates are about three weeks behind infection rates I believe growstuff, so it will get worse before it gets better.

Yes, they will.

I'm not getting too optimistic about the reported cases until schools have been back for a few days. As people said when cases were rising, it's death which really matter.

Having got out and about more recently I have noticed more people seem to be wearing masks, even outside.

Further to my post about Sir Jeremy Farrar, Richard Tice, who has campaigned against lockdowns, and hundreds of trolls have piled on to Twitter to smear Farrar, who is a genuinely respected scientist. It makes one wonder why Tice should feel the need to be so defensive.

There's something fishy going on or maybe it's just a coincidence that this resignation coincides with the release of some of the JVCI minutes, which has hardly been covered by the main-stream media.

MayBee70

Having got out and about more recently I have noticed more people seem to be wearing masks, even outside.

Good!

twitter.com/timspector/status/1454051709941166088

Some good news as Signs of new daily cases peaking at around 92000 based on Zoe Covid data

JVT said this morning that hospital cases had plateaued in the last few days.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-59145846/page/2

Although I trust JVT more than the other government advisors I am disappointed that he doesn’t see fit to say that MP’s should wear masks in parliament or that they should mandate mask wearing in public places. Even now I see that they don’t seem to be wearing masks on the government benches.

It would seem that the Government policy out-trumps scientific advice Maybee70. He can’t tell the Government to mandate mask wearing, he’s not in a position to do so.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/02/mps-told-to-wear-masks-and-tours-cancelled-amid-rising-covid-cases

He could advise it though.

He did advise it, reported by BBC as:

‘He said masks were important in some settings, particularly indoors - but he said making them mandatory in more places was for the government, not scientists’

Mask wearing probably does help more if the majority are wearing them which as I noticed on my weekend away this was not the case probably 15 to 20 percent A bit more on public transport
With many not wearing them they are far less likely to be affective and offer a fairly low protection to the wearer

Which is why it needs to be mandatory imo

Masks are still mandatory in Wales yet their infections went sky high I believe
I think the government would now find it harder to reintroduce mask wearing I think compliance would be reduced especially as rates have not increased by significant amounts
Although they are popular on GN obviously not so much in the general public or more would be wesring them
I only noticed when I was away as I don't usually go places indoors when I am at home

Yes. It will be hard to reintroduce. Which is why it should never have been stopped in the first place given that they had become a way of life. As some people are now pointing out that infection rates seem to have plateaued might that be due to the fact that many schools have reintroduced mask wearing? It seems to me that people that aren’t happy to wear masks just look for any argument they can find against wearing them.

I suppose Maybee they are not a way of life well not in the UK
I personally absolutely hate them find them very uncomfortable and although they may help I really don't have that much faith in them unless you are wearing a FFP2

Doesn’t that prove the point I made in my last sentence. You don’t, personally, want to believe that they help, do you?

I don’t follow your logic in saying that rates went high in Wales even though people are wearing masks rosie1959? Masks are one of a suite of protective measures, not the only thing that affects infection rates. Wales had the lowest infection rate in the UK for several months, and the rise coincided with the return to school and failure of the private testing company. It would have been worse if people weren’t wearing masks.