New variant has emerged in Africa, should we be worried?

Little point worrying about what might never happen

I am glad that the government seem to have reacted a lot more quickly this time (after the dismal performance and resulting chaos over the Delta variant).
On a personal note, I'm so sorry for my friend who had booked a long-overdue and longed for visit to see her GC in South Africa over Christmas.

Whitewavemark2

Looking at the vaccine levels, Africa has by far the least level of population vaccinated.

We were warned from the start that vaccines should be spread throughout the world, in order to help prevent mutation of a potentially very nasty sort.

Perhaps this might concentrate minds, and the level of vaccine available in the African continent.

I doubt it though.

If you've ever been out to Africa, which I have, you would realise the practicalities and huge difficulties involved... transportation, refrigeration, distances, not to mention overcoming people's reluctance and beliefs, etc in order to accept the vaccine.

My son, who lives in South Africa, used to work in some of the townships. There is a lot of superstition and hesitancy regarding being vaccinated - that is partly why there is such a low take-up. Their government even had to halt shipments of the vaccine for that very reason. It isn't just lack of supply - it's lack of demand.

Another problem is alcohol. People were getting together (maskless), getting drunk (very), getting into fights which resulted in too many having to be taken to hospital, thus overwhelming them. This caused the government to actually ban the sale of alcohol during lockdown. Of course, some found a way round the ban, but it did have an effect on preventing the spread. It's possible the ban will be re-introduced.

My son and his family were coming over to the UK to spend Christmas with us - the last time we did this was 6 years ago. But, I doubt this will be possible now. We are all hugely disappointed, but recognise the necessity of putting a ban on flights from southern Africa.

Looking at the way so many anti-vaxxers, anti mask-wearers behave in this country - the total lack of concern or consideration for others, not to mention those who don't even think the virus is real or that it's some kind of government plot to control the population - I believe the new variant will spread rapidly once it reaches the UK.

I'm not an admirer of this government, but I do believe they've made the right call this time. Maybe one of those many "lessons to be learned" has actually been learned.

It's a terrible disappointment to me personally, my partner and I are both unwell and my family were hoping to ease some of the Christmas stress by just being here and helping with things. But, it is more important not to transmit this new variant - although I believe it will eventually arrive on our shores, but at least we can possibly slow it down and not overwhelm our NHS - again.

Dickens

Dickens, I am very sorry. I have several relatives working in Covid hospitals in Cape Town, and they have seen so much pain, deaths and tragedy- exhausted to the point of being sick themselves. We have lost 2 of our relatives from CT, one a father of 3, healthy and strong, aged 53.

But it seems the UK is currently in the grips of a new variant- as Sajid Javid explained in the HofC just now. Vax resistant, drugs resistant and very transmisible. Serioulsy worrying. Our 15 year old GS is in quarantine and recovering from Covid- and one of our daughters tested positive last night, confirmed today by PCR and feeling very poorly. Hopefully she will recover quickly- isolating from partner has he is asthmatic- both double jabbed and just under 50.

We are double jabbed + booster + flu jab, and have booked Tunnel a few weeks ago to travel to UK to be with our family over Christmas and New Year (Tunnel so we keep in our car, no sharing of space as in ferry, plane or train). We are so so luckiy forward to it, but beginning to seriously wonder if we should cancel. Will wait a couple more weeks to make decision.

This combined with the thought of being stranded in massive queues in case the French decide to boycott all UK Ports! Certainly will take food, blankets, warm socks and flask of coffee, etc.

But it seems the UK is currently in the grips of a new variant- as Sajid Javid explained in the HofC just now. Vax resistant, drugs resistant and very transmisible.

That is not the case.

There are no confirmed cases in the UK right now.

There is no evidence to show it is vax resistant.

There is no evidence to show it is drug resistant.

There is no confirmation that it is more transmissible.

The last thing we need is misinformation and loose words.

Sorry, then take it up with Javid who has just been telling the HoC of the above.

First case of this variant has just been identified and confirmed in Belgium.

First case found now in Belgium it seems.

I thought there is only one confimed case in Belgium. None here.

Oops sorry for doubling up info.

Alegrias, sincere apology, I caught Javid's speech in the House today just after the start. Have re listened, and you are absolutely right, there are NO cases in UK currently- but he said it has probably spread beyond Africa- and as umg says, it seems confirmed in Belgium, just across the water.

Javid does look very concerned, and yes he used 'may be' about both resistance to vax and drugs.

I’m so sorry Dickens. What a blow just as you were counting the days.?
Yes I am worried about the new variant reaching the UK, which I have no doubt it will, and being spread rapidly by those who refuse to be vaccinated, wear masks or take any other anti-covid precautions. But worrying is a waste of time and energy. It won’t change anything. I shall continue to do all the right things and hope that our GP is soon able to administer our long overdue boosters as they aren’t available within a 30 mile radius.

Thank you Alegrias and Monica for flowers and understanding. Much appreciated.

It is worrying, however we haven’t changed our behaviour in spite of being triple jabbed. I will continue to be extra careful. These poor people in poorer countries must be helped by all the more wealthy countries. It is vital.

Thanks Kali.

Whether the postulation about what’s happening in Japan is correct or not who knows, but this is an interesting theory which is less gloomy.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/11/18/national/delta-variant-self-destruction-theory/

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Germanshepherdsmum

I’m so sorry Dickens. What a blow just as you were counting the days.?
Yes I am worried about the new variant reaching the UK, which I have no doubt it will, and being spread rapidly by those who refuse to be vaccinated, wear masks or take any other anti-covid precautions. But worrying is a waste of time and energy. It won’t change anything. I shall continue to do all the right things and hope that our GP is soon able to administer our long overdue boosters as they aren’t available within a 30 mile radius.

Thank you Germanshepherdsmum!

Yes, I have been counting down the days. But, as you say, worrying is a waste of time and energy and, dwelling on the disappointment is the same waste of energy.

We have Face Time, the WhatsApp video calling option, so I'm grateful for that. And there are always people who suffer more at Christmas - those who are alone or have lost a loved-one, so I'm putting it in perspective.

There is little we can do about those who refuse to take the virus seriously and who are determined to ignore the science in pursuit of their 'freedom'. Except avoid them where possible. I also think the new variant will reach the UK - 'plane loads of passengers from southern Africa have been arriving on a daily basis, it is inevitable.

Have you harangued your GP for the booster dose? I've had to keep my foot in the door to get my second jab after waiting months over the due date. Did they say they would contact you when they received their next batch? Or have they left it to you to find a location that might be offering them? One doesn't want to be a pain, but it is important that you get that booster.

Namsnanny

*Dickens*

... thank you!

It does seem as though a few other countries are getting jittery. I read this morning that Macron says you can now actually have your booster 5 months after your 2nd vaccination in France. I guess Belgium being next door is a concern.
Sorry to read your post Dickens.

Kali2

Dickens, I am very sorry. I have several relatives working in Covid hospitals in Cape Town, and they have seen so much pain, deaths and tragedy- exhausted to the point of being sick themselves. We have lost 2 of our relatives from CT, one a father of 3, healthy and strong, aged 53.

But it seems the UK is currently in the grips of a new variant- as Sajid Javid explained in the HofC just now. Vax resistant, drugs resistant and very transmisible. Serioulsy worrying. Our 15 year old GS is in quarantine and recovering from Covid- and one of our daughters tested positive last night, confirmed today by PCR and feeling very poorly. Hopefully she will recover quickly- isolating from partner has he is asthmatic- both double jabbed and just under 50.

We have lost 2 of our relatives from CT, one a father of 3, healthy and strong, aged 53

That is so sad, and always shocking when it's an otherwise healthy person... so unexpected.

Our 15 year old GS is in quarantine and recovering from Covid- and one of our daughters tested positive last night, confirmed today by PCR and feeling very poorly. Hopefully she will recover quickly- isolating from partner has he is asthmatic- both double jabbed and just under 50.

Oh my goodness, this really is a worrying time for you. I hope your daughter recovers quickly. My son also tested positive a while back and he said how 'poorly' it made him feel, so I can imagine how your daughter feels.