When will this shit end?

[squirrelarmy]

27 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

as Boris might have to do a bit of alassing on prime time tv

I’d rather not watch Bojo do a lass on TV. 

[steviewevie]

12 minutes ago, squirrelarmy said:

I’d rather not watch Bojo do a lass on TV. 

oh, I don't know...

[Ozanne]

 

[Matt42]

2 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

 

Doesn’t surprise me. Whenever anyone uses “control our borders” as an argument they usually have no idea what they are saying, or use it as a mask for something completely else. You can guess what they really want to say.

[steviewevie]

From NewStatesman's Stephen Bush in his morning email thing...

 

The Delta variant results in a higher rate of hospitalisations, according to a study by Public Health England.  What does it mean for that 21 June reopening date? 

Scientists - including members of Sage, the ad hoc body which advises the government - are divided on whether or not the reopening point can go ahead or not. Remember that there is still an awful lot we don't know: not least what level of vaccination we will have by that date. 

One reason why in Wales, the First Minister Mark Drakeford is able to say they are in a position - at the moment - to continue reopening is that their 'lean' vaccination strategy means they have managed to put even more jabs in arms than in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

One of the defining and most consistent failures of the coronavirus strategy in England has been a reluctance to learn from elsewhere: whether that it is the success of the south-east Asian democracies in containing the spread or even the success of Wales in speeding up an already pretty fast vaccine rollout. 

But the failure that has been the most consistent is to make decisions quickly and swiftly about travel: that's why the Delta variant is so widespread in the United Kingdom right now and why the 21 June reopening date is in some doubt. 

The fear that a failure to deliver on time would result in a political crisis is one reason why Conservative MPs well outside the bounds of the usual anti-lockdowners are privately of the view that the 21 June date must go ahead as planned, whatever the data might show. 

 

[steviewevie]

 

[efcfanwirral]

Interesting anyway but as an aside, I hope as a western leader he only uses tiktok on a phone that is completely separate from any state business. Or now he's admitted he uses it hopefully he does from now on anyway! 

[zahidf]

38 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

The fear that a failure to deliver on time would result in a political crisis is one reason why Conservative MPs well outside the bounds of the usual anti-lockdowners are privately of the view that the 21 June date must go ahead as planned, whatever the data might show. 

 

Good, glad to hear that

Edited June 4, 2021 by zahidf

[JoeyT]

 

[steviewevie]

England’s R number has risen slightly to between 1 and 1.2.

[JoeyT]

Anyone here in Burnley?

 

[steviewevie]

 

[steviewevie]

 

[JoeyT]

3 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

 

Great news. Let's hope when the dashboard gets updated at 4pm it's as positive as this is.

[Ryan1984]

2 hours ago, squirrelarmy said:

I’d rather not watch Bojo do a lass on TV. 

Reminds me of a certain Black Mirror episode...

[steviewevie]

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions

4 Jun 2021 | Front Page, Lockdowns, Mitigation measures, Recent reports, Short statements

We are currently witnessing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in England. Public Health England figures released on 3^rd June suggest that the Delta variant has spread widely across the UK and is continuing to spread, that it has higher infectivity than the previous circulating variant, and that it is more likely to cause disease and hospitalization. There is increasing evidence that vaccine efficacy is compromised against this variant, and that individuals remain at particular risk until they receive two doses. There is some evidence that protection from two doses wanes after a number of months, particularly in the elderly. Meanwhile, cases are surging in school aged children, and spreading into the community, particularly amongst those yet to be fully vaccinated. It is clear that the link between infection and hospitalization has not yet been fully broken.

We wish to avoid another full lockdown, which will damage education and people’s wellbeing as well as the economy. This requires reversing the growth in cases. The UK government will announce their plans for future pandemic control on 14^th June. As things stand, it is very difficult to justify progressing with the last stage of the roadmap, scheduled for 21^st June, a point that should be made now to modify current false hopes.

In addition, there are a number of steps which should be implemented immediately to reduce current levels of transmission, including:

1. Strengthening financial and practical support to those requiring isolation following symptoms or a positive test, or for those in contact with positive testing individuals;
2. Ensuring adequate ventilation and infection control measures within indoor venues (e.g. schools, workplaces, hospitality), with rigorous monitoring, certification of venues, and  sanctions where these measures are not undertaken;
3. Reinstating face coverings for secondary school children, and providing resources to enhance classroom ventilation
4. Doing away with the red/amber/green travel stratification and implementing comprehensive border control with managed quarantine, in order to avoid the importation of novel variants and the exportation of UK infections;
5. Further accelerating vaccine rollout, and ensuring completion of two doses, to provide protection from infection. Boosters for vulnerable populations should be considered urgently by JCVI;
6. Adequately resourcing the global vaccine initiative, to ensure control of transmission worldwide.

[efcfanwirral]

3 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions

4 Jun 2021 | Front Page, Lockdowns, Mitigation measures, Recent reports, Short statements

We are currently witnessing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in England. Public Health England figures released on 3^rd June suggest that the Delta variant has spread widely across the UK and is continuing to spread, that it has higher infectivity than the previous circulating variant, and that it is more likely to cause disease and hospitalization. There is increasing evidence that vaccine efficacy is compromised against this variant, and that individuals remain at particular risk until they receive two doses. There is some evidence that protection from two doses wanes after a number of months, particularly in the elderly. Meanwhile, cases are surging in school aged children, and spreading into the community, particularly amongst those yet to be fully vaccinated. It is clear that the link between infection and hospitalization has not yet been fully broken.

We wish to avoid another full lockdown, which will damage education and people’s wellbeing as well as the economy. This requires reversing the growth in cases. The UK government will announce their plans for future pandemic control on 14^th June. As things stand, it is very difficult to justify progressing with the last stage of the roadmap, scheduled for 21^st June, a point that should be made now to modify current false hopes.

In addition, there are a number of steps which should be implemented immediately to reduce current levels of transmission, including:

1. Strengthening financial and practical support to those requiring isolation following symptoms or a positive test, or for those in contact with positive testing individuals;
2. Ensuring adequate ventilation and infection control measures within indoor venues (e.g. schools, workplaces, hospitality), with rigorous monitoring, certification of venues, and  sanctions where these measures are not undertaken;
3. Reinstating face coverings for secondary school children, and providing resources to enhance classroom ventilation
4. Doing away with the red/amber/green travel stratification and implementing comprehensive border control with managed quarantine, in order to avoid the importation of novel variants and the exportation of UK infections;
5. Further accelerating vaccine rollout, and ensuring completion of two doses, to provide protection from infection. Boosters for vulnerable populations should be considered urgently by JCVI;
6. Adequately resourcing the global vaccine initiative, to ensure control of transmission worldwide.

A lot more sensible than I was expecting  - I thought they'd start asking to go back to the previous step 

[efcfanwirral]

15 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

 

This is great news- we're about 10 days on from the eworst case numbers right?

[JoeyT]

3 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions

4 Jun 2021 | Front Page, Lockdowns, Mitigation measures, Recent reports, Short statements

We are currently witnessing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in England. Public Health England figures released on 3^rd June suggest that the Delta variant has spread widely across the UK and is continuing to spread, that it has higher infectivity than the previous circulating variant, and that it is more likely to cause disease and hospitalization. There is increasing evidence that vaccine efficacy is compromised against this variant, and that individuals remain at particular risk until they receive two doses. There is some evidence that protection from two doses wanes after a number of months, particularly in the elderly. Meanwhile, cases are surging in school aged children, and spreading into the community, particularly amongst those yet to be fully vaccinated. It is clear that the link between infection and hospitalization has not yet been fully broken.

We wish to avoid another full lockdown, which will damage education and people’s wellbeing as well as the economy. This requires reversing the growth in cases. The UK government will announce their plans for future pandemic control on 14^th June. As things stand, it is very difficult to justify progressing with the last stage of the roadmap, scheduled for 21^st June, a point that should be made now to modify current false hopes.

In addition, there are a number of steps which should be implemented immediately to reduce current levels of transmission, including:

1. Strengthening financial and practical support to those requiring isolation following symptoms or a positive test, or for those in contact with positive testing individuals;
2. Ensuring adequate ventilation and infection control measures within indoor venues (e.g. schools, workplaces, hospitality), with rigorous monitoring, certification of venues, and  sanctions where these measures are not undertaken;
3. Reinstating face coverings for secondary school children, and providing resources to enhance classroom ventilation
4. Doing away with the red/amber/green travel stratification and implementing comprehensive border control with managed quarantine, in order to avoid the importation of novel variants and the exportation of UK infections;
5. Further accelerating vaccine rollout, and ensuring completion of two doses, to provide protection from infection. Boosters for vulnerable populations should be considered urgently by JCVI;
6. Adequately resourcing the global vaccine initiative, to ensure control of transmission worldwide.

Fair do's, at least they aren't suggesting we rollback.

[st dan]

4 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions

4 Jun 2021 | Front Page, Lockdowns, Mitigation measures, Recent reports, Short statements

We are currently witnessing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in England. Public Health England figures released on 3^rd June suggest that the Delta variant has spread widely across the UK and is continuing to spread, that it has higher infectivity than the previous circulating variant, and that it is more likely to cause disease and hospitalization. There is increasing evidence that vaccine efficacy is compromised against this variant, and that individuals remain at particular risk until they receive two doses. There is some evidence that protection from two doses wanes after a number of months, particularly in the elderly. Meanwhile, cases are surging in school aged children, and spreading into the community, particularly amongst those yet to be fully vaccinated. It is clear that the link between infection and hospitalization has not yet been fully broken.

We wish to avoid another full lockdown, which will damage education and people’s wellbeing as well as the economy. This requires reversing the growth in cases. The UK government will announce their plans for future pandemic control on 14^th June. As things stand, it is very difficult to justify progressing with the last stage of the roadmap, scheduled for 21^st June, a point that should be made now to modify current false hopes.

In addition, there are a number of steps which should be implemented immediately to reduce current levels of transmission, including:

1. Strengthening financial and practical support to those requiring isolation following symptoms or a positive test, or for those in contact with positive testing individuals;
2. Ensuring adequate ventilation and infection control measures within indoor venues (e.g. schools, workplaces, hospitality), with rigorous monitoring, certification of venues, and  sanctions where these measures are not undertaken;
3. Reinstating face coverings for secondary school children, and providing resources to enhance classroom ventilation
4. Doing away with the red/amber/green travel stratification and implementing comprehensive border control with managed quarantine, in order to avoid the importation of novel variants and the exportation of UK infections;
5. Further accelerating vaccine rollout, and ensuring completion of two doses, to provide protection from infection. Boosters for vulnerable populations should be considered urgently by JCVI;
6. Adequately resourcing the global vaccine initiative, to ensure control of transmission worldwide.

I think that’s all sensible and fair, nothing hysterical or OTT within that. I do think reintroducing masks for secondary school pupils may be wise, especially as it seems there is a rapid spread in this population, and of course they are all unvaccinated. 

[steviewevie]

Just now, efcfanwirral said:

This is great news- we're about 10 days on from the eworst case numbers right?

we're 10 days from when they review because that's a week before June 21st...not sure if that's worst case...

[steviewevie]

You can watch it...you have about 20 mins of Christina Pagel at the start...can you handle it?

 

[JoeyT]

 

[st dan]

Out of interest, what is the latest on protection via natural immunity from previously having covid vs vaccinations for all these new variants?
Is it likely to be better, or similar (assuming it can’t be worse)?

[Chapple12345]

13 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Indie SAGE statement on the UK government roadmap for ending all restrictions

4 Jun 2021 | Front Page, Lockdowns, Mitigation measures, Recent reports, Short statements

We are currently witnessing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in England. Public Health England figures released on 3^rd June suggest that the Delta variant has spread widely across the UK and is continuing to spread, that it has higher infectivity than the previous circulating variant, and that it is more likely to cause disease and hospitalization. There is increasing evidence that vaccine efficacy is compromised against this variant, and that individuals remain at particular risk until they receive two doses. There is some evidence that protection from two doses wanes after a number of months, particularly in the elderly. Meanwhile, cases are surging in school aged children, and spreading into the community, particularly amongst those yet to be fully vaccinated. It is clear that the link between infection and hospitalization has not yet been fully broken.

We wish to avoid another full lockdown, which will damage education and people’s wellbeing as well as the economy. This requires reversing the growth in cases. The UK government will announce their plans for future pandemic control on 14^th June. As things stand, it is very difficult to justify progressing with the last stage of the roadmap, scheduled for 21^st June, a point that should be made now to modify current false hopes.

In addition, there are a number of steps which should be implemented immediately to reduce current levels of transmission, including:

1. Strengthening financial and practical support to those requiring isolation following symptoms or a positive test, or for those in contact with positive testing individuals;
2. Ensuring adequate ventilation and infection control measures within indoor venues (e.g. schools, workplaces, hospitality), with rigorous monitoring, certification of venues, and  sanctions where these measures are not undertaken;
3. Reinstating face coverings for secondary school children, and providing resources to enhance classroom ventilation
4. Doing away with the red/amber/green travel stratification and implementing comprehensive border control with managed quarantine, in order to avoid the importation of novel variants and the exportation of UK infections;
5. Further accelerating vaccine rollout, and ensuring completion of two doses, to provide protection from infection. Boosters for vulnerable populations should be considered urgently by JCVI;
6. Adequately resourcing the global vaccine initiative, to ensure control of transmission worldwide.

I'm agreeing with Indie SAGE, perhaps Christina's spiked my vaccine from this morning....

Genuinely though I'm pleased to see they're not suggesting anything harsh or rolling back and they seem to be supportive of opening up, now if the government could properly shut the borders that would be great