So, coronavirus...

[dpedin]

Well the cost of keeping airports open is the Indian variant is now well established here.

Fantastic.

And the fact that they were not put on the red list immediately and thousands came in before it was implemented. Of course we know how well self isolation and quarantine checks are going!

The Blonde Bumblecunt looked very nervous yesterday and I suspect he has been told what the emerging picture looks like and the easing of lock down will be slowed down because of the Indian variant. He will also be under pressure to explain why he didn't close the border to Indian arrivals sooner and if it is, as most commentators suspect, for political reasons associated with his desire to develop trade agreement with India etc then he is back into the 'let the bodies pile high' scenario. The advice from SAGE and others was pretty clear re the risks involved yet they chose to ignore it. The argument presented in the briefing about we didn't close border as it wasn't identified as a VOC until the data began to emerge in the UK is a smoke screen - surely you would act prudently, look at the evidence emerging within India and wait until the research provided the evidence to say 'don't worry' first? By the time the evidence is clear within the UK the VOC is already spreading in the community and it's too late to avoid community transmission of a variant with up to 50% increase in transmissability? This is not what I understand as good professional PH advice - my understanding is they act prudently, conservatively and not wait for a virus/pathogen to start spreading in the community first before deciding if it is dangerous or not! I suspect the BB is on an extremely dangerous and sticky wicket over this.

[dpedin]

7 day case rates in age categories up to 45 year olds in Scotland going up - minimal increases in 45-64 age category and above. Looks like combination of easing lock down and new variants having an impact in Scotland but looks like those vaccinated ie over 50s are not catching the virus which looks good. Hospitalisations and deaths also continue to trend downwards. Some of the smaller boards have closed down covid beds and ICU beds completely. However increase in cases in under 45s shows the virus is still spreading amongst those not vaccinated and the impact of long covid in those still susceptible still a big worry. Also an obvious worry about the new Indian variant which appears to be anything up to 50% more transmissible than current Kent variant. Things looking positive but we need to keep the head and see this thing out. Hopefully we should see this under control by mid summer as vaccination programme makes progress but there are worries about exposure to flu, particularly for kids, emerging over the winter.It would be sensible to keep/reintroduce masks and social distancing in autumn and winter and perhaps combine the booster covid jab and flu jab too?

[Fangle]

Question for the UK guys, do you still have the masks mandate ?

We are easing up even tho only 50% of the pop has been vax, masks mandatory in planes, public transportation, hospitals, some stores, in my state positive rate is around 2% and going down.

Over here we are only up to 37% first doses and 28% second doses, but new cases are also way down. It’s a struggle to get the populace to come in, but it’s edging up slowly

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Question for the UK guys, do you still have the masks mandate ?

We are easing up even tho only 50% of the pop has been vax, masks mandatory in planes, public transportation, hospitals, some stores, in my state positive rate is around 2% and going down.

Yup. Masks everywhere indoors.

[laurent]

restrictions easing off before reopening on 19th still restricted on bar restaurants... (only outside with currently the most miserable weather in a long time).

Apparently 20 million 1st doses mark passed today (13th was last official numbers with 19 299 124 1st doses off which 9 145 922 fully vaccinated)
best day so far was 11th 647 118shots total best days of last 2 weeks are over 500 000 but so many bank holidays are slowing things down.

[Biffer]

7 day case rates in age categories up to 45 year olds in Scotland going up - minimal increases in 45-64 age category and above. Looks like combination of easing lock down and new variants having an impact in Scotland but looks like those vaccinated ie over 50s are not catching the virus which looks good. Hospitalisations and deaths also continue to trend downwards. Some of the smaller boards have closed down covid beds and ICU beds completely. However increase in cases in under 45s shows the virus is still spreading amongst those not vaccinated and the impact of long covid in those still susceptible still a big worry. Also an obvious worry about the new Indian variant which appears to be anything up to 50% more transmissible than current Kent variant. Things looking positive but we need to keep the head and see this thing out. Hopefully we should see this under control by mid summer as vaccination programme makes progress but there are worries about exposure to flu, particularly for kids, emerging over the winter.It would be sensible to keep/reintroduce masks and social distancing in autumn and winter and perhaps combine the booster covid jab and flu jab too?

Only 3 covid cases in ICU in Scotland.

[Sandstorm]

Boris can’t commit to border closures, no matter how much good advice and advance notice he gets. Idiot.

[Fangle]

7 day case rates in age categories up to 45 year olds in Scotland going up - minimal increases in 45-64 age category and above. Looks like combination of easing lock down and new variants having an impact in Scotland but looks like those vaccinated ie over 50s are not catching the virus which looks good. Hospitalisations and deaths also continue to trend downwards. Some of the smaller boards have closed down covid beds and ICU beds completely. However increase in cases in under 45s shows the virus is still spreading amongst those not vaccinated and the impact of long covid in those still susceptible still a big worry. Also an obvious worry about the new Indian variant which appears to be anything up to 50% more transmissible than current Kent variant. Things looking positive but we need to keep the head and see this thing out. Hopefully we should see this under control by mid summer as vaccination programme makes progress but there are worries about exposure to flu, particularly for kids, emerging over the winter.It would be sensible to keep/reintroduce masks and social distancing in autumn and winter and perhaps combine the booster covid jab and flu jab too?

Only 3 covid cases in ICU in Scotland.

My daughter in Scotland sent me a graph showing the numbers of vaccinated. Tremendous percentages amongst the oldies with numbers of age groups with 100% first vaccine and very high second doses.

[Sandstorm]

7 day case rates in age categories up to 45 year olds in Scotland going up - minimal increases in 45-64 age category and above. Looks like combination of easing lock down and new variants having an impact in Scotland but looks like those vaccinated ie over 50s are not catching the virus which looks good. Hospitalisations and deaths also continue to trend downwards. Some of the smaller boards have closed down covid beds and ICU beds completely. However increase in cases in under 45s shows the virus is still spreading amongst those not vaccinated and the impact of long covid in those still susceptible still a big worry. Also an obvious worry about the new Indian variant which appears to be anything up to 50% more transmissible than current Kent variant. Things looking positive but we need to keep the head and see this thing out. Hopefully we should see this under control by mid summer as vaccination programme makes progress but there are worries about exposure to flu, particularly for kids, emerging over the winter.It would be sensible to keep/reintroduce masks and social distancing in autumn and winter and perhaps combine the booster covid jab and flu jab too?

Only 3 covid cases in ICU in Scotland.

My daughter in Scotland sent me a graph showing the numbers of vaccinated. Tremendous percentages amongst the oldies with numbers of age groups with 100% first vaccine and very high second doses.

Apart from Dozy, I don’t know anyone in UK who is anti-Coved-vax

[tc27]

Boris can’t commit to border closures, no matter how much good advice and advance notice he gets. Idiot.

If we loose the summer to another lockdown because of the pig headed refusual to stop travel from India then this government is going to be in deep shit.

[Saint]

7 day case rates in age categories up to 45 year olds in Scotland going up - minimal increases in 45-64 age category and above. Looks like combination of easing lock down and new variants having an impact in Scotland but looks like those vaccinated ie over 50s are not catching the virus which looks good. Hospitalisations and deaths also continue to trend downwards. Some of the smaller boards have closed down covid beds and ICU beds completely. However increase in cases in under 45s shows the virus is still spreading amongst those not vaccinated and the impact of long covid in those still susceptible still a big worry. Also an obvious worry about the new Indian variant which appears to be anything up to 50% more transmissible than current Kent variant. Things looking positive but we need to keep the head and see this thing out. Hopefully we should see this under control by mid summer as vaccination programme makes progress but there are worries about exposure to flu, particularly for kids, emerging over the winter.It would be sensible to keep/reintroduce masks and social distancing in autumn and winter and perhaps combine the booster covid jab and flu jab too?

Only 3 covid cases in ICU in Scotland.

My daughter in Scotland sent me a graph showing the numbers of vaccinated. Tremendous percentages amongst the oldies with numbers of age groups with 100% first vaccine and very high second doses.

Of the over 18 population (i.e those that are currently approved for any vaccine of any sort). 69% have their first dose. 37.4% have their second dose. The first dose tracks almost exactly with the % of population who have been invited to have a jab. 2nd dose is harder to track vs population as the timing varies a bit, but however it works out the vax levels in the UK will end up at 95%+. This is the one part of the government response which is genuinely world class; it's clear that we have capability of delivering at least 25% more vaccine if we had supply, and for all the antivax BS out there we appear to be relatively immune through natural immunity

[Biffer]

Only 3 covid cases in ICU in Scotland.

My daughter in Scotland sent me a graph showing the numbers of vaccinated. Tremendous percentages amongst the oldies with numbers of age groups with 100% first vaccine and very high second doses.

Of the over 18 population (i.e those that are currently approved for any vaccine of any sort). 69% have their first dose. 37.4% have their second dose. The first dose tracks almost exactly with the % of population who have been invited to have a jab. 2nd dose is harder to track vs population as the timing varies a bit, but however it works out the vax levels in the UK will end up at 95%+. This is the one part of the government response which is genuinely world class; it's clear that we have capability of delivering at least 25% more vaccine if we had supply, and for all the antivax BS out there we appear to be relatively immune through natural immunity

Figures in Scotland are pretty much 100% of over 65s had their second dose.

[Saint]

My daughter in Scotland sent me a graph showing the numbers of vaccinated. Tremendous percentages amongst the oldies with numbers of age groups with 100% first vaccine and very high second doses.

Of the over 18 population (i.e those that are currently approved for any vaccine of any sort). 69% have their first dose. 37.4% have their second dose. The first dose tracks almost exactly with the % of population who have been invited to have a jab. 2nd dose is harder to track vs population as the timing varies a bit, but however it works out the vax levels in the UK will end up at 95%+. This is the one part of the government response which is genuinely world class; it's clear that we have capability of delivering at least 25% more vaccine if we had supply, and for all the antivax BS out there we appear to be relatively immune through natural immunity

Figures in Scotland are pretty much 100% of over 65s had their second dose.

I could easily believe that's true of all countries. I'm just quoting the easy to read gross numbers from the UK dashboard.

By October we'll be exporting virtually everything manufactured in the UK and it won't be making a blind bit of difference WRT scale by that point - we'll be a decimal point of a decimal point

[Slick]

Had the unfortunate experience of getting caught in an anti-vax March in Edinburgh yesterday. I can honestly say I’ve never seen such a Neanderthal looking bunch of misfits in my life (to be fair it got a bit better towards the back of the pack). Total arseholes, mostly seemingly pissed up, trying to intimidate folk as they walked past.

Shout out to the police who were doing a decent job, particularly the one who literally jumped out in front of a car to stop traffic so we could get the kids across to the other side.

One mildly amusing bit of it was cars going past and seeing all the Saltires at the front and beeping their horns in support thinking it was an independence march, only to then read the placards and start squirming uncomfortably in their seats

[Rinkals]

Question for the UK guys, do you still have the masks mandate ?

We are easing up even tho only 50% of the pop has been vax, masks mandatory in planes, public transportation, hospitals, some stores, in my state positive rate is around 2% and going down.

I was checking in on the BBC news this morning and they were covering a football game that took place yesterday. Thousands congregating on Wembley with nary a mask to be seen.

[Sandstorm]

Had the unfortunate experience of getting caught in an anti-vax March in Edinburgh yesterday. I can honestly say I’ve never seen such a Neanderthal looking bunch of misfits in my life (to be fair it got a bit better towards the back of the pack). Total arseholes, mostly seemingly pissed up, trying to intimidate folk as they walked past.

Shout out to the police who were doing a decent job, particularly the one who literally jumped out in front of a car to stop traffic so we could get the kids across to the other side.

One mildly amusing bit of it was cars going past and seeing all the Saltires at the front and beeping their horns in support thinking it was an independence march, only to then read the placards and start squirming uncomfortably in their seats

Every 2nd Sunday about 20 rag-tag anti-vaxers walk the High Street with “Freedom!” placards. The terrible oppression of West Berkshire.....

[tabascoboy]

Boris can’t commit to border closures, no matter how much good advice and advance notice he gets. Idiot.

If we loose the summer to another lockdown because of the pig headed refusual to stop travel from India then this government is going to be in deep shit.

Today's arrivals from India, are the travellers going to be quarantined?



I see #JohnsonVariant is trending

[Dogbert]

No doubt they will blame Sturgeon if Covid spikes in the next couple of weeks

[Sandstorm]

Boris can’t commit to border closures, no matter how much good advice and advance notice he gets. Idiot.

If we loose the summer to another lockdown because of the pig headed refusual to stop travel from India then this government is going to be in deep shit.

Today's arrivals from India, are the travellers going to be quarantined?

Here to get their jabs.

A report from Aus says that a plane that arrived yesterday from Delhi was only half full. The other half tested positive at the airport and were booted off.

[Saint]

Boris can’t commit to border closures, no matter how much good advice and advance notice he gets. Idiot.

If we loose the summer to another lockdown because of the pig headed refusual to stop travel from India then this government is going to be in deep shit.

Today's arrivals from India, are the travellers going to be quarantined?



I see #JohnsonVariant is trending

India is red listed, so Hotel quarantine for all of them

[SaintK]

Growing opposition to going ahead with the Olympics in Japan.

More than 80% of Japanese oppose hosting the Olympics this year, a new poll published on Monday showed, with just under 10 weeks until the Tokyo Games.
The latest survey comes after Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency Friday as the nation battles a fourth wave of virus infections.
The surge has put pressure on the country’s healthcare system, with medical professionals repeatedly warning about shortages and burnout.
The weekend survey by the Asahi Shimbun daily found 43% of respondents want the Games cancelled, and 40% want a further postponement.
Those figures are up from 35% who backed cancellation in a survey by the paper a month ago, and 34% who wanted a further delay.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... ames-poll

[BnM]

Good news for Sanofi and GSK this time.

[Saint]

Good news for Sanofi and GSK this time.

Doubly so in that this uses a manufacturing technology not currently in use for Covid vaccine - so should help scale global supply if it gets approval

[Paddington Bear]

Growing opposition to going ahead with the Olympics in Japan.

More than 80% of Japanese oppose hosting the Olympics this year, a new poll published on Monday showed, with just under 10 weeks until the Tokyo Games.
The latest survey comes after Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency Friday as the nation battles a fourth wave of virus infections.
The surge has put pressure on the country’s healthcare system, with medical professionals repeatedly warning about shortages and burnout.
The weekend survey by the Asahi Shimbun daily found 43% of respondents want the Games cancelled, and 40% want a further postponement.
Those figures are up from 35% who backed cancellation in a survey by the paper a month ago, and 34% who wanted a further delay.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... ames-poll

Can't see how the Olympics wouldn't be a covid hotspot.
Tbh I'm really not bothered - so many Olympic sports are budget and the timezone will be rubbish.

[Saint]

The Covid proof section of the NHS App is evolving rather rapidly. This morning it was just a record of your jab - there's now an option to generate a QR code to share with someone else (presumably immigration). You can start to see how this could link into ESTA/ETA/ETIAS relatively easily

[BnM]

I'm currently on a training course about covid passport.

I set up my NHS a few weeks ago. Getting full identity check and then authorisation to get all the info on the app can take a few days. So no one should leave it to last minute. Both my Jabs are on the app.

[Paddington Bear]

People really aren't bothered about checking in on the app I've found - I'll do it if prompted and have only done it a couple of times since things opened up.

[Saint]

People really aren't bothered about checking in on the app I've found - I'll do it if prompted and have only done it a couple of times since things opened up.

The NHS App (for your proof of vaccine) is different from the NHS Covid tracker. Very much worthwhile getting it sorted now, rather than at some point in future when evryone suddenly wants to get it sorted. There's a stage that requires you to authorise your GP surgery to release their records to the app, and if they haven't got an automated system in place then it could take some time.

[SaintK]

People really aren't bothered about checking in on the app I've found - I'll do it if prompted and have only done it a couple of times since things opened up.

The NHS App (for your proof of vaccine) is different from the NHS Covid tracker. Very much worthwhile getting it sorted now, rather than at some point in future when evryone suddenly wants to get it sorted. There's a stage that requires you to authorise your GP surgery to release their records to the app, and if they haven't got an automated system in place then it could take some time.

Just done it. Very simple

[tabascoboy]

I don't suppose the app runs on a 10+ year old basic cellphone...

Guess I have to get paper versions if there still is such a thing.

[Saint]

I don't suppose the app runs on a 10+ year old basic cellphone...

Guess I have to get paper versions if there still is such a thing.

You can get a paper certificate by calling 119 once you've had your second dose. You need to allow 5 days after the second dose before requesting, and up to 7 days for them to prove your identity and issue the certificate

[tabascoboy]

I don't suppose the app runs on a 10+ year old basic cellphone...

Guess I have to get paper versions if there still is such a thing.

You can get a paper certificate by calling 119 once you've had your second dose. You need to allow 5 days after the second dose before requesting, and up to 7 days for them to prove your identity and issue the certificate

Thanks! Just under 3 weeks to go until my 2nd jab.

[Sandstorm]

I'm currently on a training course about covid passport.

I set up my NHS a few weeks ago. Getting full identity check and then authorisation to get all the info on the app can take a few days. So no one should leave it to last minute. Both my Jabs are on the app.

Good to know, thanks

[Dinsdale Piranha]

People really aren't bothered about checking in on the app I've found - I'll do it if prompted and have only done it a couple of times since things opened up.

The NHS App (for your proof of vaccine) is different from the NHS Covid tracker. Very much worthwhile getting it sorted now, rather than at some point in future when evryone suddenly wants to get it sorted. There's a stage that requires you to authorise your GP surgery to release their records to the app, and if they haven't got an automated system in place then it could take some time.

Just done it. Very simple

Thanks, I wasn't aware of this app.

Just registered. Took under 5 minutes.

[Biffer]

This is also very good news

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/more- ... 19-vaccine

[Sandstorm]

Seems if you’re a “sick note” and already have Patient Access or similar through NHS, you register in 5 mins. Like my wife.

If you are awesomely healthy/dodgy like me, then you have to prove your ID (passport/drivers license) upload a picture and go through a photo ID check which takes up to 7 days. Cnuts.

[Saint]

Seems if you’re a “sick note” and already have Patient Access or similar through NHS, you register in 5 mins. Like my wife.

If you are awesomely healthy/dodgy like me, then you have to prove your ID (passport/drivers license) upload a picture and go through a photo ID check which takes up to 7 days. Cnuts.

I don't recall ever doing anything like that at all previously - and yet I sailed through in 5 minutes. I never registered for online for my GP, never touched this app or anything general NHS before, and the only NHS app I've ever downloaded was the Covid test & trace. That's not to say that the government don't have an enormous digital record of me, primarily through DVLA, HMRC, and the Passport Office, but as far as I can see there's absolutely no crossover

[Sandstorm]

Seems if you’re a “sick note” and already have Patient Access or similar through NHS, you register in 5 mins. Like my wife.

If you are awesomely healthy/dodgy like me, then you have to prove your ID (passport/drivers license) upload a picture and go through a photo ID check which takes up to 7 days. Cnuts.

I don't recall ever doing anything like that at all previously - and yet I sailed through in 5 minutes. I never registered for online for my GP, never touched this app or anything general NHS before, and the only NHS app I've ever downloaded was the Covid test & trace. That's not to say that the government don't have an enormous digital record of me, primarily through DVLA, HMRC, and the Passport Office, but as far as I can see there's absolutely no crossover

So you’re saying I’m scum?

[Saint]

Seems if you’re a “sick note” and already have Patient Access or similar through NHS, you register in 5 mins. Like my wife.

If you are awesomely healthy/dodgy like me, then you have to prove your ID (passport/drivers license) upload a picture and go through a photo ID check which takes up to 7 days. Cnuts.

I don't recall ever doing anything like that at all previously - and yet I sailed through in 5 minutes. I never registered for online for my GP, never touched this app or anything general NHS before, and the only NHS app I've ever downloaded was the Covid test & trace. That's not to say that the government don't have an enormous digital record of me, primarily through DVLA, HMRC, and the Passport Office, but as far as I can see there's absolutely no crossover

So you’re saying I’m scum?

I think that's what you're saying.....

[Sandstorm]

I knew it.