Omicron variant and the measures implemented in response to it

[Nicholas Lewis]

basically boost everybody before 2022 at the expense of all other medical needs

ie whatever it takes to fill the front pages tomorrow with anything except his wrong doings

 

[midland1]

I do not believe a word Johnson he says now.

 

[Bungle73]

I'm so bored by this. I still won't be having one. Not after we were misled the last time.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

He's bringing the target to offer boosters to everyone over 18 to the end of this month, fast forwarding it a whole month and setting up an abundance of sites to help meet this.

19 March 2020: 12 weeks to flatten the curve.
2 April 2020: 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day by the end of April.
20 April 2020: secured 400,000 gowns from Turkey (the famous planeload).
November 2020: Modelling suggests 4,000 deaths per day worst case scenario.
16 December 2020: Boris Johnson says Christmas is safe.
19 December 2020: Boris Johnson announces Christmas is cancelled.
Spring 2021: get double vaccinated to get out of covid.
July 2021: if final stage of lockdown is released then we will have 100K cases per day by August.
Autumn 2021: get a booster to save Christmas.
8 December 2021: Face coverings legally required in most indoor spaces.
13 December 2021: Work from home guidance.
15 December 2021: Covid Pass introduced.
25 December 2021: which country/ies invade which country/ies, triggering WWIII, and making COVID the new has-been sideshow.

 

[brad465]

Pity someone hasn't done or reported on a study in increases of depression rates everytime any one of the PM, SAGE or other ministers speaks to the media.

 

[Eyersey468]

I do not believe a word Johnson he says now.

I haven't believed a word he says for a long time

 

[MikeWM]

Pity someone hasn't done or reported on a study in increases of depression rates everytime any one of the PM, SAGE or other ministers speaks to the media.

Abusive relationship, as ever. Even if they're not announcing something awful right now, they're just reminding you they are there and that they may do something nasty soon.

I think it pretty clear now that one of their aims, as in an abusive relationship, is to break our spirits. Though I think they'll be disappointed.

 

[brad465]

This is certainly invoking memories of March 2020, when everything moved so fast that everything was a struggle, time moved very slowly, and constant fears over what was to come were making other tasks hard to do/think about. At least once lockdown 1 was underway the situation was stable and time sped up again, even if the experience wasn't always great.

 

[Merseysider]

I do not believe a word Johnson says now.

Nor do I. He’s a duplicitous, self-serving, spineless, morally bankrupt goblin.

This is timed perfectly to try and minimise scrutiny of his own actions.

I wouldn’t go so far as to wish for a modern-day Guy Fawkes ( ) but the sooner we have someone in power who puts the interests of the country ahead of their own interests, and acts in a rational, measured and transparent manner, the better.

 

[GC class B1]

It is clear that Boris has completely lost touch with reality. Reducing a timescale from seven weeks to realistically just over two weeks as the Christmas period is included is clearly not possible. Who will he blame when the target is missed?

 

[Eyersey468]

Nor do I. He’s a duplicitous, self-serving, spineless, morally bankrupt goblin.

This is timed perfectly to try and minimise scrutiny of his own actions.

I wouldn’t go so far as to wish for a modern-day Guy Fawkes ( ) but the sooner we have someone in power who puts the interests of the country ahead of their own interests, and acts in a rational, measured and transparent manner, the better.

I agree with all of this

It is clear that Boris has completely lost touch with reality. Reducing a timescale from seven weeks to realistically just over two weeks as the Christmas period is included is clearly not possible. Who will he blame when the target is missed?

And this

 

[Yew]

I'm so bored by this. I still won't be having one. Not after we were misled the last time.

Lockdowns and restrictions are a pain the bum and go on forever, I'm on board for boosting if it helps; or at least keeps the locktivists happy...

It is clear that Boris has completely lost touch with reality. Reducing a timescale from seven weeks to realistically just over two weeks as the Christmas period is included is clearly not possible. Who will he blame when the target is missed?

I think it's unlikely to happen, but by aiming for it we will probably get the boosters done faster than otherwise, and it might just keep those calling for restrictions quiet enough for this storm in a teacup to blow over.

 

[Merseysider]

or at least keeps the locktivists happy...

They’ll never be happy until we’re all cowering in fear under our beds and city centres have been reduced to deserted wastelands.

Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.

basically boost everybody before 2022 at the expense of all other medical needs

ie whatever it takes to fill the front pages tomorrow with anything except his wrong doings

Fast forward. The year is 2030. Booster number 17 has been scheduled for you, and only once you’ve had it will your domestic work permit be extended, passport renewed and credit card unblocked.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I think it's unlikely to happen, but by aiming for it we will probably get the boosters done faster than otherwise, and it might just keep those calling for restrictions quiet enough for this storm in a teacup to blow over.

Guess thats one positive outcome but this will basically put NHS onto emergencies only footing again and cause the waiting lists to lengthen even more with him taking credit for saving the UK again.

 

[eastdyke]

And cases reported today [for yesterday] in Gauteng:
Saturday [11th]: 8529

As is usual in the UK, South Africa inc Gauteng reported case numbers are normally lower on Sundays/Mondays.

But not today. Gauteng cases reported today [for yesterday]:
Sunday [12th]: 16716 ..... the highest number reported in any one day for the whole pandemic.

I have to say that I certainly didn't see that coming ..... perhaps there have been reporting issues over the past few days?
Tomorrow/Tuesday may enable me to make more sense of it.

Coronavirus South Africa Overview | Covid-19 South Africa

This site serves as a monitoring tool for the development of the coronavirus in South Africa.

www.covid19sa.org

 

[yorkie]

I have to say that I certainly didn't see that coming ..... perhaps there have been reporting issues over the past few days?

I read that there has been. But so far hospitalisations are still really low for the numbers being infected and that is the most important thing. Hopefully it will stay that way.

 

[eastdyke]

I read that there has been.

Have been trying to follow this closely. Do you have a source please?

But so far hospitalisations are still really low for the numbers being infected and that is the most important thing. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Totally agree.

 

[brad465]

I don't mean this lightly, but I think in any other walk of life, someone behaving like Johnson has over the last week would have been sectioned by now.

 

[Yew]

I don't mean this lightly, but I think in any other walk of life, someone behaving like Johnson has over the last week would have been sectioned by now.

There is a poker term, "on a tilt" where one makes increasingly bad and irrational decisions when things are going badly; with the hope of recouping losses.

 

[asw22]

Ah, so currently Johnson is only 20% as bad as Cromwell. If he miraculously survives and calls a lockdown in 2024 for the fifth year running, he'll be his equal.

Fair point.

But typing spi-m covid 5 year into any search engine brings up a few recent newspaper articles though I can't find it in a SPI-M document online

Covid will pose threat to UK for next five years, experts warn | The Independent
Covid could be around for another five years - experts give bleak warning - Chronicle Live
Covid could ruin Christmas for the ‘next FIVE YEARS’, experts warn (thescottishsun.co.uk)

So we will need a strong leader to be able to put this into context with other issues and not keep putting restrictions on and off.

Re the statement I wonder if he checked with the NHS before he made the booster announcement?
Anyone who had 2nd vaccine in October or November will miss the New year deadline as there is a three month gap according to the statement.

 

[MikeWM]

I read that there has been. But so far hospitalisations are still really low for the numbers being infected and that is the most important thing. Hopefully it will stay that way.

The problem here is that as we've never really got to the bottom of the with/of thing, a highly infectious variant could spread throughout the hospitals while never actually causing any particular harm. And as we're obsessively testing for it, on current defintions that would be lots of people in hospital with a positive test for Omicron and lots of people dying within 28 days of a positive test from Omicron, even if basically no-one was getting sick *from* it.

If we were doing the same for helicobacter pylori, for example, then we'd be logging about 40% of all hospitalisations/deaths a day in the stats as related to that - as about 40% of people have it in their stomach. But while that is a dangerous thing for a small number of people, for most it is entirely harmless.

 

[asw22]

If this is the case (which I doubt) it shows how shockingly negligent Johnson, Hancock and Javid have been. But maybe they're just happy for us to have lockdowns every time a new mutation comes along - because as wealthy and well-connected people they will never be affected by them (lockdowns that is).

Trying to save a few pennies on NHS resilience, while costing the economy pounds type philiosophy

 

[Socanxdis]

I want my NI refunded. Also some of my tax.

 

[danm14]

The Times is reporting that the 1.5% NI increase may not go towards Social Care, and will instead go towards indefinite booster vaccines for the entire population every 3-6 months.

"The latest crisis has led the Treasury to draw up plans to fund a booster programme in which adults will be given a jab every three to six months, possibly indefinitely, if dangerous mutations continue to appear."

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...d-pay-for-endless-booster-programme-kwtv93rxc (https://archive.li/8jp30)

 

[yorkie]

The Times is reporting that the 1.5% NI increase may not go towards Social Care, and will instead go towards indefinite booster vaccines for the entire population every 3-6 months.

"The latest crisis has led the Treasury to draw up plans to fund a booster programme in which adults will be given a jab every three to six months, possibly indefinitely, if dangerous mutations continue to appear."

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...d-pay-for-endless-booster-programme-kwtv93rxc (https://archive.li/8jp30)

I've just booked my booster and, while I see the value in this booster, it will be my final* one for the foreseeable future.

I am not going to get an annual booster. Respected virologists deem it unnecessary; natural exposure to the virus will act as a booster in future, as is the case with existing Coronaviruses.

(* Unless I need more for international travel)

 

[brad465]

The Times is reporting that the 1.5% NI increase may not go towards Social Care, and will instead go towards indefinite booster vaccines for the entire population every 3-6 months.

"The latest crisis has led the Treasury to draw up plans to fund a booster programme in which adults will be given a jab every three to six months, possibly indefinitely, if dangerous mutations continue to appear."

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...d-pay-for-endless-booster-programme-kwtv93rxc (https://archive.li/8jp30)

We have to hope there is a fair amount of outrage that comes from a tax rise to fund an endless covid booster programme. It will make the booster programme look like poor value for money, be a clear mis-selling of the tax increase, and maybe enough to turn anyone who is borderline in favour of restrictions against them once it starts hitting their finances harder in this manner.

 

[MikeWM]

The Times is reporting that the 1.5% NI increase may not go towards Social Care, and will instead go towards indefinite booster vaccines for the entire population every 3-6 months.

"The latest crisis has led the Treasury to draw up plans to fund a booster programme in which adults will be given a jab every three to six months, possibly indefinitely, if dangerous mutations continue to appear."

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...d-pay-for-endless-booster-programme-kwtv93rxc (https://archive.li/8jp30)

! Even the 'conspiracy theorists' were 'only' suggesting that it was going to be every six months for the rest of time. Now it may be double that?!?!

And of course you'll need to get every single one in order to keep your vaccine passport showing that you're allowed to continue to participate in society.

Ludicrous.

 

[brad465]

Seen elsewhere: "Why do the protected need to be protected from the unprotected by forcing the unprotected to use the protection that didn't protect the protected in the first place?"

 

[danm14]

And of course you'll need to get every single one in order to keep your vaccine passport showing that you're allowed to continue to participate in society.

And possibly, as has been suggested, will need to have both an up to date vaccination record, and a recent test.

Glory to Arstotzka!

 

[Chris125]

As is usual in the UK, South Africa inc Gauteng reported case numbers are normally lower on Sundays/Mondays.

But not today. Gauteng cases reported today [for yesterday]:
Sunday [12th]: 16716 ..... the highest number reported in any one day for the whole pandemic.

I have to say that I certainly didn't see that coming ..... perhaps there have been reporting issues over the past few days?
Tomorrow/Tuesday may enable me to make more sense of it.

Coronavirus South Africa Overview | Covid-19 South Africa

This site serves as a monitoring tool for the development of the coronavirus in South Africa.

www.covid19sa.org

Yep, significant reporting issues: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...-says-more-than-half-are-retrospective-cases/

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Sunday that 37,857 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, but more than half of these are “retrospective cases” as a result of an IT glitch.

“Today we report 37,875 new cases, which includes 19,840 retrospective cases and 18,035 new cases.