What exactly is the point of keeping masks around at this point? Especially with such a hotchpotch of implementation.
To placate those who erroneously think that any old mask will actually keep cases down, like they were saying was the case in France.
Interestingly the people banging on about how effective masks are in France have now shut up; funny that. I wonder why?
464 769 nouveaux cas positifs en 24 heures, l'épidémie continue d'affoler les compteurs ce mardi 18 janvier en France.
www-lindependant-fr.translate.goog
Public Health France announces this Tuesday 464,769 new positive cases of coronavirus identified in 24 hours in France. A figure up 26%, against 368,149 cases declared last Tuesday.
France recorded 464,769 Covid cases today (apparently not a backlog issue). Assuming that ~1/3 infections are confirmed by a reported test, this may mean that ~2% of the population got infected by SARSCoV2 within a single day.
It's absolutely clear that this virus cannot be contained by the measures being imposed; Omicron has made this clear even to those who previously refused to believe it.
You're coming across as a little too hyperbolic and self congratulatory, in my view. People with this style of argument, from my experience, are rarely to be relied on. That's not to say you may not be right on some things as you claim.
You can believe what you want to believe
I'm sure some countries have managed to keep deaths down and with vaccines and a milder variant, hopefully we are all at the beginning of the end of this. The advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to the pandemic will be debated for years to come. But certainly, I will be interested in the measured conclusions from scientists and other experts about this pandemic and the approaches to it, and how we can better guard against future outbreaks.
I expect there will be lessons to learn in due course, but regarding the current situation right now we really ought to have learnt that the current restrictions are not able to reduce the spread of Omicron and we may as well just live our lives as everyone is going to get exposed to Sars-CoV-2 multiple times in our lifetimes and the only way to effectively reduce the spread is to build up sufficient levels of immunity, as we head for endemic equilibrium.
I also endorse
@Bantamzen's response.
Human expansion into tropical rainforests has increased the liklehood of pathogens spreading as we are creating an ecological disequilibrium. I don't buy the 'viruses have always spread - nothing to see here narrative'. Spillover to humans is now more likely than ever before - so human activity, such as deforestation is increasing the liklehood of pandemics. Scientists are researching zoonotic diseases and this should be supported.
Sars-CoV-2 came from bats (via another host) and I don't think you can put that down to deforestation. I think if you want to make this argument, you'd need to decouple it from Sars-CoV-2 as I don't see any evidence to claim this is the underlying cause of Sars-CoV-2 spilling over into humans. I'd suggest a new thread (if there isn't one already) would be warranted to debate the possible origins. It's far from clear cut though.
....We need a clear projection: what level of serious infections and deaths is tolerable to avoid restrictions. What level of serious infections and deaths are intolerable and would require them.
The same as for influenza in the worst possible 'flu years before Sars-CoV-2 came along.
Yes, the article says
Er, isn't that a contradiction in terms?
How can you still have compulsory face mask laws after COVID restrictions are lifted, given that compulsory face mask laws are a COVID restriction?
I hope Boris Johnson does abolish compulsory face masks in London, just to stick two fingers up at Mr Khan.
Khan is a dangerous, divisive individual who lacks intelligence. Just ignore him!
No mention of vaccine passport status,. isolation or masks yet, but I'm sure more information will come when Sturgeon speaks.
Sturgeon will keep masks for longer than England, just to be different, and for virtue signalling purposes to demonstrate she is in control of the virus (
)
Whilst arguments about mask wearing are at the fore, it deflects from more important matters such as gun and knife crime.
This is very convenient for Khan.
Khan's a bloody nuisance. At it again I see, urging the government to keep this mandatory face mask on public transport nonsense. "Increase public confidence" wearing face masks on public transport??!! What an absolute joke!! He should have realised that the vast majority of people are sick of wearing face masks now and want all this to be scrapped for good! Why doesn't he make himself more useful and concentrate on more important matters such as gun crime in London??
There will be no mandate though; he can huff and puff all he likes, he can't make people wear them.
News from Zoe study:
According to ZOE COVID Study incidence figures, in total there are currently 183,364 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average, based on PCR and LF test data from up to three days ago.
covid.joinzoe.com
According to ZOE COVID Study incidence figures, in total there are currently 183,364 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average, based on PCR and LF test data from up to three days ago [*]. A clear decrease of 12% from 208,471 reported last week (Graph 1).
Cases are dropping in all regions apart from North East, where the increase is already slowing and should start dropping soon (Graph 3).
Daily new symptomatic cases are now going down in all age groups. The rise in the over 75’s seen in previous weeks is now plateauing at low levels (Graph 4).