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Post by wirewiper on Jan 4, 2022 12:27:11 GMT
I'll give a cautious welcome to this news. Hospitals are still struggling, but this appears to the more down to the numbers of staff having to absent themselves, rather than large amounts of critically ill patients arriving. Also welcome news is that new Covid antiviral medications are starting to come on stream, and new forms of vaccine that potentially resist multiple strains are being developed. This means that Covid could start to become treatable like the common cold. I'm starting to feel optimistic. 2022 could well be the year that the Covid pandemic ends and it becomes endemic, fought off by high levels of human immunity coupled with vaccines and medications for the more vulnerable or sick. |
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Post by LD71YLO (BE37054) on Jan 4, 2022 12:43:23 GMT
Denmark's health chief said that the pandemic will be over in 2 months. And a pig's just flown into my window! |
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Post by LondonNorthern on Jan 4, 2022 12:47:21 GMT
Denmark's health chief said that the pandemic will be over in 2 months. And a pig's just flown into my window! I do think the pandemic is finishing up thou. We've peaked in terms of cases.
The virus will still be with us but what we need to focus on now is trying to get back to normal.
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Post by WH241 on Jan 4, 2022 13:35:47 GMT
And a pig's just flown into my window! I do think the pandemic is finishing up thou. We've peaked in terms of cases.
The virus will still be with us but what we need to focus on now is trying to get back to normal.
Have we peaked? Reported cases dropped over Christmas as most do they only covered England also don’t forget less tests have been available. We are likely to see a increase in cases over the next week or so from New Year mixing and schools going back. |
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Post by WH241 on Jan 5, 2022 14:39:45 GMT
Looks like the government has really given up and got bored of covid.
PCR follow up tests are no longer needed for positive LFTs. I can’t imagine everyone reports their results so the number of cases could show a big downward curve when it’s not actually the case.
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Post by southlondon413 on Jan 5, 2022 15:12:21 GMT
Looks like the government has really given up and got bored of covid. PCR follow up tests are no longer needed for positive LFTs. I can’t imagine everyone reports their results so the number of cases could show a big downward curve when it’s not actually the case. My understanding is that this only applies to those who are doing routine lateral flow tests with no symptoms as opposed to the one off user. If they are routinely testing than it would look strange if they stopped reporting their results all of a sudden so I don’t see a sudden drop occurring. They will still have to self isolate Apparently this was the case between January and March last year as well. It should allow faster processing for the one off testers at labs so it is a smart move. |
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Post by route53 on Jan 5, 2022 15:18:15 GMT
Looks like the government has really given up and got bored of covid. PCR follow up tests are no longer needed for positive LFTs. I can’t imagine everyone reports their results so the number of cases could show a big downward curve when it’s not actually the case. Or maybe they’ve finally realised that we must live with Covid and focus on other pressing issues? |
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Post by WH241 on Jan 5, 2022 15:31:21 GMT
Looks like the government has really given up and got bored of covid. PCR follow up tests are no longer needed for positive LFTs. I can’t imagine everyone reports their results so the number of cases could show a big downward curve when it’s not actually the case. My understanding is that this only applies to those who are doing routine lateral flow tests with no symptoms as opposed to the one off user. If they are routinely testing than it would look strange if they stopped reporting their results all of a sudden so I don’t see a sudden drop occurring. They will still have to self isolate Apparently this was the case between January and March last year as well. It should allow faster processing for the one off testers at labs so it is a smart move. Seeing lots of different reports but from what I understand if someone tests positive today on a LFT they no longer send off a PCR test. This could be for example someone who isn’t testing regularly. There is no guarantee everyone will report the tests on the website. |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jan 6, 2022 10:57:54 GMT
Covid-19: Hundreds of maskless London Underground passengers finedHundreds of passengers have been issued fines for not wearing face coverings on London's transport network since it was made mandatory.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59893269
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 8, 2022 4:33:29 GMT
As I said just now, if hospitals are going to be that overwhelmed why are the Nightengale hospitals still closed? One of the contributing factors is the sheer numbers of staff who are off sick, or who have to self-isolate even if not ill. No point in opening up Nightingale hospitals if you haven't got enough staff for your regular ones. Furthermore, this mass isolation of people not really ill who test positive is like a national lockdown writ small. People forced to isolate have even less freedom than during a lockdown. Their absence from work is hindering their business and meaning less available service for the rest of us eg fewer health care staff at work, reduced public transport etc |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Jan 8, 2022 4:38:44 GMT
For a while the line of the 7-day average case numbers was literally vertical. While the figures will be distorted through some delayed results over New Year, there was finally a small dip yesterday. It may be premature to say case numbers have plateaued, as the coldest winter weather may be yet to come.
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 11, 2022 15:08:29 GMT
Bus operators and local authorities, as well as interest groups representing bus passengers and bus operators, are warning that bus services throughout the UK could be slashed once emergency covid funding ends in March. Passenger numbers had climbed to 80% of pre-covid levels before the Omicron variant was identified and the "Work from Home" guidance was reinstated, that figure has now dropped to 60%. Bus companies are now preparing lists of routes that will be withdrawn once the funding ends in March, as they are required to give six weeks' notice of any planned cuts. It is also noted that, whilst the Government has tried to rush through recruitment of lorry drivers and protect supply chains, it has not taken any action to address the staff shortages in the bus industry. Fears are that short-term reductions to counter current staff shortages could end up becoming permanent. Buses are particularly vulnerable in Local Transport Authority areas where there are light rail and tram services to maintain, as these have high fixed costs which cannot be reduced quickly and easily. Bus services in these areas could end up being sacrificed to keep rail services going. The call is now for the Government to state - as a matter of urgency - what support, if any, will be forthcoming for the bus industry once the emergency funding runs out at the end of March. www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/11/bus-services-in-england-face-axe-as-end-to-emergency-covid-funding-looms |
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Post by WH241 on Jan 13, 2022 17:45:07 GMT
Certainly been a interesting few days in the world of politics and Covid!
Covid self-isolation in England being cut to five full days
I can't help but think the above is more a distraction from yesterday and the party saga. With the whole drinks / work do gathering if Boris realised it was not a work gathering why didn't he shut it down after being there for 25 mins?
Also might be coincidental but doubt it :
Jonathan Van-Tam to leave role as deputy chief medical officer
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jan 13, 2022 22:32:58 GMT
Certainly been a interesting few days in the world of politics and Covid!
Covid self-isolation in England being cut to five full days
I can't help but think the above is more a distraction from yesterday and the party saga. With the whole drinks / work do gathering if Boris realised it was not a work gathering why didn't he shut it down after being there for 25 mins?
Also might be coincidental but doubt it :
Jonathan Van-Tam to leave role as deputy chief medical officer
Prior to this saga at No.10 they did say they was going to change the amount of days isolation. |
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Post by WH241 on Jan 15, 2022 14:11:03 GMT
Noticed the DLR have closed off the front and rear doors again like at the height of the pandemic. A few weeks ago they closed off the first two rows of seats but had left the door area open.
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