Herd immunity? But there’s 2 strains already and what if it mutates?

[MrsWolf2]

I don’t understand the science at all so I’m struggling to understand why the government has chosen its current strategy.

Can someone please explain to me why it’s a good idea for lots of people to get the virus rather than try to contain it, when these same people may well get reinfected with a slightly different version of the virus?

Or do our antibodies tend to be able to adapt to different versions so we’ll still be immune to mutations? But people get the flu more than once don’t they?

Please feel free to explain it to me like I’m a moron. I’m really not but I am panicking a bit about things and unable to think completely clearly. All I can think is that the decisions are being made by the same man who told the nation they should vote for Brexit, he does not have our best interests at heart. I would love to be wrong.

Also didn’t some people test positive twice?!

BBC news

Why aren't we closing schools and stadiums?

Other countries are closing schools, restricting movement and cancelling mass gatherings, such as football matches.

But health officials in the UK are taking a much more gradual, step-by-step approach. Why?

The obvious answer is that we have a relatively low number of cases so there is no need to take steps that will have profound social and economic consequences.

But we are also in this for the long haul. Countries taking drastic steps may well slow transmission. But how long can those steps be sustained?

At some point they have to be lifted and then the number of cases will rise.

If you can have some kind of controlled transmission, where the number of cases are kept low enough to allow the NHS to cope, is that a better way of managing it?

That's certainly what the experts and ministers in the UK have decided. They believe it gives them the best chance of saving lives in the inevitable spread of the virus across the country.

I don't understand why they call it herd immunity if no one is immune to it. It's not like most people being vaccinated protect those not vaccinated. I think they expect this to go on for a long time so trying to stretch out the response as much as possible. I agree with not closing schools at the moment but BJ should have called off large gatherings/events.

I don't ever agree with Boris but do think they are listening to scientific advice available- rightly or wrongly. I am a scientist.

We benefit from having a national health service too. Funded by the state. Easier to coordinate a response than would be with privately run hospitals.

No one knows what will happen to numbers when China relaxes it's rules (you can't sustain it forever afterall). Slowing works if you take extreme measures, but it is a marathon rather than a sprint.

Re the having it and getting it again question. Apparently the test is only 65% sensitive so you can get a negative and still have it. So that person might get 2 false negatives and then a real positive. At least this is what I understand from DH (A&E Dr)

He also says Boris is doing what the experts are saying. We need to spread out the hospital admissions so that the NHS can cope.

He says he'd rather get it himself now (and the rest of us!) because he is worried about the fact that you can spread it without having symptoms and he obviously comes into contact with a lot of ill people

Top science government bod said strain stable and no evidence of mutation at lunchtime.

Has it changed since then or is there just more drama and excitement 🙄

And I'd be v v suspicious of any numbers coming out of china.

Bloomburger: I'm not sure but scientists have known for over a week that there is an L strain and an S strain. He may know that only one of the strains is circulating in the UK and that strain is stable, maybe?

Paper from 3rd March