New COVID Variant in South-East

[umpteennamechanges]

Just seen the breaking news about the new COVID variant in the South East.

Seems to be nothing to worry about on the face of it...but wondering if anyone has / knows of any more info?

I think according to BBC, no indication it'll be vaccine proof or that it's more dangerous, but some are wondering whether it might be more contagious, hence fast rise in SE. IIRC, often 'more catchy' versions of viruses are less dangerous, as in order to survive they need not to kill too many hosts. That could be bollocks but I think i read it in a decently-sourced article about virus mutation!

Yes, he is just a very droll person. A nice guy though. I think he comes across as flippant sometimes but he really isn't.

The same WHO who said "nothing to see here"... "it's not a pandemic"..."we no longer use the word pandemic"..."China's got this covered"...oh ok fine it's a pandemic".

Right. So you don't trust the government or the WHO.

Which eminent virologists have said this new variant is something we need to worry about?

I’m all for dumping the 5 day relaxation now. Nobody would be surprised. It doesn’t mean we “cancel Christmas” which is supposed to be a religious celebration anyway don’t you know?

@IcedPurple

If we look at the European response when a new variant was identified in mink - and compare it to our own response now - we're simply not responsive enough, quickly enough.

Are you suggesting culling the entire population of Kent?

Don’t tempt this government with these sorts of ideas .....

Does this mean those of us who have already had covid could catch it again?

Does this mean those of us who have already had covid could catch it again?

That was already known to be the case, though little is known about its prevalence.

Cynic here , I’m suspecting they cancel or at minimum adjust the Christmas mixing, and this is the first step to mentally prepare us.

@YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable

Cynic here , I’m suspecting they cancel or at minimum adjust the Christmas mixing, and this is the first step to mentally prepare us.

I hope they do. Christmas happens every year, one year doing it differently for one year isn’t going to hurt anyone.

I wish people would stop saying "it's only one day" bla bla bla etc. You really don't know other people's situations.

For example, in my family, we suffered a life changing traumatic event at Christmas some years ago and it is a very difficult time for all of us now and one that we always come together for.

I'd be pretty devastated if that wasn't allowed. It is more than just a day and a turkey dinner for us.

@treening And for those of us who dont go abroad so didnt bring the virus in in the first place.

If posters want to play the blame game, i can play it too.

@IcedPurple

The same WHO who said "nothing to see here"... "it's not a pandemic"..."we no longer use the word pandemic"..."China's got this covered"...oh ok fine it's a pandemic".

Right. So you don't trust the government or the WHO.

Which eminent virologists have said this new variant is something we need to worry about?

This is precisely a replay of conversations had in January, February and even into March.

We are in the midst of a real life pandemic, made worse for the early optimism, ineptitude and inaction of both world governments and the WHO, this having happened not yet even one year ago, and yet still the very idea that one wouldn't - without a single question - believe early reassurances of "nah, it's fine" is considered "fringe".

🤷‍♀️

I've not been abroad for 5 years, since my son was born.

We are in the midst of a real life pandemic, made worse for the early optimism, ineptitude and inaction of both world governments and the WHO, this having happened not yet even one year ago, and yet still the very idea that one wouldn't - without a single question - believe early reassurances of "nah, it's fine" is considered "fringe"*

I don't disagree with you but my recollection is that back in February the scientists were very worried and were tearing their hair out trying to get governments to act, rightly so.

They don't, at present, seem concerned about this new strain, and I trust them. Nothing to do with Boris or the WHO!

A lot of the public are realizing that whatever they do and whatever they sacrifice it will never be enough to please some others. If Christmas was "cancelled" people would not accept a January lockdown and you would get very low compliance if they did both.
And NHS CEO Chris Hopson has got a fucking cheek with his tweets. Many NHS workers have been bullied and emotionally blackmailed into coming into work when ill pre Covid. So the NHS management etc should get their own fucking house in order rather than using the same emotional blackmail tactics on the public that they use on their front line staff. I suppose the higher ups are frightened they will actually have to do some work for their bloated pay.

I don’t think they know yet if it’s anything to worry about, they’re still looking into it. Hopefully it won’t be.

Perhaps the government will use it as a reason to backtrack on Christmas Rules. They announced them far to early and they should never have been allowing three households to mix.

And they should never have let people go on holidays abroad either.

@treening

I wish people would stop saying "it's only one day" bla bla bla etc. You really don't know other people's situations.

For example, in my family, we suffered a life changing traumatic event at Christmas some years ago and it is a very difficult time for all of us now and one that we always come together for.

I'd be pretty devastated if that wasn't allowed. It is more than just a day and a turkey dinner for us.

Sorry to sound harsh, but it IS only one day. With any luck and all being well next year we will be back to normal. People aren’t supposed to be coming together, that’s the whole point. I dread to think how many cases their will be in January.

I agree that allowing travel abroad and not enforcing quarantine was a massive, pretty unforgivable error.

Sorry to sound harsh, but it IS only one day. With any luck and all being well next year we will be back to normal.

I'm sorry, but for us it isn't, and if you knew what we had been through, I dont think you'd be saying it was.

And anyway, as I say, we'll be isolating both before and after.

Don't viruses evolve?

Sounds like bollocks to make us behave, especially London.

The only other alternative is to let the virus run amok, which is what is going to happen though.

We are in the midst of a real life pandemic, made worse for the early optimism, ineptitude and inaction of both world governments and the WHO, this having happened not yet even one year ago, and yet still the very idea that one wouldn't - without a single question - believe early reassurances of "nah, it's fine" is considered "fringe".

But my question was: What reason do you have to disbelieve the WHO's claim that the new variant does not at this moment appear to be cause for alarm? Which experts have you read who have urged the contrary?

I don't disagree that the WHO were complacent at the start of the pandemic, but that has changed considerably since then.

I will be isolating on the run up as well. But I’m able to. Others can’t.

I do think it is convenient for the government that the general public chooses to blame "rule flouters" rather than:

• the fact the government locked down too late
• the fact the government never closed borders nor enforced quarantine
• the fact the government doesn't support people to self isolate for the appropriate length of time
• the fact that their test and trace service is still a shambles despite having over 8 months to get it right
• the fact that schools weren't reopened in a covid safe way
• the fact the NHS was woefully unprepared for a pandemic

Along with a million other things.