Press conference tonight to clear up Christmas confusion

[Hapixmas]

www.itv.com/news/2020-12-16/boris-johnson-to-hold-covid-press-conference-with-update-on-christmas-rules-expected

Dreadful news for Wales. Jesus.

I think the gov and Boris have made the right call. Most people will do the right thing, those that could not care less will continue as before anyway regardless of any changes to guidance or the law.

@TheChineseChicken

Yes, sorry I get the rationale in that sense but why is this different to any other disease circulating that might make some people ill? I’m not being goady - genuine question

He did go on to say that at sone point politicians will need to decide at what level the deaths from covid are at an acceptable level.

Not all vulnerable people can take the vaccine. There will be a fair few who can't. I know of 2 people who are vulnerable but also suffer from severe allergies, they won't get the vaccine.

@TheChineseChicken

Yes, sorry I get the rationale in that sense but why is this different to any other disease circulating that might make some people ill? I’m not being goady - genuine question

I think it’s because it’s unpredictable. You don’t know how your body will react.

I think it’s also because they are on a power trip personally.

Why not shut non-essential shops between 25 and 28 December? A simple way to reduce contacts amongst strangers. The Welsh are right I think about this.

@TheChineseChicken

Yes, sorry I get the rationale in that sense but why is this different to any other disease circulating that might make some people ill? I’m not being goady - genuine question

It is a very good question, I really hope we will get an answer soon.

@FatCatThinCat

Not all vulnerable people can take the vaccine. There will be a fair few who can't. I know of 2 people who are vulnerable but also suffer from severe allergies, they won't get the vaccine.

It’s rubbish for them. Hopefully when the vaccine has been out there for a while it will prove to prevent transmission, or one of the other vaccines soon to be approved will be safe for those with allergies.

Spineless twunt. I don't want to say I got it wrong but please don't see anyone over Christmas.

I saw a chart recently (can’t remember where) that showed that vaccinating something like the top 2% of vulnerable people would reduce the death rate by 96%. I think once we get to that point it will be very hard to enforce masks and social distancing as it really will become comparable to other common diseases. I’m not endorsing that BTW, just pointing it out

Also from the press conference
Johnson replies that he has "always been in the worried, sceptical camp on vaccines" and worried that he "shouldn't over-promise".

Haha, yeah right.

All this guilt tripping and emotional blackmail yet high value individuals dont have to quarantine after coming back from abroad.

@willsantausesantatize

I have read another thread about wales. It's bad isn't it? I had no idea.

There was literally a night this week when there wasn't a spare ventilated bed. I can't think how much stress that was causing the staff.

@TheChineseChicken

I saw a chart recently (can’t remember where) that showed that vaccinating something like the top 2% of vulnerable people would reduce the death rate by 96%. I think once we get to that point it will be very hard to enforce masks and social distancing as it really will become comparable to other common diseases. I’m not endorsing that BTW, just pointing it out

I won't be social distancing a day longer than I have to, not a chance. I don't mind masks too much though.

If you really want to know what's happening in Wales, I suggest you look at this thread here:

twitter.com/Stat_O_Guy/status/1338320102962434054?s=19

It's so bad in South Wales. I'm sorry for the NHS workers there it must be awful.

@TheChineseChicken

According to BBC: Whitty says says social distancing will need to stay in place when the vulnerable have been vaccinated, as those outside of this group will still be at risk.

I don’t get this - the whole point was to save the vulnerable and the NHS (and rightly so). So why do measures need to stay in place once they are protected?

Chris Whitney can F off if he thinks I’m social distancing once the first phase of vaccinations has been done. I’m not wasting anymore of my life for a very, very small risk to the rest of the population. Everyone I know feels the same so he will have a very hard time enforcing that!

In my age and health group, for example, the death rate is practically nil

Yes fortunately. However with a new disease that no one has had it will spread fast and large numbers will get it, especially if restrictions are not in place.

A small percentage of such a large number is still big enough to overwhelm the NHS and cause avoidable suffering and deaths - both from COVID and unavailable or delayed non-COVID care.

@Loopyloui

I am done just fallen off the very small ledge I was hanging on

@TheChineseChicken

According to BBC: Whitty says says social distancing will need to stay in place when the vulnerable have been vaccinated, as those outside of this group will still be at risk.

I don’t get this - the whole point was to save the vulnerable and the NHS (and rightly so). So why do measures need to stay in place once they are protected?

The vaccine probably doesn't really stop you catching it, it just reduces the symptoms so it's potentially upping the number of asymptomatic carriers. When restrictions are lifted case numbers are going to rocket. If we do that when just the ECV and elderly are vaccinated then the CV and middle aged are going to catch it at high enough rates that even the smaller percentage that require hospitalisation (compared with ECV and elderly) are going to swamp the NHS. Basically, without herd immunity which is impossible if the vaccine doesn't prevent transmission we need a very large proportion of the population vaccinated or the NHS is fucked.

I have colleagues in south Wales and it it does seem really bad. They are all isolating / testing / have a close relative with it.

It’s not confusion, it’s clarification, and moving fast to respond to the latest figures and scientific advice.

What is so difficult to understand?

@TheChineseChicken

According to BBC: Whitty says says social distancing will need to stay in place when the vulnerable have been vaccinated, as those outside of this group will still be at risk.

I don’t get this - the whole point was to save the vulnerable and the NHS (and rightly so). So why do measures need to stay in place once they are protected?

No chance

Sorry, my quoting function isn’t working, but I assumed that ‘the vulnerable’ meant all those down to 50 years, which include CV as well and CEV. Maybe I’m wrong

@Lurkingforawhile

I have colleagues in south Wales and it it does seem really bad. They are all isolating / testing / have a close relative with it.

These figures don’t look bad

I’ve set it to the Covid admissions figure so hopefully that will show, if not, you can select it

statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Activity/nhs-activity-and-capacity-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/hospitalisations-by-date-localhealthboard

If Drakeford wants to claim the figures are terrible then he can’t argue his restrictions have worked so far....ditto Johnson and Sturgeon of course.

The issue with the vaccine is that they don’t yet have evidence as to whether you can still pass on the virus even after you have had the vaccine