Breaking News - Press conference

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I almost can’t stand it. What the hell will they be announcing now?

@MadameBlobby

This is from the research at porton down as has to be reported to WHO so just be grateful for the fast research rather than blaming the government for science.

@secretlyhappy

I am thinking that people who have had "old" covid are getting this new one I.e. getting covid twice

This was about the time when I expected to start seeing a good number of reinfections and that would be expected to be concentrated in the South East anyway as that's the area that had the most infections in the first wave. There would probably have to be a lot of unpicking of the data to be certain as to what effect the new strain has on reinfection so I doubt they're announcing anything on that front although it's possible that Porton Down have some data from cell studies.

AGH

Completely selfish post but DD lives alone (Tier 2) and DH was planning on driving from SE to pick her up and take her to ours. If outbound travel from Tier 3 is banned I know she'll refuse to take the train down as she doesn't want to put us at risk :/ She's been isolating in her flat for the last 10 days in prep.

[quote meditrina]@LadyFelsham

Yes, I know, but I thought people on this thread were mainly talking about cancelling Christmas and restricting travel[/quote]
Fair enough but there will be those who would then think that was all China did and, next thing you know, some fool will be saying China got it under control and all they did was impose travel restrictions!

Others nodding sagely and passing it off as fact.

Rumour on political twitter (tweet seems legit although questions have been raised):

BREAKING: Christmas cancelled for London, South East and East, as areas moved into new Tier 4 with “stay at home” message by law. Christmas bubbles only allowed for Tiers 1 - 3 on Xmas Day with “stay local message”. International travel not advised. Latest plan.
@cazjwheeler

Unclear whether all of East/South East will be in Tier 4, and whether this effectively cancels Xmas travel for everyone else...

@Taystee29

You can't ban travel out of areas !! Are there going to be police at every train station and motorway exit ? They can advise against it but no more. This isn't North Korea ffs, why would we let people control us this way ?!

Very easy you just tell the railways not to run, and closing a motorway only takes a couple of cops and a stinger.

@Unsure33

Its because they have had updated news on results from Porton down on the new mutation

What do you expect them to do ignore it ?

In that case I am going to imagine that they have found the new mutation to cause the virus to spread more but be less dangerous.

Good news everyone Boris is going to tell us everything will be going back to normal in January. The bloody awful pandemic is over.

We got just under two hours to try and wish that to happen. If it doesn't work nothing lost but if it works yay we did it! Of course that does mean those that say everyone on mumsnet is a witch would be right. Think I can live with that.

@DailyPotion

The guidance only minimises risk that’s all . It can never protect you 100%.

My neice was working in a covid safe office. This week 50 % went down with covid and she took it home . Now whole family have it.

@QueenStromba

There would probably have to be a lot of unpicking of the data to be certain as to what effect the new strain has on reinfection so I doubt they're announcing anything on that front although it's possible that Porton Down have some data from cell studies

IMO findings from cell culture are simply not generalisable to a human pandemic in this context. Wet lab research is useful, but can't be used to inform modelling on how infections will progress

I think a lot of people are under family pressure to meet and would welcome it being cancelled tbh

Please yes to this ^

@Chaotic45 yes I hope the oxford one is ready soon

I had Covid in March as did dp. Turns out both dc must have had it as they have been at university, all their friends had it and they didn't get it so either had it asymptomatically or had it in first lockdown when we did.

We're (me and dp) in the government study and haven't had it again despite knowing people who have had it since

BBC News now reporting T4 expected for london and south east.

@SheilaWilcox

Well, what’s bunglecunt got to say now

No idea, but I'm going to add 'bunglecunt' to cockwomble and fuckwit on my list of favourite words!

Got to love a good fuckwit

@GabsAlot

travelling wasnt enforce dint he firs tlockdown and they wont be able to do it this time

They started to enforce it down here, the police were stopping cars. They were told to stop as it wasn't necessary. I think they did turn quite a lot of traffic on one of the bank holiday weekends. I don't think it is a case of can't such as won't.

The problem is, if you decide not to get control of the virus and keep it under control because it's too draconian then really the only option left is the one we now have. Rolling lockdowns with periods of slightly looser restrictions in the middle.

I think they might reduce it in England to 2 x households only, reduce the 5 day window to Christmas Day and Boxing Day and limit travel. I don't think they will cancel mixing altogether, but I think they will make it really tricky for those that are following the rules to do it.** In many ways it might a welcome relief for families who have agreed to mix but now feel concerned that they shouldn't be. Fingers crossed he turns up on time today!

T bloody 4

What’s that then

Tier

Lost the ability to type so annoyed

Some idiots have started having family visiting to stay over from today until after after Christmas.

I'm inclined to think it's more likely to be good news than bad, plus a request to not blow it now.

They won't change the Christmas rules now There'd be no point, plans are set and no PM in a democracy would risk the unpopularity for likely very little gain . They can't close transport, they'd effectively close the hospitals.

Well a ban on travel between tier 3 and 2 would mean not going to work. I live in tier 3 and work in tier 2.😆😆Not sure work will be too impressed.

I just know there's going to be another full lockdown in January ☹️

FFS WHY did the idiot PM ever promise a normal Christmas? Promising low and anything else is a bonus is a much better tactic than promising high and every single time having to climb down at the last minute.

The problem with Boris is that he wants too much to be liked.

I am hoping the outcome is severe lockdown on the 28th rather than changing rules now so quickly.

The problem if they change the Xmas plans rules is that I think there is more incentive for people to break them because a lot of people have been holding out for them.

And there is no point making rules people are more likely to break

@SantasBritchesSpelleas

There wasn't all this hoo-ha when rates in the north of England were up in the 400s and more.

Our rates are really low now, but because London's rates have gone up we're all expected to panic.

Glad I'm not the only one who was pissed off at this. When Andy Burnham was stamping his feet demanding more support he was pretty much told to shut up and go away, there is no money in the pot, there's a pandemic on. London gets closed down and all those little businesses need support, you know...