Full lockdown from Boxing Day?

[FedUpOfAllThis]

Does anyone else think this is what will be announced?

WTF is this new South African variant

@IceDiscoSkater

WTF is this new South African variant

This is quite terrifying.

@52andblue I said the same.

😩WTF is this new South African variant 😩 This is quite terrifying.😩

Is it? Genuine question, as from what many scientists are saying about the previous new strain it will still be combats by the vaccine. Also, we know viruses mutate, so this is expected surely?

@MummaBear4321

😩WTF is this new South African variant 😩 This is quite terrifying.😩

Is it? Genuine question, as from what many scientists are saying about the previous new strain it will still be combats by the vaccine. Also, we know viruses mutate, so this is expected surely?

They knew about the second strain in September but didn't act until 3 days ago

They learnt about the SA strain days ago and are asking everyone who has been to SA and contacts of everyone who has been to SA to isolate alone immediately.

A very very stark difference to how they handled the second strain.

Dear god, remember the happy days when we thought this would be over by September?

I much prefer Matt to Bojo, he can’t string a clear sentence together

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz that's the bit I'm scared of - the way they are reacting to this new strain from South Africa - it is a very stark difference.

More of the east and south east of England will enter toughest tier four on Boxing Day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces

Areas escalated to tier four include Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

@november90 it doesn't seem as if Lancashire is currently affected, it's more areas in the South East

Isnt reacting to a new strain like this not just common sense? It could be combatted by the vaccine, then again it may not, so erring on the side of caution is a good thing. It doesnt necessarily mean it's a disaster. It just means they are taking it seriously which they should be until we know more.

@daisychain01

More of the east and south east of England will enter toughest tier four on Boxing Day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announces

Areas escalated to tier four include Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

There's more though:

These are the areas which come under Tier 4 on Boxing Day; Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, those parts in Essex not already in Tier 4, Waverley in Surrey, and Hampshire - including Portsmouth and Southampton but with the exception of the New Forest

The SA strain is worse for younger people they think. Which means a MUCH bigger hit to numbers of hospitalised but significantly, to the economy.

It is also VERY VERY serious for the majority world. Africa has something like 3% older people compared to almost ten times that in Western countries. Which is why Africa wasn't suffering. If this affects younger people, the majority world is screwed.

Not entirely sure how you can say Africa wasn't suffering, South Africa had brutal lock downs throughout the year, banned all travel, alcohol sales etc.

@teenyweenycurlywurly

My quote above (from the BBC website) did say Areas escalated to tier four include ... so I know it wasn't a complete list.

@daisychain01 no worries - just trying to make sure everyone saw the full list

Almost relieved to be shut in the house for the next few days before I need to go back to work (DH isolating and don't feel the need to go out right now!).

[quote teenyweenycurlywurly]@daisychain01 no worries - just trying to make sure everyone saw the full list [/quote]
@teenyweenycurlywurly in that case you forgot Warrington and parts of Cheshire.

Tier 4 here I come. Londoners with second homes will be stuck between a rock and a hard place now 😂

@SwankySharky

Not entirely sure how you can say Africa wasn't suffering, South Africa had brutal lock downs throughout the year, banned all travel, alcohol sales etc.

I didn't say SA wasn't suffering, I said Africa wasn't suffering. OK not entirely true but COVID was significantly less of a risk than diarrhea, AIDS, malaria, TB, general lower respiratory illnesses, dengue. All of which kill children.

The majority world was doing better than us for many reasons. They may not now.

@LivinLaVidaLoki thank you yes I did

I'm in Wales and we had about 6 hours notice on Saturday about this current all Wales lockdown. It's shit but heyho, I'm at home with my family and we have turkey, trimmings and wine.

"majority world"?

@Justiceisblind

"majority world"?

www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/01/04/372684438/if-you-shouldnt-call-it-the-third-world-what-should-you-call-it

I fucking hate 'Third World'. Developing isn't true and implies we are something to aim for. Majority covers it.

Londoners with second homes will be stuck between a rock and a hard place now

Very few people then. Londoners are locked out of the market, struggling to buy their first house, let alone a second. God I'm fed up with the misdirected and inaccurate digs at London for... precisely no reason at all.

@LivinLaVidaLoki actually, just checked - warrington and parts of Cheshire are going into tier 3, not tier 4, so mine was the full list.