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Original poster

Second new variant identified

138 replies

Coolieloach · 23/12/2020 15:16

Just listening to Matt Hancock- I second mutation brought in from South Africa- I honestly didn’t think it could get any worse 😬

OP posts:
onlyreadingneverposting8 · 23/12/2020 16:45

We have now banned arrivals form SA - it's just in sky news as Breaking.

CleverCatty · 23/12/2020 16:46

I heard about this a couple of days ago - can't think where from but definitely was hearing about it on Monday.

Moondust001 · 23/12/2020 16:46

@UncomfortableSilence

Thank you. It was a shock yes. Even after 4 weeks in an induced coma we thought he would recover. It wasn't to be. It's tragic. Every death is tragic. But in my pre-arthritic days I spent decades working in war zones and other areas experiencing natural or medical disasters. In that, stoicism is the only way you stay sane. All loss of life is tragic, especially in the young. Regrettably there is a lot of it in the world, and so much of it preventable... I might hope that when this is over we might have more sympathy for others who live like this all their lives. Do you know how long it took to develop malaria vaccines (and work is still ongoing with that)? Malaria kills more people - including many children - every single year.

My wish for 2021 is that we become more understanding, more compassionate, and do something about the way others must experience the world. But I doubt I'll get it. I may be too cynical, but I think most people will simply go "wow, dodged a bullet there..." and forget that in some parts of the world the prospect of death for them and their children is a real and ever present danger.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 23/12/2020 16:47

I just get the impression they say this about the new variants etc to make people comply with the restrictions even more and make changing tiers more palatable.

I think that, too.

This government has a lot to answer for, and knows that one day there will be an accounting. Keep people scared, and it will put it off.

willsantausesantatize · 23/12/2020 16:50

It's hard to know what to think isn't it , but everyday just brings more bad news it seems.
Have to try and stay positive but it's not always easy.

VaTeLaverLesMains · 23/12/2020 16:50

Am i alone on this thread not being reassured by moondust? Have they got a relevant medical or scientific background? *
*
I thought the rapidly increased rate of hospital admissions and cases for the new strain at the press conference were impressive and concerning.

One of the graphs was heading towards the vertical in the hockey stick out of control pattern .

The government scientific advisors seem to agree.

I would think there's a good chance of the NHS becoming overwhelmed by this if people don't take the restrictions seriously.

This could have a catastrophic effect in survival rates of covid and non Covid disease as people cannot access basic care.

False reassurance is dangerous if it means people won't follow rules.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/12/2020 16:51

I don't think governments have a great interest in the truth, only in themselves

Accurately put, moondust, though actually I think Hancock's given himself away this time
Even among non-scientists, there can't be many left by now who don't realise viruses mutate, so "jumping the shark" comes to mind with his obvious attempt to prevent mixing over Christmas

VaTeLaverLesMains · 23/12/2020 16:51

Ok I see you have a medical background moondust. I am still not reassured.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 23/12/2020 16:52

How come the only thing it turns out we truly are world beating is something that causes us more stress.

Finding new mutations.

Would be funny if it wasn't all so bloody miserable.

EasterIssland · 23/12/2020 16:54

@onlyreadingneverposting8

We have now banned arrivals form SA - it's just in sky news as Breaking.
Don’t think they’re banned but requested to self isolate. Same as If you were coming from other countries. But those that have had contact with people coming back from SA need to self isolate which doesn’t happen for other countries
MarylinMonrue · 23/12/2020 16:55

We have banned flights from SA.

MarshaBradyo · 23/12/2020 16:56

Yes now. But like a pp the strain has been talked about previously.

What’s the timeline anyone know

Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/12/2020 16:57

This government has a lot to answer for, and knows that one day there will be an accounting. Keep people scared, and it will put it off

That may well be the whole point, in light of the panic they've created ... they'll be gone long before there's any chance of that "accounting"

MarshaBradyo · 23/12/2020 16:58

I don’t agree this is self interest

The lines are vertical here. It’s clear there is accelerated growth

We’ve moved from moderate conference to almost certain based on data

VaTeLaverLesMains · 23/12/2020 16:58

I totally agree the NHS is underfunded, understaffed and lacks inpatient beds compared to comparable countries but that can't be fixed now.

Due to covid there are fewer staff, fewer beds (social distancing) and it can only be protected by trying to stop spread with severe measures.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 23/12/2020 16:59

@Mooddust001 - thank you so much. Your posts are so pragmatic and calming, but without offering ridiculous false hopes (which in its way is just as bad as catastrophizing.

I think we all feel so depressed and isolated that we have lost the ability to look as things critically, but with an unjaundiced eye.

Only this morning I reminded myself how lucky most of us are, even at this dreadful time, compared to many. Of course we miss our families; of course we are champing at the bit to just go out and have a cuppa and a really good natter; of course we long to have a holiday - but most of us are safe, fed and warm - just lonely.

What we should be doing is trying to support people less well off than ourselves - all charities have suffered horribly this year because they have been unable to fundraise, for instance; women and children (and animals) trapped in violent households need help more than ever before; there has been a big increase in people living on the streets; people in famine areas are even worse hit than previously. Perhaps we can offer something to help them?

VaTeLaverLesMains · 23/12/2020 16:59

Marsha I agree. That graph heading towards the vertical at this time of year was the worst I've seen since it all started.

christinarossetti19 · 23/12/2020 17:02

Thank you Moondust001.

And I'm very sorry to hear about your friend.

EasterIssland · 23/12/2020 17:03

@MarylinMonrue

We have banned flights from SA.
Do you have a link ?
Flaxmeadow · 23/12/2020 17:03

Possibly because only one government in the world has an idiot who goes on international television to say that they have a new strain of the virus and it is "dangerously out of control"? The travel bans are already beginning to lift as people elsewhere realise this isn't the announcement of the apocalypse, just an idiot getting it out of proportion again. Like I said, be cautious, don't be hysterical. If you tell people you've discovered something dangerously out of control, don't be surprised that people stand back!

No one is being hysterical but this particular recent mutation (UK) is significant.

The daily rates of infection, hospital patients and deaths this week are "dangerous" and rising steeply. Matt Hacncock is right, it is not under control. Have you seen the numbers this week, and today?

And to be fair, you yourself are using these developments for your own political reasons in this thread

VaTeLaverLesMains · 23/12/2020 17:03

Btw 'hysterical' is a nasty word, used against women historically even at times to justify locking them up. It derives from the word for womb.

Flaxmeadow · 23/12/2020 17:04

That was a reply to Moondust

Neron · 23/12/2020 17:06

Excellent, sensible posts above. So good to see it, amongst all the unnecessary hysteria.

The government is much more dangerous than any virus
Quite. Also far luckier than a lot of the population when they've still be able to enjoy their monthly, substantial pay check.

MarshaBradyo · 23/12/2020 17:09

But the new strain has accelerated?

So whatever issue we had before with hospitalisation has increased?

It’s not said to be more virulent (fingers crossed for less) but we still have a numbers issue don’t we