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Covid

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Original poster

Is the new variant just a scapegoat?

55 replies

Forgetmenot157 · 04/01/2021 08:13

Just that really?

Is the new variant really that big of a deal, or are the government using it to cover up the fact they royally fucked up planning for winter?

Just seems odd that out of the thousands of variants around the world one emerged here just in time for Boris to say that it was to blame for shocking winter figures (that we all knew we're coming anyway)

OP posts:

midnightstar66 · 04/01/2021 08:15

I agree you're probably right but he'll just keep blindly repeating the same thing til the cows come home and eventually everyone will accept it

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:16

No it is a big deal

Plus you can see older variant still reduces in tier 4 but not new one

MadameBlobby · 04/01/2021 08:17

I’m pretty cynical about it myself tbh. What a coincidence that it’s been around since September but only just started causing a problem prior to the stupidest Christmas plans imaginable and the government fucking everything up.

AxMan76 · 04/01/2021 08:21

What about all the other countries where the new strain is now present?

LizzieMacQueen · 04/01/2021 08:21

And so much better if we can blame a foreign based variant (south Africa). BTW how are other countries viewing us now? Remember they all closed rank when the Kent variant was first talked about.

CrunchyCarrot · 04/01/2021 08:21

It is a big deal, because transmission is increased, which means more people getting sick and over-stretching the NHS.

Yes it's been around since September but has taken some months to become the established dominant strain. It's unfortunate this has come to fruition in our winter, and of course the Christmas 'easing' of restrictions was a really stupid move, imo.

6heartsforhumphrey · 04/01/2021 08:22

I believe it. We had low level cases here for months and then ended up being in the top 10 for case rates in the country in December

Either everyone started acting with reckless abandon at the end of November, or the virus became more transmissible, I'm going with the latter.

FuzzyPuffling · 04/01/2021 08:23

No.

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:23

We went from 100 to 750 plus in a couple of weeks even in tier 4 no Christmas mixing.

It’s easy to see on the charts when it hits

2typesofjungle · 04/01/2021 08:24

The government can't organise a piss up in a brewery, but you think they could produce a cover up of that scale? Get real, proper, professional scientists to go on the radio and talk about what a danger the new strain is when it doesn't exist or isn't really a problem?
No.
I think it's more likely that the new strain has been around since September but it takes time to establish and to find it and follow its spread.

DrunkenKoala · 04/01/2021 08:26

It’s real alright. I’m in North Kent, we went into Nov lockdown and our numbers kept climbing whilst the rest of the country’s were falling. By mid Nov secondary schools were closing because they were running out of staff. By the end of lockdown our numbers were stabilising but then started going up again. I know so many people that have had it’s been horrible. Luckily our numbers are now starting to come down now.

jasjas1973 · 04/01/2021 08:31

@MarshaBradyo

No it is a big deal

Plus you can see older variant still reduces in tier 4 but not new one

Thats the point, this is what they are telling us......

There is a new strain, found in other countries too but (so far) only the UK is having these very high infection and hospitalisation rates.

Over the last few days, we had the govt saying there is a vaccine shortage (inc the CMO) yet the manufacturers are saying the exact opposite, Trying to hide the fact they didn't prepare for this vaccine roll out? asking former HCPs to fill out 21 forms...... inc one on fire training!

I wouldn't put it past this Govt to say anything to excuse their handling to the pandemic.

CherryRoulade · 04/01/2021 08:32

It’s real. Completely changed the modelling for Covid19. We should be coming close to community peak but now numbers are continuing to rise exponentially.
There has been poor responses because of government mandates but this variant has created much quicker and wider spread of the virus and more young people are being affected.

More silent hypoxia too - where people feel flu like and are coping at home but test their blood oxygen and it’s very low. Invest in a cheap oximeter for your medicine box.

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:33

JasJas watch the science committee if you need scientific back up.

It is from data there. It’s useful. If you still doubt that’s your call not my issue but watch it first.

Where are you btw in country? Still low numbers?

CherryRoulade · 04/01/2021 08:33

The vaccine roll out delays are government led. Manufacturing is just fine. Staffing of vaccination ok but not enough reaching GP practices.

jasjas1973 · 04/01/2021 08:40

Marsha As i said the UK is undergoing a super hi infection rate, together with hospitalisations.

My point (badly made) is, is the govt using this to excuse their poor handling?

As for scientists backing up the Govt, they rolled them all out to support the govts claim that there is a vaccine shortage.

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:40

@CherryRoulade

The vaccine roll out delays are government led. Manufacturing is just fine. Staffing of vaccination ok but not enough reaching GP practices.

Cherry what’s slowing it down? Do you mean it’s ready but it’s down to slow delivery?

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:41

@jasjas1973

Marsha As i said the UK is undergoing a super hi infection rate, together with hospitalisations.

My point (badly made) is, is the govt using this to excuse their poor handling?

As for scientists backing up the Govt, they rolled them all out to support the govts claim that there is a vaccine shortage.

No they are not. It’s easy to see strain on charts.

But I can’t repeat all the data - watch scientists and if you don’t trust them I can’t persuade you and don’t have the desire to.

RedToothBrush · 04/01/2021 08:41

No.

But they also fucked up planning for winter.

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2021 08:45

Google Science and Technology Committee December

MPs asking various scientists questions on new strain, not the all usual public eye ones but overview of data

MadameBlobby · 04/01/2021 08:50

More transmissible or not it still needs hosts. If people were staying at home then it wouldn’t be getting to spread. I’d love to know how much is it spreading in hospitals.

Bikingbear · 04/01/2021 08:50

No it's a more spready strain that they are now saying came from the US but was picked up here because of the testing

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/01/2021 08:52

@CrunchyCarrot

It is a big deal, because transmission is increased, which means more people getting sick and over-stretching the NHS.

This exactly. Covid19 had been around a lot longer than we think. I read an article somewhere that traces were found in the water supply (from that I imagine sewage) in Italy from iirc September 2019.

MadameBlobby · 04/01/2021 08:55

To be clear I don’t think it’s “just” a scraper, but it’s certainly worked out convenient in terms of government arse covering.

BunsyGirl · 04/01/2021 08:56

I live in “eye of the storm” Essex. My DCs go to a private school with lots of Covid mitigations. There was one case all term and then, all of a sudden, five cases in the last week of term (including three teachers). I also know of parents who became ill that same week. I 100% believe that the new strain is more transmissible.

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