Indian variant - will the roadmap be delayed?

[nonono1]

I was feeling very hopeful about the future until reading that the Indian variant is now spreading fast in some communities.

In light of this, do you think we will stick to the roadmap as planned, or will restrictions be kept in place for longer? It seems like we're still going ahead with the big opening up on Monday.

Also, what about weddings? My SIL is getting married in August and we're really hoping it will still go ahead!

No chance that the government will put off the plans to open up on Monday. Zero. Whether they end up regretting that in a few weeks time remains to be seen

Not a clue what will be happening in August, but fingers crossed for you and her!

June 21st possibly delayed but I don't see any way they could delay May 17th now, and even if they did I'm not sure anyone would listen.

Next steps will tell a lot, whether the full resumption of normality happens after 17th of June or not, only time will tell.

Keep an eye on hospital admission numbers.

Well this means we will never leave this stupid circle. 95 % of vulnerable are vaccinated. Anti virals are coming. What else could be done? Enough is enough!

I certainly don't think this is the end. Boris was much less gun ho about the "irreversible" claim. I'm sure they will go ahead with Monday. See what happens to the numbers and then bring back restrictions as required.

Do the vaccines work against the Indian one? My sister has just called to say they've set up a mobile testing centre as they've got it in her postcode.

Monday better well open up. I’ve taken a week off work and we are taking my disabled mother away for a mini break to our favourite hotel.

I do think though that we are being prepared for continuing restrictions past June 21.

I hope not, we've got a hotel night away next week and I cannot wait. However, that frivolous wish aside, I hope this new strain doesn't cause another wave, it would be absolutely awful. The scenes coming out of India are pretty frightening, lots of young people seem to be affected and these are the groups that haven't been vaccinated over here yet, so I'm hoping it doesn't get a proper foothold.

I think we are more likely to open up for two weeks then have a grave press briefing about tiers being reintroduced in certain places.

I understand that the vaccines are thought to be effective against the Indian strain. Case numbers don't appear to have risen sharply, though there are apparently steep rises in a few areas.

I hope that they proceed with caution, but I really don't want to delay the reopening of everything if we don't need to!

To be fair, rolling lock downs were predicted at the start of the pandemic and that is exactly what we are doing and will continue to do until at this rate.

What I've found reassuring to a degree is that in areas where cases are rising sharply EG Erewash which is number 1 for cases at the moment, the increase seems to be almost completely in the under 60 age group. Which surely shows that the vaccines are still working against this new variant..... I hope so anyway.

@GeorgeandHarold66 I live in that area, it's a massive outbreak at a secondary school and so far almost all cases are linked to that. The next couple of weeks will show if the measures put in place have stopped it spreading into the wider community.

I don't think anything will stop the roadmap, regardless of whether it's a good idea or not. It's definitely dates, not data. There's no way the govt will be proactive if rates rise.

The area with high rates causing the increase have been caused by people returning from India (according to newspaper) and they were picked up by the compulsory arrival testing. Assuming those people stuck to self quarantine there should not be an increase in the general population.

Pretty sure Mondays unlocking is firm but June 21st is more concerning. I have a trip with a gig booked for the 28th June!

Currently I think it is unlikely the road map will change. Never say never though

Also

I think the main scientific things we have learnt in the pandemic are:

Don't read the guardian newspaper

Don't pay any attention to the worst case scenario models produced by imperial college

Trial data is nothing compared to real world data

Don't listen to independent SAGE or any of their experts 😁

I don't think there will be any delays. Really noticed this week that colleagues at work pretty much ignoring company guidelines (mostly management) with lots going back to the office (London, city), having team meetings, ignoring social distancing etc . Oh and even travelling around the country to meet non London based teams. Please god the vaccines (especially AZ) hold up against the varients and vaccine roll out for under 40's speeds up.

Seems to me a subset of people.who want it delayed at any costs.

@minniemomo

The area with high rates causing the increase have been caused by people returning from India (according to newspaper) and they were picked up by the compulsory arrival testing. Assuming those people stuck to self quarantine there should not be an increase in the general population.

Pretty sure Mondays unlocking is firm but June 21st is more concerning. I have a trip with a gig booked for the 28th June!

Not true. It's community transmission also.

SAGE discussing it tomorrow as cases of the Indian variant have tripled in a week. Some worry about fully reopening in June.

More detail here: mobile.twitter.com/janemerrick23/status/1392550845795942400

Johnson incapable of learning it seems, always too slow to react, especially on borders

We need to get everyone vaccinated ASAP! Hopefully the AZ issue won't slow down getting the youngsters vaccinated - they are most likely to spread the virus as they are the "mixers" of society. That leads to more variants.

Seems to me a subset of people.who want it delayed at any costs. Some people only goal in life seems to be to take down this government. They blame absolutely everything on the government and if something is going well it is not because of the government. Delays would suit their narrative. So, yes ignore the Guardian and left leaning newspapers.

Personally if we have an increasing circulation of a concerning variant, I can't understand why the government are so keen to ditch the basics like face masks in schools, where we have such a big pool of unvaccinated people.

What is the fucking point of vaccines?

How can ANY business operate under this uncertainty?

@HesterShaw1 - problem is, not everyone has been offered a vaccine yet.. if it spreads a lot through the unvaccinated 20-40 year olds, it will reach the vulnerable. Vaccines are what, 70-90% effective so 10-30% of the vulnerable might get seriously ill & need hospital.. which could be a problem.

What I think they really need to do is ramp up vaccinating in areas with sharp increases in cases & the Indian variant. Divert vaccines from the SE & SW where there are very few cases & give them to areas that appear problematic.. open it up to anyone over 18 🤷🏼‍♀️