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!

In that case, just get bloody Bolton jabbed. Divert them from places where cases are fuck all to non existent and just get these places done!

Everyone knows the kind of towns where this is still a problem. Just get it done!

Just realised I said exactly the same as you @NotBot.

FGS, if we can see it why can't those in charge?

Unless they're worrying about the people in places with low infection rates whinging it's not fair?

Why should people in the sw who are older be unprotected though as people still travel across the uk and with half term soon thousands upon thousands will be heading to SW

So some in 40's are still waiting in SW and someone younger technically less risk
The important thing is to identify cases and make sure those people isolate to limit the spread

As the vaccine is about 80% effective, we need high vaccination PLUS low cases.

Another post showed couple areas that had drop in clincs running today

I'm in Greater Manchester, not far from Bolton, and we had it particularly tough last summer/autumn with regard restrictions. Bolton worst of all.

While on the one hand I think it should be legally permissable to do local lockdowns, the truth is in Bolton they never really worked and just pissed off the compliant people who felt they were in restrictions for longer because of a non-compliant few (not saying that's true, but it's the general sentiment). However looking at the numbers up there the last week or so, its bloody worrying and there's signs it might be spreading across GM (too early to be sure). Clearly they need to do something. The best thing I can think of is some kind of mass vaccination effort for everyone 16+ which is what Andy Burnham is pushing for. Apparently government have said no to this so far. I really hope they reconsider.

As long as the main restrictions ease next week I think I could live with a delay to the absolute end of it tbh, just while they vaccinate all the young adults.

[quote Flev]@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.[/quote]
When you say measures, I assume bubbles closing - anything else been happening? I hope Erewash gets it sorted.

@picturesandpickles

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.

This. We’ve come so far, to me it makes so much more sense to keep these basic things in place for a bit longer to see how the new variant plays out.

[quote Flev]@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.[/quote]
That's interesting, thanks for that @Flev!
Bolton's graph is rising sharply and in a very similar way, under 60's rising sharply, over 60's rising but very slowly.
I wonder if it's a similar scenario there?

Fingers crossed that the measure do work and the figures turn soon.

You can't have it both ways though as we have lower numbers in the SW then should we open and elsewhere keep restrictions with no travel to lower areas , so back to tiers which people disliked
If people want jabs diverted due to lower numbers then surely that applies to opening?
On another thread someone near bolton said there was some walk in vaccines available today, so hopefully more received vaccinations, but we need to bare in mind these take a few weeks to take effect.
What we should be doing is banning travel from elsewhere as I don't see why I can't go and sit in my parents if people can sit with 200 others on a plane , especially as both are vaccinated and I have had one vaccination

It’s worrying. I do think they should be prioritizing vaccinating everyone in the higher rate areas. The same way they have targeted mobile testing centers.

On a very selfish level though, I bloody hope the hotels open next week! We are having a weekend away soon and I bloody need it. I’m a nurse who has worked frontline through covid and right now, I need a break😩

@Frazzled2207

I'm in Greater Manchester, not far from Bolton, and we had it particularly tough last summer/autumn with regard restrictions. Bolton worst of all.

While on the one hand I think it should be legally permissable to do local lockdowns, the truth is in Bolton they never really worked and just pissed off the compliant people who felt they were in restrictions for longer because of a non-compliant few (not saying that's true, but it's the general sentiment). However looking at the numbers up there the last week or so, its bloody worrying and there's signs it might be spreading across GM (too early to be sure). Clearly they need to do something. The best thing I can think of is some kind of mass vaccination effort for everyone 16+ which is what Andy Burnham is pushing for. Apparently government have said no to this so far. I really hope they reconsider.

As long as the main restrictions ease next week I think I could live with a delay to the absolute end of it tbh, just while they vaccinate all the young adults.

We’re Manchester too. Haven’t seen family for over a year now and dying to make the trip a few hours drive for overnight stays in the next couple of weeks. If they insist on putting the whole of GM in local lockdown again before this happens I think it will break me and as our area has always been lower, for the first time I won’t be sticking to it. Absolutely no chance.

@Frazzled2207

I'm in Greater Manchester, not far from Bolton, and we had it particularly tough last summer/autumn with regard restrictions. Bolton worst of all.

While on the one hand I think it should be legally permissable to do local lockdowns, the truth is in Bolton they never really worked and just pissed off the compliant people who felt they were in restrictions for longer because of a non-compliant few (not saying that's true, but it's the general sentiment). However looking at the numbers up there the last week or so, its bloody worrying and there's signs it might be spreading across GM (too early to be sure). Clearly they need to do something. The best thing I can think of is some kind of mass vaccination effort for everyone 16+ which is what Andy Burnham is pushing for. Apparently government have said no to this so far. I really hope they reconsider.

As long as the main restrictions ease next week I think I could live with a delay to the absolute end of it tbh, just while they vaccinate all the young adults.

Im currently in a town close by and there has been an outbreak here at the job centre. 11 staff infected and countless clients. Gov still forcing face to face interviews when staff have advised things were running more than eficiently over video calls:(

Im a bit fed up of the NW to be honest, however awful that sounds.
Local paper comments are heaving with covid deniers and anti vacs crap.

Its like there's no hope. I am moving to another part of the country soon and only hope nothing is worse than the idiocy I have seen around me here.

And to a previous poster, I would advise avoiding both right and left wing news sources.
it is a pity, in the uk, we have no unbiased news sources.

both are utterly uninformative, divisive and vile.

Who has got more chance of catching covid? A 25 year old in Bolton with 150 cases per 100,000 or a 35 year old in Devon with 10 cases per 100,000. Neither are high risk for covid. But the 35 year old has far less risk of catching it & spreading it than the 25 year old. The vaccines cut transmission by at least 50%. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Seems a no brainer. They can still continue to vaccinate across the country, I’m not saying stop all vaccines everywhere but rather just send more to the hotspots.

The best thing I can think of is some kind of mass vaccination effort for everyone 16+

I agree with this. A targeted approach. Lockdowns just aren’t going to work in these areas. We have the same issue on Ireland with one county in particular and the only thing for it is to pump out the vaccines here ASAP.

The vaccination rollout is already being ramped up - people can just turn up for a jab at Bolton's mobile vaccine bus.

I don't think they will delay opening up on Monday. I think there's a chance of the tier system coming back if things are seeming to get out of hand in certain areas, and travel will continue to be tricky - other countries might decide they don't want us visiting - I saw something saying we have the most cases of the Indian variant in Europe, which doesn't really surprise me. It's incredibly frustrating how slow the government were to close borders with India.

I also saw a schools week article saying that they might bring face masks back in secondary schools on a case by case basis, which would seem to make sense in areas of high transmission (I think they should still allow any pupil that wants to wear one to do so regardless of local transmission tbh). I think all we can do as individuals is be as careful as possible not to catch or spread it. We're being careful and using the lateral flow tests twice a week too.

I doubt Monday will be delayed

The rest who knows, I’m not really up to speed with all the variables for it

@NotBot what about in 2 weeks time when thousands flock to devon and bring variants then ? Thats the issue

@LetSophieGo Im currently out if work and claiming universal credit and out job centre still not open and haven't had to attend an appt at all recently ?

@HesterShaw1

What is the fucking point of vaccines?

How can ANY business operate under this uncertainty?

This. It makes me angry and furious in equal measures.

Sorry furious and depressed

@TruelyWonder

The vaccination rollout is already being ramped up - people can just turn up for a jab at Bolton's mobile vaccine bus.

only if they are 40+.Or possibly 38+ from tomorrow. The outbreak is being driven by the under 40s.