Stop panicking about variants says top expert

[CottageGardener]

People need to "stop panicking" every time a new coronavirus variant is identified in the UK, a leading scientist has said, amid concern about the growing number of cases of the Indian variant.

Professor Robert Dingwall, who is a member of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said that while the Indian variant may be capable of becoming the dominant variant in the UK, the risk of a surge in deaths or hospital admissions remains low.

Prof Dingwall, of the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University, told the PA news agency: "This variant seems to be better managed by the vaccines than the South African variant so that vaccinated people have only a very low risk of infection that is likely to be mild."

Source: BBC news

He's a fucking sociologist (so not even a real scientist, never mind one with medical training). His views on viruses are worth as much as Jeremy Clarkson's input on breastfeeding.

So why are the gov going to redirect vaccines and possibly continue restrictions in those areas. So many deluded people. Of course it's an issue. Wake up. Just watch and see. Although, people will still deny the facts because some seem incapable of learning from what has gone before.

Why do you think it's getting increased exposure in the news? They are warming us up to the idea as usual. They know most can't handle the facts. The gov know the outcome of the sage meeting. Hence the increased presence in the news and talk of not ruling out lockdowns and increasing testing and vaccines. To say it is not a significant issue is completely deluded. They know one shot of vaccine isn't protective enough so they are looking expedite 2.

This whole topic reminds me of flat earthers.

WHO have also said the vaccine works with this variant but it seems some people only listen to WHO when they have bad news.
It also seems some people are rather revelling in all this (and I suppose they can afford to if their job/livelihood/house etc is not on the line).

That is exactly the issue. People direct all their energy shooting the messenger...rather than focusing on positive solutions.

People complain bitterly about restrictions on mn but when it comes to LFT etc, they don't want to do that! Ridiculous.

@savethegrannies

WHO have also said the vaccine works with this variant but it seems some people only listen to WHO when they have bad news. It also seems some people are rather revelling in all this (and I suppose they can afford to if their job/livelihood/house etc is not on the line).

"Works" is along a continuum dependent on many factors. 2 doses will give better protection hence why the gov is looking into it. Just arguing with facts for the sake of it is a waste of energy.

Oh come on! We are talking hospitalisations and deaths here. It works in terms of stopping those so it works, end of.
We can't keep moving the bleeding goalposts here or we may as well just all hide away for good.

@savethegrannies

Oh come on! We are talking hospitalisations and deaths here. It works in terms of stopping those so it works, end of. We can't keep moving the bleeding goalposts here or we may as well just all hide away for good.

If we have to move the goal posts then we have to...its called adapting and learning. Doesn't matter if we want to or not.

Actually, partial protection can cause more issues as the virus will be forced to mutate in order to overcome the obstacles. That's why the roadmap needs to be delayed, until we have as much vaccine protection as we can get.

I do think people panic on here and stirred by media too much

But I’m fine with level of monitoring all the scientists and regulatory bodies give to variants and with their assessment of data to decide what to do next.

We were never told we were going for zero covid. Now agitators in Sage are trying to sneak it in through the back door.
They can fuck right off.

It's not panic. I'm not panicked. I am unbelievably frustrated at the repeated stupidity shown in response to covid. This doesn't have to be such a mess. People sticking their head in sand, not testing and ignoring social distancing etc, this will go on and on and on.

'He's a fucking sociologist'

Er, I'd say he has acquired some very interesting experience and knowledge over the course of his career. This isn't Steve from Facebook.

www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/social-sciences/robert-dingwall

@savethegrannies

We were never told we were going for zero covid. Now agitators in Sage are trying to sneak it in through the back door. They can fuck right off.

You are so misinformed.

@SonnetForSpring

It's not panic. I'm not panicked. I am unbelievably frustrated at the repeated stupidity shown in response to covid. This doesn't have to be such a mess. People sticking their head in sand, not testing and ignoring social distancing etc, this will go on and on and on.

There are many experts looking at this with full data.

What would you do?

@savethegrannies

WHO have also said the vaccine works with this variant but it seems some people only listen to WHO when they have bad news. It also seems some people are rather revelling in all this (and I suppose they can afford to if their job/livelihood/house etc is not on the line).

Because you don't seem to have a grasp of any of the concepts involved here, a vaccine technically "works" if it stops 1% fewer people contracting a symptomatic disease.

Of course, if you can point to a piece of evidence that shows the vaccine works just as well against the Indian variant.....

@SonnetForSpring

Actually, partial protection can cause more issues as the virus will be forced to mutate in order to overcome the obstacles. That's why the roadmap needs to be delayed, until we have as much vaccine protection as we can get.

Monday or June?

You need to look at four conditions

If they’re not met then June 21 will be looked at

Marsha, people just need to be aware. Keep doing the precautions. Keep testing. Keep trying to reduce transmission. Not just think oh wonderful, on monday we are free and everything is good to go.

[quote FreyaFolkvangr]'He's a fucking sociologist'

Er, I'd say he has acquired some very interesting experience and knowledge over the course of his career. This isn't Steve from Facebook.

www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/social-sciences/robert-dingwall[/quote]
He's mouthing off about something that even the top global experts still admit they don't have enough data to know.

So how is he different from Steve from Facebook?

Universities going back face to face is insanity.

a real scientist....with medical training here. He's correct. There is no evidence whatsoever that this or any other variant evades the vaccines available. It is more easily transmitted that some previous strains, but even that is a bit of a "finger in the wind" thing, because comparing conditions in India to those in the UK is like comparing Earth to Mars.

There appears to be a train of Mumsnet thought that I really do not come across in any aspect of real life, where people seem to be enjoying living in a state of hysteria conducted from their living rooms because they have no intention of ever going to the shops, on holiday, or engaging with any form of real life ever again. They are therefore willing to jump on every doomsayer bandwagon and accuse anyone with rational thought processes of being flat-earthers or anti-vaxxers. Just because the vast majority of people want to get back to normal, whether or not they fully understand the imperatives for that, does not make them less intelligent than you. It makes them probably less entitled and almost certainly less irrational.

Most people cannot afford to spend their lives working from home and doing nothing with their lives. Most people don't even want to.

Sonnet I reckon that’s why we are getting messages about anxious over variant.

It’s what is being asked for atm by MPs - test and isolate. Particularly surge testing.

@Moondust001

a real scientist....with medical training here. He's correct. There is no evidence whatsoever that this or any other variant evades the vaccines available. It is more easily transmitted that some previous strains, but even that is a bit of a "finger in the wind" thing, because comparing conditions in India to those in the UK is like comparing Earth to Mars.

There appears to be a train of Mumsnet thought that I really do not come across in any aspect of real life, where people seem to be enjoying living in a state of hysteria conducted from their living rooms because they have no intention of ever going to the shops, on holiday, or engaging with any form of real life ever again. They are therefore willing to jump on every doomsayer bandwagon and accuse anyone with rational thought processes of being flat-earthers or anti-vaxxers. Just because the vast majority of people want to get back to normal, whether or not they fully understand the imperatives for that, does not make them less intelligent than you. It makes them probably less entitled and almost certainly less irrational.

Most people cannot afford to spend their lives working from home and doing nothing with their lives. Most people don't even want to.

None of that holds. This variant is outcompeting the kent variant. Keep spouting the same arguments. It won't change the trajectory.