What is the latest in other countries

[Cantstandsmugness]

Really keen to get a true idea of what you can and cannot do all over the world. For examples can you attend
Cinemas
Eating out
Weddings
Travel
Sporting fixtures
Is there compulsory Mask wearing
Are we all getting there? Please mention the country.

@PuffinShop

Well, we'll see won't we. Certainly our epidemiologists disagree and they've done a better job than yours so far, haven't they?

Perhaps so, perhaps not. The data on the Delta variant is still very new and ever changing, so I suppose it’s a case of waiting to see what happens. Iceland is fortunate to have a tiny population so it’s a little like comparing apples and oranges in terms of response as a whole.

For your sakes let’s hope your epidemiologists have made a sound decision.

@NewLevelsOfTiredness

How does a person have a digital ID please?

Everyone here has a CPR nr. - essentially your registered person number. It's used for everything official. Certainly more than a British NI No. is used for.

A few years ago they introduced something called NemID, which was a little card with codes on it tied to your CPR No. It was initially used for banking then more and more things. Then it became an app on your phone (although the card is still an option.) So you have a centralised health account, an 'e-boks' account (essentially an official inbox where you get any official letters.) and you use the same app to authenticate to log in to all of it. Including the corona passport, corona test results etc.

It all works well and there's high trust in the government (whether it's red or blue in power at the time) not to abuse it.

A homeless person will know their CPR no. They don't really need anything else.

Thank you.

Exactly, and we'll continue to be apples and you'll continue to be oranges. So I don't know why you are judging us by what is happening in the UK. Our restrictions have never been as draconian as in the UK because they don't need to be.

@PuffinShop

Exactly, and we'll continue to be apples and you'll continue to be oranges. So I don't know why you are judging us by what is happening in the UK. Our restrictions have never been as draconian as in the UK because they don't need to be.

No judgment from me, just observations. 🕊

Italy.
Just this second booked dd's vaccine, booking opened today for 2001-2006 born.
Curfew is now midnight-5am but being lifted completely by end of June I think.
Not sure of the specific rules re weddings and parties but most of dd's year and the year above are catching up on their 18th birthday parties and we have a big family wedding next week.
Restaurants-we can eat inside now
Cinemas and gyms open
DD been out today and says the town is full of tourists.
Masks still compulsory in closed areas like shops and we've been wearing them in school.

@Thewiseoneincognito

I hope those of you with responsible proactive governments who acted fast to keep your infections low are able to keep the Delta variant out of your populations.

In the UK we have poor leadership and too many individuals who refuse to comply when asked to follow rules in order to help us keep numbers down.

When this is mixed with the Delta variant you have the perfect storm to cancel out lifting restrictions. Honestly it’s a nightmare. Keep your borders shut so none of us Brits can come and spread our fate in your countries.

The Delta variant is here in the US and being watched carefully. It is one of the reasons that Pfizer is being rolled out so quickly to 12-15 year olds.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/us-delta-variant/2021/06/08/15c10760-c86b-11eb-81b1-34796c7393af_story.html

I'm assuming population levels, especially in cities, and lifestyles will impact the spread and effect of the Delta variant in different countries.

The Delta variant is in Denmark too and watched carefully. It is something we have to consider, of course, but hospital admissions were at a total of 111 today, and testing is widespread. Test and trace system seems to work well.

@allManaskingforadvice Fri 11-Jun-21 05:00:10
Dubai in the UAE here.

The only real problem is we are still on the UK Government's red list. People here can't understand why. A major problem for the huge number of British people living here and missing family back home.

I seem to remember reading this is because people can use the UAE as a transit stop from red countries, but I don't know how true that is.

Very jealous of those in countries with sensible measures in place.

Unfortunately here in the UK our policy is to let it rip, and we're already starting to face the devastating consequences.

What's the rest of Australia like? We hear how well Australia has done (death rate wise), what's the infection rate like at present?

Australia - living in Tasmania

Over a year since the last case of COVID in Tasmania. Life is normal, some limits on large events including remaining seated at concerts. No masks, etc. School and work normal in person. Bars, restaurants, museums, etc all open.

Domestic travel is roaring, even with the risk of snap lockdowns. So far I've been to the Whitsundays, Darwin, The Kimberley, Darwin, and lots of travel in Tasmania (Cradle Mountain, Coles Bay, Bay of Fires, etc).

Our vaccine roll out is FINALLY ramping up; I'm 34 and getting my first Pfizer injection in 2 weeks (job has been included in current priority 1B).

@June2021 since the pandemic begun, 910 deaths, predominately 70+. 60 days since the last COVID death in Queensland (worst) and 426 days in South Australia (best).

Domestic travel is roaring here in the US too. Hotel bookings are through the roof and flight prices have gone up. It cost us $750 each to get to Chicago recently - usually you can do that for $200.

This is a really interesting thread - the media in Australia is showing a fairly bleak view of UK and US (in particular).

@ZZTopGuitarSolo, I feel you. I work in aviation so flights are fine, but accommodation is crazy. My friends and I rented a yacht in the Whitsundays and the total rate was about $8K more than pre-pandemic. Worth every cent. Hotels are pretty expensive too, especially in the key tourist regions, or even booking out.

Yes, loving the replies - the press are all doom and gloom, they don’t tell us the positive news! It’s so refreshing.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo

Domestic travel is roaring here in the US too. Hotel bookings are through the roof and flight prices have gone up. It cost us $750 each to get to Chicago recently - usually you can do that for $200.

ZZ what’s your border control atm?

And do you have Delta variant? (May have missed in pp)

A couple of months ago I was hearing all the time about how UK being quick on vaccines would mean we were all free while Europe was still locked down and suffering.

Seems like out government has let us down...again.

MarshaBradyo we still have a pretty long list of countries that we're not allowing people to come in from unless they're an in an excepted category. Schengen, UK, Ireland, Brazil, Iran, India, South Africa and China. Effectively what that means is no tourists and no one coming in to do things like visit family.

Tourists can come in if they travel via an accepted country and spend 14 days there before arriving in the US. So you can fly to Mexico, stay there 14 days, then fly to the US. This is something my parents may consider...

We do have the Delta variant and a lot of our current planning around vaccinations is directly related to preventing it from spreading. Latest news was that 6% of cases were Delta and expected to increase significantly.

Ireland. Longest lockdown in Europe. Outdoor pubs and restaurants have just opened. Also hairdressers etc. Still masks indoors everywhere. People in 50s getting second jabs (got mine this week). Children's outdoor sport back on for a couple of weeks now. Schools open, some local closures for outbreaks.

Parents in South Africa, late 70s, got first jab this week.

watch our numbers over the next few weeks, you’ll be on a similar trajectory within a month or two. Good luck.

That's an 'observation', is it? Looked like you were confidently predicting our downfall. As I say, we'll see, but let's not pretend we're observing the future, we're not Mystic Meg.

Also: Hopeful of joining EU green passport scheme on 19 July.

@HoppSuisse

Switzerland. Pretty everything except nightclubs is open. Outdoor dining has six person limit, indoors its four. Cinema is 50% capacity, with a max of 100 people for places with more than 200 seats. Concerts are same ( seated only at the moment).

Masks are needed for all indoor public places and transport - compliance with this is high. Also needed at the zoo. Schools only closed for six months last Spring, but masks have been required at schools for kids over 12 (and 10 in some cantons).

I believe everyone over 50 or in a risk group is double vaccinated by now, and most everyone else will have at at least one shot by end of June. Pfizer and Moderna are used, its four weeks between jabs.

We are joinning the EU covid certificate scheme from begining of July. With that, we can scan the QR code provided after the second vaccine and should be able to use it then to travel without testing or quarantine to any country accepting it. Ireland have said they will take it from July 19th and I have booked a flight for July 20th - really hoping all stays on track with that so I can finally visit my family.

In Switzerland too! Thanks for updating me on the things I should know

watch our numbers over the next few weeks, you’ll be on a similar trajectory within a month or two. Good luck.
The trajectory that the figures in any particular country will take once the delta variant gets in is now very dependent on what proportion of the country's population is vaccinated, particularly fully vaccinated. Whether the country has used predominantly mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna could also make a difference.

Certainly our epidemiologists disagree and they've done a better job than yours so far, haven't they?
Plenty of excellent epidemiologists in the UK. The problem is that our government has a habit of ignoring them.

@LilyPond2

Certainly our epidemiologists disagree and they've done a better job than yours so far, haven't they? Plenty of excellent epidemiologists in the UK. The problem is that our government has a habit of ignoring them.

I know, I was just a bit riled by someone coming on to a thread about other countries to give us patronising advice about how our border controls should be organised and then telling me that certain doom awaits us when I said that I was actually happy with our border controls.

When I live in a country that has been a nicer place to be than the UK throughout this pandemic in absolutely every respect - lower rates AND fewer restrictions. I'm not going to stop being pleased that my family can come from the UK to visit me when the Icelandic pandemic response has been excellent without needing to resort to such extreme restrictions. (Although in fact they have always been allowed to enter Iceland as my close relatives, because our government humanely recognises the importance of family. The trouble this year has entirely been on the UK side not allowing them to leave).

Australia has a huge advantage in being a massive island and being able to close borders. This is why we have had a relatively low death rate. However hotels are really not fit for purpose as quarantine centres and our appalling government has been slow and confused with the vaccine rollout. I think only 2% are double vaccinated. I am 60 and had my first AZ a month ago.