About the North West...

[WeirdArchitecture]

What do you think is driving cases up so high in this area? It seems to dip down every few months then skyrockets again.

I have family in Wigan, so can only speak for this area - and it's almost back into the high figures once more. Most areas are not heaving with multi generational households or sunk in poverty - which is the usual image of the north.

I have visited quite a bit and don't particularly see anyone messing around, and most places seem very compliant with restrictions, etc.
It's depressing that it won't let go. From what ive read, vaccine uptake is generally decent in this region so wtf? I think around 411 are in hospital with nearly 100 on ventilation.

Anyone else in the north west got any thoughts on this? It's like it never ends.

I live in a popular coastal area in the NW and our figures are high. High wealth, no multi generational homes. But we do get a lot of visitors from East Lancs and Greater Manchester. I understand why people want to be out and about and sympathise, but I think it would be helpful if people could stay within their own areas for a month til their cases are under control.

When this is over I hope they do an in depth analysis 9f why the NW couldn't keep their numbers under control.

Interesting thread. I am in a pretty well off area of Stockport which has been hit really pretty badly 3 or 4 times now. In my area (rural ish, large village, no large multi generational households or student houses, mostly families and older people) we have had loads of Covid, AND rate of first vaccines is 79% and double vaxxed is 60% so really very high. I just don't get it. However I looked around at school today. a high proportion of parents can't WFH. Loads of keyworkers all needing to travel in and out of other areas. However in other waves the NW 'led the way' and other areas then seemed to follow which may happen again in this wave, I have noticed the numbers appear to be declining again here but it's probably too soo to say that.

It’s probably to do with people having to go to work rather than wfh.

One issue might be that the symptoms of the delta variant can be very be similar to a cold (runny nose, sore throat, headache) so people may be spreading covid oblivious to the fact they have it.

I was in the Ribble Valley over half term when there were hardly any cases but Blackburn cases were rocketing. People came to Clitheroe from Blackburn, the warm evenings and a few drinks seemed to result in restrictions being abandoned. A week later cases start to rise and then it's a like a ripple effect...

I'm from a high area. Always one of the top scorers for poverty etc.

I know nurses, paramedics, police etc etc who should all know better than anyone who are just living life as normal and have all along.

Also know hardly anyone who has been WFH or furloughed.

Not saying all are doing this, but generally folk just do what they want.

Loadssss of classes down at local schools, primary and secondary.

There is lots of multi generational households.... just if your not part of the community they are in you would not know.

Oh yes and the secondary mine are at has then testing twice a week. No actual reporting or evidence just anyone had a positive test? My kids say lots not doing the tests at all.

Exactly what @Lissy23 and @Bobholll have said.
We came out of lockdown for a few weeks last July/August and that has been it, we have been under local restrictions ever since. Even when masks in schools were dropped, Lancashire was advised not to.

I think people are utterly fed up and gave decided to travel and socialise as they would under normal circumstances.
I run a business that is intrinsically linked with travel and holidays. I was fully expecting a raft of cancellations when the latest opening was put back but no, the opposite, I am still getting people trying to book, even though I am full from mid July through until the end of August.

@Benediction

I don't know But having spent half term in East Anglia I was totally shocked by how laissez faire everyone there was in comparison with Manchester businesses and leisure near where I live. Yet East Anglia has been at much lower levels. Everyone I know and see has been compliant throughout. It's really depressing tbh.

Interesting! I live in Norfolk but am from Warrington originally. Spent half term back home and was shocked at the non-compliance. Far less mask wearing, no enforcement of track and trace, pubs not enforcing table service etc The crowds in Manchester were overwhelming and it was impossible to social distance in shops etc.

@moonbedazzled lovely attitude there, lets keep visitors away from my "high wealth" coastal area.

Haha. It did sound like that, didn't it? Sorry. I did say I understand why people want to come but is it too much to ask that when your numbers are so very high, that you just delay coming for a month so you can get cases in your own area under control furst. All that happens is the virus gets spread around more and its a vicious circle. We've been in lockdown a lot longer than other areas of England and to see our numbers at the lowest in the uk to suddenly being towards the top of the uk is very frustrating.

Half term few weeks ago so probably raising from that. lots of people been travelling about an holidays (uk based of course)plus lots of day trips.

Thanks for posting your thoughts on this.

I agree, I checked the gov stats on vaccine uptake and it is fairly ok in the areas I am talking about, so not easy to blame the usual suspects.
I think many outside of the north west just lazily assume the worst.

I have no experience of covid deniers myself, nor do my family, but I have definitely noticed a prevalence online. Is this restricted tot he NW though? Surely not. However, with such a massive population, there's definitely going to be something in that.

@cptartapp im really sorry other that, I hope they are doing ok. I am mid forties but only just down for my first jab on Saturday due to health issues. I am to get Pfizer. Most of my friends and family have had AZ and thing they're immune :(

Im really concerned about how many people are ill who have been vaccinated but not sure what the real deal is as yet.

To pp

National covid data shows vaccine levels for Manchester and Liverpool are almost half of neighbouring areas

Not saying people are refusing

More to do with higher numbers of younger people

Gov sites/bbc confirm lower % vaccinated

Personally even if at risk area of lancs most army arsed

None of the infected I know are ill as all young so most of us who broke rules months ago continue to do so

wellbythebloodyhell*

Go on bbc

Liverpool % vaccines 2nd dose is half that of nearby areas

Greater Manchester has had just three weeks out of a national or local lockdown. Residents are fed up.

@moonbedazzled

I live in a popular coastal area in the NW and our figures are high. High wealth, no multi generational homes. But we do get a lot of visitors from East Lancs and Greater Manchester. I understand why people want to be out and about and sympathise, but I think it would be helpful if people could stay within their own areas for a month til their cases are under control.

When this is over I hope they do an in depth analysis 9f why the NW couldn't keep their numbers under control.

I can see why another poster took a shot at this comment, but I can also say that the more high income areas of wigan have been badly affected too, perhaps even more so, on close analysis, than the lower income segments.

I don't think it is so easy to work out. Not yet. I do agree that more analysis is necessary.

I will admit, shamefully, I guess, that I have often felt angry with the NW, wondering wtf is the matter......and yet I also have to keep perspective and not judge. It is difficult with such an emotive subject (covid!) to actually not become polarised and divided.

I see my family and worry, I can also see it creeping up where I live, too, and a part of me wants to blame something or some group or whatever, but it is best not to have knee jerk reactions.

Truth is - and I say this from experience

Everyone is fed up

NW has had worst and longest restrictions

So many cases are caught in hospitaksxso cases/hospitalisations are not fully explained properly

I’ll be honest my nhs friends are the worst rule breakers

People don’t care

No should they

Vaccines were our way out of this

In my area of lancs over 60% double vaccinated

I haven’t followed rules for months and never will it’s ridiculous

30-50 die of flu per day every year

Densely populated area, with lots of towns close together and people living in one, commuting to another, having friends and family in another, etc.

Hardly been out of lockdown so most people are fed up and trying to make the most of any freedoms that they do have.

Government and media's continued obsession with the South results in other areas, including the North West, being pulled into whatever the South's situation is. We saw it in the autumn when cases were bubbling away in the NW for a couple of months, mass school closures, etc, but no notice was taken on a national level until London and Kent's cases rose. The media focus is elsewhere as it's not a priority for them, the focus has been on "freedom day". This results is more complacency.

Possibly a local or regional more contagious north west England Covid variant of concern that is yet to be sequenced in addition to the greater mixing and less accurate PCR officially tracked testing?

Public transport uptake little uptake of work from home

Ive even wondered if the local cat population are spreading it or something nobody has thought of yet!!! There are a dozen cats mooching about our Victorian terraced back street, fighting and interacting with each other