It seems like the U.K. may have a better Covid strategy after all

[Warhertisuff]

... at least since the emergence of Delta. I generally supported the restrictions before last summer, but thought that opening up in July was sensible. It's too early to tell
for sure, but at the moment it looks like the right call.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59378849

I agree

It would be nice to think we got something right wouldntbit.

Agree. All this talk about how Europe were doing so much better than us, but it looks like all they've done is delayed the inevitable.

Indeed

who knows
the virus may well mutate and reach us

Yep.

@MrsLargeEmbodied

who knows the virus may well mutate and reach us

That’s it. Let’s be positive for just one nanosecond.

I guess if you think high deaths are a good idea, yes.

The UK could have chosen to limit deaths and NHS pressure by e.g. keeping masks but Johnson was happy with 1000 deaths per week.

I think the neurological impacts on young people will also be far more widespread in the UK.

From the article - "Dr Chapman also points out this has come at a price - the high rates of infection have resulted in a greater amount of serious illness and death in recent months than many of our Western European neighbours."

We have had literally thousands of unnecessary deaths since July.

On the other hand, yes, it's a good idea for vulnerable people to have boosters (which is why we are in a relatively better position this autumn)

Honestly I think we can't say that with any certainty until we are looking back on this in a few years' time.

you are welcome to be positive but not to be blinkered

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

The German idea of wearing high grade medical masks, especially in enclosed crowded spaces, remains a good one - alongside vaccines and boosters, of course.

It would be great if we could do some more of that - as someone who is vulnerable it is good that there is another way to protect myself a bit while getting on with life.

Can something be called the right call if the cost for making that call was between 45-82% more deaths per capita than the countries that apparently made the bad call (Germany, Austria, Luxembourg)?

I suppose, with blinkers, you could say that we're successful because we've potentially avoided a further lockdown. But in a few years time when this is just something managed with regular boosters and better, more respectful hygiene practices, those countries will likely have more of their population left standing. I'd call that success, personally.

those countries will likely have more of their population left standing and far lower disability/ongoing illness rates, which are expensive both for the individual and the state.

The impact of even symptomless covid is not understood yet. Brain studies are alarming.

There is no way to know who got it right yet. Sweden with minimal restrictions? Australia with quarantine hotels? New Zealand with zero covid strategy? The US which is a free for all? The U.K.? Germany? There have been many approaches and we won't know what worked best for years.
What is clear is that very little of the success we may have will been because of a planned and considered strategy. It will mostly be by mistake, with the exception of the initial vaccine rollout.

I suppose it depends on what the objective was.. if your finite objective is to avoid a lockdown at any cost; yes possibly? If the objective is to prevent new cases/deaths, support health service whilst maintaining as much ‘normality’ as possible, no I’m not sure it has had a better strategy. Here in France I think the balance of restrictions vs. normality has been very good & cases are still relatively low although creeping back up slowly. x

they have a slight rise in south korea and the children are back to home learning,
masks all the time, even outdoors.

I think the neurological impacts on young people will also be far more widespread in the UK.

There's not a shred of evidence to suggest this. Is there?

did you mean mental health issues with young people?

Can something be called the right call if the cost for making that call was between 45-82% more deaths per capita

The game hasn't finished yet. We don't know what the figures will be. The wave in Europe has literally just started.

@MrsLargeEmbodied

did you mean mental health issues with young people?

I think the neurological impacts on young people will also be far more widespread in the UK.

I'm asking if you have evidence to suggest the neurological impacts on young people will be more widespread in the uk.

Compared to where? How are you quantifying it? What 'neurological impacts'?

Yep, I actually think if it carry’s on like this then some sections of the media and some scientists should eat humble pie and apologise to Whitty et al for all the hyperbole in the summer. Boris too deserves an apology.

That was the gamble, have autumn peak early and falling rates as we go in to the winter virus season.

Case rates are rising again, so we have yet to see if the policy has worked. The key bit of info now is however hospital admissions, which are currently falling (mirroring fall in new case numbers from 7 or so days ago). But will rise again if there is a sustained rise in cases.

I think those who describe the months ahead as 'bumpy' are the most likely to be right.

The game hasn't finished yet. We don't know what the figures will be. The wave in Europe has literally just started.

Game?

We're talking about people dying, who may not have done so had we acted differently, and you use the word game.