Here we go again......

[isthismylifenow]

possible new variant

In South Africa. Variant B1.1.529. Health minister here holding a briefing this afternoon.

We have had a sharp uptake in cases in the last few days.

People not happy saying it is a plot to scarper Christmas plans.

I don't think I am ready for all this again. We have had very few cases the last few months. It was nice getting some form of normality back.

From this article, they actually have too much stock now.

"There is a fair amount of apathy and hesitancy," said Shabir Madhi

www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africa-delays-covid-vaccine-deliveries-inoculations-slow-2021-11-24/

What do you mean, they did this last Christmas. I guess you weren't in the South east and got your Christmas ruined then?

^ My quote reply didn't work it seems, that was in reply to someone questioning why anyone would think the government would lock down over Xmas ^^

It will reach the uk though.
Omg. Here we go again. It's like a new pandemic :-/

Lockdowns don't work - and the government know this. If they impose one now I do believe a lot of people will ignore it anyway.

@AnFiadhRua

It will reach the uk though. Omg. Here we go again. It's like a new pandemic :-/

Except it was said on the radio earlier that whilst it's bad news it's not doomsday and it most definitely isn't a 'new pandemic'.

But don't miss an opportunity to stoke fear if you can find one, eh.

By the time we know which countries are affected it will be too late, so what we actually need to do is stop flying.

So very true. This new mutation has already been found in Hong Kong and in Belgium (the latter in a person who had flown in from Egypt, so it is likely to already be present there, as well).

Overnight news said that it will be named Nu. Also report that Shaps had added S Africa, Botswana, and Malawi to Red list. Not waiting for WHO. Have not confirmed this yet.
Vaccination officials are worried it might be difficult to contain.
Who said that rates of infection are low? Nurses in Southampton have been taken from other wards to staff Covid Wards. Started over a week ago. Not necessarily Nu ralated.

Not necessarily Nu ralated.

Why would it be nu related? We sequence loads of our positives. It’s something we’re actually good at. We’ve had high transmission for ages because we’ve ditched all the control measures.

I can’t see the Government implementing lockdown, it costs the economy too much.

I suspect we will end up with a "lockdown lite" - restaurants, bars and non essential retail open but with restrictions on numbers / only allowed to do takeout. So technically they are still allowed to trade and therefore not eligible for furlough / grants.

@FanGirlX

I can’t see the Government implementing lockdown, it costs the economy too much.

I suspect we will end up with a "lockdown lite" - restaurants, bars and non essential retail open but with restrictions on numbers / only allowed to do takeout. So technically they are still allowed to trade and therefore not eligible for furlough / grants.

We might not end up with anything

It’s too early to know

True @MarshaBradyo. Let's hope we don't.

This will all blow over. It's nothing. I can feel it in my bones.

@Russianmax

This will all blow over. It's nothing. I can feel it in my bones.

Hi Boris, your feelings have not been very accurate of late.

@AnFiadhRua

It will reach the uk though. Omg. Here we go again. It's like a new pandemic :-/

on a darkly humorous note, it will come to Bolton somehow. Covid bloody loves Bolton. I can still feel the collective sigh of resignation from every poor bugger there.

(im in the NW, too)

This variant is concerning for a few reasons, by all accounts, but I am also seeing a lot of experts in relevant fields urging some caution here before we all panic.

Firstly, it's considered highly unlikely to completely escape prior immunity (i.e. transmit completely unimpeded by vaccination or prior infection), because the vaccines target multiple sites across the spike protein.

Secondly - and this is what gives me most pause before declaring this as a serious threat - the purported rate of growth that's being reported is insanely high. So much so it is entirely suspicious - it would put the inferred R0 ridiculously in excess even of diseases like measles.

This, to me, puts "founder effects" or data issues as a real possibility here - essentially, statistical artifacts or error.

I'm betting on this being quite a lot less serious than it currently appears.

Look on the bright side folks, it might just all be a giant conspiracy funded by Andrex.

Ha - yes @jgw1 I do sound a bit like Boris don't I?

I'm not BJ though.

Just feel in my bones there is nothing to worry about. Whether I'm right or not time will tell.

@Russianmax

Ha - yes *@jgw1* I do sound a bit like Boris don't I?

I'm not BJ though.

Just feel in my bones there is nothing to worry about. Whether I'm right or not time will tell.

Very much like him, and he is one of a kind.

I’m more on don’t panic than it’s doomsday so Russian I’m with you

I'm going with the Andrex theory.

Secondly - and this is what gives me most pause before declaring this as a serious threat - the purported rate of growth that's being reported is insanely high. So much so it is entirely suspicious - it would put the inferred R0 ridiculously in excess even of diseases like measles.

Only last week, into the beginning of this one, we were questioning why Africa was not worse hit with Covid as vaccination rates there were so low. It is unbelievable that this has happened so quickly, so suddenly. Unbelievable.

We've probably killed all our vulnerable now so will probably be all right. Oops I did it again Boris will pull us through. I feel it in my bones.

Tbf all the posts saying it’s doomsday I just know are the same

But more depressing

@vera99

We've probably killed all our vulnerable now so will probably be all right. Oops I did it again Boris will pull us through. I feel it in my bones.

The strategies working, I knew it would.