Omicron found in the UK [title edited by MNHQ]

[manolantern]

Health Secretary has just said two cases have been found here. That was quick!

@Againstmachine

Boris saying masks in shops and public transport tightened up.

Yep usual Boris says something but in reality nothing at all.

So he didn't actually say what "tightening up" meant?

@Againstmachine Blimey you mean at this outdoors sporting event where masks or covid passes aren't mandated.

For the hundreds of people in the indoor hospitality they were required yes. The table next to me was a South African wine company on a jolly!

So he didn't actually say what "tightening up" meant?

Nope he didn't so could mean anything from people wearing masks mandatory to, people should just wear them a bit tighter.

@Againstmachine

So he didn't actually say what "tightening up" meant?

Nope he didn't so could mean anything from people wearing masks mandatory to, people should just wear them a bit tighter.

Thanks. Typical of his all sound and no substance approach then.

@KittenCatcher

same old same old. face coverings to be "tightened up" but not mandatory, we have to wait a few more days to hear from Savid Javid says, get your vaccine and booster asap but what about the shortages of vacinne centres and staff to administer them.

this is certainly the case where we are. I have been trying to get a booster appointment anywhere since they opened it up for 40 and above last Monday. I log on every morning and then again after lunch and it's been useless. I am not alone in this. They keep trying to send us 78 miles away. Even when I have inpitted my postcode as the actual postcode of the 4 nearest vaccination cenrtes it does not even come up.

@Againstmachine

So he didn't actually say what "tightening up" meant?

Nope he didn't so could mean anything from people wearing masks mandatory to, people should just wear them a bit tighter.

He said that Sajid Javid will say in the next few days what "tightening up" will mean, but it seems mainly to be a requirement that face coverings will have to be worn in shops and on public transport.

@AledsiPad

Oh well.

Viruses mutate. People die.

Such is the way of the world. We need to move on.

Yawn

Arent Face coverings already supposed to be worn on public transport but some people just dont comply. Icelandic cabin, I share your pain, I started a thread about how its virtually impossible for me to get my booster and now I have learnt the only hub anywhere within distance has closed

Arent Face coverings already supposed to be worn on public transport but some people just dont comply.

Nope they aren't in England unless on TFL services.

@KittenCatcher

Arent Face coverings already supposed to be worn on public transport but some people just dont comply. Icelandic cabin, I share your pain, I started a thread about how its virtually impossible for me to get my booster and now I have learnt the only hub anywhere within distance has closed

It's only advisory, except on Transport for London services.

I follow this woman on twitter @sailorrooscout

She is a senior scientist at Moderna and helped develop their vaccine. I can’t pretend to understand all the science but she talks a huge amount of sense and is extremely knowledgable on the Covid 19 viris and variants and the value of vaccines.

She is followed by a significant number of my local trusts’ virologists and she’s been my go to person through the pandemic for keeping things rational and sane.

If anyone is interested please check her out, hopefully she will ease some people’s anxiety.

Dither and delay! Hope it’s not a ‘here we go again’ situation!

Radio 4 scientist commented that the 3 week timing meant that if people were going to be required to change their plans for Christmas there was time to do so - whereas if the period was any longer Christmas would be here and it would be too late for people to change their plans/

They don't know if new variant will evade the vaccine or not , but it didn't sound that negative ? It was so hard to tell because if the scientists don't know for sure, but they didn't look too gloomy ..

Ah the good old work from home, even though many people have to go out to make sure you can be serviced working from home.

Indeed, many types of work can not be done from home. But if those that can, are, then that means less mixing of people, less opportunity for the virus to spread.

Every little helps, as they say.

@the80sweregreat

They don't know if new variant will evade the vaccine or not , but it didn't sound that negative ? It was so hard to tell because if the scientists don't know for sure, but they didn't look too gloomy ..

Of course they already know. They do not call weekend news conferences for nothing

@Againstmachine

So he didn't actually say what "tightening up" meant?

Nope he didn't so could mean anything from people wearing masks mandatory to, people should just wear them a bit tighter.

Why can't he organise himself properly to ensure clear messaging goes out right from the start.

Face coverings are a really easy and effective way to try to limit the virus spread, so mandating them should be the messaging, right from the start.

@roarfeckingroarr

Why are people obsessed with variants?

Because this is a thread about a variant.

We can't now go back into the lockdowns and extreme measures - these have already caused enough damage. We need to accept the virus is here and get on with life

Why do people come out with these idiotic statements?? If you seriously think life with a pandemic allowed to simply run rampant is going to let everyone "get on with life" then I despair.

@Againstmachine

reintroduce mask mandates indoors and work from home if you can advice, immediately. And then if it turns out to be no more deadly, relax them later.

Ah the good old work from home, even though many people have to go out to make sure you can be serviced working from home.

Work from home if you can. The people who can't will be safer with fewer people on the buses etc. The buses round here are rammed full of people and people keep shutting the windows. If one person unknowlingly infected with covid stays at home then that's stopped the people who have to use the bus from catching it.

Face coverings are a really easy and effective way to try to limit the virus spread, so mandating them should be the messaging, right from the start.

Except in Europe places who have had them are still going into lockdown, so not much point.

Also Vit D! A lot of Vit D in SA!!

They are a tiny minority, and while I agree that in the pre covid world they could have expected to have a good outcome, the environment has now changed to be much less hospitable for vulnerable people.

We just have to get used to this idea, as awful as it is

I think you mean they’ll just have to get used to it don’t you? Shocking that anyone would express such a view, even anonymously. Absolutely disgusting.

Really worried about more restrictions. Vulnerable children here who are just settling into school etc I don't know how they'd cope of schools close etc again. And masks are so hard to deal with as a deaf person I can't lip-read if people are in masks ☹️

We just have to get used to this idea, as awful as it is

No we don't.

As a very minimum, we should recognise what the actions of the majority are doing to the exceptionally vulnerable. A group that we are all of us only a lump away from joining.