Heading into winTier ..... the one we hoped it would be over before...

[dancemom]

New thread Tierers ...

The story yesterday just really upset me, that poor woman made to go through that process of preparing yourself mentally, then having it cancelled at literally the hour or so before, for reasons that can’t- and shouldn’t- be blamed on the incredible surgeons and medical teams.
It’s triggering for reasons that we all know someone impacted by cancer, so the thought of not getting treatment at the moment must be horrific.
Exactly my point about the LJ- what a horrific waste of money, even the cost to decommission it could have been prioritised for use within NHS Scotland to ensure ICU beds are available for all.

Seeing the hospital figures come down for covid admissions means nothing if life-saving treatment is not available to the rest of the population, particularly those younger with a better chance of recovery if they are within the right hands for care and get treatment at the right time.

• 3,894* new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 32,166* new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
◦ 12.8%* of these were positive
• no new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (Noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at the weekend)
• 43 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 591 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,354,064 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,960,681 have received their second dose, and 1,889,285 have received a third dose or booster
*Reporting issues experienced over the weekend for the UK Government pillar 2 tests have now been resolved. Today’s figures are higher than expected due to the backlog of tests now being processed.

150 less in hospital than 2 weeks ago. 🥰

Apparently none of the omicron patients identified so far (some from weeks ago) have been admitted to hospital. It is obviously still early days, and we don't know anything about age or vaccination status of these cases, but if it were delta you'd expect 3 or 4 in hospital on average for the number identified thus far. Fingers crossed things remain this positive and these cases remain mild.

• 3,060* new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 35,562* new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
◦ 9.2%* of these were positive
• 12 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
• 38 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 576 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,355,063 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,962,203 have received their second dose, and 1,922,604 have received a third dose or booster
*The backlog of tests from UK Government pillar 2 continues to be processed contributing to higher than expected figures today. Public Health Scotland expect the backlog of tests will be cleared today and this data flow to return to a lower level.

Thanks @dancemom
Hospital numbers looking much better.
And bearing in mind that, when they do get forced into publishing a breakdown, approx 1/4 covid "cases" are in hospital for another reason.
I personally know of 2. A young man who had serious car crash and was in ICU, and a woman admitted to antenatal ward. Both incidentally tested positive for covid,

I know of one chap who went in as an emergency and tested positive four days later.

@mibbelucieachwell

I know of one chap who went in as an emergency and tested positive four days later.

Yes it's pretty common hospitals are showing the greatest transmission due to high viral load and ventilation systems not always very effective. That's with vast majority in PPE they just don't advertise it!

• 3,077 new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 40,401 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
◦ 8.1% of these were positive
• 11 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
• 41 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 582 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,357,567 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,965,437 have received their second dose, and 1,961,588 have received a third dose or booster.

Ugh. In the bleak midwintier. Hospital numbers slightly up and another day of high numbers. I suppose it is Wednesday today though.

• 3,196 new cases of COVID-19 reported*
• 42,387 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results*
◦ 8.0% of these were positive
• 16 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
• 39 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 578 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,358,725 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,967,477 have received their second dose, and 2,000,915 have received a third dose or booster.
*Public Health Scotland are aware that recent processing issues at labs have impacted turnaround times resulting in delays between specimens being taken and results being received and reported. The situation is being monitored.

Not sure if this is better here, or on railing, but has anyone heard whether the 10 day "contact" isolation for omicron contacts is being reviewed here, as well as in England? There I think it is being replaced with daily testing (not sure whether or how that would be enforced) - subject to a vote by MPs early next week. Presumably because they have realised that if there are x hundred thousand omicron cases by the end of the month, contacts could get pretty large pretty quickly, with huge knock on disruption to schools/ care homes/ hospitals/ delivery infrastructure and so on (like last time...). I've not heard similar here, though? I can't see HOW they can keep it and carry on keeping the country functional, but also, I can totally see it being kept "just to be on the safe side" .

• 5,018 new cases of COVID-19 reported*
• 57,764 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results*
◦ 9.3% of these were positive
• 19 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
• 40 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 573 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,359,959 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,969,494 have received their second dose, and 2,040,070 have received a third dose or booster.
*There has been a higher number of tests received in the last 24 hours as labs begin to address the turnaround time between specimens being taken and results being received and reported.

Eek - that's quite a big jump, though hospitalisations are still steady/ declining. Fingers crossed.

And it turns out that yes - they have reviewed the isolation guidance. But not in the way I'd hoped! Now any household contact of any covid case has to do 10 days isolation, regardless of age or vaccine status. As well as non-household contacts of suspected omicron people still, presumably. Sigh. I just can't see how it's going to work in terms of the huge, huge numbers of healthy people having to be off work/ school for so long. It'll be like pre-summer when whole classes were off isolating even though none of them were ill!

Big jump in the number of tests too though.

What I'd love to know is how many of the people testing positive had symptoms or tested either because they were a contact or because they tested positive on LFT. Or how many were double or triple vaxxed. But we never get that nuanced info.

So yes the headline figure is worrying but I'd bet my house a large proportion are either asymptomatic or just feeling a bit bleurgh.

But with the new 10 day isolation advice (and it is just advice right now) means we're heading for public service problems right across the board.

Here we go again. Pretty much guaranteed that my primary school child will be back in isolation because there’s continually been cases in her class. Really cannot cope with home schooling again, either of my child or my classes (I am a teacher).

Ah - I didn't realise it was just advice. Is that just because it hasn't been put to parliament yet? (so "advice" now -but added to the legislation again from Tuesday once it gets the nod-through?) I still reckon the presiding officer will be a bit grumpy at the way it's been presented...

And I agree about wanting to know the "origins" of the tests. It may be that more people are LFT-ing at the request of John S et al, so these results just reflect the confirmation of positive LFTs - so no surprise that numbers of tests and positives (and % positive to a lesser extent) are increasing. Though hospitalisations aren't (though to be fair there has always been a lag of course).

Cases definitely going up, although a backlog being cleared too to inflate the figures by the looks of it. Bit disingenuous of Nicola to mention this number but not the caveats…

Getting everyone to isolate again is just a lock down by the back door really isn’t it? Except without any support behind it.

@resiliencewanker exactly correct guidelines for now ad had to go to parliament where they will push it through.

We will be travelling to England regardless. Will do tests before we go for family purposes but then will have 3 weeks away from Scottish forced have to do more shite!

Sorry I'm a little confused. Are these current guidelines just advice at the moment?

@Thirstquenching

Sorry I'm a little confused. Are these current guidelines just advice at the moment?

Yes she says from tomorrow but to make it a legal requirement needs to be passed by Parliament which will be next week.

A bit like the covid ping app it's currently not a legal requirement although they will ask you do it.

@LoopyGremlin

Here we go again. Pretty much guaranteed that my primary school child will be back in isolation because there’s continually been cases in her class. Really cannot cope with home schooling again, either of my child or my classes (I am a teacher).

I don't think the rules have changed though for non household contacts?

Thank you. Can anyone answer another question please?

My son is positive and is isolating. I tested negative but I'm off work to look after my son. I filled out the online form for Test and Protect and named all his contacts ( not many just family ) I know for a fact these people have been contacted and are awaiting their own results.

Anyway fast forward to today and they have phoned me twice and I've missed their call. I've tried to call back and got someone that told me to hang up and someone would be in contact??? They haven't!

What could they possibly need to know considering I've filled out the form

@dancemom

• 5,018 new cases of COVID-19 reported* • 57,764 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* ◦ 9.3% of these were positive • 19 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive • 40 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19 • 573 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19 • 4,359,959 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,969,494 have received their second dose, and 2,040,070 have received a third dose or booster. *There has been a higher number of tests received in the last 24 hours as labs begin to address the turnaround time between specimens being taken and results being received and reported.

Thanks for posting this. It's interesting as she didn't mention the reason for the higher number of tests at the briefing and instead focused on the higher number of positive cases.

I honestly hate the way politicians play with statistics...

No - but non-household contacts of suspected omicron cases do still have to isolate (I assume - i didn't hear the briefing, but haven't picked up that that changed from the current situation - and I really doubt it has, all things considered!). At the moment, that's not a huge risk, as there haven't been that many omicron cases so odds of being a contact are low. But they think omicron cases will explode over the next week or so and overtake Delta as the main variant as it is so transmissible - so omicron in a class, for example, could mean the entire class has to isolate.