i was thinking just the opposite.

The number of cases may be a bit of a roller-coaster but I am very pleased to see the downward trend in deaths, hospitisations, and need for ventilators over the past few weeks.

But of course, as cases rise..... there is a lag in deaths, so while it's dropping now it may raise again?

Indeed, if there is a consistent rise in the number of cases, it may..

We now have vaccination statistics for eligible residents, so everyone over 12 years old. Today's figures being

First vaccine 85.3%
Second vaccine 78.4%
Those under 17.75 years old will normally only get one vaccine, so the second vaccine figure has to be interpreted.

If we go to the previous basis of 16 years plus it would be
First vaccine 90.2%
Second vaccine 83.2%

Currently just 11% of those aged 12 to under 16 are vaccinated - it's largely being done via schools at the moment and that's going to be a slow process until they allow a wider rollout.

Finally, finally, finally, the lockdown has ended for me. South Africa, here I come! :tu: Now of course, terrified I will test postive 72 hrs prior to the flight!

I think it’s more common among the younger age groups at the moment hence, perhaps, the relationships between cases, hospitalisations and deaths being different. Add to that clinicians are getting better at taking in people who are struggling to breathe and turning them around quickly. In spite of the recent declines now apparently going into reverse, I think it’s ok to be hopeful right now.

How are people approaching working in an office? I haven't been in one since March 2020, but since I'm starting a new job soon, I'll have/want to show my face at some point in the new office. I have to admit I'm not thrilled, as I'm still quite reluctant to spend time in indoor public spaces, unmasked. Reason why I've yet to eat in a restaurant indoors. That said, I went to the theatre a few weeks ago, but we had a box just for ourselves and kept our ffp2 masks on the whole time.

I'll have to start doing some of those things or I'll be left behind when it comes to important social and work interactions. I'm quite lucky that the risk of death or hospitalisation is very, very low based on my circumstances (early 40s, AZ vaccinated, no medical conditions). Nonetheless, the "be careful" voice is still quite loud for me, especially given the high incidence of cases in the UK and the generally more relaxed approach.

I'm curious as where other flyertalkers are on the wide spectrum of approaches and attitude to risk. :)

My daughter has been in an office since July with no difficulties. The deal seems to be no masks but keeping a strict distance between everyone - no shaking hands etc. Interestingly, her boss had to go to their counterparts in the USA. The deal there is precisely the opposite - lots of hand shaking and hugs but strict mask compliance. Not sure which is better.....

I am happy to travel, eat, drink, attend events, and couldn't care less who does/doesn't wear a mask or any other form of protection around me. I am double jabbed. Third jab will be mid-November. I could not care less how high the cases go.

Tech business so very cautious. The business unit has a new owner and they had a strong culture of flexible working pre pandemic. Last time I talked to my management about it, I stated a preference for more beautiful places to meet; less desk farm and it seems that is going to happen. It means that when I do go into the office I will likely have plenty of space. Other than that, I don't really have much of a position beyond me thinking it's a really bad idea to have very full offices.

It really depends on how hard you were hit by the government messages and media reporting. It was very clear that HMG wanted to instil fear until we had a solution to the problem, and that solution is vaccines. Every since then I'm much happier going out. I only went for outside drinks until after my second dose. Now I wear a mask on the tube and in the supermarket, but not in restaurants or pubs. More by habit than by logic to be honest.

In the office, we have to wear masks when we're not sitting down, but the "every other desk" rule has gone so we're actually sat quite close together again. I don't feel bad because I know that vaccine uptake has been quite high with us. And of course my own vaccination course is protecting me to a high degree.

If it wasn't for all the testing and paperwork during travels, I'd be out and about a lot more!

Other than that I feel almost back to normal.

For me it's not a case of appetite for risk but rather of falling out of all the habits I had prior to the pandemic. I used to read the newspaper at the coffee shop every morning, eat out once or twice a week, go to the theatre and cinema regularly and fly for leisure at least once a month. All these things are now possible again but I find that I have changed the way I live, am quite happy with those changes and can't really imagine spending time in crowded and noisy spaces any more. I tend to walk or cycle instead of getting a bus or tube, and don't even go shopping any more unless it's for something I really can't get online. How widespread this attitude is, and whether it's a temporary phenomenon or a real change in the way we live, remains to be seen.

Absolutely back to normal in every way and the government can shove any returning restrictions where the sun don’t shine, which seems to be everyone’s attitude apart from the few on Twitter screaming for them all the time. Currently in Mexico and I forget Covid even exists at times apart from going into shops. When I travelled here in May I heard lots of fellow tourists catching Covid, but none of that this time so far.

Sky reporting 1/15 young secondary students have Covid, that’s pretty damn high. It should lead to hospitalisations and deaths continuing to fall while cases do not though I assume.

A little strange that Scotland had the school surge and England did not though, especially when masks are meant to make a difference. Such an unpredictable virus. In terms of winter mask rules/distancing etc, things have to be on the optimistic side going into winter?

Quick question in case anyone knows.. What’s the U.K. population/% that is aged 12+?

Daily data:

Cases 36,060 (35,577 last Friday)
Deaths 127 (127)
Patients admitted 747 (774 on the 27th)
Patients in hospital 6,763 (6,763 on the 30th)
Patients in ventilation beds 808 (815 on the 30th)
People vaccinated up to and including 7 October 2021:
First dose: 49,101,734
Second dose: 45,107,185

The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 0.1% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is down 6.3%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 107.9 today.

I guess a part of that is that Scotland had less naturally acquired immunity than England due to an overall more cautious approach and fewer cases earlier in the pandemic. That balance may now have gone the other way as Scotland’s cases are falling well again now.