Local lockdowns in the UK
#7546
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Nothing, nowhere!
Posts: 23,301
I live in London but am currently enjoying a week in Italy. To me, Italy feels very close to normal but much safer than The UK. There’s a recognition of the need for some caution but it doesn’t get in the way of enjoying bars, restaurants, galleries, shops or anything else. All you need is a mask, a cleaning of the hands and a vaccination certificate. Whereas behaviour in the UK seems reckless - no basic sanitation, no masks, no distancing, no recognition of the continuing danger. My fear is that it will lead to another lockdown which will be awful.
I went out partying on friday night. Yesterday I did a LFT as my parents were visiting. I will also be travelling in Dec, you can bet I will be practically a hermit for the 10 days prior so as not to catch anything.
My anecdote doesn't mean data but, I can't believe I am alone in doing these things.
Maybe because its becoming normal, we're just not noticing it anymore.
#7547
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
Daily data:
Cases 45,140 (34,574 last Sunday)
Deaths 57 (38)
People vaccinated up to and including 16 October 2021:
First dose: 49,398,211
Second dose: 45,358,472
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 15.1% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 8.5%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 121.7 today.
Cases 45,140 (34,574 last Sunday)
Deaths 57 (38)
People vaccinated up to and including 16 October 2021:
First dose: 49,398,211
Second dose: 45,358,472
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 15.1% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 8.5%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 121.7 today.
#7548
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,021
I'm hearing that those aged 12-15 will soon be allowed to be vaccinated in walk -in clinics, up to now only those who are CEV (or live with the CEV) have been allowed this, with the school teams being totally responsible for administering the vaccine to this age group. It has been a problem for children who were absent on the day their school had their vaccine day. It will also mean that kids who want a parent to accompany them will be able to go to a walk in clinic at the weekend. Hopefully boost the numbers.
#7549
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
I'm hearing that those aged 12-15 will soon be allowed to be vaccinated in walk -in clinics, up to now only those who are CEV (or live with the CEV) have been allowed this, with the school teams being totally responsible for administering the vaccine to this age group. It has been a problem for children who were absent on the day their school had their vaccine day. It will also mean that kids who want a parent to accompany them will be able to go to a walk in clinic at the weekend. Hopefully boost the numbers.
Scotland will get back to 90% first dose coverage in a few days. They got to that level before for adults, then brought the eligible age down to 12 years. Their current 89.6% first dose coverage, 12 years plus, compares to England's 85.6%
#7550
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Lots of chat on twitter about this new variant ay2 which is 10% more transmissible. Experts don't think it's a big deal and shouldn't end up as a VoC, since it doesn't evade vaccines and 10% isn't a huge number. But my fear is other countries might overreact and stick us on banned lists all across Europe again. What do the experts here think?
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
#7551
The variant is called AY.4. Actually from what I read, experts do not think anything other than "we do not know anything about it yet, so let's keep a close watch on this variant". All you can say is that it is now 8% of the variants presents in specimen in UK, possibly originate from UK (would not be surprising, with such a high level of community transmission, one more predicted thing that would happen) and it fits well in the population. It grows very fast so far, let's see how it goes. However I tend to agree that UK borders should be tighten now.
#7552
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
Lots of chat on twitter about this new variant ay2 which is 10% more transmissible. Experts don't think it's a big deal and shouldn't end up as a VoC, since it doesn't evade vaccines and 10% isn't a huge number. But my fear is other countries might overreact and stick us on banned lists all across Europe again. What do the experts here think?
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
#7553
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
From what I have read, this is a variant of delta which has been around for quite some time. It was in India by April, even before India was belatedly on the red list. The government have shown very little appetite to restrict travel from India. If these variants of delta were of concern, then I o not think we would have seen the opening up that we have had. I see no specific reason at present to worry about travel plans. I'm not!
#7554
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,436
Lots of chat on twitter about this new variant ay2 which is 10% more transmissible. Experts don't think it's a big deal and shouldn't end up as a VoC, since it doesn't evade vaccines and 10% isn't a huge number. But my fear is other countries might overreact and stick us on banned lists all across Europe again. What do the experts here think?
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
Thanks! Hoping for some reassurance in advance of my Christmas travels haha.
My best advice is to limit your reading on certain subjects. It’s so easy to read stuff and continue reading on it until you feel anxious, unsure etc. Ultimately these platforms are designed to feed you more of what you click on and to monetise the content.
The sooner we all lessen our exposure, switch off or ditch these channels the better our mental health can be.
If you can’t ditch, then alternatively focus on content/subjects that present only facts and aren’t opinion based. Official Sports teams as one example. Or your family, loved ones posting pets photos.
Sorry to wander off topic but this is an incredibly important issue that we all need to address. It has ripped families apart.
Enjoy your Christmas travels.
#7555
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
Daily data:
Cases 49,156 (40,224 last Monday)
Deaths 45 (28)
Patients in hospital 7,097 (6,758 on the 8th)
Patients in ventilation beds 791 (780 on the 8th)
People vaccinated up to and including 17 October 2021:
First dose: 49,422,753
Second dose: 45,377,411
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 16.2% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 11.4%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 124.1 today.
Cases 49,156 (40,224 last Monday)
Deaths 45 (28)
Patients in hospital 7,097 (6,758 on the 8th)
Patients in ventilation beds 791 (780 on the 8th)
People vaccinated up to and including 17 October 2021:
First dose: 49,422,753
Second dose: 45,377,411
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 16.2% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 11.4%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 124.1 today.
#7556
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BA Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 316
The sustained high infection rates seen in the UK are completely out of sync with those in the larger and comparable EU countries. 45k daily cases in the UK would, proportionate to the population, mean 60k per day Germany. The previous peaks which led to tough (and partially still in place) lockdowns were around 30k per day.
I can’t judge the healthcare situation and pressure on the system, or the risk of new home-grown immunity-escape variants so I don’t know how concerned we should be.
I do know however that there is increasing nervousness on the Continent…
#7557
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I suppose the trends evident in the data contained in your daily bulletins might create a measure of concern.
With an increasing proportion of our population carrying the virus, our relatively unfettered access as visitors to other countries might be curtailed.
#7558
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
An interesting analysis (thread) of the possible explanations for why England and the UK are doing much worse than many other European countries:
Last edited by ringingup; Oct 18, 2021 at 1:16 pm
#7559
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
For a country with such a good initial vaccine rollout, the rollout in 12-15 (in Eng) + boosters has been SO embarrassing - right before winter.
#7560
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,479
Daily data:
Cases 49,156 (40,224 last Monday)
Deaths 45 (28)
Patients in hospital 7,097 (6,758 on the 8th)
Patients in ventilation beds 791 (780 on the 8th)
People vaccinated up to and including 17 October 2021:
First dose: 49,422,753
Second dose: 45,377,411
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 16.2% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 11.4%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 124.1 today.
Cases 49,156 (40,224 last Monday)
Deaths 45 (28)
Patients in hospital 7,097 (6,758 on the 8th)
Patients in ventilation beds 791 (780 on the 8th)
People vaccinated up to and including 17 October 2021:
First dose: 49,422,753
Second dose: 45,377,411
The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 16.2% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is up 11.4%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 124.1 today.