This view is presented by Hindsight, the 20/20 goggles!

More seriously: it's an insightful read because does raise very interesting ethical questions. But in March 2020, nobody knew how deadly the virus was going to be, and that goes for each and every new variant which showed up subsequently. We can't judge with just that information.

I’m sure this is the kind of thing the upcoming inquiry will look at. That said, hopefully their methodology will be a little more robust than Allison’s email from a college friend which uses the phrase “if we guess” at two separate points in the ‘gotcha’ calculation.

Perhaps the inquiry might also try to calculate how many of those billions spent went in the pockets of Tory acolytes like Michelle Mone.

I did enjoy the bit on Prince Harry though 😉

I imagine issues relating to possible criminal matters will be left to the police like the current Mone investigation.

In terms of where it was spent exactly, there are already some details out there.

https://fullfact.org/health/test-and-trace-37-billion/

Agreed, which sort of raises the question when will this thread have run it's coarse? It seems to no longer have anything to do, whatsoever, with "Local lockdowns in the UK" (and hasn't had anything to do with lockdowns for a very long time)

Regards

Weekly data:

England cases 2,126 (2,287 last Monday) - down 22.7% week on week
England deaths down 38.3% week on week
Patients admitted in England 617 (599 on the 16th)
Patients in hospital in England 5,817 (6,721 on the 16th)
Patients in ventilation beds 126 (146 on the 18th)
Autumn booster total by 25th January: 15,075,932/64.6% of those aged 50+

On the 1st January BA.5 accounted for 5.6% of cases, BQ.1 49.6%, BA2.75 8.9% BA.2 1.4%, CH.1.1.1 24.6% and others 4.6%.
A fair question. Including the first Omicron wave a year ago we have seen five distinct waves. Each one at roughly half the previous one in terms of cases. The most recent peak was just after Christmas and was largely unnoticed by most people outside of the healthcare frontlines. If the pattern continues there will be another around Easter which will barely show above the noise in the statistics and will hopefully not be worth reporting. For daily cases we are now at the lowest level since the end of August 2020.

Unless something dramatic happens (which does not seem likely) then there will be very little to report by this time next month.

The same in my circles. The only difference from before Covid I notice is that people are more likely to stay home and drop out of events / coming into the office if they aren't feeling well - whether it be Covid, flu or just a common cold. I think it's a combination of being more aware of potentially passing on to others, and (at least for work) having the ability and freedom to work from home.

Today's weekly data from the ONS survey. In the week ending 14-17 January 2023:

One in 60 people in England had Covid (last week one in 40)
One in 55 in Wales had Covid (last week one in 25)
One in 30 in Northern Ireland had Covid (last week one in 25)
One in 55 in Scotland had Covid (last week one in 30)

Weekly data:

England cases 2,886 (2,189 last Monday) - up 19.2% week on week
England deaths down 1% week on week
Patients admitted in England 741 (617 on the 23rd)
Patients in hospital in England 6,055 (5,632 on the 25th)
Patients in ventilation beds 136 (126 on the 25th)
Autumn booster total by 1st February: 64.7% of those aged 50+

On the 8th January BA.5 accounted for 4.7% of cases, BQ.1 50.5%, BA2.75 6.7% BA.2 1.6%, CH.1.1.1 24.5% and others 4.7%.

Here is what the ONS has to say this week. They do not pick up the increase in cases yet though their data does show them rising in the under 50's who were denied the chance to get boosters. In the week ending 24 January 2023:

One in 70 people in England had Covid (last week one in 60)
One in 80 in Wales had Covid (last week one in 55)
One in 65 in Northern Ireland had Covid (last week one in 30)
One in 70 in Scotland had Covid (last week one in 55)

For anyone thinking about a booster you have a week left. After the 12th February there will be no more boosters offered. From what I understand that includes under 50's who have not had a first booster.

Correct, the warp-overdrive for vaccinations will end in a week, and so particularly for those under 50 who have been deferring a vaccine booster, this may be a good reminder. I doubt there are many countries still requiring an up-to-date vaccination (in other words the primary pair of doses are insufficient) but doubtless there are some. People who have not had any vaccination - mostly children becoming eligible - will still be able to get vaccines, both via the central website and via their GP. The expectation is that there will be another autumn booster 2023 campaign, at least for those over 50 and those with vulnerabilities, from September 2023, probably involving a third generation vaccine.

We're on page 666. It's an omen I tell 'ee!

Change your page view settings and boom...Down to page 250.

:D

Love that this thread has such a diminished impact then when I first needed to monitor it for travel purposes. Stay well, all!

Weekly data:

England cases 3,195 (3,242 last Monday) - up 28.3% week on week
England deaths down 15.6% week on week
Patients admitted in England 825 (741 on the 30th)
Patients in hospital in England 6,382 (6,055 on the 1st)
Patients in ventilation beds 117 (136 on the 1st)
Autumn booster total by 8th February: 64.7% of those aged 50+

On the 15th January BA.5 accounted for 4.8% of cases, BQ.1 44%, BA2.75 5.5% BA.2 1.8%, CH.1.1.1 26% and others 17.9%.

I won't be counted in those stats but I caught it for the second time this week. I had one horrible night and now on the mend.