UK needs tighter COVID rules to avert new 'catastrophe', epidemiologist warns

[snoop1130]

UK needs tighter COVID rules to avert new 'catastrophe', epidemiologist warns

 

A Union Jack design face mask is seen for sale in the window of a shop amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manchester, Britain, December 26, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government needs to bring in tighter coronavirus lockdown rules to avert a fresh wave of deaths from a new strain of the disease, a leading epidemiologist and government advisor warned on Tuesday.

 

Britain reported 41,385 new COVID cases on Monday, the highest number since testing became widely available in the middle of 2020, and English hospitals say they have more COVID patients than during the first wave of the pandemic in April.

 

"We are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic, and we're going to need decisive early national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February," said Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London.

 

More than 71,000 people in Britain have died within 28 days of a positive test for the disease.

 

Hayward, who sits on a British government advisory body on respiratory diseases, said the new strain of COVID that infected people more easily meant existing lockdown measures in England were unlikely to be enough to slow the spread of the disease.

 

On Dec. 26 Britain's government expanded the strictest level of COVID restrictions, under which non-essential retailers are shut and people mostly cannot meet in person, to cover almost half of England's population.

 

Hayward told the BBC that these curbs needed to be extended further.

 

"We're really looking at a situation where we're moving into near-lockdown," he said.

 

Schools in England are due to reopen for many pupils on Jan. 4. Hayward said that from a purely epidemiological point of view it would make sense to keep them closed longer, but difficulties poorer pupils faced learning online meant curbs on other areas of public life might be preferable.

 

Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own policies on schools and measures to combat COVID.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-29

 

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[Bluespunk]

2021 already shaping up to be as <deleted> as 2020. 
 

Let’s hope the vaccines kick in quickly so we can start to get back to some form of normality. 

Edited December 29, 2020 by Bluespunk

[Surelynot]

Thank god we have a PM who is on the ball.....sharp, decisive and has the general public's safety as his main concern.......imagine what might have happened if we had a third rate journalist as PM.......whoops!

[bkk6060]

31 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

More than 71,000 people in Britain have died within 28 days of a positive test for the disease.

 

Hayward, who sits on a British government advisory body on respiratory diseases, said the new strain of COVID that infected people more easily meant existing lockdown measures in England were unlikely to be enough to slow the spread of the disease.

What a disaster.

So if the lockdown measures will not work what is the next option?

 

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, bkk6060 said:

What a disaster.

So if the lockdown measures will not work what is the next option?

 

A real lockdown everywhere instead of a semi-lockdown applied variably across the country.

[KhaoYai]

42 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

UK needs tighter COVID rules to avert new 'catastrophe', epidemiologist warns

Enforcing the existing rules would be a start!

[KhaoYai]

45 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Schools in England are due to reopen for many pupils on Jan. 4. Hayward said that from a purely epidemiological point of view it would make sense to keep them closed longer, but difficulties poorer pupils faced learning online meant curbs on other areas of public life might be preferable.

Well at least that's a more credible reason than the BS we've been expected to believe up until now - 'kids don't spread the virus'........ yeah right!

[Nout]

40 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Enforcing the existing rules would be a start!

They are enforcing the rules. However, the vast majority are complying most of the time. But that does not make head lines

[KhaoYai]

1 hour ago, Nout said:

They are enforcing the rules. However, the vast majority are complying most of the time. But that does not make head lines

Not in my experience - and remember, it only takes a few to spread the virus all over the place.

 

Yesterday -

 

More reports of illegal Christmas parties and raves etc, on TV.

 

Supermarket:

 

Nobody following the 2m rule. Lots of people crowded in to some sections.  I would say about 50% used the hand gel and cleaning solution on offer. People walking in all directions, ignoring the one way rule.

 

Car Parts Shop:

 

2 people at a time allowed in. I'm in there and 2 teenagers walk in.  One is clearly just following his mate - they are both wearing masks but one is acting as a chin hammock, not covering anything. The other has the mask covering his mouth only.

 

Today -

 

My Village:

 

Told about a Hiso, black tie Christmas party at a country house where 200 guests attended.

 

Literally hundreds of tourists arriving here to 'look at the snow' - pretty sure that many of them will be from Tier 3 & 4 areas.

 

Most people have no idea how they should use their mask.  They use the same mask over and over again, remove it when they leave the shops so any potential virus is now on their hands which they then open doors etc with.

 

It doesn't help matters when the head of the Police Federation goes on TV before Christmas stating that his members will not be enforcing the lockdown rules over Christmas. He also stated that if the police arrive at someone's house following a complaint, under current regulations, if they refused to answer the door, the police have no powers.  He might as well publish a book on how to ignore the rules!

 

And people complain about lockdown...............................................................

Edited December 29, 2020 by KhaoYai

[KhaoYai]

1 hour ago, Nout said:

They are enforcing the rules. However, the vast majority are complying most of the time. But that does not make head lines

And the lockdown rules are not enough.  The schools are almost certain to open again after the Christmas holidays. Take a look at the graphs and see when the current rise in infections began - the beginning of September. When did the kids go back to school? The beginning of September - its not rocket science.

 

I feel sorry for kids that miss some of their education but I'd rather have a kid who's behind with their lessons than a dead parent. You can catch up on lost lessons - try re-incarnation.

 

The government try to tell us that kids don't spread the virus - ask any parent about kids spreading disease when they start school.

[dunroaming]

5 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Not in my experience - and remember, it only takes a few to spread the virus all over the place.

 

Yesterday -

 

More reports of illegal Christmas parties and raves etc, on TV.

 

Supermarket:

 

Nobody following the 2m rule. Lots of people crowded in to some sections.  I would say about 50% used the hand gel and cleaning solution on offer. People walking in all directions, ignoring the one way rule.

 

Car Parts Shop:

 

2 people at a time allowed in. I'm in there and 2 teenagers walk in.  One is clearly just following his mate - they are both wearing masks but one is acting as a chin hammock, not covering anything. The other has the mask covering his mouth only.

 

Today:

 

Told about a Hiso, black tie Christmas party at a country house where 200 guests attended.

 

Literally hundreds of tourists arriving here to 'look at the snow' - pretty sure that many of them will be from Tier 3 & 4 areas.

 

Most people have no idea how they should use their mask.  They use the same mask over and over again, remove it when they leave the shops so any potential virus is now on their hands which they then open doors etc with.

 

And people complain about lockdown...............................................................

Where we live the vast majority of people are taking it seriously.  There are extra police patrols who stop and query any groups standing together.  My son has been stopped twice in the last week.  You are stopped from entering shops or supermarkets if not wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose.  At our local Pizza place, you are given a number when you order and have to wait outside until you are called in to collect your order.  A lot of it is down to the local community who have taken it on themselves to not tolerate the rule breakers.  It has been a long time coming, but now we have been pushed into Tier 4 people around here are angry enough to police the idiots breaking the rules.  

 

The arrogance of youth is much in evidence along with a sprinkling of "do you know who I am" dickheads, but both are being berated with considerable vigour!

[KhaoYai]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

Where we live the vast majority of people are taking it seriously. 

Then you are lucky.  I took my wife to London when she visited here this summer.  We went to a Starbucks for a coffee and I heard a comotion going on behind me. I turned around to see that staff telling a young lad off for moving chairs around so he could sit with his mates - he ignored them, even told them to f off.  This group were around 16 or 17 years old I'd guess. The staff told them they could get fined (the company) for breaking the regulations - still they were ignored.

 

I went over, tipped the kid off his chair and returned it to where it came from - the kid squared up to me but backed down when he realised his mates weren't going to help him.  However, in my opinion, the staff could do more, they don't need to confront people as I did, they could just refuse to serve them - this group came in and most sat down immediately, leaving 2 to get their order - clearly ignoring the rules.  All this took place just outside a railway station with Transport Police everywhere - the kids don't care, they get away with it every time.  The kid I confronted seemed shocked that someone dared to stand up to him - as you say, the arrogance of youth.

[Kadilo]

People have had enough. The majority are in a virtual lockdown in tier 4 but it’s still not enough they say. 

What else is there to shutdown?

 

Shall we make everyone stay at home again and lose all their businesses ? Lose their livelihoods, incomes, families? 

 

Seems odd that these stats keep coming about how grave it is yet they are dismantling the Nightingale hospitals as they are still not being used. 

 

Im pleased to say there were plenty of people out exercising today walking along the riverfront burning off the Xmas excess and not sitting indoors as a self exiled prisoner moaning about everyone out exercising. They have got more chance of dying of obesity related illnesses than catching covid if they use their common sense. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Scott]

Baiting, bickering posts and replies removed.

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

the culling of old & sick people is a good thing only for the government pyramid SCAM called pension that was about to collapse anyway

[polpott]

1 minute ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

the culling of old & sick people is a good thing only for the government pyramid SCAM called pension that was about to collapse anyway

More mindless rhetoric. If it was government policy to cull the old and sick why is vaccinations in care homes their highest priority? Next is over 80s and people with serious pre existing conditions.

 

The government pension serves me well and is not about to collapse.