Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[editor]

Here's how we're looking compared to some of Europe

 

[danny la rouge]

August-September 2020 we were getting around 10 deaths a day. I'm sure I remember Scotland having a period of 0 deaths a day for a bit.

Indeed.

 

[20Bees]

Over 60s can book their Covid-19 appointments now!

Over 60s can book their NHS Covid-19 vaccination appointments online NOW!

If you’re over 60 and still waiting to get a date for your Covid-19 vaccination jabs, the good news is that you can go online now and immediately book appointments for your two doses.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

I meant to thank you yesterday for this.

I’m group 7, 4 months short of my 65th birthday, and the Omni calculator estimates first dose around 29 March. Using the NHS link I booked it for next Wednesday, 3 March, and the second dose on 23 May. I’m in a village south of Cambridge and the nearest vaccination centre is Superdrug, in the city centre, which is pretty handy.

Today I received a letter from the NHS inviting me to do exactly this (book a slot online) and colleagues in the same age group also got their letters today.

 

[editor]

I meant to thank you yesterday for this.

I’m group 7, 4 months short of my 65th birthday, and the Omni calculator estimates first dose around 29 March. Using the NHS link I booked it for next Wednesday, 3 March, and the second dose on 23 May. I’m in a village south of Cambridge and the nearest vaccination centre is Superdrug, in the city centre, which is pretty handy.

Today I received a letter from the NHS inviting me to do exactly this (book a slot online) and colleagues in the same age group also got their letters today.

I don't think info was widely available but I'm glad it's been useful.

I can see from my stats that around 7,000 people looked at that article with over 2,000 going directly to he NHS booking site, so I think I've definitely helped some people today!

 

[William of Walworth]

Here's how we're looking compared to some of Europe

View attachment 256155

That graph looks amazingly positive for almost all countries featured, very much including UK!

But how much do we know yet about the reasons?

Are the improved figures vaccination-related? ( x 10,000 if so ) or lockdown-related, or both?

I'd love to know more about the reasons

 

[Wilf]

I don't think info was widely available but I'm glad it's been useful.

I can see from my stats that around 7,000 people looked at that article with over 2,000 going directly to he NHS booking site, so I think I've definitely helped some people today!

You did indeed, inc. me.

One thing that struck me when I booked was that I could have gone to venues as far away as Leeds, which is 50-55 miles away (and there may have been venues even further, I didn't scroll very far and just took the nearest - Darlington). I'm sure that kind of flexibility is a good thing in circumstances where there may be surplus vaccine in places and is a good idea to just get more people done. Same time it's one of the old health inequalities in that those with access to transport and a 1/3 of a tank of petrol can get better outcomes.

 

[editor]

If people won't listen to medical advice about the importance of getting vaccinated, SURELY they'll listen to the Showaddywaddy singer?

Covid: Showaddywaddy singer describes 'brutal' Covid experience

Dave Bartram appeals for people to "think of others" and have the vaccination.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Weller]

If people won't listen to medical advice about the importance of getting vaccinated, SURELY they'll listen to the Showaddywaddy singer?

Covid: Showaddywaddy singer describes 'brutal' Covid experience

Dave Bartram appeals for people to "think of others" and have the vaccination.

www.bbc.co.uk

A missed opportunity to not break into his biggest hit

3 steps to heaven
The formula for heaven's very simple
don't follow the rules and you will see
Step 1 don't wear a mask
Step 2 don't sanitize your hands
Step 3 miss your vaccination

Im not a a fan but Ill still go when I'm called

She did some truly unforgivable things

Dave Bartram: ‘Margaret Thatcher probably saved Showaddywaddy’
Former lead singer Dave Bartram on buying flash cars, investing in property on Madeira and why 1970s taxation nearly broke up the band

 

[Badgers]

 

[Mr.Bishie]

World fucking beating!

 

[William of Walworth]

(Earlier exchange from further up this thread) :

I'm in category 6 ('vulnerable 18-64s'), and my phone remains stubbornly silent .......

Does the link Ed posted not work for Wales William? I appreciate that might be the case, it's just that it didn't say 'NHS England' or similar on the link. Anyway, hope you get sorted soon.

I'd like to see that link again, I can't seem to find it now ...

(Apologies for derail and re-derail, this should be in one of the vaccination threads really )

 

[Wilf]

(Earlier exchange from further up this thread) :





I'd like to see that link again, I can't seem to find it now ...

(Apologies for derail and re-derail, this should be in one of the vaccination threads really )

It's this one William. Not sure if you are 60 yet but it's worth trying it even if not:
Over 60s can book their NHS Covid-19 vaccination appointments online NOW! – Brixton Buzz

 

[cupid_stunt]

They are sticking to age groups, to keep things simple, for the second part of the vaccine roll-out.

It had been hoped ministers would put teachers at the front of the queue in the second phase - once all over-50s and at-risk groups had been offered a first dose.

But it's now understood the government will obey advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - which today said jabs should go by age instead.

In a TV press conference, the JCVI announced there should be three priority groups in Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout - people aged 40 to 49, aged 30 to 39 and aged 18 to 29.

He added switching to an occupation-based programme would be "untested and untried" and risked slowing down the rollout while "the queue is moving swiftly".

The expert said: "Speed is important. Getting vaccines into arms as quickly as possible is the fastest and best way to maximise benefit to the population."

He said people's jobs are "not very well recorded" in primary care records, so trying to target teachers would make things "even more difficult" for vaccine teams.

"The benefit may not be worth the effort," he said. "On balance we felt it was simpler to keep everything as straightforward as possible."

New Covid vaccine priority list unveiled for rest of UK as teachers miss out

The JCVI vaccine authority has announced the order in which healthy adults under 50 should get the jab - with 40-49s first, then 30-39s, then 18-29s last

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[existentialist]

They are sticking to age groups, to keep things simple, for the second part of the vaccine roll-out.

New Covid vaccine priority list unveiled for rest of UK as teachers miss out

The JCVI vaccine authority has announced the order in which healthy adults under 50 should get the jab - with 40-49s first, then 30-39s, then 18-29s last

www.mirror.co.uk

It's almost as if they are setting out to make the education system as fucked up as they can.

 

[teuchter]

Why not just have the age bands, and then allow people to get in earlier by "self-certifying" that they are teachers. There'd be a number of people who would queue jump by lying, of course, but I think most people would want to be honest, and the overall benefit would be greater.

 

[tommers]

or they could just go to a school and jab everybody. Maybe tell them first.

 

[lazythursday]

Interesting article in the MEN on the fact rates are much higher in the north again than the south - A north-south divide in Covid rates is opening up again - so what's the plan

Suggests that areas with higher rates should be prioritised for vaccine supply.

 

[two sheds]

or they could just go to a school and jab everybody. Maybe tell them first.

Yes I don't see how including teachers could conceivably "slow things down" are teachers particularly sluggish when moving in queues?

 

[planetgeli]

People with eg learning difficulties (or other issues) who live in sheltered housing are being invited by 'house' (to which GPs are writing, not the individual) and there must be thousands more units of them than there are schools.

Slow things down my arse.

 

[platinumsage]

People with eg learning difficulties (or other issues) who live in sheltered housing are being invited by 'house' (to which GPs are writing, not the individual) and there must be thousands more units of them than there are schools.

Slow things down my arse.

I doubt the number of long-stay nursing and residential care facilities for people with learning disabilities comes anywhere near the 32,770 schools in the UK.

 

[planetgeli]

I doubt the number of long-stay nursing and residential care facilities for people with learning disabilities comes anywhere near the 32,770 schools in the UK.

The review estimates that at the end of 2015, there were approximately 651,500 accommodation-based supported housing units2 in Great Britain, the majority of which (85 per cent) are in England, with nine per cent in Scotland and six per cent in Wales,

 

[Cid]

They are sticking to age groups, to keep things simple, for the second part of the vaccine roll-out.

New Covid vaccine priority list unveiled for rest of UK as teachers miss out

The JCVI vaccine authority has announced the order in which healthy adults under 50 should get the jab - with 40-49s first, then 30-39s, then 18-29s last

www.mirror.co.uk

Yeah, perfectly understandable, I mean it's not as if they've had a year to prepare for an occupation based vaccine rollout.

 

[andysays]

Yeah, perfectly understandable, I mean it's not as if they've had a year to prepare for an occupation based vaccine rollout.

While I can understand people in some occupations, including teachers, thinking they should be vaccinated as priority, the advice from the JVCI remains the same.

I have yet to see any attempt to model what would happen if teachers or others were prioritised over those who are currently ahead of them in the queue.

 

[Cid]

While I can understand people in some occupations, including teachers, thinking they should be vaccinated as priority, the advice from the JVCI remains the same.

I have yet to see any attempt to model what would happen if teachers or others were prioritised over those who are currently ahead of them in the queue.

We know that sending schools back is a calculated risk, with a modelled effect on R0. Teachers will essentially be forced back to work in that environment, and while some of those in at risk categories will be covered by the existing protocol, not all will. Afaik vaccines for groups that are categorised as at-risk are ongoing, and potentially will be into April... If I were a teacher I'd be going back to work 14 days after receiving my first dose.

I also suspect there is a bit of deferment of risk going on, e.g this is from a now withdrawn document on the rollout from December (my bold):

Vaccination of those at increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 due to their occupation could also be a priority in the next phase. This could include:

• first responders
• the military
• those involved in the justice system
• teachers
• transport workers
• public servants essential to the pandemic response.

Priority occupations for vaccination are considered an issue of policy, rather than for JCVI to advise on. JCVI asks that DHSC consider occupational vaccination in collaboration with other government departments.

 

[maomao]

The review estimates that at the end of 2015, there were approximately 651,500 accommodation-based supported housing units2 in Great Britain, the majority of which (85 per cent) are in England, with nine per cent in Scotland and six per cent in Wales,

A unit is one house or flat though isn't it?

 

[andysays]

We know that sending schools back is a calculated risk, with a modelled effect on R0. Teachers will essentially be forced back to work in that environment, and while some of those in at risk categories will be covered by the existing protocol, not all will. Afaik vaccines for groups that are categorised as at-risk are ongoing, and potentially will be into April... If I were a teacher I'd be going back to work 14 days after receiving my first dose.

I also suspect there is a bit of deferment of risk going on, e.g this is from a now withdrawn document on the rollout from December (my bold):

That bit in bold is interesting, thanks.

Just to be clear, I think the return to school is being rushed, and I think any teachers in at risk groups should certainly be fully vaccinated before they are asked to return, but I would still like to see some modelling of the consequences of all teachers being vaccinated as high priority before agreeing it's a good idea.

 

[Wilf]

While I can understand people in some occupations, including teachers, thinking they should be vaccinated as priority, the advice from the JVCI remains the same.

I have yet to see any attempt to model what would happen if teachers or others were prioritised over those who are currently ahead of them in the queue.

I can't see an argument for putting teachers ahead of supermarket workers or bus drivers, certainly, though whether there should be priority for occupational groups per se... probably/perhaps/don't know. If it was logistically do-able, I'd certainly support the idea that all groups under pressure to work should get priority within age groups. No reason that I (as 60 year old, working from home) should be of equal priority as a 60 year old shop worker, for example. But on the schools, if teachers don't get vaccine priority, that should itself have been an argument for keeping them closed a bit longer. Another 2 weeks or so would get a high percentage of 50+ teachers vaccinated on grounds of age alone.

 

[miss direct]

Because supermarket workers have screens and don't spend a long time in contact with the same person. Same goes for bus drivers.

 

[planetgeli]

A unit is one house or flat though isn't it?

Yes. What's your point maomao? (Not criticizing, trying to understand what you are getting at). Many of these units have full or part-time staff (and all will have staff of some sort overseeing them). It is these staff who are being written to by GPs to bring in the residents. I don't see how this is any less difficult than writing to schools and getting teachers in to be jabbed.

 

[maomao]

Yes. What's your point @maomao? (Not criticizing, trying to understand what you are getting at).

Just that the comparison of numbers was a bit apples and oranges. Most sheltered housing facilities contain multiple units.