https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55362433
That graph is scary. Why is Wales so much higher?
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55362433
That graph is scary. Why is Wales so much higher?
The chart showing the worst council areas here has seven Welsh areas in the top ten in the U.K.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...navirus-uk-map
Yet, the latest ONS figures show the R in Wales is below many regions in England and that in England one in one hundred and fifteen people has Covid, in Scotland it's one in one hundred and twenty five, while in Wales and Northern Ireland, who are both going into lockdown just after Christmas, its one in one hundred and seventy five and one in two hundred and thirty five respectively.
My guess would be a mixture of:
- Wales has some very rural areas but most of the population lives close together and we're almost on top of each other in some places. Likewise, areas where different generations are living in the same home, or near enough.
- Greater distrust of experts, media and politicians so fewer people following the guidance. Greater apathy so not caring about the rules and desire for an authoritarian leader - we have one across the bridge selling the possibility of it being more positive than it is and encouraging people to take risks.
- The firebreak was signed up to reluctantly and by people who believed they could act however they wanted after 2 weeks. (It would have been political suicide to have extended it but probably the right thing to do).
- Harsher restrictions has seen people rebelling in ways they might not have if they could still go bowling etc.
Good information (http://www.freshair.wales/) is out there but there are also high profile ex-international rugby players (and the status that brings) saying their rights are being infringed by being asked to wear a mask and they're not going to do it anymore....
Here's the link I took the info in the last paragraph above from.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55365294
The Telegraph talks of "alarming" news on the new Covid variant - unfortunately, all bar the headline is behind a paywall, so I've no more info than that, but, presumably, it's along the lines of this;-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...w-covid-strain
Good news is that, as refered to above, the Telegraph is reporting that the Oxford vaccine will be approved just after Christmas.
20 million doses, easier to rollout. Let’s get it on
Has anyone else, like me, received a letter this week from the NHS in respect of taking part in random Covid testing? Kit arrives by post and gets collected by courier.
Does the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine reduce transmission? I am ****ing sick of staying in for like 9/10 months and if it reduces transmission, would that mean it would be safer to go out by Spring?
I seem to remember the Pfizer vaccine stops you from getting very ill but doesn't necessarily reduce transmission
Pfizer CEO "not certain" it will stop transmission: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...nsmission.html
Boris just introduced Tier 4 for areas in England.
Tier 4 areas cannot mix at Christmas and in other areas Christmas bubbles reduced to 1 day
Over 3,000 new cases in Wales today while we wait about to celebrate something which occurs right in the middle of the time when the virus will thrive.
Boris scoffed at Keir on Wednesday about cancelling Christmas. Now 3 days later this.
Drakeford will follow I think.
Both my wife and I participated in a COVID test survey a few months ago. I did the test that involved taking a swab from the back of the throat and a nasal swab. The kit arrived by post and was collected by a courier. The arrangements worked well.
My wife did the test that involved pricking the finger and placing blood on a card, getting the result from that and sending the picture to the government's researchers which I think involved Imperial College. It was a while ago so can't remember the precise details.
There was a protest by about 200 people in Oxford Street today lots of quite straight older folk, there must have been 500 old bill some in full riot gear dispersing them, I doubt it will make the news or papers but I am starting to become sceptical.
Surely you must see that it would be irresponsible for any government not to act in the light of changing situation. Apparently the figures have got very much worse in the last 24 hours due to the new mutation which increases transmission rate by 70% so the government had no choice but to act.
I hope Drakeford does follow suit but he will want to do things his way and follow his usual anything but England strategy.
I see Sturgeon has a press conference at 5.30pm today so a Welsh one is inevitable.
I agree he should act.
If there was 4 weeks on from Wednesdays performance in Parliament and not days id have more sympathy.