New variant has emerged in Africa, should we be worried?

I feel for the retailers especially independents just before Christmas as this will push on line shopping again.

Calistemon

Whitewavemark2

I see when asked the scientists are agreeing with Gordon Brown’s article.

The outrageous thing imo is that the U.K. is holding onto a substantial amount of vaccine that will run out next month, and not used.

I think the problem is not getting it to the countries but getting it to the people who need it, the organisation and 8nfrastructure.

When we have a World Health Organisation one wonders why so many countries have to reply on charities like Medicins sans Frontières etc and other volunteers.

I have very little time for the WHO. Didn’t contain covid in China when it could have done, said face masks were a waste of time early on in the pandemic, didn’t investigate the Chinese laboratories properly etc etc.

I must say I tough Prof Whitty seemed quite upbeat reminding us all of the medical weaponry we now have at our disposal compared to the bleak days of this time last year. That was heartening to hear I thought.

Yes, there are treatments but people, even young people, are still dying. I have asthma and a number of other conditions and don't want to catch even a mild case of it.

Seems we are back to mandatory face masks in all shops and on public transport for the next 3 weeks then review.

I must say I tough Prof Whitty seemed quite upbeat reminding us all of the medical weaponry we now have at our disposal compared to the bleak days of this time last year. That was heartening to hear I thought.

Face masks will be mandatory I think. BJ mentioned that Sajid Javid will be giving more details in the next couple of days.

has he given a briefing?

The 2 UK cases are linked. I hope the unvaccinated amongst us will reconsider and get their jabs underway and I would like to see more face masks being worn. I really believe they help stop the spread.

Josianne

Erm, yes, and isn't the Netherlands cricket team in South Africa on tour and I believe currently playing the South African team?
(Nottingham and Chelmsford are two cricketing centres as well, though that tenuous link is only supposition on my part.)

The two identified cases had both been in South Africa recently.

Yes, Boris is giving a news briefing at 5pm today.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9240/

A report on Covax and global access to Covid-19 vaccines
Research Briefing
Published Tuesday, 02 November, 2021

I don’t think the UK will be ‘holding on to’ vaccines. For goodness sake, they’re practically begging people to get vaccinated.

Infrastructure

Pop-ups are covering the screen again.

Whitewavemark2

I see when asked the scientists are agreeing with Gordon Brown’s article.

The outrageous thing imo is that the U.K. is holding onto a substantial amount of vaccine that will run out next month, and not used.

I think the problem is not getting it to the countries but getting it to the people who need it, the organisation and 8nfrastructure.

When we have a World Health Organisation one wonders why so many countries have to reply on charities like Medicins sans Frontières etc and other volunteers.

travelsafar

*Alegrias1 * pardon me !!!! 'Suspected cases ' does that sound better???? I am sure most people understood what i meant.

Yes it does, thank you travelsafar.

There's lots of words that could have been used that people would have understood but that doesn't make them appropriate.

I see when asked the scientists are agreeing with Gordon Brown’s article.

The outrageous thing imo is that the U.K. is holding onto a substantial amount of vaccine that will run out next month, and not used.

Alegrias1 pardon me !!!! 'Suspected cases ' does that sound better???? I am sure most people understood what i meant.

Luckygirl3

Personally I think covid is a defence issue - we spend trillions on weapons of war, when our main fight for the foreseeable future is with covid. Maybe some of the trillions that is spent on nuclear weapons, warships and fighter planes might better be diverted to getting the world vaccinated - that is our main enemy at the moment. Many vaccines are needed and personnel to administer them and to lead a publicity push to help people all round the world to be willing to accept them.

I think we have to look to the long-term too, Luckygirl3, it's not a case of either/or.
Covid is not our only worry.

Erm, yes, and isn't the Netherlands cricket team in South Africa on tour and I believe currently playing the South African team?
(Nottingham and Chelmsford are two cricketing centres as well, though that tenuous link is only supposition on my part.)

Think Boris is addressing the nation later.

Oh no. I knew it would happen, but this quickly. Am I right in that South Africa played rugby at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago? Probably a fair few cases came in then, if it’s true.

Do we know if they had been travelling?

Problem is that as soon as one country closes borders/airports- people who want to travel rush to travel to nearby country, then go onwards to the other country- pretending they come from there!!! Just like some British skiers did last Christmas in Switzerland, Austria and Germany -fleeing in the middle of the night to travel back by train or hire car- to avoid quarantine.

Kali2

Breaking BBC News

Two cases of new variant of Covid-19 detected in UK

Yes. Chelmsford and Nottingham.

Hmm, just had that flash up on my screen too.
And this
Sixty-one people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19, Dutch officials say. They have been placed in isolation at a hotel near Schiphol airport.
They were among some 600 passengers held for several hours after arrival while they were tested for the virus

So if that was 1 in 10, what about all the others we have seen land in the U.K. who managed to leave just before the clamp down
The virus doesn’t stick to timetables.

Breaking BBC News

Two cases of new variant of Covid-19 detected in UK

Personally I think covid is a defence issue - we spend trillions on weapons of war, when our main fight for the foreseeable future is with covid. Maybe some of the trillions that is spent on nuclear weapons, warships and fighter planes might better be diverted to getting the world vaccinated - that is our main enemy at the moment. Many vaccines are needed and personnel to administer them and to lead a publicity push to help people all round the world to be willing to accept them.