Scotland ditch plans to stop wearing masks on public transport

Urmstongran said : With case rates three times England’s maybe it will dawn on Sturgeon that her policies are actually keeping cases high, displacing and concentrating transmission in other settings.

Could you explain that a bit more please UG?

Linda Bauld was on Radio Scotland this morning.

The BA2 variant is very transmissible, that's why cases are rising. Masks are effective but they are not 100% effective so transmission is still going on.

The BA2 variant doesn't hit older people worse, but like all the other variants if you are older and you get it, it will hit you harder than it will hit younger people. On average. More people of all ages are getting it.

It is SueDonim.

Covid is absolutely rife where I am in NE Scotland. People are still pretty adherent to the rules with masks but it’s running riot anyway. Care home are full of it but almost no one is ill, it’s being picked up by regular testing of residents but they’re almost all asymptomatic.

It’s really hard to understand what’s going on.

Marydoll I agree with you. I have no intention of abandoning wearing a mask in public places. It's concerning that this new variant is hitting older people worst too.

Grandmabatty and Grannynannywanny, that's what DH and I were saying earlier.
How can English numbers be accurate at present?
Tests are still free here at the moment, thank goodness and I will continue to test on a regular basis, report the outcome and continue to wear a mask.
I know of three fully vaccinated over sixty fives, who presently have Covid and are very unwell.
I fear that complacency has played a part in this.

If Scotland is that covid blighted, would this suggest the masks are not much use? England has pretty much ditched them yet our figures are lower

I’d say recorded numbers in England are lower because the testing has been pretty much ditched in England along with the masks.

The latest study has shown that over 55 are being hit hardest by the new variant and there are significant concerns. Scotland has a high rate in comparison, but that might be because the English system is no longer taking it seriously and therefore not reporting cases. Certainly you would think so from the attitude of some posters.

I beg to differ. We had a poster here, who said Covid has gone away. I can't remember where, but I remember at the time, how uninformed they are.

Marydoll

I am signed up for Zoe Covid study updates.I received this today.

Highest COVID cases ever recorded

The latest ZOE COVID Study data, suggest there are over 250,000 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID. This is an increase of 47% from last week and indicates a record high in the number of cases recorded in one day. Prevalence rates are also high with 1 in 24 people currently infected. Rates are the highest across Scotland, London and the South East. Concerningly, we’re also seeing an increase among those aged 55 and over, who are more susceptible to serious illness.

This is for those on GN, who saying Covid has gone away.

I am pretty sure nobody could possibly think Covid has gone away but it’s no longer what it was for most since our vaccination program and the amount of people that have antibodies. For most it can be flu or cold like symptoms or very mild symptoms some of which may be unpleasant but no longer what it was initially. Symptoms we would normally be overly bothered about. Long Covid does still exist but again the vaccination program has immensely helped with this.
Also all the anti viral drugs that are now available for those that may become more seriously ill

I am signed up for Zoe Covid study updates.I received this today.

Highest COVID cases ever recorded

The latest ZOE COVID Study data, suggest there are over 250,000 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID. This is an increase of 47% from last week and indicates a record high in the number of cases recorded in one day. Prevalence rates are also high with 1 in 24 people currently infected. Rates are the highest across Scotland, London and the South East. Concerningly, we’re also seeing an increase among those aged 55 and over, who are more susceptible to serious illness.

This is for those on GN, who saying Covid has gone away.

Here in Norfolk cases are up by 75% in the last seven days and our nearest hospital is admitting about 150 people a week with covid. I don’t have information on deaths but it’s rather concerning that so many people are being hospitalised just in my local area yet covid information has completely dropped off the tv news radar.

Cases in Bristol, City of
A confirmed case is someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

Between 10 March 2022 and 16 March 2022, 4,855 people had a confirmed positive test result. This shows an increase of 64.1% compared to the previous 7 days

Masks not required.

Many people live in S Wales and work in Bristol.

Masks are required in certain public areas in Wales.

However, anti-maskers will now claim that, despite mask wearing, cases in Wales have started to rise so masks are not effective.

No, it's because people travel to and fro across the border.

paddyann54

Its not a problem .most places I go the majority of people wear them .Its hardly a big ask to wear a mask for a wee while to avoid the spread of a virus that is still very much out there .The media WILL catastophise it though ,thats what they do with every Scotgov announcement .
For the record LilacChaser your very welcome here ,just stick with the rules and you'll be fine

Totally agree with your assessment. All welcome if following the Scottish rules.

Germanshepherdsmum

Good grief Paddy, I’m agreeing with you. Must have a lie down.

And me ?

But then, I live in sensible Wales.

Kalu

volver

Nice try.

Off to watch telly now.

Off to watch TV now is by far the better option!?

I will join you on the sofa!

volver

Nice try.

Off to watch telly now.

Off to watch TV now is by far the better option!?

With case rates three times England’s maybe it will dawn on Sturgeon that her policies are actually keeping cases high, displacing and concentrating transmission in other settings.

And Sturgeon told MSPs today: “Encouragingly, there is no evidence that BA.2 causes more severe illness than BA.1 [the original omicron variant] or that it is more effective at evading natural or vaccine immunity. Indeed, immune protection means that the recent rise in cases and hospital admissions has not translated into a commensurate increase in cases of severe illness requiring intensive care.”

I’m puzzled by her stance in view of her pronouncements.

I had two busy train journeys last Friday (in Scotland) and despite signs in the station reminding people to wear masks OH and I reckoned about 20% were. It was mainly the teenagers and young adults who were maskless. Shops seem different with more compliance but public transport is a joke.

Nice try.

Off to watch telly now.

Sorry, posted too early.

The new sub variant of omicron is not demonstrably milder than earlier versions of omicron.

Letting it rip is not the best idea. Never was.

And what of natural antibodies by comparison??

If Scotland is that covid blighted, would this suggest the masks are not much use? England has pretty much ditched them yet our figures are lower.

Immunity by vaccination lasts a lot longer than a few weeks.

I don’t think it’s forever volver but I’m sure I read somewhere that natural immunity does last longer than the few weeks immunisation confers. Is that not true?

I was in two stores in town after our Glasgow meet up. Shoppers suitably masked. Wearing a mask isn’t a huge ask. Were we ever, all in this together, in the UK?

One of my main concerns is for my school age GDs and all,pupils who have had their education and socialising with friends disrupted for so long.
I am hoping continuing to wear masks for however long it takes may go some way for schools to remain open ?