General Covid 19 news

[Hugo]

There are a fair number of mental health sufferers around.

That's certainly true now Ian.       I've just come back after taking my dog for a walk and on the walk I spoke to a young lady who told me a story of a young man she knew.
He was young and healthy and very much anti vaccine but contacted Covid and died as a result of it.    It's so very sad and tragic to hear a story like that especially when he had two young children.    Now those two children are fatherless and life will never be the same again for the wife and children.
When you hear stories like that they are so sad, but as parents of young children it could be said that it's irresponsible not to protect themselves and their family.
Anti vaccine people are lucky they live in the UK and not Singapore or Austria but the way things are going on here then our situation may have to be tightened further.

[Hugo]

They walk among us!       

Vaccine centre vandalised but Betsi's Covid booster roll-out effort continues regardless
A 58-year-old man was arrested after 17 windows were smashed at the OpTic Centre in St Asaph last night

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/vaccine-centre-vandalised-betsis-covid-22483810

[SteveH]

We can only hope he gets his just deserts.........

[SteveH]

A letter will be sent to 130,000 people in Wales with new advice about Omicron
The letter from the chief medical officer will contain 'practical advice' about protecting against the coronavirus variant

The advice will be sent out to everyone who was advised to shield by the Welsh Government at the beginning of the pandemic as concerns grow over the spread of the coronavirus Omicron variant.

The Welsh Government promised to provide up-to-date guidance following concerns that the new strain could lead to more vulnerable people ending up in hospital, Wales Online reports.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the shielding list had been "kept alive" in Wales throughout the pandemic and added that people appreciated the frequent correspondence from the CMO, clarifying the situation.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/letter-sent-130000-people-wales-22497579

[Fester]

The Telegraph and other newspapers are reporting tens of thousands of anti vax protestors in London. Police injured in disturbances... etc.
The BBC have no mention of it, and instead focus on Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing.
It is increasingly difficult to believe anything or anyone, about anything these days.

[Bri Roberts]

It is increasingly difficult to believe anything or anyone, about anything these days.

We have been saying the same.

[SAJ]

There was a brief mention of the demonstration on the BBC News website yesterday in the form of a photograph showing protesters in Parliament Square. I can’t say that I was particularly bothered by not seeing more of the topic on the news as it appeared to be more of the same, “It’s not a Vaccine” type protest. They’re entitled to their opinion but I’m sure I’d those who have opposing views crammed into tube trains into Central London, they’d outnumber those protesters. Of course they won’t do that because it’s impossible to socially distance on the Underground.

[Ian]

The Telegraph and other newspapers are reporting tens of thousands of anti vax protestors in London. Police injured in disturbances... etc.
The BBC have no mention of it, and instead focus on Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing.
It is increasingly difficult to believe anything or anyone, about anything these days.

One major problem is that the BBC has become a subset of Tory Inc., as it's now run by major Tory donors, instead of the experienced TV hands of before.  Now, the BBC is far from perfect, but the new controls being wielded by the Tory bosses are biting home, and staff are starting to leave.

[SteveH]

An expert epidemiologist has issued a warning over lateral flow tests as she urged the government to revise its guidance.

Professor Irene Peterson, of University College London, believes the government should advise people not to use lateral flow tests until just before they meet up with their friends and family.

She believes the lateral flows should only be used right before you leave to meet up with friends or family, or attend an event.

The current guidance recommends taking a test “if you will be in a high-risk situation that day”, however, there are more complications now due to the Omicron strain.

Professor Peterson said official advice should be concurrent with Omicron, as those infected with the new form of the virus “may switch from being non-infectious to infectious within hours”.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Prof Petersen said: “That’s not good enough. We’re seeing so many examples now where people have taken a test a day before and then when they take one the day after they are positive.

“Omicron is very, very fast, so the test result expires very quickly. It is hours that we are talking about now.”

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/experts-lateral-flow-warning-anyone-22517245

[SteveH]

UK researchers have analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and say it could provide around 85% protection against severe illness.

The protection is a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid.

But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital.

It comes as a record 861,306 booster jabs and third doses were given in the UK on Thursday.

The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.

With a booster, protection against severe disease from Omicron may be around 80 to 85.9%, compared to around 97% for Delta - the other variant that is currently dominant in the UK.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59696499

[SteveH]

Urgent message to everyone in North Wales waiting to get Covid booster
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's executive medical director Dr Nick Lyons said NHS services needed to be protected from the "tidal wave of Omicron cases coming our way in January"

A health board boss has delivered an urgent message encouraging all eligible adults in North Wales to come forward get the Covid booster jab by New Years Eve.

His call comes as he warned health services faced "a tidal wave of Omicron cases" coming in January.

Last week 66,000 vaccines were administered across North Wales - including 24,000 given out over the weekend alone.
And that drive is set to continue with the health service ramping-up the jab campaign in the coming days and week - aiming to administer around 18,000 every 24 hours.

"Getting booster jabs into the arms of all eligible adults over the next 10 days is critical to protect each other and NHS services from the tidal wave of Omicron cases coming our way in January," Dr Lyons said.

"I urge people to book online or attend one of our designated drop in clinics as soon as they can this week – don’t leave it until after Christmas – we have staff ready to vaccinate you.

"Getting your booster is the best Christmas present you can give yourself. The sooner you come forward, the sooner you will build your immunity.

"We will have significantly reduced capacity to deliver jabs during January – so its vital that you come forward as soon as possible."

cont /ref DP https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/urgent-message-everyone-north-wales-22531228


Drop in and pop up mobile clinics will be publicised online, with additional drop-ins potentially opened at specific sites, depending on take up.
To book an appointment for a vaccine,    COVID-19 online booking

 https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/covid-19-vaccinations/covid-19-booster-programme-online-booking/

[Dave]

Hallelujah!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59752752

That looks reasonable.

[Fester]

Hallelujah!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59752752

That looks reasonable.

Very reasonable.
I can go to the pub with five mates,  but I’ll be fined if I go to work.
This is the world we now live in.
 

[Ian]

Leader of the Tories in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, criticised the Welsh government's approach to announcing new restrictions over the past week.

"I would not have had the drip, drip, drip effect that has gone on over the last couple of days.

Hmnm.  So what Johnson's been doing, then, is wrong?  The rules are, as always, lacking consistency in message. Sadly, it's been the same throughout.

[SteveH]

Full list of Covid booster clinics and drop-in sessions in North Wales - and how to get your jab
More clinics and time slots are being added daily in the rush to get people jabbed by the end of December

full DP article    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/full-list-covid-booster-clinics-22546696

Today's drop-in session dates (no booking)
Conwy & Denbighshire
Booking now
West Shore Surgery, 9 Bryniau Road, Llandudno, LL30 2BL - Aged 18+, booster only
Sector House, 141 Argyll Road, Llandudno - Aged 12+, 1st, 2nd and booster
The OpTIC Centre, St Asaph Business Park, Ffordd William Morgan, St Asaph - Aged 12+, 1st, 2nd and booster
Coming soon
Coed Pella Building, Conwy Road, Colwyn Bay, Ll29 7AZ - Aged 12+, 1st, 2nd and booster