General Covid 19 news

[SteveH]

The UK would be making a "terrible mistake" to relax Covid measures just months before vaccines are expected to take effect, a leading scientist said.

Prof Peter Openshaw, a government adviser, said the nation should not "take the brakes off" at this stage "when the end is in sight".
He said infection rates, numbers in hospital and deaths were all too high.

But he said recent trial results showed "for sure that this is a virus we can defeat with vaccination".

Prof Openshaw, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) who works at Imperial College London, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We scientists are very concerned indeed about relaxation of precautions at this stage.

"The rates are still too high, there's too many cases coming into hospitals, too many people dying."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55121602

[SteveH]

good advice............

[Hugo]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry about the latest Corona news for Wales              


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqsgFVJ5ts

[SteveH]

When, where and how you'll get the new Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer
The vaccine has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Chief pharmaceutical officer for Wales Andrew Evans said there would have to be a "short but necessary delay between the regulator giving approval and it being ready to use in a clinical setting".

That relates to the instability of the new vaccine, which is a brand new technology that needs to be stored between -70C and -80C before being readied for use.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/when-how-youll-new-covid-19383420


Coronavirus 'vaccine id card' for everyone in Wales who gets immunised
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/coronavirus-vaccine-id-card-everyone-19383795

[Hugo]

Coronavirus 'vaccine id card' for everyone in Wales who gets immunised

That's interesting Steve because some Tories are proposing this "  No Vaccine No Entry"  so in effect it's only the same as  " No Mask No Entry" 
So if that idea was to get off the ground then you would have to wear your mask and produce your vaccination card before being allowed to go indoors anywhere

[SteveH]

The science behind the Welsh Government's booze ban and 6pm curfew
Documents have been released which show what ministers looked at before making the decision

" They said that "on balance", it appeared the stronger interventions taken elsewhere resulted in reduced growth rates of the virus.

They added: "These stronger interventions included restrictions on meeting others (apart from support bubbles), the closure/limited opening of pubs, bars and restaurants, and limited travel."

The advisors also included a document published by the UK Government Cabinet Office, which they said explains "how the different types of evidence available support the view that hospitality venues are a significant risk for transmission".
cont   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/science-behind-welsh-governments-booze-19391265



And similary a BBC article ... What is the evidence for the new hospitality rules?

" International studies looking for connections between events or locations and infection have "found significant association between hospitality and infection", the paper says.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-55172572

[Hugo]

The latest travel rules for Wales may help the hospitality trade in Wales as people from tiers 1 and 2 in England are allowed into Wales.
At least they won't be here for the beer!         


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-government-unveils-latest-travel-19390150

[SteveH]

'We are not deaf' to North Wales anger and regional approach 'on table' says Welsh Government minister
Deputy economy minister Lee Waters said he understood the reaction but they had to make hard choices

A Welsh Government minister said they are aware of the depth of anger in North Wales over the latest set of measures.

The latest set of hospitality restrictions have triggered a backlash in the region - with business groups, hospitality businesses and opposition politicians attacking the approach.

They say with case numbers still relatively low - particularly in Conwy, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Denbighshire - that the north is paying the price for South Wales’s high cases.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/we-not-deaf-north-wales-19420306

[SteveH]

Welsh health experts 'strongly advise' public to postpone Christmas gatherings after Covd-19 spike
The death rate in Wales for the week ending November 27 is a third higher than in England

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-health-experts-strongly-advise-19424772


Coronavirus outbreak at North Wales Police HQ sees staff members isolating
Several workers at the force's Colwyn Bay base have tested positive for Covid-19

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/coronavirus-outbreak-north-wales-police-19424739

[SteveH]

Covid's £2bn economic hit on North Wales's tourism sector revealed in devastating report
Lockdowns and restrictions have had a 'catastrophic' impact on sector

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/covids-2bn-economic-hit-north-19438224

[SteveH]

This joint editorial is only the second in the more than 100 year histories of The British Medical Journal and The Health Service Journal, We are publishing it because we believe the government is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives. If our political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action, they can no longer claim to be ‘protecting the NHS.’

https://www.hsj.co.uk/comment/government-must-stop-household-mixing-this-christmas-a-joint-call-by-the-bmj-and-hsj/7029159.article

[SteveH]

Christmas bubbles cut to two households and Wales to enter another full lockdown
All hospitality premises to shut from 6pm on Christmas Day and full alert level four measures will kick in from December 28

Some measures will come into force on Christmas Eve with all non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres forced to close from the end of the day.

All hospitality premises will be forced to close from 6pm on Christmas Day.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/christmas-bubbles-cut-two-households-19468454

[Hugo]

First Minister explains why low-Covid parts of North Wales will have to go into full lockdown

It's strange that no Minister in the UK has mentioned New Year's Eve and that must be worse than Christmas for the chance of Coronavirus being spread.    At least in Wales we know that New Year's Eve is a non starter for pubs and clubs etc

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/first-minister-explains-low-covid-19470163

[Dave]

First Minister explains why low-Covid parts of North Wales will have to go into full lockdown

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/first-minister-explains-low-covid-19470163

What an absolute load of bulls***. Typical politicians answer to avoiding telling the truth.

[Cambrian]

Dave - I think the issue may be that the current powers that be are completely averse to any form of regional approach in Wales. They do not like North Wales being regarded as a separate, identifiable entity.  (Just in case we demand devolution from Cardiff!)