Covid - news and views

I'm still using the interactive map to see where the Covid outbreaks are most evident. When you zoom in there are some areas which have very high rates, I can't think that we can go ahead just yet with "release" dates. Map LINK  I see an area of Glasgow has over 1000 cases. I'm hoping there'll be a chance for more of the younger generation to get vaccinated before we "release." I was listening to Radio 4 covid science discussions this morning and the discussion raised the issue that children will probably need to be vaccinated as they are transmitting the latest Delta Covid variant more than previous variants.

Given recent developments absolutely no chance of relaxations on 21 June, at least 2 further weeks is best case scenario, more likely 4 as a starting point. Given the Delta strain is 60% more infectious a significant number of young people need to be vaccinated to get the situation under control. We dodged a bullet… imagine the situation we’d be in now if the Delta strain had hit us in February before the onset of mass vaccination?

Agree with your two weeks and four would be safer in my view.

I'm not an expert, so don't quote me, but from what I recall from one is that each variant for any virus 'builds' upon the the previous one in small steps and it can't really go from from say alpha to delta. 

There are mutations or variants all the time, a whole lot more that the four we know about. It is in fact evolution in practice where a change  gives an advantage over the others and allows it to survive better.

Some variants do not give the virus any advantage (or even give a dis-advantage) and that variant will 'disappear' or we don't even notice them, over ones that do. Some mutation/variant give the virus a significant advantage over the others, like it is more transmissible or has a greater load, and that variant will become the dominant one, just like the Kent variant became the dominant one a few months ago.

Like I said not an expert, just going from recall. so just posting for discussion/information (ie don't shoot the messenger)

Evolution and Natural Selection in action! You can blame Darwin for that.

Indeed but never did I think it would be working against us. I suppose another aspect of the arrogance of our species?

Some of the population haven't evolved from Knuckle-Dragging mode yet still seem more than capable of surviving. That seems rather unnatural to me.😂

In the time scale of natural selection we've only been around for a very short while. Our process has hardly started yet.

I'm under no illusion that HomoSapiens will be but a short few seconds in Earths clock.

However, in my nano second of existence I would prefer it if the K-Ds could keep out of my way please.😉😉

Knuckle draggers tend to be quite hardy. They breed more as well. I think we might have got one moved into our street lately. Their dog definitely has the higher IQ, all the owner does is grunt.😂 It’s a pleasant grunt, but definitely a grunt. His education is on going at the moment, next door neighbour (very feisty) went round and read him the riot act about starting very smoky fires at 10am in the morning with everyone’s washing out drying. A word has been had about using petrol as a fire starter as well😱 Would hate for vaccine jabs to go to waste as he incinerates himself. Bit of a plonker methinks🤷‍♀️

Hope there's none on your site, or have you just been unfortunate in meeting some while out today?