Quite a big drop in cases today and even a reduction in admittances, hopefully a sign of things starting to turn. Residual infection rates will be high for a while though so be silly to come out of this lockdown until they're down.
Good news overall, though it’s still transmitting at different paces across the country. West Mids unfortunately one of the worst (although fingers crossed starting to level off/improve). The tier system was working by all accounts (certainly those in T3*). If anything the call for a national lockdown led to a bit of a (last hurrah) spike in non T3 areas. Not surprised from what I saw in Birmingham (T2)
Sages numbers again questionable at best. I’m all for trusting scientists but not based on some modelling guesswork with limited/no evidence released about high transmission in certain settings/locations*. The scientists will dig us out of this mess with a vaccine.....the scientific modellers on the other hand ?! (Will be interesting to see BBC2s programme tonight about first lockdown).
With all the information/options hopefully now at their finger tips why can’t we at least have the following:
Hospital capacity per region (percentage compared to normal) - to help encourage those is high transmission areas to follow guidelines/measures
ICU capacity per region (percentage compared to normal) - see above
Regular asymptomatic testing for those working in care homes and those due to be around elderly/elderly relatives (rather than moonshoting everyone !)
If it’s spiking in regions ‘advise’ people not to visit/be cautious visiting elderly relatives ie shield them - only meet outdoors, with face coverings, encourage not to go to shops (provide delivery support) etc
Advise not to visit/leave higher transmission regions during spike
All of the above should be relatively easy to deliver/implement, would help in a tier system and might get proper buy in, because if we are bounced into another lockdown(s) with limited info they’re going to have less and less impact.
Finally, again, great news if things are getting back under control and also positive noises about Oxford vaccine which I guess is great for not just us but the whole world/developing as Oxford/AZ appear not to be seeking to profit from initial circulation of vaccine - something we should be proud of (if correct)
*T3 apparently working and yet gyms, restaurants were still allowed to open.