Yes. I often find I'm the only person in my local supermarket wearing a mask. (I think Bill mentioned a similar experience in his last journal). It's one of the reasons why the latest variants are spreading like wildfire (see my post, above, from earlier today, on BA.4 and BA.5).
The fast spread of the new variants BA.4 and BA.5 has been mostly unreported by the BBC (I wonder if they've been pressured by the government). They finally covered it this morning, although it's been rising fast for weeks. Out of all the people they chose to comment, they've gone with someone who plays it down (in contrast to what many other epidemiologists are saying, alarmed by the steady rise in hospitalisations).
From one of the world's leading science journals, Nature:
'Lab studies consistently suggest that antibodies triggered by vaccination are less effective at blocking BA.4 and BA.5 than they are at blocking earlier Omicron strains, including BA.1 and BA.22–6. This could leave even vaccinated and boosted people vulnerable to multiple Omicron infections, scientists say. Even people with hybrid immunity, stemming from vaccination and previous infection with Omicron BA.1, produce antibodies that struggle to incapacitate BA.4 and BA.5.'
A few weeks ago, 1 in 65 were infected with Covid in the UK. It's now 1 in 35, and rising quickly.
It will take its toll on the NHS, which is already under massive strain. Boris Johnson apparently doesn't give a sh*t, as usual. Which I guess is one of the reasons why the Conservative Party Chairman, Oliver Dowden has today resigned. This government is a sinking ship, drowning in its own hopeless internal affairs - let's hope they don't take the country down with them.
I was wondering how long it'd take the BBC to cover the new sub-variants of omicron that are spreading - BA.4 and BA.5 (I read about it from a slightly alarmed epidemiologist a week ago, who was worried about the increasing hospitalisations).
Unfortunately, since these strains are likely to be the most infectious yet, coupled with the fact there are no restrictions in place (last time I went to the supermarket, I was the only person - out of 50 or so - wearing a mask), and waning immunity, it's likely to spread rapidly through the population. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but better to be prepared than not. I doubt Boris "herd immunity" Johnson will take any sensible measures in a hurry.
If new variants continue on the trajectory of more aggressively infectious, then actual full body armour might be the way to go on visits to the supermarket.
It's interesting to see how many UK premier league football clubs have rapidly succumbed to outbreaks of the virus. They already had more restrictions and protective procedures, as there's a massive financial and competitive incentive for keeping their players fit to play. But, still, they are going down like the plague! Let's hope the symptoms of this new wave are relatively mild for most, otherwise, with Boris Johnson following his usual clown-like, incompetent, deaf-to-science, too-little-too-late approach, we tend to look a bit stuffed!
"systematic review and meta analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions has found mask wearing the most effective." - reported in The Guardian.
"Mask-wearing is the single most effective public health measure at tackling Covid, according to the first global study of its kind, which found that the measure was linked to a 53% fall in the incidence of the disease."
"Vaccines are safe and effective and saving lives around the world. But most do not confer 100% protection, most countries have not vaccinated everyone, and it is not yet known if jabs will prevent future transmission of emerging coronavirus variants."
While I fully support the wearing of masks in enclosed public places, there is a wide range of data from various scientific sources as to their effectiveness, particularly with regard to how much they protect the wearer as opposed to other people. A standard pale blue mask is not going to reduce the wearer's risk by 60%. There are just too many gaps around the edges. The greater protection is to other people, through a significant amount of the wearer's breath going straight into the mask which traps a fair amount of potentially harmful molecules.
@jimwarnerbka Indeed. The figures in the graphic posted above should be taken with a pinch of salt, because there are many variable factors: type of mask, distance, variant of virus, air temperature/humidity, immune system of person, etc, etc. I think they are just ballpark rough averages to give an idea of the relative reduction in risk from mask-wearing. For those who are forced to spend time in crowded areas, and want more protection, I would recommend the FFP2 or FFP3 masks. These are single-use and quite expensive, but you can get them at UK pharmacies such as Boots and Lloyds the Chemists.
The Warriors victory parade in San Francisco a few days ago, while watching it, I realised it was a 95% maskless event.
The fast spread of the new variants BA.4 and BA.5 has been mostly unreported by the BBC (I wonder if they've been pressured by the government). They finally covered it this morning, although it's been rising fast for weeks. Out of all the people they chose to comment, they've gone with someone who plays it down (in contrast to what many other epidemiologists are saying, alarmed by the steady rise in hospitalisations).
From one of the world's leading science journals, Nature:
A few weeks ago, 1 in 65 were infected with Covid in the UK. It's now 1 in 35, and rising quickly.
It will take its toll on the NHS, which is already under massive strain. Boris Johnson apparently doesn't give a sh*t, as usual. Which I guess is one of the reasons why the Conservative Party Chairman, Oliver Dowden has today resigned. This government is a sinking ship, drowning in its own hopeless internal affairs - let's hope they don't take the country down with them.
I was wondering how long it'd take the BBC to cover the new sub-variants of omicron that are spreading - BA.4 and BA.5 (I read about it from a slightly alarmed epidemiologist a week ago, who was worried about the increasing hospitalisations).
Unfortunately, since these strains are likely to be the most infectious yet, coupled with the fact there are no restrictions in place (last time I went to the supermarket, I was the only person - out of 50 or so - wearing a mask), and waning immunity, it's likely to spread rapidly through the population. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but better to be prepared than not. I doubt Boris "herd immunity" Johnson will take any sensible measures in a hurry.
You should watch this
Woman wearing flu mask, 1919
Getty Images
Watching a CNN clip from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on NIOSH-approved masks and products.
The new mass-produced masks I see more and more are starting to remind me of these sorts of shapes . . .
Headline from San Francisco Chronicle
You've compelled me to post it again . . .
. . . 'anybody hear of plague in this town . . . '
A most interesting of Bergman's film Sevenrh Seal. Thanks for posting.
It's interesting to see how many UK premier league football clubs have rapidly succumbed to outbreaks of the virus. They already had more restrictions and protective procedures, as there's a massive financial and competitive incentive for keeping their players fit to play. But, still, they are going down like the plague! Let's hope the symptoms of this new wave are relatively mild for most, otherwise, with Boris Johnson following his usual clown-like, incompetent, deaf-to-science, too-little-too-late approach, we tend to look a bit stuffed!
"systematic review and meta analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions has found mask wearing the most effective." - reported in The Guardian.
"Mask-wearing is the single most effective public health measure at tackling Covid, according to the first global study of its kind, which found that the measure was linked to a 53% fall in the incidence of the disease."
"Vaccines are safe and effective and saving lives around the world. But most do not confer 100% protection, most countries have not vaccinated everyone, and it is not yet known if jabs will prevent future transmission of emerging coronavirus variants."