Here we go again ...

Hello All, 

One week on and not only am I still recovering (mainly snotty nose, cough, and dry throat) from the flu but now my Husband has it too, although mild in comparison to moi. Positivity is on the decline as we have yet to receive a reply from Hays Travel, following my four-page letter a fortnight ago, complaining about our Honeymoon from Hell to the Continental Plaza Beach Resort Hotel Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. Still there is nothing as yet. But be warned Hays Travel, I am not going to be letting this one go!

Sadly to say the positivity is low this week as the world is dealt another blow from the all-consuming dread that is COVID-19. Since I last mentioned stats and news and blah blah blah back in the heady heights of summer a lot has changed. Many more people have been vacc'd, not just one but two, and some people even a third. Government figures show that so far, 89% of people aged 12 and over in the UK have had their first vaccine dose, 81% have had their second and 31% have had a booster. Barer of (mainly) bad news, the BBC confirms there have been more than 10 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and nearly 145,000 people have died.

The broadcaster's news website explains that a new Covid variant - Omicron - has been identified and there are fears that it could be more infectious and less responsive to vaccines. Therefore, "precautions" are being taken until scientists can properly assess what the new variant's impact could be. Whilst the average number of daily confirmed cases has bounced around since mid-July, they have been rising again since early November and with the emergence of the new Omicron variant The UK government has decided on some new "temporary" measures being put in place as a "precaution". 

Yes, I am skeptical and yes I, like a lot of people I know are totally untrusting of the government, especially after stealing away our last Christmas and the months we have spent locked in, down, and isolated. The new restrictions, including the compulsory use of face coverings in shops and on public transport in England, come into force on Tuesday as well as anyone entering the UK will require a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and will need to self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

As now dictated, From Tuesday 30 November 2021, face coverings will once again be compulsory in shops and on public transport in England. Pupils at secondary schools in England are being "strongly advised" to wear face coverings in communal areas, although somehow lower and high schools are totally fine??? It obviously goes without saying that any and all contact with suspected Omicron cases, originating from mainly South Africa, should be reported and you will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of your vaccination status. This goes hand in hand with the order that from 4am on Tuesday, anyone entering the UK will require a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and must self-isolate until they have a negative result.

The aforementioned third vaccine against COVID is really just a Booster vaccine and the campaign is underway is not just for people aged over 40 or belonging to a number of other groups. It has now been extended to all over-18s to help stop a potential wave of cases driven by the new Omicron variant and with nearly 15 million booster doses already been administered in England so far (1.7 million in Scotland, 870,000 in Wales and 370,000 in Northern Ireland) were off to a good start. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there are "good reasons" to believe the vaccines will provide at least some protection against the new Omicron variant and has even called on people to get their booster doses as soon as possible as "If you're boosted, your response is likely to be stronger so it's more vital than ever that people get their jabs and we get those boosters into arms as fast as possible," he said.

So, What are the chances of another lockdown? Well, the government has repeatedly said it has no plans for another lockdown in England. Although how much of that I believe is debateable and maybe in a few weeks we will revisit this blog post to see how true this really it. In September, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced a list of measures which would come into place if the NHS came under "unsustainable pressure". These included face coverings, but also measures which have still not been brought in such as advising people to work from home and mandatory Covid passports. Who knows, Maybe BoJo and his friends will wait until we have all spent our money, bought ther presents, put up the tree and have the turkey in the fucking oven before he swipes it away from us all over again?

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

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