‘More mutations coming,’ WHO expert warns
Dr David Nabarro, a World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy for COVID-19, has told Sky News there was “light at the end of the tunnel” for the UK in tackling COVID.
“Looking at it from a UK point of view, there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel… I think that it’s going to be bumpy before we get to the end,” he said. “So even though it’s possible to start imagining that the end of the pandemic is not far away, just everybody be ready for the possibility that there will be more variations and mutations coming along, or that there will be further challenges, other surges of even Omicron coming.”
He said children did not get very ill from COVID-19, and “we’re going to have children acting as vectors of the virus for some time to come.”
Dr Nabarro added that there was a need to still be “respectful of this virus”, saying: “Do what you can to stop transmitting it. Do what you can to protect others from being affected by it. It’s not the common cold. I know people would like it to be but it’s a virus that has still some really unpleasant features. Let’s do our best to protect people from it if we possibly can.”
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 17 January 2022
Daily
84,429
Last 7 days
700,366
A post-weekend “blip” - the trend downward continues … 
It may be over by Whitsun.
No 10 is drawing up plans to phase out England’s remaining pandemic restrictions from as early as March as a beleaguered Boris Johnson signals to his backbenchers that he is prepared to let the UK live with the virus. A senior source confirmed that the government was looking at ending mandatory self-isolation for positive Covid cases, saying it would be “perverse” to keep the measure in the long term. It could be replaced by guidance.
The legal requirement to self-isolate, carrying fines of up to £10,000 for non-compliance, is one of several pieces of Covid legislation due to expire in March and the government is considering whether any of it will still be necessary. Other provisions that will run out or require renewal include giving your address to NHS test and trace and listing members of your household. Powers relating to government funding for sick pay, inquests and emergency registration of medical workers also remain on the statute book.
Plans to end most plan B Covid restrictions in England, including working from home guidance and Covid passports, are also set to be finalised and announced this week or early next week. But ministers are expected to continue in the short term with rules mandating mask-wearing in shops and on public transport.
Some scientists warned against downgrading laws to reduce the spread of Covid, saying it could heap pressure on the NHS, but others said it was a logical next step.
It could be that the fat MAN is singing … 
This news will, of course, delight those who believe that an individual’s health is an individual’s responsibility … 
Maybe this is a topic for another thread, but I didn’t think there was contention on this.
Isn’t an individual’s health the responsibility of the individual? Public health, which is not the same thing, is the responsibility of the government.
I merely passed a comment on this thread.
There is recorded contention on the forum - see other threads or, indeed, start your own … 
OK done.
https://forum.over50schat.com/t/is-an-individuals-health-the-governments-responsibility/88314
See my comment on your new thread.
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 18 January 2022
Daily
94,432
Last 7 days
673,987
Another “blip” …
It may not be over by Whitsun.
Keep flogging the dead horse Omah.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey headline results, UK: 19 January 2022
1.Main points
During this period of high infections, we have decided to publish our headline results two days early. This means that the latest estimates on infection levels are available at their earliest opportunity and further breakdowns for the same period and a longer data time series will be published on Fridays. These early estimates are provisional and are subject to change as we receive more data, but they have undergone sufficient quality assurance to ensure that they are based upon an acceptable number of test results received up to the end of the reference week. This week, we are publishing estimates for the week ending 15 January 2022.
Today, we have published new data that show:
- In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 2,984,200 people in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 2,886,900 to 3,077,300), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In Wales, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 112,100 people in Wales had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 95,200 to 128,700), equating to around 1 in 25 people.
- In Northern Ireland, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased in the two weeks up to 15 January 2022, but the trend was uncertain in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 104,300 people in Northern Ireland had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 89,300 to 120,600), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In Scotland, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 236,600 people in Scotland had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 212,000 to 263,100), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In England, the percentage of people testing positive decreased in all age groups in the most recent week, except those aged 2 years to school Year 6 where the percentage of people testing positive increased in the most recent week.
- COVID-19 infections decreased in all regions in the most recent week except in the North East and the South West, where the trend was uncertain.
- Omicron variant compatible infections continue to be dominant across all UK countries.
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 19 January 2022
Daily
108,069
Last 7 days
652,469
O-oh … 
It may not be over by Whitsun.
It’s over.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-60046073
A recap of what we just heard
Sajid Javid has just hosted a news conference at Downing Street. Here are the key points:
- The health secretary says he is angry and pained by allegations of parties at Downing Street during Covid restrictions but that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to properly respond to an investigation into the claims
- The British people can make an ultimate judgement for themselves when the investigation is published, Javid adds
- Confirming the end of most Plan B measures in England, he says the changes mark the start of the next chapter of living with Covid in the UK
- Ending work-from-home guidance and face mask requirements in classrooms are some of the first changes that will take effect
- Vaccination, testing, anti-virals will continue to play a part in the UK’s response to Covid into the future
- Javid suggests that by the end of March we will begin to live with Covid without self-isolation policies
- But he adds “this is not the end of the road” (2) and warns “there will be future variants”
Meanwhile, the UK has reported 108,069 new daily Covid cases and 359 deaths with Covid on Wednesday.
“It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
We shall have to wait and see … 
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 20 January 2022
Daily
107,364
Last 7 days
650,700
The Omicron variant of coronavirus is “in retreat” and England is in the “next chapter” of its fight against the virus, the health secretary has said.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Sajid Javid said the lifting of Plan B COVID-19 measures is a moment “we can all be proud of”.
The work from home guidance has been rescinded with immediate effect, while COVID passes and mandatory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport will end next Thursday.
Face masks will also no longer be required in classrooms from Thursday and communal areas from 27 January.
Restrictions on visits to care homes will be eased further, with more details due to be set out in the coming days.
We shall see …
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 21 January 2022
Daily
95,787
Last 7 days
646,835
Back on the downward path … 
22 January 2022
DATA ISSUE
UK cases figures do not include data from Scotland
Figures for new positive PCR cases in Scotland are not available at the weekend. Figures will be retrospectively added to the totals for 22 and 23 January when published by Public Health Scotland on Monday 24 January.
Cases
People tested positive
Latest data provided on 22 January 2022
Daily
76,807Daily number of people tested positive reported on 22 January 2022
Last 7 days
641,929
Still on the downward path …
According to a FOI question of how many deaths with NO other underlying factors that figure is 17500 deaths since March 2020 in England and Wales
Link is 5mins long and a bit boring.
. The FOI Request No One is Talking About - But Why? - YouTube
Well, I think it’s axiomatic that the young and fit will usually survive but the old and sick may not.