With the news dominated by other issues, it has gone almost unnoticed that the UK now has one of the highest rates of Covid infection in Europe. But, as winter fast approaches, how worried should we be?
The rates certainly look troubling. Only a handful of countries, including Romania and Serbia, have higher infection levels than the UK. And compared with the big nations in western Europe, the numbers are significantly higher.
Its coz folks did not realize, the Jab and boosters are to stop you dying, and reduce incidence of hospitalization, thus easing pressure on NHS. People still need to wear masks, and self distance to reduce numbers, I guess much of mainland Europe are still doing that. 
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Correct … 
Cont’d
There is a variety of reasons for this. The UK - or rather England - was the first nation in Europe to fully unlock when it ended most Covid restrictions on 19 July. It was not until late August that an EU country - Denmark - followed suit.
Others, such as Norway, have only taken this step in recent weeks, while many have retained a significant number of measures, such as limits on large gatherings, passports to enter bars and restaurants, social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing.
For example, in Germany and Italy there are still restrictions on large crowds at events like football matches. And in a number of nations, such as Spain, social distancing remains in schools as does wearing masks from the age of six.
So it is hardly surprising a virus that thrives on human contact has taken off in the UK compared with the rest of Europe.
Another factor is vaccination. At the start of the year and into the spring, the UK was leading the way on vaccination. But not any more, with the likes of Spain, Portugal and France all having administered more doses per head of population.
A big reason for this is that many nations have started vaccinating under-16s, whereas this is only just getting going in the UK.
BJ’s still letting over 1,000,000 people a month catch COVID-10 … 
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Cont’d
The epidemic here is largely being fuelled by high rates in teenagers - and, in particular, those under the age of 16 who have not had a chance to get vaccinated over the summer, unlike many of their peers elsewhere in Europe.
When this wave in teenagers ends, through a combination of natural immunity and the vaccination programme that is clicking into gear, we could actually start to see a sustained fall in infections as winter approaches.
But:
Lockdowns and social distancing meant the traditional winter viruses were largely absent last year. That will have led to less immunity across the population, prompting fears they could rebound back in a big way.
A virus called RSV, which can cause 30,000 admissions every winter among the under-fives - six times what we have seen so far in that age group from Covid - is already circulating at very high levels. The flu season is just beginning.
We have been warned … 
Isn’t there some horrendous cold going around, that nobody can shift for weeks…I wonder if that’s a sign 
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Hi
It is very important.
We did well at frirst, but others have now done better.
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