From Bad to Worse.
Within a week the UK has experienced a tsunami of the Omicron variant of Covid. Official numbers are around 5,000 although experts say it is probably much higher. Due to become the dominant variant within a matter of days.
Does this matter? The Gov thinks it does. Despite growing evidence from S Africa where this first was identified that it does not cause serious symptoms, in fact the opposite, the UK is now in Plan B.
Plan B involves an order to work from home "when possible" and increased compulsory mask wearing. Um. Boris tells the nation it is perfectly fine to continue with the office party and appears unaware of the discrepancy between an order to stay at home and permission to crowd into bars, nightclubs and restaurants en masse.
The ubiquitous covid symbol
Hard to resist the sense that Boris is determined to deflect the nation's attention from more leaks about his 2020 antics in defiance of his own lockdown rules.
However, we are stuck with headlines plunging us into despair. I cannot understand why we have a national emergency when there is little evidence this new variant poses any greater threat.
Boris's strategy is to boost everyone. Booster campaign on steriods, he proclaims. Pity no one told the vaccination clinics. Queues of 4 hours plus today. GPs told to abandon all other work to get this done.
There is merit in expanding the booster campaign. Evidence has shown it needs a third shot for this particular variant. Esp those who had AZ for their first 2 shots, as that has shown zero efficacy. Whoops. I will be glad when my family is boosted, especially those who had our much lauded British version earlier in the year.
Much of my December social calendar is now blank again. Meals have been cancelled, book clubs postponed, fun lunches out moved to January. Everyone is counting the days til Christmas and holding their breath that nothing goes wrong.
Because if Christmas gets cancelled again I cannot bear it. No one can bear it. We do not deserve this. Everyone has been so careful. Everyone has followed the rules even when our civil liberties were restricted. This should not be happening.
