This Is What's Fueling the U.K.'s Massive COVID Surge

[Nevilledog]

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The Daily Beast
@thedailybeast
The U.K. has the worst rate of new COVID infections in all of Western Europe right now. Eight times the rate in France. Six times the rate in Germany. Twenty times the rate in Spain.

This is what is fueling the massive surge.

This Is What’s Fueling the U.K.’s Massive COVID Surge
Experts say there are valuable lessons to be learned from the alarming COVID infection rates sweeping the United Kingdom.
thedailybeast.com
4:40 PM · Oct 25, 2021

https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-is-whats-fueling-the-united-kingdoms-massive-covid-19-surge

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https://archive.ph/MZJ43

The United Kingdom is highly vaccinated against COVID, but it also has the worst rate of new COVID infections in all of Western Europe right now. Eight times the rate in France. Six times the rate in Germany. Twenty times the rate in Spain.

To a vaccine-skeptic, that might seem like evidence that the jabs don’t work. It’s not. The vaccines are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do: reducing the rate of severe illness and keeping people out of hospitals.

The problem is that, as high as the U.K.’s vaccine rate is, it’s not high enough to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s transmission pathways and achieve population-level “herd immunity,” especially considering that vaccine uptake is slowing fast. And many of those who are already vaccinated are about to lose some of their protection as their antibodies and T-cells fade.

Making the problem worse, people are gathering in big groups again and shrugging off masks. And authorities aren’t trying very hard to stop them. The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted most mandatory social-distancing rules back in July and has resisted calls to at least partially reinstate them.

*snip*

[FakeNoose]

1. So ... long story short ... they have to go back to wearing masks everywhere

... and they have to vaccinate their kids as soon as possible.

[Shermann]

2. The explanation for the surge in the UK is unacceptable

Vaccine rate not high enough to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus: true everywhere
Vaccine uptake is slowing fast: true everywhere
People are gathering in big groups again and shrugging off masks: true everywhere
Many of those who are already vaccinated are about to lose some of their protection: true everywhere

The article doesn't mention Delta-Plus, which is more prevalent in the UK (whoops). But even that only accounts for 6% of cases as I understand it, nowhere near enough to cause a surge of that size.

The reality is that science has no explanation for these macro-level oscillations. The seasons and the holidays are factors, but poor singular explanations.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

5. Agree, nothing about this is explanation is different from situation in the US ...

So why aren't our cases surging like the UK?

[Celerity]

6. It does mention Delta Plus. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. "slowing fast"? :eyes:

[BigmanPigman]

4. I've been following the UK and Russia

recently since both countries are going in the wrong direction. Russia is worse than the UK since their deaths match the number of new cases. Don't their vaccines work? I thought Putin had his own successful vaccine long ago.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/russia/

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

[Ms. Toad]

7. Both peaked earlier than we did,

dipped, then climbed.

That does not bode well for us.

[Poiuyt]

8. We need vaccinations, masks, and to stop congregating in large, indoor groups

Unfortunately, politicians have learned that closing restaurants and clubs and stopping sporting events (and other gatherings) are not popular or tolerated by the public. Even if that's what it takes to end the pandemic, they won't try that again.

[UTUSN]

9. For sure, thought they were going to blame it on *BEER*!

[Bev54]

10. So in Canada, we are gathering in large groups, sporting events, concerts

but in all of them, must have proof of vaccination and wear a mask. We have spots of problems with those unvaccinated but it is not coming from the large gatherings. I myself have been at these and feel quite comfortable. The problems remain with the unvaccinated.