Covid confusion clouds countries' vaccine strategies

BTN News
Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Excluding the Brazil variant, which as yet has not found a foothold in the UK, UK residents face a media blitz on developments that started with one UK variant (the Kent variant) and now a second, plus a South African variant that also appears to be mutating.
 
The new UK and South African variants (which are a growing problem in South Africa and the UK) appear to be as much as 70-80 per cent more transmissible but no more deadly - and in a rare upside, it is believed that most infected people quickly show symptoms (as distinct from the original Covid-19, which was asymptomatic in as many as one case in three).
 
Two big questions
The two big questions in the UK are: Will the variants (and future mutations) be or become resistant to existing vaccines and perhaps more important, will vaccination stop people who've been 'jabbed' spreading the virus? 
The answer to the second question may not be known for some weeks, until the effectiveness of the first round of vaccinations is assessed.
Criticism
The UK government in Westminster has faced ongoing criticism for its handling of the pandemic, including its repeated claims that it has done everything possible to contain the threat. 
By early February, however, the nation had powered ahead with an aggressive vaccine rollout program in its four constituent countries (Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England). The three devolved governments (Scotland, Wales and Ireland) now are moving ahead with their own vaccine and other strategies, while England last Saturday alone vaccinated more than half a million residents.
However, travellers from countries including South Africa report they have not all been tested for Covid on arrival in the UK and one man from South Africa who tested positive has told the BBC that attempting to alert English health authorities took days. 
Face coverings
Advice on face coverings varies by country, with for example 'medical grade' masks mandatory in some countries, while others including the USA recommend 'double masking' to lower the risk of contracting and spreading the virus, while others suggest buying close-fitting masks that inhibit transmission of droplets.
Scotland to help aviation sector?
 
Scotland's devolved government on Tuesday announced the Covid lockdown for adults in the top 'level 4' areas (covering the majority of the population) will be extended from the previously-announced mid-February date until 'at least' February 28 and also that all direct international arrivals to the country will be subjected to automatic hotel quarantine. It is not known how the proposed quarantine move will be implemented, because many travellers to Scotland arrive via English airports, including Heathrow in London. It's further been suggested that the other three UK countries would need to adopt a similar rule to make it work. 
The Scottish government also has said it intends to offer assistance to the hard-hit aviation sector, but as of February 2 had offered no details.
Vale sir Tom Moore 
Captain sir Tom Moore, who raised GBP32.7 million for the UK's National Health Service (NHS) charities by 'walking in his garden' last year, died of Covid-19 in hospital on Tuesday February 02. Because of health issues, he was not eligible for a vaccine.
By the end of his fundraising efforts, he had received 140,000 cards from well-wishers. He celebrated his 100th birthday last April.

Covid confusion clouds countries' vaccine strategies

BTN News
Wednesday, 03 February 2021
Excluding the Brazil variant, which as yet has not found a foothold in the UK, UK residents face a media blitz on developments that started with one UK variant (the Kent variant) and now a second, plus a South African variant that also appears to be mutating.
 
The new UK and South African variants (which are a growing problem in South Africa and the UK) appear to be as much as 70-80 per cent more transmissible but no more deadly - and in a rare upside, it is believed that most infected people quickly show symptoms (as distinct from the original Covid-19, which was asymptomatic in as many as one case in three).
 
Two big questions
The two big questions in the UK are: Will the variants (and future mutations) be or become resistant to existing vaccines and perhaps more important, will vaccination stop people who've been 'jabbed' spreading the virus? 
The answer to the second question may not be known for some weeks, until the effectiveness of the first round of vaccinations is assessed.
Criticism
The UK government in Westminster has faced ongoing criticism for its handling of the pandemic, including its repeated claims that it has done everything possible to contain the threat. 
By early February, however, the nation had powered ahead with an aggressive vaccine rollout program in its four constituent countries (Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England). The three devolved governments (Scotland, Wales and Ireland) now are moving ahead with their own vaccine and other strategies, while England last Saturday alone vaccinated more than half a million residents.
However, travellers from countries including South Africa report they have not all been tested for Covid on arrival in the UK and one man from South Africa who tested positive has told the BBC that attempting to alert English health authorities took days. 
Face coverings
Advice on face coverings varies by country, with for example 'medical grade' masks mandatory in some countries, while others including the USA recommend 'double masking' to lower the risk of contracting and spreading the virus, while others suggest buying close-fitting masks that inhibit transmission of droplets.
Scotland to help aviation sector?
 
Scotland's devolved government on Tuesday announced the Covid lockdown for adults in the top 'level 4' areas (covering the majority of the population) will be extended from the previously-announced mid-February date until 'at least' February 28 and also that all direct international arrivals to the country will be subjected to automatic hotel quarantine. It is not known how the proposed quarantine move will be implemented, because many travellers to Scotland arrive via English airports, including Heathrow in London. It's further been suggested that the other three UK countries would need to adopt a similar rule to make it work. 
The Scottish government also has said it intends to offer assistance to the hard-hit aviation sector, but as of February 2 had offered no details.
Vale sir Tom Moore 
Captain sir Tom Moore, who raised GBP32.7 million for the UK's National Health Service (NHS) charities by 'walking in his garden' last year, died of Covid-19 in hospital on Tuesday February 02. Because of health issues, he was not eligible for a vaccine.
By the end of his fundraising efforts, he had received 140,000 cards from well-wishers. He celebrated his 100th birthday last April.