🧵 COVID-19 & B.1.1.529: a chance for govt & others to change their mind and their approach?
While we are still gathering data on B.1.1.529, the early indicators are very very alarming- likely far more transmissible and more serious than delta + more vaccine escape.
(1/10)
While we are still gathering data on B.1.1.529, the early indicators are very very alarming- likely far more transmissible and more serious than delta + more vaccine escape.
(1/10)
https://twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1463885539619311616
I'm not going to repeat the reasons why we are here or talk about what we could have done.
Instead, I'd like to suggest that this could be an opportunity to extricate the UK from the disastrous path it has been committed to for several months.
(2/10)
Instead, I'd like to suggest that this could be an opportunity to extricate the UK from the disastrous path it has been committed to for several months.
(2/10)
In the 🧵below I talked about how many of the architects and supporters of our pandemic strategy are essentially playing by the playbook of politics: never admit mistakes, double down when challenged, pursue the position relentlessly.
(3/10)
(3/10)
https://twitter.com/HZiauddeen/status/1462547773480312835?s=20
No U-turns, no chancing losing face.
The only way to change course is to create a new course but this requires a sufficiently powerful reason that justifies abandoning the old strategy and adopting a new one and a dramatic change of circumstances offers exactly this.
(4/10)
The only way to change course is to create a new course but this requires a sufficiently powerful reason that justifies abandoning the old strategy and adopting a new one and a dramatic change of circumstances offers exactly this.
(4/10)
The old strategy no longer makes sense under the new circumstances, we need a new one and one that is justifiable because of the new circumstances.
This is what we have B.1.1.529. Delta was a game changer but this, this is looking like a whole other level.
(5/10)
This is what we have B.1.1.529. Delta was a game changer but this, this is looking like a whole other level.
(5/10)
B.1.1.529 is a long way away from the original Wuhan virus.
Whatever you thought about freedoms, restrictions, herd immunity, vaccinating children, mitigations in school, travel restrictions, with the original virus, or even somehow with delta, this changes all that.
(6/10)
Whatever you thought about freedoms, restrictions, herd immunity, vaccinating children, mitigations in school, travel restrictions, with the original virus, or even somehow with delta, this changes all that.
(6/10)
Whatever you thought you could get away with, however you thought you were going to fight it or emerge from it, even with delta, this changes all that.
So given we are facing this very very worrying new variant, maybe we can use this to change things around?
(7/10)
So given we are facing this very very worrying new variant, maybe we can use this to change things around?
(7/10)
Whether you're in govt or the media or you're a scientist or medic whose of the view that we've been doing the right thing all along, B.1.1.529 is an opportunity to stand by everything you said but still call for a different strategy, because of this new variant.
(8/10)
(8/10)
That faced with this serious new variant, we actually need to control transmission, keep cases down, protect children and the vulnerable, vaccinate children, restart proper contact tracing, etc. That we can't live it as likely a lot of fewer us of will.
(9/10)
(9/10)
As far as opportunities go, this is a truly horrific one.
But you could use this to change course to safer harbours.
People have already lost so much and this could make all that has already happened, pale in comparison.
Please do it. Please.
(10/10)
But you could use this to change course to safer harbours.
People have already lost so much and this could make all that has already happened, pale in comparison.
Please do it. Please.
(10/10)
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