Thread by @dgurdasani1

As hospitalisations increase, it's worth again noting that testing has massively reduced as positivity has risen to 20% in England (similar to the Dec omicron wave). So cases are *massively* underestimated - and looking at dashboard numbers will underestimate risk.🧵

I worry that this is providing false re-assurance about where things are at. ONS data suggests infection rates remain high. And hospitalisations with COVID-19 are clearly rising across all age groups. BA.2, a more transmissible sub-variant of omicron has also gained dominance.

Vaccines will provide protection, but we know this protection wanes, and isn't absolute. So other additional layers are important to protect yourself
& others. While the govt no longer mandates any measures, it's important to continue to be cautious.

Ventilate rooms before, during and after if you meet with others. Wear high-grade masks if you can afford to. Otherwise double mask. Avoid crowded indoor environments if you can. Get boosted if you haven't. Vulnerable people/75 yrs+ are now eligible for their 2nd booster.

Test before meeting others, alongside using other precautions like masks, and ventilation. And if you're vulnerable, test early if you feel you may be symptomatic, or come into contact with a case, as you will be eligible for antivirals which can make a huge difference to outcome

The govt has abandoned contact tracing, but we can still try and inform others we come into contact with if we test positive, so they can take the critical step of testing themselves, or limiting contact with vulnerable contacts given their higher risk. Every layer matters.

Controlling a pandemic can never be individual responsibility, which is why it's important each of us do what we can to protect each other. Despite popular demand & denial, the pandemic hasn't ended, and won't for a while. We need to work together to protect our communities.

If you do test positive, here's an excellent thread on how to monitor and when to go to hospital:

https://twitter.com/danielgoyal/status/1499839766979923970?s=20&t=NvOf7OdYqMWOqIlCEfr_lA