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Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
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Jan 2 • 3 tweets • 2 min read
This is important. We have a new #covid variant XBB.1.5 which is highly transmissible and resistant to immunity. It is sweeping through US with⬆️hospitalisations. And it's already here. UK govt need to act fast. Schools are about to reopen. #NHS is already under immense pressure
The UK is not in a good position. Infection rates are already v high (ONS Infection Survey *before Xmas* showed 1 in 45 testing +ve) and XBB.1.5 is leading to a huge increase in hospitalisations in the States. Vaccinations & immunity in UK are down; children are underprotected
Also important to remember that #COVID19 has been a pandemic of inequality. XBB.1.5 will not hit us equally. Together with #costofliving crisis, this new subvariant will hit vulnerable, immuno-compromised and people on lower incomes *much harder*. Where is the Health Secretary?

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More from @Zubhaque

Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
Jun 8, 2021
There are ~400 schools across England involved in the govt’s [unethical] experiment to see if you can replace self-isolation with lateral flow tests in schools. Given Matt Hancock is now aware of higher infection rates among school children, are these experiments continuing??
Astonishingly the replies from parents & others reveal that the govt's trials exploring whether they can replace self-isolation of close contacts in schools, with daily lateral flow tests is not only continuing but NOW allows for close contacts of #DeltaVariant to be included!?!
This letter was sent on *3 June 2021* - when the govt were not only aware of the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant across UK (as well as hotspot areas), but ALSO knew about increase in school outbreaks AND very high infection rates among school-age children.
Read 5 tweets
Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
Jun 2, 2021
"Nothing in the data yet"?? #IndianVariant is nearly dominant strain in UK. It's much more contagious than Kent variant; 1 dose of vaccine only offers ~33% protection. It has increased in all regions; it's affecting younger groups more. And only 39% population fully vaccinated.
Daily cases are rising rapidly; in last week it has increased by ~35%. Boris Johnson & Ministers pushing out the line that "we always expected an increase" after May 17, BUT it's the *rate of increase* which is the most concerning. And there's NO govt strategy to keep cases down
The Govt have focused ONLY on vaccinations to address exponential growth of #DeltaVariant aka #IndianVariant, with a target to fully vaxx over-50s by June 21, but what about under 50s AND children? Approx 28million people will still be left partially protected, or unprotected.
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
May 27, 2021
While all media attention continues to focus on #DominicCummings' explosive claims about Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, Cabinet Sec et al, there is one issue that has had less attention: whether the govt STILL believe in #herdimmunity through natural infection? @IndependentSage
Even until a few weeks ago, following Stage 2 of the Roadmap (with a Third wave on our doorstep in Europe), Boris Johnson talked about learning to "live with the virus" and accepting more hospitalisations and [inevitable] deaths with reopening more places. itv.com/news/2021-04-1…
And it's clear that UK govt are neither "following the science" nor adhering to "data not dates" when we're told that there's "nothing in the data" to suggest the govt need to "deviate" from its Roadmap. Covid cases, linked to so-called #IndianVariant are rising across many areas
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
May 23, 2021
This is ALARMING. Last night while #Eurovision was on Public Health England released a delayed report showing that #B16172 so-called Indian variant has spread v. fast across the country, now in all regions and is deemed high risk re: transmissibility and *some* vaccine escape.
Large % of B1617.2 India variant have been identified in NW, London, East England & East Midlands BUT it is everywhere. And while 2 doses of #CovidVaccine ~81% effective against B1617.2 variant, 1 dose only 33% efficacy. That leaves 60% of adults and ALL children still at risk.
On Friday Boris Johnson said he sees no *current signs* of having to "deviate" from plans to scrap the last lockdown curbs YET both he and PHE were fully aware of ALL this alarming data. They are also holding back important data on number & extent of school outbreaks re: #B16172
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
May 16, 2021
It is extremely worrying that Boris Johnson is not reconsidering ANY of the relaxation of rules in nxt step of #Roadmap May 17, given SAGE modelling showed a 30-40% more transmissible #B16172 'Indian' variant could lead to January level hospitalisations EVEN IF vaccines work well
On Fri @IndependentSage published its 6 point plan on what ACTION the govt needed to take in order to prevent a 3rd lethal wave. We are extremely concerned that even though the govt have NOT MET all 4 tests of Roadmap (i.e. variants of concern) they are proceeding without caution
We now know #B16172 variant identified in India is 50% more transmissible than Kent variant, which drove our 2nd devastating wave last year. Given two-thirds of UK population partially vaccinated/not vaccinated at all why have govt not placed any limits on indoor mixing on May17?
Read 4 tweets
Dr Zubaida Haque Profile picture
Apr 30, 2021
This is really concerning. The government are carrying out human guinea-pig experiments in Liverpool to see *whether or not transmission increases* (which may result in hospitalisations and death) if clubbers only take (unreliable) lateral flow tests before mass events.
The best way to keep people safe at mass events, indoor pubs is to ensure that local & national rates of covid are low. That means a functioning test, trace & supported isolation system which not only brings cases down, but keeps them down. Tests only don’t prevent transmission
Couple of quick points after seeing some of the replies: 1/After a devastating year with an infectious & deadly virus linked to >150,000 deaths in UK, it is not unreasonable to raise ethical, methodological & safety concerns about a mass clubbing trial with 6000 ppl in Liverpool.
Read 4 tweets

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