Conavirus......

[dado potato]

There is a new strain of covid in the UK that is 70% more contagious but has travel from the US to the UK been shut down? No, because elites like to travel.

VUI-202012/01 is a new strain. Transportation into France via the Chunnel is shut down (but unaccompanied trailers or freight containers still are allowed into Calais). I understand that normally 10,000 trucks went through the Chunnel daily. London is "Tier 4" which in effect means stay at home... one member of a household may meet with one member of another household (as I understand it).

In British terminology VUI is an abbreviation for Variant Under Investigation. This variant was first identified in December, and the new strain is involved in more than 1,100 COVID-19 infections in the UK. It has also been reported in Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Australia.

The UK government raised the threat level to Tier 4 in London and surrounding counties. As of midnight 12/20-12/21 it is illegal to leave the Tier 4 area, except for essential travel. Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said in a BBC interview: the goal is to "keep the virus within London." He said "the new variant is out of control", and everybody in the Tier 4 area should act as though they have the virus.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that NYC has "about 6 flights per day coming from the UK, and we have done absolutely nothing". He said the federal government should either test all UK arrivals or institute a travel ban. Currently the U.S. government bans travelers from most European countries, including the UK. But the ban does not apply to U. S. citizens returning to the USA.

[Rogar]

"This Week in Virology" podcast from 12/20 referred to the more contagious strain in England as unsubstantiated speculation. They said it is possible, but lacking evidence, and could just be a combination of a few of the usual super spreader events that have been seen everywhere.

[rosarugosa]

DH is getting his first vaccination shot today at the hospital where he works!

[frugal-one]

This may be morbid to some but I feel very relieved and much better prepared. As I have mentioned previously, we have our estate plan in order. Yesterday DH and I had a discussion about what we should do if the other dies. Where to live, what needs to be done, and generally, how to make the best decision on how to care for ourselves. It was a way of helping each other cope and having foresight on what needs to be done. I cannot imagine having to think about these things when grieving. It really was very cathartic.

[Yppej]

I am finally seeing active cases for my state being reported, which I think is a much more useful number than total cases.

RR do you know which vaccine he got?

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well I just got lectured by a stranger for not wearing a mask taking a walk outside from someone on the other side of the street. We were on parallel sidewalks with a two way (just your usual suburban residential) street between us.

Yes fine, whatever, maybe I'm the reason there is a coronavirus pandemic, taking walks maskless and avoiding people (and avoid them I do - I cross the street to avoid people up ahead, it's not that dense this apartment and single family houses suburbia so yea I don't get within 12 or maybe more like 20 feet of people generally - outdoors). But sure maybe it turns out I AM the reason there is a coronavirus pandemic (perhaps I've infected the whole state with asymptomatic shedding from 20 feet away outdoors), just not from any experts I've followed.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Though 2020: we had to wear masks, but we didn't have to wear bras! (working from home that is)

[rosarugosa]

Jeppy: It was the Pfizer vaccine.
ANM: I guess there are extremists on both sides. I usually have my mask off until I see someone approaching, unless I'm in an area with a lot of pedestrian traffic (which I usually avoid).

[Yppej]

With the new highly contagious UK variant of the virus combined with the vaccines we should get to herd immunity sooner rather than later. I call it the UK variant but experts believe it has already spread around the world.

[bae]

Though 2020: we had to wear masks, but we didn't have to wear bras! (working from home that is)

I didn't even wear pants!