ipernity: cvd - Covid-19 Pandemic *W!P*!*UPDATED* by StoneRoad2013

Images related to the Covid-19 pandemic [most recent data is now at page 1, as there are a lot of images in the album, almost 60 pages of medium images] ... some are factual / deadly serious and others are intended as humorous takes on certain aspects - usually as a reminder of the rules.
Lockdown in the UK was from 23rd March 2020 to a gradual release from restrictions beginning in June 2020. After the University students went back in September / early October the UK experienced a "second wave" and by 15th October various levels of restrictions (three tiers) had been imposed to try and curb the rise in cases, hospital admissions and deaths in increasing numbers of specific areas. Between 5th November and 2nd December England was subjected to stricter National Restrictions above the three tiers, which did reduce the level of deaths and cases detected. Tier4, with even stricter rules [stay at home] was introduced in response to the identification of more transmissible variant, initially in London, SE England and East Anglia, the Tier4 area was extended on 26th December 2020. Subsequently, many UK hospitals found themselves under extreme pressures from both covid and seasonal admissions greatly increasing. This resulted in National Restrictions being re-applied from 4th January 2021.
Vaccinations were started in the UK on the 8th December 2020, beginning with the highest four of nine priority groups. The use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was added on 4th January 2021 ... the 'jab' rate really began to accelerate in the middle of January 2021.
The supply of vaccines was fairly well maintained, and second doses were prioritised from mid-March, after the vast majority of the high priority groups had received their first jab.
Late April 2021 and there were signs that the 'Indian' variant had arrived in the UK. By the end of June this had become a Third Wave, despite all the vaccinations, and the "great unlockening" was postponed to 19th July 2021. In Mid-September, the rollout of third / booster doses began, these were administered to the same cohorts as used for the earlier vaccinations. New cases had fallen initially after the "unlockening. However, the 'Indian' variant and other factors [such as lack of masks & social distancing, not vaccinating children. although 12 to 15 year olds were declared eligible for a single dose in Mid-August] produced a persistent increase in breakout infections, even in double-vaccinated people. By the second half of October there was a spell of at least a week with 40,000+ cases reported per day, prompting suggestions that people should wear masks etc.
The 'Indian' variant wave continued to grow throughout the last quarter of 2021. However, at the end of November, another new variant "Omicron" was identified, this had a considerable number of mutations resulting in it being extremely transmissible and potentially able to evade waning protection from vaccinations and prior infections. This prompted a third "booster" program with mRNA vaccinations to increase protection, especially in the more vulnerable members of the UK's population.
However, there was a veritable tsunami of new cases, possibly as a result of the social activities around the winter solstice and new year festivities. It is not yet clear whether these new cases are resulting in significantly greater numbers in hospital for prolonged periods. It is possible that the increased deaths in early January 2022 are largely from the more severe 'Indian' variant, rather than the "milder" omicron variant which was dominant in Spring 2022 [BA.1 or the later BA.2].
The UK government continued to abandon control measures with tactics such as stopping free LFT / PCR testing [March 2022], and discontinued mask & social distancing mandates in a "Living With Covid" approach. {more like dying with covid} This coincided with degrading ease of access to the information on the dashboard and the BBC daily summary data, such as not reporting data at weekends. May 2022, and the quality of published information from official sources in the UK continues to collapse. From the 2nd July the main government dashboard will be reduced to weekly updates - bizarre given that Omicron variants BA.4 & BA.5 are causing a significant rise in cases in many areas. More of the being forced to "live with covid" policy.

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