Signs of the Delta variant taking off here

[NormanH]

Masks will have to be worn again in Perpignan after a surge in cases:

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/pyrenees-orientales/perpignan/pyrenees-orientales-retour-du-masque-obligatoire-dans-l-espace-public-apres-une-flambee-de-cas-de-covid-19-2182045.html

[Lori]

That is a huge and very fast increase !  I just don't understand people who won't take the vaccination. 

[Gardian]

And the UK Government has reintroduced the requirement for returnees to quarantine for 10 days.

Well, that completely boogers up the plans for our elder son & family to come down here for 2 weeks in early August.

They, who have slavishly followed all the rules over the last umpteen months. Meanwhile, infection rates have been at a much higher rate in the UK and mass attendance sporting events have started and continue.

And yes Lori, non-vacciners make me sick. I really don’t understand their reasoning. Our neighbour is one of them - he’s an idiot and always was.

I’m not a happy bloke.

[nomoss]

[quote user="Gardian"] ................non-vacciners make me sick. I really don’t understand their reasoning. Our neighbour is one of them - he’s an idiot and always was.

I’m not a happy bloke.[/quote]

And they can probably still get a FAKE CERTIFICATE

[NormanH]

I believe that the reason for the UK bringing back quarantine is that there is  a 'beta" variant that  can evade detection in PCR tests.

This  was discovered back in March, but now it is causing concern

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/16/quarantine-to-remain-for-vaccinated-uk-travellers-returning-from-france

[Théière]

Moreover, the AZ vacine is less efficient than the Pfizer version and huge numbers of the UK have received the AZ. Efficacy could be as low as 10%

[anotherbanana]

Much disappointment here too with words that are unprintable. I dont understand why they are now reacting to a problem that they knew about so long ago.

The percentage of folk returning from abroad and testing positive for covid was something like 0.1% I seem to remember.

Stooooopidddddo

[cajal]

[quote user="Théière"]Moreover, the AZ vacine is less efficient than the Pfizer version and huge numbers of the UK have received the AZ. Efficacy could be as low as 10%[/quote]

However

[NormanH]

It seems good sense to keep up  the precautions  even if vaccinated..

[Théière]

I should have clarified the Beta variant. Regarding the Delta, 68% still is not bad and likely to lessen the effects of a covid infection whilst boosting the immune system. At least that's what's hoped for.

In a population of anti vaxers there will be more variants as the virus will mutate again.

Have the antivaxers learned nothing from history?

[chessfou2]

Bizarre - the Beta variant (a.k.a. South African) is almost non-existent in France except, unsurprisingly, in La Réunion.

Echoes of the removal of the winter fuel grant.

As for the Pro-Vax vs Anti-Vax wars of religion - no comment, except that science is desperately trying to hold onto reason between the two sides.

[NormanH]

I think that there were a few cases of a version of the 'beta' one in Brittany back in March as per my link above, but  it becomes  hard to follow in all the details if you aren't on the front line of the science..

[NormanH]

Seems you are right chessfou

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/covid-cases-are-up-6000-miles-from-paris-france-baffled-by-uk-quarantine-change

[Gardian]

Meanwhile, the holiday plans of thousands are wrecked.

Our family’s are. And it’s not just about their holiday plans, it’s about seeing them for the first time in 12 months.

The need for extreme caution in the face of an identifiable risk? - Yes.

The need to act on accurate data? - Yes

Did they get it right? - Clearly not

Will they change their tune? - Almost certainly not

[NormanH]

French health minister Olivier Veran has said that

new Covid-19 infections were increasing at an unprecedented rate due to

the Delta variant, after 18,000 cases were reported for the previous 24

hours.

Referring to the latest figures while speaking in parliament, Veran

said: “That means we have an increase in the spread of the virus of

around 150 percent in the last week: we’ve never seen that, neither with

Covid [the original form], nor the British variant, nor the South

African or the Brazilian one.”

The level of infections is the highest since mid-May, when the

country was emerging from a third nationwide lockdown, AFP reports.

France, which is bracing for a fourth wave of infections because of the

spread of the Delta variant, has been racing to get as many people

vaccinated as possible.

Addressing vaccine sceptics, Veran said the new figures showed that

“this is no time for doubts and hesitation” and that achieving herd

immunity through a high degree of vaccine coverage is “the only way we

have ...of getting rid of Covid once and for all,” although those double

jabbed continue to contract the virus.

He was speaking as parliament was due to debate a set of

controversial new rules aimed at pressuring millions of vaccine holdouts

into getting a jab, since only 45% of the population is fully

vaccinated, according to AFP.

Under a controversial bill which critics have called draconian, which

will be put a vote in the coming days, people who want to eat in

restaurants, go to the cinema or take a long-distance train will have to

be vaccinated or produce a negative Covid test. From September on,

vaccinations will become mandatory for healthcare and retirement home

workers.

Over 100,000 people protested across the country on Saturday against what they called the country’s vaccine “dictatorship.”

[chessfou2]

Yes and the utterly stupidest(!) thing is that, supposedly because of the Beta variant, the UK requires those coming from France (metropolitan) to isolate, but not those coming from La Réunion!! You really could not make it up - only the UK Gov has the ability to do that(!

[NickP]

chesssfou2 wrote:

"Yes and the utterly stupidest(!) thing is that, supposedly because of the Beta variant, the UK requires those coming from France (metropolitan) to isolate, but not those coming from La Réunion!! You really could not make it up - only the UK Gov has the ability to do that(!".

You don't suppose for one minute that they might just know something you don't?

[Gardian]

Well come on Nick - enlighten us.

[NickP]

"Well come on Nick enlighten us"

Gardian, I know no more than you or any other person on this forum, but I'm sure that unfounded comments aren't exactly helpful.

[Théière]

Nick, I just looked on the Gov website and Kuonis and both state you must quarantine on arrival in the UK from the island.

[alittlebitfrench]

I am booked to go to the UK in mid August. I have to go.

But I can't qurantinne, it will be impossible.

I am double jabbed and still wear a mask.

Should I just not qurantinne and tell anyone who annoys me to **** off ?

[anotherbanana]

The Home Office sends people round to check up. They did it twice in four days with us including a Sunday. Failure to be where you said you would be quarantining can lead to a £1500 fine.

It may be that there are derogations for business, for example or lorry drivers.

But the rules may have changes by then.