Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Surprise dip in UK COVID cases baffles researchers
Nature ^ | August 3, 2021 | Phillip Ball

Posted on 08/03/2021 10:26:43 PM PDT by House Atreides

Daily recorded infections have more than halved since mid-July. Few researchers anticipated such a sharp decline, and they are now struggling to interpret it.

Scientists are scratching their heads over the precipitous decline in daily COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom following their rapid rise earlier in the year. Officially recorded new cases more than halved in just two weeks: from a high of 54,674 on 17 July to 22,287 on 2 August.

“Nobody really knows what’s going on,” says epidemiologist John Edmunds at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). In particular, it’s not clear whether this sudden trend indicates that the peak of the third wave has passed, or whether it is a blip caused by complex social factors.

The spread of the more-infectious Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the United Kingdom seemed, despite the country’s successful vaccination roll-out, to be creating a dangerous crisis. Exponential growth in infections since June led to predictions of as many as 100,000 new cases being reported daily, and fears that the National Health Service (NHS) could be overwhelmed by hospitalizations. In such a climate, many scientists felt that the government’s full relaxation of mitigating restrictions in England, such as mask wearing and the closure of nightclubs and other venues, on 19 July was reckless.

It is still too early to know what effect the relaxation will have, given that the data on new cases and hospitalizations have a lag of around two weeks. Few public-health experts, however, anticipated the recent sharp drop — and they are struggling to interpret it.

Not herd immunity

One thing it doesn’t mean, says Edmunds, is that the United Kingdom has built up enough population immunity through vaccination and natural infection to stop the virus spreading. ….. continues

(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: covid19; deltavariant; houseatreides
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last
To: House Atreides

DELTA is a 60 day wonder. Month one cases skyrocket. Month two cases plummet.

60 days later the case number has returned to prior level.


21 posted on 08/04/2021 6:25:53 AM PDT by MattMusson (Sometimes the wind blows too much)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: House Atreides

What I don’t understand is if the testing can’t distinguish between CoVID and the Flu, how can it distinguish between original CoVID, Delta, Gamma, Lambda, etc. variants of CoVID?


22 posted on 08/04/2021 7:39:35 AM PDT by ro_dreaming ("XX = female; XY = male. Who's the science deniers now?" - Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote

Wow.. that is horrifying..


23 posted on 08/04/2021 12:46:58 PM PDT by freespirit2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: freespirit2012

Fred Nerks, a FReeper from Down Under said since updated us, saying the police were beating anti-covid vaccine protesters but they were NOT being forcibly vaccinated. SO that vid is partially debunked. I imagine forced vaccinations, when they begin, will probably not be in public parks, but I could be wrong.


24 posted on 08/04/2021 12:49:11 PM PDT by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson