Quote:
Originally Posted by downquark1
Fine. I predict the 70% more contagious will be dropped or proven wrong. It is ludicrous to think they have such a precise measurement so early. It was most likely justification for Borris' uturn.
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They don’t have such a precise measurement and the technical papers that have been issued are laced with caveats to that effect. Much of that has actually found its way into mainstream news reports. There is a level of uncertainty that was reflected in the press conference by stating the new strain “might be” 70% more transmissible but that was always going to get lost in the noise.
To be honest I think the sudden spike in new infections is likely to have more to do with people rapidly getting complacent after the vaccination programme began and deciding to sack off the rules and go to a Christmas party or two. I’m not doubting the new strain exists but I find it too much of a coincidence that the infection spike corresponds so closely to the vaccine approval. Human behaviour is always the weak link in any system.
As to whether the potential transmissibility of the new strain is being exploited to crack down on rule breaking, well, quite possibly it is.