(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

[Matt Mackenzie]

I'll bear all of the above in mind in future.

I think you're fine. Boris, like Fernando or Beyonce, is generally recognised by his first name - which is of course in his case his second. Doesn't indicate affection or familiarity.

He's not a pop star or a celebrity footballer, stop treating him like one.

[Matt Bridgeman]

The seems to be a lot of news today regarding the latest mutation of the virus. Quite a lot of scientific commentary suggesting that the UK isn’t controlling the new variants particularly well. There’s a bit of a sense of the stage being set for the UK to have headaches with vaccine efficiency. The suggestion being that reducing contact is the only way to effectively stop the virus from evolving more quickly. Any summer holiday plans must be slightly suspect at this point.

[Matthew Turner]

The seems to be a lot of news today regarding the latest mutation of the virus. Quite a lot of scientific commentary suggesting that the UK isn’t controlling the new variants particularly well. There’s a bit of a sense of the stage being set for the UK to have headaches with vaccine efficiency. The suggestion being that reducing contact is the only way to effectively stop the virus from evolving more quickly. Any summer holiday plans must be slightly suspect at this point.

Isn't this very predictable. The UK is just good at genome sequencing, so virus mutations will be a fact of life for every other country too.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I've heard that John's calling the prime minister "Boris" would be a sign that he isn't his mate, anyway; Johnson's friends call him Alexander.

Yes, or "Al" (no idea whether that is a reference to the Paul Simon song "you can call me Al").

How anyone can still support him is quite the question. Exactly what would he have to do (or fail to do, because he is preoccupied doing other things) to make his followers lose faith? If the massive death toll is in this country is no particular problem, what would be?

[Matt Bridgeman]

The seems to be a lot of news today regarding the latest mutation of the virus. Quite a lot of scientific commentary suggesting that the UK isn’t controlling the new variants particularly well. There’s a bit of a sense of the stage being set for the UK to have headaches with vaccine efficiency. The suggestion being that reducing contact is the only way to effectively stop the virus from evolving more quickly. Any summer holiday plans must be slightly suspect at this point.

Isn't this very predictable. The UK is just good at genome sequencing, so virus mutations will be a fact of life for every other country too.

I suppose reading between the lines they will only be able to relax restrictions in the UK after everyone has had both doses, and there isn’t a new common strain with ‘super powers’ at that time, which presumably might be after summer has finished anyway.

...genomic testing got a mention on Sky News this afternoon. Apparently the UK only does genomic testing on 5% of cases.

[Jonathan Bryant]

... which presumably might be after summer has finished anyway.

which summer?

[Matt Mackenzie]

I've heard that John's calling the prime minister "Boris" would be a sign that he isn't his mate, anyway; Johnson's friends call him Alexander.

Yes, or "Al" (no idea whether that is a reference to the Paul Simon song "you can call me Al").

How anyone can still support him is quite the question. Exactly what would he have to do (or fail to do, because he is preoccupied doing other things) to make his followers lose faith? If the massive death toll is in this country is no particular problem, what would be?

"BuT aT lEaSt ItS nOt JeReMy CoRbYn!!!!!!!"

[Mick Norris]

... which presumably might be after summer has finished anyway.

which summer?

In terms of "everyone" having 2 doses of the vaccine, that would be never, in the sense that some won't want it, and I heard a scientist saying we needed 85% of the population vaccinated to do away with things like mask wearing and social distancing

The contracts currently being offered for working at vaccination centres are for 6 months, though expectations are that a November closing date is more likely; and of course, if it is like the flu, then the 2nd annual round would start not long after that; there's massive pressure on those working at vaccination centres, most of whom have other jobs that they need to get back to within the NHS

[NickFaulks]

and there isn’t a new common strain with ‘super powers’ at that time

I think we can assume that from now on some such thing will turn up whenever it is needed.

[Matt Mackenzie]

This media hysteria about "SUPER COVID MUTANTS" really isn't showing them in the best light.

[Nick Grey]

Staycation bookings this summer up.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

BBC today (4-2-2021):
"Sweden is developing a digital vaccine certificate to enable people to show they have been inoculated.
The country’s health minister Lena Hallengren said the certificate could be used as a passport to “travel abroad on holiday or meet a loved one”.
The government is hoping to get the certificates ready by June."

[Paul Robert Jackson]

The Times Online today (5-2-2021):
"Government plans COVID vaccine passports to allow foreign holidays.
British officials have started work on a “vaccine passport” as Greece prepares to waive quarantine rules for tourists who can prove that they have been inoculated against coronavirus.
A certification system is being planned, The Times has learnt. The Foreign Office, the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care are working on options for travellers to countries that may demand it as a condition of entry."

[Mick Norris]

PA reports:

A No 10 spokesman said: “There are still no current plans to roll out vaccine passports. Going on holiday is currently illegal.

“We have always been clear that we will keep the situation under review. We are not going to speculate on this matter any further.”

[NickFaulks]

PA reports:

A No 10 spokesman said: “There are still no current plans to roll out vaccine passports.

That presumably means that plans are well advanced but they haven't told the PM.