(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

[NickFaulks]

The Lancet paper, assessed by independent scientists Oxford Covid vaccine 'safe and effective' study shows

On closer reading it turns out they are saying it works fairly well provided you are under 55, and therefore not at much risk from the virus anyway.

[MartinCarpenter]

The Lancet paper, assessed by independent scientists Oxford Covid vaccine 'safe and effective' study shows

On closer reading it turns out they are saying it works fairly well provided you are under 55, and therefore not at much risk from the virus anyway.

Its more a lack of data (so far) than anything else, I think. Rather rushed.

The point of this vaccination campaign isn't so much protecting individuals anyway, its stamping out mass community transmission. To do that you need to hit younger age groups too. They're mobile and spreading it. Even just doing medics & care home staff (soon I believe?!) will be a huge improvement.

[Simon Rogers]

This has appeared on 10th December on the Yorkshire Chess Association website:
The Northumbria Masters
"The Northumbria Masters originally arranged for August 2020, then rearranged for February 2021, has now been rearranged for August 2021. In other words, the 2020-21 event has been cancelled, and the event is now planned to be re-launched in 2021, specifically on 26th to 30th August 2021."
There is a link on the ECF Calendar.

[Matt Bridgeman]

It’s looking like the poor NHS is going to still be slogging it’s way down the vaccination priority list 12 months from now, no doubt impeded by the 3rd wave. You’d have to wonder what exactly will be achieved by the middle of the year for British Championships and Northumbria Masters, etc. It still might be too soon.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ity-groups

[Ian Thompson]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ity-groups

It would be interesting to know the approximate numbers in each group to determine how far down the list I am.

[Ian Thompson]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ity-groups

It would be interesting to know the approximate numbers in each group to determine how far down the list I am.

To answer my own question for ages, but not clinical conditions:

UK Age Dist.jpg

(source Office for National Statistics Principal projection - UK population in age groups)

[Matt Mackenzie]

It’s looking like the poor NHS is going to still be slogging it’s way down the vaccination priority list 12 months from now, no doubt impeded by the 3rd wave. You’d have to wonder what exactly will be achieved by the middle of the year for British Championships and Northumbria Masters, etc. It still might be too soon.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ity-groups

I think that is maybe an over-pessimistic timescale.

Certainly I would be provisionally planning for the 2021 British Championships to go ahead in some form, for example.

[JustinHorton]

Dunno about "certainly"

[Mick Norris]

Nor indeed whether certainly and provisionally cancel each other out in that sentence

Given the 2020 British is going ahead "in some form" i.e. online, I think we can be certain that the 2021 British will go ahead

Assuming that both Matts are referring to OTB 2021 British, I'd expect it is provisionally planned in full already, just depends where we are with Covid at whatever deadline is in the contract with Torquay

I expect the vaccine timetable depends on when the Oxford vaccination gets approved, as that will be much easier to distribute than the other 2 (of course, given it has been tested on tough northerners in Liverpool and is being manufactured by tough northerners in Macclesfield, we can't be sure it will work on softy southerners )

[Roger de Coverly]

Assuming that both Matts are referring to OTB 2021 British, I'd expect it is provisionally planned in full already

There's a schedule at
https://www.britishchesschampionships.c ... e-2021.pdf
running from Friday 23rd July to Sunday 1st August.

One or two "features".
No dates are shown for the Championship. I could imagine that's because dates for the Olympiad have yet to be confirmed.
The Major Open has morning rounds on both the final Saturday and Sunday.
The over 50 and over 65 have reverted to running from Sunday to Saturday. This means anyone considering playing in tournaments the first weekend would have to sacrifice either the last round of the weekender or the first round of the Seniors. In 2019, it was possible to play both.

[Alex McFarlane]

No dates are shown for the Championship. I could imagine that's because dates for the Olympiad have yet to be confirmed.

The Olympiad will not take place until 2022 in Moscow.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Nor indeed whether certainly and provisionally cancel each other out in that sentence"

It's a sort of definitely maybe...

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well, it appears that provisional plans *are* in place. Which is good to know

It will certainly be disappointing if we can't at least partially revive OTB chess by the summer.

[Roger de Coverly]

It will certainly be disappointing if we can't at least partially revive OTB chess by the summer.

Apparently the vaccination programme will not be approaching completion until the end of 2021. By the summer, arguably the most at risk groups will have been vaccinated, Would "authorities" be prepared to allow gatherings of people of well over a hundred, only some of whom would have been vaccinated?

[Mark D Podlesak]

There are 1.2 -1.5 Million NHS workers, over 3 Million at 80+ according to earlier age chart. Many others in Vulnerable and age groups. The authorities reporting being pleased with 137,000 Vaccines done this week. I hope rates improve ( I am sure it will) or it will takes years!