Down in South Wilts the Covid levels are very low and the local hospital is not overwhelmed.
The local MSOA , about 7500 people, has 6 positive COVID cases and the rolling rate is 75.5: most of the MSOAs in Cornwall are the same.
I think the big difference between the areas in Zones 3 and 4 is that here people visit to enjoy the big outside and there are virtually no recognisable urban centres.
As to the new strain, it has been around since the summer, the WHO reported it in Brazil back then. The virus is doing what it needed to do to survive, become more infections. Virtually all viruses do this, and they also become less of a risk to health.
I believe the Government panicked somewhat, but it is too early to tell. We will all know in a couple of weeks, if the hospitals are overwhelmed then the Government is right, if they are proved wrong there will be very many really grumpy people!
