I have always been wary about Covid related stats from day 1. The ones I give most credence to are actual hospital admissions as they are more clear cut. The problems with testing accuracy and the way it was introduced and not fit for purpose add a certain level of discredit to the reported results. Poor data collection means unreliable analysis. Also deaths reported as caused by Covid has a poor catch-all methodology. International comparisons are also poor due to the variations used by each country. A lack of comparable consistency.
Current UK stats based on hospital data are showing significant improvements. The biggest positive I see from the Government was the early commitment to vaccine development AND preordering of doses. It has certainly appeared to accelerate the reduction of cases ( again using hospital data).
The future? Initially similar to the flu type of vaccination as a basis to start with modifications as more is learned about the long term immunity the vaccines give. Basically we will have to accept that Covid viruses are here to stay and we have to learn to accept that and live with it. Probably an intervention for localised outbreaks as has been done already to varying extent.
There are huge areas that should be learned from. Notably clearer communications of true facts as opposed to the garbage that has been and still is out there. The anti-vax issue needs resolving. The more deniers there are the more likely we are to see outbreaks. The trouble is governments have been lax in learning lessons and setting up future strategy.
Ah well, golf next week and hopefully not long afterwards some chances to go for proper drives.
