There will be some who were +ve for Covid but it made no real difference, it wasn't why they died. Not many but there will be.

That's how I read it TJ except for those who died of completely unrelated causes that just happened to be within 28 days of a Covid diagnosis. There will be some in that category. For others with underlying conditions I think it's fair to say they might/possibly/probably still be alive but for Covid. Some would not be.

And a futile attempt to distract us from 'work meetings'.

I don't know but it's very likely. I have ordered testing kits regularly since first available and I've been sent nasal only for the bulk of that time.

Have to say that one provoked an extreme reaction in me. Making out he was some sort of hero because he 'had covid' when he obviously caught it through reckless behaviour. He and any employees who sought NHS treatment for covid should be sent the bill.

I don't think he should be allowed to stay either HB but neither do I believe the Australian govt has covered themselves with glory over this.

There's a very simple test which should be applied to Downing Street drinks - if any other workplace had held such an after work party, would that have been deemed ok? I mean, let's take the example of a food factory or postal workers or bus drivers - you know, the really useful people who could have done with a break.

Again, right there with you. Nobody comes out of this looking good. I cannot though condemn him for going to Australia if there was an honest belief he had a valid exemption. That such 'honest' belief was borne in no small part out of arrogance and entitlement doesn't delight me but we have learned time and again that there's one rule for some.............

With you there but he did. Was it not the state of Victoria who gave exemption in the first place? Did the federal govt. even know?

Thank you for such a comprehensive and helpful answer. You are correct that we had not changed our wills in over 20 years - we had sometimes thought about it but simplicity doesn't require any tinkering. I'm pretty sure I have things in hand but it's good to know there's someone here with knowledge should I need it.

Thank you so much. It was definitely signed on base.

I'm applying for probate and the will was done in the legal offices at JHQ Rheindahlen. Does anyone know if this counts as a foreign will or the UK? The question on the probate form says "Did the person who has died have any wills that were made outside of England and Wales". There's only space to tick a yes or no box with no room for any explanation. I have tried phoning the Probate helpline and both times when I eventually get through to a human they put me back on hold until I'm cut off.

Well yes but I didn't see that side of it and if you remember my daughter had Omicron very early so I did have an indication of how easily it spreads. I knew how LFTs were not that useful for advance warning of infection, I knew how the alternative symptoms manifested themselves, I knew how quickly most otherwise healthy (and vaccinated) people recovered. Not once did I think about how it would affect the running of public transport etc.

I don't think there was any realisation of just how many staff would be off isolating.

I guess at this stage anybody could claim that immunity from any source could 'potentially' last for life. It's like using the word 'allegedly'. So far down this seemingly never ending road and it's still a case of pick your favoured expert/opinion. Don't think that's going to change any time soon.

Who decides what is 'reasonably practicable'? I get that there are some obvious examples but the grey area is vast.

I've just managed to order online. Looks like they have got their act together.

But ................................ Boris can blame us for not testing if there are no test kits to be had. I really don't think you've grasped govt logic TJ

I like how transparent South Africa is with the data. They give the figures for how many positive tests are incidental - people who are admitted to hospital for unrelated reasons and then happen to test positive - but they don't sugar coat anything. I think people listen far more and the message is so much stronger if you give the bare truth rather than trying to stir up a general panic. Boris and his merry band have done very well causing huge queues at vaccination centres thereby ensuring the fit and healthy are the ones able to withstand the hours long wait. I get that they are playing the numbers game and even accept it is 'a' strategy. However, he'd better not blame a single housebound or vulnerable person for not getting a booster now they're shoved to the back of the queue.

HKUMed finds Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and better than Delta in human bronchus but with less severe infection in lung WWW.MED.HKU.HK A study led by researchers from HKUMed provides the first information on how the novel Variant of Concern of SARS-CoV-2, the Omicron SARS-CoV-2... This is interesting. They seem to be saying that Omicron is infecting the upper respiratory tract at an incredible rate BUT isn't tracking on down to the lungs anywhere near as badly as previous versions of the virus. I have only skimmed it but there is one chart which I think shows that each mutation has done much the same thing but the change with this one has been so great. It sort of does mean it's probably less deadly to a healthy individual, however, at 70x more transmissable it is the sheer numbers which are a worry. I'm not impressed that the message (and the vaccine drive) isn't being targeted harder to the vulnerable. Certainly if I'd been shielding previously I would be doing so again. I believe children are far more susceptible to upper respiritory tract infections which may be why they are catching this one.

Daughter lives in Newham and I was shocked at the low vaccination rate there. I think it's partly cultural and partly age driven. London is a relatively young city and we can all remember thinking we were invincible when young. Maybe, and this is a personal thought with no real evidence, those who live in close proximity to large hospitals feel they can afford to be a little more cavalier because help is on the doorstep. It may not even be a concious thought. Birmingham also has some pretty poor figures for vaccination so maybe it is a 'city' thing.

All valid questions TJ. Daily witnessed flow tests were mandatory at work so I have to assume they were done as 'correctly' as is possible to say. Nobody else could get away without doing them too. Nobody has tested positive with LFTs. How 'seriously' were others taking it, well her colleague was barely twenty four hours ahead of her with symptoms and pcr test and informed everyone promptly. I can't imagine a more careful work environment, properly thought out, much work put in to redesign during initial lockdown. I think it's pertinent to say that not one employee has caught covid since return to work until last week. That's the very thing which makes it successful and I consider your description to be entirely appropriate

Absolutely - in the office from someone who was (as they all were) flow testing daily. London based. A few of days later and she'd have been back WFH. Really cannot make the point of speed/rate of infection hard enough.

Sadly TJ I fear not. A difference with Omicron compared with Delta is that the infected are very contagious very quickly and there's little hope of detecting it in an individual in time to stop transmission with current technology. At no point did I suggest that masks were pointless.

Muscle aches and overwhelming tiredness initially. Call that day one. Cold symptoms followed around 24 hours later, muscle aches had abated (day two) and she returned positive LFT on day three by that count. First one was a very faint positive. Most would have missed it but she had already gone down the route of pcr by then anyway. Cold symptoms rather than flu like.. No chills, fever etc. Fatigued for a few days.