"Cases" are of no major interest at this point; it's just a positive PCR result for SARS-COV2. Besides we had no sophisticated wide spread billion pound mass testing system in place last summer. We were only conducting around 100,000 tests a day whereas we are now testing over a million people.

Correct me if I'm wrong but lockdown was eased on 15th June last year; all non-essential shops were allowed to re-open along with galleries, museums, pubs, restaurants and cinemas. From 6 July, non-essential overseas travel was permitted. On 25th July indoor gyms, pools and other sports facilities reopened. As restrictions were lifted we didn't see this level of hospitalisation/deaths until October last year.

Looking at the Governments published figures I'm not convinced by this vaccine programme at all. I suppose we will find out if I'm wrong in October.

darwin award nominees keep coming......
JUNE 2020: Stephen Harmon, a member of Hillsong megachurch and a vocal opponent of vaccines, tweeted to his 7,000 followers:

[i[size=150"Got 99 problems but a vax ain't one," [/size[/i

JULY 23RD 2020. Stephen Harmon, a member of Hillsong megachurch and a vocal opponent of vaccines DIES OF COVID 19

[urlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57958358[/url

Good to see infections starting to drop, given we have no lockdown, no enforced distance or masks - how has this happened?

That is entirely what you would expect to see when the majority of the population in that group is fully vaccinated, so I am not sure what you are trying to say.

I would not gloat until the effects of freedom day filter through, this should be sometime this week.

There is no denying the drop in cases is positive, especially when it doesn't appear to be solely caused by a reduction in testing. Let's hope it continues.

Schools finishing will have a positive effect as will all the nice weather. Make the most of it while you can. There's bound to be some ups and downs yet.

Meanwhile in Mental Health Trusts we're seeing the effects of the pandemic in terms of its effect on mental health. We also have 6000 fewer beds than we had in 2010 which was a real problem before all this started.

You are in the most invidious position - the lockdown will drive up mental health issues - was the trade off really worth it?

I bet you have everything crossed for another spike - why are you so averse to any kind of good news? No doubt if they continue dropping you will be banging on about new variants the last bastion of those who want to control society.

Why is it gloating? Is it not good to see a fall in cases? Would you rather see a rise? I strongly suspect you would.

If you look at Brazil then the trade off was worth it. There was no "easy option" available. Many MH referrals are increased because of the pandemic, no doubt about it, but had we not locked down there would have been more illness and fatalities that would've led to more MH referrals.

Those 6000 fewer MH beds since 2010 are an issue. We currently have children on adult mental health wards and inpatients in beds over 150 miles from their homes because there are no beds in their own areas. It's the same in every Trust.