Quote Originally Posted by TerryTheTerror View Post
I think what's more important is the number of people requiring hospital treatment, rather than just case numbers. This whole fiasco is predicated on protecting the NHS and it's these figures (and deaths obviously) that are more relevant now the immunisation process is doing so well, IMHO.
To me, its the numbers vaccinated which is the most important just now, and that is the info i try to concentrate on.

Far too early to discount daily cases as it is the figure that is considered first for us getting out of lockdown. There is some good news filtering out that vaccinations are exceeding expectations and we may be pushing on for 2m first doses, but in reality, you have to look back at the figures of 2-3 weeks ago to see the numbers (1.5m?) who should have built up partial immunity. Then consider that only 150k have received a second dose, and again 2-3 weeks until those people have their immunity maximized.

We have done well with the vaccinations, but there is 59% of the adult population still to get their first dose, never mind their second, including Cohorts 6-9 all still under 50%. That 59% contains people in their 30s who are ending up in hospital and ICU, and remember the death of a 28 year old no so long ago, and I wonder if you noticed the death of a teacher in Clackmannan through the week, an area where cases/100k have been high. That is not to rake up old disagreements though!

So to me, daily infections are still very relevant, because if we identify and isolate the infections, trace test and isolate their contacts, we drive down the New Daily Infections which reduces hospital and ICU admissions, which prevents people dying. That reduces the chance of further mutations, gives us the best chance of getting out of lockdown and in turn giving the vaccines their best chance of protecting us and getting us back to normal!