Same here - feels very weird. I make my kids wear masks when in buildings still. We ate at a restaurant when we were back in NY on Monday - first time since the pandemic began. Kids were the only ones at the table who weren't asked (with my family who have all been vaccinated and not seated near anyone else).

Infections are up but everyone still says it's more than 99% are those who weren't vaccinated.

I don't drive, so I rely on public transportation, where masks are still mandatory. I also still wear one in stores and other public places, but take it off when I am out in the street. The humid heat we are having these days makes wearing a mask outdoors next to unbearable.

I never really did wear one outdoors. I live in a very spacious city though - it's very rare to be unable to space yourself from other people on the street or in parks, etc.

Something my city did both last summer and this one, was block off a lane of traffic on streets with heavy pedestrian traffic, so pedestrians could space out. Not shopping streets so much, but ones where people go to jog or walk their dogs.

Known active cases 2,053
Known direct contacts of active cases 10,924

Total confirmed positive cases since it all started 5,724 - this is just ridiculous.

They are well on the way with the dismantling of the Nightingale hospital, too late to put it back up. Mind you, at this time there are only 10 in hospital.

Front page news is that 40% of the 18-30 age group have not made appointments for vaccination. Why? The vast majority of the current cases are in the under 30s, it just doesn't make sense.

Known active cases 2,813
Known direct contacts of active cases 13,332

First death of this wave on Sunday, a man under 50 who has three young children, not vaccinated. No underlying medical conditions which would make him vulnerable, except perhaps stupidity and arrogance. My thoughts are with his family, I hope his wife is vaccinated, is get done quickly.

At least two in ICU

I don't understand people with children, who cannot be vaccinated, denying the shot - they are putting their own kids at risk for no reason, what kind of parent does that?

I often wonder if this would have ended sooner if everyone had chosen to behave like adults. Some people's behaviour is truly beyond the pale.

If they start acting like adults now we still have a chance.

I wouldn't count on it.

Restrictions in England were lifted on Monday with residents being advised to take 'personal responsibility'. Good luck with that. I shall still wear a mask in shops and so on. Lateral flow tests are readily available for home use, and are free, so I do one before meeting anyone I think might be vulnerable.

Our 'mask free' lasted five weeks, now back to masks once more.

Infection rates in England are now rising rapidly, but the rise began before restrictions were lifted on Monday and so I don't think it's the result of greater personal choice. I can't imagine that Johnson will willingly curtail his loudly-trumpeted “freedoms” but I think the government is ready to re-impose legal requirements if it thinks it has to.

I am now coming to the end of my 17th month of not being able to leave my home, and with the current infection rate at what is now being called the 4th wave at 1.4 I cannot see me ever being able to go out again.

Good article on Covid statistics in the US... TL;DR: It's mostly affecting those who are unvaccinated even with the Delta variant around.

I saw someone on FB say that the NHS said 60% of the people hospitalized were unvaccinated, so how do their statistics differ so much? The vast majority of people in the US who are hospitalized are unvaccinated, but it's almost 50/50 in the UK?

I can't seem to access the article. So I don't know how vaccinations are proceeding in the US (it seems to depend on the policy of individual governors and states).

Here in the UK, vaccination has tended to progress by age, starting with the oldest (I'm well over 70, so I'm all right, Jack!), and many of us are fully vaccinated. So, although hospitalizations are rare compared with infection rates, young people who suffer seriously may need hospital treatment. and may well be unvaccinated, while we old gits will not even know if we're infected.

This may explain the difference, but (as I say) I know little about vaccination rates in the US.

In Jersey it is roughly 50% split too. I am wondering if different countries count differently. For instance a person is in hospital for something (let us say kidney stones) and are found to have covid, covid did not put them in hospital. They could have no covid symptoms because they are vaccinated but are i n hospital, have covid, so are counted. Some other places might not count them because covid did not put them in hospital. I don't know.

That's great Tom! Here in the wonderful ex UK Colony of Hong Kong, we seem to have reversed the procedure. With luck I should (aged 81!) get my second jab in a week...
(What happened to Confucius he say "respect Elders?!)

That could be - people giving press conferences don't necessarily know to expand and be more specific and those writing the talking points sometimes know what they mean but don't understand others can hear it differently.

I understand that an article in the Guardian also reversed unvaccinated with vaccinated, just a typo, but that confused the situation further.

Many people in my generation still call the Guardian "the Grauniad" - it used to be famous, infamous, and dornwight ntooroius for its tyops, so much so that I always have to think how it should really be spelt.

Yes! I believe it was "Private Eye", back in my very dim and distant college days, who hit on the name. They have also been fond of calling the Daily Express the "Daily Getsworse", and that's another name that I sometimes use.

I still love the Grauniad best though...

Well, even though my county is still yellow, we have to wear masks indoors because we have a lot of commuters... I still can't wear a mask for long periods since surgery, so I will take it off when I'm at my desk.

They are also going to start giving us a choice - vaccinate or get tested at some interval. I'm already vaccinated, as is everyone in my direct unit, so it doesn't really affect us... I think it's a good idea. It sucks for those who really can't vaccinate because now they're going to be inconvenienced...

The Ren Vaccination Saga continues....
We had our second jab but it is probable that we will not get out of here(ever?) because there are very old and sick residents who are vulnerable and cannot be jabbed. If I go out for the yearned-for haircut, (or even an icecream or maybe fish and chips) , I may infect the poor old darlings, by carrying 'it' back here. .... Tell me why I bothered.

I've got nice neighbours so yesterday evening when I was watering the hanging basket I happily said hello to Mr Neighbour. "Been on hols, I saw the van was there" I asked. I knew they hadn't been away because they have four young children and it's hard to hide them all but it's summer so lots of parents are coping with kids off school. "Er, nope" he said, "we've had Covid." Eek!