The fairly recent widespread rollout of free LFTs and the cessation of confirmatory PCRs tests definitely confuses the situation, which is why Zoe and REACT are probably better indicators. I've been regularly reporting to Tim Spector's Zoe Study since mid 2020 along with another 4.5 million contributors reporting vaccinations, tests, symptoms and general health.

For sure, but there's still also a huge number of totally unvaccinated zombies out there, especially in London where 22% have declined all vaccinations and only 54% have had booster doses.

Totally agree, and whilst we may be past the peak there will probably be another 1.8 million cases reported by the government in the next 30 days.

Current thinking is that there will be another wave, probably late spring. Whilst hugely transmissible, it wasn't a case of Omicron evading the vaccines, more one of antibody protection (our first line of defence) dropping, which allowed infection. But the second line defence of memory B and T cells kicked in with vaccinated and boosted patients, preventing serious illness. It also helped that Omicron affects the upper respiratory tracts rather than the lungs, hence less need for invasive intubation ventilation.

I'm fairly hopeful—that's what happened with Spanish flu, the remnants of which are still covered in our seasonal flue jabs. I read your article link on the relative dangers of Covid and flu and that was certainly true with Alpha and Delta variants, but I am hopeful that once over, this Omicron wave will be viewed as far less dangerous. And will have given the bonus of a pile of natural immunity to those who have chosen not to accept vaccination.

I hope this won't come back and bite me on the bum, but I feel we are approaching the end game. We couldn't have wished for a better variant than Omicron—one that is eminently transmissible and at the same time far less virulent. In the last month both my daughters' families have been infected with Omicron—a bit difficult to avoid with schools and nurseries—but thankfully with minimal discomfort.



Here's how Omicron affects a 2.5 year Spiderman superhero

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