Jo Gumbs

CEO at OcuMel UK. We help people with ocular melanoma, a rare cancer. I like it when things work as they should & people have fair chances. Views are my own.

[Prof. Christina Pagel - @chrischirp.bsky.social @chrischirp]

QUICK THREAD on UK covid situation...

Cases in the UK are going up. We've had high cases for several months now - over 2.7 million confirmed cases since Delta took over in mid May. And no sign of coming down any time soon. 1/9

[Prof. Christina Pagel - @chrischirp.bsky.social @chrischirp]

Excellent new paper in the International Journal of Public Health on what needs to happen next in Covid

https://t.co/Ns63e765Eb

I've summarised the 9 points in the pic!

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@trishgreenhalgh @SloughCouncil @SloughPH

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughCouncil This isn’t about speaking to a child about covid, the question was ‘how can it go away if we keep moving it about?’ We could be taking a more proactive approach to keep everyone safer, as we have already seen this is current approach not work as we have a rise in cases.

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

My boy asked why people aren’t wearing masks anymore.I explained some people are unsure if they make any difference.
He thought for a while and then asked how can it go away if we keep moving it about? Suggestions please? @SloughPH @SloughCouncil @trishgreenhalgh

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughCouncil We need better education and look to the scientists to see their recommendations. 30 people in an indoor area is sure to drive cases up

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

Let’s be proactive as there are measures that can be taken to reduce transmission

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

Shall we wait until we have more people in hospital? Our staff at Wexham don’t deserve to be put under pressure and our children should be safe at school https://t.co/GbLq9H7mhg

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughCouncil @SloughPH Thank you for replying. I’ll pm you

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughCouncil @SloughPH I’d like to see masks being compulsory and correct ventilation. Please don’t assume everyone will be testing. I’ve been trying to get my son vaccinated but even with GP approval, systems aren’t in place for someone to administer it. Please help parents keep covid numbers low 🙏

[Bettina Ryll @BettinaRyll]

Today's medicine is based on group-think. We think of patients with a given diagnosis as a group. We treat that group with a drug and then report outcomes in %. We are very proud of our confidence intervals and call that then 'trustworthy evidence'.

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

I honestly can’t see how we are not hearing more about this 🥱
You can’t fix the problem, if you don’t know what it is.
Thank you @trishgreenhalgh for all you are doing to educate people.

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@trishgreenhalgh Yes our secondary still has year group (100+) assemblies in Berkshire. They’ve said my son can sit at the back when I’ve raised concerns. What paper can I show them so they understand this is not safe practise even with masks? They are doing so well with everything else.

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@igasman Thank you Sanjay and everyone who’s working tirelessly. Saying thank you can never be enough to describe our appreciation 👏👏👏

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughPH Also @SloughPH we all have a duty to stop this thing spreading, so although you can’t make the decision, you can push for schools in Slough to close and for parents to be given a choice. You are Slough’s Public Health authority,so please escalate this & use the powers you do have

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughPH please allow more primary school children to be safe by only opening for key workers and vulnerable children.
We can’t say we have high rates and then force all children back to school. We can’t keep ourselves safe as children will mix.
https://t.co/JhbxFyfGYK

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@SloughPH Pressure from local authorities brought a change in the decision for children in London. @SloughCouncil @sloughobserver will you help? Slough has seen higher rates than the UK average. Something needs to change and children should be our priority.

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@GMB “That is something about which lots of staff in school and school leaders are anxious." Shadow Schools Minister”

[Jo Gumbs @GumbsJo]

@GMB “..if there are vulnerable family members at home with underlying health conditions who are concerned that a child coming back from school might present a risk, or if vulnerable people live with a member of school staff who presents a risk. “