Should restrictions be lifted on the 19th?

[Crispycritters]

Long covid has been a pretty general term that dismisses one thing, most of the symptoms of it are actually effects of pneumonia. Go and look it up , was a eye opener when I read up about it.

So long covid as a fear term is extremely misleading, the long covid symptoms generally will never be as bad as someone in hospital and that latter one is dropping all the time.

But anxiety , insomnia and depression are not side effects of a bloody virus. That is Molly coddling people to an extreme.

But if they didn't have Covid then they probably wouldn't have developed pneumonia so that's a pointless argument and not really an eye opener. The symptoms of long covid may not be as immediately life threatening as some poor fucker who requires constant treatment and/or artificial ventilation in a hospital ward, but they are likely to be in poor health for a long time and pointing out that those in hospital are having it worse isn't going to be much consolation.

 

[Banjostring]

I've been watching it spread through Europe, thought of you - just starting to go up now.

Thanks Crew, yeah it seemed like we pretty much had it under control up here in the North. Life was more or less back to normal but as always, the shit's about to hit the fan [emoji26] most of us around here have had the good sense to get vaccinated but there are still a lot of people around the country that haven't, for whatever reason. Not really happy about having our freedoms curtailed again because of the emergence of these new variants and the ignorance of others, but what can you do?

 

[Crewella]

Thanks Crew, yeah it seemed like we pretty much had it under control up here in the North. Life was more or less back to normal but as always, the shit's about to hit the fan [emoji26] most of us around here have had the good sense to get vaccinated but there are still a lot of people around the country that haven't, for whatever reason. Not really happy about having our freedoms curtailed again because of the emergence of these new variants and the ignorance of others, but what can you do?

Hopefully this too shall pass.

 

[oldhippydude]

The economy is opening up, whether we like it or not.
We will find out over the next few months whether it was a good idea or not.

A year ago there was a lot more recognition that covid restrictions came at a cost to peoples lives. It costs jobs, strains relationships, destroys youg peoples education and robs them of the fun in life and takes a toll on our mental health etc.

These things are still important and are what has to be balanced against the direct harm to health caused by the virus.

With the most vulnerable vaccinated and as we are running out of people that want the vaccine. Those that think we are relaxing restrictions too fast, what did you want ? Another week of restrictions ? A month or two ? A year ?

Personally, I would have relaxed things more gradually over the last couple of months. I would have allowed more freedom to the older vaccinated population. Every week I would have had a bit more relaxation. Really nightclubs should have started with some limits. Masks should still be compulsory on public transport and shops.

I honestly believe however that we are at a stage where removing or adding restrictions, slower or faster, will not have much effect. Viruses will run their course. we are fortunate to have vaccines to moderate the worst effects, but the virus is not going away. The virus will find the unvaccinated and those with a week immune response. We are not going to vaccinate enough people to reach herd immunity. We will reach something close to herd immunity but it will be reached by vaccination, combined with natural immunity via infections. We can get there slower or faster, but the health toll is probably much the same.

The covid restrictions were necessary, but they have come at a heavy cost to so many aspects of normal life and it seems to me that many of you have forgotten that side of the equation.

 

[Crewella]

The economy is opening up, whether we like it or not.
We will find out over the next few months whether it was a good idea or not.

A year ago there was a lot more recognition that covid restrictions came at a cost to peoples lives. It costs jobs, strains relationships, destroys youg peoples education and robs them of the fun in life and takes a toll on our mental health etc.

These things are still important and are what has to be balanced against the direct harm to health caused by the virus.

With the most vulnerable vaccinated and as we are running out of people that want the vaccine. Those that think we are relaxing restrictions too fast, what did you want ? Another week of restrictions ? A month or two ? A year ?

Personally, I would have relaxed things more gradually over the last couple of months. I would have allowed more freedom to the older vaccinated population. Every week I would have had a bit more relaxation. Really nightclubs should have started with some limits. Masks should still be compulsory on public transport and shops.

I honestly believe however that we are at a stage where removing or adding restrictions, slower or faster, will not have much effect. Viruses will run their course. we are fortunate to have vaccines to moderate the worst effects, but the virus is not going away. The virus will find the unvaccinated and those with a week immune response. We are not going to vaccinate enough people to reach herd immunity. We will reach something close to herd immunity but it will be reached by vaccination, combined with natural immunity via infections. We can get there slower or faster, but the health toll is probably much the same.

The covid restrictions were necessary, but they have come at a heavy cost to so many aspects of normal life and it seems to me that many of you have forgotten that side of the equation.

I agree with you on the whole, and I also think we should have kept masks. Lack of a legal backing puts many employees (and employers) in an unenviable position ............. and for little gain that I can see.

 

[Simon G]

I agree with you on the whole, and I also think we should have kept masks. Lack of a legal backing puts many employees (and employers) in an unenviable position ............. and for little gain that I can see.

I really struggle with masks... I feel like I'm going to pass out doing a weekly shop and by the time I get to the door on the way out I can't wait to get it off.

I'd rather just not go anywhere... which is pretty much what I have been doing for the last 18 months. I've already switched to the thinnest type I can find, which makes it pretty pointless anyway.

 

[oldhippydude]

There needs to be more information to help people work out what their personal risk is.
There should be allowance made for the vulnerable.
The most vulnerable are at less risk once they are vaccinated but the people most at risk are still the same people that were always most at risk.
Thought should be given to how they are allowed to have some sort of life that is not permanent lockdown.

 

[Crewella]

I really struggle with masks... I feel like I'm going to pass out doing a weekly shop and by the time I get to the door on the way out I can't wait to get it off.

I'd rather just not go anywhere... which is pretty much what I have been doing for the last 18 months. I've already switched to the thinnest type I can find, which makes it pretty pointless anyway.

Me too, but my gut feeling is that customers have a choice, they can choose to shop online if necessary, staff don't?

 

[oldhippydude]

I am crossing the border into England for a couple of nights later today.
See what this Boris freedom is about.
I will continue using my mask the same both sides of the border.

 

[Crewella]

I am crossing the border into England for a couple of nights later today.
See what this Boris freedom is about.
I will continue using my mask the same both sides of the border.

Safe trip.

*meant seriously, if slightly ironically*