Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[LinekersLegs]

 

[BlueToff]

that tweet is assuming they've all tested positive for the new variant, though?

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Makes you laugh how they haven't even detected if its any worse than the current strains or can even evade the vaccines yet heads are falling off everywhere.

Standard of media reporting is at an all time low.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Sorry, but you make more visits to a shop than you do a nightclub, on average. Not time as in actual time spent there, but you are more likely to go to a shop than you are a nightclub, or a gig.

I see your point, I don't even disagree with it, but if you implement masks at nightclubs or gigs or in bars, pubs etc, then you are basically mothballing those sectors. You can wear a mask on a bus or a train or in a shop and it doesn't impact you at all, or the ability of those sectors to keep on going. That's the logic.

It's the point that this masks on shops and buses will achieve nothing. It's a waste of time to implement it because it won't change anything.

That's where there is no logic. Just because Boris announced it doesn't make it sensible or even logical. Like I said before its paying lip service that will change nothing at a time when your population is as protected as it possibly can.

It's that sheer fact of illogical action. If you want to achieve something then actually do something about it. All the end result of this will be is nothing, if the virus varient is worse then it will send people back into hospital , it will cripple the NHS and instead of doing something about it , the bare minimum effort is done instead.

I have no issue wearing a mask when I am told to. Like tubey above, it's the principle of where and why that is the issue. We know so much more now than we did 11 months ago, 18 months ago etc. We have the hard data right there that can map out to a non scientist like us exactly the behaviour patterns of covid.

So why implement something that will do nothing? Why implement something that may cause bigger issues further down the line? That you know for a fact will cause bigger issues if it all turns out to be worse?

Because the end result is shutdown. Worst case scenario is to shut down the country again when yet again the government have more than enough time to prevent that. Not half measure it, actually do something to prevent an issue from occuring.

And I am against lockdowns for the record unless absolutely required.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

well, precisely, which is why the argument against restrictions or measures of any sort comes into place, because this is two years in now (let's face it, COVID was around in November 2019, no chance that case zero was actually case zero), so what difference is another year going to make? None. More people vaccinated/boosted, yes maybe, but there'll still be new variants, it's still going to be here...

It's very difficult and there's no country or government that has come up with an answer. Really, there probably isn't one other than just get on with it (and I'm not advocating that that should happen as it could be reckless).

But in that case if we say no restrictions just carry on as normal what happens?

The virus continues to be transmitted and it has lots of available hosts so that it can mutate again and again.

Meanwhile (going back to my earlier point) people such as sole traders running small independent businesses, pubs, cafes and bars are at constant risk of catching the virus and becoming sick impacting not only their health but also their finances (as no-one is going to re-imburse them for loss of earnings).

Ultimately we the public suffer as shops, bars, restaurants close impacting our daily lives.

I remember many years back looking on in amusement at Asian tourists in London all wearing masks. They had learnt to live with SARS type viruses and I think we need to do the same

 

[Toast]

Cracking substitute teacher in The Simpsons is Mr Bergstrom.

 

[Wizard]

Again it's not about wearing the mask, it's about who has to and where.

Telling people to wear a mask on buses and shops does nothing to reduce the spread of the virus to begin with. Because they know for a fact it's younger people who have the highest rates. So not having masks in places that young people generally gather indoors does nothing to stop the spread.

So say this version is worse , say it does bypass the vaccines altogether. What this mask thing does , is absolutely nothing. It means that new variant will spread extremely quickly around the country like delta did because the highest rates of infection will continue to gather in their numbers indoors without a mask letting it spread quicker.

You see what I mean now? It's not about catching it in Asda , it's a preventable measure that will not prevent anything from happening because it doesn't address the known factor already, it caters more to the lower spreaders. Because if it was about potentially reducing spread , you would attack it at its source, not it's end product.

You seem to just disagree with masks being important. There are plenty of studies that show that they are. Put it this way. If I’m stood in front of you and chatting but I don’t have a mask on am I more likely to infect you than if I have a mask on?

 

[LinekersLegs]

Again it's not about wearing the mask, it's about who has to and where.

Telling people to wear a mask on buses and shops does nothing to reduce the spread of the virus to begin with. Because they know for a fact it's younger people who have the highest rates. So not having masks in places that young people generally gather indoors does nothing to stop the spread.

So say this version is worse , say it does bypass the vaccines altogether. What this mask thing does , is absolutely nothing. It means that new variant will spread extremely quickly around the country like delta did because the highest rates of infection will continue to gather in their numbers indoors without a mask letting it spread quicker.

You see what I mean now? It's not about catching it in Asda , it's a preventable measure that will not prevent anything from happening because it doesn't address the known factor already, it caters more to the lower spreaders. Because if it was about potentially reducing spread , you would attack it at its source, not it's end product.

My elderly uncle doesn’t go to nightclubs or eat out at restaurants but he does use the bus a lot and goes frequently to the supermarket as he doesn’t have a car so does small, light shops that he can carry in one or two bags.

Transport and supermarkets are the places he and many other retirees will pick up the virus outside of family or doctor‘s visits and they are the ones who are most likely (despite vaccination) to end have complications from catching it.

Masks in those places won’t completely stop spread of course but they could well make a dent in it spreading to the most vulnerable.

 

[BlueToff]

It's the point that this masks on shops and buses will achieve nothing. It's a waste of time to implement it because it won't change anything.

That's where there is no logic. Just because Boris announced it doesn't make it sensible or even logical. Like I said before its paying lip service that will change nothing at a time when your population is as protected as it possibly can.

It's that sheer fact of illogical action. If you want to achieve something then actually do something about it. All the end result of this will be is nothing, if the virus varient is worse then it will send people back into hospital , it will cripple the NHS and instead of doing something about it , the bare minimum effort is done instead.

I have no issue wearing a mask when I am told to. Like tubey above, it's the principle of where and why that is the issue. We know so much more now than we did 11 months ago, 18 months ago etc. We have the hard data right there that can map out to a non scientist like us exactly the behaviour patterns of covid.

So why implement something that will do nothing? Why implement something that may cause bigger issues further down the line? That you know for a fact will cause bigger issues if it all turns out to be worse?

Because the end result is shutdown. Worst case scenario is to shut down the country again when yet again the government have more than enough time to prevent that. Not half measure it, actually do something to prevent an issue from occuring.

And I am against lockdowns for the record unless absolutely required.

Well we'll see won't we. It might do, it might not. People do spend a lot of time in shops, people who work in them etc, people who go in even for 30 minutes, you're breathing in the same air in enclosed spaces just like in a nightclub, and there's more of a variety of people who go to supermarkets or shops or whatever. It doesn't hurt to do it, it requires no effort on anybody's part other than remember your mask, and it can only help. It's not going to negatively impact anybody, is it? Same on transport.

Whereas, mandatory masks for sectors that rely on interaction would mean those sectors being mothballed or severely damaged, again, for the 3rd time in two years. Costing jobs, livelihoods etc. That's the logic. I'm not saying it's perfect or that I agree with it fully because I see there are grey areas, but wearing a mask in no way ruins your 'experience' of going to the shop. But it would pretty negatively impact the experience of going to a rock concert, wouldn't it.

I agree with your general point but I do feel there is logic too in having masks in certain settings. I wouldn't do it, but I don't think we should be panicking anyway. I just think we have to now get on with it, but whatever, they aren't doing, they're doing this instead. I'd rather this than unvaccinated people being treated like some evil scum of the earth or curfew like they have in the Netherlands atm.

 

[LinekersLegs]

that tweet is assuming they've all tested positive for the new variant, though?

Yep, going to be very interesting to see what the sequencing of those 61 passengers reveals re which variants they have.

 

[Ghost Rider]

You seem to just disagree with masks being important. There are plenty of studies that show that they are. Put it this way. If I’m stood in front of you and chatting but I don’t have a mask on am I more likely to infect you than if I have a mask on?

ITS NOT ABOUT WEARING A MASK!!!!!

You seem to be completely missing the same point I've said a few times now!

For one final time, if the highest age groups of covid rates don't have to wear masks indoors and continue to spread the virus , or its new variant then wearing one on the bus will do nothing to stop that.

It's not the what, it's the where. If the where is in the wrong place then it will do nothing.

 

[BlueToff]

My elderly uncle doesn’t go to nightclubs or eat out at restaurants but he does use the bus a lot and goes frequently to the supermarket as he doesn’t have a car so does small, light shops that he can carry in one or two bags.

Transport and supermarkets are the places he and many other retirees will pick up the virus outside of family or doctor‘s visits and they are the ones who are most likely (despite vaccination) to end have complications from catching it.

Masks in those places won’t completely stop spread of course but they could well make a dent in it spreading to the most vulnerable.

Yeah, and this is why - unless I've happened to forget it - when I've been going to the shops since July I've tended to still wear my mask or snood now it's colder anyway. It takes me no time, effort and it might help somebody. It probably won't do, it doesn't make me or anyone else a better person, but it's not doing anybody any harm - i.e. it can only have a positive impact.

 

[JoeLovell]

A full lockdown won't happen because they know people won't comply as well as last year, and people also don't believe it's justified.

There is zero justification for another full lockdown. Anyone asking for one obviously has no regard for those who will suffer emotionally and financially.

This exactly, I’d guess at least half the country would disobey another lockdown this time.....the Government must surely know this

 

[Tubey]

ITS NOT ABOUT WEARING A MASK!!!!!

You seem to be completely missing the same point I've said a few times now!

For one final time, if the highest age groups of covid rates don't have to wear masks indoors and continue to spread the virus , or its new variant then wearing one on the bus will do nothing to stop that.

It's not the what, it's the where. If the where is in the wrong place then it will do nothing.

Absolutely spot on. Some don't seem to understand that though because pubs are optional. It doesn't matter because the virus will spread there, so you aren't stopping the transmission of the variant.

But supermarkets are optional too; or at least they can be. You have online shopping. There's nothing to stop the government having a centrally run online shopping portal with priority for those who don't feel safe going to supermarkets. But they won't, because it's not optically beneficial and would cost time, money and effort.

And that's the thing with the mask mandate - when it doesn't work, which it won't, they can blame the public for not doing it. Which is the entire point of it - deflection. It's a fear of the upcoming inquiry, so they want to point to 'what they learned' as a defence, and claim their gross incompetence when it mattered was because 'the virus was new'.

 

[JoeLovell]

We definitely can't react to every possible new variant forever, or we'll be doing this for the rest of our lives. I don't understand how there are still some out there who believe we can completely eradicate this or it will disappear. It's gonna be here for the long term, probably the rest of our lives. It's something we need to be realistic about and accept. Life has to go back to normal and people are not selfish for feeling this way.

If Governments persist with lockdowns then eventually there will be so many people disobeying them, that the whole thing will collapse and then then Governments will be forced to back down, whether they like it or not