Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Haydn]

I honestly can’t see there ever being another lockdown in the UK, there’s no way the majority of the public would comply with it this time after the way this Government have broken the rules themselves and the Government will be well aware of this. On top of that, there’s no way that they can afford to bring furlough back.

The primary reason that the Government won’t bring back any precautions (read “restrictions on freedoms”) however sensible they might be, is because it would expose the myth that Johnson beat Covid.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I mean I didn't really suggest that but most people have had a booster of some sort within the last 2-3 months

Again though, I'm not sure that's true. My booster was administered over 4 months ago. My wife's was 6 months ago. We're 42 and 43 respectively.

 

[BlueToff]

Again though, I'm not sure that's true. My booster was administered over 4 months ago. My wife's was 6 months ago. We're 42 and 43 respectively.

But would you consider yourselves at risk of COVID?

Not in terms of profession. I mean, would you consider yourselves, as two individuals with 3 vaccinations (or/and natural immunity or not?) to be at risk of being hospitalised if you caught COVID? Considering how many millions of unvaccinated/not naturally immune people got COVID and were either asymptomatic or had mild issues (and by the latter, I include being ill for a few days, but falling short of ever needing to go to hospital).

 

[Bruce Wayne]

But would you consider yourselves at risk of COVID?

Not in terms of profession. I mean, would you consider yourselves, as two individuals with 3 vaccinations (or/and natural immunity or not?) to be at risk of being hospitalised if you caught COVID? Considering how many millions of unvaccinated/not naturally immune people got COVID and were either asymptomatic or had mild issues (and by the latter, I include being ill for a few days, but falling short of ever needing to go to hospital).

I don't think I will die from it, no, but equally I don't fancy long Covid or any of the debilitating side effects of the virus. That's why I still wear my mask and would have a booster if one was available. I also don't think it right or proper that people who actually are vulnerable should have to hide away just because I've had enough and want to pretend it doesn't exist. By taking the path they have taken, the government has allowed employers to scrap any requirement to stay at home if sick, so many will be forced into deciding between doing what's right or putting food on the table.

 

[efcfanwirral]

The cynical take would be that the government would rather try and save money than roll out another round of boosters to protect people…

Didn't they buy enough for years? I'm sure there were loads of reports of enough doses for everyone multiple times over being ordered

 

[BlueToff]

I don't think I will die from it, no, but equally I don't fancy long Covid or any of the debilitating side effects of the virus. That's why I still wear my mask and would have a booster if one was available. I also don't think it right or proper that people who actually are vulnerable should have to hide away just because I've had enough and want to pretend it doesn't exist. By taking the path they have taken, the government has allowed employers to scrap any requirement to stay at home if sick, so many will be forced into deciding between doing what's right or putting food on the table.

Okay for one Bruce I definitely don't think vulnerable people should have to hide away and I think they should be first in line for any vaccines/boosters that are offered, and it should be up to them whether they take up that offer.

I also don't think we should pretend it doesn't exist. It does exist but thankfully it is now, for the vast, vast majority of people, nothing more serious than a bad cold or a dose of flu (which look, I know can be bad for a few days and you can feel really ill) - and there's a variety of reasons for that; one being vaccination, one being natural immunity in the population, a combination of both, better treatments etc.

I also think we should keep testing - and I don't understand why any country, UK included (because Germany, France, Netherlands were all charging for tests for most of 2021) would not free test - in situations where it is needed, like if you have symptoms, and you should be sensible around those symptoms and isolate within reason until you know for sure if you have it etc.

I wasn't defending the government. I was more talking about how we as a population should deal with COVID now and IMO the above that I've listed is really the only option. Had nothing to do with what the government are doing so apologies for crossed-wires.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Okay for one Bruce I definitely don't think vulnerable people should have to hide away and I think they should be first in line for any vaccines/boosters that are offered, and it should be up to them whether they take up that offer.

I also don't think we should pretend it doesn't exist. It does exist but thankfully it is now, for the vast, vast majority of people, nothing more serious than a bad cold or a dose of flu (which look, I know can be bad for a few days and you can feel really ill) - and there's a variety of reasons for that; one being vaccination, one being natural immunity in the population, a combination of both, better treatments etc.

I also think we should keep testing - and I don't understand why any country, UK included (because Germany, France, Netherlands were all charging for tests for most of 2021) would not free test - in situations where it is needed, like if you have symptoms, and you should be sensible around those symptoms and isolate within reason until you know for sure if you have it etc.

I wasn't defending the government. I was more talking about how we as a population should deal with COVID now and IMO the above that I've listed is really the only option. Had nothing to do with what the government are doing so apologies for crossed-wires.

This perhaps explains things best (it was published this week)

Worries about finances outstrip concerns about catching Covid-19

More people are now more worried about their finances (38%), than catching Covid-19 (33%), find UCL researchers as part of the Covid-19 Social Study.

www.ucl.ac.uk

Equally, the number of people taking personal precautionary measures to lower their chances of catching Covid-19 has declined. In March, the number of adults who routinely wore a mask in public indoor spaces dropped to 28%, compared with 67% over Christmas.

And prior to the government axing free testing, lateral flow tests also became less popular in March with 12% of people taking one before meeting others and 4% asking others to do so – a sharp decrease from 43% and 18% respectively, before Christmas.

Dr Daisy Fancourt said: “The findings reported here highlight how the government’s new relaxed Covid-19 guidelines have affected the way that people view the illness.

“In England, legal restrictions surrounding Covid-19 ended on 24th February 2022 and the figures from March show a significant drop in the number of people worried about either catching the virus or becoming seriously ill from it, alongside a decline in those following previous Covid-19 safety guidelines such as mask wearing, social distancing and regular testing.

“Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the number of Covid cases, hospitalisations and deaths remains equivalent or higher than in January 2022, meaning that the overall situation remains unchanged despite the shift in attitude.”

Long story short, despite the threat from Covid being the same or higher now than at Christmas, mask wearing and test taking are massively down, with the only noticeable change being the government's announcement. Now I'm all for opening things up again, but don't regard wearing a mask or taking a test before going to a restaurant or theatre as a big imposition.

 

[BlueToff]

This perhaps explains things best (it was published this week)

Worries about finances outstrip concerns about catching Covid-19

More people are now more worried about their finances (38%), than catching Covid-19 (33%), find UCL researchers as part of the Covid-19 Social Study.

www.ucl.ac.uk

Long story short, despite the threat from Covid being the same or higher now than at Christmas, mask wearing and test taking are massively down, with the only noticeable change being the government's announcement. Now I'm all for opening things up again, but don't regard wearing a mask or taking a test before going to a restaurant or theatre as a big imposition.

With tests no longer being free (I think they should be) it's understandable that people aren't testing as much.

Personally I think that level of testing is a bit daft though. Unless a place has a rule that you must test or must wear a mask - and that should be on the business in question to decide that now IMO - in which case you have to abide by the rules of said business if you want to go in.

However, I do agree with testing if you have any symptoms or testing for mass events like gigs etc if, again, said arena/venue wanted you to test before hand.

I don't see them as being major inconveniences but I also don't think it's realistic to expect people to test every time they fancy going out for something to eat.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

Does the Rwanda idea sit here?

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

UK to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing

Deal to outsource process, described by Labour as ‘unworkable and unethical’, among range of measures to be unveiled

www.theguardian.com

 

[Bruce Wayne]

UK to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing

Deal to outsource process, described by Labour as ‘unworkable and unethical’, among range of measures to be unveiled

www.theguardian.com

Think it belongs in the scummy Tories thread mate.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

With tests no longer being free (I think they should be) it's understandable that people aren't testing as much.

Personally I think that level of testing is a bit daft though. Unless a place has a rule that you must test or must wear a mask - and that should be on the business in question to decide that now IMO - in which case you have to abide by the rules of said business if you want to go in.

However, I do agree with testing if you have any symptoms or testing for mass events like gigs etc if, again, said arena/venue wanted you to test before hand.

I don't see them as being major inconveniences but I also don't think it's realistic to expect people to test every time they fancy going out for something to eat.

Testing before going somewhere isn't in order to gain entry into the facility, it's a basic consideration for those you'll be mingling with. The question is always "would I be happy if my elderly mother/insert other vulnerable person was here with me?". If you say you care about those people and don't want them locked away, then we need to do some basic things to ensure they can still live a full life as well as we can.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Good to see numbers finally go down, no thanks to inept vain driven government. Sadly should be much lower and focus should also be elsewhere already in the NHS care given the time of year rather than pursuing scorched earth policy.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

Think it belongs in the scummy Tories thread mate.

Blimey, I thought I was in said place when posting!

 

[Brennan]

Didn't they buy enough for years? I'm sure there were loads of reports of enough doses for everyone multiple times over being ordered

They may well have ordered them but that doesn’t mean they want to use them quickly if they can avoid it. It’s not like the doses are all sat in a room somewhere.