Anyone else just think it’s great that life is back to “normal”?

[curiousitygotthebetterofme]

After two years of covid restrictions, I mean.

Was just watching Glastonbury and looking at the big crowds of people there, it’s hard to believe we have had so many restrictions over the last two years.

This time in 2020 and even this time last year I never thought we’d get back to this level of normality, well at least not for an extremely long time so I just think it’s wonderful to see everyone back together and enjoying themselves again

I am enjoying the summer events but it does come with a price. Covid is now going around my small office as someone came in while a family member was sick. Yes we have to live with it but why couldn't we learn from the increased hygiene measures?

Enjoy the rising covid cases due to being able to get back to "normal"

Love hearing music but admit very uneasy about the number of people crammed in, with infection rates so high.

I just wish there was a recognition that even a 'mild' case of covid can cause serious damage to the vascular system, can effect the brain and other body systems. We don't have an understanding yet of why many people are becoming very ill and disabled, due to long covid. It changes lives. Leaves many unable to work or function properly.

I only wish there was recognition of this and a sensible approach to public health, with as a focus on improving indoor air quality, the widespread use of Hepa filtration / designing public buildings to maximise the quality of air. Masking in low ventilated areas.

This all takes investment, which I can't see the Government backing, and honesty from them and public health. The new 'normal' is infact ignoring scientific evidence and ignoring those people whose health has changed completely.

I wish it was all back to pre pandemic normal, but life has changed. We don't seem to have learned from the pandemic, and I feel we are sleepwalking into another crisis, rather that planning and mitigating risks.

It is easier to ignore the very real risks, given the lack of public health messaging.

I have post covid syndrome so normal isn't quite the way I would describe it.

Well after sharing an unmasked flight with a planeload of ostentatious coughers and sneezers I now have covid for the first time and am trying not to give it to the vulnerable person with whom I live. It would be great if, as a result of the past couple of years, normal now included basic hygiene measures but no.

I am sorry for those who are vulnerable in some way, or have them in their family.

But honestly, what should we do? Lockdown or restrict the country indefinitely? I’m asking genuinely there as I read some of the replies here and it does seem that’s what people want.

Yes, I agree op. I love watching children playing together at school. Went to a concert and it was amazing. Eating in restaurants etc. I’m so grateful for the vaccines.

I like that things are back to normal, but I wish I was doing less of it.

I've had weekend plans or trips away for most of the past three months and I'm plain fucking exhausted, and I don't get a weekend off for another fortnight.

I had Long Covid for about 14 months, so I'm not unaware of the impact, but I feel that things have to move on.

I was very anti lockdown. I complied with the first one, but not the subsequent ones. Neither did many friends (including NHS workers and police force). So I'm happy for things to be "back to normal"....but, dig deeper, and I'm not sure they quite are.
I think we've emerged from restrictions with a general sense of malaise over the nation. The cost of living crisis and complex global political landscape is depressing and deeply concerning.
All promises to 'build back better' or learn a single lesson from the lockdowns (ie, how clean our air quality can get when those who can, work from home) have turned out to be total horse shit.
I think the messaging around Covid made people suspicious and wary of others (for many, we're no longer fellow citizens, but rule-breaking disease vectors) and I'm not sure that's ever going away.
Many people retreated into themselves during the lockdowns and are now conditioned to living lives of hermitude.

In the UK we pay for 'normalcy' in other ways with 1.8 million people with long covid and the resultant knock on impacts on the health service and labour market.

Starting to go round the schools here again after a brief hiatus. Some teachers are on their 4th bout.

I know 3 people locally (1 a child) whose lives are completely blighted by long COVID (and we are talking more than 12 months of suffering so far). Not sure whether their lives will ever get back to normal.

I know we do have to carry on, but I am still wary of large gatherings (mind wouldn’t go to Glastonbury type gatherings pre COVID either)

Exactly. People make out that it was for much longer. Especially where children were concerned. Mine have forgotten about it. It was pretty miserable I agree but at the time there was no other option. There won't be another one.

We had to get back to normality.

We have tried everything we could. Lockdowns don't work.

All we have are the vaccines. All we can do is work on even better vaccines and treatments.

I would say I would like to see isolation go back to being required if you test positive (I don't think people should be at work if they have Covid) and also the provision of free tests.

But beyond that, life must go on. And yes people will keep getting the virus. But the world cannot continue to stop because of it...

In the last two years I knew 1 person who got covid. Very fortunate I know.

In the last month 15 people I know got it including DH and I. Normality spreads the virus unfortunately.

But we can’t indefinitely keep people from getting it.

I am so glad that things are back to normal. There is a vaccine, treatments are improving. That is as good as it gets as Covid won't go away.

I was terrified by all the talk of 'new normal' that we had. I head people say that the future would be part time schooling, permanent social distancing, mandated masks forever etc. etc.

The reality is that you could catch any virus that could kill you or leave you with long term issues. My Mum was almost killed by a bout of norovirus a few years ago.

People should still follow basic hygeine and stay home if ill but that is it.

Yes, I'm so thankful. I still sometimes get a little fizz of excitement and gratitude that we can live a normal life again. I don't need to consider whether an activity is risky, or how to mitigate the risks - we just go.

It's not completely back to normal - we still do lateral flows before seeing my parents. Covid is increasing the amount everyone gets ill, and of course things are more likely to get cancelled if someone tests positive. It will likely lower life expectancy for some years to come. We haven't gone back in time to 2019. But generally, everyday life for us is what I longed for when we still had restrictions. I'm so grateful. I'm also aware that winter may not be as good, but we'll see.

I agree op, I’m so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves and I feel my life is completely back to normal now. There are always going to be a few people who are still scared of covid or advocating for further restrictions, either because they or a family member are CEV or have health anxiety, but the majority of people have stopped worrying or thinking about covid.

I really don’t think most people would comply with any restrictions now, so I think covid is properly over now.

DH and I have both had Covid this year, but yup, I'm glad to be doing things again. I have an elderly friend up the road who won't be around for much longer, and it's so nice to be able to sit around his kitchen table with a group of other people and watch him enjoying having a social life again, rather than talking to him from the pavement.

I work in a school and the DC are thriving, too.

Glastonbury really helped to forget even more - I’m listening on r6 and loving it

I may have got emotional at sound of crowds and sheer joy of some singers but each bit of normalcy back gets me like that

Not really no.

1- covid is still around and people are still getting ill and disabled by it.

2- ‘Restrictions’ have never stopped me from enjoying myself. Apart from the few months of full on lockdowns, I still saw friends and family, went out and about. Festivals are only a one off in the year.

There hasn’t been that many weeks/months when we couldn’t go and see an elderly neighbourg though. It was always an option….

I think things are very far from normal when the NHS is so stretched that if you have a heart attack you may not get treatment.

I'm not really that good at pretending things have gone away!

Obviously glad lockdown is over, but there should still be someone in government govng a shit about the fallout.

Covid will always be around and people will always catch it. Some people will get I’ll and disabled by it, just as they have by other illnesses. That’s life unfortunately.

I’m not totally convinced that is because all the doctors and nurses are dealing with covid cases, though. It’s because the NHS is poorly managed generally.