To think COVID-19 isn't actually over?

[FourPlasticRings]

Today I've had a door to door salesman try to hand me a flier from my doorstep and seen a Facebook group message inviting mums and mums to be from my local area to an en masse gathering at a local park cafe to get to know each other. AIBU to think that this sort of thing still shouldn't be happening? Or have I missed a memo and it's all fine now? Anyone else seeing things like this?

Covid will never be "over" and normal life will resume.

Nope, it’s with us forever.

Despite the numbers going in the right direction we should still be mindful of social distancing surely

I don't think it will be with us forever! It will go but may take some time. We won't have to stay socially distant forever.

It won't be over. You and others will have to learn to live with it. Eventually we need to get on with life

There are still rules we need to follow and large gatherings like that aren't allowed. I am not sure why anyone would think that it is allowed.

Maybe they don't care what is allowed?

Of course not, it's very unlikely to ever to totally over

I'll start to believe it's over when they lift restrictions for those of us shielded. Until then the government clearly think the risk is higher than they are letting on otherwise, if it's as low as is being made out, why wouldn't we be allowed to get back to normal too?

It's not over by a long shot. Best case scenario is that a working vaccine is developed and available widely by this time next year. In the meantime, we need to be cautious and maintain social distancing.

It may eventually be eradicated or just evolve itself out of existence - but this won't happen any time soon.

There may well be a second peak in the coming weeks, if not then we will almost certainly see one in the autumn or winter. It won't necessarily be as bad as the first but depends on how well people are willing to stick to social distancing for the foreseeable future.

Maybe they don't care what is allowed?

I think that's it. I pointed out the issue (going against my previous decision to never again wade into public Facebook discussions) and got a lot of, 'Oh, it's personal choice, people who are still living in fear don't have to join us' etc.

What do you want to happen op? The economy needs to stay afloat, people need to work to feed their family, pay their bills ect. They have to start lifting restrictions and that's what they are doing. If you can afford to stay inside and choose to stay locked down then by all means do so but that's not the situation for everyone

We cannot carry on in lockdown. The whole point of it was not to overwhelm the NHS. The NHS is no longer overwhelmed. Coronavirus will be here for a while. We need to learn to live with it for now.

What do you want to happen op? The economy needs to stay afloat, people need to work to feed their family, pay their bills ect. They have to start lifting restrictions and that's what they are doing.

I'd like people to do as they're told and refrain from organising group meetings until they're told they're allowed to do so. And for those back at work to continue to socially distance.

Basically, the young and fit are getting back to life as usual. They will eventually get it, but probably won't get too ill.

The more cautious, vulnerable etc will have to live a much secluded life until a vaccine or better treatment is available.

It was inevitable really- lockdown was never about protecting individuals.

I don't disagree with you, OP!

@picklemewalnuts

Basically, the young and fit are getting back to life as usual. They will eventually get it, but probably won't get too ill.

The more cautious, vulnerable etc will have to live a much secluded life until a vaccine or better treatment is available.

It was inevitable really- lockdown was never about protecting individuals.

Yep. It's been said on other threads that the vulnerable, and particularly those shielding, have basically been locked up out of sight out of mind and are now just ignored and largely forgotten about. I think this is true.

So many people insisting that lockdown has to be lifted because of people's mental health, jobs, finances, education, health needs etc - but what about all of those considerations for those shielding? Do our jobs, finances, health needs education needs or mental health needs not matter then?

you do know there is a second lockdown in China at the moment?

I totally agree with you op.

I genuinely don't understand your point @Hearhoovesthinkzebras - are you saying that because some people are at risk from covid everyone has to act as if they're at risk? I can't see the justification for healthy people who may never get covid, or if they do get it, be fine, to give up their whole lives because others are not in that position.

@FourPlasticRings

What do you want to happen op? The economy needs to stay afloat, people need to work to feed their family, pay their bills ect. They have to start lifting restrictions and that's what they are doing.

I'd like people to do as they're told and refrain from organising group meetings until they're told they're allowed to do so. And for those back at work to continue to socially distance.

But how long for? You do know life has to go back to normal at some point?

We need people to get out and spend money to keep the economy alive. Most young people won't get sick from the virus - how long are we willing to put lives on hold for?

No Covid isn't gone, but strict social distancing is just too contrary to human nature to be sustainable. Our innate 'humanness' was always going to reassert itself once the initial panic passed. I think we just have to accept that, while maintaining reasonable sustainable measures (extensive testing, no big super spreader events, good hygiene, masks in certain circumstances).

@TheDailyCarbuncle

I genuinely don't understand your point *@Hearhoovesthinkzebras* - are you saying that because some people are at risk from covid everyone has to act as if they're at risk? I can't see the justification for healthy people who may never get covid, or if they do get it, be fine, to give up their whole lives because others are not in that position.

No, I'm saying that we are all members of society so why haven't we all been taken into consideration?

So many people have been unable to cope with lockdown and yet those of us shielding have been subjected to a much stricter, much harder lockdown. Multiple times there have been threads from people not coping with only going out once per day, in addition to shopping, yet the shielded haven't been able to go.out even once a day. Now they are lifting lockdown for everyone, quickly, and without precautions in place, apart from the shielded, who still can't do anything at all apart from exercise once a day but only if it's safe (which it isn't where I live due to the number of people out and about who now clearly see no point in social distancing at all).

My point is, that if restrictions were in place, albeit relaxed slightly, then maybe the shielded could also come out of isolation too. If masks were mandatory, track and trace in place, social distancing mandatory and things moving just a little slower then perhaps it would be much safer to let the shielded get some freedom too? Instead it seems many want everything even if that means others get nothing.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras - I've seen/heard this now a few times- people saying that the shielded have been forgotten /ignored. What would you like to see happening? What would you change? I'm not being goady, it must be absolutely shit to be stuck at home

Oh crossed post!