To wonder at what point the govt will address the minimal threat from Covid

[TheMurk]

We’re in a position where there have been 6 deaths from (with) coronavirus out of a population of 66.5 million.

In the same 24 hours 8 people died in RTAs.

There were 5 suicides.

So I’m just wondering when the government plans to address the vastly lowered threat from covid-19 and tell us what the next step of the plan is, and when it will start?

Because from a very urgent and vocal few months at the beginning with dramatic televised monologues, suddenly there is a pointed silence about the fact that this simply is not a grave threat to public health any longer.

Is no one concerned by this inactivity?

We should be being told at what point the masks, one way systems, queues and booking systems and other restrictions will be lessened or stopped altogether.

Why are we not being given a timeline?

@itsgettingweird

He already said they'd review end of October.

He said that back in July/August alongside the delaying opening some sectors.

We can't do much more for 5-6 weeks anyway as need to see impact of local restrictions, more sectors opening, schools opening and change in weather.

Sounds a reasonable time to review given schools opening.

Agree

"Coronavirus: Risk of flu or road accident higher than COVID-19 for schoolchildren, says deputy CMO"

@latticechaos

What I'd like to know is now incidences of lung cancer are down since the 70s, when will the government tell us it is safe to start smoking again?

Brilliant post.

It is a good analogy in terms of cause and effect. But in actual fact no one is stopped from smoking (other than children). Taxes are raised but no restrictions are placed on the population as a whole to reduce lung cancer. The government wouldn't even have support to ban tobacco. Yet for this disease we are living with a range of restrictions that as far as I can see are for the foreseeable future.

Totally agree with you OP.

@StealthPolarBear

I'm struggling with the fact that there is no evidence the government has any plans to review any of the current restrictions. It feels as though they're assuming people will just accept them indefinitely. Maybe I should assume they're doing all this work behind the scenes and will let us know if anything changes but tbh they've shown themselves time and time again to be untrustworthy, dishonest and selfish, badly lying to the public's face and not caring how it looks so tbh i don't trust them at all. I knew when the briefings stopped it would end up like this.

People will accept the current restrictions indefinitely. They'll accept the future restrictions indefinitely too. And after that, they'll accept the permanent restrictions.

People will accept the current restrictions indefinitely. They'll accept the future restrictions indefinitely too. And after that, they'll accept the permanent restrictions.

Some, but not all.

@lifeafter50, Are "utterly deranged" and "terminally thick" terms that you were taught to use when you were being trained as a teacher?

You should be ashamed of yourself.

I agree with you OP.

There are an awful lot of people who actively want this to continue. The same people who have been banging on about a "second wave" since the Easter Bank Holiday!

So what constitutes "banging on about a second wave"? Is that the same as pointing out that if we simply go back to normal the virus will massively resurge until there is a second wave? Cause there's quite a lot of evidence worldwide that this is true.

I would be quite keen on hearing from Bojo et al how they think the next 9 months are going to go, both with the virus and with Brexit. Somehow they seem reluctant to speak.

[quote TheMurk]@thevassal so the measures have been successful. So what is the next step of the plan? And when? Those are my questions to the government.

It sounds like you’re happy to keep the status quo so we are coming from different viewpoints in that I quite adamantly want to return to normal, and as soon as possible, so I would like to know when and how this is going to happen.

Incidentally I’m in Scotland. We haven’t had new hospital admissions in weeks. Hospitalised cases are going down daily. Yet no exit plan.[/quote]
How are you expecting as exit plan for a friggin' virus????? The only logical exit scenarios are:

1. get vaccine. Oh wait, many are working on this
2. it will wear itself out. wishful thinking, can't plan for it
3. it mutates into something less deadly and with less long term complications
4. the world gives up and excepts the culling of humans

The exit plans for govs for the following:

1. give money for vaccine research
2. fingers crossed
3. fingers crossed
4. oh wait, uk gov is doing this. ...

as per deaths. ....
You are comparing suicide numbers to a VIRUS!! Suicide doesn't spread by someone coughing at you! It makes no sense to compare it to other deaths that are purely based on the decisions of the individual (bar mechanical failure).

Like it or not given the opportunity this thing will spread like wildfire and thrives in close contact indoors. When kids go back to school they will have 100s of contacts a day, they then go home mix with parents who then go to work or siblings going to a different school and mix with others. You can see the potential for this to cause a lot of disruption at the very least this winter with people having to isolate or wait for tests. If wearing a mask and other measures helps to reduce this then I will comply if necessary.

the world gives up and excepts the culling of humans

There are hundreds and hundreds of viruses floating about that are potentially deadly to some. That's life. There's risk everywhere and in everything we do. For the vast vast majority of people this particular virus is mild and the reaction to it is disproportionate.

@RegularHumanBartender

the world gives up and excepts the culling of humans

There are hundreds and hundreds of viruses floating about that are potentially deadly to some. That's life. There's risk everywhere and in everything we do. For the vast vast majority of people this particular virus is mild and the reaction to it is disproportionate.

I would love to put you and others who think like you on an island and let the virus run it's natural course. Not out of spite - I have nothing against you personally, and there is a tangential point i even agree with-, but to actually demonstrate the extent of this virus. And then do follow up studies on how many people have long term medical needs because of this.

Don't forget, pls., that I am not a cynical sociopath, but looking at is only from the medical/data side. And yes, I know that this is way more complicated, I'm just highlighting one aspect.

And on that note: from a purely scientific aspect: humans have done enough damage to have brought this onto themselves and it is a natural selection process.

@RegularHumanBartender

the world gives up and excepts the culling of humans

There are hundreds and hundreds of viruses floating about that are potentially deadly to some. That's life. There's risk everywhere and in everything we do. For the vast vast majority of people this particular virus is mild and the reaction to it is disproportionate.

It is so frustrating to read this type of incorrect post.

Yes there are lots of viruses. But covid spreads easily and kills or causes longer-term impacts in a higher number than most viruses do We do not yet understand the virus nor do we know how many could be left unable to work.

@NotAKaren

Like it or not given the opportunity this thing will spread like wildfire and thrives in close contact indoors. When kids go back to school they will have 100s of contacts a day, they then go home mix with parents who then go to work or siblings going to a different school and mix with others. You can see the potential for this to cause a lot of disruption at the very least this winter with people having to isolate or wait for tests. If wearing a mask and other measures helps to reduce this then I will comply if necessary.

This

It's not hard to understand it's low transmission because of the factors and precautions.

Without them (like feb) we will see a repeat like March and April.

No one is trying to scaremonger. It's a scientific fact.

The same that measles still maintains an R rate if 18. If isn't running through the U.K. like wildfire due to vaccinations and hers immunity.

Gov don't really have a concrete plan. Virus+human nature means things are uncertain.

They also have to wait until schools go back...and hope and pray that kids, parents, teachers, associate school staff are not wiped out by the virus in numbers that alarm people (personally I'd hope none are, but the attitude of some people saying "ah well, they had underlying conditions" is .

Try and manage the winter cold & flu infection season and people breaking rules because they need their Christmas gatherings etc.

Analyse if the virus has mutated to be less infectious/deadly or if we have some immunity etc.

Only then if we get through this will things be lifted. So I'd say realistically April 2021 before we can ascertain anything concrete.

People are going to have to be patient.

@RegularHumanBartender

I agree with you OP.

There are an awful lot of people who actively want this to continue. The same people who have been banging on about a "second wave" since the Easter Bank Holiday!

It's the people who stamp their feet over wearing masks, who refuse to social distance, and who scream 'scaremongering' and go la la la with their fingers in their ears at any mention of the facts who want this to continue.

Had we taken proper action in February or March (including closed borders) by now we'd be like my friends and family in South Australia. Living pretty normal lives.

Facing up to the situation and taking action to deal with it is what helps end it.

The rate is low because we have all these restrictions in place. Yes, it seems like the death rate may now be lower and scientists are working on whether that is a change in the virus, or we are just better at treating it or protecting the vulnerable. But until we know this if we remove all the control measures it will just spread again. Are you willing to risk it mutating to something that attacks young and healthy people because thats what viruses do - mutate. Slow and steady is the only way to deal with this.