"Don't worry, we can just do it at mine instead"

[rainbowrain107]

Lunch booking for group of 6 friends in London booked for Saturday. Obviously, can't go ahead now as the restaurant likely to be funny about 6 adults traipsing in. However the organiser has already announced to everyone that she'll just host at hers instead.

This attempt at lockdown just isn't going to work is it?

I think you need to reply pretty promptly 'No, sorry, that can't happen either. It's such a shame.'

That’s one way to prevent any further invitations...

The whole thing is crazy.
I'm in a high risk area (NE) Technically should be tier 3 but local councillors are against it and are saying our local numbers are now improving (bollocks! imo)
I work in a place where 20 different people from different households can come in and mix indoors for as long as they wish. Because of just this situation, it's not going to get any better any time soon sadly.

There's absolutely no point in locking ANYTHING down whilst school children are in huge groups at schools passing the virus around like tennis balls.
It's all a HUGE joke.

One year 11 bubble of 160 kids, that's 160 households mixing. And if they have a sibling in year 9, that's up to 320 households sharing germs. What's the point in reducing numbers in pubs and restaurants when schools are germ soup?

Thanks OP

@Nottherealslimshady

YANBU I dont see why everyone cant just bloody follow the rules for a few weeks in the hope of having Christmas with our families

Yep I agree. People seem to think that none compliance will be more widespread. Personally I think a miserable Christmas will make people turn on each other. Reporting people to be fined will go up.

But have we seen any information on where the virus is being spread the most? I mean, i keep hearing Sky news banging on about only 3.2% of infections are from hospitality. On the radio the other day they had Leisure as the biggest category, but no details on what that actually meant.

Quite frankly, I don't blame people for being a bit blasé. It's confusing and there's no real sense that the government know what it's doing. They never bother with explanations or use any of the endless statistics to actually back themselves up. We are abiding by the rules in our area and have done so from the start, with one exception - our rule of 6 we've ignored when it's 8 people because it's two families of 4 - but truthfully, I can't blame people for pushing it.

I'd reply with, 'thank you, what can I bring?'

If my city goes into a different tier I'm not complying. There is no plan, the government couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and the first lock down was bad enough for my mental health.

If I get Covid and die then so fucking be it. I'm sick of everyone wanting immortality. At a personal level I'm sure my family will be upset but at a macro level the world is overpopulated and I'm wholly insignificant.

@Nottherealslimshady

YANBU I dont see why everyone cant just bloody follow the rules for a few weeks in the hope of having Christmas with our families

But that isn't the deal, is it? If people knew it would be 'a few weeks' and that they would get to see their family at Christmas then compliance rates would be much higher. It's the indefinite and indeterminate nature of it that people are finding so hard.

@DappledOliveGroves

I'd reply with, 'thank you, what can I bring?'

If my city goes into a different tier I'm not complying. There is no plan, the government couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and the first lock down was bad enough for my mental health.

If I get Covid and die then so fucking be it. I'm sick of everyone wanting immortality. At a personal level I'm sure my family will be upset but at a macro level the world is overpopulated and I'm wholly insignificant.

hmm no not supposed to but ive had enough tbh

essex county council requested to go into tier two without consulting its residents and the government have agreed

even though our numbers are quite low-people are not happy and alot say they wont comply

i assume i can go to a different county in tier one or is thatg against a law aswell

Dappled "If I get Covid and die then so fucking be it. I'm sick of everyone wanting immortality. At a personal level I'm sure my family will be upset but at a macro level the world is overpopulated and I'm wholly insignificant."

We've only just met, is forward to say I like you already and please be my friend? I am so with you on that.

I dont see why everyone cant just bloody follow the rules for a few weeks in the hope of having Christmas with our families

Weeks? You're joking right? I've been in local restrictions for fucking months.

@AcornAutumn very pleased to meet you

I am so sick of all of this and I fail to understand the logic or impetus driving the response to Covid.

It's the same as climate change (hear me out -
It is relevant). There are groups like Extinction Rebellion etc jumping up and down about climate change and how we MUST stop it. But no one explains why. If the human race wipes itself out, who cares? The earth will keep turning (far more happily I imagine), the universe will presumably still exist. Why do humans think we're so special and significant when in reality we are wholly irrelevant?

Similarly with Covid and any other disease or natural catastrophe that's ever occurred. We are not in control - why do we pretend we are? The Boxing Day tsunami killed a quarter of a million people in a split second. TB kills millions every year. Famine and war kill even more. And now we're restricting people's lives and liberties with absolutely no clear goal or focus and we're supposed to nod along and comply? No, no, no.

If I get Covid and die then so fucking be it
As much as that is your choice, it doesn't just affect you though does it. What about those that love you or the people you could unknowingly infect and/or kill.

There are groups like Extinction Rebellion etc jumping up and down about climate change and how we MUST stop it. But no one explains why. If the human race wipes itself out, who cares? The earth will keep turning (far more happily I imagine), the universe will presumably still exist. Why do humans think we're so special and significant when in reality we are wholly irrelevant?

We're taking other species with us though. That's the problem.

@DappledOliveGroves. Its not a popular thing to agree with but i totally agree with you on this. I think a lot of people feel the same but it is not a view people are happy to express out loud, at least in the circles i mix in.

@Averyyounggrandmaofsix

Has anyone guaranteed this will all be over by Christmas then?

Indeed. This virus is going nowhere anytime soon. Unless we completely lockdown until there is a vaccine and immunity (if ever???) we will see infections rise. Even if everyone followed the circuit breaker rules, there will still be a rise when it ends. Its just constant stays of execution.

Travelling to a lower tier isn’t prohibited but you still have to obey your rules when you get there.

1) No person may participate in a gathering in the Tier 2 area which (a)consists of two or more people, and (b)takes place indoors.

2) No person living in the Tier 2 area may participate in a gathering outside that area which— (a)consists of two or more people, and (b)takes place indoors

Acorn you are welcome to die if that's your choice but you may not be going alone. Are your family really not going to involve your gp/paramedics/hospital staff/church minister/ etc because you are happy to die? I imagine you will access all the health care you can get and run the risk of infecting someone working hard to save you at the same time as blocking a bed from someone who didn't want to die.

[quote DappledOliveGroves]@AcornAutumn very pleased to meet you

I am so sick of all of this and I fail to understand the logic or impetus driving the response to Covid.

It's the same as climate change (hear me out -
It is relevant). There are groups like Extinction Rebellion etc jumping up and down about climate change and how we MUST stop it. But no one explains why. If the human race wipes itself out, who cares? The earth will keep turning (far more happily I imagine), the universe will presumably still exist. Why do humans think we're so special and significant when in reality we are wholly irrelevant?

Similarly with Covid and any other disease or natural catastrophe that's ever occurred. We are not in control - why do we pretend we are? The Boxing Day tsunami killed a quarter of a million people in a split second. TB kills millions every year. Famine and war kill even more. And now we're restricting people's lives and liberties with absolutely no clear goal or focus and we're supposed to nod along and comply? No, no, no.[/quote]
agreed. we've not banned cigarettes/tobacco which kills many millions every year. and yes its a choice that people make - which is what we should be able to do with regards to our risk of covid.

I'd go to hers.

Dappled - agree with that wider view too.

what's really bugging me is the way people act like infectious disease only just arrived in 2020. My late father specialised in - though with the shit the "experts" come out with these days, I'm reluctant to say it.

I have had issues with immunity from childhood and so has a cousin. We've both done school, uni, commuting etc. Yes, we've had nasty encounters with pneumonia and post viral syndrome - I've been vaccinated but nothing's fool proof. My cousin has other issues and wasn't even expecting to live to the age he is now. But here we are...

I don't know if the pro lockdowners have a time limit on how long they think measures should last.

I went out for a meal in for the first time in ages on Sunday - haven't wanted to risk being told to isolate. It was pretty empty. It's going to be diabolical now most places are Tier 2.

then Sunak will resign - not that I blame him - and we're really in trouble.

we've banned exposing other people to your passive smoke, it's the same thing.

You are potentially infecting others and you may not die, just be one of the 30% still breathless after 2 months or the 40% still fatigued then. And the bed you take up denies someone else health care - someone who may die or be pernanently disabled from it.

I'm not worried about dying. Still would say sorry I wont come (while mentally thinking because I'm not an arse and rethinking the friendship).

I dont see why everyone cant just bloody follow the rules for a few weeks in the hope of having Christmas with our families
I can. It's because there's no indication WHATSOEVER that following the roolz will lead to them being relaxed. Saint Boris said "We can turn this virus around in twelve weeks". 95% compliance then, "twelve weeks" ended more than twelve weeks ago, and people are saying it's worse now than it was in March. Saint Boris and others keep saying "it won't be forever", but there is growing evidence to the contrary. This is why people are not complying, because there is no end in sight, even though Saint Boris and the lockdown zealots keep LYING that lockdown will eradicate the virus.

Similarly, this "two week circuit breaker" than people keep touting as the magic bullet: if it happens, I'll bet my bottom dollar it won't finish two weeks after it starts.

The notion of personal responsibility seems to have passed so many people by.

I've been worried about this for quite some time. The pandemic has really brought this to the fore.