Rule breakers are NOT the reason we’re having another lockdown

[ProfessorInkling]

I don’t think that people who break the rules by eg meeting in a 7 instead of a 6, seeing long-term partners who live elsewhere, hugging their mum or not wearing a mask in the supermarket because while they may not be ‘medically exempt’ it’s still a struggle, are to blame for another lockdown.

Misinformation and misunderstanding however seem rife - the number of threads about people who are told to isolate after contact with a positive case and then not doing so because they get a negative test before the 14 days are up (a wasted test without symptoms), or not isolating for long enough, or isolating ‘except for’ supermarket trips, etc etc.. these are the actions that spread the virus, not making your own risk assessments and using common sense. AIBU?

"...Maybe for their sanity it was what they felt they needed to do..."
Great for their sanity, but dangerous for the part of society that they mingle with later on.

Again: the benefit of the individual outweighs the benefit to society in this country.

The morons who cannot see that this is not about liberties being curtailed, but to stop a virus are going to make excuses and going to spread it more. Mostly because they are small minded idiots. And the longer they keep doing it, the long this shitshow will continue.

I don't see the distinction between the 2 groups you e mentioned.

This.
They're both rule-breakers, "making their own risk assessments".

Death squads are the reason..

If anyone mentions Victoria, Australia again I swear I shall scream

It's rules being broken or not adhered to (however you look at it) that's spreading infection further than can be easily prevented.
Infection spreads in schools, in care homes and in hospitals - this is more difficult to control.

But the significant places its spreading where it should not be are workplaces (due to lack of masks, poor social distancing, poor hygiene) and between households (in tiers that should not be mixing indoors at all).

So yes - rule breaking is increasing the number of otherwise preventable infections.

This is not a lockdown. It is a restriction on unnecessary contact. Whilst secondary school students only wear masks in the corridors and not in class, it will spread. Their counterparts in college are running 50/50 remote and in house, wear masks all day when in, wear masks for resits and are temperature checked on entry. The student transport is not socially distanced either. So lots of things are contributing to the increase. Factories, trades, construction sites, dentists, opticians, takeaway chains, supermarkets etc are open. What is closed is a fraction of the areas of last time and I think will highlight where the issues are when numbers don't drop as fast as expected. The Cuomo approach makes more sense and we can only do that with shit hot testing and an understanding that getting a negative part way through an isolation period does not mean you are in the clear.

I don't think it's that simple, either way.

The virus is circulating because we didn't eradicate it

Well, yes, but the idea some people have that lockdowns might have accomplished that is crazy. In all of human history we've only managed to eradicate one human virus, and then one in cattle. No others, even with vaccinations.

Neither of those viruses were anything like covid.

It's absolutely true that as long as people are going out to school and work, it will be around. Probably even when (if) there is a vaccine.

As far as people breaking the rules: yes, some have and it might contribute. But a big part of public health management is making rules that are likely to be followed, it's about human psychology. People will simply not avoid hugging their mothers, pretty much under any circumstances that aren't extreme, and when it's ok to go have a pint at the pub, they sure as heck aren't. (And that's not to say they shouldn't be allowed to have a pint either.)

What we have is a seasonal virus. You cannot eradicate it any more than you can eradicate flu. You can seal yourself off indefinitely like Nee Zealand has some before you get many cases but that would not have worked here.

‘Rule breakers’ are not to blame any more than rule breakers are responsible for spreading flu. It is an endemic virus that is here to stay. The sooner we realise that the better.

Amen @Ecosse

If anyone mentions Victoria, Australia again I swear I shall scream

Why? Because it worked? The reason people mention it is because it showed what can be achieved. And "achieved" means less people dying - either through covid or non-covid illnesses.

That is a very immature response to a very serious situation. It's not an irritating game show.

Yogatomorrow

Because Australia is a vast country with a tiny population in the arse end of no-where? Hth