If you're still sticking to ALL the rules/guidance - why?

[RaspberryCoulis]

Will start by saying I am not sticking to the covid rules any more. Obviously I can't go places which aren't open. But we have had people in the house, kids are going out with friends probably in larger numbers than are permitted, we're crossing local authority boundaries which is supposedly illegal in Scotland. Why? Because we've been in lockdown for a year, cases here are very low, and some things are more important than Covid.

But on every thread there are people claiming that they are sticking rigidly to every single rule and guideline, never breaking ANY rule. They would probably say I was a selfish covid-denier who was hellbent on murdering their granny.

So if you're sticking to all the guidelines and rules, without fail - why? People who are clinically extremely vulnerable (officially) I can understand in part if they're not vaccinated. But the rest of you? Is it because you're scared of Covid, or scared of your neighbours, or scared of breaking the law by mistake?

Am over it. Not deliberately flouting the rules but equally not abiding either...really don't care now.

set of rules at work if you’re a surgeon

You keep saying this. Do you really think that’s why surgeons stick to infection control rules? It really isn’t. They do it because without those rules, operating theatres become dangerous. Having an individual surgeon going their own way would make it dangerous for everyone.

Happy to agree to differ re my use of analogies though!!

A booster was always going likely in the same way we are offered an annual flu jab. Not a big surprise really ......

@Fridget

Can you see what's happening in Florida in the news?

I think there’s a lot about this virus we don’t understand (including the experts!)

yes Florida is doing well. Also India. But on the other hand look at Brazil.

Different countries seem to be affected differently, and we were doing pretty bloody badly over the new year till we locked down. I don’t think we can assume we would have ended up like Florida.

Florida is a tropical climate as well.

@SofiaMichelle

Er, you do know that by far the vast majority of Covid transmission has occurred either as a result of the NHS shipping covid positive patients into care homes, or actually in the NHS itself?

'Vast majority' of transmission?

Do you have data to support that?

You'll see it at the inquiry. I accept that it is not proven yet. But it is a fact that at the start of the pandemic arriving in the UK, huge outbreaks at care homes immediately following the NHS dumping their 'bed blockers' out into care homes, untested, and there are many claims that this was as a direct cause of many of these outbreaks, and the chain of infections across the UK would have been spread from there.

i dont want my family friends and colleagues to suffer through my behaviour.

You keep saying this. Do you really think that’s why surgeons stick to infection control rules? It really isn’t. They do it because without those rules, operating theatres become dangerous. Having an individual surgeon going their own way would make it dangerous for everyone

I meant more the sacrifice being asked of a surgeon in putting on PPE at work is not comparable to the sacrifice being asked of members of the public in having their liberty removed - there’s a lot more at stake for people to want to break lockdown. So in terms of looking at a reason to follow the rules because experts say so and they know better, it’s not an analogy that I find helpful.

My husband is a surgeon. It’s no skin off his nose to scrub in as part of his job. Not having been able to visit his mother who has been languishing in a care home throughout the pandemic and doesn’t understand why her children have stopped visiting - well, it’s a much bigger ask.

Er, you do know that by far the vast majority of Covid transmission has occurred either as a result of the NHS shipping covid positive patients into care homes, or actually in the NHS itself?

A significant proportion (though not, I think, a majority) of deaths occurred under those cirumstances; because care home residents and many hospital patients are exceptionally vulnerable.

But I don't know of any evidence that most transmission occurred in these ways.

@kellehi why be so aggressive? The thread is asking about people's own personal reasons. I've answered. It's not an attack on you or anyone else who disagrees with me.

What I meant was - virology and public health aren't my fields. I know just enough to understand that judgement calls will vary from place to place, and time to time, depending on lots of different factors. I find it reassuring to hear that Whitty is held in so much esteem by top virologists and public health experts - and particularly that he is unlikely to be swayed by political pressure (like many others on this thread, I don't trust the UK government as far as I could throw them). But I would still take him very seriously even if I knew no one who knew him because I don't have the training and experience to judge risk the way he can. I don't, for example, know Devi Sridhar personally - but boy, does she know her stuff!

If this weren’t an anonymous forum, would you admit this?

Personally, I’m still following the rules. It all starts with one rotten apple abs the whole barrel is ruined. If everybody were to follow your logic (ie what’s wrong with travelling outside your boundaries) we would have crowds at all the most popular spots.

I do hope you’re not one of my neighbours. I’ve been quite strict with my children and they’ve accepted restrictions despite their full active social lives pre-Covid. Thankfully our neighbourhood thinks like me.

I have a strong sense of personal responsibility. It means I will only break a law if it’s plainly an ass. I’ll be on the barricades against this government once I’m fully vaccinated.

@SmileEachDay

So you accept that you cannot equate/compare/use an analogy/whatever when it comes to drawing parallels with people 'not fully complying with the rules' and 'carrying out medical procedures without washing hands'

Jesus. I’m really glad you’re not in my English lit class.

I think you mean English Language

For me it was because I am law abiding but also the Kent variant was pretty scary with contagiousness and what it did to the curve. Having it in the mix is very worrying. I am not sure what our numbers are for the variant in Scotland at the moment (I removed it being around 60%) but I do think we have to get numbers way down - more so than with previous waves and vaccinate all we can before opening.

@Robin233

A booster was always going likely in the same way we are offered an annual flu jab. Not a big surprise really ......

It's not in the same way at all. Only those at risk of flu and healthcare workers were offered the vaccine...

Since we know by now that this is the same with Covid, i.e. only the most vulnerable are at risk, and unlike flu, certainly not children - not only will everyone (including children) in the UK be required to have the two shot original vaccine, they will be required to subscribe to continuous booster injections indefinitely under your regime?

I think you mean English Language

No, I really don’t.

If my English language students don’t understand analogies it’s not the end of the world. The ones studying the Romantic poets would struggle though. It means they’re just reading a shipload of stuff about fields 🤷🏻‍♀️

Because the longer people think like you, the longer it's going to be until things are actually back to normal, and the longer we will actually suffer.

@RaspberryCoulis

DH and I have been working from home for a year. We're not seeing relatives as they are quite some distance away. We're not using public transport, gathering in large groups.

In what way is it "risky" for DH and I to drive 30 minutes to the next council area for a walk rather than drive 5 minutes within our own council area? Makes no sense.

I'm law abiding too. Never arrested, never had so much as a speeding ticket.

Well you're obviously not law abiding, as you've literally just written that you've been breaking laws. So..

@en0la - "I think you mean English Language"

If you want to carry on sneering, why don't you tell me what's wrong with it?

Not sure what you mean
Dh was offered regular fluid jab.
In future it may be we are all offered a top up covid jab.

Not sticking to all the rules and never have tbh. Vaccinated 3 weeks ago. Getting on with life best I can now.

OP if someone asked me for dinner I would go
All my friends are sticking to the rules
I mainly am too but getting so fed up

Not sticking to all the rules and never have tbh

Then you are a selfish idiot. You’re very lucky that you’ve had your vaccine. Interesting that you engaged in the covid response when it protects you, but clearly don’t give a shit about anyone else.

Yes I am. Because I don’t want to feel guilty if anyone I know gets covid and dies, if I can say I did what was I was asked to do then I tried my best.

I'm not sticking to it anymore in that I've met up with people (one at a time) at the park so DS can play with his friend.

I've also got a giver bubble than I'm allowed but the rest of them never go out it's just DS going to school.

I'd never have a big gathering.

I honestly have had enough.

I agree OP