To think this is just a joke now?

[Justinversusmrtumble]

Portugal possibly going back onto the amber list.
The only thing keeping my parents going is coming to celebrate toddlers DD’s birthday in the summer. It’s getting beyond ridiculous now. Feeling so low today, I miss my family so much.

I know how you feel. Haven't seen my dad since December 2019. It is rubbish. Hopefully things will improve soon.

Yeh its bollocks OP, I really feel for you.

You will get the tough it out brigade replying banging on about variants etc unfortunately.

Most vulnerable are vaxxed, its summer and shock horror this is a respiratory virus with seasonality so let's make the most of the summer when it still circulates (my niece has just had it) , but at low levels, boosting up population immunity for the winter.

Life is to be lived and all that, but we are very at the mercy of idiot politicians and a certain set of scientists unwilling to relinquish their time in the spotlight unfortunately.

I don't think it's that hard to read between the lines and understand it's probably more to do with the fact OP and her daughter haven't seen her family for a long time than a party.

I agree we should have just stuck with no travel until 2022, it’s what most people expected to happen anyway, I don’t know why the government had to complicate things with a traffic light system that then results in a lot of uncertainty and disappointment as countries can change category. It would have been better policy and also easier for people to accept. I personally don’t think people were desperately clamouring to go abroad, most were just happy we were doing so well on vaccinations and ending lockdown. I know it sucks for those whose close relatives live abroad but that is a small minority overall.

The lack of compassion to those of us with family abroad is really fucking depressing. There’s no part of you that could even imagine that this is really hard for some of us?! I haven’t seen my family in almost 2 years, I haven’t had anyone to bubble up with and my kids have grown so much that they’ll be almost different people by the time we get to see them again. We can be vocal about it being a crap situation without taking anything away from those who have died ffs.

"Really considering moving back home".

Is there no way that you could have come to the UK when we've had brief opening ups?

If it wasn't for the lock downs your parents might not be here at all. Of there's a risk from mutations, then these lock downs are keeping them safe. Mutations, either they are a threat, or not. There's people who have family in desperate situations in India/Africa etc and can't get back. At least you and your parents are in safe countries with good welfare systems. Although it is tough and it's the inaction of our government that has caused this. People need to realise that it's mid crisis when nothing means more to us than family and the need to see them.

Any one who plans international travel at the moment is running the risk of not being able to go or unplanned quarantine at one end or the other.

We're a long way off a return to "normal" as we once knew it.

@VeganVeal

Thousands of people have died and all some are worried about is going abroad and having a party.

madness

I agree. It’s been shit for everyone and I’m tired of this endless whinging and moaning about petty minor inconveniences like this. I find it especially annoying when people moan about not being able to see family. Well if family is that important to you why did you move to the other side of the world? Sorry if that sounds harsh but there’s no way I’d move abroad if I had elderly, frail parents.

So Portugal was ok for all the fucking football fans to pile into, but now that's over let's downgrade from Green again?

Good think I'm not planning to go until October, but my parents aren't getting any younger either

[quote Justinversusmrtumble]@AnneLovesGilbert Almost everyone has been vaccinated, there is intense testing, numbers are low here, it doesn’t make sense at all. Are they saying that the vaccines come with then, what’s the point of having them if this is always going to continue, there’s no need.[/quote]
Almost everyone has not yet been vaccinated, where have you got that from? I'm 30 and have finally gotten my turn for my first dose in 2 weeks time....I wont be fully vaccinated until September and theres a lot of adults younger than me...
Little bit tired of older people and grandparents showing their selfishness when younger people put our lives on hold and suffered isolation and job losses to protect them and now they cant be bothered to wait for us to catch up when we're bottom of the vaccination pile

DP has been living with Long Covid for over a year now. It has ruined both our lives. People moaning about not being able to travel abroad is so depressing.

@Justinversusmrtumble It is annoying and crazy, and it feels like it's never going to end. But I have no sympathy with ANYone booking a holiday abroad this year. We are not even at the end of the 'road map out of lockdown yet, and the Indian variant has hit us over this past few weeks, and now the Nepal variant has hit. Why on EARTH would anyone book a holiday abroad?

All me and DH have booked is 2 nights in a Travelodge in North Wales for the end of June. That was less than £80 for the 2 nights, AND we can cancel it, and not have to pay anything. No WAY would we risk anything else, and as I say, I have zero sympathy with those who do, and then lose their holiday. Zero.

Why anyone would decide to fork out thousands to go abroad, and then complain that the country has now gone on the amber list, or red list or whatever, just baffles me. Why book anywhere abroad yet? It's batshit.

Also, this is the risk of moving abroad, 1000s of miles away from family. Some people moved away for a 'better life,' to another country, or 100s of miles away to another town, and some of them were quite smug about it, looking down their nose at people who stayed in the home town they grew up in. (Like were superior to them.)

This has all bit them on the arse, and brought them down to earth though, as they have struggled without any family or close friends around them since covid hit last March.

And no I'm not glad it's happening to them, but I'm not sorry either. It's a risk to move away, because you don't know when you - or a family member may need support. I have seen many a person move away, and act like they're better than the people who stay put, and then regret it when they need help or support.

I find it hard to have sympathy with them to be honest.

@TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum

DP has been living with Long Covid for over a year now. It has ruined both our lives. People moaning about not being able to travel abroad is so depressing.

I know right. The 'entitled to' brigade are fucking infuriating.

@Justinversusmrtumble, I get you.
I am in a similar boat an dit's shit, really shit.

And feeling shit sbouyt being able to travel to see your family (or for them to come over) doens;'t mean you have no respect fopr the those died or whatever.
No rel;ationhsiop in between.

You can feel depressed and low and not seeing your family AND understand why its like this. And still feel totally shit about it.

But you are unlikely to get that from MN where everything is in black and white, esp with covid. And where people can now see their family wo any issue.

[quote Justinversusmrtumble]@Ickythefirebobby I think anyone with any intelligence can see that saying that sentence doesn’t mean all were arsed about is something as trivial as a two hour party tbf.[/quote]
Surely with an ounce of intelligence and common sense would have realised that being able to travel wasn’t a given though because things can age have changed? The government are failing by expecting people to apply common sense when it comes to things like this because as threads like yours show, a disturbingly large percentage of the population don’t have any.

So the government delays putting India on the red list to get a trade deal signed, still allows flights in from India daily and then wonders why the Indian variant - or whatever they're calling it these days - is going up.

Then 2 English teams get to the CL final and the FA offer to have the final played at Wembley. But oh no good old UEFA insist on having it an a neutral country - Portugal - 1000's of fans travel to Porto for the match and now Portugal is looking at being put on the Amber list

I can't help feeling a little cynical that some of these decisions are political and economic rather than being what's best for the UK

@TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum

DP has been living with Long Covid for over a year now. It has ruined both our lives. People moaning about not being able to travel abroad is so depressing.

I also know someone who has Long Covid. Only in his 50’s but it’s unlikely he’ll ever be able to work again. Also know of a 40 something man who died leaving a young family. Threads like this fucking boil my piss.

Feels like they want Covid to go on forever.

Now that all of the vulnerable have been offered vaccines we really need to get back to normal ASAP.

@TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum, yes t's hard. I have ME which really is VERY similar to long covid and have that for the last 10 years.
Is it crap to feel like this? Yes. Does it change your life? Yes. And I feel for people who are in that place? Well yes, i am living with it and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Does it mean that others cant' feel hard done by current restrictions an find them hard to live with? NO

Its not being entitled. It's acknowledging the fact that those two situations can actually happen AT THE SAME TIME.
Its acknowledging that both situations are hard (I kow I am living with BOTH of them)
And it's also acknowledging that the pain of some doesn't negate the pain of others.

I don't think Long Covid is an official illness, again some people want this thing to go on forever:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-dubious-origins-of-long-covid-11616452583

This is a good website for figuring out what is needed if you are visiting an EU country, from the perspective of the EU country.
reopen.europa.eu/en/map/PRT/7002

I'm planning on visiting my parents in an EU country from an EU country in early July before the EU digital pass comes out and even though I will be fully vaccinated I will still have to take a PCR and isolate for a minumum of five days but at least there is a chance I can go. I'm afraid it looks like the UK is essential reasons only for Portual at the mometn. I'm not sure what the technical definition of family reunions is but I have a feeling it is children under 18 rejoining parents/spouses rather than adult reunions.

Last update: 01-06-2021
What are the rules to enter this country from outside an EU Member State or Schengen Associated country?

Travel between Portugal and other third-country destinations is permitted only for essential reasons.

Essential reason is defined as trips allowing the transit, entry into and departure from Portugal for the following persons:

citizens of a European Union member state, Schengen Associated countries and their family members;
citizens repatriated through consular assistance;
third-country nationals travelling for professional purposes, study, family reunions, health and humanitarian reasons and under the reciprocity principle.^

OP I understand how you feel, my elderly aunt is in UK and we haven´t seen her since early 2019. My daughter is nearly three now and has no relationship with her as she was months old when they last met. The same with other relatives. We´re in Spain and my mum and I in different parts of the country. Due to local travelling ban this last year we haven´t been to see her and she has built up her relationship with Granny over Facetime. My mum has had her two Pfizer doses so we are happy meeting her this August! By the end of June my husband and I should be vaccinated also, so finally some light at the end of tunnel. This won´t go on much longer so be brave, it will work out in the end. And tell your vaccinated parents to come over and enjoy their family, they can isolate when they get back. Huge hugs.

@AnneLovesGilbert

No they haven’t. Loads of adults have only had one dose and if it’s AZ that only gives you about 33% protection against the delta variant which was found in India.

It’s fine to be upset and annoyed but you can’t do anything about it.

The whole thing is shit. For everyone. It’s been a terribly difficult 16 months filled with big and small disappointments.

Until things improve and stabilise properly, which is a way off, there’s no point attaching too strongly to plans of any sort. Travel to and from Portugal, and all other countries, was always going to be subject to change.

I’ve got close family in Australia, one having a baby, one now seriously ill, and the baby will be walking and the ill person probably dead before we can see them again.

Really? The 33% protection bit? Can you supply a link to show where you got this figure from, please?

[quote tttigress]I don't think Long Covid is an official illness, again some people want this thing to go on forever:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/the-dubious-origins-of-long-covid-11616452583[/quote]
Well I suppose there will be the same lack of acknowledgement that long covid is real as there is for ME.

I have to say, I sniggered at comments from GPs saying they are revieweing their stance re ME seeing the effect covid has had on people and the prevalance of long covid. Because you know, it might well actually be real

Because yes, it's well know. Being so fatigued you struggle to do anything during the day is 'in your head'

I got out of hospital on Monday lunchtime, having been taken in last week with low oxygen saturations due to Covid. While I was there, I talked to the staff, who described long queues of people on trolleys, needing admission to the hospital, but the hospital having nowhere to put them. At some points during the second wave, there were so many trolleys in the queue to get into the hospital, that there were no ambulances available, on the road, to go to anyone. The manager of the ambulance station came to the assessment unit, to try to speed things up.

More than one of the staff who treated me, had had Covid - at least one had ended up on HDU - and they reckon they were catching the virus from each other - despite their very best efforts to prevent this - cleaning, using PPE, hand sanitising etc etc.

Things are better at the moment, but where I am, there is a spike in cases - our area is remaining in Level 2, because of the rapid growth in the number of cases - they were glad to be able to discharge me, because they needed the beds in isolation rooms for more serious cases of Covid coming in.

I was barrier nursed the whole time I was there - in a single room, staff using PPE, a minimum of equipment in the room, and once a member of staff was in the room, they couldn't nip out for something they'd forgotten - it had to be handed to them by another member of staff from outside, and everything that did go out of the room was wrapped for sanitising or thrown away in clinical waste bags - even the disposable plates and cutlery I used, and bottles of water I drank.

And this was just on an assessment unit for Covid - and I wasn't particularly ill - I just needed oxygen and steroids whilst my lungs started to recover. The staff were dreading the thought of things going back to where they were in the second wave.

I was lucky - I wasn't particularly ill - I just had low oxygen saturations that needed supplemental oxygen. Now I'm home, I am still breathless if I do anything much (though that is better than it was), and completely and utterly exhausted.

I haven't been through much - but my family have been worried out of their minds about me - and I don't want anyone to have to go through what I have - let alone anything worse - so I would rather an excess of caution than opening up too soon and seeing it take off again.

But all that said, I can sympathise 100% with @Justinversusmrtumble and everyone else who is missing family, and whose family are missing them - it has been a horrible time, and it's not over yet. I haven't seen my eldest ds since Christmas 2019 - he got engaged last year, and they wanted to meet up then, but the restrictions prevented it, so we planned for them to come for Christmas 2020 - but again, the restrictions stopped it - and I am missing them so much.

My heart goes out to anyone who is missing family - I wish there was more that could be done - but I do honestly believe it is better to keep people safe.