Am I being reasonable to assume that almost everything is back to normal now?

[Charlize43]

Am I being reasonable to assume that everything is almost back to normal now, apart from taking personal precautions to avoid getting Covid (getting double vaccinated; masking up and washing hands often)?

Are people back at work or going back to their workplaces?

I know various people for whom the pandemic was business as normal and commuted into work every day, and others who are still isolating and having home deliveries. I'm curious what everyone's general opinion is.

(It might sound like a stupid question but I was made redundant right at the start of the pandemic, April 2020, received a large pay off and have basically been at home, living off my savings, and almost feeling like a retired person as I'm in my mid 50s. I'd like to get back into life as obviously I'm not retired! )

What do you think?

[quote thanksforyourcommentrandomman]@Bryonyshcmyony have you always been so spectacularly unpleasant or is it just a phase?[/quote]
Nope, just a snippy reply to the poster who seems to think being judged by someone in Tescos is going to bother me in the slightest

Saying you HATE people who don't wear masks is stupid.

@Bryonyshcmyony

We HATE people like you who don't wear a mask

Then you are idiots.

No, they are people trying to work and not catch an unpleasant respiratory illness. If you don't think they are worthy of basic consideration, then they have every right to privately despise you.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy are you and all your colleagues wearing masks? I hope so after that rant. In the supermarkets I’m going in the staff are no longer wearing masks at all.

I have to wear a mask at work, the vast majority of patients I come across do wear them but occasionally I see someone who no longer does - I don’t hate them, talk about them, avoid them or indeed think anything about it. Probably because I’m very busy at work, perhaps in your shop you need to figure out other tasks to do in the quiet times rather than slagging off customers?

then they have every right to privately despise you

Of course. And I have every right to not give a shit, if they smile and say thank you ill take it at face value thanks

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy are you quite sure a career in customer service is right for you? 😳

I'd be amazed if thst poster genuinely works in a supermarket tbh

I'm still predominantly WFH and have been told we will not be returning to the office full time at all. On the odd days I've been in the office, windows are open, masks required when moving around and meetings are mostly online.

Out of work, my hobby is still reduced capacity, test before going and another hobby hasn't started back up.

Haven't hugged/touched my in laws in 18 months, driving when it's an option over public transport, masks in shops etc and are still meeting outside of it's an option, so no,not back to normal.

Yes and no. There's a veneer of normality which actually has a slightly unsettling quality to it. In reality, round here most people wear masks in shops and confined spaces and it is clear from attending outdoor events that the turnout is far lower. Some shops and pubs are still operating on more limited hours so you can't just assume that you can go somewhere even if it is now legally open again. Most people I mix with don't automatically do the stuff they did before the pandemic either but instead do a quiet personal assessment of whether something feels safe or risky. It is quite usual for people to apologise for not doing something on the grounds that they've already mixed with enough people that week or have something they are really looking forwards to and don't want to jeopardise by getting Covid. So there's loads of potential freedom but it is clear that this is a very interpretative concept when it comes down to individuals. We're going to have to live with Covid but we won't be revisiting 2019 any time soon. Or ever.

If you’re double vaccinated you’ve done all you possibly can to protect yourself, there isn’t much more to do other than keeping your hands clean which you should do as standard anyway. We can’t go on wearing masks and socially distancing forever, it isn’t feasible. The vaccine has to be the way out, there’s very little else we can do. Life has to return to normal now and I personally think it’s great to see people out and about together again. I ventured into a shop without a mask on the other day which felt so alien but I only saw two people wearing one, none of the staff were bothering anymore either.

I don’t feel like things are back to normal yet. DH is still working at home, although he will be going into the office three days a week from next month so that will be a milestone.

The main thing for us is not being able to travel, I don’t think I will feel like things are normal again until I can do that with relative freedom.

We aren't going back to the office full time. It's officially hybrid working from now on. Full timers are doing 3 days in the office and 2 days at home.

I double mask in shops. Exercise outdoors, no restaurants. Even have my hair cut outside. Doing lateral flow tests 2/3 times a week. Teens are only meeting mates outdoors. I'm lucky I can do as much as I can to not prolong the pandemic. The whole thing is driving me nuts and it would be nice nice to think this winter might not be too bad.

[quote thanksforyourcommentrandomman]@Bryonyshcmyony have you always been so spectacularly unpleasant or is it just a phase?[/quote]
She's just one of those people that you read stories on the Internet about, gets upset about the smallest of things like flowers they ordered dying too quickly or their cleaner taking 30 seconds less time to do their job. You just laugh at them and move on, knowing they are rather boring people who don't care about others, only themselves.

On the topic though, don't think everything is back to normal really, otherwise you could go to any country you want and not have to be put into isolation on your return (or journey to said country). I'm not back in the office either yet, still wfh although I am hoping that wfh remains in place.

Scotland - masks to be worn in public places including schools.
Individuals still required to isolate.
Restitutions on gathering & permits required.
Personal details being taken in pubs/ restaurants etc.
Travel restrictions.
Everyone I’ve heard of in hospital still has visitation restrictions. Including children and maternity.
GP doing phone appointments instead of face2face.

“Normal”

[quote thanksforyourcommentrandomman]@Bryonyshcmyony have you always been so spectacularly unpleasant or is it just a phase?[/quote]
I was just wondering that as well.

@GallowwayGirl88 No visiting restrictions in hospitals any more, it's supposedly being managed by room occupancy. I was on a ward yesterday with so many visitors they ran out of chairs

The main thing I have noticed is how much busier the roads are at night.

Lots more lorries coming past

Amazing that so many people are horrified by a random person not wearing a mask in the supermarket. It's not a legal requirement, I use scan and shop and tbh sometimes I do wear one but I forgot it and as there were so many others including staff not wearing one I wasn't bothered. shrug

On the bus I was on today about half were wearing masks. Local taxi firm still request it unless exempt.
Everything only feels half normal and I don't think that will change until after winter at the earliest.

@ashmts
I know if 4 people currently in hospital.
1 - one name persons allowed in for 45 mins every second day
2- one visitor per day (can be different persons) allowed in within a 3 hour window
3&4 1 named person allowed in for an hour each day, prebooked.

I believe each hospital can dictate their own rules regarding visitation and all use covid to justify.

@Fitschkels

Yes we do. All day every day. We also clean every fridge/freezer handle, key pad and touch screen that any customer touches every four hours.

@RJnomore1

Do you think everyone who serves you adores you?

@Bryonyshcmyony

I had the 6am to 11am shift this morning. Would you like me to send you my timesheet?

I am just asking people to have a bit more respect for people who work in roles where we are exposed to hundred of people every day, to have a bit more respect than "I'm alright Jack so fuck the rest of you."

You are still touching objects in the shop, even if you scan at self-serve checkouts. And we have to clean those those.

But then I suppose you wouldn't bother wearing a mask if you went into a pharmacy either.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy
Well said 👏👏👏👏👏

I’m having to isolate for 10 days before a very minor small hospital procedure that takes about 1/2 an hour.

How is that normal?

It’s a bloody nightmare trying to get any health care . My dd hasn’t been able to get into a dentist since before the pandemic I’ve had letters but no appointment . I can’t get through on the phone it’s a long voicemail that you leave a message I’m livid. I had a appointment to visit the nurse they leave you outside until there ready and that can be ages after your appointment then they send you to another door at the back of the building then you wait until someone lets you in . God forbid you can’t walk through the empty building in case you bring Covid in . It’s like they want to put you off going , honestly Covid isn’t going to kill the rest of us it will be something else . It’s actually quite shocking the health service at the minute in my opinion.

I live in Scotland. Local library is not open, the ones that are are restricted, no toddler groups open, staggered start and finish times for school, still masks everywhere (even outside sometimes), play areas/ interactive displays closed in museums, parents not allowed inside schools or nurseries, my sons first day was yesterday he had no school induction, they have a small section of playground that they're allowed in.
Nowhere near normal for me.

You are still touching objects in the shop, even if you scan at self-serve checkouts. And we have to clean those those.

Even masked shoppers touch things in the shop 🙄