To wonder why we’re still obsessed with Covid.

[bridgetreilly]

Three times as many people are dying of cancer every single day. More than ten times as many people are dying every day of other causes. But we aren’t getting daily updates about these on every news bulletin or website. Yes, people should get vaccinated, yes occasionally people are still getting very ill with it, and some are dying. But it is very far from being the great danger that it was 12-18 months ago. Can we just move on from the endless focus on it now?

@Ddot

I agree the fit should be able to just get on with life but could you please spare a thought for those of us who aren't well. Wear a mask and keep your distance, its not much to ask. I am fed up of reminding people to give me space, I wear a mask in shops but I am often one of the few that do.

As is evident from some of the replies on this chat, people who are mask exempt are often (wrongly) judged. By the same token, people asking for space are no doubt (wrongly) judged.

I sympathise with your situation, however the reality is there's no longer a public health requirement to socially distance. There is literally nothing that cant be delivered to your front door, and in my experience delivery staff are exemplary at keeping a safe distance. Would that be an easier/less stressful option for the time being?

So I have to stay cabined up and order everything on line for the foreseeable future, so you dont have to give me a little space and wear a mask in confined spaces. REALLY!

I went out today and had a hot chocolate. Sitting outside the cafe on my own because the weather was shit. I am too afraid to sit inside but thats my bodies fault for being a bit pants, I dont mind, I still enjoyed my chocolate. I'm not staying in for ever, just give me some bloody space and dont breath on me

Why are the British so bloody selfish

As the saying goes if I can smell your breath your too fu**ing close

@Ddot

Why are the British so bloody selfish

Because, as a nation, we are uniquely evil and inept.

That seems to be a widespread attitude on here. And having lived in several other countries, I can tell you that it isn't true.

Why is it that people think that their right to live a life without restrictions tops someone's actual right to live ?

You know some of these vulnerable and elderly people fought in wars so that we could live with without even worse restrictions. And now it's our time to pay that back and people's noses are so out of joint by wearing a mask and keeping your distance.

But sure please let's talk about how hard it is. Bet some of the people who have died in the wars to protect us are uber proud of this mentality of I'm alright Jack it won't effect me because I'm healthy and young.

Then, children lied to go to war and fight for their country.
Now, I dont see why I need to do anything its my turn

If being in shops causes you anxiety then stay at home. If you are vulnerable stay at home(although what was point of vaccines then?)
For the VAST majority of people its a mild illness and no amount of doom mongering on the part of the media will make it otherwise.

@Ddot

So I have to stay cabined up and order everything on line for the foreseeable future, so you dont have to give me a little space and wear a mask in confined spaces. REALLY!

Yes. Law permitting, you have no grounds to ask or expect someone to modify their behaviour. You may consider that person selfish or inconsiderate, however the crux is that the only behaviour you have control over is your own.

@Ddot

Then, children lied to go to war and fight for their country. Now, I dont see why I need to do anything its my turn

Children going to war is not something good and aspirational.

Personally I'm fine with wearing a mask but I would not be fine with any "stay at home" rules if they returned.

Yes. Law permitting, you have no grounds to ask or expect someone to modify their behaviour
This.
There was an infection control expert on the radio yesterday who explained that masks are not the benign risk free intervention most people believe. They increase the risk of pneumonia and the reduced oxygen benefits any Covid particles to thrive but mostly, the surgical mask boxes explicitly state that they do not prevent the ingress or egress of viruses.

@MrsJackWhicher

Yes. Law permitting, you have no grounds to ask or expect someone to modify their behaviour This. There was an infection control expert on the radio yesterday who explained that masks are not the benign risk free intervention most people believe. They increase the risk of pneumonia and the reduced oxygen benefits any Covid particles to thrive but mostly, the surgical mask boxes explicitly state that they do not prevent the ingress or egress of viruses.

Well I hope that the radio presenter told this “expert” that the claim about pneumonia is bullshit.

Reuters have fact checked the claim about pneumonia:
www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2AM2IC

The more people wear masks the less likely it is we will have further restrictions. If everyone does what they can to reduce infection (and different people will find different things easy/hard), then we would probably stand the best chance.

@Namenic

The more people wear masks the less likely it is we will have further restrictions. If everyone does what they can to reduce infection (and different people will find different things easy/hard), then we would probably stand the best chance.

This!

All restrictions are just temporary measures to allow us to get a handle on it until we have better treatments/vaccinations/whatever and have reduced the impact of the virus.

I can't wait until can forget about it all and get back to normal but until then I'm prepared to make whatever adjustments are necessary to minimise more severe impacts and restrictions to our lives. It's a shame some people aren't prepared to make any kind of small sacrifice.

@MrsBerthaRochester

If being in shops causes you anxiety then stay at home. If you are vulnerable stay at home(although what was point of vaccines then?) For the VAST majority of people its a mild illness and no amount of doom mongering on the part of the media will make it otherwise.

You are delightful

Boris said he wanted us to still wear masks in confined spaces and to still keep our distance but it would be upto us to police our selves. All people heard was oh I don't need to wear it anymore. If you see someone wearing a mask just give them space

@GaolBhoAlba

As is evident from some of the replies on this chat, people who are mask exempt are often (wrongly) judged.

The ones who make no attempt to socially distance, i.e. not respecting personal space in shops etc., are certainly not wrongly judged for being so selfish. That's nothing to do with mask exemptions, it's simply lack of respect for others.

@MrsBerthaRochester

If being in shops causes you anxiety then stay at home. If you are vulnerable stay at home(although what was point of vaccines then?) For the VAST majority of people its a mild illness and no amount of doom mongering on the part of the media will make it otherwise.

Vulnerable people need more hospital/GP appointments, so they can't just "stay at home" can they? It's nigh on impossible to get something as simple as a blood test locally anymore meaning longer journeys to nearby town hospitals. Or do you think the NHS has staff to go around everyone's homes??

MrsJackWhicher

Yes. Law permitting, you have no grounds to ask or expect someone to modify their behaviour
This.
There was an infection control expert on the radio yesterday who explained that masks are not the benign risk free intervention most people believe. They increase the risk of pneumonia …”

The elderly and clinically vulnerable can access free pneumonia vaccine through their GP. My parents took up the offer. One time jab, as I understand it.

Get those masks on girls!

YANBU

@Ddot

Get those masks on girls!

I’m sure that will convince all the anti maskers. Maybe we could also do ‘don’t drink and drive girlies!’

Realistically children going to war has very little to do with you sitting outside to drink a hot chocolate. And people who are in a cafe won’t be wearing a mask anyway as they’ll be eating and drinking.

'If being in shops causes you anxiety then stay at home. If you are vulnerable stay at home(although what was point of vaccines then?)'

The ignorance is astounding. Do you know how many doctors, nurses, drivers, teachers, supermarket workers, care workers, childminders etc etc would have to stay home? 400,000 type 1 diabetics in the UK, 30,00 of which are kids. 50,000 transplant patients, 2.5 million cancer patients, 200,000 people immunosupressed. Allowing for some crossover that's say 3 million people who are vulnerable from these there groups. Add in aids/HIV, blood cancers, blood pressure, obesity, cold, cystic fibrosis, oh, and the 8 million people with asthma, and pregnant women and the numbers rocket. All of these people should be staying in. So ordering groceries online, gifts online, medication online, adding to the need for drivers etc. Because you don't want to give people space? So suddenly about 20 million people are taken out of the workforce at the same time as exerting more pressure on services. How is this paid for btw? Sick pay, benefits? Many people vulnerable to covid contribute to society.. shocker I know, but we're not all at here crying and just waiting to die.