To think some people are ‘enjoying’ the pandemic

[Flynnqwer]

I’ve noticed an attitude amongst some people where they’re nothing short of praying for a new, more lethal, variant.

I’ve noticed it amongst people I work with and people I do a hobby with. Any discussion about going back to our workplace (we can work from home but not easily or particularly effectively) once the Government ends the restrictions on waiting from home, or back to our hobby in real life instead of on Zoom (the hobby is controlled by a central board who are following the WFH advice until it is lifted) are met with cries of ‘No! We can’t do that! It’s dangerous!’ and it anyone points out that, thankfully, it looks like the vaccination programme is working and Omicron is less severe, they come back with ‘but what if there’s a more lethal strain that appears and kills millions?’

My workplace has one element which has legally got to be done in person. I have had emails today from managers begging us to cancel said work thing and do it online. We cannot do it on line lawfully (it’s along the lines of witnessing signatures). We have told them no, we must go into the building for an hour to fulfil this function. They are saying that that is breaking the working from home directive, that it’s unsafe, and what if a deadly variant is discovered? Then we’d have to find a way around the law.

AIBU that some people are actively hoping that the situation worsens and we are locked back down? Why would anyone want this to happen?

@dontsaythj
I tend not to obey direct orders from people who arrogantly presume to take on the role of thread police. So I'm sticking around.

It's interesting that you are posting here at 1:52 GMT.

@mathanxiety

If the US disagrees with the UK's internal policies, then your option will be to close your borders or limit travel. To reiterate: this country is not your concern and you have no say in how it is run.

To reiterate: I won't be bullied off this thread by anyone.

You can deny personal and global responsibility all you want, and you can try to derail the thread by reference to American politics or culture or anything else you hate (interesting list there btw), but the fact remains that the global pandemic remains a problem for us all if it is a problem for any single country.

The UK is making terrible choices and has already given the world one variant as a result, and will repeat the performance if it is left to each individual to decide how a population level threat is handled.

@mathanxiety You do understand that at present restrictions are being relaxed, and France - one of the only countries which had restricted UK travellers - is now reversing that. Across all nations of the UK, Plan B is essentially being wound down, and shockingly, Americans won't have a say in it.

Not sure where I posted that.

Meanwhile, I remain curious about the fact that you appear to be staying up all night and posting here.

Will Irish people have a say in that, I wonder?

Ireland being an adjoining country and therefore probably interested in the possibility of cross border contagion.

@mathanxiety

It's a true mystery - could be that I work shifts, could be that I'm studying for an exam, could be that I have insomnia. Or, it could be that I'm so incredibly privileged to have an American enlighten me on how to run the UK that I'm lack of sleep is a small prices to pay for the privilege.

@mathanxiety

Not sure where I posted that.

Meanwhile, I remain curious about the fact that you appear to be staying up all night and posting here.

I’m in the UK and awake. Set my alarm so I didn’t miss what you had to say.

The idea that anyone is going to stop variants from emerging is crazy.

It's this kind of thinking that justifies irrational demands that people continue with extreme restrictions.

@mathanxiety

Thanks for enlightening me that Ireland shares a border with the UK. Priceless knowledge!

Further information regarding Ireland, since you said you're wondering;

Well, just as we don't "have a say" in the Republic of Ireland's policies, ours will be a matter for our elected representatives chosen by the citizens of this country. That's kind of how democratic nation states work.

Ireland has at various times throughout the pandemic required PCR tests, LFTs, allowed free travel, and restricted travel from the UK. Ireland's government determines Ireland's policies. Beginning to see how this works?

Irish people live in the UK, including many of my relatives and friends. As you can imagine, I care deeply about their health and welfare. As you can also imagine, they vote.

Irish people living in Northern Ireland can hold Irish passports and identify as Irish while still enjoying all the dubious benefits of living in the UK. They can vote there too.

More to the point, a cross-border Irish political party has members sitting in both Dáil Éireann and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Its leader is the Irish leader of the opposition.

So maybe Ireland gets to have some say? And not even obliquely.

The idea that anyone is going to stop variants from emerging is crazy.

@SantaClawsServiette, actually, that is one of the goals of restricting transmission of the virus. Masks, vaccinations, restrictions on travel, restrictions on opening of restaurants, pubs, clubs, cinemas, schools, etc are all undertaken in order to prevent transmission and therefore mutation.

Are you aware that Ireland has had a higher case rate than the UK for some time now, despite having harsher, longer restrictions throughout the pandemic?

@mathanxiety

To reiterate: I won't be bullied off this thread by anyone.

You can deny personal and global responsibility all you want, and you can try to derail the thread by reference to American politics or culture or anything else you hate (interesting list there btw), but the fact remains that the global pandemic remains a problem for us all if it is a problem for any single country.

The UK is making terrible choices and has already given the world one variant as a result, and will repeat the performance if it is left to each individual to decide how a population level threat is handled.

This highlights exactly what this thread is about!

We're scrapping plan b, I'm pleased, we're down to five days isolation and learning to live with the virus.

You don't like it, that's irrelevant, you can stay locked in if you want.

@mathanxiety

The idea that anyone is going to stop variants from emerging is crazy.

@SantaClawsServiette, actually, that is one of the goals of restricting transmission of the virus. Masks, vaccinations, restrictions on travel, restrictions on opening of restaurants, pubs, clubs, cinemas, schools, etc are all undertaken in order to prevent transmission and therefore mutation.

What, forever?

and has already given the world one variant as a result

Not enough eye rolling in the world for this!

I agree we did terribly and still aren't doing well in regards to schools etc, but where do we globally draw a line? Vaccines were always promised as a way out, we have now been gifted with a variant that is mild and the virus is acting as viruses typically do which is good news.

[quote mathanxiety]@dontsaythj
I tend not to obey direct orders from people who arrogantly presume to take on the role of thread police. So I'm sticking around.

It's interesting that you are posting here at 1:52 GMT.[/quote]
Why is that interesting? You do realise that people have different work and sleep patterns. In the UK some things are open round the clock, we have lots of people working at night. I presume that you don't have that in the US? Otherwise you wouldn't have made such an inane comment. You should come and visit.. oh hang on you won't because of our Covid stance, such a shame.

We're scrapping plan b, I'm pleased, we're down to five days isolation and learning to live with the virus

Well, no, we are not learning to live with the virus, we are trying to ignore the virus.

We have had a gambler for PM right through this, and this move is another gamble aimed at saving his premiership and nothing to do with what is going to benefit health, education, tourism or the wider economy.

@rrhuth

We're scrapping plan b, I'm pleased, we're down to five days isolation and learning to live with the virus

Well, no, we are not learning to live with the virus, we are trying to ignore the virus.

We have had a gambler for PM right through this, and this move is another gamble aimed at saving his premiership and nothing to do with what is going to benefit health, education, tourism or the wider economy.

Sorry but I disagree. This variant is weak and we're learning to live with it.

Yup, Ireland did everything the covid cautious wanted the U.K. to do.

One of the longest lockdowns in the world, glacially slow reopening (certain sectors only after the entire adult population were vaccinated), vaccine passports, mask mandates, very quick to reimpose restrictions and currently has an 8pm curfew for all hospitality and entertainment.

Yet right now it has a higher level of covid than the U.K., in fact one of the highest in the world.

So it would be good if we engaged with reality on these threads, rather than what we think reality should be.

@Offmyfence

You can disagree with the medical and scientific body of knowledge of course, it is everyone's right to hold an opinion.

Simply saying 'it's endemic' won't make that happen.

The course of the decison-making since December has been about the internal politics of the Tory party. Not the reality of what might be happening with covid either in England or globally.

[quote rrhuth]@Offmyfence

You can disagree with the medical and scientific body of knowledge of course, it is everyone's right to hold an opinion.

Simply saying 'it's endemic' won't make that happen.

The course of the decison-making since December has been about the internal politics of the Tory party. Not the reality of what might be happening with covid either in England or globally.[/quote]
But the virus is weakening? You can surely understand that?

@TheKeatingFive

Yup, Ireland did everything the covid cautious wanted the U.K. to do.

One of the longest lockdowns in the world, glacially slow reopening (certain sectors only after the entire adult population were vaccinated), vaccine passports, mask mandates, very quick to reimpose restrictions and currently has an 8pm curfew for all hospitality and entertainment.

Yet right now it has a higher level of covid than the U.K., in fact one of the highest in the world.

So it would be good if we engaged with reality on these threads, rather than what we think reality should be.

Exactly!