Is the COVID 19 pandemic "over"?

[verdantverdure]

I just thought I'd ask.

YABU The COVID 19 pandemic IS "over."

YANBU The COVID 19 pandemic is not "over".

Well that is exactly what flu is like.

People say they've got flu when they have a cold. And yes, I know the MN mantra that flu can be mild, but in the real world, having flu is horrible and colds are colds - they vary in severity but they are still colds.

I've had proper flu twice in my life as far as I know. And both times it was ghastly. Colds come and go, some don't really bother me, others I might need a day in bed and then improve.

I don’t think the jabs even did anything, and covid is just another type of cold or flu.
apart from those who have to test for work, why are people even still testing, get on with your life ffs

I looked it up this morning and my age group (40s) isn't getting a jab.

Plus we're not jabbing until October to save NHS staff hours by combining it with the Flu jab.

I actually got called last year - 40 with asthma - in late September for flu and covid vaccination at GP - I usually don't get called till very late in flu season and end up sorting it as chemist (which sometime they will do NHS and sometime won't and have to pay). Last year the prioritize people older seem to all go to the chemists freeing up appointments at GP.

No idea if I'll get call this year at all or if it will be covid as well.

It's more problematic to get my asthmatic 16-17 year done for flu - GP want to leave till really late and I have to push - or chemists say they can do it when booking then decide they cant as under 18 when you turn up.

Dad high risk already been given another covid vaccine booster this year.

7 Better sick pay. People being forced into work because they can’t afford not to be isn’t at all helpful.

Filtration in classrooms is not massively expensive and is probably very cost effective in that it would massively reduce staff and pupil absence. DfEs own research into the ‘ghost’ children found that the majority of them were off for health reasons. Not only that but it would almost certainly have long term health benefits for children and their families/the wider population.

The NHS have even stopped precautions for ECV patients. My OH has cancer and there aren't any precautions at all in the day treatment centre when he's having his infusions. No staff (not even nurses giving the treatments) are wearing masks, the treatment chairs are literally next to each other, some even touching, no signs of ventilation, no screens, etc. Treatment chairs not being wiped between patients, no requirement for testing before attending for day treatment! Same in the waiting areas for the oncology consulting rooms - tiny waiting area with patients and their partners crammed in together like sardines, again, no ventilation. I can't believe that after something that did so much damage and caused so many deaths, that the NHS has learned nothing. It's no surprise that infections like covid, flu, novovirus, etc spread like wildfire in hospitals.

Can people stop @ ing me to Mumsnetsplain what flu is, please? I'm well aware, I've had it and I felt I might die at the time.

Says they are. I have it every year free and am under 65

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan/national-flu-immunisation-programme-2023-to-2024-letter

Brainwashed by the government, or words to that effect I think you said. I wasn't talking specifically about you, but the general narrative on these types of threads. Generally in response to people who don't agree with continuing measures that have a negative impact on many people, like lockdowns.

This. It's an illness we'll live with like flu and common cold. Baffles me why people are stressing themselves testing

My doctors surgery didnt get the memo.

Yeah I’ve had flu twice. But it didn’t leave me with crippling brain fog, eye pain, exhaustion and digestive issues 3 months later.

I agree. Proper flu (I’ve had it twice) is awful - high temperature, aching bones, shivering, sweating, with a cough/cold/vomiting on top. Both times it took me about 2-3 weeks after returning to work to get my normal energy levels back.

I’ve also had covid, which was a bad head cold for me. I would rather catch covid again than flu.

There are new variants of all sorts of things happening all the time. This has been true throughout recorded history. It will continue to be true. The main difference now is that we can get whipped up into mass hysteria that much easier - it isn't just infection rates that travel faster in our modern connected world - it is also hysteria, and false information.

Well I have tested positive this morning, for the first time, so it doesn't feel over to me!

Yes... that's why I said doesn't feel over TO ME. It was a little lighthearted!

Why am I testing? To not kill my dying relative who is CEV, FFS. HTH.

I pay for a flu jab every year. I'd be happy to pay for a Covid booster, if that was an option.

I can understand the Government not giving out free Covid boosters to everyone if Covid is really less prevalent to save money, but if it's a money thing, why can't we buy a jab privately?

There’s an absolute surge of it in the town where I live (I work in a clinical setting). I put it down to Barbenheimer, the cinema was packed day and night for a couple of weeks.

Just another made up thing. Your relative will be vulnerable to any illness then, do you also test for flu and the common cold?

@babybopella but if you could test for flu or a cold then yes obviously! If you have flu or cold symptoms then don't visit anyone
I get free tests so I can ask people to use them

I'm so sorry

I think you'd better share this with the World Health Organisation, because they don't seem to think the pandemic is over. They've downgraded COVID from the emergency level it was before, but the website clearly says it's not over.

But what exactly does this mean?
I understand Covid is endemic and will.be around for ever
But when will.the pandemic be over if it isn't now?