AIBU to think immunity passes would be a terrible thing?

[Makeitgoaway]

I know initially any antibody test would be to help NHS workers etc get back to work but if an antibody test became widely available, those who are immune could return to work and play while everyone else stays in. Am I understanding that correctly?

Which would mean the immune had a clear advantage in every aspect of life. And (outside of key workers) they're most likely to be the ones who didn't follow the rules properly!

The problem is that they cannot test all 66million of the U.K. population therefore it won’t work.

Which would mean the immune had a clear advantage in every aspect of life.

Well, what's your suggestion then? That we all stay in for months on end so that everyone feels that it's "fair" and the country bankrupts itself?

I think it’s a good idea. Those that are immune can go back to work, start helping themselves and the economy. Businesses can start to open again.

So you think it's OK if one section of the community is allowed to have an education, see family, earn a living whilst others aren't just because of a medical fluke? That seems like a very slippery slope to me.

I'd best flout the rules now and get myself infected! I won't but I can see why people might, if this became a thing .

I think if would be good for them to be able to go to work.

However, the vast majority of people I've spoken to seem to think they'd also be exempt from social distancing.

My friend thinks she's had it (in dec/jan so I don't), works for the nhs and is due to be tested at some point. And will be glad to get it over with so she can visit friends again

So they phase it correctly.

Medical and emergency services tested first. Back to work.

Teachers next. Back to work.

School children next. Back to school.

Those who are self employed. Back to work.

Those who cannot work from home. Back to work.

Then the rest who are currently wfh can just carry on til it's deemed safe.

I think the problem is that using testing to partially lift restrictions will just lead to people who want to go out going out and saying 'I'm immune' if challenged.

Let's face it, we're not set up to ask for documentation /identity in the UK.

They can also put a lot of it onto employers.

Primark want their stores opened? They pay for immunity testing and open what they can with the immune workforce they have.

Building sites want to start work again? They pay for and test their labourers etc.

I think it’s a good idea. Those that are immune can go back to work, start helping themselves and the economy. Businesses can start to open again.

In theory, but I can foresee huge numbers of forgeries, and also it would encourage lots of people to get CV in order to get one.

You’ve answered your own question. If you don’t like self isolation, you’ll probably have to be infected sooner or later & take that risk.

It’s either that or wait for herd immunity or a vaccine.

Why would it be ‘unfair’ for somebody who has been in ICU for two weeks clinging onto life before recovering to have the freedom to live their life once more, a bit earlier than you, just because you opted to stay in? That’s the least they deserve imho!

Oh come on MummyPoo, the vast majority will have been back at work within 7 days after a mild illness like Matt Hancock. Those "clinging to life" are quite unlikely to have been on building sites before or after the their illness.

The main problem with it is it incentives catching coronavirus and compliance with social distancing will evaporate as lots of young healthy people will want catch it to her immunity.

*get

those who are immune could return to work and play while everyone else stays in

Sounds fabulous, maybe then all the essential workers like myself may get a minute to breathe and toss it off at home for while.

So whats your point exactly?

Easy as far as I see: if you think the possibility of immune passes is unfair, take the risk & catch the virus then.

I agree OP. It's one thing staying indoor when everyone else is, quite another if everyone else is out having fun!

Noone knows how long these antibodies last for. Antibodies usually don't last forever, and sometimes up to a few months as I understand it. So if you had it in Jan, there's no guarantee you won't get it in June.

They are 'assuming' you'll be safe for this season. That's ahell of an assumption.

Until we know that I don't see the point in mass testing for antibodies.

And (outside of key workers) they're most likely to be the ones who didn't follow the rules properly!

Umm apart from the fact that hundreds of thousands will have been infected before lockdown??

Your post is weirdly bitter. Immunity passports would lead to more of society getting functioning including healthcare workers - no need to isolate if you know you're immune. This would speed up total lockdown lifting as it would enable the peak to flatten and also enable health care settings to meet the needs of those in hospital better

Reminds me a bit of dystopian TV series 1990 which was originally broadcast on BBC2 in the 1970s

In return for shorter imprisonment people were given the option of taking misery pills.

There would immediately be a black market. I'm not really sure if it would work.

I don’t think those clinging to life in ICU will be returning to normal life anytime soon. If they survive they will have reduced lung capacity forsome time to come and will be unlikely to want to mix with the general population and risk colds etc until fully recovered.

It's not bitter. It likely wouldn't affect me much anyway, I can earn my living at home.

I'm thinking of situations where people already low paid and struggling, like waiters maybe wouldn't be able to get back to work because they stayed in and followed the rules while others who didn't can.

Can you imagine any other health factor employers were allowed to discriminate against?

and they will probably face the jumping through hoops to get disability benefits.

The main problem with it is it incentives catching coronavirus and compliance with social distancing will evaporate as lots of young healthy people will want catch it to her immunity.

Yes, I can’t see how enforcement would work. Lots of people in low risk groups, and many in high risk ones too, will actively try to get it, making things worse than they would have been if we’d done nothing. You’d be better off just letting people get back to normal.

Can you imagine any other health factor employers were allowed to discriminate against?

I agree with you. There are specific scenarios where immunity passports make a lot of sense (health workers, care workers, teachers) but to open that up to the rest of society risks generating a huge amount of social unrest. Imagine someone self-employed and stuck indoors with no money and no job for months on end while their nextdoor neighbour (who may have flouted social distancing rules) is boozing with his/her other immune mates and cashing in on the demand for immune workers. It won't end well.