To those who think it's over

[user1497207191]

The Weston Super Mare hospital has announced this morning that it's closed it's A&E due to an increase in the number of Covid patients the hospital is currently treating.

This highlights why "tourist" hotspots have been trying to persuade people from away not to visit them.

Also highlights that there are still plenty of Covid cases around and it's still spreading.

This is why the lockdown needs to carry on, with very slight relaxations over a long time period. Those who think it's all over and we can get back to normal are deluded.

People are just stupid. They are bored, so they have decided to go back to "normal". Which makes the decision about restrictions completely pointless. Why did we bother at all?

Some idiots have decided that by ignoring the problem, they are making it go away. It would be great if that attitude works let's be honest, but realistically?

That’s why there’s no easy answer and just ditching the rules won’t work to solve everything

What 'rules' is anyone here suggesting should be 'ditched'?

What younghillkang said. So true. This needs explained to everyone in the daily briefings

Ditching the rules won't help cancer or heart patients either. They're particularly vulnerable to this virus. Cancer patients have treatments that make them especially vulnerable, if the virus is not being kept under control - and agree re: track/trace - they're going to be doubly screwed! They can stay at home but they can't avoid going in to hospital, and being exposed either travelling to treatments or once they get there. A friend who died from this died, precisely because of that.

It's only a small hospital, it's close to Bristol, it's a deprived area, we need to get back to work etc. etc.

The I'm all right Jack attitude of so many is depressing. It's my local hospital. Bristol is nearly an hour away. The area has been crawling with tourists over the last few weeks, making shops more crowded, packing out the beaches, causing accidents on the roads.
The elderly and vulnerable have been afraid to go out for their walks because the paths are so packed.

No, we can't lockdown entirely and the economy needs to be supported, but a day in Weston on the beach isn't the same as going back to work. It is not essential and is obviously contributing to the spread of the virus.

Near me it’s defo over

It’s completely normal and has been for weeks

Those in vulnerable groups are taking precautions and everyone else just going about as normal

Exactly how it should be imo

I couldn't give a shit about the economy tbh, I don't buy much of anything anyway.
But, human life is something I value over money and fat cats.
No way would i risk my life for a bunch of whitehall wankers and their cronies, more fool those that do.

The economy isn’t about “buying things.” A depression will effect us all, even if you “don’t buy anything.”

I couldn't give a shit about the economy tbh, I don't buy much of anything anyway.
But, human life is something I value over money and fat cats.

If you think 'the economy' is all about shopping for fripperies and guys playing with numbers at the stock exchange, then frankly you haven't got a clue.

It's the economy which keeps people in work. It's the economy which keeps the NHS and other essential services funded. It's the economy which keeps people alive.

I couldn't give a shit about the economy tbh, I don't buy much of anything anyway.
But, human life is something I value over money and fat cats

You should care about the economy because its the economy which pays for the NHS. No economy- no NHS AT ALL.

I find it staggering that people view "the economy" as something that only affects the rich. BS. In recessions, its always the poor who suffer, not the rich. If the economy tanks, millions will be pushed into poverty and kids will end up homeless and without food. But great to know some "dont give a shit" about that. Urgh.

We need schools and nurseries open then we can all start getting back to a new normal.

But you care about a hospital being open? That is inextricably linked to the economy.

daisymay133
Near me it’s defo over
It’s completely normal and has been for weeks

where do you live?

I find it staggering that people view "the economy" as something that only affects the rich.

some people are not very bright, and the "them" (whoever that is) vs "us is very strong.

The economy affects us all, it's not about "buying things." It's about the taxes we pay that pay for the NHS, the pensions, the benefit system. It's about keeping people in work to support their families.

But you care about a hospital being open? That is inextricably linked to the economy

right? How on earth do people think the NHS is funded? a magic money tree? the NHS is funded from OUR TAXES. If noone pays tax, there will be no money for the NHS- and no money for other public services such as the police, fire brigade, education/schools, councils- bin collections etc
Imagine a world with no NHS, no police, no fire brigade, no schools.
THAT is how vital the economy is.

I couldn't give a shit about the economy tbh

No tax funded public services for you then, You'll soon give a shit then. when there's no money left to pay for them because the tax revenue has gone down due to mass unemployment. You'll soon give a shit then.

What a breathtakingly ill-informed post Devlesko but I’m sure you know that. And posters calling other people “idiots”. This situation has really brought out the worst in people, such hatred of others and holier than thou attitudes.

To the people who say we need to live with the virus/get the economist going/just crack on with things, what do you want in practical terms? All cafes, shops,establishments, educational institutions, places of worship, concerts, sporting events etc etc to reopen precisely as they were in February? Or do you still have some distancing in mind? Mandatory masks? What exactly do you want?

The economy*

At this point I wish the government would actually implement a plan that works - test and trace regionally - rather than their current plan of spin and waffle.

We need to get back to some sort of normal, but not at the expense of lives.

The government has missed the boat of doing that in a timely and effective way, but surely this is their job to sort? Listen to experts (not spin doctors) and come up with a better plan.

what do you want in practical terms

I would like a phased return to normal that is based on sensible medical advice and the R number. Not hysterical fear mongering based on anecdotes and "my friend linda's husband's second cousin's dog walker's nephew works on the frontline and says we are all doomed".

I'd like us to be informed by factual knowledge and not operate on rabid fear. I'd like the media to stop fear mongering with irresponsible headlines (eg. screaming an 18 year old has died of covid yet when you read the story they actually died waiting for a transplant and not covid at all).
I'd like an unbiased, sensible approach which uses common sense and takes into account the needs of all vulnerable people including those with mental health issues and for them not to be told they are being "selfish murderers" for daring to express their lockdown struggles.

Mostly- I'd like ALL deaths and suffering to matter, not just those from covid. Because at the moment, if you die of anything other than covid, noone gives a shit.

@ScorpionQueenpeople from outside the area going to places like Weston recently are well out of order and are selfish people with a lack of common sense.

However the fault lies with the PM for allowing unlimited travel. As you say fertility g the economy going doesn't mean furloughed workers and whoever else descending on small town seasides

Redolent - this is something I’ve wondered.

People seem to want things to just go back to how they were, but it would be like pushing a self destruct button.

Testing in other countries have revealed that up to 5% of the population has been infected. All this chaos with 5%.
Can you imagine what it would be like if we just stopped being cautious and 10% + were ill at the same time?

The toll on the NHS would be catastrophic. Death rates would soar. The economy would be in a far worse state than with protective measures in place.

There needs to be a plan to slowly reopen places with measures in place, but the government need to step up, stop treating us like idiots and explain in plain English (BJ surely has advisors who can improve on his confusing patronising waffle?) exactly what needs to be done and why.

You don't close a hospital to deep clean because too many patients came in, you do it because you have virus spreading within the hospital. (And it's a teeny tiny hospital at that.) If it were over-run like Northwick Park hospital briefly was early in the epidemic then that would have been given as the reason instead; in that case some patients were rapidly sent off to other hospitals and it may have stayed hard work, but the A&E was able to open back up quickly. A lot of concern in this thread that seems to be missing the point about what has actually happened.