Do people think it’s over now?

[SpookyNoise]

I’m surprised at how many people seem to think the lockdown is over and there is no threat from the virus. I’ve had a friend ask us over for dinner in their house, and my son has had a friend ask him over to play. We declined both invites, obviously. Has anyone else got friends who think it’s all over?

As far as I’m concerned lockdown is over. Let’s face it. It’s been a shit show as time has gone on. I’m well aware of the risks like everyone else.

@rosie39forever those who are afraid of catching the virus can stay indoors for however long they like. The rest of us should be able to go out and about as we see fit.

Lockdown has been a complete farce for weeks, time for it to end.

@larrygrylls

I don’t think people understand the Maths, but a virus does. It care, it will still obey it.

Right now, the risk of being infected is tiny. It is very safe to see people. However, this tiny risk now seems stable, not diminishing (an r of about 1). If enough people take this tiny risk, next week it will still be tiny, but a little less tiny, and even less tiny the following week. In a couple of months it will be significant again, and we will need another lockdown.

Sadly, we are not a very communitarian minded nation right now, so people will do what they want. My bet is another lockdown in September-November.

A virus is very much like steering a battleship. You make a turn, and then it takes a month to see a small response, but by two months the response is much larger. Exponential is the word.

If we screw this up, it will mean another lockdown. No one wants that.

People need to be careful. Sadly, people forget.

I'm not secluded and don't live in fear, but just acting as though the virus has gone away and we can all return to normal is irresponsible and selfish, it's because I love my family that I won't be rushing back into their houses and coughing in their faces just yet. If we ignore this virus and ignore the 65000 excess deaths then we run the risk of another park and more sever lockdown which will be far more damaging for the economy.

Peak not park🙄

it's because I love my family that I won't be rushing back into their houses and coughing in their faces just yet

Not just yet eh?

But you'll be happily coughing in their faces next week? Next month?

Coughing in my family's - or anyone else's - face isn't something I would ever consider doing at any time, not 'just yet', but could be that's just irresponsible selfish me.

@rosie39forever - I don’t recommend coughing in your families face or anyone’s if you can help it.

People that are more at risk can stay in but for me and my family it’s time to start going out and about.

@rosie39forever - There is also a point where my needs matter to me more then what happens to society and some stranger down the road. If they are at risk then they should shield.

I was being pedantic, if you are in an enclosed space for a length of time and you are asymptomatic you don't need to cough in anyone's face just water droplets in your breath will infect your loved ones. The lock down was never going to fully work in this country, that's why the government are lifting measures too rapidly because we are an inherently self centred society who at the end of the day will do what suits our own needs. It's so shocking when we watch the news and say how terrible all those people have died but it doesn't really mean anything unless it directly smacks us in the face.

Lockdown is sort of finished for some people though now. I mean I didn't go out much before only to go shopping, I've never really been one to have visitors round as I hate people in my house . So now I can go shopping and my daughters back at school, this is back to normal now for me. I don't take the bus so no masks and if I want to meet a friend at the park I can do that.
Obviously I know the virus is out there somewhere, but it doesn't bother me anymore.

I was being pedantic, if you are in an enclosed space for a length of time and you are asymptomatic you don't need to cough in anyone's face just water droplets in your breath will infect your loved ones

You weren't being pedantic (I suggest you look up the actual meaning of the word). You were being snotty (pun intended) and implying that everyone who's less uptight than you thinks nothing of coughing in people's faces.

And you can only infect someone else if you yourself are infected. The overwhelming majority of people are not. If you think you may be, by all means lock yourself up forever if you so choose. Up to you.

we are an inherently self centred society who at the end of the day will do what suits our own needs

Not you though eh? You are kind, responsible and caring. Though how society and the economy are going to survive if everyone shuts themselves up at home indefinitely doesn't seem to be something you've given much thought to.

Life goes on ... can’t stay In Forever but also my parents are not in the at risk section either and neither are any of my other family so all of our risk is low.
Selfish, maybe but oh well.

Covid is a concern but it is not the only concern. You can lock yourself up indefinitely if you like, but other people are looking forward to getting on with their lives and keeping the economy from collapsing

Couldn’t agree more. We have to be realistic and rational. Going to a friends house and having lunch in the garden is fine, and permitted.

Everyone has different levels of anxiety and, and some people will feel the need to remain isolated for a bit longer, but it’s not necessary any more. Keep your distance, wash your hands and keep your hands away from your face. Those are the most important things.

I don't even think i care about the rules anymore either I don't know any body who's actually still sticking with them? It's strange I was petrified at the start. I was having panic and anxiety attacks daily. Now I'm just fed up of hearing about it I think.

No one should be basing their actions on confidence they won't be severely ill. Under 25 maybe as risk is so low, but still we do not know long term effects of asymptomatic illness. Many people who have asymptomatic infection are experiencing lung damage. 25-35, not sure, over 35 it's a concern and over 40 very much so. People are lying to themselves if they think being fit and healthy means they cannot suffer long term effects from this virus.

I am not saying we should be terrified or that we shouldn't be doing all we can to ease restrictions. In a lot of ways risk is low.

But those cases that are out there, however few, are there. Without any restrictions, they will begin to grow exponentially and we will be back to square one. The trouble for us all is that we know we probably aren't one of those cases, but we all have to act as if we might be for now which is very difficult. Effective testing and tracing will help that but they will always miss some.

At an societal level they would catch this before it spiralled I think, but there will always be some very unlucky souls at an individual level who will be caught up in this.

you can only infect someone else if you are infected the problem with this is that there are a huge number of people who are infected and aren't showing any symptoms

Life goes on

Well, not for the people killed because someone self-centred passed the virus onto them. Or their loved ones.

We've had friends over, today we're visiting my family, we have dinner plans this coming week at a friend's place.

Well no not for them but for everyone that’s still breathing.. life goes on and we can’t stay indoors.

If you’re at risk.. stay in.

For those of us at lower risk we can go anywhere that’s open again and carry on.

the problem with this is that there are a huge number of people who are infected and aren't showing any symptoms

Can you link to the source from which you got the 'huge number' claim?

Yes, there are asymptomatic cases but whether there are a 'huge' number of them in the community is questionable.

Fact remains that the overwhelming majority of the population does not have Covid and therefore cannot infect anyone, even if they ''cough in their faces'.

@gingerbreadslice - I don’t even know of anyone that’s had covid. I stopped watching the news ages ago as it was boring the life out of me.

Obviously it is all about balanced perspective but arguably not over until no more Covid fatalities (and infections) and given that UK is losing this battle on a daily world record fatalities basis then it will not be over for some considerable time. So hence we will just have to respect this fact but move on as best as possible in the new extended ongoing medical emergency as otherwise one cannot press pause on life within the home safely bubble indefinitely!

New normal is to cohabitate with Covid with as much of a safety parameter as practicable especially as no medical cure for this evolving potentially fatal invisible disease!

Oh dear, it’s as if some people want it to get worse and love all the doom and gloom. Cheer up and have a cup of tea with your family/friends in the garden.

The whole thing has been a massive overreaction. The worldwide death toll isn’t even half a million! Ridiculous for people to still be flapping

Going into someone else's house is currently illegal and carries a £1000 fine.

Just step back and read that.

How can this ever be accepted? It is a massive infringement on our human rights. I guess the current government will have no problems with any rewriting of human rights law, seeing that not only are people accepting this, they are actively encouraging it's implementation.