WHO expect pandemic to be over in 2 years

[mummabear1967]

www.itv.com/news/2020-08-21/world-health-organization-chief-hopes-coronavirus-pandemic-will-be-over-in-two-years

Even if this pandemic does run into 2022, we won’t be stuck with restrictions until then, right? We will be back to normality to some extent? Not sure I could deal with another two years of this crap.

@lazylinguist

So if I lost my house would I be unreasonable to complain about that because some people don't have houses?! I'm sorry, but people are allowed to be upset about what they've lost, no matter what it is. You don't get to decide what's acceptable.

If you can't see the difference between having a house and going to V Festival, then I'm not sure what to say to that really. I think pretty much anybody would feel qualified to decide what's acceptable between those two examples tbh.

Like many people, I missed out on the foreign holiday I'd booked. I'd also class that as something about which I would be unreasonable to say "Oh god - think how much we've lost!" Losing loved ones, homes, livelihoods - yes, tragic. Losing leisure opportunities that the majority of people in the world don't get to have anyway... not so tragic.

A music festival or holiday might be nothing to your but for some people (me included!) It will be the highlight of the year. Something they save for for a long time. Why do you have to be so dismissive. People can be upset about whatever they damn well please. It's not up to your or anyone else to look down from your throne and give your approval.

To be honest foreign holidays and festivals are luxuries, not necessities. It's been quite eye opening to see millions of people unable to go just one summer without their holidays abroad, even in the middle of a pandemic.

Food, water and a roof over our heads are the necessities we all need.

@annabel85

To be honest foreign holidays and festivals are luxuries, not necessities. It's been quite eye opening to see millions of people unable to go just one summer without their holidays abroad, even in the middle of a pandemic.

Food, water and a roof over our heads are the necessities we all need.

Nobody said they weren't luxuries. But apparently they're not things you're allowed to be upset about ffs we don't "need" many things but would we all be happy living with the bare essentials and nothing else? No.

Sure, but a sense of perspective is important.

I think most people do have a sense of perspective. We don't need to walk around military graveyards in France - even if we would risk the trip - to get that perspective. Nor do we need lectures from the MN sumuggers.

Having lived in privilege for most of our lives (compared to other generations races, nationalities, etc), we're now asked to make some small sacrifices for the good of society.

People really give themselves away with sentences like this. You may have 'lived in privilege' but many have not, and certainly aren't in current circumstances. Obviously, you have only made 'small sacrifices' - hence the complacency - but others have been forced to give up their livliehoods. miss out on experiences they'd been looking forward to for years, suffer from depression, and so much more.

Also, what do you mean by " other generations races, nationalities, etc"? I didn't know all MNers belonged to the same "generations races, nationalities, etc"?

For those people who are not on the consuming side but providing the entertainment, the catering, the hygiene facilities, the accomodation etc. etc. those luxuries provide their livelyhood.
Try seeing it from their point of view.
And there are no jobs for those out of work people to cross into, are there?

we don't "need" many things but would we all be happy living with the bare essentials and nothing else? No.

The consumer society hasn't led to happiness either.

@annabel85

To be honest foreign holidays and festivals are luxuries, not necessities. It's been quite eye opening to see millions of people unable to go just one summer without their holidays abroad, even in the middle of a pandemic.

Food, water and a roof over our heads are the necessities we all need.

Not sure who these 'millions of people' are, but the number of people taking foreign holidays has dwindled to a tiny fraction of the usual numbers. Which is why thousands of people working in the tourism and hospitality sector have lost their jobs and face bankruptcy. But hey, so long as they have a bowl of gruel and a tanker of water I guess that's fine.

I only mentioned v because it was on telly last night.

It's not about festivals as such, but about being able to gather and have music and dance, something that pretty much all (may be all) cultures do everywhere in the world. It's about community, shared experience, bonding and joy.

Getting together and having music and dancing is not a luxury, it's something that humans always seem to do.

Anyway we can leave it there. Time will tell what the effects on the children and young people are. I hope it's not too bad.

@Prokupatuscrakedatus

For those people who are not on the consuming side but providing the entertainment, the catering, the hygiene facilities, the accomodation etc. etc. those luxuries provide their livelyhood. Try seeing it from their point of view. And there are no jobs for those out of work people to cross into, are there?

One of the biggest ticking timebombs is what happens to the millions of people whose livelyhoods depend on the events industry or the service economy which have been decimated and in many cases will be waiting a year or two to be allowed to open properly.

Our economy urgently needs rebalancing somehow. Germany for example did it while we went down the service economy route and they'll rebound a lot quicker than we will and take a much lower hit to GDP because their economy isn't built on sand.

Not sure who these 'millions of people' are, but the number of people taking foreign holidays has dwindled to a tiny fraction of the usual numbers.

There was 600,000+ estimated to be in Spain on holiday from UK when the quarantine was announced with hundreds of thousands more due to fly out.

@annabel85

we don't "need" many things but would we all be happy living with the bare essentials and nothing else? No.

The consumer society hasn't led to happiness either.

It's led to more happiness than living as though you're destitute ever has. If you'd be happier with no material possessions or luxuries, good for you.

@annabel85

Not sure who these 'millions of people' are, but the number of people taking foreign holidays has dwindled to a tiny fraction of the usual numbers.

There was 600,000+ estimated to be in Spain on holiday from UK when the quarantine was announced with hundreds of thousands more due to fly out.

Admittedly, my maths isn't the best, but still not getting 'millions' there.

@Ugzbugz

Spanish flu died out as you either survived it or didn't so heard immunity developed. I dint realise until researching today that the second wave killed young healthy people and they predict covid 19 to do the same ☹

Just making stuff up now are we

One day, you might come to understand that the restrictions did nothing to stop the virus doing what it was always going to do. Kill the weakest. It's done that.

Who knew Doctor Mengele was still alive and posting on Mumsnet.

@IcedPurple In many ways I haven't had a privileged life actually, I had a difficult childhood which has had lasting effects. I've had depression and I've lost a loved one to covid.

I think it's fair to say that the majority of people who grew up in a developed country over the last few decades have benefitted from living in a stable, safe society. I imagine that MN posters largely fall into this category. Many people who lived in different parts of the world, or in different times (e.g. Bosnia in the 90s, Syria in recent years, the two world wars) were not so lucky. Hence my comment about perspective; I really don't think spending up to two years engaging in social distancing, mask wearing and avoiding foreign travel is the end of the world. Especially when it serves to save lives.

Admittedly, my maths isn't the best, but still not getting 'millions' there

That's in one country in one week.

I think it's fair to say that the majority of people who grew up in a developed country over the last few decades have benefitted from living in a stable, safe society. I imagine that MN posters largely fall into this category

Still not sure how you know what "generations races, nationalities, etc" we all belong to.

Hence my comment about perspective; I really don't think spending up to two years engaging in social distancing, mask wearing and avoiding foreign travel is the end of the world.

Genuine Question: Do you genuinely believe that people here feel this situation is as bad as living through war? That they needed you to point this out to them? Because you're coming across as extremely patronising. Not to mention rather flippant towards those who will lose their livelihoods and businesses, perhaps forever.

Maybe for you it's only about "engaging in social distancing, mask wearing and avoiding foreign travel" but for very many people it's much more serious than that. And even if it IS about the former, people are allowed to feel sad about missing out on things they value. That doesn't mean they don't have 'perspective'. It doesn't mean they're not aware that others have it much worse. It just means they're human.

@IcedPurple

I'm not flippant about this situation, believe me. I lost one close family member and another relative to covid, and because of the restrictions we couldn't mourn them in the usual way, couldn't have family and friends around for support. It was unbelievably hard, but necessary to limit the spread of this horrible virus.

I know people are allowed to feel pissed off and to let off steam, that's fine. However a worrying number of people seem to want to flout the restrictions and throw caution to the wind. This kind of attitude infuriates me, especially as I know first hand the devastating impact of covid.

I know people are allowed to feel pissed off and to let off steam, that's fine.

We know it's fine. We don't need your approval.

However a worrying number of people seem to want to flout the restrictions and throw caution to the wind

There's a difference between 'flouting' restrictions and being sad about having to give up things you value, however trivial they may seem to those whose only point of reference is WWll.

A music festival or holiday might be nothing to your but for some people (me included!) It will be the highlight of the year. Something they save for for a long time. Why do you have to be so dismissive. People can be upset about whatever they damn well please. It's not up to your or anyone else to look down from your throne and give your approval.

Of course it's not nothing to me. We go on one holiday a year max, usually not abroad. We missed our Easter holiday to Spain, which was also to visit close family living there, whom we rarely see. We were really looking forward to it and still haven't had our money back from bastard Ryanair. But in the grand scheme of things, compared with people getting sick and dying, it's really not important and will have zero long-term effects on us.

Whatever @IcedPurple - you asked me a question and I answered it. I never claimed anyone needs my approval and there's no need to be so rude.

I have good reason to feel pissed off about people saying they want the virus to be left run uncontrolled.

@lazylinguist

A music festival or holiday might be nothing to your but for some people (me included!) It will be the highlight of the year. Something they save for for a long time. Why do you have to be so dismissive. People can be upset about whatever they damn well please. It's not up to your or anyone else to look down from your throne and give your approval.

Of course it's not nothing to me. We go on one holiday a year max, usually not abroad. We missed our Easter holiday to Spain, which was also to visit close family living there, whom we rarely see. We were really looking forward to it and still haven't had our money back from bastard Ryanair. But in the grand scheme of things, compared with people getting sick and dying, it's really not important and will have zero long-term effects on us.

Well I'm glad you're so virtue signalling selfless, but again, doesn't mean people shouldn't be disappointed or upset.

So anyone here who advocates for the responsible approach, and can see the fucking difference between losing a life and losing a holiday/festival, is condescending and virtue signalling? Right so

But in the grand scheme of things, compared with people getting sick and dying, it's really not important and will have zero long-term effects on us.

Spot on.

Well I'm glad you're so virtue signallingselfless

Nope. I'm not at all selfless, nor do I have any particular desire to give the impression of virtue. I'm just fairly pragmatic and not over-dramatic. Of course people are disappointed, so are we.

@Sakura7

So anyone here who advocates for the responsible approach, and can see the fucking difference between losing a life and losing a holiday/festival, is condescending and virtue signalling? Right so

But in the grand scheme of things, compared with people getting sick and dying, it's really not important and will have zero long-term effects on us.

Spot on.

Sorry why is my approach not responsible? Thinking people should be allowed to be disappointed and upset is.... Irresponsible now is it?