End social distancing now - it’s time to get back to normal

[peasoup8]

Four deaths from coronavirus were recorded on 5th September - and yet the economy is on its knees, businesses are folding and my GP refuses to do face to face appointments because of the supposed risks posed by this “deadly” disease. Whilst I have every sympathy for the families of those who died, there are more people killed on Britain’s roads each day than there are from Covid.

People said there would be a massive spike in cases/deaths after the BLM protests and guess what - that failed to materialise. Central London was packed when I was there last weekend so nobody is taking the virus seriously anyway. AIBU to think it’s time we end this social distancing farce now and get back to normal, before more people lose their jobs and homes and the economy tanks still further?

1% of a 66million+ population is an absurd number of deaths over the space of a few months

Where do you get 1% from? It was more like 0.06% last time I did a quick calculation.

@peasoup8, you have the overview to state with any confidence that your tiny observance sample is representative of the whole country let alone one city. How do you convince yourself of your own superiority?

we haven't hit second peak yet op.....please be patient for all the deaths coming.

It's like people are almost giddy with anticipation of "all these deaths". I find it so fascinating. It's like an extremely grim "I told you so".

Does anyone remember the Dementor threads ♟

Take a look at the charts from Spain.

I do think we still need to be cautious but I now think something isn’t adding up about this. I don’t think there’s any kind of conspiracy or anything like that but some of the measures in place are now nonsensical. In addition there have been clusters, the Aberdeen one for example had over 300 cases, but there was no information as to how many ended up hospitalised or if they are all mild cases. Plus that was well over 3 weeks ago so if there were going to be hospitalisations as a result you’d expect them to have been before now.

I don’t think we should end SD but clearly more and more people are no longer giving a shit and it’s going to be a struggle to manage.

Just wanted to add, I do agree with you about your GP OP. They absolutely should see your child and it's ridiculous and worrying that you can't access that. I think there is a lot of difference between practices but it's not on. Surely one of the reasons we are doing all this is so that things like that can go ahead.

It isn't really about the death rate though, in terms of govt motivation. It's about the risk of exponential growth (not so much a factor with these other illnesses people refer to that can cause fatalities) and the economic and social damage that will bring. So many ill at once would bring schools, health service, utilities, economy, national security measures etc into even more crisis. In itself that would cause many non covid deaths.

Obviously avoiding deaths is important too, but they don't even need to get to the point of factoring that in because the other stuff kicks in as a motive anyway.

Not saying that I know what the strategy should be based on this, just that death rate is not the only factor or an isolated risk.

@peasoup8 well if you are just ignoring the guidance no problem why do you care if other people follow it? Just because you have a limited attention span and imagination, why do the rest of us need to affirm you by doing likewise?

Personally I think compliance will escalate again when people start seeing the virus at work in their communities. I certainly dont recognize the indifference you describe in my community.

Well lets hope, @peasoup8 that if the next death is in your town, it isn't you or someone you love. I'm raging at your post.

you have the overview to state with any confidence that your tiny observance sample is representative of the whole country let alone one city.

How is it a tiny sample? I’m looking at the death toll each day and the latest figure is 4. Pandemic my hat.

@peasoup8

What is it you're so desperate to do that you can't?

Have my GP stop hiding behind a phone and see my child face to face for starters.

Why can I go to the hairdresser but my baby can’t get seen by the GP?

I'm pretty sure that GP surgeries won't be returning to the old ways even when this pandemic is over. It makes far more sense for the majority of their appointments to be conducted over the phone and reduces the spread of all kinds of illnesses. There is absolutely no need for me to see a GP to have a medication review for some migraine medication. Over the phone is fine. If you need to see a GP they should be seeing you after screening. For whatever reason either they made a mistake or they could diagnose without a face to face appointment.

isn't it 'only 4'deaths because we are distancing?

take away the distancing and what would it be then?

someone upthread moaning they cant try on clothes in primary,and you yourself @peasoup8 moaning the gp won't get close to your kid (why, whats wrong? surely if it was vital then the child has been given medication etc)

End social distancing because only 4 people have died. Wasn’t the point of social distancing to prevent spread and keep pressure off the nhs so that everyone who needed a ventilator got one? 4 deaths shows social distancing works. The nhs didn’t have to do what Italy did and not treat the elderly or those who they thought wouldn’t survive. The increase the last 2 days will probably mean more pressure on the nhs and could lead to a lot more deaths . All because your not happy to social distance and people are bored and want to go to the pub. I really do worry when people say they want to end social distancing because it’s inconvenient to them. Not good at thinking about other then? It’s almost as good who say ‘ the least deadly pandemic’ what an over reaction..... how long was lockdown and social distancing implemented for during the Spanish flu?? It’s working sorry it’s inconvenient for you and your family but I like have my elderly relatives and not in the best of health nephew alive.

@thewinkingprawn

Totally agree. We need to get a grip and get back to normal. Death rate is absurdly low in comparison to the over reaction to it. I honestly think all this sitting around waiting for the death rate to rise is bonkers and indulgent. Whoever said we’ve been told it will rise after every demo etc is absolutely right. It hasn’t risen yet still we sit here blindly following the utter nonsense the government puts out.

I think the only people who said rates would increase after demos were the media and social media. We know now that the virus is very unlikely to spread outdoors so that is why no spread has been seen after packed beaches and demonstrations. However, if we go back to normal and have packed indoor gatherings without social distancing/masks the virus will quickly spread. Honestly, I can't understand why people think that because there are no cases there is no problem. I think you only need to look at what happened in the US and Brazil to see what happens if we stop following the advice of people who are actually qualified to comment on how viruses spread and follow the advice of joe bloggs instead who just wants life to be "normal again".

@PaddyF0dder ODFOD.

I think you have this doctor thing backwards. Doctors are avoiding face to face appointments (which are still happening when necessary) to protect their patients - whose more likely to contract and spread an infectious disease than a doctor.

If you didnt like you dd not being seen, try catching a novel virus at the height of a wave of infection and being unable to not only see but to speak to a doctor whilst you struggle to breath. Because if the hospitals fill up again, that's what will happen.

Pandemic my foot

Do you even understand what the word means? Take a look at India, the US and South America. It's not all about you.

surely if it was vital then the child has been given medication etc

And how is the GP meant to provide the correct medication without seeing my baby exactly?

@MorrisZapp

Everything's open? Why are there mass job losses announced every day then? Pret is on its knees because people aren't going back to work. Pubs are open for those who like to forward plan their drinking habits and sit at booked tables. Nobody can try on clothes in the shops.

This is not normality, or anything like it.

Unfortunately Pret will have to figure out a way to survive/adapt. The world has changed much more rapidly than could ever have been anticipated but we will not be returning to the "old" normal ever. Businesses will not stop home working just to save other businesses when they can make considerable savings by getting rid of offices.

@Porcupineinwaiting I didn’t feel like my baby was being “protected” by my uncaring GP at all. Quite the opposite.

I'm from a country, where most rules have been abandoned. Cases and icu admittances rise fast here .

@peasoup8

surely if it was vital then the child has been given medication etc

And how is the GP meant to provide the correct medication without seeing my baby exactly?

Obviously it depends on what was wrong with your baby (e.g. a horrendous rash) but GPs have a lot of experience and can diagnose things without seeing them.

@peasoup8

Nah kiddo.

See, as someone who actually works in the health service and knows what this virus is like, I’ve kind of had it with pea brains online thinking their opinions are equal to the people who actually know about this. I’ve got more letters after my name than you have letters in you, and I can’t be arsed being polite with people like you at this point.

Now sit down, shut up, and let people actually competent for handling this situation do it. If there’s ever an emergency in something you’re actually qualified to solve, we’ll ask.

And as I said up thread - it’s not right that people can go get a haircut but my baby can’t be seen by the doctor.

I’ve got more letters after my name than you have letters in you

Haha sure you have. You can’t even get basic stats right judging by your previous post. Laughable.

Cases are rising so for now I'd like to make sure that the death rates don't rocket first before any restrictions are lifted. However whether I agree they should be lifted or not im more than happy to join in a charade of reduced social interaction if it means schools stay open

@PaddyF0dder

applauds

modestly does not mention the letters after own name

nothing more to be said here

moves on