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?

@Vinoonasunnyday let us see the maths on that. It's hardly a binary choice either is it? It's not like needing chemo will magically stop you catching cv when you go into hospital (or to the shop, or church, or to visit the grandkids). The best thing we can do to ensure people are able to access the healthcare they need is to keep cv levels low and that does require some degree of social distancing.

@pushkinsinsanity I’m sorry to hear about your mother, but please don’t blame what she’s going through on me - that’s not fair. As a new mum I barely leave the house at the moment, and if you read my previous posts, you’ll see I’m having worrying issues with accessing healthcare as well. In my opinion there’s no reason why consultant and GP appointments shouldn’t go ahead as normal. I hope your mother makes a full recovery soon.

I’m truly amazed how many people on mumsnet don’t get the basic science / maths about this.

Exponential growth is inevitable with low or no SD. Deaths will be low while the only people catching it are the young who went on holiday over the summer / caught it going back to school. Deaths will rise as their older or vulnerable family members and friends catch it.

If you “go back to normal now” or whatever bright idea you’re proposing, those deaths will happen faster and there will be more of them.

End of story.

take it you've not lost anyone close to you through covid then op?

I have, and believe me, it is very depressing to read this sort of selfish claptrap. I have been shielding for 5 months. If you think YOUR life is curtailed, you try it. If you think YOUR MH is affected, you try that.

SD is not hard to do. It really isn't. All it requires is a bit of consideration and attention to other people. And we will NEVER go back to 'normal' because the world has changed permanently. I wish it wasn't so either, but it has.

If you think you know better than the people in charge, then I suggest you stand for their positions and see just how b*dy hard it is to make these sort of decisions. It is easy to criticize - a damn site harder to actually take responsibility.

You can't live scared forever. The economy has already been trashed. By all means let those who are frightened stay inside and self isolate by for fucks sake some of us are dying a slow death by now having no job, by having our operations cancelled etc. Strangle everyone with fear why don't you, just because you're afraid. Life is risk itself- let us get on with our lives, for fucks sake.

@Floralbean

I've actually considered suicide several times because of these restrictions on my life. I can't do this much longer.

Sorry to hear you are struggling . You are right there are implications of lockdown beyond covid, and some people seem to forget that. At a guess it is because they aren't affected by those and so covid is all that they see as a risk.

It seems to me that those who have suffered as a direct result of covid (death or significant illness of them or family member) cant understand the equal suffering of those an indirect impact of covid (job losses, treatment delays, MH issues,poverty, abuse) and vice versa. We are ALL suffering in 1 capacity or another, the difficulty is finding a balance between the 2

Matt Hancock has said that the GP will forever do a phone triage now.

They won't ever go back to normal apparently because it's worked so well

Genuinely shocked that there are people - ADULTS - who cannot understand that the current rates are low DUE TO the measures in place. How is it hard to understand?! Its basic logic

Plus the fact that deaths and rates are low in countries who've done SD / masks etc for longer and better than us (and continue to do so)

And deaths and rates are sky high in countries who aren't bothering (Brazil, parts of the US etc).

Then why was your AIBU this?

Because I’m also scared of losing my job and my home!!

Totally agree
Its nonsensical

Crikey. Glad you're not in charge we'd be in an even bigger mess. The NHS really would grind to a halt.
We just have to sit tight until next Easter I reckon. Then we'll know a lot more about what this new virus does.

@Happyheartlovelife makes you wonder doesn’t it? I know there have been changed made at my trust and within my team that they were pushing for before covid and have been implemented during covid whilst we were all too scared to stand up and ask questions and now they are here to stay

Oh, and “take it up with my practice” - as if that’s going to make a difference. You’re not living in the real world.

I'm so tired of people saying things like "What is it you're so desperate to do that you can't?"
There are entire industries still unable to operate, companies going down like dominoes. Furlough is ending so not even any ongoing support.
So what are we desparate to do that we can't? Have an income again.

Matt Hancock has said that the GP will forever do a phone triage now

That would be fine, if everyone could get a same day triage with a face to face appointment if needed. But lots of people can't even get the call.

@peasoup8 your issue with not being able to access a GP is not unique to covid measures. I lost count how many times I couldn’t access a doctor and I had to use the walk in centre or A&E for my children when they were tiny because my GP couldn’t see them. Btw, I was actually advised by the GP to access them because they admitted they were overwhelmed.
Your baby not being seen by the doctor is awful, I agree. But it is time you took matters in your own hands and went to see a health Professional rather than wasting time blaming them because as much as we might all agree and sympathise with you, no one here can treat your baby. Get them seen as soon as possible. Find a walk in centre, try out of hours service, or go to A&E.

Totally @Concerned7777. Because catching or losing someone to cv automatically indemnifies you from losing your being ill with anything else. And its good for your mental health.

SD is not hard to do. It really isn't. All it requires is a bit of consideration and attention to other people.

This. Wearing masks isn't hard either.

And if everyone takes the attitude that it is unbelievably hard and they just won't follow the rules, then we'll go from everything pretty much open to many things being shut again. Soon.

We just have to sit tight until next Easter I reckon. Then we'll know a lot more about what this new virus does.

Great, do you think Rishi will stump up for all that sitting tight?

..loosing your job/home/business or stops you being ill with something else..

Ffs.

@themental

The difference with spain is massive

Because spain did a full lockdown for 9 weeks. There are and still is. Hefty fines. There are many more police officers per person over in spain. They fined anyone who dare step out of line. I know as we have a house out there. It was handled much different then it was here

So Spain isn't a good comparison.

Well since the OP is off her tits on this subject, how are we supposed to know if it’s a serious problem with the kid? Honestly, some of you are getting sucked in.

You can ask for a different GP. A video appointment will give the GP an idea of seriousness. If it’s bad they will fast track you to A&E.

It’s not nice being really worried about a baby’s health, I hope that gets sorted soon and the kid’s all right. But to say we’re going through this shite for the equivalent of a common cold is quite deranged. Read some original sources. It’s not just deaths, people are being left disabled by this.

@peasoup8

OP I’d expect you to access health care beyond your GP, tbh.

Like what exactly? Do you expect me to go sit for hours in A&E with a small baby because my GP refuses to do her job?

Yes because that’s what responsible parents who disagreed with their GP and felt they their dc needed medical attention did before the pandemic anyway. Your problem isn’t social distancing or covid, it’s your GP.

You can absolutely register with a GP out of your area, especially if you only have one (I’m in the exact same situation). If you can’t come to an arrangement yourself your trust will help you.

Finally have a word with yourself, you have no idea what people’s financial and individual circumstances are, you’re more likely to be talking to people in the same or worse situation than your own, it’s not rare or unusual right now is it?

You’re not a helpless victim here, you have choices, responsibilities and as you’re on the internet, resources some people could only dream of.

@peasoup8

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.

It is 0.06%

@PaddyF0dder

Here here!