People in Bolton believe it’s a conspiracy #thinkingforyourself

[Redolent]

Minimal mask wearing and compliance with distancing. Can’t we just put a Simpsons dome over there?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/20/covid-scepticism-behind-high-bolton-infection-rate-says-local-mp

“... a number of high-profile people in the area had been using social media to share conspiracy theories about the virus. “It is all over Facebook, in local forums, with people saying coronavirus is not true and it is a way for the government to take control of us all. It’s so strange but it’s really began to take hold,” she said.

Earlier this week it was reported that the number of people being admitted to hospital in the town with confirmed or suspected coronavirus was rising. Hospital chiefs also said they were seeing an increased number of patients under-65 being admitted, with some in their in 40s and 50s, a significantly younger age group than at the peak of the pandemic in April and May”

The rise in cases there is down to one person who failed to self isolate after returning from a holiday abroad and went on a pub crawl with mates. You couldn't make it up.

Shame we can’t make anyone who doesn’t believe in the virus sign a waiver for any medical treatment if they catch the virus.

Their irresponsible behaviour *the ones who refuse to follow the rules) is putting others at risk, including medical staff.

@wowfudge

The rise in cases there is down to one person who failed to self isolate after returning from a holiday abroad and went on a pub crawl with mates. You couldn't make it up.

The phrase “You can’t teach stupid “ was written for this individual.

It seems absurd that, hundreds of miles away, in low incidence areas, people could be legally banned from seeing their families because of what clueless individuals and communities are doing elsewhere. If local restrictions still aren’t working in places like Bolton, surely that has to be addressed first?

Local politicians have been saying the high rates are due to high testing since the beginning and many crazy theory’s on the internet. There is always been a feeling of disbelief and doubt in Bolton.
The problem is how do you argue with the ‘flat earth’ style thinking. How do you prove to someone a virus that is invisible is real? They have to be prepared to believe experts or become an expert, which would take years.

@ShouldWeChangeTheBulb

Local politicians have been saying the high rates are due to high testing since the beginning and many crazy theory’s on the internet. There is always been a feeling of disbelief and doubt in Bolton. The problem is how do you argue with the ‘flat earth’ style thinking. How do you prove to someone a virus that is invisible is real? They have to be prepared to believe experts or become an expert, which would take years.

Take them to ITU and show them some people with it, not all elderly, and how frightened they are. The sight of that alone made me and my colleagues take it very seriously.

It is very true. Multiple students debate with me about it's existance, we have parents refusing to collect students with symptoms from school because "its all bollocks anyway".

People are stupid and it is driving me crazy.

The reason why the restrictions are not working in Bolton is because ,some people refuse to follow the guidelines ,I live in Bolton ,I see it everyday ,big groups of teens meeting up on the park behind my house,people not social distancing,people in supermarket,s not wearing masks properly,we are not all stupid ,but there is a significant minority of people ,who are it's infuriating.

Yep and you just have to read the comments section on the Bolton news many articles about COVID ,to understand the mindset of some individuals.

What doesn't make sense to me though is, for people not to believe it's real, they mustn't know anyone that has it or is suffering from it. So if Bolton is the hardest hit area in the UK but still lots of people don't know anyone who has it, how prevalent is this really?

I agree I’m from the north not far from Bolton and it’s a bit of a microcosm of ignorance (not every person!!). But more so than other areas there a feeling of ‘why should I...’ ‘government doesn’t give a shit about me I’ll do what I want...’ ‘I won’t have it...’. I imagine it’s hugely frustrating if you’re miles and miles away- however back in April the south was MUCH worse affected than the north and we locked down as we understood the trend was likely to spread. Sadly I expect it will spread down from north to south this time.

Bolton is a big place though and our population is nearly 300,000 apparently,so it's quite possible people won't directly know someone who has been affected.

To be honest, I'm seeing that around Manchester too. People who don't believe it is real or that it is just a cold. I've explained that I know people who have died, a family member with such terrible side effects that they will either die or need a transplant, and I get told I'm an idiot who doesn't understand the data. Ironically, I'm a science teacher with a masters that involved a rather large amount of statistical analysis so, you know...

Yes the are so many "experts" because of what they have read on twitter 🙄

Its quite odd reading this, i live in bolton and where i am everyone is complying and wearing masks. Shops arent busy, people were out eating like they were in other towns. I dont know anybody who doeant believe coronavirus isnt real but i do work at bolton hospital and the cases are sadly rising extremely fast

This problem is far from isolated to Bolton. Look at the social media of any area of social deprivation and you'll find the same thing, people no longer believe experts. These areas also tend to have a high number of Brexit supporters and apparently dislike unelected bureaucrats.

@wowfudge

The rise in cases there is down to one person who failed to self isolate after returning from a holiday abroad and went on a pub crawl with mates. You couldn't make it up.

I suspect there's a large amount of "making it up" in those reports. A factor, I am sure but it's not "the" reason.

I'm not in Bolton but what I'm seeing is a lot of people who think they had it early on and therefore are untouchable now. The "greater good" phase is long gone.

So I read @Flowers94 ,my boys both go to school in Bolton ,my oldest at the.one very near the hospital ,cases are rife throughout schools and he's already self isolating.

It’s was only part of Bolton... where the one super spreader had a party. Unfortunately It’s now moving around. But the majority of people where I live are complying but then where I live is less deprived

@wowfudge

The rise in cases there is down to one person who failed to self isolate after returning from a holiday abroad and went on a pub crawl with mates. You couldn't make it up.

Happened in Aberdeen too. A person told to isolate decided they'd go for a night out in town.

#thinkingforyourself seems to be the preserve of those with severely limited mental capacity to do so, sadly.

I live in Trafford so I read the Manchester Evening News every day. Every Covid story has comments under it of which about 80% are convinced it is a conspiracy. If I go to our local shops, about 40% are not wearing masks. All my neighbours have visitors constantly.
Seriously I am so utterly pissed off. My son is in Yr 10 so his education will be affected if numbers get worse. My husband works in a university so his job may potentially be affected. I have barely seen anyone since March and it’s made me really depressed and meanwhile all these pricks think they are outwitting Bill Gates’ 5G microchip vaccine and ruining all our lives.
And that’s as well as the moronic government.

Whilst I don't think the government have handled this well , particularly with the track and trace etc ,they can't win here they put guidelines in place to stop the spread and prevent deaths ,and people complain and refuse to follow them ,but when cases rise ,and inevitably deaths it will all be the government s fault ,some people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions.

@ChaChaCha2012

This problem is far from isolated to Bolton. Look at the social media of any area of social deprivation and you'll find the same thing, people no longer believe experts. These areas also tend to have a high number of Brexit supporters and apparently dislike unelected bureaucrats.

Charming.

@x2boys

Whilst I don't think the government have handled this well , particularly with the track and trace etc ,they can't win here they put guidelines in place to stop the spread and prevent deaths ,and people complain and refuse to follow them ,but when cases rise ,and inevitably deaths it will all be the government s fault ,some people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions.

The guidelines are contradictory and inequitable. The Eat Out scheme and the pub opening encouraged irresponsible “mingling”, as has the “schools are perfectly safe” bollocks, and the government lost all moral authority over the Cummings business.

Yes, people should take responsibility, but with all the misinformation out there on SM, and the government’s utterly useless messaging, is it any surprise people have responded in the way they have. Every other thread on here is testament to this.