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Original poster

If you had to predict when a return to normal life will happen ....

213 replies

MagicSummer · 05/10/2020 13:04

When do you realistically predict that life will return to almost pre-virus normality? I say next Spring if a vaccine is produced; if not then I think we might see a natural fading of infection during the Summer.

OP posts:
cologne4711 · 05/10/2020 18:25

I think the way forward will be for there to be a cheap quick test

Its highly likely that many countries (including the UK) are likely to require a certificate of vaccination as a prerequist to entry

but why would these be needed, if the vulnerable can be vaccinated? We don't vaccinate everyone against flu or chickenpox, even though vaccines are available, and everyone just goes about their lives as normal.

Heffalooomia · 05/10/2020 18:26

we can never step in the same river twice

lljkk · 05/10/2020 18:27

November 2021 (random finger in air).

cologne4711 · 05/10/2020 18:28

Sad as it is we are just going to have to accept some level of Covid deaths permanently hmm Not sad, tragic and unethical and inhumane. Death is worse than economic hardship, no matter where you stand on the health vs the economy debate, it is very evil to be so blase about unnecessary death

No it isn't, we accept that people will die of cancer and flu and heart disease, even though there's a lot of people we can help. Why is it evil when it comes to covid? Ridiculous statement.

Disconnect · 05/10/2020 18:29

@cologne4711

Sad as it is we are just going to have to accept some level of Covid deaths permanently hmm Not sad, tragic and unethical and inhumane. Death is worse than economic hardship, no matter where you stand on the health vs the economy debate, it is very evil to be so blase about unnecessary death

No it isn't, we accept that people will die of cancer and flu and heart disease, even though there's a lot of people we can help. Why is it evil when it comes to covid? Ridiculous statement.

The difference is we have vaccines for flu, and cancer and heart disease are not caught by transmission they develop so are completely different.
Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor · 05/10/2020 18:29

Jan 2022 totally back to normal is my predicted.

Devlesko · 05/10/2020 18:30

Never, the world resets afte r war, famine, plague.
It won't be the same as it was, hat's now history.

Disconnect · 05/10/2020 18:33

@cologne4711

Sad as it is we are just going to have to accept some level of Covid deaths permanently hmm Not sad, tragic and unethical and inhumane. Death is worse than economic hardship, no matter where you stand on the health vs the economy debate, it is very evil to be so blase about unnecessary death

No it isn't, we accept that people will die of cancer and flu and heart disease, even though there's a lot of people we can help. Why is it evil when it comes to covid? Ridiculous statement.

And apart from anything else, I was making the point that shielding the vulnerable and elderly until there is a vaccine is not the same as saying we should destroy the economy. I was not looking for a debate about whether it is worse to die of Covid-19, flu, cancer or heart disease.
Devlesko · 05/10/2020 18:37

The idea of not being able to go to a gig for the foreseeable, for some reason I can't explain, just really gets to me. I know there are much, much bigger sacrifices being made and I struggle to articulate this exactly, it's not that this is the biggest sacrifice, even to me, it just seems to be the thing that gets to me.

Think how the musicians feel, I'm an entertainer, married and business owner to/with a musician.
We aren't expecting to be able to earn a living like this anymore and make up the many unviable out there.
I suppose it's how Coopers felt when barrels became machine made, or Wheelwrights.

tentative3 · 05/10/2020 18:40

I do feel horrendously sorry for anyone in the performing arts.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 05/10/2020 18:44

"And how does destroying the economy for 2 years protect anyone?"

"The economy" has had it. Turned out all the years of austerity, asset-stripping and extraction, left us with an economy with not even 3 months resilience in it.

We won't be going back to how it was. But it might eventually be fairer.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 05/10/2020 18:46

@Devlesko - if you look back at historical patterns of depressions and recessions, arts, culture and entertainment tend to come back quickly.

Not saying it won't be lean in between, but the sector tends to be nimble and innovative, and people tend to want it.

Disconnect · 05/10/2020 18:47

but why would these be needed, if the vulnerable can be vaccinated? We don't vaccinate everyone against flu or chickenpox, even though vaccines are available, and everyone just goes about their lives as normal I think there was a post in a thread earlier today that 25 people die of chickenpox a year. Haven't fact-checked that, but obviously many fewer people die of chickenpox than Covid-19, and Covid-19 statistically killed more than flu in the first wave. It is a different virus and if you are elderly (but not ready to die yet) then you should be protected from it (nb: I don't still don't equate shielding the elderly with destroying the economy Hmm)

Oaktree55 · 05/10/2020 19:05

@cologne4711 testing will still be required because it’s impossible to define who is at risk from this. Yes there are obvious comorbidities but there are also many people who require hospitalisation without obvious risk factors. Our Government doesn’t really care about deaths their main reason for restrictions is that if this grows exponentially then healthcare will become overwhelmed. This will still be a possibility even with certain groups vaccinated. They also won’t obviously want Covid in healthcare settings so testing will be required at least until there are vaccines that limit spread as well as disease.

GameSetMatch · 05/10/2020 19:07

July 2021 I’m very optimistic

BlueBlancmange · 05/10/2020 19:08

I'm hoping things will be considerably better by next summer.

MadameBlobby · 05/10/2020 19:15

@Disconnect

but why would these be needed, if the vulnerable can be vaccinated? We don't vaccinate everyone against flu or chickenpox, even though vaccines are available, and everyone just goes about their lives as normal I think there was a post in a thread earlier today that 25 people die of chickenpox a year. Haven't fact-checked that, but obviously many fewer people die of chickenpox than Covid-19, and Covid-19 statistically killed more than flu in the first wave. It is a different virus and if you are elderly (but not ready to die yet) then you should be protected from it (nb: I don't still don't equate shielding the elderly with destroying the economy Hmm)
So you think locking the elderly away is OK then? Aren’t they entitled to a quality of life? If we accept they are, then the economy has to be destroyed to achieve that. It’s what’s been happening isn’t it?
MadameBlobby · 05/10/2020 19:16

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

"And how does destroying the economy for 2 years protect anyone?"

"The economy" has had it. Turned out all the years of austerity, asset-stripping and extraction, left us with an economy with not even 3 months resilience in it.

We won't be going back to how it was. But it might eventually be fairer.

We can but hopel!
amieejust · 05/10/2020 19:18

Perhaps this time next year there will be some sort of normality as we once knew it returning, but sadly a lot of businesses, especially in the hospitality and leisure sector, will have gone for good. So no nightclubs or cinemas and fewer pubs and independent restaurants.

Devlesko · 05/10/2020 19:20

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

We are expecting to sell up and take the van on the road, we'll just end up like the medieval wandering minstrels and court jesters.
We have the van ready.

LynetteScavo · 05/10/2020 19:20

Spring 2022.

I'm not planning to go abroad before then, much as I'd love to.

kittensarecute · 05/10/2020 19:32

@Pyewhacket

I work in Critical Care and we had a guy over from from Oxford collecting some stuff for their vaccine research and he reckoned at least 2-4 years.
I'm not living like this for that long, there's no way. I'm on the verge of severe depression as it is.
RichardMarxisinnocent · 05/10/2020 19:35

@Userzzz

Never. This isn’t about a virus. This is our new way of life, will probably get progressively worse as we get socialized to accept all this bullshit.
OK I'll bite. If you and Wankpuffins aren't conspiracy theorists can you please explain what you are talking about? If it isn't about a virus what is it about? Why are we being "socialised to accept all this bullshit"? What is the aim? Why does the government want this to be our new way of life? I'd like details please, not just vague generalisations.
user1493494961 · 05/10/2020 19:43

Summer 2021.

Disconnect · 05/10/2020 19:45

So you think locking the elderly away is OK then? Aren’t they entitled to a quality of life? If we accept they are, then the economy has to be destroyed to achieve that. It’s what’s been happening isn’t it
I don't know the thread has been twisted this way, but I certainly wouldn't lock up the elderly forever. I do know that all the people I know over the age of 70 (relatives, neighbours) are not going out much - no indoor spaces except for essential medical attention etc.
So they are voluntarily keeping themselves safe. But since it is voluntary, they aren't guaranteed access to grocery deliveries etc. I think they need to be protected until they are vaccinated while there are high circulating virus levels and by that I mean ensuring they have everything they need. The elderly and vulnerable seem to be no. 1 on the priority list for the forthcoming vaccine, so it wouldn't be that long. And I still don't see how this in any way relates to destruction of the economy.