Why aren’t the government doing more?! Are they trying to achieve herd immunity?!

[bootsandcats08]

Why the heck aren’t the government doing more? Don’t you think it’s getting ridiculous now?!

UK to has had the highest cases in Europe!
Are we supposed to just live like RBI’s now? Accept it?!

Surely this is much much worse than in March and back then a lockdown was imposed!! Why aren’t they doing more?!

Are they trying to just achieve some sort of herd immunity???

I think the govt could do more and possibly will when more people are willing to comply with restrictions. The lockdown and schools closing was mainly down to public pressure I think. I do personally follow the rules and make sure my kids do too but there are many that don’t. Unfortunately I don’t see the “rule breakers” changing there ways unless numbers starting increasing massively or someone they know is affected.
I’m not really sure if I’m missing something but for all those saying “ but x number of people died of” in this year or last.... we are at nearly 42500 deaths and NOT 12 months in to counting of Covid yet. Can you really compare yearly death figures for various things when we don’t have an entire years of data yet?
Btw I live in Cumbria (n/w England) not currently under local restrictions but I’m sure it won’t be long as areas of restrictions are creeping closer every week. The company I work for (tourism/ hospitality) have come up with plans for if we do get locked down so I’m not too worried about loosing my job this time round. It’s all down to common sense though.

I certainly can't understand why anyone would be scared to leave the house unless they are vulnerable
Otherwise I cannot see any reasonable alternative to learning how to live with the virus

In the past week 5 times more people died of flu than COVID. We never know how many flu cases are walking round because we don’t test for it.

No more needs to be done. This virus isn’t going away. We can’t live our lives in lockdown to stop a small percentage of the population potentially getting ill. You can’t protect everyone from everything.

What is stopping you from staying home and shielding if you wish? Others getting it could be seen as good news for you - if there is herd immunity.
Why the panic and exclamation marks? This virus wouldn't be eradicated by another strict national lockdown.

I would say it’s to do with the economy and schools in addition to the relatively low deaths in relation to the incidence of infection.

@Sharpandshineyteeth

Because hardly anyone is dying from it. More people are dying of flu. We aren’t making any adjustments for flu.

More people are not dying from flu.

Why are you saying that when I guarantee you have zero idea how many people died from flu yesterday?

If you don't agree with the way COVID is being managed then say so but don't just make things up

With all due respect OP to yourself (and others on here who think the government should be doing more), what exactly would you like them to do that they aren't already?

The economy wouldn't survive another full lockdown, the funds simply aren't available.

A vaccine can't be magic'd up, some take years, some are never found (HIV, cancer etc) so this can't be relied on, plus without testing the vaccine and waiting a few years, who really knows the long term side effects? Who's to say it won't change strain yearly like the flu?

People are quick to jump on saying the government aren't doing enough, but realistically, what is the perfect solution, how would you get rid of the virus?

There are higher death rates daily from Cancer, Suicide (higher since CV), flu, heart attacks etc. Every day you leave the house (or even don't) you are facing risks, why is that any different now?

What kind of a life is it stuck indoors not able to go anywhere?

@Chickenandrice

Maybe they are just waiting until we have hundreds dying every day so the public are in side again

I believe this is what they're doing but given that we don't have the (wo)manpower to enforce any kind of stricter conditions what else can they do?

People won't accept further restrictions until they're scared.

They won't be scared until people they know start to die.

@Unsure33

I hope you all realise herd immunity may not be possible as many people who have had covid have no antibodies 4 weeks later?

This is a completely normal immune response. The body will not bother producing loads of antibodies if the virus is no longer present in the body. However it does retain cells called T-lymphocytes who will produce antibodies if the virus enters the body again.

I really wish people would stop commenting on immunology when they do not understand it.

@Aragog

As someone who is clinically vulnerable of course it worries me. I protect myself from flu with an annual vaccine but can't from Covid.

However, the government thinks its safe for me to be at school every day teaching hundreds of little children with no SDing and no protect U.K. .

So I guess in many ways right now I am thinking that yes, I probably am expected just get on with it.

I also have a 18y Dd who has gone off to university who I refuse to bar from my home, regardless of any rules they decide to implement.

A two week lockdown will do nothing too. Too little and too late for that.

I'm working on the bass that I am more likely than not to get it at some point, especially with my job. I just have to hope that it's a mild case or, possibly more the case, that the hospitals and doctors know a lot more these days in how to treat it.

I also have a 18y Dd who has gone off to university who I refuse to bar from my home, regardless of any rules they decide to implement.

I'm so confused by your post. You seem to be angry at the government for not doing enough to keep you safe but also admit that you wouldn't follow certain rules if they didn't make you happy.
I think this encapsulates the whole problem we're facing. People being angry that the government haven't controlled the virus to a reasonable standard but the same people also refusing to follow the guidelines.

Even when we have a vaccine it’s not going to be available for everyone. Certain higher risk people will be prioritised, as they should be. So it will continue to spread among the population much as flu does.

I’m an advocate for herd immunity and if this doesn’t exist, just getting on with things. It’s unlikely to affect me seriously but if it does then I will deal with it then. I’ve got friends who’ve had it and there is no doubt it is a nasty virus. But they’ve recovered as most people will.

From my perspective there is little point in worrying about these things; it’s like anything, a car crash or terrorism, you may be unlucky but why live your life worrying about something you can’t control?

@Lou98

With all due respect OP to yourself (and others on here who think the government should be doing more), what exactly would you like them to do that they aren't already?

The economy wouldn't survive another full lockdown, the funds simply aren't available.

A vaccine can't be magic'd up, some take years, some are never found (HIV, cancer etc) so this can't be relied on, plus without testing the vaccine and waiting a few years, who really knows the long term side effects? Who's to say it won't change strain yearly like the flu?

People are quick to jump on saying the government aren't doing enough, but realistically, what is the perfect solution, how would you get rid of the virus?

There are higher death rates daily from Cancer, Suicide (higher since CV), flu, heart attacks etc. Every day you leave the house (or even don't) you are facing risks, why is that any different now?

What kind of a life is it stuck indoors not able to go anywhere?

Actually the stats for January - June showed a lower level of suicide in the UK than the same period last year.

In my haste of correcting somebody I made an error. That should have said B-lymphoctyes produce antibodies.

[quote Dawnlassie]@Unsure33

I hope you all realise herd immunity may not be possible as many people who have had covid have no antibodies 4 weeks later?

This is a completely normal immune response. The body will not bother producing loads of antibodies if the virus is no longer present in the body. However it does retain cells called T-lymphocytes who will produce antibodies if the virus enters the body again.

I really wish people would stop commenting on immunology when they do not understand it.[/quote]

But we do know that people can be reinfected and catch COVID again.

So whether the person quoted was correct or not about the mechanism the impact is the same.

Catching COVID does not provide long term immunity and hence the concept of herd immunity without a (likely annual) vaccine is a moot point.

@WayMoreInterestingThanYou

Even when we have a vaccine it’s not going to be available for everyone. Certain higher risk people will be prioritised, as they should be. So it will continue to spread among the population much as flu does.

I’m an advocate for herd immunity and if this doesn’t exist, just getting on with things. It’s unlikely to affect me seriously but if it does then I will deal with it then. I’ve got friends who’ve had it and there is no doubt it is a nasty virus. But they’ve recovered as most people will.

From my perspective there is little point in worrying about these things; it’s like anything, a car crash or terrorism, you may be unlucky but why live your life worrying about something you can’t control?

Because so far it's estimated that 5-8% of the population caught COVID and that resulted in 45,000 deaths.

Fancy trying a quick calculation of how many would die if another 60% or so caught it?

Actually the stats for January - June showed a lower level of suicide in the UK than the same period last year.

I really hope this continues.
However, now the economic impacts are coming into play with so many businesses going bust and the huge unemployment rates I can't imagine it will remain low for long.

And what are you doing to lower your personal risk OP? I'm very low risk on paper but I've been taking vitamin D since March. You can look at how to lower your own risk and live your life rather than expecting other people to support another lockdown for you.

*But we do know that people can be reinfected and catch COVID again. So whether the person quoted was correct or not about the mechanism the impact is the same.

Catching COVID does not provide long term immunity and hence the concept of herd immunity without a (likely annual) vaccine is a moot point.*

Exposure to either (i) the live virus or (ii) a vaccine will produce exactly the same immnue response. You will have an initial mass of antibodies and eventually these fade as the virus is destroyed. After which you have B-cells who are able to produce the requisite antibodies should the virus enter the body again.

You can be "reinfected" again wether you have the actual live virus or the vaccine.

Ffs those who want a national lockdown just stay inside. Stop trying to force everyone else to adhere to the hysteria and just look after yourselves.

I’ve just been reading about this group of scientist, virologists and doctors. Makes very interesting reading and total sense, well worth a read and sign if you agree!
gbdeclaration.org/

Presumably the other hope is that Covid evolves into a milder form. Is this not what happened with Spanish flu (I'm not a scientist)? I believe it lasted for about 2 years in its severe form and then became less virulent - I don't think the epidemic ended because of herd immunity (or a vaccine, obviously). I could be wrong though.

'People won't accept further restrictions until they're scared.

They won't be scared until people they know start to die'.

This above. When enough people start to die, people will ask for lockdown and public opinion will swing back in favour of restrictions. Then a few weeks after that people will be blaming the government for not locking down sooner. And this is what happens when the government base policy decisions on public opinion.

wheresmymojo

"More people are not dying from flu."

Yes they are and have been since June, covid deaths are creeping up though.

ONS

Because covid is not the only thing that matters, or the only cause of death/distress/hardship/sorrow that matters.

I would not agree with another lockdown.

Why do you think asthma makes you clinically vulnerable? Only severe asthma counts for clinically vulnerable I believe (by all means check)

For those discussing asthma earlier on. Severe asthma is very dangerous with Covid . Especially asthma patients that need regular or frequent hospital treatment. Mild asthma is not considered a risk factor.