Is this the beginning of the end?

[Dandylioness1]

I almost feel some excitement today at the thought of life going back to normal.

I just daren’t get too excited but could this really be the beginning of the end?
Is normal life within reaching distance?

How is everyone else feeling?

I feel like we're at the start of a long track. We can see the end, but we haven't started down the track yet.

Its feels the most positive for a long time still a few more months to go bit hopefully by spring / summer we can slowly start getting back to normal
Yes recovery will take a long time but will appreciate being able to do the small things

@borntohula

Well, I read here on MN that life will actually never go back to how it was, sooo... I miss gigs!

@borntohula

I think I’ve seen a fair few posts like that too.
Something along the lines of face masks and social distancing forever.... 🥴

@timeforanewstart

Yes recovery will take a long time but will appreciate being able to do the small things

I miss the small things.

Yes I do think it is the beginning of the end, although I think the few months and over Xmas will still be tough. But I am very optimistic for next summer, woo hoo!

Of course the 'life is never going to be the same again, it's going to be awful forever' brigade will be all over this thread like a rash!

I’m hoping for light at the end of the tunnel in summer if the vaccine rollout goes ahead and maximum numbers are done.

I think, if mixing is allowed over Christmas or people do it anyway, we will see another peak/wave in Jan/Feb as the indoor mixing with no SD or masks and likely alcohol will drive cases up. People will then take it into schools, workplaces, supermarkets etc.

Me too OP

The only present I want from Santa is

January - vaccine roll out
March/April - numbers are consistently staying down and more things gradually opening
July - Moi tanning on a mediterranean beach for summer hols

and yes Im well aware I may be completely wrong!!!

i'm hopeful for a good summer, but can't see us jetting off anywhere....another summer in the garden. but thats ok

hope london marathon can go ahead. i miss running events

I feel optimistic. My mum may be able to leave the house after being too afraid to go out since March. I want to go on holiday, visit friends, see our new grandchild. Little things that mean so much. Bring on the vaccine.

"Until the next virus comes along" - honestly 🙄

Why be so negative?? Why can't we just feel some joy/happiness that the - frankly heroic - scientists have developed these vaccines for the virus we are facing RIGHT NOW, in record time, and theyre astonishingly effective. Meaning we have a good shot at getting back to normality.

Yes maybe there will be more viruses/environmental diasaters/wars etc etc etc to disrupt our way of life in the future - but thats not right now. This IS right now.

If the vaccine is available in a few months, the end is definitely in sight.

Feeling cautiously optimistic. It’s nice to have some positive news and I’d rather focus on that. I have friends who are adamant on long term social distancing and I worry for some that they will find returning to normal (eventually) quite difficult. Thank you for the positive thread OP.

@Duckwit

Of course the 'life is never going to be the same again, it's going to be awful forever' brigade will be all over this thread like a rash!

Well we can leave them to spread their misery on here whilst the rest of us keep heading towards the end with optimism.

I hope so.

Yes.

The beginning of the end was two weeks ago, when Pfizer announced that their vaccine was 90%+ effective, and in doing so proved that vaccines could be developed.

Oxford / AZ took a step further by announcing today that their vaccine is highly effective (once they get the optimal dosing sorted out) and cheap and can be produced at massive scale and can be stored at normal fridge temperatures meaning that billions of doses can be rolled out and we can vaccinate the world against Covid-19.

Isn’t science amazing?

As Winston Churchill said, probably not the beginning of the end, but at least the end of the beginning. At least there is now light at the end of the tunnel, even if the tunnel may be longer than we'd like.

Fingers crossed that the regulators deem the vaccines safe and the others being developed can also help the fight. 🤞🏻

It's possible that this could be the beginning of the end. Obviously Covid is here to stay but hopefully it will be like the flu and the vulnerable can be protected against it every winter.

@Bolshybun

It’s nice to have some positive news and I’d rather focus on that

Absolutely!!

I’m hoping to be vaccinated as soon as it’s available for my age group. That means kissing masks goodbye and hugging the people I love again. This definitely feels like the beginning of the end of this misery to me.

I’m going for cautious optimism at the moment.

So allowing myself to have nice daydreams about a brighter future, but not having any definite expectations, deadlines or plans in mind.

Like I’m letting myself think I will go on holiday again one day and letting myself flit through the options mentally, like a pretend brochure. But not actually looking properly yet.

@AgeLikeWine

Yes.

The beginning of the end was two weeks ago, when Pfizer announced that their vaccine was 90%+ effective, and in doing so proved that vaccines could be developed.

Oxford / AZ took a step further by announcing today that their vaccine is highly effective (once they get the optimal dosing sorted out) and cheap and can be produced at massive scale and can be stored at normal fridge temperatures meaning that billions of doses can be rolled out and we can vaccinate the world against Covid-19.

Isn’t science amazing?

Incredibly grateful to those who have worked hours and hours. Science is amazing!

This is definitely the beginning of the end, no question. The vaccines are coming and they appear to work really well so the end is in sight.

Big question is how long it takes us to get there and how the next few months are managed.

I'm just desperate not to slip up now and ruin things in the next few weeks. Having survived nine months without getting COVID or losing my job I realise I am bloody lucky and I don't want to jinx it.

So I'm going to play it really bloody safe over Christmas, into January and basically until the vaccine lands.

I think if Johnson hadn't said March that is what I would be aiming for, now he has said it I am thinking more July, given his record

Imo it ended after the first wave. What the hell this shit show is now I don't know but it makes no sense. I'll continue to follow the rules but I'm sceptical

Ed Young, who I think covers science stories for the Atlantic, used pretty much those words iirc. He said it's not the end but it is the beginning of the end.

UK xmas is likley to veer us off track but beyond that, I think lots of reason for hope.