Page 12 | For the first time since this started, I feel quite frightened

FreeBettyBoop · 2020-12-20T14:21:35+00:00

Just this really. I am concerned that there is something they’re not telling us. Is the new strain worse? I know there is chat about easier/faster spread but is it more deadly? Affecting children? I’m in Scotland and all of a sudden we are looking at lockdown and school closure. Why now? In a bit of a pit of despair today. I can live with the Christmas restrictions and will comply. But the thought of going back to school closures while trying to hold down a job...😩 gutted for the kids too.

lavenderlou · 21/12/2020 03:02

The borders have not been closed to "freight"

Not all borders to all freight, no, but closing the country's busiest port to freight is going to have an impact.

inquietant · 21/12/2020 03:21

They never said it would end quickly
They never said it would all be over for Xmas

Well Johnson did say it'd be ok in twelve weeks, and then said we be living normally by Christmas.

Yesterday he was confident it'd be fine by Easter

TheClaws · 21/12/2020 04:39

I think this is what's happening. It's very convenient and I say that as someone who's fairly supportive of the government (unpopular opinion I know), It's a handy tool to scare us, particularly those who may have loosened up a bit with the vaccine coming etc.

For Tinkerbella and anyone who might think that this new strain of COVID might be merely being used as a political tool: you're aware that that doctors around the globe can test for all strains, right? In Australia, it appears this new strain has crept in via two returned travellers from the UK. (They are currently isolated and it hasn't appeared anywhere else - yet.)

caringcarer · 21/12/2020 07:05

I have read in South Africa there is a mutated stain of Covid not only rapid spreading but making younger people really dick and I'll. I wonder if this is the same mutation in London and SE. Also worried that vaccine can't get here as flight bans mean our vaccines we have on order can't get in. Hoping vaccine works for this mutated strain. What awful times we are living in.

renallychallenged · 21/12/2020 07:07

@blue25

I’ve noticed more ambulances here as well. It’s unsettling.

This is your mind playing tricks.

There are same number of ambulances as last week/month/year. Ambulances are always overstretched, often beyond max capacity. More 999 calls now = more people NOT getting an ambulance

JacobReesMogadishu · 21/12/2020 07:10

If anything noticing more ambulances is a good thing, means they’re not sat outside a&e for hours on end.

MarshaBradyo · 21/12/2020 07:13

@caringcarer

I have read in South Africa there is a mutated stain of Covid not only rapid spreading but making younger people really dick and I'll. I wonder if this is the same mutation in London and SE. Also worried that vaccine can't get here as flight bans mean our vaccines we have on order can't get in. Hoping vaccine works for this mutated strain. What awful times we are living in.

Caring no to first

Dr Emma Hodcroft
@firefoxx66
·
19 Dec
Is the new UK variant the same as the new South African variant (501Y.V2)?

No.

They both share the same mutation in spike: N501Y (N->Y at position 501). However, the 2 variants have arisen separately.

Forgetmenot157 · 21/12/2020 07:25

If it was more dangerous they would tell. Us... There was more compliance in march as people were scared... If they could have used this being more deadly as a scare tactic then they would have. Same about it affecting children... People would comply much more if we were told our children were at a high risk.

The whole cancelling christmas i think was planned long ago... Get people to spend big in December to help the economy then cancel bubbles after people have spent money. They then have to spend even more money to have a different christmas at home. You then have helped the economy and the majority of people will ComPly with the rules.

MarshaBradyo · 21/12/2020 07:25

@Ithinktomyself

Closing the borders to freight is terrifying. This situation requires tact, diplomacy and mutual trust between nations. Johnson is incapable of any of that so we're going to be in a very dangerous situation very shortly.

I don't think the handling of the announcement was conspiracy but it was cackhanded and I think we're looking at serious civil unrest on top of the new strain if something major doesn't change in the government's approach.

No we’re not re civil unrest

Wherediditgo · 21/12/2020 07:30

@MotheringShites

This useless government is using the threat of a new strain to excuse their shoddy handling of Christmas while injecting a bit more fear into an increasingly sceptical public.

This.

OpheliasCrayon · 21/12/2020 07:35

@caringcarer

I have read in South Africa there is a mutated stain of Covid not only rapid spreading but making younger people really dick and I'll. I wonder if this is the same mutation in London and SE. Also worried that vaccine can't get here as flight bans mean our vaccines we have on order can't get in. Hoping vaccine works for this mutated strain. What awful times we are living in.

It's been confirmed by scientist that it isn't the same varient

tinselearedcow · 21/12/2020 07:36

Closing the borders to freight is terrifying

The borders are not closed to freight. Will people stop spreading this misinformation! Unaccompanied freight can still come in. Yes, it's going to create problems, but freight is coming in, we will not all suddenly starve.

OpheliasCrayon · 21/12/2020 07:39

@TheClaws

I think this is what's happening. It's very convenient and I say that as someone who's fairly supportive of the government (unpopular opinion I know), It's a handy tool to scare us, particularly those who may have loosened up a bit with the vaccine coming etc.

For Tinkerbella and anyone who might think that this new strain of COVID might be merely being used as a political tool: you're aware that that doctors around the globe can test for all strains, right? In Australia, it appears this new strain has crept in via two returned travellers from the UK. (They are currently isolated and it hasn't appeared anywhere else - yet.)

Im not saying that the new varient isn't real. I am well aware it is - that's what viruses do.

However I do think that Boris should have cancelled Christmas earlier. I don't worry about covid and I never have however as someone who has worked throughout in very risky circumstances in an SEN school, whilst also being CEV (I didn't shield I continued to work )..... I did find the Christmas arrangements ridiculous.

Why the hell have I been putting myself at risk every day to teach children, why have the children had to deal with the changes they have done in school due to covid, and periods of isolation... If the whole thing is just going to be dashed aside for five days in December which will just make it worse...

I feel the government also knew it was stupid and also feared too much about their popularity tk cancel Christmas.

This new strain has been around for a while and that isn't debatable and I do think it has been used as a convenient means to make it seem like the government had no choice but to cancel Christmas without losing popularity. In reality I truly believe they shouldnt have ever have allowed it in the first place.

PhilCornwall1 · 21/12/2020 07:39

Yesterday he was confident it'd be fine by Easter

Did he put a year on that?

At the rate he's going, we'll still be at this when the next General Election comes around. He'll be guaranteed a win, as every other party will be thinking, fuck that, I want no part of it.

OpheliasCrayon · 21/12/2020 07:42

What I'm saying is I think Christmas shouldn't have been permitted at any point ... And not blamed on the new variant.

I think the government should have had the balls to cancel it for the greater good.

I'm not disputing the existence of the new varient.

Meerschweinchen1990 · 21/12/2020 08:11

The South African variant is not the same as the UK variant, additionally I’ve not seen anything apart from a Daily Express (not exactly known for their well researched reporting) article about that strain being more severe for younger people. Hasn’t it been initially linked to higher infections in the young because they are having their annual spring break type holidays? Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong! But I don’t think there’s any need to worry about that yet.

TheClaws · 21/12/2020 08:13

What I'm saying is I think Christmas shouldn't have been permitted at any point ... And not blamed on the new variant.

So you believe he should have allowed everyone, including the vulnerable and elderly, to mix together for five days with this new highly transmissible variant around? Who would you blame then when cases and deaths skyrocket?

Boris.

TheClaws · 21/12/2020 08:17

Sorry, Ophelia, I see you're saying you don't want Christmas Day to go ahead. But I don't think you can blame the announcement on the new variant.

inquietant · 21/12/2020 08:19

@PhilCornwall1

Yesterday he was confident it'd be fine by Easter

Did he put a year on that?

At the rate he's going, we'll still be at this when the next General Election comes around. He'll be guaranteed a win, as every other party will be thinking, fuck that, I want no part of it.

Don't know whether to laugh or cry at this!

I'm sick of hearing him say 'I'm confident about x y z' - how can anyone be confident just now! Bluster bluster bluster

Ithinktomyself · 21/12/2020 09:00

I apologise- I missed out the word "accompanied" in my post. My point remains though. I am less scared of the virus (or the international response to our predicament) than I am of this government's ability to take a bad situation and make it disastrous.

willsantausesantatize · 21/12/2020 09:44

@Ithinktomyself

I apologise- I missed out the word "accompanied" in my post. My point remains though. I am less scared of the virus (or the international response to our predicament) than I am of this government's ability to take a bad situation and make it disastrous.

The Government already have by not moving on this early last week ( just my opinion , I know I'm not a scientist) This mutant strain sounds like it could be a game changer. It's how they handle it from now on that worries me too.

User158340 · 21/12/2020 10:29

The government have shot themselves in the foot by bigging up this new strain to justifying cancelling the 5 day madness they should never have agreed to to begin with.

onedayinthefuture · 21/12/2020 10:31

@User158340

The government have shot themselves in the foot by bigging up this new strain to justifying cancelling the 5 day madness they should never have agreed to to begin with.

Agreed, should have kept calm and carried on with a plan for immediately after Christmas and now they've caused mass panic.

hoodathunkit · 21/12/2020 14:46

The problem with China is it's the other extreme. Britain is full of people shouting about their liberties and the rights of the individual, there's no collective here anymore, not in general. Thatcher's Britain you might say.

I absolutely agree with this

There needs to be a balance between the rights of the individual and the welfare of the many.

Unfortunaely in the UK human rights, which I believe are extremely important, have been taken to extremes and we now find ourselves in a Brave New World where the perversion of human rights and identity politics have become dangerous and oppressive.

I fear that the virus will form the foundation for a backlash that could result in a new authoritarianism.

Seeing the David Icke and Piers Corbyn cult members putting others at risk with their selfish, derranged bahaviour brings out my inner authoritarian anyway.

Things fall apart
The centre cannot hold

Interesting times