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Original poster

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

299 replies

FreeBettyBoop · 20/12/2020 14:21

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.

OP posts:
ssd · 20/12/2020 17:13

I feel the same @FreeBettyBoop

knittingaddict · 20/12/2020 17:13

@CarolEffingBaskin

They're full of shit. They're lying to you. You are believing propaganda.

I'm more scared that the entire country is devoid of critical thinking skills to be honest.

And if you want a working NHS, you have to fund it adequately ALL the time. Then it won't collapse when flu arrives. Which it has done every year for the past decade or more. This really, really isn't new.

I quoted this to write all the reasons why you are so very wrong, but it's not worth the effort is it?
ancientgran · 20/12/2020 17:14

The chief medical officer confirmed the government was given the new information on the variant and acted within 24 hours. Wasn't Matt Hancock talking about it a few days ago?

VulvaPerson · 20/12/2020 17:17

Why did they build them then? I said that at the time, all very well building new hospitals but who is going to staff them. But they did, so I assumed there was some sort of plan.

Willy waving vanity project seemingly. He knew there was a shortage of staff in normal hospitals, so unless he found some magic wand, was always obvious these were nothing but show.

ancientgran · 20/12/2020 17:18

It was stated multiple times yesterday in the 4pm briefing and beforehand that the new strain is not more serious or more deadly, nor will the vaccine be any less effective. Yes it was and I hope it is true, the trouble is a lot of the population have lost faith in this govt, they don't trust them and don't automatically believe what they say. It makes dealing with a crisis very difficult if the govt lose the trust of the people.

Passmeabottlemrjones · 20/12/2020 17:18

Whatever about new strains, R numbers etc, can we please refrain from posting links to articles in The Daily Express, the newspaper which at least once a month tells us that Armageddon is imminent! They are not what you would call a reliable source of information, and now more than ever we need reliable information!

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 20/12/2020 17:19

@Splodgetastic

I felt spooked when they said it was Porton Down that was looking at it.
They don't just do spooky stuff! They have worked with Public Health England (and its predecessor organisations) for years.
ancientgran · 20/12/2020 17:20

Willy waving vanity project seemingly. He knew there was a shortage of staff in normal hospitals, so unless he found some magic wand, was always obvious these were nothing but show. I thought it was because the Chinese did build hospitals from scratch in days so they "built" hospitals in days, except they didn't, they converted other buildings or months later they actually built a few or maybe it was just one. We can't have the Chinese doing something in days that we can't match, we're British you know and world class at everything, particularly buggering everything up.

Nameandgamechange123 · 20/12/2020 17:21

It's really kicked off where I live. I'm guessing this must be the new strain. I caught covid very recently but my children showed no sign of it at all and neither did my partner. I'm hearing if lots of cases at my kids secondary school but they literally just have a slight sore throat or feel like they have a cold. So I'm not that worried at the moment.

MarshaBradyo · 20/12/2020 17:21

@Splodgetastic

I felt spooked when they said it was Porton Down that was looking at it.
No this is good really we need to be on top of sequencing

But yes to general feeling of unease

Ok going to rtft

OpheliasCrayon · 20/12/2020 17:21

I feel like it's nothing of anything. Honestly. I feel like whilst I do believe there is a new strain, I think that really, the government have known for a while that they cannot realistically continue with Christmas, and they knew that they would need tk stop it somehow.
But boris being boris would not want to risk his popularity so boom... New strain . we must stop Xmas.
I remain entirely not worried and come hell or high water I will be going back to work on the 4th Jan in my SEN school, still CEV, still not fussed

RMRM · 20/12/2020 17:22

Built for propaganda and/or for palliative care?

Hapixmas · 20/12/2020 17:24

Please don't worry. If it was that bad, they'd be locking down the whole of England (I know mumsnet isn't just England, but I know that the other nations have already locked down I think?!) Instead if just having tiers.

Chimeraforce · 20/12/2020 17:27

The NHS has been overwhelmed every winter for about 10 years or so. No amount of mask wearing and isolation will prevent that. You cannot overwhelm a service long overwhelmed due to being underfunded for decades by successive parties.
Protect the NHS. I thought they were supposed to protect all of us.

Jenny4235 · 20/12/2020 17:27

Both of my daughters have it at the moment. My first DD (4) was fine, cleared up fast, but my DD (7) is not doing well, I honestly thought she’d bat it off. She’s got a swollen red eye, severe stomach pains and awful headaches. I’m waiting on a call back from 111... I can’t remember last time she was ill she’s such a healthy kid but this is scaring me. I wish to god I’d have pulled them out of school, seeing her like this has riddled me with guilt, I now don’t know what the hell I was thinking. This isn’t a ‘joke’ and your government are not trying to ‘trick you’.

Beebityboo · 20/12/2020 17:28

They didn't confirm it wasn't more deadly at all. They said they've seen no evidence it is, which isn't quite the same thing. I do agree though that if it were more lethal it probably would have become obvious by now.
Honestly as a disabled mum with children in primary I just feel defeated. I've miraculously avoided catching it so far along with my DH and DC's but if it's as infectious as they say I'm not sure I'll be so lucky in January when the DC's go back.
Just feel as though I'm having a bad dream.

cardibach · 20/12/2020 17:29

[quote amitoooldforthisshit]There is a strain going around South Africa that seems quite a bit more deadly... In short, at present to most people the virus might not seem a big deal, but it's the virus's potential to evolve into a virus that has the same mortality rate as the SARS/MEARS infections of the early 2000s that should cause the most alarm...It is mutating faster now for some reason.

www.express.co.uk/news/world/1374779/covid-strain-latest-new-coronavirus-variant-south-africa-young-adults

www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/new-coronavirus-strain-discovered-in-south-africa-more-severe-than-previous-variants.html[/quote]
Those articles are scaremongering.
Here’s Reuters www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-safrica/south-africa-identifies-new-coronavirus-strain-causing-surge-in-cases-idUSKBN28S2HH
They are saying very similar stuff about it as our government. It’s more transmissible, so more cases, and more among young people, but not actually worse.

hettyhooverdoover · 20/12/2020 17:29

@ineedaholidaynow

The nightingale in Exeter is being used for COVID patients.
Yes it is, they have been advertising recently for staff.
cardibach · 20/12/2020 17:31

@Beebityboo

They didn't confirm it wasn't more deadly at all. They said they've seen no evidence it is, which isn't quite the same thing. I do agree though that if it were more lethal it probably would have become obvious by now. Honestly as a disabled mum with children in primary I just feel defeated. I've miraculously avoided catching it so far along with my DH and DC's but if it's as infectious as they say I'm not sure I'll be so lucky in January when the DC's go back. Just feel as though I'm having a bad dream.
They may not have known the data about transmissibility (I’m not convinced about this, but it’s what they say) but the mutation has definitely been around since September, fuelling the increased cases. If it was significantly more deadly, they would know because it would be obvious.
VulvaPerson · 20/12/2020 17:33

@ancientgran

Willy waving vanity project seemingly. He knew there was a shortage of staff in normal hospitals, so unless he found some magic wand, was always obvious these were nothing but show. I thought it was because the Chinese did build hospitals from scratch in days so they "built" hospitals in days, except they didn't, they converted other buildings or months later they actually built a few or maybe it was just one. We can't have the Chinese doing something in days that we can't match, we're British you know and world class at everything, particularly buggering everything up.
Yes, hence willy waving vanity project Grin

Grinning, but it bloody well annoyed me. So much focus and cash on 'ner ner ner ner ner' stuff, instead of investing it where it might actually help!

Bettydot · 20/12/2020 17:34

Also feeling really scared, for the first time in a while. I felt physically sick when I saw this week’s figures were a 95 percent increase on last week.

tinselearedcow · 20/12/2020 17:38

Me too. I am in S Wales and we seem to be deeply in the shit. I am lucky that I managed to get everything on order for delivery so don't need to brave the shops.

Vivana · 20/12/2020 17:38

At first I was scared but now I'm OK. After caring for residents with covid and seeing some come through it after nursing them at there worst and seeing them now has been a experience. But seeing the other side of it earlier on in September I came home from work and cried. But now I'm stronger. I'm a care Assistant.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/12/2020 17:38

Thank you thunkit

Vintagevixen · 20/12/2020 17:40

This new variant has been around since September but was conveniently highlighted by the government yesterday to cover up their failings.

It had been widely covered all over - from tabloid rags to academic journals - and the consensus is its easier to pass on but not deadlier. So not sure why you are more scared of this mutation.

I am more afraid of lockdown and the utter economic devastation that it causes. We need a working economy, where do you think NHS funding comes from? By shutting down the economy to protect the NHS we are going to end up not protecting it because there will be no money to fund it.