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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:
madroid · 20/12/2020 18:37

When did Whitty say the cold thing?

He didn't. He said there was no evidence that people reacted any differently, but that the latest strain is more contagious.

I think everyone needs to be prepared for an almost certain nationwide lockdown in Jan-February. That was always very likely.

sleepwouldbenice · 20/12/2020 18:38

Which is why the idiots in tier 4 who still just want to be exception to the rule need a big slap right now (apols to the none idiots)

Bollss · 20/12/2020 18:41

Yeah obviously once we know for certain but are the government going to tell us that or keep us under restrictions for longer than necessary?

itsgettingweird · 20/12/2020 18:42

@TrustTheGeneGenie

But if it is less fatal we should be allowed to change our behaviour shouldn't we?

It's it going to mutate so much it literally is a cold and kills less people than flu, but we're all still going to be hiding indoors because omg it's spreading faster?

Well yes if it's just a cold then lockdown is stupid.

But there's a huge gap between the illness causing fatality as it is now and a mild cold.

It may be less deadly but that doesn't mean our hospitals could cope with the numbers if seriously ill people if we just mixed as it is now.

Flaxmeadow · 20/12/2020 18:42

Could this be why the recent spike in cases hasn't led the the expected increase in deaths.

I'm not sure but infections are definitely on the rise. A sustained rise all week and almost 36,000 today

Viruses mutate all the time, as we know but this is a significant spike protein mutation. The science bods say we will know more about this mutation in 2 weeks, and so I guess its wise fornus all to be cautious about SD and other restrictions until then. I dont see what choice govt had imposing tighter lockdowns.

Unfortunate timing though because there seems to be so many people on social media now saying they will ignore the restrictions over the Xmas period and encouraging others to do the same. I'm not sure they understand the possible serious implications of this mutation and what makes it worse is that they don't seem to want to bother to find out

MarshaBradyo · 20/12/2020 18:42

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Yeah obviously once we know for certain but are the government going to tell us that or keep us under restrictions for longer than necessary?
No I don’t think so

This is so damaging

carcarbinks · 20/12/2020 18:43

I feel scared today too. We're in tier 4 and cases have been soaring in the school over the last 2 weeks. I'm surprised the government took so long to notice what was going on and take action. Well no, I'm not surprised really.

AutoIncorrect · 20/12/2020 18:44

I was infected at work last week among 15 others, I believe it’s the new strain as it’s spread so quickly between us. We all have very mild or no symptoms except for 2 who are properly bed ridden though not anywhere near needing hospitalisation.
All of us had very mild sore throat, mild headache and shivers in the lead up to testing. It seems this new strain doesn’t follow the initial cough/fever/loss of taste smell pattern though a few of us have developed these symptoms after 5-6 days. It seems to have mutated into something quite sneaky and almost silent.

Bollss · 20/12/2020 18:44

I hope you're right but as someone who's been under restrictions for all but 2 weeks in July I have lost trust that we will we will ever be "free" we have lower cases than much of tier 2 but we're still in tier 3 - they don't seem to care that it's damaging.

MarshaBradyo · 20/12/2020 18:46

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I hope you're right but as someone who's been under restrictions for all but 2 weeks in July I have lost trust that we will we will ever be "free" we have lower cases than much of tier 2 but we're still in tier 3 - they don't seem to care that it's damaging.
I can see why you’d think that Sad

I really hope it’s milder. Did someone say they know it’s not? Or was it more there’s no indication it’s not. Ie no evidence as yet.

toobusytothink · 20/12/2020 18:46

I’m not sure how “dangerous” it is but it really does seem to be spreading super quickly. I live in rural Bucks. We were untouched by it al summer and all last term. Then suddenly one person we heard of caught it a couple of weeks ago and now virtually everyone I know has it including my son and ex. Never thought it would come anywhere near us and lived in my little country bubble ...

Nunoftheother · 20/12/2020 18:49

@sleepwouldbenice

Which is why the idiots in tier 4 who still just want to be exception to the rule need a big slap right now (apols to the none idiots)
What's a none idiot?
CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/12/2020 18:49

A lot of hysteria.
Hospitals are no busier than normal for the time of year.

Do you work in a hospital, @FreshFreesias? If not, I'm not sure you have the right to make such assertions. Plus yoou haven't said where you are, so if you're going by your local situation, it may not be true of other areas.

I am apprehensive. I have a good friend who has long covid. I can't see her being able to go back to work. It's the long term effects in all of us which I'm worried about.

NannyGythaOgg · 20/12/2020 18:50

@Lostinacloud

A sensible and measured post. Not one that most people want to hear from what I can.

As a teenager, we used to sit round telling ghost stories, getting more and more scared but not wanting to stop and finding it somehow exciting. Too many seem to see Covid like this.

I'm not saying it doesn't exist or is not horrible for some people but most won't get it and for most that do it will be as yours was.

The hospitals are overrun the same this year as most years, made worse by the number of staff who are off work because they are isolating and one of the main reasons they are overrun this and every year is underfunding and poor value cost cutting. There should be less flu this year - if the measures work at all they should also work against flu and other viruses, plus many of of those who would have died of flu this season, died in spring this year.

But the fear mongering will go on.

cbt944 · 20/12/2020 18:51

I think it might be time for some to pop the turquoise tracksuits in the washer and (gulp) start reading some mainstream news sources.

Speakeasy22 · 20/12/2020 18:51

I think "they" realised that the plan to have completely free rein over the Christmas period was stupid. The Christmas announcements should never have been made so early. So, now, yes it is handy to blame the withdrawal of the Christmas arrangements on the new strain but, at the same time, I do detect more panic from the experts than I would expect. Tbh I don't think they really know if the virus will be effective with the new strain. And the consequences are just impossible to imagine.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/12/2020 18:52

It seems to have mutated into something quite sneaky and almost silent. Like something from Alien. Grin

Apologies to people who are really worried or who have lost people to COVID or who have long COVID. Gallows humour, I guess!

wanderings · 20/12/2020 18:54

The scaremongering is working. That's why many people feel frightened.

shinynewapple2020 · 20/12/2020 18:55

Thank you @RedToothBrush that seems quite reasonable .

I've been more worried today. It feels like we are back in March .

Calmandmeasured1 · 20/12/2020 18:57

"@cardibach*

They’ve known about this strain since September.
How can you say this whilst telling someone you watched the Andrew Marr show today? On the show Matt Hancock corrected what the representative from the WHO or PHE told us (unsure which woman said it). He said it was actually in late October that samples taken in September were sent to them. Tests have been undertaken and it wasn't until Friday afternoon that they came back with the information that has led to this virtually immediate action in London and the South East.

Requinblanc · 20/12/2020 19:00

What is being frightened going to achieve?

There is no evidence this is more deadly and viruses mutate all the time.

There is nothing you can do beyond carrying on and taking the usual precautions.

ohyesIknowwhatyoumean · 20/12/2020 19:04

TBH it's long covid that worries me. A friend, healthy and in her 30's, had a mild version back in April, a bit wheezy, she says, since then, but not worried.

Last week feeling VERY ill, ended up in A&E, sent home with ABs, a couple of days later admitted with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Looks like she has lung damage and who knows what her long term prognosis is.

Coffeeandte · 20/12/2020 19:05

It worries me that Hancock said the lockout didn't affect the rates in Kent. If the blunt lockdown instrument can't stop it. Then what.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.lbc.co.uk/news/tier-4-end-london-matt-hancock-november-lockdown-did-not-work/

ktp100 · 20/12/2020 19:09

I think it's more about the NHS coping than them keeping something from us.

Yes, the Nightingales are not being used BUT they will really struggle to staff them and it will also mean going back to that period when other medical issues are put on the back burner and that will lead to yet more deaths, if not due to Covid.

I think they know that current 'Covid secure' situations aren't secure at all with the new strain and they're bricking it that schools will have to close again.

Flaxmeadow · 20/12/2020 19:11

TrustTheGeneGenie ...but as someone who's been under restrictions for all but 2 weeks in July I have lost trust that we will we will ever be "free" we have lower cases than much of tier 2 but we're still in tier 3 - they don't seem to care that it's damaging

To be fair. I dont recall science or govenrment ever saying we would be "free" of the virus. How could they when it is unknown. It's a virus, there is no magic bullet that can free us from it. All we can do to combat it for the moment is to abide by science based social distancing measures and try vaccines

Each scientific study, and this must be the most studied virus in history by now, is widely published and sent out to other scientists across the world. The government, in the west at least, does not control or interfere in that process. Even if our government did try, it would be noticed straight away and widely reported on by the press or by scientists in the field

It isnt that the government doesn't care. It's that there is nothing else they can do with this new virus but follow the science and that means lockdowns based not just on the numbers, but other factors as well

I get honestly so sick of this constant carping at government. What lever you think of them, whatever political side you're on, what else can they do exactly? Tell everyone its Xmas as usual to stay popular? I don't get it