Restrictions next winter

[namechangereq]

What do you think they mean by that?

No weddings / parties / hospitality?

Or just mask wearing and isolating if I'll?

ill** not I'll

That would depend on how the vaccine programme works out.

Yes to masks and social distancing

Probably to keeping groups small

And possibly to everything else!

@CuriousaboutSamphire interested to know why you think that - if (as they claim to promise) all adults that want a vaccine will have had it by autumn?

I assumed that it would probably extend to compulsory mask-wearing in shops and possibly limits on large crowds (e.g. concerts, panto).

Surely if most of the population have been vaccinated by Oct/Nov then we shouldn’t see anything like the restrictions we had last year.

Personally I’d welcome mask-wearing every winter, and I never thought I’d say that.

Because with the best will in the world things don't always go to plan: there may be a low take up of vaccine in some age groups for example. There may be a horrendous variant of the virus. Unlikely but possible confounding variables anyway! And they didn't promise...

@CuriousaboutSamphire OK, so you're thinking of all the worst case outcomes.

I'm hoping for the best!

@WhatAreWordsWorth

I assumed that it would probably extend to compulsory mask-wearing in shops and possibly limits on large crowds (e.g. concerts, panto).

Surely if most of the population have been vaccinated by Oct/Nov then we shouldn’t see anything like the restrictions we had last year.

Personally I’d welcome mask-wearing every winter, and I never thought I’d say that.

I wouldn’t welcome mask wearing outside the pandemic. It would be great if people staying home shield sick and better hand hygiene continued. Pretty sure most people will be happy to burn their masks once they don’t need them.

[quote namechangereq]@CuriousaboutSamphire OK, so you're thinking of all the worst case outcomes.

I'm hoping for the best![/quote]
I am too, just tempering it with a dose of reality.

There are far too many here, and in real life, discussing summer holidays etc. That's just setting yoruself up for disappointment and only adds to the "I'm done!" attitude!

Then gain last March I was soundly (aka told to fuck off) rebuked by a long term poster for suggesting we'd have any restrictions last December, let alone into 2021!

Meh, if the vaccine is completed by autumn likely very little to anything.

Stay away from the press for god's sake.

The vaccine has a higher effectiveness than the yearly flu jab. Even if we have to have the covid jab every year (2 shots), I'm certain that things will be normal next winter.

I'm imagining it will be things like keeping the testing/self isolating system to catch stray cases. Maybe still some masks and social distancing but I honestly dont think they should be necessary by then.

It'd be nice if mask wearing as a courtesy continued - for example, if you've got a cold so you're not ill enough to need to stay at home, but so you're not spreading germs everywhere! Not necessary for everyone, though.

I think by next winter we'll be at masks and potentially restricted very large events still (gigs, big weddings, sports), but otherwise mostly normal. But I am tentatively hopeful.

I think nothing by September.

By that point all the higher age groups done, just the young people who aren't likely to present at hospital in such high numbers (less likely to have underlying health issues/obesity).

I am absolutely expecting a summer like last year and am planning a normal holiday for October half term.

And I have never had an issue with the masks. I have some lovely cotton ones that I can breathe beautifully through, my daughter and I both enjoy wearing them especially now it's cold.

I should imagine christmas will be much smaller for many many years to come. It may always be no mixing in winter.

It could be travel restrictions on those coming from countries that have not completed their vaccination schedules.

Summer had lots of normality last year but winter was awful. This will be the cycle for ever now.

I think the travel restrictions and test or vaccine requirement will still be there, and can see something such as face coverings in some places (hospitals and GP surgeries for example).

@RosieLemonade

I should imagine christmas will be much smaller for many many years to come. It may always be no mixing in winter.

I find it very hard to believe beyond next Christmas (which perhaps could have a limit) that we will have no mixing over winter ever. No one will comply with that long term!

RosieLemonade - do you honestly believe that they’ll never be mixing over winter ever again?

Why don't we just deal with the here and now?

There is no benefit to starting threads like these, it only increases anxiety and worsens people's (already fragile) mental state. It is irresponsible and thoughtless.

At least post it in the Coronavirus topic if you must post at all.

At least post it in the Coronavirus topic if you must post at all.

Agreed, not even pretending to make it an AIBU. There's a reason I've hidden the covid topic and it's because even thread titles like this set me off.

Nobody knows what will be happening in a month, nevermind a year.

Well don't click and read. The title was fairly self explanatory!

And the question wasn't unreasonable. Many people feel as though they are at the ends of their tether at the moment!

Many people feel as though they are at the ends of their tether at the moment!

Exactly why these threads are unhelpful, they are speculation, not based in fact and just fuel anxiety and there are loads of them.

At least if they are posted in the Coronavirus section they can be avoided by those who don't want to see them.

We're just moving this over to the Coronavirus board.

Thanks for moving.

@JustTitOff I wasn't trying to incite panic or doom.

My business really depends on events / mixing being allowed next winter - I just was looking for peoples opinions / some hope.