Doom and gloom. ENDLESS

[Florelei]

I have had enough of all this doom. Just when you think there might be a bit of hope you see headlines such as ‘the vaccine won’t work’ ‘mutant strains’ and what has actually TIPPED ME OVER THE EDGE TODAY ‘lockdown until June’

WHAT ON EARTH.

How can we be locked in our homes and isolated for six months when we are vaccinating over 200k a day AND lots more are getting immunity through recovery from infection.

I understand things are bad and I have always done everything I can to protect the vulnerable but seriously we can’t be locked in our homes until June can we?

Can anyone talk some sense into me please because I feel like going into my garden and lying on my lawn screaming.

Viruses mutate all the time. This all comes as no surprise to the virologists and vaccine developers who are working on it.

The vaccines are going to be effective after two doses. It will come.

The journalists however like the sensationalism. Just detach from the day to day rollercoaster stories.

The headlines are ridiculous and do induce stress.

Go into your garden do some pruning and or planning for spring. Plant something if conditions allow.

@Ellieboolou33 couldn't agree with you any more!

it is a really miserable time of year anyway, normally people can spend time buying crap, socialising indoors etc etc but of course none of that is possible. (although at least we are doing a little less damage to the planet at the moment, not that anyone actually cares)

Some flowers are coming, daylight hours are lengthening, a better season IS on the way. (and sodding Christmas is gone until September - always good).

ideally the government will give targets based on maths and science; 'when cases are below 'x' we can do 'y'....' But we are ruled by crooked arts graduates so I'm not holding my breath.

And I am so sick of people being berated for having these thoughts which are, under the circumstances, perfectly understandable

It's not perfectly understandable to keep bleating on and on about how few young healthy people are dying, conveniently pretending the 80,000 plus dead people don't matter, or forgetting that lots of people who haven't died are very ill, and might be for a long time.
It's not understandable to still be thinking only of yourself. It's not understandable to keep wittering on about being imprisoned. You're not.

The majority of people I have spoken too about it say they will give it until after Easter and if still no change they will start to mix households again..
Yes there will be things we can't do as they are shut but we will be making the most of seeing friends and family :)

where did you see that?! I haven’t seen anything other than may be extended past easter. Which isn’t great but surely by June there will be some freedom! I think peoples optimism of holidays and large gatherings by summer is silly but I feel positive there will be some joys in summer

@Forgetmenot157

The majority of people I have spoken too about it say they will give it until after Easter and if still no change they will start to mix households again.. Yes there will be things we can't do as they are shut but we will be making the most of seeing friends and family :)

Won’t we just be stuck longer? Or do your dc, if you have dc, not mind schools shut

Reflect on the fact that it's Trump's last day in office. That's definitely cheering me up.

It is a seasonal virus so even if we do nothing, numbers will drop. Remember last summer?

I’m despairing about next winter already

@Florelei, I think you need to take some deep breaths

I googled 'lockdown until June 2021' and couldn't find a single article suggesting that would be the case. There were loads from last year, and a couple from government ministers saying it 'could last until March', but that was it. No doubt some crackpot somewhere is shouting about how it'll go on for six months, but that doesn't mean they're right.

The existence of mutant strains is normal and expected for many viruses, especially when they're so prevalent in the global population. So far there's been no evidence that the new strains are more deadly or that the vaccines will be less effective against them. 'Mutant' doesn't mean 'bad' - technically a 'mutant strain' of flu goes around every year, but no-one calls it that because they're not trying to scare you into clicking on their articles.

If you read the wider context of what scientists in Israel are saying about the vaccine it's mostly very positive - they say their real world data are generally in line with Pfizer's trial results, people who were vaccinated were less likely to become seriously ill with covid even if they caught it, and they understand why compromises might need to be made with the dosing regimen in some countries (like the UK) if there's not the ability to vaccinate everyone quickly. No-one's saying the vaccine isn't working, the debate is about whether the UK strategy of delaying the second dose is the best one or not, but until we have more data and information about how it was collected it;s pointless to speculate.

@OwMyNeck

People die in every bad flu year. So what do we do then? Keep locking down. Stop living to prevent dying. Lockdowns don’t work. Imagine we put all the extra billions into improving cancer treatments, exercise/healthy eating campaign, mental health and protecting the most vulnerable in society. By locking down for one thing there will be so many more suicides, missed cancer diagnosis, heart disease and they will effect the young. Some one who is in their 90’s in a care home is end of life whether you like it or not. Locking down won’t change that one bit.

Third world countries live with diseases far worse than Covid day in, day out and no one normally gives a shit.

The majority of people I have spoken too about it say they will give it until after Easter and if still no change they will start to mix households again..
Yes there will be things we can't do as they are shut but we will be making the most of seeing friends and family

Thanks for letting us know. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I guess it depends who you mix with. My friends and I will keep following the rules for as long as we’re asked to. We want life back to normal but we’re not more important than anyone else. And most of us have science backgrounds, a couple of my friends work with vaccine development and in virology. I also have family and friends who are doctors and nurses so maybe that makes a difference. I don’t get my information from Facebook or the daily mail.

It's not perfectly understandable to keep bleating on and on about how few young healthy people are dying, conveniently pretending the 80,000 plus dead people don't matter, or forgetting that lots of people who haven't died are very ill, and might be for a long time.
It's not understandable to still be thinking only of yourself. It's not understandable to keep wittering on about being imprisoned. You're not

Very elderly people die. That is a fact of life.
Sometimes younger people die too, unexpectedly. That to is a fact of life.
It's perfectly undestandable that people think of themselves. Some people have been financially devastated by this, other are suffering really badly mentally.
This berating people crap has to be honest got my back up and made me think that no other bugger is going to put me and my loved ones first so best I do so.

And yes I do feel really freaked out by the removal of people's liberties. It's understandable, at least to some degree, in this instance. But our freedoms are precious and their removal should always give us pause, and be up for open debate.

And someone sanctimoniously attempting to shut that down by guilting me isn't going to wash, sorry.

Ooh, I see @Lucieintheskye has her feathers ruffled yet again.

So, because we all have internet, we should be happy? No reason to complain? Shut upppp.

MaxNormal

I wouldn’t know where to start with your views. Well I would, but people like you rarely listen so it’s just not worth the energy. The thing is though, others who don’t understand, copy your views as they’re very simplistic and lack anything real and scientific. It’s frightening really.

Op, if you are locked in your home, how aweful, please call a locksmith or the police if someone has deliberately locked you in

YANBU. The only way I am staying (vaguely) sane is by not watching or reading the news more than a couple of times a week, and by never looking further ahead than the end of each day.

Oh, and snacks. All the snacks.

I don’t want anyone to die unnecessarily. I also understand the pressure on the NHS. However, I just don’t understand how it can be said that we face heavy restrictions until May or June when we are only in July.

I really don’t think it’s helpful for newspapers to publish things like this. I am struggling very much like a lot of people.

The comment that we’re not truly isolated has really upset me. I know I’m still alive but you know nothing about my (or anyone else on here’s) circumstances.

I need to step away from the news.

made me think that no other bugger is going to put me and my loved ones first so best I do so

FFS, that is precisely what we are doing, that is what it is all for. To keep YOU safe, to keep your loved ones safe. That's what we are keeping to the bloody rules for. Try doing the same.

I don’t get my information from Facebook or the daily mail

You are the first to mention those so I assume you must read them. I don’t have Facebook and don’t read the Dailymail. I also have medic friends but I know that doesn’t add any credence to my argument hence not mentioning it. There are lots of experts and scientists on both sides of the debate.

@midgebabe - is that supposed to be funny? I dont see how that is meant to help someone who actually feels on the edge mentally?

Nobody has locked me in my home. I am however following the government law/guidance to stay at home..... Am I not allowed to feel upset about this?

[quote Florelei]@midgebabe - is that supposed to be funny? I dont see how that is meant to help someone who actually feels on the edge mentally?

Nobody has locked me in my home. I am however following the government law/guidance to stay at home..... Am I not allowed to feel upset about this?[/quote]
Of course it’s normal to find this hard.

Just ignore jibes

Seriously, where are all these reports saying lockdown will go on till June? I haven't seen them. This kind of hysteria is making everything worse. It won't go on till then. It DOES have to stay in place for now. But don't undermine the improvements that are about to come by spreading the 'JUNE!! we may as well not bother at all!' message.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

At this rate we will all be building 'dens' under the table with ample supplies of junk food and copious amounts of drink, and emerge with cave woman legs and armpit hair down to our fat bums.

I'm already there, my friend.

Me too!

@midgebabe

Op, if you are locked in your home, how aweful, please call a locksmith or the police if someone has deliberately locked you in

Blimey, are you this tirelessly literal about every turn of phrase?

I'm in Edinburgh where it's currently cold, rainy and icy underfoot. It will be fully dark at 4.45pm. Everything is shut. Where, other than my house, should I go?