Social distancing to last all year

[Santastealer]

The media this morning are reporting on a report given to government saying social distancing will need to be in place all year and rules remain until December.

But what then? What do they expect to be different by September?

Last August I was able to go on holiday with my family as a group of 8, are thy suggesting this year this won’t be possible? If not why was it ok last year when we didn’t have vaccines but this year it’s not ok when we do?

I’m thoroughly fed up of not being able to see my family and I need to feel an end point is in sight.

@sofiaaaaaa

I don’t mind as long as proper lockdown is lifted. If life goes back to how it was last summer before the early closures were introduced/around the time of the eat out to help out offer, I’d be ecstatic

After which Covid cases soared.

We need 'proper' lockdown for a while longer but it isn't going to last forever.

"The sheer lack of imagination and how parents are playing a role in making a kid disappointed by the lack of party is frustrating. As is the complete lack of awareness that its not a right of passage for so many kids out there - there will be plenty of parents who will not be able to afford a birthday party this year. "

This. If a six year old is distraught it's because someone modeled that and wound him up. Abysmal parenting.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Obesity can be very deadly to humans.

You're clearly only bothered about things that are contagious because they might kill you. You don't give a fuck about things killing others, clearly.

There's a massive difference between self-inflicted conditions that usually don't impact other people, compared with contagious diseases that do.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Obesity can be very deadly to humans.

You're clearly only bothered about things that are contagious because they might kill you. You don't give a fuck about things killing others, clearly.

Says one who appears totally oblivious to the subject under discussion.

We are speaking of infectious disease control, not individual health risks. There is a huge difference.

PerveenMistry But do keep denying the science

Honestly, I prefer evidence to science.

There's no proper empirical, independent research in populations to demonstrate that lockdowns restrict virus transmission in anything other than the short term.

In fact, evidence inducates that lockdiwns actually lead to more deaths from unrelated causes. No one actually knows if lockdowns benefit society at all. Its all guesswork - a massive gamble with the economy and peoples' lives and mental wellbeing.

We know that Article 15 of the ECHR is breached by lengthy lockdowns, because it only permits suspension of human rights when the safety of a population as a whole is under imminent threat. I think thars sensible guidance. Thus virus simply isn't fatal enough to justify locking down the whole of society for a year or more.

Evidence also shows that politucians have grasped onto lockdowns as a way to avoid blame, and presumably, to keep themselves electable.

What do you mean says one @PerveenMistry?

I know obesity isn't infectious hence why you don't give a fuck. You can't catch it and you're only bothered about you.. nobody else.

Childhood is different for the vast majority during this panademic. Not over.

You'd be forgiven for thinking childhood i it was from some of the posts.

And whilst time is precious, an 8 or 9 year old still has opportunities and the chance to make other memories. We all have to just make that extra effort when things return to a state where we can do more.

It really shows up the mindset people have got themselves into where life is x, y and then z in some sort of preset formula and any straying from that 'ruins your life'.

No things are just different. A bit shit different, admittedly, but make the most of what you HAVE got and CAN do rather than lamenting what you CAN'T do. Its far better framing for your mental health under the circumstances.

We know that Article 15 of the ECHR is breached by lengthy lockdowns, because it only permits suspension of human rights when the safety of a population as a whole is under imminent threat

Save your breath with that one, Greenland; as with any upcoming vote or potential extension of the Coronavirus Act, all they have to suggest is that there may be another, even more dangerous variant

It doesn't even need to have arrived - or if it has, the announcement can be "saved up" until it's most useful - and never mind the fact that they mutate all the time; brandish enough threats, leave the media to do their thing and all the chips fall into place

@PerveenMistry

"The sheer lack of imagination and how parents are playing a role in making a kid disappointed by the lack of party is frustrating. As is the complete lack of awareness that its not a right of passage for so many kids out there - there will be plenty of parents who will not be able to afford a birthday party this year. "

This. If a six year old is distraught it's because someone modeled that and wound him up. Abysmal parenting.

Yes how awful wanting nice things for your kids. Jesus fucking Christ.

Theres a difference between wanting nice things for your kids and realising that its not the fucking end of the world and their childhood memories forever more are not tarnished by the lack of a birthday party. Jesus fucking Christ.

I can cope without holidays, pubs, footie.

I'm not sure if i can cope with another year without a hug.

@RedToothBrush

Theres a difference between wanting nice things for your kids and realising that its not the fucking end of the world and their childhood memories forever more are not tarnished by the lack of a birthday party. Jesus fucking Christ.

Nobody has said it's the end of the world, have they? Their childhood memories will be tarnished by covid and you're naive if you think they won't. I'm sure the perfect mother brigade have been "making memories" and so a missed party or two won't even be noticed by their little darlings, but ds had a party planned last year before we even knew what covid was. That wasn't abysmal parenting. Something was planned and then it was cancelled and got a 4yo that's a big deal.

You know what will also tarnish their childhood? Lack of school. Lack of social interaction. Missing out on time with family and friends. You cannot get that time back.

Stop belittling everyone else's problems. Your fine and your kids are fine. Brilliant. Good for you. You've done an excellent job. That does categorically not mean everyone else is fine. Use your imagination for fuck sake.

@RedToothBrush

Theres a difference between wanting nice things for your kids and realising that its not the fucking end of the world and their childhood memories forever more are not tarnished by the lack of a birthday party. Jesus fucking Christ.

Exactly.

I'd be ashamed of lacking in resourcefulness and creativity if I couldn't figure out a way to have a pleasant family birthday despite lockdown.

*The point of restriction is to reduce the spread and the mutations. We let the virus get ahead of us thanks to selfish people who wouldn't follow rules. Bow it's morphing to outwit our vaccines and remedies.

You'll see. These well could be the good old days, in retrospect. I do some (non science) work for a veteran doctor, immunologist who trained under Dr Fauci, and he is extremely concerned about the variants.

But do keep denying science*

@PerveenMistry as I've said, millions and millions of people have had no choice but to go to work, school, go shopping, live in care homes, etc throughout. Millions of people in close contact with others through no fault of their own has meant the virus has had an excellent opportunity to do what viruses do. The relatively tiny minority of people who haven't followed guidelines are a drop in the ocean when it comes to spread. And you yourself have mentioned mutations, which make the spread even more efficient. Please stop playing the blame game.

It's not denying science to suggest that because we have vaccines and improving therapeutics that the future looks a lot brighter, and outcomes for individuals do too. In fact I'd suggest that claiming with absolutely no evidence whatsoever that we'll be in this for years and where we are now is as good as it gets is denying scientific evidence. Whoever you (claim to) have done work for. There is no evidence that vaccines/therapeutics are less effective against the current known mutations and even if they become so, vaccines can be tweaked, just as the flu vaccine is.

And just supposing that I'm talking a load of old horseshit and everything you say is true and not hysterical groundless doom mongering - there's no way lockdowns can go on for five years. The government simply won't stand for it. Furlough for six years and counting? Skyrocketing unemployment? I can totally see the Tories going for that

I'd be ashamed of lacking in resourcefulness and creativity if I couldn't figure out a way to have a pleasant family birthday despite lockdown

I'd be ashamed of being so small minded to be honest.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I'd be ashamed of lacking in resourcefulness and creativity if I couldn't figure out a way to have a pleasant family birthday despite lockdown

I'd be ashamed of being so small minded to be honest.

Why not just buy the DC yoga mats for their birthdays? It'll make staying home so much easier after all!

@Quit4me

I honestly can’t understand how adults can think that children missing their 8th and 9th birthday party (as my child will be doing) isn’t a big deal? As adults you have had plenty of birthdays, and plenty of adult birthdays yet to come. Childhood is short. So short. You can never get the excitement abs innocence of these years back, never. Once it’s past its gone. Most Adults (not talking elderly or near the end of life!) can have plenty of adult years in the future. Children don’t - as children! Which is why is such a huge travesty for them in particular. Really, if you can’t see that then I would be willing to bet you don’t have any children (or can’t imagine this scenario happening when your children were young). Is my child going to be a stroppy teen before parties are allowed again (and therefore not want one?)

I agree, I feel so sad for my 8 year old daughter, she and her friends are missing out on so much. Like you say, childhood is so short. I think it’s very harsh that they can’t even see a friend outside :(

@OliveTree75 - I think most people did stay in the U.K. yes.

Let's be honest, it's not really about a birthday party is it? Unless I'm coming at this all wrong, it seems to me to be more about the entire disaster children have been plunged into along with the rest of us

Whether it's education, socialisation, the building of family links or whatever it's all just gone - and aren't we always told how crucial it is for children to be able to build a, b and c abilities at x, y and z age because each skill develops from the one before?

Yes, given a lot of hard work they can recoup some of it, but let's not pretend there won't be colossal damage ... and please don't anyone suggest Zoom will save them, because it's simply not the same

Some of these replies remind me of a person in a lifeboat glaring down at the people drowning around them and saying, "Couldn't you simply have taken off one of the doors from the Titanic and used that to keep yourself afloat?! I should be ashamed if I myself lacked such resourcefulness!"

My god.. Who NEEDS people like this in a global crisis?!

Things will improve in the next weeks and months. But those who can only feel happy with a 100% return to pre Covid life will be disappointed. The key will be adapting our expectations.

A party for an 8 year old might be possible in 3 months ....but for 6 friends and not 20.

If you see that a terrible restriction and ruining of childhood, that's a negative perspective and one which might make the child disappointed, whereas another family will be able to help the child feel excited about the forthcoming party.

In a few weeks and months we will be able to go out and see some people and be able to go to work and children will go to school. All of it will be a bit different to pre Covid, but extreme isolation and loneliness should end and the difficulties of not being able to go to work and home schooling should end. This should be enough to enable people to enjoy life. But if they persist if only looking for things they still cannot do and focusing on those they will be disappointed. But it's a mi duet where the grass is always greener elsewhere and in a different time and such people are often disappointed in life, rather than those who look for positives.

Things are very hard now. No one doubts that. They will get better...but restrictions won't all go immediately and some might be around for months or years. The choice is to enjoy life as they lift with what is available to us (and I think it will be enough) or to be determined to be disgruntled.

"Why not just buy the DC yoga mats for their birthdays? It'll make staying home so much easier after all!"

My coworker with three age 7 & under has them doing yoga 2x a day, actually. Says it's good for their mental health. In the photos she sends they seem to be doing fine.

@faerin

Some of these replies remind me of a person in a lifeboat glaring down at the people drowning around them and saying, "Couldn't you simply have taken off one of the doors from the Titanic and used that to keep yourself afloat?! I should be ashamed if I myself lacked such resourcefulness!"

My god.. Who NEEDS people like this in a global crisis?!

IT'S ONLY A BIT OF WATER. DID YOU NOT LEARN HOW TO SWIM?

I'd be ashamed of lacking in resourcefulness and creativity if I couldn't figure out a way to have a pleasant family birthday despite lockdown

These sort of posts seriously set my teeth on edge.

Why are some people so lacking in self-awareness?

Things will improve in the next weeks and months. But those who can only feel happy with a 100% return to pre Covid life will be disappointed. The key will be adapting our expectations.

A party for an 8 year old might be possible in 3 months ....but for 6 friends and not 20.

If you see that a terrible restriction and ruining of childhood, that's a negative perspective and one which might make the child disappointed, whereas another family will be able to help the child feel excited about the forthcoming party.

Quite.