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.

See, if I genuinely believed that keeping fairly severe restrictions in place until the end of 2021 was the best way to go, I’d be thinking that:

a) this won’t work unless most people are willing to go along with it
b) people aren’t ever going to go along with it if all I do is scold them for being selfish about the perfectly normal little things in life they miss, like hugging relatives and holding children’s birthday parties.

So I’d probably be doing more to set out why I believe continued restrictions are necessary and worth the sacrifice, and doing less dismissing the sacrifice as “that’s not a big thing anyway you whiner.”

People have done a lot in the past twelve months. They have given up a lot. All the government research on compliance with lockdown says that levels of compliance are really, really high. Most of the people who did this weren’t personally at huge risk from covid, but were nevertheless did it, partly because they didn’t want the NHS to be overwhelmed in case they did need it, mostly because they didn’t want lots of other people to suffer and die.

Most people have given up so much, for the sake of others. If the best argument you e got for why they should continue to do that once everyone’s vaccinated is “you’re all selfish and entitled and only I listen to The Science”, you are not going to be on to a winner.

It would behoove many to get some perspective rather than acting the victim.

It would behoove you to get some compassion instead of acting the....

@PerveenMistry

"Honestly, what planet are you on?!"

The planet of competent, science-believing non-whiners.

The planet of people who can't see beyond their own circumstances. You have no empathy, no idea what other people are going through.

@Miljea

I said : "I know I'll be accused of doom-mongering, but what we're now doing plainly isn't working as cases rise and rise; however, we haven't got any alternative strategies,so SD, shut schools and shops- will have to continue."

And was told off, as cases are, apparently falling. At my local DGH hospital, they have the most people, ever, in with Covid.

First time around, 44 max. This time 110 today.

So tell me rates are falling.

They are falling nationally. That doesn’t mean they might not temporarily be going up in a given area or a given hospital.

This graph shows the cases UK-wide over the past three months. Falling.

Thanks, JovialNickname, I just googled that and the link's here if it helps: www.gov.uk/government/publications/debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space-guidance/debt-respite-scheme-breathing-space-guidance-for-creditors

Two things occur to me about the "mental health crisis breathing space" as it relates to protection against debt enforcement. The first is that folk are only protected if they're actually getting treatment (and good luck with that ) ... and the second is the obvious potential for abuse if "getting treatment" is turned into "on the waiting list"

Not entirely sure it heralds light at the end of the tunnel for restrictions though; after all furlough and eviction bans were only supposed to be for a few months and look how that's turning out

Oh dear, the birthday party thing seems to be really getting to you. My earlier party-related advice still stands

Golden indeed.
People have not seen their families for months.
They have not been at the bedside of their dying loved ones and have missed their funerals.
Women have birthed alone.

People have lost their livelihoods, their health and their educations.

If this is nothing then fuck me, what counts as important.

Cases are falling, but there is a time lag for people having to go into hospital and then a further time lag for deaths. So the ones in hospital will probably include people who picked it up at Christmas.

@MiddleParking

My point is that if things largely return to normal, why is it that people fixate on the remaining restrictions, rather than seeing the positives of the lifting restrictions?

Why on Earth would the onus be on us to see the positives of only having some extra restrictions on our lives?

I'd love a return to some normality, maybe restricted hospitality, more social interaction? Many people have lost parents etc in horrible circumstances.... me not being able to go for pizza is hardly on par.

However, i think the present pessimism from Govt is because they've been burnt too many times before with optimism, so have gone to the other extreme.
thats what i'm hoping!

@PerveenMistry

"Honestly, what planet are you on?!"

The planet of competent, science-believing non-whiners.

So those for whom staying at home is difficult, dangerous even, because home isn't a safe, cosy place, those who may be living with DV, or can't afford heating, or are worried about their children's MH because they haven't mixed with their peers for months are incompetent whiners?

Can you see beyond your own privileged life at all?

I cannot wait to travel; go to the pub; jump about down the front of a crowded gig; and have a big party with music and dancing

Also, stop wanging on that I don't believe in science because I said we have vaccines and improving therapeutics. You are literally making no sense @PerveenMistry.

And don't bother repeating that you work with someone who knows some sciencey stuff because a) we've only got your word for that and b) even if it's true, that's his opinion, nothing more. Many equally qualified people have a very different opinion.

[quote WouldBeGood]@PerveenMistry grow some backbone and brave the world. It’s great out here[/quote]
Eyeroll.

I had to cancel two overseas vacations, plus a week in LA (I live in the US) for a film festival and a warm Christmas getaway all in 2020 due to Covid. Would be happy to be back to seeing the world in 2021 if selfish spreaders wouldn't have ruined it for the rest of us.

@PerveenMistry you can’t be for real

@Miljea

I said : "I know I'll be accused of doom-mongering, but what we're now doing plainly isn't working as cases rise and rise; however, we haven't got any alternative strategies,so SD, shut schools and shops- will have to continue."

And was told off, as cases are, apparently falling. At my local DGH hospital, they have the most people, ever, in with Covid.

First time around, 44 max. This time 110 today.

So tell me rates are falling.

They ARE falling, though.

You can observe for yourself on the gov website.

The number of new cases reported daily does not immediately impact the number of people with covid in hospitals. You can test positive for covid one day and be in hospital weeks later.

We are going to be able to do plenty of socialising this summer and into autumn. The fact we might not be able to do this in very large groups, isn't something that really we should be stressing about. Just being able to see people will be bloody great.

We are talking about BEING ABLE to see people in small groups. Just not being able to see them in large groups.

I don't see why this is such a disaster.

@WouldBeGood

I cannot wait to travel; go to the pub; jump about down the front of a crowded gig; and have a big party with music and dancing

Likewise. I'm just patient about it. It will happen.

@RedToothBrush

We are going to be able to do plenty of socialising this summer and into autumn. The fact we might not be able to do this in very large groups, isn't something that really we should be stressing about. Just being able to see people will be bloody great.

We are talking about BEING ABLE to see people in small groups. Just not being able to see them in large groups.

I don't see why this is such a disaster.

Honestly, I don't think people believe that we will.

Also, things like weddings, still on hold... very important for a lot of people.

"So those for whom staying at home is difficult, dangerous even, because home isn't a safe, cosy place, those who may be living with DV, or can't afford heating, or are worried about their children's MH because they haven't mixed with their peers for months are incompetent whiners?

Can you see beyond your own privileged life at all?"

I have sympathy for them (though many of those difficulties are completely self-inflicted). But those difficulties are no excuse for spreading the virus. Covid doesn't care if you are lonely or bored or suffering. It doesn't say "oh I'll leap over this group because they really neeeed a play date."

Individual household wants have to take a back seat indefinitely. Think of the greater good.

Does anyone think the flying rules will change by the summer? No, not to go on holiday, before those kind of people jump on me. I’d love to see my parents and for them to see their granddaughter

@PerveenMistry

"So those for whom staying at home is difficult, dangerous even, because home isn't a safe, cosy place, those who may be living with DV, or can't afford heating, or are worried about their children's MH because they haven't mixed with their peers for months are incompetent whiners?

Can you see beyond your own privileged life at all?"

I have sympathy for them (though many of those difficulties are completely self-inflicted). But those difficulties are no excuse for spreading the virus. Covid doesn't care if you are lonely or bored or suffering. It doesn't say "oh I'll leap over this group because they really neeeed a play date."

Individual household wants have to take a back seat indefinitely. Think of the greater good.

Crusty jugglers.

Individual household wants have to take a back seat indefinitely. Think of the greater good.

But you’re fine with people having to work out of the house (and therefore potentially spread the virus) to get you your Netflix, your TV, your food, your clean water, all those people along the manufacturing and distribution chain who brought you your yoga mat.

Crusty jugglers

@PerveenMistry

"So those for whom staying at home is difficult, dangerous even, because home isn't a safe, cosy place, those who may be living with DV, or can't afford heating, or are worried about their children's MH because they haven't mixed with their peers for months are incompetent whiners?

Can you see beyond your own privileged life at all?"

I have sympathy for them (though many of those difficulties are completely self-inflicted). But those difficulties are no excuse for spreading the virus. Covid doesn't care if you are lonely or bored or suffering. It doesn't say "oh I'll leap over this group because they really neeeed a play date."

Individual household wants have to take a back seat indefinitely. Think of the greater good.

Domestic violence and poverty are self inflicted?

Yes, your sympathy fair leaps off the screen.

Despicable.

@GoldenOmber

Individual household wants have to take a back seat indefinitely. Think of the greater good.

But you’re fine with people having to work out of the house (and therefore potentially spread the virus) to get you your Netflix, your TV, your food, your clean water, all those people along the manufacturing and distribution chain who brought you your yoga mat.

I've had the same dear yoga mat for years.

Frontline food and medical workers should in my opinion get large income supplements, more than ample PPE and first in line for vaccine. I shop via delivery every two weeks for the bare minimum. Never said people shouldn't eat or get medical treatment but that's not what the whining in this thread is about.