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.

@herecomesthsun

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/must-not-pin-hopes-covid-vaccines-alone/ There are some graphs of projected spikes on here

On the charts it states

Social distancing restrictions
including rule of 6

Wonder what the SD part includes - I may have missed it.

Also, what do you mean by 'people who portray themselves as struggling' as opposed to those with 'true medical conditions'? Who are you to make that distinction?

@WouldBeGood

I really wouldn’t feed Perveen

You're right.

She doesn't need anyone to point out how vicious and inappropriate her posts are anyway, they speak for themselves.

From the BBC:

==
A paper modelling how and when coronavirus restrictions might be lifted once the most vulnerable are vaccinated suggested that releasing measures suddenly could lead to "substantial additional deaths".

Scientists predicted that continuing measures, such as social distancing, for a longer period - at least until all adults are vaccinated - may be key to controlling infections.

Dr Sam Moore, an epidemiological modeller at Warwick University who led the study, warned that even if vaccines do significantly reduce infections the impact will not be seen "for some time to come".

He said restrictions should "relax slowly", and added "we're going to have to be patient".

Asked whether social-distancing measures would be in place for the rest of the year, Ms Truss said autumn "is a very long time away" with the focus now being on the vaccine rollout.

==

So all they are saying is that suddenly releasing all restrictions when only the most vulnerable are vaccinated is not a good idea (well yeah, faitrly obvious) and retaining some measures until all adults are vaccinated (not afterwards, like people on here are saying!) may be the best way to control infections.

Plus lots of 'ifs', 'coulds', 'mights' and a comment that it's too soon to know details about what happens in Autumn... doesn't seem like anything there to justify the reaction on here.... unless people are reacting to what they think it says (without bothering to actually read it) rather than what it actually says....

Oops, forgot the BBC screenshot.

As for Perveen, I think they are just trolling you all for a reaction, seems to have worked though. Don't feed the trolls. 🎣

@WombatChocolate

There have been terrible consequences for lots of people of lockdown. I agree.

But the question in the thread was about a future with some continued restrictions. Things are going to get better and less restricted. For lots of the things that have been bad about lockdown, such as isolation, difficulties with homeschooling, there are going to be improvements.

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 should it only largely return to normal, why not fully? The portion of that part that doesn’t return could be some people’s livelihoods, if you want to continue (not) doing things you enjoyed during lockdown, you do so.

I think it all depends on what we are trying to achieve here. Are we trying to stop the NHS grinding to a halt? If so, then beginning to lift restrictions after the vulnerable are vaccinated makes total sense. Keep the restrictions in that help to mitigate spread but that don’t impact too greatly on the economy, people’s livelihoods, children’s education etc - such as masks, sanitising regularly, keeping places ventilated, keeping space (where possible) in work places etc

Or are we trying to stop every death?
Or are we trying to stop anyone ever becoming ill?

I personally don’t think those last two goals are realistic and at that point, we are crossing over in to mass restrictions being less beneficial than what they will achieve.

Well?

Covid doesn't care whether one is flying off to work on a tan or to see old granny one last time. Travel is travel. Travel increases exposures and contacts. Exposures and contacts lead to more transmission. More transmission leads to extension of lockdown.

It really is not difficult. Covid doesn't care. Everyone thinks their wants are the exceptions and somehow don't contribute to the public health crisis.

I travelled a few hours within the UK in December, I stayed in a hotel and saw family while I was there. I was there for my dad's funeral, but presumably you'd tell me I was in actual fact on holiday and thus that I should have stayed away from my father's funeral?

I am completely comfortable with the fact I travelled, I didn't give anyone Covid, and I am not responsible for any decisions the government might make on easing or extending lockdown.

I travelled a few hours within the UK in December, I stayed in a hotel and saw family while I was there. I was there for my dad's funeral, but presumably you'd tell me I was in actual fact on holiday and thus that I should have stayed away from my father's funeral?

I am completely comfortable with the fact I travelled, I didn't give anyone Covid, and I am not responsible for any decisions the government might make on easing or extending lockdown.

I did exactly the same, RichardMarx

@HarrietteNightingale

I travelled a few hours within the UK in December, I stayed in a hotel and saw family while I was there. I was there for my dad's funeral, but presumably you'd tell me I was in actual fact on holiday and thus that I should have stayed away from my father's funeral?

I am completely comfortable with the fact I travelled, I didn't give anyone Covid, and I am not responsible for any decisions the government might make on easing or extending lockdown.

I did exactly the same, RichardMarx

for you too.

[quote ArseInTheCoOpWindow]This is just depressing. Virus evading vaccine.😢

news.yahoo.com/amphtml/clinical-trials-raise-fears-coronavirus-040855671.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACFkSBwhBtpoNqrgGDAf3raE0X1CM33WiF0eFKaRD0SXqFDryKkVqPTE1rsoYJ1eOMeqM7Vny2QBiM40ldCU464y56MjHITJgjqIwpofWCj_9W96f6vMIE0jKKY_vWPoa23dRriK0GdLU8lbt30OeCjSqFe9-rl3-0OqfgEDiuRG[/quote]
Yes and worryingly people will think they’re safe because they’ve had the vaccine and go off and visit real, etc. But could actually still be at a real risk of catching it.

from me too.

I also agree wholeheartedly with wherediditgo.

I took my dd to her uni room yesterday (with permission) so she could collect some essential books. We stopped at services on the way there and on the way back. Used the ladies and bought coffee. We are both "wfh" and had lft's neg earlier in the week. 2 hours there in driving rain and sleet; a e0 minute sit in the car for me, 2 hours driving back in the driving rain and sleet. Traffic was light and very little evidence of police.

It was a trip that was on the line but golly it felt like a great day out .

Our lives are good. Plenty of space, nice area, all love each other. It's still relentless and hard and I can only imagine what it must be like in less optimal circumstances.

People needs things to look forward to. That's why refreshment Sunday/now mothers' day breaks lent.

@RichardMarxisinnocent

Well?

Covid doesn't care whether one is flying off to work on a tan or to see old granny one last time. Travel is travel. Travel increases exposures and contacts. Exposures and contacts lead to more transmission. More transmission leads to extension of lockdown.

It really is not difficult. Covid doesn't care. Everyone thinks their wants are the exceptions and somehow don't contribute to the public health crisis.

I travelled a few hours within the UK in December, I stayed in a hotel and saw family while I was there. I was there for my dad's funeral, but presumably you'd tell me I was in actual fact on holiday and thus that I should have stayed away from my father's funeral?

I am completely comfortable with the fact I travelled, I didn't give anyone Covid, and I am not responsible for any decisions the government might make on easing or extending lockdown.

Many people couldn't be with loved ones at death due to distancing guidelines. If they can forego that I'd think a funeral was indeed discretionary. My close relative died in November and memorial is postponed until the pandemic has eased.

Oh wow, just when you think someone can't get any lower a parents funeral isn't ok.

Nobody is that cold and heartless, and if you actually are, you need to have a long hard look at yourself. You are completely devoid of empathy. It's scary.

PerveenMistry my 84 uear old MIL is widowed and 220 miles away from us. She is our social bubble. After the first lockdown her dementia worsened and dh had to put carers in place twice daily after a call from the police and from social services. He is with her this weekend (she had her first vaccination two weeks ago). It is a calculated risk because the alternative would be to neglect her and not ensure she is fine. There is nobody else.

DH also has to go into work for some things, key worker, which involves travelling into London although he has somewhere to park again to minimise the risk.

Parody. Has to be.

Nobody is that thick, that lacking in empathy and that fucking dim.

@DumplingsAndStew

All of this "not allowed to see friends and family for a year" is highly dramatic. Yes, there are some rules and restrictions, but there's nothing stopping you seeing friends and family.

There is if your family live far away ("stay local") you arent allowed to stay overnight at someone's house or in a hotel so if your family live 6 hours drive away realistically you cant go and see them. If they live abroad you can't go and see them. If they live in a care home or house bound you can't go and see them.

@PerveenMistry the guidelines clearly state that going to funerals and giving support are permitted.

Troll all you like if that's how you need to fill your empty life, but maybe draw the line at trolling recently bereaved people.

[quote WeirdLoverWilde]@PerveenMistry the guidelines clearly state that going to funerals and giving support are permitted.

Troll all you like if that's how you need to fill your empty life, but maybe draw the line at trolling recently bereaved people.[/quote]
👏👏

@GabsAlot

missing the point

when we were allowed on holiday with 8 people?

In low risk areas, July and August last year. Rule of 6 didn't start until September. We went camping end of July last year. There were 12 of us. Social distancing was maintained so allowed.

colouringindoors

“I can cope without holidays, pubs, footie.

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

@Wherediditgo

I think it all depends on what we are trying to achieve here. Are we trying to stop the NHS grinding to a halt? If so, then beginning to lift restrictions after the vulnerable are vaccinated makes total sense. Keep the restrictions in that help to mitigate spread but that don’t impact too greatly on the economy, people’s livelihoods, children’s education etc - such as masks, sanitising regularly, keeping places ventilated, keeping space (where possible) in work places etc

Or are we trying to stop every death?
Or are we trying to stop anyone ever becoming ill?

I personally don’t think those last two goals are realistic and at that point, we are crossing over in to mass restrictions being less beneficial than what they will achieve.

You've missed off one of the key things - new variants and mutations of the virus. Every time the virus replicates and infects another person, there's also a risk it will change.

That's why we're at such a different point now compared to last year. Now we have the vaccinations and a "way out" but equally it's a more fragile situation because a vaccine resistant variant could undo everything and set us back many months.

Lifting the restrictions too early could hugely increase the spread of the virus. Even more so now because people's attitudes are changing and so many are now saying it's ok to take a risk because the most vulnerable are protected by the vaccine.

@PerveenMistry

"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.

I've suspected it for a while but that post utterly convinced me that you are a bored teen looking for a bit of fun.

I think the point when someone says people are 'whining' when they share the struggles they're having whilst not able to access pretty much all of their coping mechanisms, is also the point to realise that we are not talking to someone who has anything of any value whatsoever to add and therefore the point to ignore their 'contribution' to the conversation.