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Covid

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Restrictions on large gatherings likely to be in place 'for next few years'

403 replies

vera99 · 07/02/2021 14:11

Gulp. This is pretty bleak if true.

Experts have warned that restrictions on large gatherings could remain in place for "the next few years" as the world learns to live with the coronavirus.

Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, told Times Radio that he "can't see us suddenly having another Cheltenham Festival with no regulations again".

"I can't see us having massive weddings with people coming from all over the world, I think for the next few years those days are gone," he added.

Prof Spector also suggested that basic infection control measures - including physical distancing, face masks and handwashing - should remain in place as they "don't cost really anything to do".

"I think we need to get used to that and that will allow us to do the things we really want to do more easily and more readily," he said.

On a more positive note Prof Spector, who created the Zoe Covid Symptom Study, said the infection survey indicates that coronavirus rates are "generally much lower everywhere" in the country, with around one in 170 people infected on average.

He suggested that reinstating the rule of six allowing people to meet outdoors should be "definitely encouraged" around the same time as primary schools begin to return.

Follow the latest updates below.

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-uk-covid-vaccine-lockdown-end-latest-cases/

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 07/02/2021 20:39

Neither is the flu vaccine but you don't hear people complaining about that.

Can’t wait for this to be at flu levels. People on here ignore that fine

merrymouse · 07/02/2021 20:40

I think people are reading a lot into one article with one person that is very vague about what 'restrictions' means, and which restrictions will apply when - assuming you have all read the article and haven't just read the headline.

Fridget · 07/02/2021 20:40

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I’d love to live there at the moment but given the vaccine is not 100% effective (whichever one you use)

Neither is the flu vaccine but you don't hear people complaining about that.

I’m not complaining about it. I’m saying Australia and NZ are probably going to have to deal with community transmission when they open their borders even if they’ve vaccinated everyone, in response to the poster suggesting they’d be fine because they’ll vaccinate.
itwaseverthus · 07/02/2021 20:40

Gawd, the three weeks to flatten the curve now sound so hollow. I shall be living my life as I see fit as far as I possibly can from now on though. I don't appreciate being lied to by government, 'The Science' or the press and have frankly had enough. No I can't have a huge wedding or attend a packed gig but I am most definitely the captain of my own ship and I will be seeing and hugging my loved ones. Times up. As Robert Browing wrote, Take away love, our earth is a tomb.

CloudPop · 07/02/2021 20:41

@vera99

One gets the impression even if you get it sorted in your own country with vaccination, healthcare etc it will be raging and mutating elsewhere so you won't be able to compromise your own success by opening to the unknown variables elsewhere.

Surely though there has never been a weight of science and knowledge being a solvable problem in the history of mankind. That's what's different this time or so I would like to believe.

But it's not raging and mutating elsewhere. It seems to be only Europe and the americas. Everywhere else seems to be getting on quite well.
MarshaBradyo · 07/02/2021 20:41

@merrymouse

I think people are reading a lot into one article with one person that is very vague about what 'restrictions' means, and which restrictions will apply when - assuming you have all read the article and haven't just read the headline.
Yes for sure
TheKeatingFive · 07/02/2021 20:41

Better than being 22 and oops there go nanna and granddad, and a few aunts and uncles. Next door all died too. Oh, and it turns out that Mum had a very mild bacterial infection after cutting her hand so she's gone too. Underlying conditions, what can you do?

Are you even aware of the FR of this virus? Go do some reading.

catsarecute · 07/02/2021 20:41

"My issue with zero covid is that I don’t think it’s practical to achieve it given we have a land border (which we can’t close) with a nation which has free movement with 26 other countries."

You're right that we would need do this in partnership with the Irish government - but it's achieveable.

There's proposals for zero covid in Ireland too.

www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0824/1160986-zero-covid-19-ireland/

www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/zero-covid-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-suddenly-so-popular-1.4470964

Hardbackwriter · 07/02/2021 20:42

@MarshaBradyo

Better than being 22 and oops there go nanna and granddad, and a few aunts and uncles. Next door all died too. Oh, and it turns out that Mum had a very mild bacterial infection after cutting her hand so she's gone too. Underlying conditions, what can you do?

With vaccines?

This appears to be an imagined future world where Covid not only isn't controlled by vaccines but also has acquired a death rate not known since the plague...
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/02/2021 20:43

I’m not complaining about it. I’m saying Australia and NZ are probably going to have to deal with community transmission when they open their borders even if they’ve vaccinated everyone, in response to the poster suggesting they’d be fine because they’ll vaccinate.

Sorry @Fridget, I worded that badly and didn't mean that it was you complaining, it was a generic 'people'.

CloudPop · 07/02/2021 20:44

@Fridget

My issue with zero covid is that I don’t think it’s practical to achieve it given we have a land border (which we can’t close) with a nation which has free movement with 26 other countries.
Oh please. Like we are doing such a great job of controlling our borders ?
catsarecute · 07/02/2021 20:47

"I’d love to live there at the moment but given the vaccine is not 100% effective (whichever one you use) they could be looking at moving from zero community transmission to a situation of community transmission, so it will have to be managed very carefully."

completely agree Fridget, they will need to manage this very carefully. But I would still rather be in their position that the shit show we've got here. I expect that they will take their time with this and their borders will be closed for at least the next year.

Coffeeandcocopops · 07/02/2021 20:50

We need to invest in the NHS properly do that it can cope. When we see these huge housing estates being built so we see the local hospital expanding by a ward? No. We don’t invest properly. Covid will never go but with vaccinations and an nhs that can cope we can open up and move back to normality,

GreenlandTheMovie · 07/02/2021 20:53

Its a radio interview, with one scientist, giving his own personal opinions.

Such restrictions aren't likely to continue in any other country, and in fact most of Europe was much free-er than the UK last summer in terms of public gatherings, so if the UK did follow this one man's thinking, we risk becoming a pariah state in terms of basic human rights.

It would also destroy much British culture, particularly rural culture in terms of agricultural shows, markets, etc and probably ruin much of Britain's sporting success, as no young athletes would be able to come through the coaching system as it involves training and competing in very large groups. Many sportspeople would leave the country.

Its unworkable. It doesn't really matter if the vaccine is 100% effective, because even in the over 80s, the death rate is only 10%. And until we actually give a definition to what is "long covid" and clarify that it doesn't include mildly asthmatic systems for 3 weeks and relatively standard post viral syndrome effects, its probably best not to use that as the rallying cry for those who support the long term removal of human rights.

colouringindoors · 07/02/2021 20:55

This is tough to hear.
Physical distancing is not costing nothing. As a single parent the lack of physical contact with another adult is awful. I'm not made to live like this.

lljkk · 07/02/2021 20:58

I'm sure Spector is a cleverer guy than me.
I also think he's foolish to make predictions like this, right now.
Way too early to say what will happen.

RachelGreep87 · 07/02/2021 21:04

Stop trying to make zero Covid happen. It's not going to happen.

catsarecute · 07/02/2021 21:04

GreenlandTheMovie so you could get behind zero covid then? No loss of anyone's rights, apart from travel restrictions. They're having festivals, full attendance at sports fixtures, weddings etc all going ahead as normal in countries with zero covid. And everyone's right to life and right to live without unnecessary long term disability fully supported, win win, right?
(Don't dismiss long covid so easily - look up ME/CFS and the long term, life changing effects it has on people - it's often caused by a virus, and there are lots of similarities with long covid. There will be a lot of people impacted long term with long covid, sadly)

IcedPurple · 07/02/2021 21:06

@RachelGreep87

Stop trying to make zero Covid happen. It's not going to happen.
Yep. The posters hijacking the thread too.
poppycat10 · 07/02/2021 21:08

it turns out that Mum had a very mild bacterial infection after cutting her hand so she's gone too

well that would only be if we also had widespread antibiotic resistance

MaxNormal · 07/02/2021 21:11

well that would only be if we also had widespread antibiotic resistance

Don't you be talking that one into existence too now Grin

catsarecute · 07/02/2021 21:11

IcedPurple hijacking the thread? Thought it was a discussion?

"RachelGreep87

Stop trying to make zero Covid happen. It's not going to happen".

Why stop trying to make it happen, and why wouldn't you want it to happen? I don't get it.

GreenlandTheMovie · 07/02/2021 21:13

catsarecute GreenlandTheMovie so you could get behind zero covid then?

I could get behind what?

I think we have to look at what is happening in other European countries. They are not going to be locked down next summer and banning all sporting events. I know that, because this summer I went to Switzerland and Belgium to compete in my sport. The UK is going to look very, very odd and become a byword for a failed state in terms of human rights, it will be a laughing stock.

Its really strange how in this country, so many people are completely unaware of what is going on in other countries and worse, they have no curiosity to find out.

MaxNormal · 07/02/2021 21:16

Why stop trying to make it happen, and why wouldn't you want it to happen? I don't get it.

Because covid will become endemic and keeping a country "zero covid" will mean completely cutting off from the rest of the globe. For decades.
And we are a country hugely dependent on road imports so it will in reality be constant lockdowns anyway as cases sneak through.
Its a vision of dystopia.

IndiaMay · 07/02/2021 21:18

@catsarecute it's not going to happen. Ever. They only virus the world has successfully eradicated in its history is smallpox. There will always be covid just varying degrees of infection rate