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

[vera99]

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.

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

It could be true - honestly, at this stage if we could even get to the stage of seeing one household, once a month or something, it'd be a 100% improvement.

One thing we've learned though, is that we just can't tell what the next few years will bring for good or ill. A quick, accurate test method could be discovered that will allow events; a much worse variant could shut everything down; enough people could have had the vaccine or the virus that it just fades into the background like seasonal flu in a year or two.... we just. don't. know.

sit further away than tables are usually set out in a cafe or restaurant

Not viable. Most cafes and restaurants would have to close their doors as they wouldn't be able to afford to reduce capacity longer term.

Social distances certainly does not "cost nothing".

I normally really like Tim Spector, as have been taking part in his Zoe study but comments like this are ridiculous.
I haven't been perfect during the lockdowns but am trying my best. Personally at the point where either most people I know have had covid or are vaccinated. When numbers get lower I will be socialising in and outdoors.
I'm not too worried about foreign travel at this point in time. I want a vague semblance of a life.

Even an office Christmas party, strange as that seems

That I will happily give up for a few years or forever

@FreakinFrankNFurter

A wedding is about the exchange of vows, it doesn’t need a big party, it’s just a want.

Are we supposed to spend the next few years only having the things we need and not the things we want, or does that only apply to weddings?

Some people have a weird view about big weddings equalling a couple who don’t really love each other and aren’t bothered about the marriage vows, just want a party.

I think we just have to make the best we can of a shit time. I wouldn't miss out on something important to me that I could have because I couldn't have it with all the extras that I couldn't have.

It hurts not being able to have it, I never thought I'd be at a family funeral without my brothers and sisters there with me but we had to accept it as the way it was going to be. That's why I'd have a marriage ceremony without a big party, I'd want to marry the person I loved even without the big party which I'd normally be determined to have.

If we don't wait we'll have a fourth wave and another 100, 000 or more will suffocate.

This is exactly the sort of thing I mean. I honestly think some people are enjoying this and don't actually want it to end.

[Hiding thread].

@Wowwellokthen

That is really depressing. My DS is (was) played competitive sports and has not been able to compete for a year. Do many young people will quit if the competitive element doesn't happen for years!

My kids loved swimming -I can't see that being safe for the next few years unfortunately.

That will have a knock on effect to all the colleges teaching performing Arts and Music.
They might as well go into chariot making.
So soul destroying to see your life work just disappear.
It's not just people missing out on fun, festivals and celebrations, it's people's livelihood gone.

These people are so full of shit and want to try living in the real world for a while.

@2021hastobebetter can I ask why you can’t see swimming being safe for years?

Australia and NZ are not going to keep their borders closed forever. Once their populations have been vaccinated, they’re going to be dealing with the same kind of questions we are about what people are willing to accept.

I think most countries are slowly rumbling towards having a conversation about what kind of end goal people can agree on. Most people wouldn’t accept 1000+ covid deaths a day and overcrowded hospitals as the price of normal life, but equally, I really don’t think many people will sign up to years of masks and distancing and restrictions on big gatherings, or think that the economic and social cost of that is a price willing to pay once we’re down to deaths in the single digits.

Swimming has already been back (albeit with reduced numbers) so that makes no sense whatsoever.

Big sporting events? Can’t see many smaller football clubs surviving without the gate money.

How depressing.

And holidays. What will they be like now?

I'm also wondering about swimming. My child's lessons seemed like one of the safer activities we did when restrictions were lifted. I think it's silly that they're closed now.

If we don't wait we'll have a fourth wave and another 100, 000 or more will suffocate

Then YOU stay inside, forever if you want, honestly I don't care. Don't try to get everyone else to do the same and to give up their whole lives just to enable you to kid yourself that you're "safe".

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I didn’t expect large gatherings until the virus had stopped mutating and we had vaccines and boosters in place with very few cases.

A wedding is about the exchange of vows, it doesn’t need a big party, it’s just a want. Maybe more focus on the commitment and less on the big day will lead to less couples splitting etc.

Concerts etc will likely adapt and go outdoors more and businesses are already changing the way they operate to accommodate the safety measures.

Well we could all say this about everything couldn't we? Going to a concert is just a want. Maybe if we just listened to the music alone at home without distraction we would appreciate it more. Going out anywhere unless essential is just a want. Maybe if we all stayed in our houses we would never come to any harm and could all live forever.

@MarieIVanArkleStinks I agree about the lockdown enthusiasts. It's a tough time for them with the vulnerable actually being vaccinated now!

@MaxNormal

sit further away than tables are usually set out in a cafe or restaurant

Not viable. Most cafes and restaurants would have to close their doors as they wouldn't be able to afford to reduce capacity longer term.

Social distances certainly does not "cost nothing".

I didn't say it cost nothing.

I said I'd be happy to for social occasions not to be crowded, and don't feel the need to be surrounded by strangers.

Okay, maybe my example wasn't practical for businesses, but maybe by having firm booking policies (with large deposits, so that no-shows aren't an extra cost), limited seating, making use of extra outdoor areas, maximising the gains of having switched to takeaway during full lockdown / enforced closure, and maybe by increasing prices, this could be feasible in the short term?

Better than being shut and better than being a vector for high transmission.

I think some of these scientists think our sole purpose in life is to stop the virus spreading forever. It’s ridiculous.

Aww come on. I think some people have legitimate concerns and some people are less risk verse than others. I hate this idea of there being ‘lockdown enthusiasts’ as If people see restrictions as enjoyable.

Just because someone’s risk tolerance is different to yours it doesn’t make one of you right and another wrong,

My kids loved swimming -I can't see that being safe for the next few years unfortunately.

Given that pools were open from summer until December, why not?

There is a big and important conversation to be had very imminently about what state healthcare is for, how it should be funded and what our expectations should be from it.

We can’t keep ‘protecting’ a broken system at all costs. We can’t afford to for starters. So if Covid can’t be managed via the vaccines, then we need to think a lot harder about what, realistically, we can do about that, without trashing everyone’s way of life, livelihoods and basic human needs.

One persons opinion. Not going to happen. Some people thrive on reading and sharing things like this when deep down we all know it’s scaremongering.

I think some of these scientists think our sole purpose in life is to stop the virus spreading forever.

They are trained to do that, that’s their role. I don’t think that’s problematic in itself.

However they are getting far too much airtime right now without balancing voices to give the other side.

@MadameBlobby

My kids loved swimming -I can't see that being safe for the next few years unfortunately.

Given that pools were open from summer until December, why not?

Our pool was, but the changing rooms weren't!