Is anyone actually going to follow the rules from spring?

[Cloudsurfing]

It will have been a year since being allowed to properly see friends and family. Even in summer last year you still had to social distance so seeing family was difficult, and some areas had tighter restrictions throughout. Everyone I know is going to see family and friends from spring, regardless of what restrictions there are. I am too. The government do know that most people won’t stick to it from then, right?

Is anyone on here actually going to not see family at that point? I know Mumsnet seems to be full of people who are happy to isolate for years if need be, but are you actually going to?

Honestly we are at the 'hold steady' point. Just need to be patient just a little longer.

Frankly we have got this far, i dont see the point in 'blowing' the effort put in.

Life is dull and every day is groundhog day. But look up and look around at nature. Things are moving forward day by day. Even the weather is doing its February thing. Things are starting to grow again.

Its about taking a deep breathe and noticing these things slowly change to keep yourself sane and realise that time is passing and soon the spring will be here.

Some of the mentality and heads going down on MN over the past couple of weeks has been counterproductive and really has been contagious.

Listen to the tone of the scientists. Its very cautious and measured but its positive. Thats the first time in a long time we've seen it and we haven't seen it to this extent.

They dont want to overpromise. And there are concerns still about.

But the vaccines are all performing better than hoped. I believe flu vaccines are only about 50% effective to put into some context. Take up of the vaccine so far has been high - and likely to be higher than many countries in Europe. This is good. We may have had a huge second wave in this country but we are 2 months ahead of others for vaccinations and the peak. That means we can be on our feet sooner. Our ability to detect mutations is exception. I genuinely think few countries are as good. That does give us the ability to keep an eye on this much better than others and act accordingly. We are leading research into mixing vaccines based on our knowledge of how this is a strategy that works well for other diseases.

Honestly, its chin up time.

Im critical and doubtful by nature. Im cautious. But right now im leaning towards cautiously optimistic. The scientific markers look good.

We have to go through this process to get to the other side. Life will be different but we will move past this.

@RedToothBrush Excellent post, thank you.

I hope the government are aware of how many people are prepared to break the guidelines. I suspect that the restrictions will b extended to prevent this.

It's to protect the NHS and the vulnerable- or don't they matter any more because you're fed up?

@Radio4Rocks

I hope the government are aware of how many people are prepared to break the guidelines. I suspect that the restrictions will b extended to prevent this.

It's to protect the NHS and the vulnerable- or don't they matter any more because you're fed up?

There are enough members of the gvmt who can't follow their own guidelines. I don't think they care

Yes

• I work on a COVID ward. This virus is real and it's awful. Just supposition, but I imagine the majority of people on here saying they will break the rules haven't had a relative or friend die/be seriously affected by COVID.

• the more people are vaccinated before the rules are relaxed, the less cases there will be. We just have to be patient until people are vaccinated before we can start to relax the rules. The vaccine won't make COVID disappear completely but it will hugely reduce the rates.

As soon as I'm fully vaccinated and my mum is fully vaccinated, I'm going to see her (probably mid April). Likewise, myself and three other friends who have all had our first shots, plan to meet up once we're all fully vaccinated. No wild parties of loads of people or anything, and we'll still be cautious with hygiene, distancing and probably meet outdoors etc.

@JayDot500

My problem is with people who want to jump the gun before most of the adult population is even offered a vaccine.

I don't see this going on for years. But I do think yearly covid vaccines will become a thing. There is an end in sight if people want to see it.

This

The facts are the Priority Groups 1-9 knock out the majority of mortality 99% I think and a very high % of hospitalisations. Once this cohort is vaccinated (which quite possibly could be early April) the Government strategy is a mix of natural infection and further vaccination of the remaining adults. It’s not economically possible to keep hospitality shut beyond end April, let alone families mixing.

Again balance is required which many don’t understand. We all have to hope virus doesn’t outsmart vaccines too fast.

To think this virus will be contained well enough during vaccine rollout is naive. It’s too transmissible and numbers rise too fast.

@strawberriesontheNeva

My family are overseas so I can't actually see them. I do think all this is ridiculous now. The whole 'isolation, stay home, protect the nhs' clearly isn't working'

It's not working because people aren't sticking to it..

No- just hope I can find enough sane people to actually socialise with.

I will be seeing my friends in the garden from spring onwards. Small groups around the fire pit once the most vulnerable have been safely vaccinated. I believe there is no risk whatsoever outside. I will be holding off on seeing older family members until three weeks after the last dose.

I am planning a slightly larger dinner in the garden over the summer months, and UK based holidays too.

I am currently, and have always followed the lockdown and will do so until the spring to ensure the safety of those most at risk. However I will not be waiting until every last person has been vaccinated!!! No way in hell am I carrying on as we are for many more months, whilst the gov move the goalposts constantly. I am done once the over 70s and shielding are vaccinated.

Well it is actually working rather well in that cases and so hospital admission are falling strongly, which was the point

Not sure we have done enough yet for cancer patients

suggests that most people are behaving bravely and with compassion for others

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@BottegaBish it wasn’t needed and you should be ashamed of yourself. Your parents may not be high risk but other peoples are. How dare you risk peoples lives. I imagine you are trolling because few people are that evil.[/quote]
I really, really hope this is tongue in cheek because seriously, someone is evil because they plan to see their parents at the weekend?

We need to look a long hard look at the society we are fast becoming. 1984 anyone?

In answer to your questions OP - once my parents have been vaccinated I will take my lead from them. If they are happy to see us, then damn it, we will bloody well see them. I've lost a year of their lives and I don't know how much longer they've got left.

Yes.

Just because people have been vaccinated it doesn't mean
a) they are protected 100% or right away
b) that people will stop being ' super-spreaders'.

The R No is what we need to be looking at.

@Dodododahdahdah

No- just hope I can find enough sane people to actually socialise with.

if you think you might not find people to socialise with, that might give you a clue as to how wise your views are, and how much people are -ing behind your back

"We have all caught the covid virus but we are still being cautious. It’s the virus that no one knows .
We had mild symptoms this time but what about next time ?"

Can I hazard a guess that if you catch Covid again, your symptoms will once again be mild?

I wouldn't describe this as the virus that no one knows. Look at the last 12 months on PubMed.

The government's despicable propaganda efforts last spring (which they have openly admitted were designed to induce compliance among those with little personally to benefit from lockdown) has really done a number on people! For healthy low-risk young people, the whole 'NHS is going to collapse' line isn't even very meaningful. Yes, cancer surgeries are being postponed. Yes, people with complex conditions (I know from experience) are having long waits for scans and poor GP care.

But the NHS is never going to turn away your child with meningitis or your friend struggling in labour so they can give oxygen to an 84 year old diabetic with Covid. The whole thing is built on triage and careful, ethical allocation of scarce resources.

@Lullaby88

I will follow the rules until my family are vaccinated and I am vaccinated. Dont want to be socialising with people who arent as I dont want to transmit the virus and chuck everyones hard work down the drain. This lockdown has taken a lot out of everyone.

Correct me if I’m wrong but the vaccine doesn’t prevent transmission does it? I was under the impression it also didn’t prevent the “holder” (for want of a better word) from catching the virus. Just lessened the symptoms a bit.

Also are people really going to check who’s vaccinated and who’s not?

It's to protect the NHS and the vulnerable- or don't they matter any more because you're fed up?

The vulnerable will be vaccinated. I’m not prepared to sacrifice more of the (perhaps limited) time I have with my parents to hold up underfunded disaster that is the NHS.

Lockdown isn’t a pause button, it’s time we don’t get back. People don’t seem to realise that.

No, PIL are bored and want to see their grandkids. I’m not going to keep them away if they are happy to take the risk of coming to see us. And once my DD is back at school, I want play dates. I’ll be sensible, we will try and stay outdoors for the most part, but she hasn’t seen a friend now in over two months, due to her class bubble having closed, it’s just tragic and she is starting to slump. I could cry for her.

Yes and I am really angry that I am expected to teach the children of those who aren’t keeping the rules. This is why teachers need to be given the vaccine. Why should your actions (especially if you have had the vaccine) impact on my health?

I agree with a PP who worked on a Covid ward that some of you have obviously not had family or friends who had Covid badly.

@Sostenueto

Interesting. Looks like the majority won’t be following it by spring then. I’ve followed the rules completely since the beginning, but enoughs enough now. I’m not prepared not to see family for that long.

Sorry OP you are a selfish snowflake. My Dgd aged 18 had isolated in March never even going outside for 16 weeks mostly on her own whilst her mum worked 6 12 hour shifts on the Frontline a week. Then she swapped her home for a room in a flat in September when she started university a flat she only left once a week. Then in December she swapped that room to come home again and be on her own most of the time whilst her mum continues to work on the Frontline as a carer. She has seen no one has not experienced uni as she should cannot see family and friends yet she is only 18.
She has an auto immune blood disorder which developed after she caught an ' unknown' virus which sent her immune system to turn on itself killing all her platelets that clot the blood. She nearly bled to death. She has to shield as best she can yet try to attend uni, try to have some semblence of life. And selfish idiots like you think of nothing but bending and breaking rules continuing to spread the virus so my Dgd can never ever lead a normal life. Damn well obey lockdown rules before you are responsible for others losing their life. The vaccine is not a 100% guarantee especially for people like my Dgd that cannot have it.

Selfish snowflake? For wanting to see my family? Sorry about your dgd but do you actually think it it’s reasonable to expect people who are low risk not to see their family for over a year to protect a very small minority who can’t have the vaccine? We aren’t locking down to protect vulnerable people, as harsh as it sounds, we are locking down to protect the NHS. Once the NHS isn’t overwhelmed, people can’t be expected not to see family and friends. The virus will always be here, scientists have said for ages it won’t go away. Like all illnesses there are some people who are more vulnerable to it, but the majority will be vaccinated.

@TheKeatingFive

It's to protect the NHS and the vulnerable- or don't they matter any more because you're fed up?

The vulnerable will be vaccinated. I’m not prepared to sacrifice more of the (perhaps limited) time I have with my parents to hold up underfunded disaster that is the NHS.

Lockdown isn’t a pause button, it’s time we don’t get back. People don’t seem to realise that.

The 'vulnerable' (assuming this means over 70s ans ECV) will be vaccinated, but what about the people in their 40s-60s who make up the majority of the COVID patients in ITU beds?

“grin if you think you might not find people to socialise with, that might give you a clue as to how wise your views are, and how much people are hmm-ing behind your back”

Well there’s the difference between people like you and people like me.

I do not give a flying fuck what anyone has to say behind my back... or to m face.

My views have stayed the same throughout this whole thing and I’ve had enough now. I’ve done my bit for you lot and your health anxieties but no more.

Yes, will be following them and would be rethinking friendships etc with those that don’t as the rules are there to protect people.

Social distancing is just 2m, that doesn’t stop people from meeting when the rules allow it again.

So many have lost their lives or are currently fighting for them, personal wants seem so selfish compared to that.

@Dodododahdahdah

“grin if you think you might not find people to socialise with, that might give you a clue as to how wise your views are, and how much people are hmm-ing behind your back”

Well there’s the difference between people like you and people like me.

I do not give a flying fuck what anyone has to say behind my back... or to m face.

My views have stayed the same throughout this whole thing and I’ve had enough now. I’ve done my bit for you lot and your health anxieties but no more.

This isn't about "health anxieties' It's about people dying This makes me so sad

I am infuriated by the minimising being done about what these restrictions mean.
You're being asked to sit on the sofa and watch tv
Just do yoga at home
Talk to your family on zoom
Get some perspective

I am a rule follower and tbh will probably continue to be but I am irritated by the constantly shifting goalposts
Three weeks to flatten the curve
Allow the NHS to cope
By Christmas things will be better
Don't meet for Christmas, plan a family Easter instead
Get all the vulnerable vaccinated
Get all adults vaccinated
Prevent anyone getting covid ever

What are we trying to achieve? I'd assumed once the vulnerable were vaccinated, the NHS would be able to cope and restrictions would be eased while we lived alongside levels of the virus that were manageable.
Seems that's no longer the point.