We cannot cancel life, to preserve every life

[Slytherin]

I actually find myself agreeing with a Tory for once...we’ve given up so much and the goalposts keep moving, yes it’s an unpredictable situation, but it’s also unsustainable long term. The idea that this summer will be possibly worse than last summer makes zero sense, when we have a vaccine roll out that far exceeds any other nation (except Israel) currently.
First it was let’s get the elderly and vulnerable vaccinated, then it was let’s get the over 50s vaccinated, now we’ve got members of SAGE suggesting restrictions have to continue until everyone, including children are vaccinated and beyond, because of the possibility of new variants. Professor John Edmunds said some would have to stay “forever” last night on Peston.

We must at some point live with an element of risk. I’m in no way suggesting we lift lockdown yet, but suggesting that things won’t have much improved by the summer, is, in my opinion encroaching into dangerous territory.

The government were over promising before, now they’re under promising. There’s got to be a middle ground, people’s mental health cannot sustain this level of pessimism and not having a single thing to look forward to. Everything gets dangled like a carrot, then taken away at the last minute. It’s beyond cruel.

Then it’s the mixed messages, Matt Hancock telling us he’s going on a summer holiday to Cornwall and he’s all booked up and Grant Shapps then telling nobody to even consider booking a holiday abroad or domestically this summer.

Yes, I support restrictions to save lives and support the NHS, but I don’t support the way the government are handling this once again. And I don’t support these restrictions indefinitely, especially when the majority of the at risk groups have been vaccinated.

www.channel4.com/news/we-cannot-cancel-life-to-preserve-every-life-tory-mp-sir-charles-walker-on-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR2RnQNKwJoQ4FSBxT9oTbwbFOCTWcIU9wD9WdYkTEA2sVlJ1posWZAfmsU

Also @walksen I insisted on no such thing. I asked.

"I think it was unreasonable of you to insist on evidence you know can't possibly exist whilst "

@walksen

"I was hoping that the poster could expand to allay people's fears or otherwise."

It's a poor use of grammar as well as critical thinking. That's the crucial part

Poor use of grammar maybe. Critical thinking though?

@ktp100

Oh but the children!!!

Yes, it's dreadful.

Oh, but the businesses & employment.

Again, dreadful.

All of the 'Oh buts...' in the World are not more important than losing the NHS or thousands more Grandparents.

As a country, we don't get to be sad about Captain Tom dying one week and then say 'feck it, they're old anyway - get the kids back in school and let's book a fortnight in Tenerife for August' the next.

I'm sorry, I know most of you disagree with me and that's what we come here for, to give opinions BUT I just despair of what a selfish bunch we are!

I wasn't one of the professional mourners for Captain Tom. I didn't get sucked into the distraction that he conveniently was for the government so your argument is wrong. The country as a whole was not sad. A lot of people were indifferent. I mourn the 110,000+ others who died and the millions more who want to live their lives in the way that old man got to. Holidays, interaction, birthday parties etc. He had a blast in his final year.

1. Control the virus is a joke
2. Those saying they are going to crack on......to what and where? Everything is closed.

What are you going to do....throw a crazy picnic?

what government would stop the education of its children, close schools and universities, make it illegal for young people to have sex or enter relationships? How many people will lose the chance to have children as they are staying indoors to give those in care homes an extra year?

At the moment the majority of governments across the world are doing this. Imagine the numbers if they hadn’t?

@MagicSummer

Why do so many people use the over-dramatic phrases 'locked in' or 'locked up in your house'? Nobody is locked up - you are free to go out for exercise and food shopping, etc. I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome. I am sick of people moaning about going without their holidays or parties or meeting up with friends.

People HAVE put up with this. For nearly a year now, most of the population has followed most of the rules, although it’s been really really hard for so many people.

There is pushback against the idea that we’ll have to keep on doing this even after everyone we’re trying to protect has been vaccinated, and your answer to why people should continue to do this is... that it’s somehow character-building?

@MagicSummer

Why do so many people use the over-dramatic phrases 'locked in' or 'locked up in your house'? Nobody is locked up - you are free to go out for exercise and food shopping, etc. I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome. I am sick of people moaning about going without their holidays or parties or meeting up with friends.

People in their 70’s or 80’s havent have restrictions put on them either?? No one alive has? Why are you focusing on the under 30’s?

I honestly think they should just tell everyone there's no international travel apart from on compassionate or medical grounds for the next year, and that they're aiming to let people take holidays in the U.K. this summer. That masks will need to stay both in and outdoors until community spread is under control and infection numbers are in the low hundreds, and that until that stage is reached, wfh and furlough are the standard. And that schools can go back with safety measures. They need to agree an acceptable amount of community spread and only close the schools if that level is breached.

Yes, agree! Have to live with this humdinger for probably a long time. I am worried that our world is getting increasing evil for our children. Drug gangs, country flexing their muscles by infiltrating our universities, dishing out scholarships to their own people. Some technology was even stolen on order. Then there are rebels without a cause, helping to tear this country apart! We need to stand afar to see what other countries are doing to us before we sleep walk into abyss. Whilst dealing with this virus, we still need to have operations on cancer and other diseases. This virus has consumed so much of our energy, money and effort. We need to live with it and move on and prepare our children, not churning out millennials.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree.

I spent 5 months bedridden, and I do mean bedridden. Unable to move from my bed without a lot of help. It was many months before I was able to function semi properly. 18 months before I could return to full time work, virus is no joke..................

But it was 1998/9 and I had post viral fatigue from glandular fever. My covid I got this year was that serious I continued wfh throughout and took a test on a whim because it was xmas and we were having a friend due to come over. Throat was wicked sore though, but I did enjoy sleeping for 14 hours a night as a chronic insomniac.

@MagicSummer

Why do so many people use the over-dramatic phrases 'locked in' or 'locked up in your house'? Nobody is locked up - you are free to go out for exercise and food shopping, etc. I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome. I am sick of people moaning about going without their holidays or parties or meeting up with friends.

Ah yes we should be so thankful we are still allowed to go to the supermarket, alone. And sooooo grateful to be allowed out our front doors for the same fucking walk we've done for the past year.

Give your head a wobble. Why would anyone enjoy this?!

And no, we've not had restrictions places on us because we used to live in a democracy. Now we live in whatever the fuck this is where people only give a shit about you if your old or you work for the NHS.

I'm sick of people moaning that others are struggling. open. Your. Fucking. Eyes.

This isn't a normal or healthy way to live. People's mental health is shot. We are running out of reserves. Our children are struggling and then there's sanctimonious bastards saying let's all work together well why the fuck would we want to work with people that have an attitude like that.

You make it clear you don't care about "us" well why the fuck should we care about you?

Also it’s not going to be the ‘under 30s’ who push back against the rules while everyone older sits obediently at home if the restrictions continue all year, is it.

You can tut all you like at the entitled younger generation who want to leave their houses, and tell them they should look out for the older generations. What are you going to tell the older generations who are saying “I’ve been vaccinated now, I’m not missing out on years of my life any more, I’m off to hug my grandchildren and see my friends again”?

I agree 100% OP. And having read the whole thread I'm glad to see it's only a handful and the SAME posters always coming on these threads so advocate for lockdown
A huge majority is fed up and wants this shit show to end as soon as the over 50s are vaccinated!
Great posts @StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind and @ChocOrange1.

And this absolute bull emotional blackmailing of long covid has to stop!!!

Let's not forget the NHS is at breaking point every winter with flu/noro. This time its covid.

And no economy means no NHS as what do you think pays for the NHS if not the economy? Do we just keep printing money until inflation goes mental and it costs a wheelbarrow full of cash to buy a loaf of bread?

@Kintsugi16

Lives are ending but no-one alive has their life on hold. Have you not heard the phrase about dancing in the rain?

I was hoping this pandemic would teach us all to be less selfish and entitled, to slow us down and appreciate the simple and important things in life.

The hilarious thing here is that you are calling others selfish and entitled. Oh the irony

I can't believe how much insight and empathy this Tory MP has compared to some on MN.

I'm all for keeping this virus at bay through vaccine and hands, space, face... however, businesses need to reopen. Leisure facilities of all kinds, hospitality, shops, etc NEED to resume. Beaches and national parks, concert halls and heritage centres... all the things that enrich our lives.

And I agree with PP that the damage to children and young people is bordering on criminal! Never even mind the surge in domestic violence and the resulting trauma on individuals and families!

It is so easy to say "go for a walk, take up a new hobby, redecorate your home, do a course" when you have financial security, a solid support network and a good supply of options. Empathy, empathy, empathy.

And another thing, stop with the WW analogies and third world comparisons! We have lived relatively well up to recently, in terms of health, safety and security - does that mean we should just accept botched regulations and perpetually blundering governance? From day one it has been a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

No more bumbling and mumbling Mr Johnson! We demand to be presented with a clear, non-contradictory pathway out of this shitshow.

I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome. I am sick of people moaning about going without their holidays or parties or meeting up with friends

The people moaning about holidays and parties are just annoyed they've got nothing to show off about on social media - you can safely ignore them.

But the under 30s have been asked to sacrifice a lot to save, in general, people who voted to shaft them over Brexit, and who are not suffering as a result of lockdown because they have no mortgages and a steady retirement income (it might not be much given interest rates but they can't lose it). (and yes, I know there are younger vulnerable people but even they've only been prioritised in group 4 of the vaccine).

I think they have every right to be annoyed, a year after this started.

Maybe the telly could put on some fun repeats, instead of horrible things and we could have Captain Carrott to raise our morale.

Kintsugi16

Lives are ending but no-one alive has their life on hold. Have you not heard the phrase about dancing in the rain?

I was hoping this pandemic would teach us all to be less selfish and entitled, to slow us down and appreciate the simple and important things in life.

In reply to the above: what makes you think people are not appreciative of the simple and important things in life?

Having gratitude AND being frustrated over this, are not mutually exclusive. You can feel positive and negative emotions without it removing your sense of perspective.

'I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome.'

oh piss off

I think this is a comment about acceptance of restrictions, not adherence to them

Also those saying close the borders. The last thing we want is more restrictions for an seasonal endemic virus. Those countries that didn’t lockdown have the same curves and less deaths than the U.K. They also won’t have deaths caused by lockdowns suicide, domestic abuse, poverty, cancer, sepsis and heart disease.

New variants is just used to scare monger and prolong this. No evidence of increased mortality or morbidity.

Lancet lockdowns cause substantial collateral damage
www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00193-8/fulltext

'Let's not forget the NHS is at breaking point every winter with flu/noro. This time its covid.'

There are indeed winter pressures but that is with all other services running. You do know elective surgery and routine stuff has been postponed? Covid is nothing like flu/noro. ICUs have seen sometimes 4 times the amount of patients. Not 90 year olds, people in their 50s and 60s and younger.

The lack of understanding on this thread is astonishing. Germany, France, Italy all have restrictions too. You don't have to like it, who does, we all want holidays and to go out doing stuff. Can you really not see until they have actual data from the vaccinations they can't just open the doors and cross their fingers. 2 weeks ago 60k cases and nearly 1800 deaths. Just be patient! if they rush it now we could be back to square 1.

@MagicSummer

Why do so many people use the over-dramatic phrases 'locked in' or 'locked up in your house'? Nobody is locked up - you are free to go out for exercise and food shopping, etc. I think half the trouble is many people under 30 have never had any restrictions placed on them - they have done exactly as they want ever since they were children - and now cannot accept that this is something we ALL have to work together to overcome. I am sick of people moaning about going without their holidays or parties or meeting up with friends.

Free to go to the supermarket and for a walk. Wow. What a life. What a Magic Summer for us all. Thanks to you I no longer feel locked in and locked in my house, I feel freeeeeee! Get me to that supermarket now for my bread. I can't wait. I might even skip around the aisles whistling a happy tune. And then I can pop out for my exciting walk. Who needs friends, parties, love, hugs etc.?

@Snowdropsanddaffs Thank you for making me laugh out loud