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Covid

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Original poster

We are going to have to live with covid

181 replies

Cloudsurfing · 13/02/2021 08:22

Thank goodness the government have acknowledged this. Hancock says it will become a virus we live with, like flu. Once the vaccine and treatments have done their job of bringing down hospitalisation, and cases are under control, we will get on with everything again this year.

We aren’t going for zero covid, and all the doomers who say we will be like this for years are most likely wrong!

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloudsurfing · 13/02/2021 10:26

@OpheliasCrayon

This has been known from the start no?
I had thought so but there seems to be so many people on here saying it will be years, like this forever, get used to new normal etc. It’s good that the government are confirming we will be getting back to normal and living with it.
OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 13/02/2021 10:31

@Cloudsurfing I never really understand this to be honest... The "new normal" thing.
There's always a new normal. After the war, that's a new normal, after natural disasters, new normal... I mean even something like the twin towers in the states - that was the start of a new normal world wide really..
People seem to have got hooked on this one thing and then how we carry on afterwards, but I mean, proper to 9/11 we didn't have to carry all our things in tiny bottles on airplanes... We didn't have to think about terrorist attacks in big cities etc...
There's always a new normal...
Even smaller and less global things but when I lived in London over the years we were there we saw a steady rise in horrific knife crime to the point it happened literally outside our flat ..and I was scared... I have two young children...and shortly after that we moved.. so a whole new normal for us....
It's just the nature of being i think, but I think this maybe seems so vast due to it truly global and affecting everyone at once..but ..even without covid .. there would continue to be "new normals" all the time

Spiratedaway · 13/02/2021 10:33

Chris witty and JVT have always said this the only two scientists I listen too I adore JVT

poblwcymru · 13/02/2021 10:35

I would have more respect for the government if they start prioritising the economy and children over the elderly. Don't get me wrong, I'd be devastated if my 84 year old grandmother died of Covid but she's beyond life expectancy and if she does of flu/pneumonia people would say she'd had a long and happy life not that the government had failed her.

My teenage daughter is becoming more withdrawn every day. My toddler has been in lockdown for a third of her life. I miss my friends and my freedom and I'd take a very low risk to my life to get it back.

DuchessofHastings1 · 13/02/2021 10:37

The NHS has been under strain for years. Theres been talks for years about privatisation.
We started off this pandemic with 40,000 less nurses.
The winter of 2018, the staff were overwhelmed and the tabloids were splashing how there was 1 hospital bed available at christmas.

Rather than pouring billions into a useless track and system, they should have poured money into nurses, nurses bursaries.

He is right, we have to live with it like the flu. But no lockdowns no face masks.
I do think we will take more care as in washing our hands, not going too near strangers. We all can do low level ways of stopping the spreading without giving up our freedoms and normal way of life.

DuchessofHastings1 · 13/02/2021 10:38

@poblwcymru

I would have more respect for the government if they start prioritising the economy and children over the elderly. Don't get me wrong, I'd be devastated if my 84 year old grandmother died of Covid but she's beyond life expectancy and if she does of flu/pneumonia people would say she'd had a long and happy life not that the government had failed her.

My teenage daughter is becoming more withdrawn every day. My toddler has been in lockdown for a third of her life. I miss my friends and my freedom and I'd take a very low risk to my life to get it back.

You can't cut off life to preserve every life. And this is an example that a lot of lockdown lovers dont seem to grasp.
Orangeblossom1977 · 13/02/2021 10:39

They are saying everyone will have the vaccine by September as well..

Flaxmeadow · 13/02/2021 10:44

Yes governments and science are saying we have to learn to live with it. This has been suspected from the start

But OP you seem to think this means we can return to normal? That isn't what's being said

Flaxmeadow · 13/02/2021 10:45

lockdown lovers

Name calling again. What is the point of it?

Sheepies · 13/02/2021 10:46

They have never said they're going for zero covid, but once a manageable level was reached things could ease.

Spiratedaway · 13/02/2021 10:46

@Flaxmeadow

Yes governments and science are saying we have to learn to live with it. This has been suspected from the start

But OP you seem to think this means we can return to normal? That isn't what's being said

Just interested in why we can't go back to normal .. I am thinking of more of a economic and mental health reason that we have to go back to normal
DuchessofHastings1 · 13/02/2021 10:46

@Flaxmeadow so I cant say lockdown lovers but you can say a 'pile of deniers'. Seriously, get off your high horse.

Original poster
Cloudsurfing · 13/02/2021 10:48

@Flaxmeadow

Yes governments and science are saying we have to learn to live with it. This has been suspected from the start

But OP you seem to think this means we can return to normal? That isn't what's being said

It is what’s being said actually. Why would you think we won’t?
OP posts:
helpmabobby · 13/02/2021 10:49

I think that this is actually good news. Smile We’re never going to get rid of it. Vaccinations and better treatments means it will be like flu. Vaccine will be tweaked every year.

WhenSheWasBad · 13/02/2021 10:50

You've got to be kidding. Face coverings permanently? Why all the doom and gloom on this thread

I wouldn’t mind it if face coverings became more common in the future. Not compulsory but just a way to move about in society whilst reducing the likelihood of you spreading coughs and colds to the general public.
They really aren’t that big a deal. Although I have have had to as people to repeat themselves a few times. My hearing isn’t good, I think think I must lip read more than I realised.
Asking someone to repeat what they said is no great hardship though.

helpmabobby · 13/02/2021 10:50

And we will be able to go back to normal. I feel a bit tearful with relief actually.

icantthinkofanamehelp · 13/02/2021 10:51

He said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had recommended that once all those aged 50 years and over had been vaccinated - group 10 on their priority list - social distancing restrictions that "damage" society were likely to be lifted*

Good.
Agree with this

Flaxmeadow · 13/02/2021 10:54

Just interested in why we can't go back to normal .. I am thinking of more of a economic and mental health reason that we have to go back to normal

We might go back to normal, I'm not saying we won't but I dont know, but hopefully one day yes

ATM though, It's still an evolving situation. It's a new virus and science isn't 100% sure how the virus will behave in the future. Yes the vaccine is great news and is a big part of dealing with it but it's best to proceed with caution until more data is available

If we ease lockdown too soon, sevices and the economy will suffer more than it is with lockdown, and that includes mental health services

I'm just trying understand the science, like everyone else. The vaccine programme is amazing though. Shows just what can be done !

GoldenOmber · 13/02/2021 10:57

proper to 9/11 we didn't have to carry all our things in tiny bottles on airplanes... We didn't have to think about terrorist attacks in big cities etc...

Um...

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 13/02/2021 10:58

Move to personal responsibility

Given the amount that are already breaking the rules, that won’t work. Those choices affect others who people work with, when they send children to school, go shopping etc.

Flaxmeadow · 13/02/2021 10:59

so I cant say lockdown lovers but you can say a 'pile of deniers'. Seriously, get off your high horse

I didn't say that. Please stop misquoting me. But the OP was being piled on and people are denying lockdown works and my comment wasn't aimed at any particular poster

I enjoy discussion with you but would appreciate it if you could please stop directing personal abuse at me

CodenameVillanelle · 13/02/2021 10:59

International travel won't go back to 'normal' for many years as airports and flight companies have been decimated not to mention most other countries won't reach the same level of vaccination for 2/3 more years. However everything else - seeing people inside homes, going to restaurants, pubs, schools being open etc, that will happen within a year, probably by the end of the summer. Some people will continue to distance I'm sure but that will tail off too in the next couple of years. Life will return to as close as it was before to make no difference. No doubt some things will always be different- flexible working, working from home, virtual meetings all make a lot of sense, and people will be less likely to prioritise living in commuter belts and transport links over space.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 13/02/2021 11:00

I hope face masks sty until it really is under control. Handwashing only applies to surface contact, most cases are through particles in the air.

Original poster
Cloudsurfing · 13/02/2021 11:01

@icantthinkofanamehelp

* He said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had recommended that once all those aged 50 years and over had been vaccinated - group 10 on their priority list - social distancing restrictions that "damage" society were likely to be lifted*

Good.
Agree with this

Brilliant, I agree with this too.
OP posts:
Shelovesamystery · 13/02/2021 11:10

Whilst this has been the obvious common sense approach all along it is a relief to hear MH actually say it. Its good to know that the government do have a realistic plan and aren't aiming for zero covid.

I think that some things will change, like pp's have said about wearing masks in public when you are sick etc. But overall I think things will be pretty much back to normal. It will be a rocky year but everything will open up eventually and no more lockdowns.