Can we start to feel optimistic now?

[Eng2345]

Things seem to be really going in the right direction, they are flying through the vaccines, is it ok to start to feel now we are through the worst?! I just hope they don’t rush easing lockdown and it puts us back a few steps. I guess the unknown is we don’t know if this new varient will spread once we open up even when lots of people have been vaccinated? It seems quite a lot having all primary & secondary schools and colleges going back on the 8th March if that happens!?

Yes, it's OK to feel optimistic. I am too.

I hope so. 🙏

I'm definitely more optimistic! I share the same concern as you about rushing to open up, but either way, we are in a better place than even December. And spring/warmer weather is soon here, so I'm even more optimistic about walks and my garden.

Yes absolutely

We’re a while away from freedom but things are getting better.

I was until the headlines today about the 'Big Bang' school reopening. We've learned nothing and more mutations will follow.

@Ahmnotacat

I was until the headlines today about the 'Big Bang' school reopening. We've learned nothing and more mutations will follow.

I was about to say someone will be along to tell us about mutations. You beat me to it.

Yes! All adults over 50 by end April! All over 18s by sept. That’s huge news.

I was about to say someone will be along to tell us about mutations. You beat me to it.

Ignore science if it makes you happier then?

@Ahmnotacat

I was until the headlines today about the 'Big Bang' school reopening. We've learned nothing and more mutations will follow.

More mutations will certainly follow. It's what viruses do. All of them. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of them currently circulating in the world for this one virus alone.

Given that more mutations are a sure thing, do you plan on keeping schools and everything else shut indefinitely?

Given that more mutations are a sure thing, do you plan on keeping schools and everything else shut indefinitely?

No, but it's well known that allowing the virus to spread unchecked means we are at much greater risk of mutations that escape the vaccine. Why not just open up slowly and cautiously while steaming ahead with the vaccine asap? Boris and his fucking 'Big Bang' is just stupid. Did we learn nothing over the past year?

No, but it's well known that allowing the virus to spread unchecked means we are at much greater risk of mutations that escape the vaccine.

Good thing then that not a single person - at least not one with any influence - is advocating "allowing the virus to spread unchecked".

No. Not really. Nothing should be done 'under pressure'. Back on the merry go round.

@IcedPurple

No, but it's well known that allowing the virus to spread unchecked means we are at much greater risk of mutations that escape the vaccine.

Good thing then that not a single person - at least not one with any influence - is advocating "allowing the virus to spread unchecked".

Apart from all the people who want schools to open all in one go with no mitigation such as masks or social distancing you mean?!

Anyway, I'll bugger off your optimism thread. I'm happy about the vaccines but I am sad that as a society we're about to let Boris fuck everything up AGAIN.

Apart from all the people who want schools to open all in one go with no mitigation such as masks or social distancing you mean?!

I have no interest in turning this into the one millionth schools thread, but what you have written above is simply speculation, and not at all the same thing as "allowing the virus to spread unchecked".

I’m cautiously optimistic (not to be a downer sorry!).

I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction and provided our government handle things cautiously and react quickly if they need to, I really think that things will continue to gradually improve with only minor setbacks. Well barring any other disasters waiting in the wings!

Hang onto that optimisim, this whole pandemic is slow moving so you need that to get through the tough bits.