Next week's announcement won't be the good news we think it'll be

[likeamillpond]

Listening to the news and reading between the lines regarding the latest variant that's supposed to be resistant to the vaccine, I don't think it's going to be brilliant news next week.
I dont think it'll be a case of, We've got this. You can all go out now.
Im hoping theyll say for certain that schools can go back. At least.
I think we are still in the shit. They just haven't told us.
I'm prepared to be told I'm worrying over nothing.

If we reopen too soon would there will a future lockdown?

If we open too late would people be criminal and cause more fatalities?

What's the magical mid range optimal point between the two and are the new mutations going to defeat the current vaccines soon?

Do you actually believe any of their bullshit anyway?

@Nellodee

Yes Florida prioritised the economy above everything. So they prioritised jobs and earning and spending.

Schools could open, parents could choose remote learning or in school learning - although it does depend on the county as well.

Restrictions include mask wearing: 40% capacity and social distancing across the board to my knowledge...whether that’s Publix, Walmart, Disney or in some cases school I guess.

They’ve been doing what Indy sage has kinda been asking for...but for ages. And it’s working. And everyone has a bit of freedom and a life.

I'd break the rules in a nanosecond but my parents wouldn't hear of it. They can't afford a chuffing fine and don't want to risk it.

So sorry if I'm a bit miserable. All we want is something of a life back.

*not all of those restrictions have been mandated by the Gov of Florida. Most are business led or county mandated.

So many wannabe scientists on this thread. Most talking absolute 💩

I still think it will be easter for schools re opening sadly.I think most things will follow on maybe at 2/3 week intervals after that when its been monitored.Its so tough to gague this right now.Its all speculation til we hear it from the man himself and even thats not forced to happen on the 22nd,

So selfish, we are all living under restrictions

Given that we were made to sacrifice our income entirely I'm a bit bored of "selfish" being chucked at me.

@Christmasfairy2020 @Abraxan definitely no consistency in sheffield. My 94 year old grandpa only had his last weekend. My dad is 68 and hasn’t heard anything yet.

[quote AmIBeingTwatty]**@Christmasfairy2020* @Abraxan* definitely no consistency in sheffield. My 94 year old grandpa only had his last weekend. My dad is 68 and hasn’t heard anything yet.[/quote]
Your Dad should be able to book himself in online without waiting for GP letter
www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number

I’m 46, and group 6, I’ve got my jab tomorrow (Sussex)

@ilikegrapes21

What are you saying? That even once 90% are vaccinated we still have to keep restrictions because if we don't the virus will become immune to the vaccines? We don't worry about that with the flu vaccine, we just produce a new vaccine each year. We don't tell everyone they can't see their loved ones or go to the theatre or send their children to school

This is what the government are preparing us for though- very long term social distancing. Schools will hopefully stay open and people will be able to see family eventually- but interventions like 1.5/2 meter distancing/masks/rule of 6/WFH will all be staying well into next year.

You really think so? Very long term social distancing? What about all the businesses which won't survive social distancing? What about couples living apart who aren't eligible for a support bubble - do they just continue not being able to go closer than 2m? What about people who haven't hugged loved ones since last March - just how much longer are they expected to not hug them for? What about the many things which people love which can't happen with social distancing in place? Concerts, theatre, sports, bands, orchestras?

I need my life back, I cannot keep living like this until well into next year - that's over another year away. I have been touched by 4 people since March - my DP, my hairdresser, and the people who gave me my flu jab and covid jab. Everything I enjoy and everything I was looking forward to last year has been stopped or cancelled.

Florida?!

The same Florida that's got 38 x more deaths per million than Australia?!

I've got friends and family in Florida.

@Flobbertybillop

I’m 46, and group 6, I’ve got my jab tomorrow (Sussex)

I thought I'd be getting my jab soon but now I find out there are 7 million people in front of me. Oh well it is what is is.

@DenisetheMenace

sittingpondering

@DenisetheMenace it sounds very hard for you too so I apologise for being snippy, I’m just finding it all too hard right now. I hope with a break from the home schooling over half term I can gather some strength for the next few weeks and keep on but I’m very low. The thought of two more months of no school is too much for me.“

Good God no need to apologise. I’m not sure I could do what you’re doing.
That’s the worst thing about this whole sorry situation, pretty much everyone is under the most enormous strain.
I just feel that for the sake of another few weeks, we can all be in a much better place, permanently.

Thanks @DenisetheMenace I do understand where you’re coming from too. I don’t know what the solution is. Hopefully things will feel better tomorrow.

The news and social media are full of doom and gloom tonight.
Just signed a heartbreaking petition on facebook that is covid related and very close to my heart.

[quote AmIBeingTwatty]**@Christmasfairy2020* @Abraxan* definitely no consistency in sheffield. My 94 year old grandpa only had his last weekend. My dad is 68 and hasn’t heard anything yet.[/quote]
Lots of my family have had the vaccine in various Sheffield hubs. All said very organised. My DH is 54 and diabetic and is having his at his GP's next week

[quote sadpapercourtesan]@Beaniecats I have about as low an opinion of this government as you could imagine, but to suggest that they are using the new variants to artificially create a climate of fear - to control us - is arrant nonsense.

The one thing that gives me a frisson of grim satisfaction in this protracted shitshow is that Boris Johnson hates this even more than I do. He's a libertarian at heart and loathes government, let alone things like forking out for furlough and extending school meals to the holidays. It must be like fingernails on a blackboard for him. The lazy blustering shit trumpet must wake up every morning in a state of bitter regret that he ever went for the job - he wanted the title, not the work, and he isn't even getting what his overprivileged milk-fed arse considers a decent wage for it. Gutted.[/quote]
This is it, exactly. He fancied the title and attention and thought he could wander around for four years blustering and let other people do the work, and the public would adore his hilarious clownishness because they don't understand his long words and (often erroneous) literary references. He has the arrogance to want his name "in history"; amusingly it will be but in a rather different way than he imagined. He wanted the prestige and money-making opportunities that would arise after the role and expected to be able to shirk much of its responsibilities as he did as London Mayor. The only two satisfying things about the pandemic are watching him age 20 years because he got what he (inadvertantly) wished for, and the lawyer/ cat/ zoom thing.

@Redcrayons

I’m expecting schools open and possibly the rule of 6 back. Hopefully they’ve abandoned tiers. Surely they’ve learnt some lessons this time round.

There's no way the rule of six will be back yet. Not for months at least.

@losinghope2 I agree!

Is this another one of those Covid bingo threads?

The basically go like this:

‘Don’t get your hopes up about anything, ever, because I’ve been reading between the lines/am party to special information and you are all going to get a nasty shock if you think things will change. Best if you all adjust your expectations to avoid disappointment, I’m afraid.’

It's nothing to do with "special information". It's a case of looking at publicly available data and scientific studies, looking at what is happening in different countries to see what works and what doesn't (do you read any foreign media or have friends living abroad?), and understanding the nuances of public announcements - and also who they are coming from. History tells us to ignore any predictions from Boris. Public health officials have been nuanced with lots of cautions and maybes and gradually etc. That combined with the numbers, the data, makes it clear that there way never a prospect of "open everything on 8th March".

@RichardMarxisinnocent I agree. Since when is it the sole purpose of human beings’ existence not to spread disease? The whole thing is pathetic.

And if all we are ever going to have are vaccine resistant “new strains” what’s the point of the vaccine?

I am having it so I can get my life back. If I won’t, what is the incentive to bother?

[quote Macaroni46]@motherrunner I feel your pain! Haven't seen my dad since Feb half term last year yet apparently come the 8 March it'll be ok for me to be back in a stuffed full classroom with rations of paper towels and hand gel for 'protection'. Oh and the windows open!
Don't get me wrong, I want to go back and the kids need it but a vaccine for all school staff would certainly go a long way to making me feel safer and more appreciated. [/quote]
I feel both of your pain.
I haven't seen my parents since January last year. DM is ECV and understandably didn't want to risk meeting us, (two teachers and two dc) in the summer.
DDad has had two TIAs during lockdown. They've both had the first vaccine shot thankfully. DM hasn't felt well after it (she's on immunosuppressive drugs) I'm worried that once we're back at school, we'll still not feel safe trying to see them. Call me selfish, but I do hope that teachers will be given the vaccine soon.

@OnceUponANightmare don’t be ridiculous rule of 6 outdoor public place has been leaked by several newspapers already. You can’t have kids cramming into classrooms but keep everyone else pretty much in isolation people won’t stand for it.