Do people really think this is the road to the end...?! Surely NOT!

[Violetsarered]

Do you honestly think we’re on the road to the end of all this...?!

Here’s how I see things...

New variants will emerge - back into lockdown
Vaccines won’t be as effective as thought - back into lockdown

I’m not sure why people believe that life will be normal by June.

I would bet my house on the fact that it won’t.
We are such a long long LONG way from normality.

Don’t mean to be a doom monger but people really need to keep things in perspective

My dm's been a pessimist all her life.

Pessimism is portrayed by pessimistic people as some sort of "insight" and optimists are portrayed by pessimists as foolish. Personally I think pessimism is akin to superstition; if you think the worst you can't possibly be disappointed.

Back to my dm; she's had a largely pretty great life, healthy family, comfortable home, great leisure, good family, no major money worries, still happy with my df, in her 80s. But I don't think she's really enjoyed it. Because of her pessimistic attitude.

Being pessimistic not what it's cracked up to be.

Depends on how you look at a pessimist. They aren’t fun suckers or joyless people. They may not be optimistic, but they still have senses of humour, are able to laugh loads, have loads of friends and be able to be connect with others. They just don’t believe everything comes up roses.

I know plenty of miserable grumpy optimists.

I am genuinely amused at how people get so angry at anyone who demonstrates even a modicum of doubt on lofty expectations of such rapid improvement.

I get that some people want to remain optimistic as this helps them get through, but anger and annoyance at any opposition that questions this optimism (especially when backed by facts) is actually denial.

I think it hilarious how many people think that anyone who questions blind optimism must actually love lockdown. Really? How many people like that do you know in real life? I don't know anyone who seems to be loving and thriving in lockdown, everyone that I know seems to agree the past year has just been about surviving. Not sure why anyone would believe that Mumsnet is full of people like this?

Having 1000+ deaths two weeks after exiting lockdown is a completely impossible. In order to have a 1000+ deaths a day you need a certain level of cases - at least I would say having above 40K cases a day for say a month before (based on the past two waves).

We WOULD not be coming out of lockdown on those level of cases and it wouldnt rise enough to get the death rate so soon after.

OP life will not be truly normal come June 21st no one believes that. The biggest piece that could well be missing is international travel - SAGE have indicated that might not be normal until 2023.

Currently the vaccines I think are even MORE effective against the strains we have here than they thought.

Variants - well that needs a certain amount of community spread and at the moment are following a pattern that tweaking the vaccine will work against.

You need to keep things in perspective. You are as negative as those you accuse of being positive. Surely the truth is somewhere in the middle.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Depends on how you look at a pessimist. They aren’t fun suckers or joyless people. They may not be optimistic, but they still have senses of humour, are able to laugh loads, have loads of friends and be able to be connect with others. They just don’t believe everything comes up roses.

I know plenty of miserable grumpy optimists.

Well my dm likes a laugh also. It's not about sense of humour etc in my experience; it's about actually enjoying your life and appreciating it. That doesn't have to mean laughing like a drain at everything.

Anyone got Chris Witty and Patrick Valence phone numbers, we need to let them know all their scientists are wrong

The scientists are not in agreement with this.

Dusty boots what is your idea to get out of this then

We currently have the strictest lockdown and plan out and lower cases than other countries so what is your suggestion life on hold until zero Covid (so forever)

I listen to scientists and they say a gradual lockdown exit - in particular with the re starting of schools should be happening. So that’s what I’m feeling would be best at the moment.

I think the Big Bang is likely to create problems.

I dont understand then because that is what is happening? We are on a very gradual lockdown exit designed to take at least 4 months.

And Schools are actually more gradual than you think in Secondary and above - I reckon it will take a good week or two with staggered stuff

So what is the big bang that is happening?

@Quartz2208

I dont understand then because that is what is happening? We are on a very gradual lockdown exit designed to take at least 4 months.

And Schools are actually more gradual than you think in Secondary and above - I reckon it will take a good week or two with staggered stuff

So what is the big bang that is happening?

In my area (London) schools are all open on 8 th March. All children to go in. It’s mandatory. And no staggered start or separation in the schools we are at.

Vaccines, Spring, Cautious timetable for increasing social contacts- all reasons we should be optimistic about the roadmap.

And whilst lateral flow tests have their problems, when used as part of a regular testing programme - the likehood of picking up positive cases increases.

So those people that are really worried as we come out of lockdown can go to one of the many lateral flow test centres that exist and have regular tests.

And our secondary in London opens to full lessons on 15th, using the week of the 8th as a testing week, where each pupil will be tested 3 times before full return.

Just read cases are rising significantly in lsrael.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Just read cases are rising significantly in lsrael.

Do you have a link? I've just googled and can't see anything?

It doesn’t matter - so long as hospitalisations and deaths remain low

www.google.com/amp/s/www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/drop-in-israel-s-covid-infection-rates-halts-raising-concerns-of-renewed-outbrek-1.9566113

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Just read cases are rising significantly in lsrael.

There was an article on Feb 5th saying a rise then and article on Feb 19th showing a reduction in cases.

www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/israel/

Active cases are declining

I need to believe this is the road to the end.

Maybe it is. Maybe it's not. But I NEED to believe it is because, I, like so so many, am hanging onto dear life and much more of this is going to send me spiralling