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Original poster

The Road Map: It’s Bollocks, Right?

406 replies

AllTheWayFromLondonDAMN · 24/02/2021 22:42

So, I feel a bit like I’m going loopy. And I want to preface this by saying that I really hope I’m wrong. We are both secondary teachers with two small kids and this year has been an absolute bitch. Work for us has been hugely full in, whether it’s been in school or online teaching. Our infant school aged children have missed school terribly and their whole lives at this age are all about school, their little pals and their grandparents and cousins, all of whom have been off limits for months. So this has been far from fun for us and I have no desire for this to carry on (before anyone accuses me of that).

BUT this is all bollocks isn’t it? I know that numbers are going down and that we are doing really well with the vaccinations but this road map that Boris has announced.... it’s magical thinking isn’t it?!?! Less than eight weeks ago we were in dire straits, with tens of thousands of cases and more than 1500 people a day dying. This lockdown has choked those numbers down but now... throwing all the schools back in at once?! Telling us that we will be able to open up hospitality in only six weeks or so?! Saying we won’t even have to wear masks in just 16ish weeks?! REALLY? Because whilst I know that the warmer weather will make things better and of course the vaccine is making things better, it just feels a bit to me like Boris has decided that he’s bored of Covid so he’s just announcing that it’ll he done and dusted and we can just forget about it by midsummers day. Which seems.... bonkers. Bonkers when this has been going on a year now and very recently we were in huge trouble. Some areas of the country are still in huge trouble. Are other European countries talking like this? Like we can just say we have all had enough, so we are going to stop Covid?! Because if it was that easy wouldn’t we have done this a year ago?!?!

So am I the mad one who’s just being a pessimistic old boot, or is anyone else finding this whole change of tone just a bit.... weird?

OP posts:
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12
nonono1 · 02/03/2021 15:56

I think a lot of us have reached the end of what we’re prepared to do now and the government know it. They will have to stick to the road map or face mass uncompliance making them look like idiots. I’ve already made plans to see my family and friends and will be sticking to them, in agreement with everyone we know.

I hope you’re right.

PrincessNutNuts · 02/03/2021 15:59

@Racoonworld

I think a lot of us have reached the end of what we’re prepared to do now and the government know it. They will have to stick to the road map or face mass uncompliance making them look like idiots. I’ve already made plans to see my family and friends and will be sticking to them, in agreement with everyone we know.
I don't know anyone like that.

In our family and our social circle we care about our country. 🇬🇧

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 02/03/2021 16:00

We have another three months until my son can open his restaurant. If that isn't enough time for some people you need to get your heads checked.

(Yes eat out to help out was a massive waste of money. People were eager to eat out anyway and it just made everywhere to busy.

However public health England has stated that infections thought to start from cafes and restaurants are tiny.)

RosieLemonade · 02/03/2021 16:09

@princessNutNuts care enough about it to wreck the economy.

I am so sickened to think I have lived a year of my life as if I am dying. I could be knocked down by a car tomorrow and I would have spent the last of my life looking forward to the foodshop every week. 🙃

PrincessNutNuts · 02/03/2021 16:13

[quote RosieLemonade]@princessNutNuts care enough about it to wreck the economy.

I am so sickened to think I have lived a year of my life as if I am dying. I could be knocked down by a car tomorrow and I would have spent the last of my life looking forward to the foodshop every week. 🙃[/quote]
The difference between you and me isn't that I'm loving it.

It's that I understand that covid is the problem, not lockdown.

You only have to have lockdowns because you don't adequately combat covid.

So I want us to adequately combat covid.

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 02/03/2021 16:28

@Dongdingdong

(although even then we have more people who have had both doses than the UK), things aren't being talked about in the way they are in the UK, it's a much slower approach to loosening restrictions.

Well, presumably it’s a much slower approach because the Spanish vaccine rollout is much slower!

It is slower but Spain has vaccinated more people with 2 doses than the uk.
Racoonworld · 02/03/2021 16:29

@PrincessNutNuts you only have to look at the recent data to understand that covid is become less and less of a problem. Deaths are right down and falling rapidly. Vaccine numbers are going right up. There comes a time when saving the economy and people’s livelihoods, as well as people being able to actually live their lives, becomes more important. We are coming to that time whether some people like it or not.

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 02/03/2021 16:29

And teachers are now being vaccinated in Spain, even though our schools have stayed open since September. It's not as simple as it looks on first comparison.

PrincessNutNuts · 02/03/2021 16:31

[quote Racoonworld]@PrincessNutNuts you only have to look at the recent data to understand that covid is become less and less of a problem. Deaths are right down and falling rapidly. Vaccine numbers are going right up. There comes a time when saving the economy and people’s livelihoods, as well as people being able to actually live their lives, becomes more important. We are coming to that time whether some people like it or not.[/quote]
Lockdown is working, let's stop doing Lockdown?

MarshaBradyo · 02/03/2021 16:32

[quote Racoonworld]@PrincessNutNuts you only have to look at the recent data to understand that covid is become less and less of a problem. Deaths are right down and falling rapidly. Vaccine numbers are going right up. There comes a time when saving the economy and people’s livelihoods, as well as people being able to actually live their lives, becomes more important. We are coming to that time whether some people like it or not.[/quote]
I agree

But I’m not sure what others are expecting or would prefer

The data looks good from what I’ve seen quick read only

Racoonworld · 02/03/2021 16:32

@PrincessNutNuts vaccines are working, let’s carry on doing our fast rollout whilst getting on with our lives. We can’t stay locked down forever.

Racoonworld · 02/03/2021 16:34

@MarshaBradyo excellent data, deaths down 36% from last week. The vaccines are doing their job which is great news.

Dongdingdong · 02/03/2021 16:34

It is slower but Spain has vaccinated more people with 2 doses than the uk.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun as I said earlier, the AZ vaccine actually works more effectively when the second dose is delayed. So why are you saying the above like it’s a good thing?

MarshaBradyo · 02/03/2021 16:42

[quote Racoonworld]@MarshaBradyo excellent data, deaths down 36% from last week. The vaccines are doing their job which is great news.[/quote]
Brilliant.

So so good to read this

PrincessNutNuts · 02/03/2021 16:46

[quote Racoonworld]@PrincessNutNuts vaccines are working, let’s carry on doing our fast rollout whilst getting on with our lives. We can’t stay locked down forever.[/quote]
Who is saying forever?

I'm saying do it properly so we don't have to do it again.

Like I said the last time and the time before...

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 02/03/2021 16:47

@Dongdingdong

It is slower but Spain has vaccinated more people with 2 doses than the uk.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun as I said earlier, the AZ vaccine actually works more effectively when the second dose is delayed. So why are you saying the above like it’s a good thing?

That's not why they did it though, is it? That came out later. Anyway it's not what this thread is about.
Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 02/03/2021 16:54

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun Sorry but thay was exactly why they did it. Early data from trials showed the vaccine was more effective with a longer gap. The fact that this meant more people got a first dose quicker was a win win all round

Dongdingdong · 02/03/2021 17:01

That's not why they did it though, is it? That came out later. Anyway it's not what this thread is about.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun they did it because the scientists thought it was the most effective strategy to protect as many people as possible, as quickly as possible - and it is. So I don’t get why you’re saying the Spanish rollout is slower “but we’ve vaccinated more people with the second dose”. It’s practically irrelevant.

HotPenguin · 02/03/2021 17:06

I think cases will go up for sure after schools open, and we won't be "back to normal" as we will have all the shenanigans of bubbles bursting and individual years and schools closing. But there will be far fewer hospitalisations and deaths, thanks to the impact of the vaccine. It is a bit shit for teachers who haven't been vaccinated.

PrincessNutNuts · 03/03/2021 04:12

@HotPenguin

I think cases will go up for sure after schools open, and we won't be "back to normal" as we will have all the shenanigans of bubbles bursting and individual years and schools closing. But there will be far fewer hospitalisations and deaths, thanks to the impact of the vaccine. It is a bit shit for teachers who haven't been vaccinated.
There'll be a honeymoon period while the exponential spread is getting up to speed, but once it hits its stride, there's a distinct possibility that the end of restrictions combined with increased transmissibility will help it get to everybody it can make seriously ill which would lead to high hospital admissions.

Allowing high prevalence because "cases don't matter" is the ideal condition to create loads of new variants, some of which won't give two hoots that you had an earlier form of covid, or one of the vaccines, cos they can get round that.

It's a recipe for disaster, but I guess we as a country are determined to (not) learn the hard way. Again.

User133847 · 03/03/2021 07:22

@Racoonworld

I think a lot of us have reached the end of what we’re prepared to do now and the government know it. They will have to stick to the road map or face mass uncompliance making them look like idiots. I’ve already made plans to see my family and friends and will be sticking to them, in agreement with everyone we know.
People were clearly mixing outdoors even before the roadmap was announced.
jasjas1973 · 03/03/2021 07:47

Allowing high prevalence because "cases don't matter" is the ideal condition to create loads of new variants, some of which won't give two hoots that you had an earlier form of covid, or one of the vaccines, cos they can get round that

Such as was allowed to happen last Autumn with the Kent variant.
Research in Brazil is showing that previous infection with CV doesn't stop getting infected with the new P variant.

So we know what happens.

Biden is making sure teachers & staff get vaccinated before schools reopen.

I really don't know why, as we are so far ahead of the curve on vaccinations, we haven't done this.

Quartz2208 · 03/03/2021 07:51

Yes I think people really have started to reach the limit particularly with outside half term was definitely a turning point

In terms of seriously ill the data does show that the bit we are lacking having vaccinated now is the over 40s and 50s and remainder of Geoup 6.

In theory that should be done by Easter - then we see how the vaccines work and with the variants. I think the 12th April opening up is key and what happens then and whether it is kept down then

I think the 12th April one will happen I think the others will depend on the effectiveness of this strategy

There is positive news though with the Oxford Vaccine saying the new variants so far can be vaccinated against and it seems to have slowed down

I guess it depends on how risk averse you are

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 03/03/2021 11:00

@PrincessNutNuts how long do you think we should stay in lockdown for ?
Zero covid is impossible to achieve here so what level do you think is ok?
What about the economy and people struggling with lockdown when is this important for you to consider?
its not easy but the governents plan seem ok , no dates are set in stone and depend on the data , we are opening bit by bit with plenty if time in between to access the data

Quartz2208 · 03/03/2021 11:41

Well if you want quick Texas has just lifted all of it restrictions (including masks) having vaccinated around 30% of its adult population with 7k cases a day so I guess we can see what happens there

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