Do we stop social distancing and masks on 21st June?

[elliejjtiny]

Just wondering as I'm getting mixed messages. I thought that everything was allowed to open on 21st June (providing numbers don't increase again) but social distancing and masks remain. But at our last church meeting (on zoom) the vicar was saying that the guidelines say all restrictions are ending which includes masks and social distancing so the church can open up again with no restrictions in place. I'm not sure about this. Also by then all the CEV, CV and over 60's in our church will be at least 3 weeks post 2nd vaccination on 21st June apart from my 7 year old who is CV but can't have the vaccine until it's licenced for children. There are also other adults and children who aren't CV so won't be vaccinated by then either.

@CovidHalloween

Anyone thinking social distancing and masks will end on 21st must have been living under a rock for the last year or as a hermit or as an isolated tribe deep in the amazon.

Oh I know, Whitty will want this to go on as long as he can

I thought life was going back to 'normal' on 21st June. Who wants to go to a concert or a nightclub wearing a mask? You get sweaty enough as it is!

Current roadmap has all restrictions gone on the 21st June. Yes that’s the earliest and may change. But they aren’t keeping social distancing and masks in for months and months.

While I agree that nightclubs with masks and 1m+ distancing sound impractical, the fact remains that reducing social distancing measures (including mask wearing) is a separate step from opening nightclubs and removing legal limits on how many people can meet and where.

Extract from the government report, paragraph 145:

145. Social distancing is difficult and damaging for businesses and, as a result, it is important to return to as near to normal as quickly as possible. Ahead of Step 4, as more is understood about the impact of vaccines on transmission and a far greater proportion of the population has been vaccinated, the Government will complete a review of social distancing measures and other long-term measures that have been put in place to limit transmission. The results of the review will help inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which rules on 1m+, face masks and other measures may be lifted. The review will also inform guidance on working from home - people should continue to work from home where they can until this review is complete.

@Delatron

Sweating not swearing! Though they’ll be doing that too...

Lol If swearing spreads Covid then I’m fucked

The way it was announced, BoJo's headline was that if the targets on numbers was met. Then June 21 or 22nd would be first normal day.
Freedom! Hotels, Festivals, pubs all freely open. Can't imagine a festival with masks!
If vaccinations not reached the target or if hospitalisations and case numbers not met, they re-think.

Can someone enlighten me about vaccinations for children please. (We don't have any connection with any) What age groups will they currently vaccinate?
Are all versions the same?

I find it all does my head in - earlier this week Chris Whitty told MPs that a 3rd wave was anticipated later this year (albeit smaller than 2nd wave) either late summer, autumn or winter but government suggests that on or after 21st June restrictions could be lifted - makes me feel that even when they are lifted, it will be on a temporary basis only - might be months, but if CW is right, feels that some of them might well make a return. Gets me down. I'd just like to get back to being able to work as I'm in leisure sector.

@Wherediditgo that made me laugh out loud

[quote notrub]@Dolciedolly

Unfortunately social distancing is causing a lot of harm mentally to a lot of people

Bollocks it is.

Stay at home orders maybe, but nobody's mental health is affected by wearing a mask, or not being able to go clubbing.[/quote]
My mental health is suffering because I haven't been within 2m of anyone I care about for months. No hugs, no kisses, not even a pat on the arm when I'm crying. So yeah - social distancing is affecting my mental health.

[quote notrub]@Dolciedolly

Unfortunately social distancing is causing a lot of harm mentally to a lot of people

Bollocks it is.

Stay at home orders maybe, but nobody's mental health is affected by wearing a mask, or not being able to go clubbing.[/quote]
I'm just a nobody then.

I won't be able to return to indoor Guiding because I can't cope with masks or visors which are not a magic solution. Having a leader hyperventilating and/ or going into sensory overwhelm and scratching their face to bleeding is not cool or practical.

I struggle to make face contact with people hiding 2/3s of their faces because I can't lipread them and their speech is extra distorted, so I end up staring at the floor putting all my mental energy into processing the speech and filling in the gaps rather than adding in the distraction of looking at the non-face.

So many things I've not done since 25th July because of masks, and ultimately much of that is about cycling money back around the economy or about participating in the community.

There's a lot of nobodies out there being damaged by face coverings.

I want to be a member of society again and can't until masks end up in landfill where they belong. Masks actually make me and the people around me feel like nobodies and it's not healthy.

Not everywhere. I am assuming that it may remain say on public transport and in GPs/hospitals, for example. Though we need to wait and see as I understand it is one of the four matters being considered in more detail (foreign travel being one of them).

@PilatesPeach

I find it all does my head in - earlier this week Chris Whitty told MPs that a 3rd wave was anticipated later this year (albeit smaller than 2nd wave) either late summer, autumn or winter but government suggests that on or after 21st June restrictions could be lifted - makes me feel that even when they are lifted, it will be on a temporary basis only - might be months, but if CW is right, feels that some of them might well make a return. Gets me down. I'd just like to get back to being able to work as I'm in leisure sector.

Ignore Whitty he has his own agenda

I’m not sure Chris Whitty specifically wants masks and social distancing to continue.

I would anticipate cinemas and nightclubs operating differently to before and possibly relying on lateral tests or similar immediately beforehand. Whilst social distancing and masks to some extent might stop, I think both will be back as soon as cases increase or we reach winter.

Hopefully meeting up with people and being able to give friends and family hugs can be sensibly accommodated as well.

I hope the social distancing on buses stays. It's bliss not having to sit next to someone else

I can’t believe I’m saying this - and I didn’t feel like this last year - but I would rather open up fully in June, let everyone have a good summer, then have some restrictions back in the Autumn/Winter, than slow the rate of reopening down eeevvveeen fuurrrther.....

I love singing, I’ve really missed it. I very much hope that when 21st June arrives, we will be able to sing in church. I don’t expect it, to be honest, but I would love it to happen. I’ve also got tickets for a weekend folk festival in July. Singers are half the programme.

The sooner social distancing and mask wearing ends the better, Regardless of what happens in public places I will no longer be social distancing in my house or garden when things start opening up whether that's June or earlier.

[quote notrub]@Dolciedolly

Unfortunately social distancing is causing a lot of harm mentally to a lot of people

Bollocks it is.

Stay at home orders maybe, but nobody's mental health is affected by wearing a mask, or not being able to go clubbing.[/quote]
Are you joking or just living under a rock? There’s zero doubt that not being able to go to clubs/ have anything close to a normal social life is having a significant impact on, particularly young people’s, mental health. You also must be aware that many people’s livelihoods and therefore their ability to pay their bills and feed their family depends on the nightlife industry. Obvious that will impact mental health.

When do you think that isolations will end? I fully understand the reason for isolations & whatever the illness you should of course stay home but surely asking anyone whose been in contact with a positive case to isolate can’t go on forever?

I've been wondering that @Daisy829. We can't keep testing and isolating forever.

A lot of businesses will not be able to function with 2m social distancing and masks. I for one won’t be going to somewhere like a cinema or theatre if I have to wear a mask.

As long as the NHS won’t be overwhelmed all restrictions must stop IMO. This was the reason we’ve had them in the first place. Sad for people who are vulnerable but Covid is just one of a number of things people are vulnerable to and we don’t grind society to a halt to stop them getting ill otherwise.

@Daisy829

When do you think that isolations will end? I fully understand the reason for isolations & whatever the illness you should of course stay home but surely asking anyone whose been in contact with a positive case to isolate can’t go on forever?

I don’t think contact isolation will continue but I think individuals with symptoms having to isolate will.

[quote notrub]@Dolciedolly

Unfortunately social distancing is causing a lot of harm mentally to a lot of people

Bollocks it is.

Stay at home orders maybe, but nobody's mental health is affected by wearing a mask, or not being able to go clubbing.[/quote]
It's not just about 'clubbing' though, is it? And I note you left out the poster's bit about how businesses can't survive with SD.

Continued SD means that restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars, gyms, cinemas, swimming pools, salons, transport and many more cannot operate at a profit. It's not just about standing on a yellow circle in the Tesco queue.

@RedcurrantPuff I think that’s fair really. I guess it’s like kids have to stay off for certain amount of times for things like chicken pox. I can’t wait for the day that close contact isolation stops it’s so disruptive.

@RedcurrantPuff

A lot of businesses will not be able to function with 2m social distancing and masks. I for one won’t be going to somewhere like a cinema or theatre if I have to wear a mask.

As long as the NHS won’t be overwhelmed all restrictions must stop IMO. This was the reason we’ve had them in the first place. Sad for people who are vulnerable but Covid is just one of a number of things people are vulnerable to and we don’t grind society to a halt to stop them getting ill otherwise.

So so true

I hope he's right. Ok at absolutely pointless once the elderly and vulnerable have been vaccinated. Obviously it is a personal choice to still use the guideline if anyone is scared