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.

@secretllama
Yeah. Because avoiding natural human contact, treating strangers like biological weapon carrying lepers and telling people to stay away from anyone not in their household isn't going to have a mental health impact.

Absolutely.

People are seriously thick as shit or massively in denial if they think Chris Witty is the reason this situation is ongoing. Do you really think this man is the puppet master behind the government

He's paid to advise them in one particular area. He's not an economist. He's a doctor. Others advise them in other areas. It's the government's decision which advice influences policy.

@Chickady

People are seriously thick as shit or massively in denial if they think Chris Witty is the reason this situation is ongoing. Do you really think this man is the puppet master behind the government

He's paid to advise them in one particular area. He's not an economist. He's a doctor. Others advise them in other areas. It's the government's decision which advice influences policy.

Yes, without doubt he is.

*Yes, without doubt he is.

And presumably all the other governments in the world too am I right?

Hilarious thought of Chris Whitty as a puppet master

@ChameleonClara

Hilarious thought of Chris Whitty as a puppet master

Desperate to keep himself in the limelight too

nobody's mental health is affected by wearing a mask

How incredibly ignorant can you be?

CHris wHOttoY is ONe lETTer awAy from CHRIST and iS In Charge Of BUll GatES miCRchOP

Desperate to keep himself in the limelight too

Yes that's definitely right, we're in lockdown because Chris Witty likes media attention

Every other CMO must also be similarly attracted to the limelight.

Beaniecats

Desperate to keep himself in the limelight too“

That again, Beaniecats? Have you watched any briefings? That sure as hell is not a man who is comfortable “in the limelight”.

I need social distancing to end yesterday. Enough is enough.

@DenisetheMenace

Beaniecats

Desperate to keep himself in the limelight too“

That again, Beaniecats? Have you watched any briefings? That sure as hell is not a man who is comfortable “in the limelight”.

Really? He seems to be constantly on them, giving interviews. I'd say he enjoys it very much

It’s his job, Beaniecats.

@LivinLaVidaLoki

To those who arre wondering why masks arent mentioned in the road map, my understanding is that masks (along with other SD measures), like foreign travel arent in the roadmap because they have a separate review and that review will determine the SD measures going forward. This doesnt mean that because they arent mentioned they are here to stay forever.

The likelihood given by Jonathan Van Tam and Chris Whitty is that by the end of the roadmap period (June 21st), masks and social distancing will essentially be personal choice, but may need to be bought in again over the Autumn/Winter depending on how things look then.

Umm no, when masks and social distancing are in the bin where they belong they must be ditched permanently not just until the autumn and winter.

@PuzzledObserver

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.

No thanks. Restrictions must never return once they are scrapped.

@DenisetheMenace

It’s his job, Beaniecats.

Except he's not doing his job. Whitty is only interested in covid. Other public health issues he ignores. He should be sacked

@kittensarecute I completely agree, I'll be burning mine....

I was just making the point that that is what has been said about masks/sd etc but seems to always get twisted into "whitty etc have all said we'll need masks until at least the end of next winter"

@PurBal

At our church we won't be going back to normal. We have people who have been shielding since March 2020 (even though they didn't have to the entire time) and "going back to normal" would exclude a lot of people, like your CEV son. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. And church should be somewhere everyone, not just the vaccinated, feel safe. I'm pregnant, there is evidence that contracting COVID-19 in the third trimester can be serious for the mother and cause preterm birth (although there's obviously not loads of research on the subject). If church goes back to normal I'd be excluded from worship and that's not in keeping with the mission. For us we plan a gradual easing.

But surely all the things you mention will also be a problem with a gradual easing? You either go back to normal at some point or you don't - there isn't going to be a moment where it's safe for absolutely everyone. And continuing as things are also excludes people - literally in the case of most churches I know, who have heavily restricted numbers under social distancing and so can't have the full congregation. They also make worship less accessible for other groups, such as families with young children.

I realise I'm late to this.

"They don't mean anything, any more than wearing surgical gloves or a hairnet, except for those with need for exemptions, who I respect entirely." @ChameleonClara

I started a new job late last year. I still don't know what half of my colleagues actually look like! Unless I'm eating or drinking in the same room, I haven't seen their faces properly. Masks are NOT neutral, they are an obstacle to effective communication and connection.

@kittensarecute

No thanks. Restrictions must never return once they are scrapped.

OK, we are talking hypothetically here, because we don’t know the future, and neither you nor I are in charge (unless you are Boris). But.

IF cases started to rise again in the Autumn, and hospitalisations, and deaths, because of some combination of inadequate vaccine uptake/new variants which can evade vaccine - or even a completely new pandemic virus - do you mean we should not have restrictions ever again? No matter how bad it got?

Whitty talked ages ago about us reaching the point where we live with an acceptable level of deaths, and I think he’s right. I don’t know what that number is - we seem to tolerate around 10,000 flu deaths a year on average. But if COVID death numbers were rising and (say reached a couple of hundred again in the Autumn,) surely we would have to do something?

I think we would, anyway.

I think it may be slightly farcical if nightclubs open with people swearing and licking each other’s faces yet we social distance and wear masks in other places no?

But nightclubs (do we still have nightclubs?) are completely voluntary. Everyone has to buy food so shops, banks etc are different.

[quote PuzzledObserver]@kittensarecute

No thanks. Restrictions must never return once they are scrapped.

OK, we are talking hypothetically here, because we don’t know the future, and neither you nor I are in charge (unless you are Boris). But.

IF cases started to rise again in the Autumn, and hospitalisations, and deaths, because of some combination of inadequate vaccine uptake/new variants which can evade vaccine - or even a completely new pandemic virus - do you mean we should not have restrictions ever again? No matter how bad it got?

Whitty talked ages ago about us reaching the point where we live with an acceptable level of deaths, and I think he’s right. I don’t know what that number is - we seem to tolerate around 10,000 flu deaths a year on average. But if COVID death numbers were rising and (say reached a couple of hundred again in the Autumn,) surely we would have to do something?

I think we would, anyway.[/quote]
No thanks. Can't go through all this again.

No thanks. Restrictions must never return once they are scrapped.

That’s a silly nonsensical thing to say. The data will dictate whether restrictions return or not. If there is a serious risk the NHS could become overwhelmed at any point then of course there will be restrictions. There is no choice in reality. An overwhelmed NHS is not an option.

@musicalfrog

I realise I'm late to this.

"They don't mean anything, any more than wearing surgical gloves or a hairnet, except for those with need for exemptions, who I respect entirely." @ChameleonClara

I started a new job late last year. I still don't know what half of my colleagues actually look like! Unless I'm eating or drinking in the same room, I haven't seen their faces properly. Masks are NOT neutral, they are an obstacle to effective communication and connection.

You misunderstand my meaning. I accept the frustrations, but they are simply a piece of equipment. The have been turned into a political symbol in the USA and UK.

Ijustknowitstimetogo

No thanks. Restrictions must never return once they are scrapped.”

Really hope they don’t, after being banged up for over a year.
If a variant targeted children in the future I’d bold the doors and windows in an instant.