Will lots just say 'stuff it' come the 23rd?

[JuneSummer]

It'll soon be a year since lockdown was first called and me and DH have been watching lots of TV coverage over the last few days. It's just dawned on us this week that we have now not seen our parents for a year, the DC haven't hugged their grandparents, we haven't been for any days out as a family, DC1 hasn't had a single uni class in person. The list goes on.

DH and I are now quickly coming to the conclusion that we just cannot and will not go on living like this any longer as a family. Particularly when there seems to be no end in sight if you listen to people like Chris Whitty and Christina Pagel (who was wanting masks and social distancing for the foreseeable future last night on the news).

Both sets of parents are in their mid 60s and have been vaccinated. We are now strongly minded to visit both at the beginning of April and allow them to see their DGC.

I suspect we will not be alone. Will lots of people simply say 'no more' upon realising they've spent a year of their lives not living?

I most definitely won't be stopping seeing people again anyway

Me neither and I think its "selfish" for people to be expected to live this way long term. What's the point in living if there's nothing worth living for?

Children spread it.

Look at Brazil, that’s what life without lockdown if required would be like.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Children spread it.

Look at Brazil, that’s what life without lockdown if required would be like.

We should keep children indoors forever then that's definitely the answer 👍

@Wellbythebloodyhell yes it is selfish of some people to expect that of others long term. There are always people vulnerable to different illnesses, and covid is no different now we have the vaccine. We never locked down to protect individual people, we locked down to protect the NHS, and now with the vaccine the NHS is no longer at risk so there's no need for restrictions anymore. Those still vulnerable will have to keep shielding if they are worried, same choice many others have faced for other illnesses. It's a shame but it is what it is now, we have to get on with our lives and live with this virus as it will always be here.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Children spread it.

Look at Brazil, that’s what life without lockdown if required would be like.

Yes children spread it, but (most) are not vulnerable to it. Higher case rates don't matter if hospitalisations and death rates stay low enough so they don't overwhelm the NHS. New variants will be dealt with like new variants for flu, vaccine boosters each year (this Autumns is already in production for Covid). Besides, testing on children is underway so it is likely vaccinations for them will start in September anyway.

Case rates do matter because of new variants. How many new and worse ones do you want because you said "Cases don't matter" and gave it every chance to mutate. Again.

Case rates do matter because with a more transmissible variant more cases = more deaths purely because of maths. The faster it transmits the faster it gets to people it can make seriously ill.

Already done that here with v elderly grandparents 86 and 81 for whom anyway could be their last. Are both vaccinated kids taking lateral flow tests twice a week. Us taking them twice a week as we have school age kids. Seriously how low is the risk.

@PrincessNutNuts

Case rates do matter because of new variants. How many new and worse ones do you want because you said "Cases don't matter" and gave it every chance to mutate. Again.

Case rates do matter because with a more transmissible variant more cases = more deaths purely because of maths. The faster it transmits the faster it gets to people it can make seriously ill.

I fail to see the point of vaccinating people if we still need to continue with these tenuous restrictions long term. We will never eradicate covid we have to live with it, and I mean actually live our lives not merely existing behind closed doors.

In my view only those with little self respect and respect for others are saying stuff it. The majority of people I know are still abiding by the rules.

I suppose the big test will be what happens if they admit the June date for lifting social contact restrictions will be cancelled. So many people are clinging on to that expecting this to be under control by then that should they change the goalposts people may rebel.

@Racoonworld
When you say, ‘Those still vulnerable will have to keep shielding if they are worried, same choice many others have faced for other illnesses’.

But a lot of us can’t shield totally. I have to take my kids to school, never mind the risk of kids picking up the playground is a joke, no one distancing, it isn’t safe at all. And already tried home schooling while all the other kids went back, I am not a teacher, they need to be at school. They went back last week, first time in a year.

Can you not see if everyone was doing what you are doing things would be 100% worse. You would need a pass to go to the flipping shop never mind see your family!!!

Also, for those of you breaking the rules, are you open about it to everyone you know or keep it hush hush?

[quote Racoonworld]@Wellbythebloodyhell yes it is selfish of some people to expect that of others long term. There are always people vulnerable to different illnesses, and covid is no different now we have the vaccine. We never locked down to protect individual people, we locked down to protect the NHS, and now with the vaccine the NHS is no longer at risk so there's no need for restrictions anymore. Those still vulnerable will have to keep shielding if they are worried, same choice many others have faced for other illnesses. It's a shame but it is what it is now, we have to get on with our lives and live with this virus as it will always be here.[/quote]
Many vulnerable can't shield because they have school children living in their household.

Many vulnerable can't shield because they need to go into high covid risk places such as hospitals for consultations, treatments, etc.

You can't get much more vulnerable than a cancer patient in the middle of chemotherapy. They have no choice but to go to their local GP surgery for regular blood tests, go to the day treatment centre to sit for hours having chemotherapy, to go to the out patients dept waiting amongst all manner of other patients for their consultation with the oncologist, etc. They can't shield can they? Unless you're happy to pay more tax so that the oncologist, nurses etc can go to their home rather than the patient going to the hospital.

What about the vulnerable living in care homes. They can't shield from the staff can they?

Shielding is a red herring. It's impossible. The vulnerable can minimise their interactions with other people, but they can't avoid it completely. You need low covid rates throughout society to protect the vulnerable, and those in close contact either need to be vaccinated or do a lot more in terms of social distancing, wearing protective clothing, washing their hands more, and avoiding risky places themselves!

We seem to be the only people we know sticking to the rules. Had friends moaning that I won't drive an hour to see them in their houses and DD who is 17 hasn't seen her boyfriend since December as he lives 50 miles away. Even my mother, who is 70 abs clinically vulnerable is acting like the pandemic is over now she's had her first dose of the vaccine.

No of course total shielding isn't possible, it never is, but those who are vulnerable will need to do what they can. In June when (hopefully) all restrictions are lifted the virus will still be here circulating, the idea is that most people will have some protection from the vaccine and deaths and hospitalisation should be at a manageable rate for the NHS to cope with. Of course there will still be some people who are vulnerable, same for every illness. I really don't know what some posters are expecting of everyone, do you really want the whole population to stay in lockdown and not be allowed to see family for many more months? The current situation isn't exactly sustainable is it?

@Workinghardeveryday we are open about what rules we are breaking, seeing as we aren't actually breaking many, just seeing close family. We also like to be open with our friends who we are arranging outdoor visits with so they can decide whether to see us or not. We were surprised however that pretty much everyone we have told is doing the same thing, and therefore are fine with us seeing our family too. I think most people are, just it doesn't really come up in conversation until one person brings it up.

@Racoonworld would you tell all your colleagues at work or others mums on the playground or mention it in conversation with anyone but close friends?

[quote Workinghardeveryday]@Racoonworld would you tell all your colleagues at work or others mums on the playground or mention it in conversation with anyone but close friends?[/quote]
Yes, I have already told some work colleagues in passing catch up calls (I work from home due to covid so don't speak to loads every day), and they have all done the same too, and have discussed with my NCT group and other mums in various online groups as they are all seeing close family too as no one wants to deprive their baby of getting to know their own family any more which I think is fair enough.

Not really sure what you're getting at, do you think it's some sort of taboo subject? Maybe it used to be, but not now it's common to be breaking small rules and I'm not embarrassed about what I'm doing at all.

Also, for those of you breaking the rules, are you open about it to everyone you know or keep it hush hush?

The only people who need to know are my parents and my sister. None of us are interacting with anyone else. So just quietly getting on with it.

Although I hear more and more people drop it in to conversations so am pretty that lots of others are also quietly doing the same thing.

I'm.still sticking to it bit feel.lole an absolute mug as it seems very few others are.
I'm totally alone ina strange town, dumped by my husband, lost 2 jobs and its shit.

I'd have to travel an hour at least to meet someone which makes it harder than all the selfish twats gathering in the park at 3.30 every afternoon when the schools kick out large groups of mum's gathered around pushchairs. Cannot even see the play equipmemts for all the kids clambering on top of it in 4 different coloured school uniforms. Makes a complete mockery of everything schools put in place with social distancing, masks, one way systems, staggered times etc. Feel really sorry for teachers and their families.

I hope people would be open about it. It gives their family and friends the opportunity to to make an informed decision about whether they want to have any contact with them. Unfortunately you can't exercise choice in many everyday environments, only in social environments with friends and family.

@LoopyLockdown if you had your Mum Dad brother sister best friend living in the next street would you still be sticking to the rules? Your reasoning for not seeing them mainly seems to be distance rather than social conscience. The amount of people on my SM who enjoyed a lovely mother's day lunch together the weekend its more common than you might think.

Not really sure what you're getting at, do you think it's some sort of taboo subject? Maybe it used to be, but not now it's common to be breaking small rules and I'm not embarrassed about what I'm doing at all.
I think it's less about whether you are or should be embarrassed and more about, as @ilovesooty says, meaning that others ca make an informed decision. If I know that families in ds's class are meeting up in each other's houses etc, then I can make a decision about ds being in school and act accordingly.

Cannot even see the play equipmemts for all the kids clambering on top of it in 4 different coloured school uniforms.

Fgs quit the dramatics. Its children playing in the park. Outdoor transmission is known to be very unlikely.

@HazeyJaneII yes I can see the point of that. It hadn't come up as a subject until recently when everyone has started making plans to see each other when outdoor gatherings are allowed at end of March. When we have been making plans we do discuss what each other has been doing, and I know my friends well enough that if either party were uncomfortable we could say. Turns out that as yet no one has been uncomfortable and not wanted to make plans with us as they are all seeing close family too!

I know very few people sticking to the rules now. I don't know anyone going mad and partying but people are going to other people's houses etc now.