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?

It’s not like it’s for fun, it’s not like in a famine or world war everyone went “times up guys, they’ve had a year let’s stop and get back to normal”

... well actually sometimes wars do end because the cost of them is considered too great. And the famine analogy doesn't hold up, because it is usually an event that you can't control how to respond to.

The whole point about covid, as everyone on every side has said all along, is that it's a balance of risks on both sides. Everyone has forgotten this. As vaccines make the risk of the virus itself smaller - the risks on the other side (to the economy of things staying shut, to people's mental health of not seeing family) weigh more heavily in the balance.

There always was a balance - that balance is shifting.

Exactly. The balance is shifting. Enough of the ‘what if the vaccines become less effective’ ‘what if we get a mutant variant’

We cannot keep a whole population in lockdown for any longer than necessary because of ‘what ifs’.

Some people on here will have a shock come June. And when all these festivals happen in summer and nightclubs open.:::

Surely you must recognise for a lot of people a year is all they can do?

It’s not like it’s for fun, it’s not like in a famine or world war everyone went “times up guys, they’ve had a year let’s stop and get back to normal”

So weve put our lives on hold for a year and that's still not good enough for you? Sure, we're the selfish ones though

A year is not a lifetime and even in the worst affected places there was a period, albeit brief, of loosened restrictions last summer.

Yes and weve already done an entire year of restrictions of some sort. But that isnt enough

All eyes on Brazil. The variant there is causing utter devastation. Anyone thinking stuff it risks us being thrown back to square one.

We MUST continue.

@BonnieDundee

Yes and weve already done an entire year of restrictions of some sort. But that isnt enough

No, there are indications that it may not be quite enough.

Well it’s enough for me. I’m in ROI and in the last year, there’s only been 8 weeks or so where it was legal for me to travel to see my parents.

That’s not reasonable or sustainable. So no, no more.

How are Brazil getting on with vaccinations?

We live in a democracy. The government have been surprised by how compliant and how long they have got away with multiple lockdowns for.
Once the vulnerable (oh and all adults 🙄) have been vaccinated by the very effective vaccines we have then that’s enough. The balance will have tipped (though I’d argue it already has).

People should be able to visit family. Many countries have allowed this yet we just accept it being fine not to see parents and grandparents to see grandchildren for nearly a year.

More and more people are realizing that whatever we do it will never be enough.

A year
Two years
Five years
Ten years It will never be enough.

And on top of that the public will always be blamed for breaking the rules.
The mentality has gone back to the 80s. Back then it was your fault if you got HIV

Now its your fault if you get Covid You must have broken the rules.
Because illness is seen as a moral failing. People were also very reluctant to believe in post viral syndrome in the past especially if people with it couldnt work and were claiming benefits! People with ME were belitted, called lazy and told it was all in the mind. I wonder how they feel now!
The Government and certain people on here are happy to use long Covid to scare others and for emotional blackmail purposes. I wonder if the willingness to take it seriously will evaporate once the people who are suffering with it start applying for disability benefits.

Twat wanksock is due on our screens shortly with more gas lighting

Im probably sound synical for somone so young but I really doubt in June things will be 'back to normal'. And I think thats about the only thing most people I know are hanging onto to make them stick, on the whole, to the rules.

Am I the only one who feel its much more likely that in about May there will be an 'increase of cases' or a new 'Spring time mutatnt killer strain' thats appeared, meaning all of our long-awaited summer plans that we have socially distanced like mad for are only going to be taken away again, just like Xmas.

Me and OH have accepted that this is going to go on for the forseeable future, and are planning our lives around it rather than waiting and waiting for things.

@lettinggoagain

Im probably sound synical for somone so young but I really doubt in June things will be 'back to normal'. And I think thats about the only thing most people I know are hanging onto to make them stick, on the whole, to the rules.

Am I the only one who feel its much more likely that in about May there will be an 'increase of cases' or a new 'Spring time mutatnt killer strain' thats appeared, meaning all of our long-awaited summer plans that we have socially distanced like mad for are only going to be taken away again, just like Xmas.

Me and OH have accepted that this is going to go on for the forseeable future, and are planning our lives around it rather than waiting and waiting for things.

Wow you're a ray of sunshine!

@lettinggoagain I really hope you are wrong. The prospect of normality in June is the only thing that's saving my mental health right now

@kittensarecute It is really really tough and Im sorry to hear that. Have you managed to get any MH support? Last year was so difficult and at many points I myself did not want to be here tbh if it werent for my support worker i dont know what i'd have done tbh. But we keep moving and this wont have me defeated.

I do hope I'm wrong I really do, I just hate to see everyone getting let down time and time over. Being 'good citizens' and 'following the rules' when every time the govt just move the goalposts even further. The announcements just feel like an abusive partner that says they'll change then never does. I've always prefered to not get hopes up so I dont have to come down if nothing changes.

@Delatron

How are Brazil getting on with vaccinations?

4% of the population have received the 1st vaccine in comparison to 37% in the UK

Thanks @Wellbythebloodyhell

So the ‘look at Brazil’ argument doesn’t wash.

@Delatron

Thanks *@Wellbythebloodyhell*

So the ‘look at Brazil’ argument doesn’t wash.

Actually it does wash. I suggest you have a read of this

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-56342303

Reinfection risk is higher as is transmissibility with P1 variant. If the situation in Brazil is not brought under control there is a risk further mutations will happen and spread regionally and internationally. Their president is trying to ignore the situation and they have minimal precautions in place due to poor decision making.

It’s also the middle of summer there too.

Sorry @Thewiseoneincognito I have been told off for comparing countries with completely different demographics before so I don’t think we can compare ourselves with Brazil....

You appear to ignore the massive difference in vaccination rate which was my point...

@Delatron

Sorry *@Thewiseoneincognito* I have been told off for comparing countries with completely different demographics before so I don’t think we can compare ourselves with Brazil....

You appear to ignore the massive difference in vaccination rate which was my point...

No, you’re missing my point which is precisely the fact that their vaccination rate is so low which is risking further mutations to form fairly easily. They are doing very little to try and contain this mess which could lead to a big headache for the rest of the world.

Yes but that wasn’t the original argument @Thewiseoneincognito
We are doing far better than Brazil with vaccinations. We can’t keep locked down for months just because other countries are faring worse and maybe a mutant variant may spread here at some point. What a stupid argument.

@Thewiseoneincognito Totally agree with you. They have already explained that will happen.

@Delatron You must have read about this happening and how easily this could spread over here?

@Delatron

Yes but that wasn’t the original argument *@Thewiseoneincognito* We are doing far better than Brazil with vaccinations. We can’t keep locked down for months just because other countries are faring worse and maybe a mutant variant may spread here at some point. What a stupid argument.

Believe me, the alternative to not being locked down to avoid mutations is a catastrophe you can not comprehend.

The f**k it attitude is why I’ve decided not to continue a few relatively recent friendships.
I’m usually on the ball but I didn’t realise how many people didn’t care about others’ health...