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?

@WeavingWandering

I agree that more and more people are just going to stop paying attention. I’m alone & pregnant and it’s been really hard not to just say f*ck it and drive myself some place nice for a walk (on my own) rather than rattling around a house when literally millions are now mixing at school (and school gates)

But - I’ll be the first to complain when my home birth plan goes back out the window when infection rates rise again. And lost months of my life (pre-Covid) waiting for an operation - so I really feel for all the people whose operations will be delayed because of it ...

And people seem to forget that the vaccine just stops you getting as sick- it doesn’t stop you passing it on... I appreciate that the point of lockdown is to keep hospital admissions low - but equally, many people are not eligible for the vaccine (never mind just waiting for their turn- they may just never be able to get it). Are we just going to shove all the non-eligible people under a bus? I’m not saying everyone needs to lockdown forever but ... equally- the vaccine is NOT going to stop infection rates rising and that IS going to put unvaccinated people at risk.

I’m significantly less sympathetic if you choose to not get a vaccine- but as someone who has been told it’s unlikely they will ever be able to get one, it’s lovely to hear that people are happy for rates to rise...

Actually there is insufficient evidence around whether people can pass on the virus when vaccinated. The likelihood is that they won't as their viral load will be insignificant but more evidence is needed. That doesn't mean vaccines don't stop transmission.

It's one thing to see your family that you haven't seen for a year once or twice, being cautious, masks, social distancing etc. I can understand people needing to do this for mental health reasons.

It's another to just say 'fuck it' and give up on the lot. No SD, no masks, mixing with lots of people at once, having big parties and sleepovers.

If you do the latter then you will be directly responsible if a vaccine resistant variant takes off. And then all the progress of the vaccination program will have been for nothing - as well as it being a 'fuck you' to all the HCPs who have sacrificed so much to care for those who have become so ill.

I've been doing what I want since 15th Feb when all the vulnerable were vaccinated

I see my parents and Nan. Kids have stopped over a few times but won't now they're back at school. I have seen a friend a couple of times and my dps best mate comes round to our house as they work together anyway.

I'm meeting people indoors and staying over. I have been since about September and a lot of people I know are doing the same, including 2 friends who have long covid. Still wearing masks in public places, but otherwise I'm behaving as normally as it's possible to be. I have no children and no contact with anyone elderly. I struggled a lot mentally when I was being strict with the rules so made my choice.

@mn81987

I've been doing what I want since 15th Feb when all the vulnerable were vaccinated

Except they haven't been.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants in which case at what point do you think we should start being able to socialise indoors? We will not attain zero covid so going by your argument should we be locked down forever? I’m perfectly happy to go with a less than 1 in 10,000 chance that the person I’m chatting to inside has covid. What levels would make you feel that it is “safe”?

@Iwouldbecomplex

I'm meeting people indoors and staying over. I have been since about September and a lot of people I know are doing the same, including 2 friends who have long covid. Still wearing masks in public places, but otherwise I'm behaving as normally as it's possible to be. I have no children and no contact with anyone elderly. I struggled a lot mentally when I was being strict with the rules so made my choice.

I'm really struggling reading posts like yours. It is so upsetting so read all these posts of people who think they have some special power to be immune from passing it on.

I caught it despite following the rules, thanks to people like you. Perhaps someone like you was the person who passed it on to me. My DH, who is completely healthy normally, is still not fully better nearly 3 months on. This is going go cause us difficulties, as I'm just about to have a baby, and he is still not fully well.

You have no idea how much impact your choice, to see loads of different people, has had. It could have led to hundreds of infections. By mixing to that extent, you have definitely contributed to the spreading on infection.

There are people who are grabby and entitled in life in general, so why would they be any different when it comes to Covid? (looking at you @StylishMummy)

at the inappropriateness of your username

I;ve said "stuff it" already. Obviously can't break into shops and restaurants which aren't open. But my hairdresser came into the house yesterday, cut and coloured my hair and trimmed the kids hair. Kids have been meeting up with more than one person outdoors all year, we've let them have friends in the house too.

I'm so over the guilt-tripping and the "murdering granny" argument and the rest of it.

Absolutely understand the frustration everyone has towards 'rule breakers', but only on Mumsnet do the vast majority claim to be playing by the rules.

I won't be held in this ridiculous limbo anymore and am living my life. I'm not killing granny, or my parents, or anyone else for that matter. What are you all going to flap about in June when restrictions are mostly done away with?

@PregnantGotCovid @Logoff

I'm not breaking the rules, mainly because I don't have the balls to in all honesty, but I don't grudge people who do.

I don't jump on Mumsnet to scream 'selfish cunt' at people who have broken the rules because I understand we've all had enough of this, if someone gets to see their parents or their friends and it does wonders for their mental health then I can't find it in me to get angry about it.

I can't understand people who do.

And you know what? everyone is selfish. Every single person. We all put ourselves, our families and our friends above people we don't know.

People who claim to be utterly selfish and who say they consider the population as a whole all the time are liars.

"My DH, who is completely healthy normally, is still not fully better nearly 3 months on. This is going go cause us difficulties, as I'm just about to have a baby, and he is still not fully well."

When I was 7, 8, 9 months pregnant, my DH was so ill he couldn't get out of bed some days. With a mental health condition which was fully controlled before lockdown, and has got worse over the past year, due to lockdown. I suspect that he will never be as well as he was a year ago.

Is my DH's health less important than your DH's? Understandably you care more about your DH and I care more about mine. That doesn't make either of us selfish.

People who claim to be utterly selfish and who say they consider the population as a whole all the time are liars.

Selfless, I mean.

I'm so over the guilt-tripping and the "murdering granny" argument and the rest of it.

Me too

I will still abide by the rules in the last 12 months I have nursed covid residents being very ill from covid and seen some die from it to. I'm was a care assistant and now left that role as it has opened my eyes and people like you OP are selfish

If the numbers jump the restrictions won't be lifted in June. For me it isn't about killing I don't want another summer holiday doing the same walks dodging people and wearing masks.
We are so close to the end let's just get it done with.

Killing granny

The reason why we are in this shit situation a year later is due to the government and their continual fuck ups. As stated, most spread is in hospitals and care homes where the most vulnerable are and should have been protected.
Also factories and prisons.

We should not be in a lockdown a year later. Lockdown is an emergency blunt tool, not one to keep using over and over again. No wonder compliance is waning. I don’t blame people

Yep, 2 years since our 2 week lockdown to flatten the curve.
That didn't happen, lot's of people still working who needn't have been.
Hence, it didn't work.

meant one year

@mn81987

I've been doing what I want since 15th Feb when all the vulnerable were vaccinated

Except that's nowhere near true.

And it's recently been suggested that blood cancer patients don't achieve much immunity until the second jab, for which many will be waiting another couple of months or so.

I'm so over the guilt-tripping and the "murdering granny" argument and the rest of it

Me three. It doesn't wash anymore. It has little impact. Some sanctimonious twerp on MN capitalising and bolding the word SELFISH makes no difference.