Is life never going back to normal?

[JuneMoonstone]

I feel incredibly lucky that I've lived 44 years of a normal life. I am heartbroken at the way life has become. Like so many others, I feel like I am existing, not living. I don't see any point in making plans, I don't feel any hope for the future. I was feeling quite positive about the progress made in the UK with vaccines and seeing the infection rates and death rates lower. However with the news about the rest of Europe going into lockdown due to escalating infection rates, I can't help but feel that we are never going to get out of this bloody mess. I cannot help but believe that we will have to live our lives under constant restrictions forever now because of this virus. Is life really going to be shit from now on? Will I ever be able to, for example, go into a busy pub on a Friday night and watch a live band and have a bloody good time again? Will we have to wear face masks permanently in public places from now on? I get a very strong feeling that this will be the case. It's my daughter I feel for the most. She's just 5 years old. What kind of a life is she going to have?

That's why there's an air of grimness

I don't share the air of grimness comment at all. Here spring has arrived and everyone is making plans to see their families and friends at Easter. We are organising garden birthday parties, drinks meets and dinner reservations. Most people I see are feeling very positive and optimistic, busy getting the garden ready for life to resume cryh I don't recognise any grimness at all

@StarCat2020

We need at least 70% of the U.K. population to have had both doses for herd immunity But all adults (18+) is only 77% of the UK population.

Also I am sure that the figure for herd immunity has been revised upwards from 70%.

If I remember where I read that I will post a link.

Yes, The Israelis are aiming for 90% of the population.

@GlitterWasp

PrincessNutNuts My son told me that his shielding teachers are coming back to school after the Easter break (April 13th)

Oblomov I feel awful too. The 'one year anniversary' hit me like a punch in the stomach. I sent my mum one of those 'Things will get better. They will' pictures, & she came back with 'It was only supposed to be a few weeks originally '

I'm worrying about other countries too. About new variants & the people who live there & are suffering. Seems to be a lot of 'We are vaccinated in the UK, so everything will be fine' on here.

I wonder if any of them will have had their second doses by then?

@MiaMarshmallows

I'm very positive about things returning to a almost complete normal by September. Even if there is a 3rd wave, people are less likely to get to the hospital stage as the most vulnerable and elderly have had the vaccination

I do not disagree with the timing laid out this statement from Chris Whitty that you quoted upthread:

“And what will happen, once the vaccination has rolled out across a wide enough part of the population, so that the most vulnerable are protected but also so that enough people are protected, to actually reduce the risk for the whole society – that’s going to take a rather long period of time, but months, not years.”

But I do disagree with you about life going back to normal in September 2021.

Vaccination will still be ongoing, Second jabs will not be finished until November and third jabs will probably begin in September.

That's why he said "that's going to take a rather long period of time, but months not years"

Why did you decide it meant "September"?

@MarshaBradyo

Apologies, the below was intended for you.

Also apologies @MiaMarshmallows

I'm not sure what happened there.

I don’t think life will ever return to ‘normal’.
The governing classes enjoy lockdowns too much - many prefer wfh or are on furlough or in the public sector, in ‘safe’ jobs.

For clarity @MarshaBradyo & @MiaMarshmallows I thought I was replying to this.

Huge Apologies again.

@PrincessNutNuts
90% so even if every adult was vaccinated then we are still a way from that number.

How is your uncle by the way?

@Itsalonghaul

That's why there's an air of grimness

I don't share the air of grimness comment at all. Here spring has arrived and everyone is making plans to see their families and friends at Easter. We are organising garden birthday parties, drinks meets and dinner reservations. Most people I see are feeling very positive and optimistic, busy getting the garden ready for life to resume cryh I don't recognise any grimness at all

Yes, people are all different.

I work in a covid-related field. People are tired and waiting.

I'm also doing my garden though.

[quote StarCat2020]@PrincessNutNuts
90% so even if every adult was vaccinated then we are still a way from that number.

How is your uncle by the way?[/quote]
He went back into hospital late ast night. Thanks for asking.

@cryh

I'm very positive about things returning to a almost complete normal by September and I think we will get back to normal but will be 3-5 years

I think Johnson could think either or both of these!

The truth is - we haven't got a clue.

That's why there's an air of grimness - uncertainty is not something us humans enjoy, and we are firmly in 'no one knows' territory.

I've got the grimness.

It's not if it will all go to hell in a hand basket again but when.

Im expecting the covid in schools to spread to parents of school age children then through families and workplaces just as it did before.

And I'm just waiting for it.

If the most vulnerable are vaccinated then why would a higher level of infections in younger/healthier people who are much less likely to need hospital treatment require another lockdown?

He went back into hospital late ast night. sad Thanks for asking
I am sorry to hear that.

I did read somewhere that being readmitted isn't that unusual and now numbers are down in the hospitals outcomes are getting better everyday.

I wish you the best!!

@bumbleymummy

If the most vulnerable are vaccinated then why would a higher level of infections in younger/healthier people who are much less likely to need hospital treatment require another lockdown?

Because the vulnerable aren't fully vaccinated yet, and the vaccines aren't 100%, plus they don't always work as well in older or ill people is the short answer.

That's why we need herd immunity of between 70-90% of the population fully vaccinated, and at the moment we are very far from that.

57.1% of the U.K. population haven't had a first jab, and 96.2% haven't had a second jab.

Most of the JCVI top 4 most vulnerable priority groups haven't had their second jab yet.

@StarCat2020

He went back into hospital late ast night. sad Thanks for asking I am sorry to hear that.

I did read somewhere that being readmitted isn't that unusual and now numbers are down in the hospitals outcomes are getting better everyday.

I wish you the best!!

Thank you so much.

Princess how many who’ve only had one dose end up in hospital? Is there data on that by age?

No, we need a certain percentage of the population to be immune.

So how long do you think we need to stay locked down then? It sounds like you think it should last several more months if not the year. Completely unrealistic and unreasonable.

I think eventually we will get some normality but its what has happened to change children and teenagers that concerns me - the damage that has been done will take years to sort out if every. This has been largely ignored as the focus has been on the old and vulnerable - up and down the country there are so many stories of children and particularly teenagers who have become so withdraw, depressed, unable to function, self-harming and at times worse. This is appalling loss - I understand the view that the elderly and vunerable should be protected but I do not agree.

It just makes me so angry. There have always been viruses and deaths. Look at data from previous years to see the amount who died from flu or pneumonia but we didn't lockdown.
It is no different than in by gone times with smallpox or tb or polio the elderly and weak died..it is natural selection. The strong survive and it controls the population.
Now it's almost an uproar if anyone dies!
However the state are only focused on covid but what about the people who are ill with other illnesses who might survive if they got treatment.
The entire country needs to wise up now, look at how many have got it and survived.
For those that are frightened stay indoors, interact with noone, get food delivered but let the ones who want a life to live it.
I am surprised the entire country hasn't revolted because I'm getting close to it.

Reading some daft posts on this thread makes me wish we could vaccinate against stupidity.

If you don't understand the science don't make yourself look like an idiot by making stupid comments.

It isn't like any other pandemic, ever. Try to understand that.

It is no different than in by gone times with smallpox or tb or polio the elderly and weak died..it is natural selection. The strong survive and it controls the population

Dear God. It's hard to read such appallingly ignorant assertions.

The pandemic is now 'natural selection'? Riiiight. It's a form of population control? Seriously?

The problem is 'the strong' are not necessarily surviving. Covid is a novel illness, not behaving as expected. Many otherwise healthy people have died or been seriously ill with Covid. Yes, older & vulnerable people are still at highest risk - but are you suggesting we accept this? We don't with any other illness, including flu.

The challenge with Covid, especially the current 'UK' variant, is that it's highly & easily transmissible. Any additional movement sees case numbers rise dramatically.

Even without death, people are suffering with Long Covid, with symptoms that are only gradually beginning to be understood & managed.

It isn't like any other pandemic, ever. Try to understand that.

Yes! 👏👏

Yes, 12 months on for Australia and life is pretty much normal for us.
I'm back working in a thriving CBD.
I shake hands / hug / kiss friends.
I commute on public transport without masks.
Fly interstate (with and without masks)
I go out for coffee, meals and drinks.
I've danced at a wedding.
DH goes to watch sport.
We both go to the gym daily and DH plays a team sport.
I've been to large gatherings and have 25 friends and family coming to mine for Easter.
I've had one weekend away and two holidays.
I get my nails done.
Have had a massage, facial, acupuncture and have seen my injectable nurse several times.
Am currently in the hairdresser.
I haven't worn a mask since early January and last year didn't have to wear one in my state (apart from a very brief period) for any of last year.
I've had elective surgery - twice.
Kids are back at school and at Uni (and having 'prom' freshers week and having a student life)
The only thing that I can't do is see my parents (uk) and I would give my right arm for that. But the minute they can travel they will.
Keep in faith, life will return - it has for us. I can't even fathom how tough it's been.

We can't in my opinion keep saying it's different - we didn't deal with it well at the start which was the opportunity for zero tolerance like countries in Asia which are back to normal with no social distancing and masks on public transport. We now seem to be putting restrictions in place which change our way of life and the three lockdowns have led to huge damage for the young. We need to have minimum controls and accept that the virus is here to stay - the elderly and vulnerable have been protected now it time to get back to normal