Holidays abroad are illegal from Monday

[Dugee]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9389921/Ban-leaving-UK-amid-new-coronavirus-laws-force-week.html

Along with any other unnecessary travel abroad.

@Dustyboots

I don’t need/want to go on holiday abroad.

It’s not missing a holiday that bothers me. It’s the fact it’s illegal. Adding to the control our government now has over us.

Plus there’s enough Kent variant etc to pass amongst us in crowded U.K. holiday destinations. Having some of us go abroad spreads us out and is safer or just the same level of risk.

By your skewed logic that means those holidaying in the other countries can pick up the other variants to bring home as a memento and potentially ruin the work of the vaccine. Imagine if everyone could jet off on their jolly’s and bring back these souvenirs. Doesn’t make sense does it when you actually stop and think about your comment.

As for the control over us, well I have news for you - The government have always controlled us, you do realise more or less EVERYTHING you do is controlled by laws don’t you? Your ‘rights’ are there to give you the illusion you have control and freedoms.

We live in a society that is built on rules and limitations for the greater good. So this is no different and for once it’s a level of control that is going to benefit us all.

@Flinstones My wants don't come at the expense of other people's needs in the main. To me it's more important to help reduce lives lost in this global pandemic by not going abroad for just two years.

All this talk of “just a holiday” and selfishness shows a real lack of empathy. Just because you have no links with other countries and are happy to stay in the UK doesn’t make you a better person (and isn’t necessarily safer). People who work in the travel industry and those with families/people whose home is abroad have every right to be upset about not being able to visit their home or family or work for years, when there are ways to allow safe travel.

@Itsalonghaul

Please listen to me.

We are in a much WORSE position than last year.

Why? Because last year we only had one variant, the first one to deal. Comparatively it was not as infectious, not as dangerous and it generally just killed the very old or the very sick.

Now we have several, at least, variants circulating that are mutating all of the time.

If you had listened to SAGE you would know that they were extremely shocked and taken aback that so variants sprung up so quickly, so much faster than even in the worst case scenario they had planned for. Had the variants not arrived so swiftly, we would be a much better position.

This is not the fault of the government or SAGE, this is the virus wishing to survive against an onslaught of vaccines and medication.

We are at war, and until you realise that you are going to carry on bleating about holidays and your salon being closed.

We don't get to pick and choose what suits us about it. We have to win this war, for the sakes of our kids and our elderly, and our future - and we do so by making the right decisions, even unpopular ones that will protect us in the long run.

"Please listen to me"

But why should people listen to you as opposed to anyone else?

A balance has to be struck between this level of hysteria and economic damage from not getting back to normal, which will soon start killing far more than coronavirus will.

There are loads of things out there, including other viruses, which might kill us.

SAGE is an unelected government committee which acts for the government. The government is motivated by wanting to remain electable and to avoid blame. SAGE does abide by proper standards of evidence to produce evidence-based decision making. It makes recommendations based on predictions that are coloured by making the government remain electable.

This sort of hyberbolic panic isn't helpful; people need to remain calm and to keep things in perspective. One thing that is a predictor of early death is health anxiety...

wigan Until science comes up with the solution, or we have managed to successfully vaccinate most of the planet and driven the virus into submission, then yes I do think overseas travels will be paused. It might be one or two years more, or a little longer.

Given that we will have a good quality of life back by then, to some degree will lead a normal life once again by making that sacrifice most people will manage just fine. We will get used to it, just as we have with everything else.

We have made so much progress already, maybe it doesn't feel like it - but it will in a month's time when most things will be reopening again. I live to travel, and I am so sad not to go this year, but some things are more important. One day we will all travel again, things will return nothing lasts forever, not even a pandemic.

@Itsalonghaul, you’re right there.

Worth remembering that the U.K. is the country who let virus run wild so much that ut managed to develop a strain that caused problems. The same strain that is now creating problems in Europe (hence why they are now struggling with it too).

Plus if we want to protect ourselves from new variant we need to stop people coming IN, not going OUT....
As long as people can come on hols here, can go to where ever ‘for work’ and we don’t have a real proper system of self isolation when arriving, then the problem will be there.

It is terrifying how our rights have been chipped away. It isn't about a pandemic.

The government are reviewing covid status certifications. The consultation ends on 29th March.

They've also already pushed through a digital ID, because it's their plan to have everyone ID via modern tech. When it's finalised it will be bought in to law.

@Itsasin1981

Also, I presume these holier than thou posters haven't left the house since March 2020? Because any time you enter a shop, restaurant and so on you could be putting others at risk with your 'selfish' ways.

Once again, nope, didn't think so.

Apart from going over the road to the post box, and I haven't done that for ages, possibly going to doctors once early last year, I haven't been out of the house since February 2000. I have groceries and anything else delivered. I'm certainly not 'smug' about it and understand how frustrating it is for some people but going abroad on a holiday seems totally unnecessary at the moment. For most, it will be possible in time. For now, we stay here and it really isn't too bad here.

@Itsalonghaul

Please listen to me.

We are in a much WORSE position than last year.

Why? Because last year we only had one variant, the first one to deal. Comparatively it was not as infectious, not as dangerous and it generally just killed the very old or the very sick.

Now we have several, at least, variants circulating that are mutating all of the time.

If you had listened to SAGE you would know that they were extremely shocked and taken aback that so variants sprung up so quickly, so much faster than even in the worst case scenario they had planned for. Had the variants not arrived so swiftly, we would be a much better position.

This is not the fault of the government or SAGE, this is the virus wishing to survive against an onslaught of vaccines and medication.

We are at war, and until you realise that you are going to carry on bleating about holidays and your salon being closed.

We don't get to pick and choose what suits us about it. We have to win this war, for the sakes of our kids and our elderly, and our future - and we do so by making the right decisions, even unpopular ones that will protect us in the long run.

It mutates slower than the flu virus. Where are you getting your information from?

@ParadiseIsland Strangely enough my husband's family do all live in Birmingham!
He hasn't been able to see them for many months now, and his mum is very poorly. They have only met their new granddaughter once.
It's what has had to be done.

We are, however, accepting more and more restrictions on our freedom. You may be happy with that, I’m not

I would rather sacrifice foreign travel and have schools, gyms, hairdressers, shops back open and life in the uK as near back to normal as possible.

It isn’t more restrictions. People want an end to lockdown, restricting travel is one way of doing it. You accept the travel restriction in exchange for lifting of other restrictions.

NZ and Aus, for example shut their borders almost immediately, and life within the country is almost normal.

The disadvantage of that is with no cases, they couldn’t make an effective vaccine as you can’t run a trial with no subjects.

So we now have a vaccine, shut the borders, vaccinate everyone until levels are manageable, then any new variants will not overwhelm the system and it will be like seasonal flu. With most vaccinated and not ending up in ITU, we can cope with the few who do.

@Cherryvalentine so true. There are some very nasty and offensive people on this thread, all members of the “insult first, think later” camp.

@Trustisamust why do you think it will be just 2 years? What is happening next year that will prevent there being new variants? Many countries won’t be vaccinated for about 10 years. I don’t think travelling next year will be any different to travelling this year, except the travel industry will have lost another year’s income.

@Itsalonghaul

wigan Until science comes up with the solution, or we have managed to successfully vaccinate most of the planet and driven the virus into submission, then yes I do think overseas travels will be paused. It might be one or two years more, or a little longer.

Given that we will have a good quality of life back by then, to some degree will lead a normal life once again by making that sacrifice most people will manage just fine. We will get used to it, just as we have with everything else.

We have made so much progress already, maybe it doesn't feel like it - but it will in a month's time when most things will be reopening again. I live to travel, and I am so sad not to go this year, but some things are more important. One day we will all travel again, things will return nothing lasts forever, not even a pandemic.

I really don’t think it’ll be this long. To July perhaps.

@GreenlandTheMovie, tbh I’d prefer that the people sitting in SAGE are not elected but actual proper scientists who know what they are talking about....

@MaxNormal

Between that and the mandatory vaccines for carers it's all going a bit North Korea. Still, as long as we're all safe.

Neither sound like unreasonable stipulations to me.

A few months/weeks ago everyone was screaming for the borders to be closed.

I'm not exactly a fan of Brexiteering Boris, but I do think his government can't win here.

That said, I would split holidays from visiting elderly parents, which I do think should be treated differently.

@WiganNorthWest

All this talk of “just a holiday” and selfishness shows a real lack of empathy. Just because you have no links with other countries and are happy to stay in the UK doesn’t make you a better person (and isn’t necessarily safer). People who work in the travel industry and those with families/people whose home is abroad have every right to be upset about not being able to visit their home or family or work for years, when there are ways to allow safe travel.

Agree completely. I think it would be safer to let people go abroad/ home to visit family as if we all have to stay here everywhere will be packed & all you going on about catching new variants you won't be able to go to the supermarket without seeing tons of people

@Itsalonghaul

wigan Until science comes up with the solution, or we have managed to successfully vaccinate most of the planet and driven the virus into submission, then yes I do think overseas travels will be paused. It might be one or two years more, or a little longer.

Given that we will have a good quality of life back by then, to some degree will lead a normal life once again by making that sacrifice most people will manage just fine. We will get used to it, just as we have with everything else.

We have made so much progress already, maybe it doesn't feel like it - but it will in a month's time when most things will be reopening again. I live to travel, and I am so sad not to go this year, but some things are more important. One day we will all travel again, things will return nothing lasts forever, not even a pandemic.

Science has already come up with a solution. Several in fact - we have vaccines and new treatments that reduce the severity of disease. The vast majority of people do not get seriously ill with this virus.

@Sugarandteaandmum

Why would anyone book a foreign holiday? My family are mostly abroad too including my dad. But he just has to stay put, as do we.

We need to vaccinate the world. The WORLD. and we don't need foreign holidays til it's done.

There isn’t a need to vaccinate the world

The flu pandemic of the early 1900’s didn’t end with mass vaccinations

(you can still travel to the Common Travel Area which gives you Ireland at some point, and from 26 April, Jersey. Not sure about the Isle of Man or Guernsey).

Actually maybe I shouldn't tell you all that as I want to go to Jersey at some point this year although we can go outside school holidays which may help with availability.

green It is so nice of you to be concerned, but I don't have anxiety of any kind.

Would you prefer not to have scientists leading the way with advice? Who would you choose Katie Price? Or how about Ant and Dec? We can have them making decisions for us instead.

The striking thing about your post is the inaccuracy.

If you want to protect jobs and the economy then the best way we can do that is by keeping the country open for business! And you can't do that if you keep going into lockdown after lockdown due to new variants. The only way we can truly control this virus, is by vaccinating the population, and then restricting the entry and importation of new variants. It will only take one variant to wreck the vaccine programme entirely, and we will be back to square one.

I agree with pp we should restrict everyone coming in and out of the country properly.

I am sorry that doesn't fit in with your need for a holiday, but looking at the facts and listening to the science is the only way forward. Or we could see what Katie is doing next week...

The flu pandemic of the early 1900’s didn’t end with mass vaccinations

I am wondering how that went away in about 18 months with no vaccinations and far inferior healthcare and yet this virus just won't bugger off.

@Itsalonghaul

Please listen to me.

We are in a much WORSE position than last year.

Why? Because last year we only had one variant, the first one to deal. Comparatively it was not as infectious, not as dangerous and it generally just killed the very old or the very sick.

Now we have several, at least, variants circulating that are mutating all of the time.

If you had listened to SAGE you would know that they were extremely shocked and taken aback that so variants sprung up so quickly, so much faster than even in the worst case scenario they had planned for. Had the variants not arrived so swiftly, we would be a much better position.

This is not the fault of the government or SAGE, this is the virus wishing to survive against an onslaught of vaccines and medication.

We are at war, and until you realise that you are going to carry on bleating about holidays and your salon being closed.

We don't get to pick and choose what suits us about it. We have to win this war, for the sakes of our kids and our elderly, and our future - and we do so by making the right decisions, even unpopular ones that will protect us in the long run.

Nobody is going to listen to you if you think that expressing dislike for having their livelihoods ruined is bleating.

But you have the CHOICE to go there and see them or not @Trustisamust.
You could have done that outside the lockdown times, Even if it was to meet up outside in a pub where risk is really minimal. The fact you haven’t seen them has been a choice. Nit imposed onto you by the government.

With this rule, I have NO choice. That’s very different

Maybe it's just my area that has been managing quite well, then, although I don't deny there have been some delays and it has been difficult to get a GP appointment in some, but not all, cases.

I'd be interested to know which part of the country is doing normal screening.

I have a relative and two friends in different areas who were unable to get diagnoses/treatment for cancer over the last year. One is now dead, another is terminal and the third is uncertain at this stage - hopefully not too late for them.

All three were treatable cancers if caught early. Late scans, late diagnosis, limited access to radio and chemo therapies, no access to supporting therapies such as physio are resulting in premature deaths and worse outcomes.

They are all covid casualties just as much as people with covid on their death certs.