Covid has just been forgotten about then?

[washthem]

My in-laws are acting like it's all disappeared over night.

Travelling to london, going out for lunches and dinners in people's houses etc.

They're vaccinated now so I suppose they don't mind.

They've all but invited themselves around to ours in a couple of weeks time!

@Thewinterofdiscontent

It’s pretty much done now surely? All the vulnerable and high risk have had two jabs, lots more have had one or have had Covid. It’s warm enough to be outside and have windows open. Death rate is back down into tens.

Please don't claim things that simply aren't true. Nowhere near all the CEV have had second jabs, let alone the CV

It's not 'pretty much done'. We are on the right path, but if people act as if it is done, we will end up in a bad place.

Variants will run wild & we run the risk
If a vaccine escaping variant and numbers climbing again with a vaccine that can't help.

Patience grasshoppers!

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@UrAWizHarry my understanding is that when the scientists come up with the rules/guidance they factor in a certain percentage of non-compliance in their risk assessment.

As can be seen from this thread alone a number of people are breaking the rules.

If they changed the rules so that households could meet indoors as long as they are all vaccinated, there would be many households who would follow that to the letter. And again there would be others who would ignore it, but they possibly thought too many would flout it to mean that it would be too risky. As at the moment, people are probably conscious that if they have a number of people round their house, it will be obvious that they are possibly breaking the rules. Whereas if a reasonable amount of the population can meet up, it is much easier to hide the fact you are breaking the rules.

The reason it will be safer in the next few weeks, is that the scientists again will be looking at the population as a whole, not individual families. So that more people will be vaccinated so hopefully we will be at the percentage vaccinated we need for herd immunity to kick in.

If we could rely on more people being sensible then we probably wouldn't need the rules we have.

Isn't that how Sweden partly managed without an official lockdown because the majority of people recognised what they needed to do to help reduce the spread of the virus, without having to have rules in place. Whereas in this country it seems to be a national pastime to work out how to flout the rules.[/quote]
It would make no difference to the number of people ignoring rules as to whether they ignore them a little bit or not. It makes no difference on an individual level how many people are vaccinated.

If 4 people have had both doses, the risk for them to meet indoors is not impacted by the R number or by if the unvaccinated people down the street are breaking the rules. All such unnecessarily draconian rules do is make innocent, sensible people feel guilty whilst the people who ignore rules will get on with it regardless.

@StealthPolarBear

Seeds of normality absolutely. I feel like that when I see groups of teens out and about. In theory I disapprove but inside I'm thinking good for you.

I don’t disagree even in theory I feel like giving them a thumbs up!

Not RTFT but I'm kind of mixed about this tbh, we all want our lives back and I've never been of the opinion indoor mixing should have been restricted in the way it was. However it's a bit of a kick in the teeth for the younger ones who haven't been vaccinated and were never really at risk anyway who have foregone their freedom, education and jobs for a year to protect the older and vulnerable in the community for them to stay stuff it we can do what we want now we've been vaccinated. Imagine if the younger ones had had the opinion of well it doesn't affect me badly so I'm not bothering im aware some did but the majority didnt

@BiarritzCrackers

Yep, all these, "it will be okay when..." messages have been really unhelpful. Much as I dislike this government, trust in leadership is important for a cohesive society, and every time things don't work out as hoped for, it's chipping away at that. Realistic messages are important.

So I guess there are questions to ask ourselves about how we want to live. People are answering that to some degree, in their behaviour.

Totally this. The messaging all last year was that the vaccine was the cavalry coming over the hill and yet here we are. There is a balance between the damage covid could do to the country and the damage that continued lockdown does, and frankly I think we are past the point of it swinging away from a lockdown being justifiable.

Variants will run wild

If we’re waiting to stamp out the risk of new variants, we’ll be living like this for years.

They’ll be allowed to come round to your house in 5 weeks time OP ask why don’t you pencil them in for a date they’re legally allowed to rather than fret about breaking the rules. That way everyone is happy. It’s not long to wait.

'But the vast majority aren’t. Calling those who follow rules as people who ‘hide under the duvet’ is just unpleasant sneering.'

It is so tedious isn't it. The responsible ones among us who are able to not only follow rules but understand the reason for them have some on mn constantly sneering about our alleged 'anxiety'.

They seem to need this constant back slapping and encouragement to give them permission to do wtf they like.

Hopefully what with twice weekly testing and the brilliant vaccine programme we are on track to be back to normal by June. No thanks to the mn flouters though!

it is so tedious isn't it. The responsible ones among us who are able to not only follow rules but understand the reason for them have some on mn constantly sneering about our alleged 'anxiety'

I know. I wonder if they are the same about other law breaking and those that abide by them.

Maybe it’s a justification technic for them not complying.

@raincamepouringdown

This is why last year went the way it did with November and Jan-Mar lockdowns.

Also why we can't have nice things. Everyone said prioritise schools, prioritise education, everything else can wait ... especially after last year's loss of education time. So thankfully they did. Which meant people immediately changed their tune with all the 'if children can be a classroom, then I can do x'.

People are selfish.

Well said!!

"twice weekly testing"

Which is a massive waste of money. UK government proving that the success of the vaccine program was a fluke and are back to being fuckwits.

@Chunkymenrock

The responses on this thread just confirm that many people are thick, selfish and delusional. Coronavirus is still very much present and coming out of lockdown is a gradual step by step process to keep cases as low as possible. Nothing surprises me any more regarding other humans' behaviour, as demonstrated by posters gleefully piling in to say good, let's crack on, everyone's sick of it. Human behaviour like this is vile. I haven't made sacrifices for a year, for this disgusting attitude now to prevail.

Absolutely!

Every time there has been a relaxation of the rules, we've had a new wave. (pre vaccine.)

The rules are to try to help the NHS cope. There are huge backlogs of people not being seen or treated for non Covid disease. It's going to take years to reduce waiting lists.

If the government relaxed rules too soon and the NHS was swamped and people ops were cancelled, they'd be criticised.
If they create rules to stop this, they are criticised.
They can't win, really.

The current rules are changing soon. Not long to go.
As someone upthread said, if people would be trusted to be sensible, it might be good to relax the rules, but some people can't be sensible.

Just look at the fact that 50% of the population still don't know the 3 main symptoms of Covid (survey last week.).

It's very easy to ask for the rules to be changed now, but then you aren't the one who'd be blamed if it all went tits up again.

It's all a delicate balancing act. There will always be people who want to relax rules sooner, and the rules take into account a level of non-compliance.

See above. Why aren't you telling off posters calling people thick, selfish and delusional? Don't you find that unpleasant or is it OK because these types of posters are on your side so the abuse they dish out is justified?

Human behaviour like this is vile

Like what? Wanting to see elderly family that they may not have much time left with and have barely seen in a year?

Yes, what cunts.

@UrAWizHarry

"twice weekly testing"

Which is a massive waste of money. UK government proving that the success of the vaccine program was a fluke and are back to being fuckwits.

So true.

'The messaging all last year was that the vaccine was the cavalry coming over the hill and yet here we are.'

But no one has a crystal ball, you do know that don't you?

It is an evolving situation. As has been said a million times on mn it is not in the Government's interests to keep us all under any kind of restrictions, the only reason is to try and keep the nhs functioning and not over run with covid cases. Which is currently happening hence the road map..

'I know. I wonder if they are the same about other law breaking and those that abide by them'

Probably. Shops and hairdressers opening next week!! they'd have a point if we were in the state France is in. Mind with the amount of anti vaxxer threads on here it is a wonder we aren't.

Well said @JinglingHellsBells!

You'll have froth and hysteria thrown at you and be accused of 'anxiety' no doubt 🙄.

Every time there has been a relaxation of the rules, we've had a new wave. (pre vaccine.)

That simply isn’t true. When the rules were relaxed last summer rates plateaued. Throughout July and August shops, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers were open and cases were low and stayed there. Remember last May when beaches and beauty spots were crowded and MN frothed about a new spike? Didn’t happen, much to some people’s great disappointment.

There’s a lot of history revision on this thread.

@TheKeatingFive

Human behaviour like this is vile

Like what? Wanting to see elderly family that they may not have much time left with and have barely seen in a year?

Yes, what cunts.

Hahaha - madness isn't it?

How absolutely vile people are for wanting 7 instead of 6 people in their garden! Tut tut.

@JaniieJones

'But the vast majority aren’t. Calling those who follow rules as people who ‘hide under the duvet’ is just unpleasant sneering.'

It is so tedious isn't it. The responsible ones among us who are able to not only follow rules but understand the reason for them have some on mn constantly sneering about our alleged 'anxiety'.

They seem to need this constant back slapping and encouragement to give them permission to do wtf they like.

Hopefully what with twice weekly testing and the brilliant vaccine programme we are on track to be back to normal by June. No thanks to the mn flouters though!

Exactly this And they throw in "everyone is vaccinated" (they arent), enough us enough, and Lock down lovers as additional phrases to add to their obvious ignorance Won't do masks, won't do vaccines, won't do tests, wont do roooolz, won't do lockdowns....just expect everyone else to make it all go away for them.....

@LucilleTheVampireBat

See above. Why aren't you telling off posters calling people thick, selfish and delusional? Don't you find that unpleasant or is it OK because these types of posters are on your side so the abuse they dish out is justified?

If you have an issue with someone's specific posts you are at liberty to challenge or report. You're generalising.

@Alsohuman

Every time there has been a relaxation of the rules, we've had a new wave. (pre vaccine.)

That simply isn’t true. When the rules were relaxed last summer rates plateaued. Throughout July and August shops, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers were open and cases were low and stayed there. Remember last May when beaches and beauty spots were crowded and MN frothed about a new spike? Didn’t happen, much to some people’s great disappointment.

There’s a lot of history revision on this thread.

Absolutely. We had (relative) freedom with restrictions through the summer and there was no spike at all.

From when pubs reopened (July?) until Sept there were a lot of outdoor events taking place every weekend and these were safely attended.

'Throughout July and August shops, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers were open and cases were low and stayed there. Remember last May when beaches and beauty spots were crowded and MN frothed about a new spike? Didn’t happen, much to some people’s great disappointmentThere’s a lot of history revision on this thread.'

Exactly! A lot of 'history revision' indeed. Particularly from people who think we've been in lockdown for a year and haven't been anywhere or seen anyone for a year, conveniently forgetting some people actually went abroad on holiday such were the terrible restrictions.

However, once school returned in sep we did see it accelerating again.