Is this really the end

[Beatinghearts]

It look like. It’s finally the end of this and everyone will be getting back to normal.

Yes, it has become obvious that some are purely politically motivated in their opinions.

@tobee

This is a great sentence:-

"Do you don't think this is the end as per the thread title?"

Sorry, that should be a "So" at the beginning there. I had my jab today so I am typing with one thumb around an over-excited cat.

@CarrieAntoinette

Who says covid has become endemic in the U.K. *@IcedPurple*? Or globally?

It's not endemic in New Zealand is it?

(But I am enjoying you all now telling me it's not the end. Weren't you insisting it was earlier in the thread?)

Are you all confused between eradicated (global) and eliminated (local)?

After all, none of us know any children with polio, which is eliminated in the U.K., but not eradicated globally because it was allowed to become endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

If people genuinely cannot understand why the UK is not the same as an island in the South Pacific, 5 hours flight from its nearest neighbour and with twice as many sheep as people, then there really is no point engaging with them. The "But New Zealand..." idiocy is so tiresome after 14 months.

@GoldenOmber

Do you don't think this is the end as per the thread title?

The end of Covid existing as a virus, no. The end of pandemic emergency measures in our rich well-vaccinated country, roughly yes.

You have a lot of faith in our border measures for a country that has just let a new variant of concern move in and set up shop in 48 separate locations across the country.

Indeed IcedPurple. The much vaunted success of Australia and New Zealand but not so good on vaccination so far. People now are no longer mentioning Germany so much now.

The Government will come up with some more scariants no doubt to try and prolong the whole thing..there is still money to be made with endless testing, vaccines, boosters etc etc.

After all, none of us know any children with polio, which is eliminated in the U.K., but not eradicated globally because it was allowed to become endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Which we achieved via mass vaccination, which is what we’re currently doing for Covid, so… result?

Polio wasn’t ‘allowed to become’ endemic either, that’s a weird way to put it. Polio has been endemic in much of the world since the Bronze Age.

@tobee

Indeed IcedPurple. The much vaunted success of Australia and New Zealand but not so good on vaccination so far. People now are no longer mentioning Germany so much now.

Germany are still doing vastly better than us. I had to scroll down ages to find them under "deaths per million".

The U.K. is still on the first page.

You have a lot of faith in our border measures

I have a lot of faith in vaccines, which are the way out of this, up to and including not having any border measures at all.

How's Germany's vaccine roll out going? How's their current case rate?

Glad you've had your shot by the way @CarrieAntoinette

@tobee

Indeed IcedPurple. The much vaunted success of Australia and New Zealand but not so good on vaccination so far. People now are no longer mentioning Germany so much now.

It's been a feature of the last year that the UK has always been compared - unfavourably - to very different countries like Australia, NZ, or Taiwan, instead of more obviously comparable countries like say, Spain, France or Italy, none of whom have fared much better.

In any case, I'm not sure why this discussion has become about government mistakes (although I guess I do sort of know why!) It's about what the next few months and years hold. Anybody who doesn't get that Britain is not New Zealand and should not pretend to be, clearly has an agenda.

Maybe some people should scroll back to my posted quote from Professor Sharon Peacock and the vaccine variants.

Although, all these "whoever you are" posters on here obviously know better.

It is possible to be a lifelong Labour supporter. Can't stand Boris Johnson and his crooked, inept cabinet. Think we locked down too late. Be appalled by the U.K. death stats. But also think we're ok at the moment with cases numbers and vaccine rollout. Think we're in an enviable position (especially compared to much of Europe despite voting Remain etc) These things aren't mutually exclusive.

@tobee

Indeed IcedPurple. The much vaunted success of Australia and New Zealand but not so good on vaccination so far. People now are no longer mentioning Germany so much now.

They're doing just fine - Australia and New Zealand. They don't need to rush vaccine rollout. Unlike us.

Love one of the previous posts. Implying the UK just helplessly becomes an 'international travel hub' as if it's out of our hands. No, it's entirely within our control.

Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore. Densely populated, next to other countries. They managed border restrictions and quarantine perfectly well.

@GoldenOmber

You have a lot of faith in our border measures

I have a lot of faith in vaccines, which are the way out of this, up to and including not having any border measures at all.

One day.

Not this year.

Or next.

Yes Australia and New Zealand are doing just fine. Except no one can go there. Even citizens. I was just speaking to my friend this afternoon who's husband's mother is seriously ill in Sydney with advanced dementia. And there's no chance of him visiting her for good knows how long.

So @CarrieAntoinette Prof Peacock and all these scientists are making this up about vaccines and variants? You know better? Booster vaccines that are being developed to deal with current and future variants that might be deployed in autumn/winter are going to be ineffective?

So, @IcedPurple

Who says the British government has allowed Covid to become endemic in the U.K.?

Because that would rather support my argument that rather than beat covid or "Get Covid Done" they are going to let it linger for generations and so therefore, this is not - as per the thread title - The End.

@tobee

So *@CarrieAntoinette* Prof Peacock and all these scientists are making this up about vaccines and variants? You know better? Booster vaccines that are being developed to deal with current and future variants that might be deployed in autumn/winter are going to be ineffective?

If you want me to defend my position on something you'd be better quoting me stating that position, otherwise there's a danger that you've sort of made up an argument and and I haven't said anything of the sort.

Well the virus that caused Spanish Flu has been circulating for a 100 years. Most people haven't been aware of that before last year. So Covid 19 lingering is maybe not the problem you seem to think it is .

GoldenOmber
You have a lot of faith in our border measures

I have a lot of faith in vaccines, which are the way out of this, up to and including not having any border measures at all.
One day.

Not this year.

Or next.

This @CarrieAntoinette

@tobee

Yes Australia and New Zealand are doing just fine. Except no one can go there. Even citizens. I was just speaking to my friend this afternoon who's husband's mother is seriously ill in Sydney with advanced dementia. And there's no chance of him visiting her for good knows how long.

Their airports are just gathering dust? No flights? All the airlines went bust and sold the runway and the planes?

@tobee

GoldenOmber You have a lot of faith in our border measures

I have a lot of faith in vaccines, which are the way out of this, up to and including not having any border measures at all.
One day.

Not this year.

Or next.

This @CarrieAntoinette

What about it?

So my friend's husband is just dreaming he can't go to Australia? They've only just opened up/are about to open up a corridor with NZ.

@tobee

Well the virus that caused Spanish Flu has been circulating for a 100 years. Most people haven't been aware of that before last year. So Covid 19 lingering is maybe not the problem you seem to think it is .

Is there any evidence for that position? Is the global pandemic slowing down, or are the new variants becoming less dangerous than the older models?