Indian variant - will the roadmap be delayed?

[nonono1]

I was feeling very hopeful about the future until reading that the Indian variant is now spreading fast in some communities.

In light of this, do you think we will stick to the roadmap as planned, or will restrictions be kept in place for longer? It seems like we're still going ahead with the big opening up on Monday.

Also, what about weddings? My SIL is getting married in August and we're really hoping it will still go ahead!

But why do they stop it?

Because among the reasons T&T is so good in SK is that they can commandeer any data on you they like. Mobile phone data, bank card data, cctv footage, all available to the government for the purposes of T&T. They can publish geo locations of anyone diagnosed with Covid. Our privacy laws prevent any of that.

If the gov really gave a shit about the variant they wouldn’t have allowed it to be imported. They by their actions clearly aren’t bothered so neither am I. Going to see my family indoors tomorrow, no social distancing or masks, all fully vaccinated, can’t wait. Just 2 days before Boris and Nicola say I can anyway.

If the gov really gave a shit about the variant they wouldn’t have allowed it to be imported.

Quite

and didn't cancel Christmas and tens of thousands of folk died as a consequence of his decisions

WTF was that press conference about on the 19th December then? The clogged up ports in Kent when France reacted to it. This gaslighting, rewriting of history and minimization of the sacrifices ppl have already made will ensure ZERO co operation in future. Sick of the gaslighting. Christmas WAS cancelled for many. London AND Essex were in tier 4.

Well fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. People will NOT do another fucking lockdown or more restrictions when a few months later certain quarters are going to gaslight minimize and pretend it never happened. No Fucking Way. Ungrateful and abusive.

I live near to the Bolton where they have high cases of the Indian variant so fingers crossed it doesn't get to us again and put us in a local lockdown again. I've stuck to the rules and tbh it didn;t really bother me but even I'm getting naffed off with it now.

@Tealightsandd One minute the public are selfish and see themselves as exceptional, the next they are all compliant and want to do whats best. So which is it that you believe. It cant be both.

Last night's polls showed 42% in favour of new national lockdown, 30% against which leaves 28% undecided.

The figures will move dependent on circs. The 30% against is fairly locked in but assume support for lockdown would rise again from the don't knows if things look to be going badly.

@HesterShaw1

What is the fucking point of vaccines?

How can ANY business operate under this uncertainty?

Completely agree. I won’t be having it.
Had Covid, got over it. Immune system working fine.

No one is going to stop me seeing my family ever again & i’m sick of useless masks. We can’t keep hiding.

@TheKeatingFive

But why do they stop it?

Because among the reasons T&T is so good in SK is that they can commandeer any data on you they like. Mobile phone data, bank card data, cctv footage, all available to the government for the purposes of T&T. They can publish geo locations of anyone diagnosed with Covid. Our privacy laws prevent any of that.

That's a thread of people proposing to stick to the rules. And your problem with that is...?

I've actually been fairly confident that we're truly on a slow path to unlocking. But this next week seems critical, more than any in the last year.

The is the first scare of the vaccine era. Cases in Bolton started shooting up about 2 weeks ago. It doesn't look to me on either the local or national graphs that the hospitalisations or deaths have ramped up at all. 1 more week and this will be absolutely obvious.

The way I see it here are 3 paths.

1. They introduce restrictions before we see deaths increase. So the vaccine isn't trusted, and we will never get any practical benefit from it. Conclusion: we are screwed forever.

1. Deaths go up materially. The vaccine doesn't work as well as we thought. Conclusion: we are screwed forever, as we know there is no chance of any uk government letting this virus just run.

1. They wait. Just 2 more weeks. The evidence becomes indisputable that deaths don't go up, the vaccine works, nothing extra needed. June 21st is still on, we are really on the home straight.

My gut feel is Boris will want to do 3, but will get pressurised into 'acting' this weekend.

I am probably over dramatic, but this Indian variant feels like a test case for the rest of our lives. The wrong decision is going to devastate me.

Alec I think we’re doing 3 and won’t change this weekend

What is the point of a national lockdown ffs my area is dropping and more damage will be done locking down again

Scotland got it right it’s brutal for those who are the effected areas but we need to follow now the Australian example of short tough localised lockdowns

They should be locking down the effected areas and going in with surge vaccinations and testing and monitoring hospitals while the rest continues

That's a thread of people proposing to stick to the rules. And your problem with that is...?

A question was asked abd I answered it. That’s how these discussions work. HTH.

@picturesandpickles

Last night's polls showed 42% in favour of new national lockdown, 30% against which leaves 28% undecided.

The figures will move dependent on circs. The 30% against is fairly locked in but assume support for lockdown would rise again from the don't knows if things look to be going badly.

42% in favour! Based on WHAT? If we lock down again, in the height of summer when most have been jabbed, the last 7 months will have been for nothing. We might as well collectively agree there's nothing to aim for, except zero covid, at all costs. Insanity.

@AmandaPlease

I pass no judgement on whether they are right or wrong, just it is frequently said that 'people are turning' and the data does not back this up.

If a variant was found to evade vaccines, support for lockdown would go back up to 65%+ pretty rapidly IMO.

Boris Johnson has said people need to make their own sensible decisions but they seem unwilling to do this. One man cannot make decisions for every single person . If something looks or feels risky don't do it!
Instead we seem to have a nation of morons who go ahead regardless then blame a man they have never met for their decisions??!!!!

There needs to be a huge push for ethnic minorities (especially the vulnerable and over 50s) to take the vaccine. See attached graph. Especially since they’re more likely to be hospitalised anyway...

@Lucidas
This weekend there is an enormous effort in Bolton (and other places I imagine) to get those groups (38+ and/or vulnerable) vaccinated. Several “vaccination buses” patrolling the areas and volunteers going door to door.

@Quartz2208

What is the point of a national lockdown ffs my area is dropping and more damage will be done locking down again

Scotland got it right it’s brutal for those who are the effected areas but we need to follow now the Australian example of short tough localised lockdowns

They should be locking down the effected areas and going in with surge vaccinations and testing and monitoring hospitals while the rest continues

I had a good chat with an aussie friend about different approaches. He pointed out that in Australia towns and cities are hundreds of miles apart often with only one road in and out so you really can isolate and lockdown a town there in a way that you really can’t here. For example, locking down Bolton is pointless because lots of Boltonians work outside Bolton and even if not it is just going to be too easy to head a mile or two outside the borough. Literally hundreds of roads in and out.

Whereas in Australia, people live, work and do everything in the town/city they’re in. The general criss cross of people to and from towns doesn’t happen to anything near the same extent. The north west is a complex network of towns which are all interconnected. Locking down Bolton is pointless. Locking down GM or even the NW makes more sense but politically very difficult when many areas have zero or very low cases.

They need to lock down the affected areas, sharply and surge vaccinate there.

I live in Bolton in the post code of particular concern, I have he vaccination bus,s but nobody has knocked on my door yet,,I'm fully vaccinated as is my DH, all high school,s will continue with mask wearing .

We are in Bolton. Its obviously starting to spread again. Several kids have gone off from ds2's class due to a case, including my son. First time since they returned to school.

Bolton people take note - just seen this on facebook @x2boys @Undeuxdrei is from a reliable source (SJA who are running vaccinations up there today)

Hello all - please share far and wide.
If anybody lives, works or studies in the Bolton area, particularly BL3 and BL4 - aged 16 and over - they can get a Pfizer vaccine today at Essa Academy!! No appointment needed just turn up!
Tell your families, friends etc. Aged 16 and over!!

Yes they were advertising it near Sainsbury's, earlier,I have had both my Pfiy injections thankfuy