To think they should pause meeting inside

[LastOrdersMaura]

In the last person to be overly concerned about the virus but the SAGE minutes show that there is something to be concerned about.
I think the economy can't take anymore and I really feel for all the businesses who are gearing up for opening on Monday. My friends cafe hasn't opened since October last year so she missed all the Christmas trade and has no outside seating. Her customer base are mostly elderly so unlikely to come out for takeaway. It would likely bankrupt her to hold off opening any longer.

The mixing in people's houses seems the least destructive part to hold off on. I know a lot of people have been looking forward to it but prolonged contact in a small space seems to be a major factor in transmission.
I'm looking forward to seeing others for a drink in their houses but I can see how it can go wrong. Most people aren't able to go for a meal in a restaurant every night of the week. I could however go to a different friends house every day, even multiple friends houses! Then if that friend does the same, that's a lot of indoor mixing. We have small children so the likelihood of them SD'ing is unlikely. Then there's older siblings at school, working parents, nursery etc leading to an increase in transmission. I feel restaurants are quite safe in comparison.
Those who want to will mix indoors anyway but it might make some think twice or not accept as many invitations. It has no impact on the economy. Yes it will have an impact on mental health but I think we're screwed on that part anyway. Anxiety is through the roof!
I'm fully expecting people to tell me to fuck off but this is the most sensible decision that BJ could make in light of the new variant. I'm not a lockdown lover, frankly as I haven't had a lockdown due to working out of the house throughout. I just want this to be over, properly over, not just kicking the can down the road.

OP if you don't want to meet people inside that's your choice. I will be seeing fiends and family who I haven't seen for months and months.
I'm full vaccinated and test 3 times a week due to work. I feel safe enough that way. Most of my family are vaccinated too

No OP. People need this. It's too pissing cold to be sitting outside. I want to sit inside with my family of 6.

Nope. I disagree.
I don't think the new Indian variant is that bad, nothing we can't cope with. We can't panic every time there's a new strain.

For the economy. We need to get going. And I think there's no need. To stop the May 17th indoor rules.

Nearly everyone we know had at least one vaccination. I've had both, since March. Most people we know have now had 2. Rates are very low in this area.

People down my street have all been meeting inside since we moved in months ago so people aren't listening anymore anyway.

Time to get on with life.

Many people have been mixing inside above and beyond "the rules" for months - do you really think Boris saying "don't do it for a few more weeks" will change anything?

Are we to go into lockdown, full or tiered, every time there's a surge or new variant?

How messed up.

In fairness people going to other peoples houses doesn't help the economy.

So you want it to be okay for me to go and sit in a restaurant with dozens of strangers, but not go round to my parents' house for dinner? I can hang out at school all day and my son go to nursery, but I can't go round to my parents' for dinner?

I think we need to open up as planned on Monday. Lots of people are vaccinated. Lots of people are still wearing masks and social distancing. But to continue to deny people seeing family and loved ones in their own homes when infections are falling just seems wrong to me.

I totally agree with you OP it’s summer we can socialise outside. If it spreads and causes problems we’ll just end up with more social restrictions.

@LastOrdersMaura

In fairness people going to other peoples houses doesn't help the economy.

But people are buying food, booze, new clothes...

No. This has to stop. If you don’t want to, that’s fine, but this blanket banning of activities is just so unnecessary.

In the last person to be overly concerned about the virus

Uh huh...

Meeting inside has pretty much been baned continuously in Leicester and several northern areas for 14m. It clearly worked

Meeting inside is long overdue. Most people I know, are already doing it. It’s too cold and wet to sit outside.

I don't want anything banned but I think we need to pause for a second and think of the change in information. One of my friends is busy telling me how she is inviting everyone over to her's next week in different slots, it's about 20 different households over five days! The government is currently telling her that this is ok from Monday as long as no more than six and no more than two different households per visit. It's entirely possible that if she got it then she might not know and then all those people could have it and be unknowingly spreading it. As we are all early thirties, late twenties none of us are vaccinated. I know three people personally who have caught it despite being vaccinated. I'm also an NHS worker and know that vaccine uptake in our area hang been great. This isn't scaremongering it's just something we could exercise caution over. Maybe carry on with opening cafes and restaurants (where it's actually relatively easy to socially distance) but pause indoor mixing until June so we can see the effects of the Indian variant.

@BogRollBOGOF

Meeting inside has pretty much been baned continuously in Leicester and several northern areas for 14m. It clearly worked

Indeed. I'm in one of the areas where it's pretty much been lockdown since last March with constant restrictions. It totally worked in lowering cases. Oh wait.. no it didn't.

@LastOrdersMaura

In fairness people going to other peoples houses doesn't help the economy.

Apart from buying food and booze to entertain with, gifts for the hosts.

Look I've not seen my parents or sister in 18 months. I would give up the shops and the pubs and the working in the office in order to be able to stay overnight with my family.

I agree with you @LastOrdersMaura but you will probably get told you love lockdown.

@KurtWilde but it has worked for most of the country now. I hate lockdown and have personally lost quite a lot personally due to the lockdown (not the virus, the lockdown) but I can't pretend that I don't feel that same dread as I did when the schools were opening after the Christmas break. The vaccine is a game changer but we don't know this variant yet.

I have long maintained that far too many have enjoyed the panic, drama and restrictions and will eke it out as long as possible.

@Si1ver it doesn't help the local restaurant, pub or cafe. Just more money going to supermarkets.

Nah.

I'm fully vaxxed.
My mum, dad, nan are fully vaxxed.
My sister and BIL both had covid in December.

I'm going to meet them inside.

@RoseRedRoseBlue not me. I've lost my relationship and part of my children's childhood, I've lost my daughters reception year and my son's last year of preschool. I've lost friends who I might never see again due to rising health anxiety. I've lost a year plus with my elderly relatives. I've been on holidays to ghost towns and had my relatives abroad crying when they tell me they have no furlough scheme in their country and they can't work. I am not one of those people.

I totally agree with you OP it’s summer we can socialise outside