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.

@Againstmachine

Yep and in a few weeks, you will want another few weeks, and seen these few weeks become 52, I'm sick of my life ebbing away.

But that's it isn't it? We are seriously over this whole lockdown scenario, we all desperately want some sense of normality to be returned. But how on Earth is this going to be possible if we keep opening up too early , causing spikes and the inevitable lockdowns this generates? I'm as over all this as much as the next person but it's clear we are making yet another mistake by proceeding tomorrow

@KurtWilde

But after these few weeks we will get the Brighton variant the Blackpool and skeggy ones.

A few weeks never ends but people keep posting it.

@Againstmachine exactly. Enough is enough now with the whole just a few more weeks bollocks.

@Againstmachine

The maths is not up for debate and the starting number is irrelevant, the line is the line if unchecked.

Absolute rubbish, chucking percentage out like 50% to scare people is wrong and yes I do want the figures behind it they are not irrelevant. And the exponential growth shouldn't happen with vaccines should it.

You surely understand the whole thing started with one case? So the starting number is not the important issue.

And I am not 'chucking percentages out like 50%' - that is the figure scientists are starting to consider www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/india-variant-dominant-chris-whitty-b1847808.html

I can see you are unhappy about things, but there is no point getting angry with people about scientific issues, it is what it is.

Disagree, OP. Deaths are very very low, vulnerable are vaccinated, seasonality is ideal. Sick of the constant "jam tomorrow".

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

This is the saddest aspect of this crisis, if it weren't for the bloody bastard idiotic covid deniers we may have reacted so much more effectively.

I am so sick of them. If I knew any in real life I would struggle to stay civil.

The variants are not a bloody invention!

NO no more just a few more weeks. We need to get back to normal NOW. Or we risk doing permanently irreversible damage to our economy.
If a mistake is being made it's allowing foreign holidays this summer. Not indoor meetings.

There seem to be a lot of posters on here now - and in the population generally - who seem to have developed - understandably - severe health anxiety. Perhaps if you are getting overly worried about the opening up of normal life then that's something to think about!

@picturesandpickles

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

This is the saddest aspect of this crisis, if it weren't for the bloody bastard idiotic covid deniers we may have reacted so much more effectively.

I am so sick of them. If I knew any in real life I would struggle to stay civil.

The variants are not a bloody invention!

My DH has had confirmed covid and still suffers from it. How can he and I be a covid denier just because we don't believe lockdown should continue?

@picturesandpickles

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

This is the saddest aspect of this crisis, if it weren't for the bloody bastard idiotic covid deniers we may have reacted so much more effectively.

I am so sick of them. If I knew any in real life I would struggle to stay civil.

The variants are not a bloody invention!

Nobody is denying covid! But the risk has changed following the vaccinations. Over 95% of the vulnerable have been vaccinated. We are well on track for vaccinating the entire adult population. The risk level for those unvaccinated is much lower. However the risks of not reopening are now outweighing the risks of opening. Mental health, physical health issues, the economic impact all now need addressing. It's time to get back to normal

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

No it isn't total trash, people who have differing opinions to you I don't think I have seen any deniers just different opinions.

But let's call people names of they don't agree.

I agree OP.

@picturesandpickles

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

This is the saddest aspect of this crisis, if it weren't for the bloody bastard idiotic covid deniers we may have reacted so much more effectively.

I am so sick of them. If I knew any in real life I would struggle to stay civil.

The variants are not a bloody invention!

Not Covid Deniers, just opposed to the extreme of lockdowns at this stage. If you struggle so much with the thought of interacting with those with differing opinions you're free to help the cause and stay in.

It isn't the people who think we shouldn't lock down I am talking about - it is stuff like this:

after these few weeks we will get the Brighton variant the Blackpool and skeggy ones

I am sick to the back teeth of conspiracy theories! The variants have not been made up by the government in order to keep restrictions. The government don't want the bloody restrictions. They want a fully-functioning economy, as do I.

I'm not a Covid denier at all. I know plenty of people who've had it, know people who have lost friends or relatives to it.

I also know people really badly impacted by the lockdowns. We have to get back to some sort of normal - otherwise it doesn't seem worth vaccinating everyone.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

Do you think the variants have been magicked up by the government to allow them to continue with restrictions? If not, then no you probably are not a covid denier.

But I have read plenty of comments (admittedly across various threads) sating or implying that the variant has been 'conveniently' discovered in order to prevent opening up. Total conspiracy nonsense! The government want us spending cash.

Not a covid denier, never have been .it's real and variants are real. And these things will continue to be real for very many years , so we have to learn to live with it .
I haven't seen anyone on here denying covid .

I do wonder if it is being hyped up a little by the media though to make sure people behave themselves when things open up. I am far from a denier but the media always operate on ramping up fears.

@picturesandpickles

It isn't the people who think we shouldn't lock down I am talking about - it is stuff like this:

after these few weeks we will get the Brighton variant the Blackpool and skeggy ones

I am sick to the back teeth of conspiracy theories! The variants have not been made up by the government in order to keep restrictions. The government don't want the bloody restrictions. They want a fully-functioning economy, as do I.

I didn’t read that as suggesting these variants will be made up, more that because the virus mutates we will have to frequently navigate variants and it isn’t feasible to stay locked down each time a new variant of concern arises

@picturesandpickles covid deniers?? Me and my whole family have HAD covid, all positive test results, and the ones who can be vaccinated have been now. There's no denial here. But all this 'few more weeks' stuff needs to stop.

The variants are not a bloody invention

No, they’re not but the latest one isn’t causing an increase in hospital admissions or deaths so why worry about it?

Every time there is a bit of an easing of restrictions the media bring on all these 'experts' to say we shouldn't be doing it and we will have a big wave and everyone lots of people will die.

So no I don't deny covid exists because we had it in our house but yes I think the variants, which there are many and lots have been around for some time, are being used to promote fear.

@picturesandpickles

This thread is just awash with covid deniers.

This is the saddest aspect of this crisis, if it weren't for the bloody bastard idiotic covid deniers we may have reacted so much more effectively.

I am so sick of them. If I knew any in real life I would struggle to stay civil.

The variants are not a bloody invention!

No, it's not. But it is full of people (me included) who oppose further lockdowns. It doesn't wash to call someone a covid-denier just because they disagree with you.

after these few weeks we will get the Brighton variant the Blackpool and skeggy ones

That was me can't people see any humour these days apparently not, what I am saying we need to live with this.

And stop calling people covid deniers it's rather pathetic.

@HarebrightCedarmoon

I do wonder if it is being hyped up a little by the media though to make sure people behave themselves when things open up. I am far from a denier but the media always operate on ramping up fears.

That is not covid denial, but meets the definition of covid minimisation.

@Stuffin

Every time there is a bit of an easing of restrictions the media bring on all these 'experts' to say we shouldn't be doing it and we will have a big wave and everyone lots of people will die.

So no I don't deny covid exists because we had it in our house but yes I think the variants, which there are many and lots have been around for some time, are being used to promote fear.

The use of the inverted comments around 'experts' has pretty strong covid denial vibes.

The variants are not being used to promote fear, they are a genuine reason for concern.