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Original poster

To think they should pause meeting inside

583 replies

LastOrdersMaura · 15/05/2021 10:41

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 posts:
MrsHastingslikethebattle · 16/05/2021 18:56

This has been going for a YEAR. OVER A YEAR.

People have done enough for their country and NHS. Enough sacrifices.

You don't want people round your house or to go others, fine. Let other people get on with their lives.

MintyMabel · 16/05/2021 18:58

They have? Make their customers sit outside with blankets and hot water bottles? The garden is the smoking area

There’s at least half a dozen pub/restaurants have done it where I am for years.

More have started since outdoor areas were opened last month.

MintyMabel · 16/05/2021 18:59

If the vaccination programme doesn’t work then really we should open up and get on with things and hope for herd immunity.

The programme isn’t finished yet. Or did you think it would work when they started in January?

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 18:59

[quote worriedatthemoment]@picturesandpickles they use the word IF [/quote]
Yes, the 'if' relates to the transmissibility. It is a fact that if it is 20% or 30% more transmissible, it would not be as bad.

The quote from Whitty was: There is now confidence ... that this variant is more transmissible that B.1.1.7 (Kent variant), now the question in practical terms over the next two to three weeks is is this somewhat more transmissible than B.1.1.7. or is this a lot more transmissible and that will have implications for the long-term prospects of this epidemic in the UK and indeed the pandemic internationally

It is the virus not the vaccinations which will cause a better or worse outcome just at this time, due to the large pool of unvaccinated people.

maddiemookins16mum · 16/05/2021 19:01

Meh, people have been meeting up for months. Kids have been back at school too.

Blossomtoes · 16/05/2021 19:02

It is the virus not the vaccinations which will cause a better or worse outcome just at this time, due to the large pool of unvaccinated people

20% of the population least at risk isn’t a “large pool”. We’re pretty close to herd immunity.

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:03

@Bythemillpond

If you think that the peak could not be as bad because of vaccinations, you are wrong

Peak of what? Deaths or infections or hospital admissions?

If the vaccination programme doesn’t work then really we should open up and get on with things and hope for herd immunity.

Hospitalisations is what is being discussed by SAGE.

The vaccine programme is working, but hasn't yet completed. A large pool of people remain unvaccinated.

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:08

@Blossomtoes

It is the virus not the vaccinations which will cause a better or worse outcome just at this time, due to the large pool of unvaccinated people

20% of the population least at risk isn’t a “large pool”. We’re pretty close to herd immunity.

You should tell SAGE they have done their figures wrong Hmm

20% is a big pool. Plus under 18s who are not in that 20%.

Bythemillpond · 16/05/2021 19:13

MintyMabel

If the vaccination programme doesn’t work then really we should open up and get on with things and hope for herd immunity

The programme isn’t finished yet. Or did you think it would work when they started in January

But we have huge numbers who have had the first vaccination. Over half the population. Which includes all of the elderly and those most at risk of having a bad reaction or needing hospitalisation or at risk of dying who wanted the vaccine.
Just under 30% of the country are fully vaccinated

Yet apparently there are people who think the peak is going to be worse than when there was no one vaccinated

If this is the case then I really think we should give up and stop wasting money trying to vaccinate people and doing anymore lockdowns and just get on with it.

TheKeatingFive · 16/05/2021 19:13

Is it just me, or are certain posters writing styles and areas of focus very similar?

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:22

Yet apparently there are people who think the peak is going to be worse than when there was no one vaccinated

By 'people' do you mean SAGE - as they are the ones saying this variant could cause a peak of hospitalisations higher than the last two waves.

cardibach · 16/05/2021 19:28

[quote LastOrdersMaura]@amylou8 please read my OP, vaccine uptake is actually low, especially in my area. There are a multitude of reasons for this. Do we not owe these people protection?[/quote]
No. They’ve chosen not to have the vaccine because their personal risk assessment is that it’s safer to catch covid. Who are we to suggest they are wrong? (They are, obviously. Just we can’t all keep protecting them when this is what they believe despite all evidence to the contrary).

KurtWilde · 16/05/2021 19:31

Two of my siblings work in sheltered accommodation. Every resident there is chomping at the bit to go for a pub lunch indoors, go to the coast, go abroad (those who are still able). Do you honestly think vaccinated elderly people are going to stay in to protect the younger members of the population who haven't had the vaccine yet? Of course they're not, and rightly so. They know they are most at risk, and they're happy to be vaccinated and to carry on with the rest of their lives, as should we all.

And yes @doubleshotespresso covid has made people lose common sense, but not in the way you mean.

midgedude · 16/05/2021 19:32

@MrsHastingslikethebattle

This has been going for a YEAR. OVER A YEAR.

People have done enough for their country and NHS. Enough sacrifices.

You don't want people round your house or to go others, fine. Let other people get on with their lives.

This pisses me off

Your getting on with your life affects others. Hurts others. Kills others.

People who end up with long covid , those who will die of cancer

Yes this whole thing is grim beyond grim , endless , but it is what it is. I really want to see my mam who is way too old to sit outside in the cold . But Gnashing of teeth and wailing won't change that

If the scientific consensus is that waiting longer is needed so be it . The end is closer.

Imnothereforthedrama · 16/05/2021 19:34

If the scientific consensus is that waiting longer is needed so be it . The end is closer.
But it isn’t you can go and meet your mum .

LIZS · 16/05/2021 19:37

I agree, but so many people are disregarding the guidance already it may not make much difference now anyway.

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:38

It is 30% who are completely unvaccinated (not counting under-18s), not 20% (just saw an update on today's figures):
Across the UK a total of 56,677,012 vaccines have been administered between 8 December and 15 May, including 36,573,354 people with their first dose (69.4%) and 20,103,658 with their second (38.2%)

Bythemillpond · 16/05/2021 19:38

picturesandpickles

I don’t really take much notice of SAGE. Does anyone? They have been predicting worse for as long as we have had Covid around
If Sages predictions had been reality I don’t think there would be anyone left to be at risk from Covid as we would have all have had it within such a short period of time we would all have antibodies to it.

TheKeatingFive · 16/05/2021 19:40

Your getting on with your life affects others. Hurts others. Kills others.

There are so many other things that can get you beyond Covid. Our lives are short, unpredictable and precious. People are deciding they aren’t wasting more of them hiding away for a disease that already had a pretty low FR and that a majority are vaccinated against. That’s perfectly understandable.

anon12345678901 · 16/05/2021 19:42

Well I'm going to do exactly what we can do from tomorrow, I'll be booking a cinema trip, meeting up with people inside and I cannot bloody wait. I go to a gym with many other people, I go to my child's swimming lessons with many other people, so yes I will be having people inside my home. If others don't want to because of SAGE, then that is their choice.

PetuniaPot · 16/05/2021 19:45

I'm meeting my fully vaccinated mother indoors with windows open and sitting outdoors at cafes.

picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:48

@Bythemillpond

picturesandpickles

I don’t really take much notice of SAGE. Does anyone? They have been predicting worse for as long as we have had Covid around
If Sages predictions had been reality I don’t think there would be anyone left to be at risk from Covid as we would have all have had it within such a short period of time we would all have antibodies to it.

OK, well that is a point of view. I think we have kind of lost touch with what happened in the UK over the last year?

SAGE recommended lockdown to avoid it spreading across the population, which the government did (eventually), which is why we haven't all had it. The fact we haven't had it doesn't mean SAGE were wrong to suggest we could if measures weren't taken.

This is like a conversation from Alice in Wonderland!

Blossomtoes · 16/05/2021 19:48

@picturesandpickles

Yet apparently there are people who think the peak is going to be worse than when there was no one vaccinated

By 'people' do you mean SAGE - as they are the ones saying this variant could cause a peak of hospitalisations higher than the last two waves.

And I call bollocks on SAGE. That just defies all logic.
picturesandpickles · 16/05/2021 19:51

And I call bollocks on SAGE. That just defies all logic.

Hilarious! You should let them see your workings, bet you could teach them a thing or two!

SlipperyDippery · 16/05/2021 19:52

@picturesandpickles I agree that the quote from SAGE is worrying - did they give an indication of how long we would have to wait before moving to step 3 to avert that from happening? I haven’t seen any such timeframe reported

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