Advice to only meet up outdoors

[Dodie66]

Seen in the guardian news paper www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/16/ignore-lockdown-easing-to-curb-indian-covid-variant-health-experts-urge

No thanks. It is freezing

We're not going to the pub or restaurants.

We have kids at school and they are doing clubs. We are having an air b and b and going to see gran but probably outside.

We're quite happy being careful. Mind you, we were shielding, and we don't go to the pub much anyway!

[quote Unsure33]@Iggly

sorry I don't agree that any surge will be the governments fault - they have made it very clear they are still gathering information on the Indian variant . Its very clear where the hotspots are .
We all have a choice about what to do .

If people in those hotspot areas are not capable of using their common sense and showing a bit of restraint for a few more weeks then I despair .[/quote]
I disagree.

The information on the Indian variant has not been properly gathered because this government has been neglectful.

They left borders open, allowed travel between the UK and India when they knew full well that it was a problem. They closed borders to other countries before they closed India.

They knew, they’ve been neglectful. It’s a repeat of previous performances.

@Overthebow

This is exactly how I feel

Me too, I'm not staying in to protect those who choose not to get the vaccine. That's their choice and they have to live with the consequences.

What about those who can’t get a vaccine yet?

What about those who can’t get a vaccine yet? hmm

The chances are they aren't vulnerable....that's the point.

If you can't get a vaccine yet then you're under 45. You almost certainly won't become seriously ill if you catch Covid.

That’s incorrect.

Younger people are more at risk of long covid and also there are people who may have underlying conditions but don’t know it until they catch covid.

Finally the vaccine doesn’t offer 100% protection either.

That’s why the Prime Minister is telling people to be cautious.

He knows but lacks the balls to state the risks clearly.

@Iggly

That’s incorrect.

Younger people are more at risk of long covid and also there are people who may have underlying conditions but don’t know it until they catch covid.

Finally the vaccine doesn’t offer 100% protection either.

Well, we know that but what is your plan........?

As the vaccine isn't 100% effective ( few things are!) do we stay in perpetual lockdown? There will be variants for years to come so that could mean years of restrictions and lockdowns.

Or do we assess risk on an aggregate level and as long as the NHS isn't being overwhelmed, and we have vaccinated the known vulnerable, open up society and the economy again?

Life is more than Covid but lots of people seem to have forgotten that.

@Iggly

That’s incorrect.

Younger people are more at risk of long covid and also there are people who may have underlying conditions but don’t know it until they catch covid.

Finally the vaccine doesn’t offer 100% protection either.

True, long covid is a nasty illness but it doesn't put the NHS under risk of collapse. Neither do outliers who are unprotected by the vaccine for whatever reason.

Lockdown is a last resort to protect the NHS. Not a way of making sure nobody dies or gets ill.

What about those who can’t get a vaccine yet? hmm

At this point the only people who aren't vaccinated are non vulnerable under 40s though

I won't be doing anything drastically different, but will enjoy a couple of the new freedoms very carefully. DD is returning to an indoor sports class and so am I. In my own class there will be fewer than 6 people, we will have the doors open and 3 of the attendees have been vaccinated (one dose for me, one dose for another person and 2 doses for the teacher). In DD's class they will have doors and windows open and most of them are in the same year at the same school.

We're not in a hurry to go to the pub, and don't feel ready to sit indoors yet, but might have a pub lunch with friends outdoors when the weather is nicer. We are going to a campsite soon with my parents and we will go inside their motorhome - they're both double-vaccinated.

For me, that's more than enough at the moment.

We need to start taking personal responsibility. DH and I are both double vaccinated but won't be socialising indoors yet. We'll wait to see what happens with the virus.

If everyone double vaccinated follows your lead then there won't be anything to wait and see for because nothing will change. What you mean is that you want others to take a risk on your behalf and then you'll make a decision. Badged as the moral high ground but not anything like in reality.

I think it's reasonable to remind people that outside is safer than inside and, if it's possible to do either that outside will be safer.

The advice fails to take into account those how are using the lifting of restrictions to go and see family who live too far away for day trips, where the choice is between seeing them inside and not seeing them at all.

@OliveTree75

What about those who can’t get a vaccine yet? hmm

At this point the only people who aren't vaccinated are non vulnerable under 40s though

That's not true. What about the CEV and CV under 16?

Won't be in a big hurry to crowded bars and venues. Nor a commuter train thankfully. But looking forward to dinner out.

Thing is, if we get a big national surge of the Indian variant we'll be stopped from entering other countries. The U.K. variant caused huge numbers of deaths across Europe, I doubt they'll be in a hurry to repeat the experience and their vaccine programmes are way behind the U.K.

So I'm in more of a softly softly mode and hopefully can see family without quarantining for two weeks first by the end of the summer.

@BonnesVacances the number of under 16s becoming ill enough to require hospital treatment seems to be incredibly small, even CEV. Old age appears to be really the biggest problem.

If we can’t do it now then when can we?! Rates are still very low, hospital admissions and death rates are down... it’s time to crack on and get back to normal!

I honestly think some people, particularly on here, will be devastated when restrictions end!!

@Mangomoonlight

If we can’t do it now then when can we?! Rates are still very low, hospital admissions and death rates are down... it’s time to crack on and get back to normal!

I honestly think some people, particularly on here, will be devastated when restrictions end!!

They really will. I hate what Covid has done to people. It’s made them so nasty and judgemental of others under the guise of “caring about others”

@MorrisZapp

If you can't get a vaccine yet then you're under 45. You almost certainly won't become seriously ill if you catch Covid.

You’re a lot less likely to need hospital admission, but a small % still will need it. And a small % of the number of people still unprotected is still a huge number of people needing hospital treatment.

Complicated by the fact that because they are less likely to die of it they may be using a hospital bed for longer. Given the current length of waiting lists, I’m not sure waiting until admissions are high and we have to start cancelling non-emergency procedures is the best way forwards.

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@BonnesVacances the number of under 16s becoming ill enough to require hospital treatment seems to be incredibly small, even CEV. Old age appears to be really the biggest problem.[/quote]
Hospital treatment yes, but there are still people who are vulnerable to chronic or lifelong illness who haven't been vaccinated. Morbidity counts as well as mortality, though I know many are only interested in actual deaths, not being left with a shitty quality of life. DD(19) has been bedbound since getting Covid last year and was CV. I know DC under 16 who are similarly vulnerable.