The Four Tests are failed aren't they?

[PrincessNutNuts]

1. The vaccine programme continues to go to plan

Is it going to plan?

The plan was that the vaccine was rolled out evenly across the country by descending age groups with a 12 week gap between doses.

Now they're diverting vaccine supplies to do surge vaxxing of everyone over 18 in areas which have a higher prevalence of variant B1.617.2 (Indian) and the 12 week gap has gone.

Things have gone off plan a bit haven't they?

2. Evidence shows vaccines are reducing deaths and numbers requiring hospital treatment.

Does it? What evidence do we have that they do that in cases of variant B1.617.2? (Indian)

How do we know that where cases of variant B1.617.2 rise, hospitalisations and deaths don't?

Maybe there's just a time lag as there always was.

Hospital admissions in Bolton are back to March levels.

3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions.

Infection rates in Bolton have gone up 28% in 48 hours.

Sewage analysis indicates that vaccine surge and testing surge is now needed in Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees, Leicester, and North Tyneside as well as Glasgow and Moray.

4. New variants do not change the risk of lifting restrictions.

B1.617.2 (Indian) has spread to 86 locations in the U.K. in about a month.

Scientists believe it is between 50% and 60% more transmissible than the Kent variant that has kept us in restrictions for 8 months and still killed 80,000 people.

What do you think?

Are the four tests for opening up met?

Username checks out

It's hardly suspicious at all how many of these 'anxious' threads are started by usernames with no history before March. It's not as if talking about a vaccine that 10s of millions have received is particularly outing, requiring a name change.

There's an awful lot of 'I read ...' as well. If challenged for a source they either never reply or say 'it's in lots of papers', but don't supply a name or a link. I think there was one thread where someone quoted herself from another thread as evidence. (No, I CBA searching and providing a link, it makes no difference whether or not you believe me!)

I swear there are some people who are actively enjoying scaremongering and trying to worry others.

I think there was one thread where someone quoted herself from another thread as evidence.

😂

I swear there are some people who are actively enjoying scaremongering and trying to worry others.

Agreed. It’s despicable behaviour.

@DeadButDelicious

I swear there are some people who are actively enjoying scaremongering and trying to worry others.

This.

Also there's a trend of these posters calling those who don't agree covid deniers or conspiracy theorists, or that they've 'misunderstood'. It seems to be their go to when the thread isn't going their way.

The bullying on this thread is why I deregistered from MN for ages. I can not stand seeing grown adults treating another adult in this way.

@brondary

The bullying on this thread is why I deregistered from MN for ages. I can not stand seeing grown adults treating another adult in this way.

But brondary, don't you feel that it's because people are finally fed up of this person's posts? It has been a relentless campaign of negativity, pessimism and attempts to bring down any kind of optimism. Don't you think there is something just a bit fishy about that level of determination, whatever the motive is (and we can only speculate about that). There can be no doubt surely that there have been numerous posts and posters on this board in the last 14 months who can't be taken at face value, even if it's hard to put your finger on why.

There was a post on another thread the other day, who said that despite having both been vaccinated (with very specific details about the vaccinations), despite being young and "extremely" fit, that the Indian variant had "ripped through" her family and families she knew. PHE were allegedly investigating this case. All four children were "very poorly in bed". And this was a mere too weeks before she and her husband were due their second jab, and that they were both almost hospitalised

Now, there's nothing specific that you can call out as being made, up yet it feels completely improbable.

Two weeks not too

"Bullying"

I wondered how long that would take!

@HesterShaw1 this site has always been crawling with trolls. Report them.
And I thought that poster was in India?

It's worth noting people are paid to do this kind of thing.
Suits political agendas

I believe people are paid to push the government messages.

Multiple posters disagree with OP = bullying.

Posters don't buy into the scaremongering = covid deniers

I've been on MN 10+ years and honestly it's an absolute minefield these days. Trolls have always been a thing but the ones pushing a political agenda are on another level.

Why wouldn’t people be paid to push the messages of other organisations?

[quote brondary]@HesterShaw1 this site has always been crawling with trolls. Report them.
And I thought that poster was in India?[/quote]
Because there's nothing to actually go on. You can't report a vague feeling

I'm not saying I was right about the poster I alluded to. I'm just saying it was an example of something which sounded off.

Yes this site has always been crawling with trolls. But on this topic it's even more harmful.

@KurtWilde There is a big difference between disagreeing and mocking and ridiculing someone. But I suspect you already know that.

@HesterShaw1 you do not need evidence it is not a court of law. I report people whose stories seem implausible as do many others.

@HesterShaw1 If that person was in India as alleged, it may be true. When you havé such high case rates in a population full of people who may be undernourished, then everyone in a family being ill is believable.

But she talked about PHE didn't she?

(or not remembering correctly)

Sorry, that should say

Or am I not remembering correctly?

I just don't understand why the scaremongering can't just stay on one thread. Why posters have to start one after another, and choose slightly alarming titles like this one. Asking a question but we already know what the agenda is.

I don't want to hide the whole topic as occasionally there's some informative threads.

God, I saw this thread when it first started, I really hoped that it had just died!
Obviously not!

@Temp023

God, I saw this thread when it first started, I really hoped that it had just died! Obviously not!

OP's due back any time now I would think.

I do know that, yes, but I was actually referring to a few threads I've been active on where there's clearly just been a difference of opinion between OP and posters - with some just offering differing stories and ideas or even calling OP out on their bad behaviour - and the OP saying they're being hounded or bullied when it's just not the case.

When you start a thread you do so knowing it's a public forum, you'll get all manner of replies and may not like all of them. Some people clearly aren't cut out for that if they're getting triggered or offended so easily.