How Much Longer?

[pinkyflloyd]

How much longer do you think covid and restrictions will go on for?

I don't think restrictions will be lifted in 21st June. I don't think things will go back to something resembling normality until next year.

I am still being careful and feel very isolated working from home and not really socialising.

@Quartz2208

Based on what are France and Germany ahead

Germany is 17.6% full, 43% one dose and on target for 90% to have one dose by July

France is 16.5% fully vaccinated

We are 38% and 59% (Whole pop not just adults) - the difference is that they have decided to open it up to all we are going through it more methodically.

US is the same - they have been open up to all over 18s being able to have an appointment for ages and are 41.2% fully vaccinated but and with 50% one dose but are hitting a wall with take up

I'm very pleased to be wrong!

So, that's one thing we're doing very well. Vaccine rollout.

It would be all the more sad - and stupid - then to throw away the advantage (and hard work of the NHS and volunteers) by messing up - again - at the final hurdle.

We need to invest in schools (as was needed regardless of Covid) - get some Covid measures, including masks, in place.

We need to support self isolation and get test and trace working well.

And - we need to control our borders.

That way we can reduce the risks - of avoidable deaths, more Long Covid sufferers - and avoid another lockdown.

Why does Boris repeatedly throw it all away just when we're doing so well?

@IcedPurple Yes, they are. Aldi, Tesco and Lidl have a permanent red/green door counter. Sainsbury's have a person on the door with a clicker and a pile of masks. M&S Food is counting in. Maybe why we are down to 6 cases per 100k!

If the ridiculous could realise that vaccination is the way out of this mess we are only half way through, that is why the wave is possible despite vaccinations.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Dunno. I'm not social distancing from my family and friends any more though and I won't ever again, no matter what restrictions come in, if any.

Me neither

@Tealightsandd - yes agree

@Tealightsandd I dont disagree these measures should have been taken awhile ago I think now its very much shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Not only do I not think borders will be shut I think they will be open in time for the summer holidays

harverina

Yes I agree we should / could be doing more now to avoid a lockdown. Sadly we are just opening up and going for it in many respects.

We are seeing surges of cases for this very reason. Maybe if enough people are vaccinated a lockdown won’t be required?

Surges? there was 0 covid deaths yesterday

How low do you expect this to go.

It’s over.

Get out and live

Shetland ponies
Quote

Waxonwaxoff0
Dunno. I'm not social distancing from my family and friends any more though and I won't ever again, no matter what restrictions come in, if any.

Me neither

And me neither 😂

Oops never did
Lovely family bbq yesterday in the red hot sunshine
Should have been 17 of us but down to 13 thanks to awkward teens...girlfriends, working etc
You know what it’s like

@Quartz2208

Time and time against people said about the horse bolting. The thing is though, new horses keep turning up. Not the same horse but its close relatives.

We've recently imported the Delta strain (formerly known as the Indian variant). We ourselves very successfully exported our own strain worldwide.

We're doing so well with the vaccine rollout. But - we still have a little way to go. We'll get there, but currently we don't have nearly enough fully vaccinated. One dose is only 33% effective.

We need to take measures to stop the horse's cousin bolting - just until we fully vaccinate the majority.

Quote

Overthebow

TheKeatingFive
In fairness, it’s a small, if very vocal minority on here. And it’s obvious there’s sock puppeting going on.

No one I know in RL will entertain the idea of further lockdowns.
Yes same here, I don’t know anyone who won’t continue to see friends and family. The government know anything they do will have low compliance now.

I don’t know anyone in rl who didn’t see friends and family

time and time again*

[quote Tealightsandd]@Quartz2208

Time and time against people said about the horse bolting. The thing is though, new horses keep turning up. Not the same horse but its close relatives.

We've recently imported the Delta strain (formerly known as the Indian variant). We ourselves very successfully exported our own strain worldwide.

We're doing so well with the vaccine rollout. But - we still have a little way to go. We'll get there, but currently we don't have nearly enough fully vaccinated. One dose is only 33% effective.

We need to take measures to stop the horse's cousin bolting - just until we fully vaccinate the majority.[/quote]
I am not saying we shouldnt I am just saying I cannot possibly see it happening - Vietnam still isnt on the red list. I think borders will be open.

We wont quite go to the CDC/US model but we probably arent far off

Quote a shakin stevens

I am concerned that when the pandemic ends, cafes will not give back the pavement space they are being allowed to use. It makes it a bit of a nightmare at the moment for any disabled people or visually impaired people.

While that is true
I love the way we have become a cafe society and I’d like to see it stay
But yes consideration must be given to other pavement users

York is so brilliant now
Sat in the sunshine in parliament st and there’s such a lovely ambience out on the streets

I urge anyone who has worried themselves sick for a year to get out and experience it

It’s just joyful
All that’s missing are the street buskers who were out and about all weekend

Vietnam has been added to the red list.

Rather pointlessly... since Vietnam's borders remain closed (with extremely limited exceptions such as diplomats).

Ironic really. They found a new strain - a hybrid of the UK and Indian strains... Vietnam is much more at risk from UK travellers than the other way round. The hybrid they found must've leaked from an essential travel quarantine case.

Vietnam have a total of 47 deaths.
That's 47 since the start in 2020.

Adding Vietnam - a country with closed borders - to the red list is as pointless as having Australia and New Zealand, like Vietnam with closed borders, to the green list.

We have seen 150,000 dead.

Vietnam has had 47 dead.

We are the risk to Vietnam. Not the other way round.

@Tealightsandd

We are the risk to Vietnam. Not the other way round.

Yes quite.

Maybe they just don't want Vietnam to sequence any more of our UK-exported variants as our reputation on covid management is already bottom of the table?

You're probably right colouring

At what point do you think TEalight that Europe and the US are no more a risk to each other than they are to themselves, we have had the Alpha variant, the US had one in California and Spain had one last summer than kick started the Alpha. Because at some point the levels are such in each country and vaccinations are that it can open.

The question is will we rush this or not?

And when did we add them - they are not as far as I can tell on it.

When the majority of the population are fully vaccinated.

Assume the US (and France and Germany and Vietnam, etc) still see us as a threat (quite understandably), given their travel restrictions on people from the UK.

Sorry thought I read Vietnam were added. It's irrelevant really though because their borders are shut.

The US have completely closed borders and have done since March 2020 (for all the good it did them). Rumours are an announcement will be made on that when Biden visits - probably mid July for that. He will look not at case numbers but vaccinations as that is very much the US approach.

Germany/France is more political I think. Both have the Indian variant both have high levels and again is as much a tic for tac that they are on the Amber list. Sharleen SPiteri (singer in Texas) said she was doing interviews in Paris for her new album, 7 day quarantine when she arrived, 3 days worth of interviews, 10 days quarantine when they return

My suspicion is that there will be a joint lifting there as well

But that is actually the point - adding it would be realistically meaningless so the fact they havent added it.

It is a tough one though isnt it - we know that by end of July most over 40s should be double vaccinated and a lot have had one. Is the benefit of allowing travel to open overtake the risk of letting tourism start.

And that is the conundrum for the politicians. For scientists it is a much easier one because for COVID of course waiting as long as possible is the right and only choice. But the reality is much more nuanced and has a lot more things to consider. Do you do it before the summer holidays or after?

The US doesn't have completely closed borders. It is restricting entry from high risk countries - including the UK.

True you can come in via the Caribbean and Puerto Rico and quarantine there for 2 weeks but Canada/Mexico/EU/UK we are not on a list alone for high risk

And part of it is a political game of letting it go at the same time. Biden/Johnson will make a joint announcement on that one I would bet a lot of money on that.

Anyway we seem to have sidetracked the thread!

@Tealightsandd just because europe are offering to over 18's they are not ahead at present , just doing in a different way and each country is different
Vaccination not approved here for 12 year olds yet and didn't think it was in europe either ? Were have you read that germany start this in June ?
As for restrictions remaining no i don't think their is much support now and he will have to at least lift some restrictions in June if nit all as most I know are now fed up and of the opinion if people can travel abroad and mix or whatever there then I am not , not seeing family here or worrying about 7 inside as opposed to 6 etc

@Tealightsandd also why is adding vietnam pointless if as you claim a new variant has been seen as there actually doing what should of been done with india etc, just because we can't go there if we don't have on red list then they could still come here