Am I missing something?

[user7891011]

Am I wrong or right here? I don't get the hysteria about another lockdown and people panicking about it because lockdowns are ONLY to stop hospitals becoming over run and overwhelmed with covid patients to the point that they cannot function for any type of patient. With so many millions being vaccinated, if they were to get the virus they would have a 90 something % chance of not becoming seriously ill and therefore staying away from hospital. People who haven't yet had the vaccine are young and have a dramatically lesser chance of being hospitalised. Vaccine take up is high. So hospitals won't be over run from now on. So no need for lockdown. It doesn't matter about the amount of people with covid, we will all get it eventually, symptoms or no symptoms? The vaccine has been proven to have a similar amount of protection against all new variants so no issues there.

Is there something I'm missing? I don't get the panic?

Some people seem to think that the Delta variant is more severe so there will be loads of younger people in ICU. Can't see it myself but we'll see.

Same hype about Kent variant harms more young people and TEACHERS ARE ALL GOING TO DIE was all over MN back in Dec'20 & Jan'21.

I don't encounter lockdown hysteria away from MN. I only hear "Wait and see" about roadmap/21 June on actual media.

I have seen and heard a number of references to the possibility that it's not only more contagious but possibly more severe in younger people. But I know of no stats or data on this. However I have seen it a number of times now, so doubtless the data will start to appear one way or the other, but I think this explains the caution/rumour/panic.

Hospitals don't need to be full of covid patients for things to be difficult for them. Even one covid patient in a hospital means they need to have a separate covid ward. One more than fits onto that ward means opening a second covid ward.

That all has an impact on cancer surgeries and other life saving treatments because there's only a limited amount of space and especially staff.

Also, as we've seen, wherever the virus spreads a lot it also mutates and there's a possibility for more vaccine escape. Only half the adult population is fully vaccinated and some vulnerable people still aren't, so there's plenty of scope for a lot of people to get ill with a more transmissible variant around.

That said, I don't see us going into another lockdown but equally I agree with scientists who say it would be a mistake to open up even more and drop the existing restrictions this month. Better to get on with vaccinating more people quickly and in a month or two we should be in a much better situation.

Even one covid patient in a hospital means they need to have a separate covid ward. One more than fits onto that ward means opening a second covid ward.
nordica thank you so much for posting that, it had never occurred to me but of course it's obvious when it's pointed out and makes a lot of sense of understanding the way the pressures work in practice.

@nordica

Hospitals don't need to be full of covid patients for things to be difficult for them. Even one covid patient in a hospital means they need to have a separate covid ward. One more than fits onto that ward means opening a second covid ward.

That all has an impact on cancer surgeries and other life saving treatments because there's only a limited amount of space and especially staff.

Also, as we've seen, wherever the virus spreads a lot it also mutates and there's a possibility for more vaccine escape. Only half the adult population is fully vaccinated and some vulnerable people still aren't, so there's plenty of scope for a lot of people to get ill with a more transmissible variant around.

That said, I don't see us going into another lockdown but equally I agree with scientists who say it would be a mistake to open up even more and drop the existing restrictions this month. Better to get on with vaccinating more people quickly and in a month or two we should be in a much better situation.

That's true thank you. I agree about not opening up more quickly than we already are

The last few days I feel like I have completely lost the plot.

News about why we are doomed is often posted along side news about why everything is fine.

I have no idea what to believe anymore. I am just sick of the conflicting reports.

It seems like the Indian variant is more dangerous as well as exactly the same as the Kent variant.

That hospital/ death rates are both falling and rising.

That vaccines are both our saviour and make absolutely no difference.

We are both heading for freedom and also a lockdown.

I have no idea what the truth is. Not convinced anyone does.

We are both heading for freedom and also a lockdown

I have no idea what the truth is. Not convinced anyone does

Well that’s about the sum of it. We’re in a phase that could go either way.

I would recommend to stop looking for concrete answers because they don’t exist at this point. The only definite’s we have are what has already happened.