Can we really just stop life to preserve every life?

[MrsHastingslikethebattle]

Everyone whom I know is more scared of the Governments reaction to Covid, than Covid itself.

The vaccinations are the most protection we are ever going to get, and yes people will still die.

Why can't we just accept that people die of Covid like we accept thousands each year who have died through flu and other preventable diseases?Millions and millions of people have died through smoking and alcohol, costing millions to the NHS. Yet we haven't banned them?
Viruses mutate and Covid is no different. They're will be variants indefinitely. Are we to cower behind our sofas every time a new one is announced?
The media in full force say how serious the new strain is, then lo and behold, weeks later it shows the vaccines are still offering high protection.
Public Health have started there is no correlation between the Indian variant and hospital admissions.
There is also a report that over 80% of Covid infections were caught in hospital, yet hospitality is are still targeted with table service, masks and track and trace.

When did this become about cases? not deaths and hospital admissions like it was to begin with?

The media and government have done well to completely scare people into submission. This is no longer about protection, its control and power.

Mumsnet is the only place is seems where people want these restrictions to carry on.

Everyone in real life has had enough and can see through this bullshit for what it really is!

#Imdone

I think that pp was being sarcastic

I understand why we are doing it but I do feel disappointed. Reading about normality in US is hard, would love to be at that stage.

@katfold

If restrictions save a single life they are worth it. And that's before you even consider Long Covid. Saving life is so important, and we must never ease restrictions until we know for sure every life have been saved. If the economy collapses, jobs are lost, it is all worth it if it extends just one life by even a day. Maybe some us just care more, maybe that's just how we are made

I assume you don't drive?

We haven't stopped life!

I go to work, ds goes to school, shops are open, swimming lessons and classes have resumed. I spent last Saturday evening happily in the pub garden with some friends.

The only restriction I currently face is that I can't book a foreign holiday. And no two weeks in the sun is worth someone losing a loved one.

It's a bit different for those with family abroad but claiming we've 'stopped life' is melodramatic and silly.

OK lots of people have made the same point!

Did anyone see that Sir Lindsey Hoyle was absolutely furious that the govt announced the delay in restrictions being lifted to the media without running it past the parliament first? Rightly so, imo. His announcement preceded Matt Hancock's Covid statement last night. You can read the transcript of the evening's events in the HoC here:

www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/jun/13/uk-covid-live-news-boris-johnson-coronavirus-delay-lockdown-vaccine-delta-variant-latest-updates

Lindsay Hoyle precedes Matt Hancock’s statement to say it was “entirely unacceptable [and] disrespectful” that parliament was not told before the media about the four-week delay.

“The government’s own ministerial code says that when parliament is in session, the most important announcements of government policy should be made in the first instance in parliament.

“The prime minister wrote the foreword to the ministerial code. He must now lead from the top and follow the guidance in it.

“I do not find it acceptable at all. The members of this house are elected to serve their constituents, not to serve them via Sky or the BBC.”

So you can see through the bullshit to what it really is.

What really is it then?

What part of life have you stopped OP?..... genuine question....what are you wanting to do in the next 4 weeks that you can’t?
Are you wanting to go to a large event? Or a night club? or dance on an indoor dance floor at a wedding?..... because you can pretty much do anything else you want.... not worth getting worked up over IMO

@Kitkat151

What part of life have you stopped OP?..... genuine question....what are you wanting to do in the next 4 weeks that you can’t? Are you wanting to go to a large event? Or a night club? or dance on an indoor dance floor at a wedding?..... because you can pretty much do anything else you want.... not worth getting worked up over IMO

Maybe OP owns a nightclub. Or works for a company that supplies them. Or works front of house in a theatre. Or owns a cafe that is struggling because they can’t have enough tables.

I understand why the easing has been delayed, but I can’t bear people who act like this has no impact beyond “oh you just can’t go to a nightclub for a few weeks, get a grip”.
I also understand the argument that the effect on those industries may be greater in the long run if we don’t delay. But again, that doesn’t mean that this delay is easy for everyone.

Has the USA banned travellers from the UK ? Because I thought everyone could travel to red/amber/green countries as they want (if those countries allow travel from the UK ), it's just that there are restrictions on movement when they return ? Which wasn't going to change on the 21st of June anyway.

@katfold

If restrictions save a single life they are worth it. And that's before you even consider Long Covid. Saving life is so important, and we must never ease restrictions until we know for sure every life have been saved. If the economy collapses, jobs are lost, it is all worth it if it extends just one life by even a day. Maybe some us just care more, maybe that's just how we are made

I really hope this is an attempt at satire.

@TheReluctantPhoenix

This has been so well explained, I am surprised there is yet another thread.

It is not mainly about lives, but about maintaining a credible hospital system. If hospitalisations exceed a certain number, not only will many more people die of COVID, but of everything else, and they won’t just be old. If a hospital is genuinely full, a paediatric appendicitis case once again becomes as fatal as it was in the Middle Ages.

In addition, palliative care fails, so not only do people die, but they die in great pain.

Yes, we could choose to just let anyone with COVID die untreated at home and that would solve the above problem. However, not many would make that choice. Otherwise, there are no other choices.

Choosing ‘life’ over lives means choosing a painful death for many people, and not just old ones.

That argument might have worked a year ago but the hospitals are nowhere near being overwhelmed at the minute.

@Mintjulia well I'm so very pleased that life hasn't changed much for you.
But I haven't seen my family since March 2019. They are abroad. Being allowed to travel doesn't just mean holiday.
It is my human right to see my family. Why would a government stop me from doing that?
I think you are being selfish for only looking at your own little needs.

@SonnetForSpring

It's very melodramatic to say the current restrictions stop life. A sense of perspective is seriously missing from MN these days.

Hahahaha imagine stating perspective is needed but then only giving your own narrow point of view. I’m glad your life is still ambling along pleasantly. Meanwhile, I have many friends in my industry who are on the brink of ruin. I know some who have seriously considered suicide. But, you know, perspective.

It is not mainly about lives, but about maintaining a credible hospital system. If hospitalisations exceed a certain number, not only will many more people die of COVID, but of everything else, and they won’t just be old. If a hospital is genuinely full, a paediatric appendicitis case once again becomes as fatal as it was in the Middle Ages

Whilst this is true, its only because we have such a poor health service we have had to continue restrictions.
UK 2.5 beds per 1000
France 6
Germany 8 !

I knew the NHS was shite but it can't cope with just a few 1000 extra hospitalizations, these, in the main, wouldn't be ICU admissions.

Can't see the numbers will be better in 4 weeks, takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to become effective and people will now take no notice of current restrictions.

Maybe OP owns a nightclub. Or works for a company that supplies them. Or works front of house in a theatre. Or owns a cafe that is struggling because they can’t have enough tables

Or is a pilot, cabin crew, airport ground staff, works in aircraft manufacturing or maintenance. Or works in a foreign holiday destination dependent on British tourism.

Or maybe is one of the army of people who makes festivals or other events happen. Because life is far from normal for hundreds of thousands or millions of people who work in those industries and have had little or no work for well over a year now and are facing losing their second summer season that provides the majority of their income with little government support.

Do people really have so little imagination to not see that life is far from normal for many people?

Agreed. NHS hospitals are nowhere near being overwhelmed, so that argument just doesn't cut it anymore.

Of course katfold’s post was sarcastic. Everyone’s lost their heads so much over covid the past year people are reading it like a genuine post.

Some people on here have obviously not lost relatives to Covid. Life is difficult for our young people but they will survive. Lots of older people lived through the much tougher restrictions of two world wars . Parents can help by making sure their young adults get the vaccination. I volunteer at a vaccination hub where until recently we have being giving the AZ vaccination with a great take up. We have swapped to Pfizer for the younger age group and had 100 no shows on one day last week .

After the damage done already a little while extra to save younger people from long covid and give the NHS the best chance to catch up on saving lives feels worth it to me.

@Carameljack

Of course katfold’s post was sarcastic. Everyone’s lost their heads so much over covid the past year people are reading it like a genuine post.

To be fair that’s because it sounds not that much more ridiculous than some genuine posts I have seen over the past year.

Saving life is so important, and we must never ease restrictions until we know for sure every life have been saved

Yet I know of 3 people who have committed suicide due to the restrictions, who ended up in serious financial ruin and couldn't see a way out, another who's mental health deteriorated so bad and not being able to see anyone. Last year not far from me, a woman who had just had a baby jumped in front of a train, it was reported that she had reached out to MH services as she was feeling anxious and depressed. So respectfully, your post is a load of shit.

I'm not against certain restrictions and lockdowns when needed but I can not stand this "everyone will die" mentality people have, people are still dying of things other than covid.

@RedSoloCup

Agree fed up and done, esp want the end to bloody masks but been told that could be years 😢😢😢😢

Not if people just stop wearing them en masse.

@Oblomov21

Agreed. NHS hospitals are nowhere near being overwhelmed, so that argument just doesn't cut it anymore.

No they are not but the NHS faces a backlog of 5.3m operations, that will take many years to clear, if ever. Real lives ruined, people left in pain, stopping work etc etc anyone who can, get medical ins because the NHS wil do nothing for you atm - my MiL in agony with her knee, can't walk, stand up or weight bare - 12 to 18m wait.

The NHS cannot afford to be anywhere near overwhelmed.

This why the restrictions cannot be lifted.

Maybe some us just care more, maybe that's just how we are made

Now I think the poster was being sarcastic, hopefully. Wouldn't surprise me anymore though.