All this has to stop. We can’t live like this!

[SweetsMum3]

We need to learn to live with covid like we do with all other viruses, illnesses and diseases. The elderly and high risk are vaccinated… that was the goal, remember?! Like Hancock said, we will cry freedom when the over 70s are vaccinated!

There is no reason for mass testing when the young and healthy get covid mildly. My child is in tears yet again because she isn’t allowed to go to school for 10 days. A few students in her year group tested positive and all students are forced to be locked in their homes… again.

Are the sick?! No. Half have no symptoms. The others have a slight fever and feel a little tired.

This isn’t fair. This isn’t healthy. This isn’t sane. This is harmful and destructive to children. An entire generation has been betrayed. For what exactly? Over a virus which does not affect them. Over fear. Over people being immensely risk-averse. Over loss of control and people can’t take it.

It is time we live our lives and get back to normal before it’s too late. If our children hold us accountable and never forgive us, I will completely understand. We have not stood-up for them. Instead, we cowered in fear not giving a hoot about the collateral damage all these restrictions have caused. Shame on us.

[quote Teateaandmoretea]@Tealightsandd

You are entitled totally to your view. The absolute arrogance that you are right and speak for the majority however is staggering.

You need to open your eyes to what is going on out there and what other people think. Actions speak much louder than words.[/quote]
You must have confused me @Teateaandmoretea

I referred to the opinion polls, that speak for the majority. Oh - and the majority of respected scientific and medical experts. Worldwide.

I do agree though. Some posters do seem to claim to speak for the majority. Whether due to arrogance or ignorance or something else, I don't know.

Yes agree again. Actions, not words. The countries which are opening or starting to open up took (containment and suppression) actions.

The Long Covid clinics set up across the country, including 15 paediatric ones to treat child patients. An action that speaks loudly of the potential dangers of Long Covid.

It’s shocking. My child in year 5 misses so much in school and can’t do any fractions etc.
She says they never learned them properly - only did them for one day and that’s it.
She doesn’t understand basic math- she missed 6 months of year 4 and 3.5 months of year 5.
Shocking. What a life they will have!
Will she says in 15 years time- I never learned this as we were off cos of COVID??????

Let me add she was doing so well up year 4! It all changed with the COVID time off.

I agree.

A lot of people who want this to carry on just don’t want to go back to work, in my opinion. It’s fine for Dave down the local shop to be at risk every day, but God forbid Mandy has to go into a spacious office with 8 other employees.

It’s a joke.

@MarshaBradyo Nope, I have never had to isolate yet

DD has just done 10 days after her bubble burst, no symptoms and she did a LFT every other day, all were negative. DS has had to isolate a few times at school. It is rubbish, I don't deny that.

Does anyone have any data of long Covid in teenagers as I don’t know any child that has had long Covid or been ill with Covid? What percentage of children has this effected?

Long Covid is surely post viral/chronic fatigue that be brought on by any virus not just Covid.

@Turquoisesea

My DD is off for 10 days again as someone on her school bus which she was only on once for 20 mins and wasn’t sitting anywhere near, tested positive. So now she’s going to miss over a week of school and we had to cancel my in-laws coming over today, despite the fact all the adults are double vaccinated and she’s had a negative test. Just seems like an absolute over reaction in my opinion. We’ve followed all the rules but just getting fed up with it now.

I wouldn’t have cancelled your plans in this scenario. Use your common sense instead of blindly following rules that don’t make sense.

She doesn’t understand basic math

I thought America, whilst closing schools, had remote learning set up?

I assume you're in the states? Math is the American term.

If you're actually in the UK, yes you're right. Uncontained unsuppressed spread of Covid is very disruptive for education. Staff and pupils off sick (some long-term with Long Covid). Particularly bad for the 53,000 CEV children - many have missed around a year of school.

I hope there's educational provision for the child Long Covid sufferers unable to go to school.

Yes. Dragging it out is bad. Containment and suppression, whilst we get on with getting the majority vaccinated is the way through this.

@randomkey123

Long Covid is surely post viral/chronic fatigue that be brought on by any virus not just Covid.

Yes indeed. But no one seems to have thought of that.

There are several Long Covid links upthread. I have to go now. Will post later if have time.

The government wouldn't be spending lots of money on 15 paediatric Long Covid treatment clinics if it didn't affect them.

There's a difference between low risk and no risk. Low doesn't mean no.

That's the thing with risk though @Mistlewoeandwhine, your "friend’s friend" may have suffered awfully but I have friends' friends who, just though the course of living, have lost children to horrible diseases, won the lottery, died in car accidents etc. It doesn't stop the rest of us having children or driving cars. I don't feel I have to imagine "sacrificing" loved ones to child loss or car accidents. For many, the risks of continuing to stay in a (seemingly) perpetual state of restrictions and half life outweigh the risks of Covid or its potential side effects.

Also, I know the PP who was going on about a life of cancer cures, funded cat sanctuaries and ending homelessness was being facetious, but it sounds great ... let's aim for that

@BirdsandBeesmakinghay
Yes read the long covid threads, and then come and say that it is just post viral fatigue!!!!

I am infirm, I have suffered from an illness with identical symptoms to long covid (ME) for a number of years, and no I certainly haven't been treated with care and compassion by the government or society at large. So you'll have to excuse me for being suspicious that society is now being completely and utterly upended in order to protect a small of vulnerable individuals, the only ones at significant risk of mortality from this illness. Post viral fatigue syndrome or ME, which shares identical symptoms to long covid, at least according to the wikipedia page I read, has always affected small numbers of children and teenagers and adults of all ages. Quarter of a million according to the ME Association.

Yes children have sadly been affected by bereavement of relatives. A relatively small number, as excess mortality over past couple years is not vastly beyond average. Elderly people have always, sadly, died. The average age of mortality from covid is one year older than average life expectancy in the UK (82 versus 81) And children have always, sadly, suffered from the passing of their grandparents. Surely at some point we have to take a more holistic approach which balances the mental and physical health of all members of society, rather than the one dimensional focus on (questionable) covid prevention, which ignores all health harms from restrictions and 'new normals,' especially to those elderly and infirm. My grandma's dementia has progressed more so than in previous covid year, likely because of the lack of human contact and touch from her loved ones. Alzheimer's charities have been critical of the effects of this cruel isolation on dementia sufferers because of the effects they have seen.

Are you really prepared to live like this forever?

@randomkey123

Long Covid is surely post viral/chronic fatigue that be brought on by any virus not just Covid.

Perhaps those conditions are also linked to organ damage? More research on them is definitely needed, whether separate or similar conditions.

Long Covid has many different issues. Including for some patients, organ damage (heart, lung, kidney, brain). It can also trigger diabetes, and cause hearing loss.

I’m not saying it doesn’t effect children but what percentage? As I said I don’t know any child that has had long Covid or even been ill with Covid

I think people also forget that lockdowns and restrictions are actually bad and damaging in and of themselves. Health service overwhelmed with covid would have been worse, absolutely, so restrictions were the least bad option. But they are still a bad option in that they have long-lasting damaging effects too.

‘Poverty kills’ isn’t just a cliche. Poverty does kill. Things that cause poverty also cause negative health outcomes for the people affected. Loneliness is also bad for health. Sedentary lifestyles are also bad for health. Damaging education damages a child’s chances across its life, long-term.

So it’s not a matter of “oh well it’s a bit inconvenient but who cares if it’s protecting people from illness and death.” It’s not that simple.

@osbertthesyrianhamster

Funny how 'the vulnerable' and people with Post Viral Syndrome never mattered for much above FA and still don't if it's not Covid.

Yes, this.

YANBU. The at risk groups are protected now. Those who are still worried can continue to live like hermits if they so wish.

Yep, dd's year out from tomorrow. I'd imagine all teachers are now vaccinated as well as vulnerable children. That's another 1-2 weeks of her schooling gone, and she has GCSEs next year. What a fucking shit show.

*Why can’t things change?

I’ve changed recently, definitely more compliant all the way through*

@MarshaBradyo I’m not doubting you. The only stupid opinion is one that doesn’t change dependent on the facts. However, there are obvious organised movements very clearly capitalising on peoples stamina as much as the government and media are guilty of their own propaganda and use of peoples own fears.

As I said though, calls such as the ones in this thread are redundant since we’re already doing what is being asked and moving towards the final stage of restrictions.

I would ask what the point of this anonymous internet rallying ‘battle’ cry is actually trying to achieve? Personally I’d rather focus my energies on an equal and fair recovery than getting my knickers in a twist demanding something already in motion 🤷‍♀️

I don’t understand people still saying children can kill granny or their parents, they’ve been vaccinated 🤷‍♀️ that threat has gone.

I 100 percent agree with you, and masks have been proven to not work with viruses.

The trouble is, it’s the not following ‘sensible’ precautions which keep things relentlessly rolling on. The Delta variant would have have got such a strong foothold if:

• we had been quicker and stronger in airport/testing/quarantine measures from DElta variant countries.
• we actually had a good working test and trace system.

So it’s not that these sensible precautions are all a load of nonsense now. As we haven’t yet reached herd immunity. It’s just that the government is expecting the population to take up the slack from their own inability to put effective enough systems in place.