19th July is looking hopeful 😊

[Baileysforchristmas]

We can live on hope

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57643694

Thanks - it just sounds a little bit scary re numbers. But as you say, cases can be high but if it is largely a mild illness then what is the problem. @MarshaBradyo

Also, why do I keep seeing talk of the winter being bad? Why would it be bad if we have vaccines and high case numbers? Surely there would be hardly anyone left to infect by winter?

Am I being hopelessly naive?

If 80 per cent have the antibodies surely numbers will eventually dwindle whatever happens. Unless we catch it twice.

@Thelm

Also, why do I keep seeing talk of the winter being bad? Why would it be bad if we have vaccines and high case numbers? Surely there would be hardly anyone left to infect by winter?

Am I being hopelessly naive?

Maybe that’s the plan - keep winter capacity mostly for flu which is possibly going to be higher

Not sure though it’s a good point

Perhaps they will impose restrictions because of any flu outbreaks. Hope not. If covid is under control hopefully hospitals will be in a much stronger position than last winter.

In a way continuing mask wearing may continue to help control outbreaks and flus.

I think they were taking about winter being ‘bad’ not purely because of Covid but they are worried about flu and other respiratory illnesses this year. This could be a problem for young children who would normally have built up a bit of immunity through exposure.

I’ve not had a cold since 2019.
If we have a bad flu year and inevitably there will still be some Covid admissions and deaths it could quickly overwhelm the NHS.

A sensible thing would be to invest (like a year ago) so the NHS doesn’t reach breaking point every bloody winter even without Covid.

I’ve had cold after cold since January. I’ve also just had two sore throat infections in quick succession and I’m someone who rarely gets a cold. (They haven’t been covid infections as I’m tested twice a week for work). I think that’s what they potentially mean by a bad winter.

@IcedPurple

Biscuits. I don't need bread.

Biscuits aren't essential. It's incredibly selfish to leave the home for mere biscuits. Don't people know there's a pandemic out there and that looooooooong Covid is spread by irresponsible covidiots heading out for some Rich Tea? That wouldn't happen in Australia. Only in Britain which of course is the laughing stock of the world. It's deja vu. That's what I say.

LOL @ all this concern for 'the vulnerable'. No one appears to have given the proverbial flying one to all the swingeing cuts made to services for the sick, disabled, chronically ill, working poor and children over the past 11 years that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. No one still cares about them now except if it's Covid - the Covid Health Service now has huge waiting lists and staff shortages.

@Manzanilla55

In a way continuing mask wearing may continue to help control outbreaks and flus.

Keep wearing a mask then.

@osbertthesyrianhamster - I have a disabled child, I have been concerned (and campaigned about) all of those other things you mention. And the total disregard of CV/CEV/disabled children throughout this pandemic - both by the government and (if the posters on this and other threads are representative) the wider population - is yet another indication of just how disgustingly ableist the society we live in still is. It's all very well for all of you to claim the vulnerable have been protected by vaccines so we should let Covid run rampant through everyone else. But my child and many others like her have not been protected at all. I am furious that so many people on this thread assume that by voicing my concern over this (as a desperately worried parent) I have an ulterior motive, or am a 'lockdown fanatic' etc etc. None of you have shown an ounce of empathy towards CEV/CV/disabled children. It makes for horrific reading to parents like me.

[quote Chillychangchoo]@HelloMissus

Absolutely. Now the deaths are down people are grasping to “CEV children” (despite mortality and morbidity being incredibly low in that group) and “long covid”.

It’s just straw clutching.[/quote]
How many times do I have to say this. I have a CEV child. I am not 'grasping' at anything. Your comments are just horrible.

[quote pinkpip100]@osbertthesyrianhamster - I have a disabled child, I have been concerned (and campaigned about) all of those other things you mention. And the total disregard of CV/CEV/disabled children throughout this pandemic - both by the government and (if the posters on this and other threads are representative) the wider population - is yet another indication of just how disgustingly ableist the society we live in still is. It's all very well for all of you to claim the vulnerable have been protected by vaccines so we should let Covid run rampant through everyone else. But my child and many others like her have not been protected at all. I am furious that so many people on this thread assume that by voicing my concern over this (as a desperately worried parent) I have an ulterior motive, or am a 'lockdown fanatic' etc etc. None of you have shown an ounce of empathy towards CEV/CV/disabled children. It makes for horrific reading to parents like me. [/quote]
I have a disabled child, too. He's been thrown under a bus by all these lockdowns and shutdown of services. His behaviour has now so declined he's being referred to a residential school.

And I had one child who was CEV but died from secondary infection in hospital. Had she lived, it was my lookout to protect her, at no point would I have expected the entire world to do so. It didn't fill me with horror or make me livid that her life would be at risk from infection even in her home (she was CEV for months before she died, too).

People are ultimately responsible for themselves. My son is my chief lookout. That's reality.

Well @osbertthesyrianhamster we obviously disagree on that. I believe as a society we have a duty to be as inclusive as possible and protect the rights of disabled people. It's not just up to individuals / families to do this. What a shame you feel that the load is purely on your shoulders.

Please know @pinkpip100 that some of us haven't forgotten CEV and CV children.

Their lives are absolutely as valuable as any other, and they deserve protection and consideration.

I agree. It's appalling the way they've been ignored.

I've written to my MP btw. To ask that vulnerable children are prioritised for vaccination. Haven't had anything back yet but hopefully I'll hear soon.

@pinkpip100

Well *@osbertthesyrianhamster* we obviously disagree on that. I believe as a society we have a duty to be as inclusive as possible and protect the rights of disabled people. It's not just up to individuals / families to do this. What a shame you feel that the load is purely on your shoulders.

I don't. I just realise that society isn't going to be able to be the way I want or it should be. Life is a compromise. It's waste of emotion to get angry about that or slate others for not wanting to upend their lives to their own severe harm for my kids. That won't happen and it's selfish and unreasonable to expect that.

Thank you @Tealightsandd

Will July 19th happen? Look at the football, wasn’t it 40,000 at Wembley last night? And the thousands in the pubs, dancing and hugging.
It’s crazy, people cant dance or have singing at a wedding , but people can get drunk in pubs and bars and dance and sing then....

@osbertthesyrianhamster not selfish at all to expect the government to have invested in things like improved ventilation in schools to benefit all children. I really don't see how you can argue against that. I have 3 other children by the way, so certainly appreciate the impact of this pandemic on non CV or disabled children.

@osbertthesyrianhamster - I have just re-read your earlier post and wanted to say I am very sorry for your loss.

@Manzanilla55 no - CW said they cannot bring in restrictions due to flu. So they will be going hard on flu vaccinations and fear I think!

pinkpip you have a disabled child for who lifting restrictions is detrimental and I have two extremely vulnerable foster children for who restrictions have been detrimental.
It’s not a game of Top Trumps.
It’s all a difficult balance, with very few winners. But ultimately the only person these kids have to advocate for them is me. And I will do that. Vociferously. I’ve long ago learned that the majority of people give not one shit about kids in care and expect me to shut up when they tell me to. Not gonna happen.

Meanwhile Chris Whitty is blacking lifting of restrictions on the 19th as the right thing on balance.

*backing

Actually @HelloMissus I want most restrictions lifted - I just want it to go hand in hand with additional mitigations in school - particularly proper ventilation. And I do really care about all vulnerable children, not just those that are disabled or clinically vulnerable in terms of Covid. The whole situation is shit and I don't think any good is served by those of us not in power putting ourselves against each other. All I've been saying all along is a little empathy would go a very long way.

*pitting, not putting