If all restrictions are ending on July 19th, why are people talking about mask wearing and social distancing continuing?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Johnson etc al, plus the popular press, keep saying that "all restrictions" will be lifted on July 19th. And yet the media is also talking about some measures such as mask wearing on public transport continuing. So does that mean that 19th July will be another step in easing restrictions but not a total lifting?

So, if (as widely trailed in the media - and therefore 99% certain to happen) masks and SD become optional from 19th July, what will you personally do?

For myself, I will carry on with masks in busy indoor settings where I’m going to be for some time. Not to protect myself, but to protect others who might be at risk. I will also try to maintain distance as much as possible from strangers - not from family. If they want hugs, they can have them :-)

I had Covid - I was very tired for 2 weeks, but not desperately ill. It then took another 2-3 weeks to fully recover. I’m 57, morbidly obese and have diabetes. Whereas the daughter of some friends - 29, slim, fit and active - had Covid in November and is only now able to start a phased return to work.

It doesn’t always get the people who are statistically likely to suffer badly. So while there are still a significant number of unvaccinated people around, I’m willing to take that step to reduce their risk - even though the chances of me transmitting Covid to them now is pretty low.

Of course, restrictions WILL end on 19 July. They're mostly being ignored already.

What I'm more worried about are organisations making up their own rules "to protect their staff and customers". In particular, I'm expecting Universities to continue with online learning "to protect their staff and students". They'll struggle to justify it, but they have a powerful union!

There may be no central/official instruction/rule by government to continue restrictions etc but I strongly suspect that businesses/organisations will continue, especially where it's not hitting them in the pocket. I.e. GPs, universities, etc who still get paid whether or not they're providing F2F services!

The NHS will keep masks and the fucking ridiculous surface cleaning we have to do constantly. This is to the detriment of patient time.

Nothing much will change for me and I am sick of it. Absolutely sick.

On July 19th we are leaving the pandemic unilaterally.

End of

@AnyFucker

The NHS will keep masks and the fucking ridiculous surface cleaning we have to do constantly. This is to the detriment of patient time.

Nothing much will change for me and I am sick of it. Absolutely sick.

I would hope NHS continues with better infection control. It was a big problem pre covid and caused untold deaths during covid. Basic hygiene is important everywhere but NHS premises need to be better to protect vulnerable patients.

I’ve been at work today (nurse) and one of our consultants, also backed up by another doctor, was saying that in hospitals masks will now be optional as opposed to required.

@PuzzledObserver

So, if (as widely trailed in the media - and therefore 99% certain to happen) masks and SD become optional from 19th July, what will you personally do?

For myself, I will carry on with masks in busy indoor settings where I’m going to be for some time. Not to protect myself, but to protect others who might be at risk. I will also try to maintain distance as much as possible from strangers - not from family. If they want hugs, they can have them :-)

I had Covid - I was very tired for 2 weeks, but not desperately ill. It then took another 2-3 weeks to fully recover. I’m 57, morbidly obese and have diabetes. Whereas the daughter of some friends - 29, slim, fit and active - had Covid in November and is only now able to start a phased return to work.

It doesn’t always get the people who are statistically likely to suffer badly. So while there are still a significant number of unvaccinated people around, I’m willing to take that step to reduce their risk - even though the chances of me transmitting Covid to them now is pretty low.

I won't be wearing a mask or consciously distancing. I will distance if specifically asked to, but it won't be on my radar anymore if there is no requirement.

I’m also worried about organisations making up their own rules to keep us safe. As an example my DC do swimming lessons at a council run pool. They are currently only having a lesson every other week to allow for distancing. I would hope that after the 19th that switches back straight away to weekly but I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t.

When I last had a haircut, about a month ago, my hairdresser told me that they would be asking clients to wear masks for the foreseeable future regardless of government rules. I can understand their concerns but I wonder how many other businesses will just make up their own rules going forward. I will be removing my mask if it’s allowed. I wonder if plastic screens will remain in shops, offices etc. Having spent a fortune to fit them I imagine they will stay for some time yet

I also wonder if councils will remove the planters/obstructions we have on the high street to enable social distancing

They won't lift all restrictions, because if they do they won't be able to continue to use the Experimental Covid injection under emergency use. if there are no restrictions there is no emergency

Maybe it will be advisory, rather than compulsory?

@mrsrhodgilbert

I also wonder if councils will remove the planters/obstructions we have on the high street to enable social distancing

Do you mean planters/obstructions in pedestrianised areas? If so they aren't for social distancing... We had concrete for a couple of years pre-pandemic which has since been upgraded to prettier looking planters.

I’m in healthcare and dread being made to wear masks for ever more. So stuffy and unpleasant.
Staff are beginning to remove them in non clinical areas when 2m apart .
I would just like to be given the option to distance myself from others when appropriate and not wear a mask.
I would wear a mask when performing close up care to a patient though..... for the protection of the patient.... but I would like to be allowed to use my judgement for example when communicating with an elderly dying patient , I want to give their hand a squeeze and let them see my face.

@Postdatedpandemic

On July 19th we are leaving the pandemic unilaterally.

End of

Yes it's unilateral. We've decided to "leave the pandemic" but the coronavirus can't read the Telegraph & doesn't know the pandemic is supposed to be over.

I pretty much won't do much different post 19th compared to pre 19th.

I will be able to go to certain events and go into someone's house with more than 6 people / 2 households but I'll probably keep that to a minimum for a while yet.

I will see how things progress for a while yet.

The issue is what everyone else decides to do....

The problem is it is unfeasible to carry on with restrictions going forward in the long term and there are limitations on what more can be done once everyone who wants a vaccine has had one.

As expected, various unions are now pressing for wearing of masks and social distancing to be continued "to protect their workers", particularly in enclosed spaces like trains/buses, offices, etc.

Presumably these staff will be happy to go on holiday, go to pubs/restaurants, go shopping, etc., but somehow the only "risk" they are bothered about is their workplace.

Let's hope the Govt have the bottle to stand up to these unions.

Going by recent threads I think a lot of people will keep wearing masks for the foreseeable future. So it will probably be safe to make them "optional".

Many shops, offices, restaurants etc now have plastic screens to separate staff from the public. If they are to remain for the time being I hope I won’t have to wear a mask in those settings . I hope it will be the end to queues outside banks and shops and no more masks outside at garden centres. It will be interesting to see what happens. I was in a shop this morning and the assistant on door duty counting people coming in was loudly expressing how much she is looking forward to removing her mask for work in two weeks

flagsfiend not decorative planters in pedestrian areas but those on the shopping streets which block off on street parking outside shops to widen the space to walk. In my particular town the shopkeepers are desperate for them to be removed so people can park and get into the shops more easily. It’s quite a divisive issue though and many have enjoyed the extra space and lack of cars

@RaisinsRuinEverything

Going by recent threads I think a lot of people will keep wearing masks for the foreseeable future. So it will probably be safe to make them "optional".

They've always been optional, even before Covid. I hope that people are free to wear them as and when they feel the need. You shouldn't need govt permission to do that. All we need is for everyone to be tolerant and for idiots to stop pointing/laughing at people in masks like they did pre covid.

Likewise, it needs to be acceptable not to shake hands or hug people you barely know.

We really don't need "permission" to take personal precautions, we need tolerance.

@mrsrhodgilbert

flagsfiend not decorative planters in pedestrian areas but those on the shopping streets which block off on street parking outside shops to widen the space to walk. In my particular town the shopkeepers are desperate for them to be removed so people can park and get into the shops more easily. It’s quite a divisive issue though and many have enjoyed the extra space and lack of cars

Yep, same in my town. Some roads have been blocked off with huge planters to stop cars and have become temporary "covid" cycle lanes. The damage being done to shops and businesses on those roads is immense. They need to go!

I wonder if we live in the same town, sounds very familiar

I will continue to wear a mask because I don't want to pick up any new variants that the government let into the country.

I will continue to social distance because I value my personal space.

I will continue to wear a mask because I don't want to pick up any new variants that the government let into the country

Add to this: any new variants that the UK manage to create on their own by leaving a huge unvaccinated reservoir of infected under-18s, unique among developed countries with otherwise high vaccination rates.