Anybody else feeling very conflicted about today’s announcement?

[Wherediditgo]

I (as many are) have been waiting for this day since March last year. I remember believing Boris when he said ‘12 weeks to turn the tide’
I remember thinking how great it would be when we could go back to our old lives.

Ive never really worried about catching Covid. I’ve seen the stats. I’m 3 weeks post 1st jab. I don’t necessarily think that masks make much difference (not the ones most of us wear) and I’ve always thought that lockdown measures have been overly harsh in some instances and have worried about the state of people’s MH and financial positions.

Now, all of a sudden, I feel afraid. I read that they’re scrapping almost everything on 19th July and I can’t get my head around it. I all of a sudden feel anxious about going back to ‘normality’

Does anyone else feel this way?

I don't feel afraid, but I am sceptical. There will probably be another U turn at the last minute.

I agree with you. I’m not sure how to feel

I wonder if he wants us to feel conflicted - so that if he rows back on the lifting of some of the restrictions on the next update next Monday, the public will be on side/relieved. A bit it like how they waited to shut the schools in the first wave until people were screaming for the schools to be shut.

Not at all concerned and elated that the general public are being given the freedom to choose their approach to Covid and managing risk.

I didn't understand why they would scrap all the restrictions. However, its clear now that they want the peak to be as soon as possible to avoid clashing with the winter surge of respiratory cases. I also think they know there will have to be some more restrictions in winter so they are giving everyone a couple of months off now while they can. The risk is lower at the moment due to the weather and schools closing soon. So it does make sense actually. Spreading the cases and deaths rather than having a massive surge in winter.

I do think and I hope that anyone who isnt vaccinated or is vulnerable, takes care.

I feel like Boris can't win either way. He gets criticism what ever he does. I'm not a fan of him.

Not worried in the slightest! Been waiting for this!

I'm conflicted - because I live in fecking Scotland and Queen Nicola has been waiting to see what Boris does so she can do the opposite.

Social distancing, masks and hundreds of kids isolating in Scotland until 2039 then?

I'm not really conflicted. It has to be this way. The vaxx programme seems to have sharply reduced the risk of death and hospitalisation from COVID.

I do feel that there's a kind of cyclical predictability about the fact that numbers are rising pretty fast as they do this and inevitably lots of children and young people are going to get sick which I can't say I'm looking forward to massively. Something which the end of restrictions, combined with the massive superspreader event that is the football will no doubt turbo charge.

But at the end of the day you can't really justify keeping people locked up if the risk of death has been so sharply brought down.

You’ve been manipulated to feel like that. It’s right there in the sage minutes.

Personally I cannot wait.

To be honest, I feel more reassured after today's announcement. It sounds like they have actually thought it through and that they will bring in restrictions if necessary in winter.

Nope. Because life already is pretty normal 🤷🏼‍♀️ my diary has been packed since May, I see friends & family every week at dinner can lunch, softplay, kids activities. Can’t say I’ve seen anyone SD since May really, maybe a little bit certainly not that much. I always keep a polite distance from strangers anyway! My kids are nursery/school & do all their extra curriculars. The only thing that’s not normal in my life is all this pre-booking & mask. Masks I’m not bothered about, I’d keep wearing one. Pre-booking is a faff BUT I do love lower numbers at kids stuff. The lack of overcrowding has actually been nice! I guess the whole isolating thing is shit, we’ve been hit a horrible amount of times but once it’s over, life is back to normal..

Doesn't shock me at all. He wants people to take personality responsibility so he can blame the general public when it all goes to shit again.
Removing the ability for some vulnerable people to be able to be personally responsible.
Choice as a vulnerable person is go on the train/tube/bus full of unmasked people with covid rates high to a hospital appointment or don't go at all because they don't have a choice to keep themselves safe anymore via masks and social distancing. They could wear a mask themselves but we all know its others wearing the masks that offer the protection.

Tories always use the phrase "common sense approach" for matters they cba to take responsibility for and to ensure that anyone badly impacted by them has as little recourse as possible.

So it's consistent at least.

I am happy that it is finally opening up.

@SonnetForSpring

I do think and I hope that anyone who isnt vaccinated or is vulnerable, takes care.

I agree. I remember being afraid to go out right back at the beginning of lockdown… probably as much to do with the dystopian feel that day-to-day life suddenly had about it rather than catching Covid itself. Then I’ve spent the whole time NOT worrying about catching it (whilst still sanitising hands etc of course) Now I feel more scared to catch it than I ever have. I think I’m being irrational!

@MyCreateIsUsernamed

Tories always use the phrase "common sense approach" for matters they cba to take responsibility for and to ensure that anyone badly impacted by them has as little recourse as possible.

So it's consistent at least.

Haha, very true.

I'm not sure how the public can make their own risk assessment, as most of the measures involve people doing things for the good of other people. Most masks protect other people not you, so I will continue to wear a mask in busy places but that isn't going to help me if no-one else is. I will try and keep my distance from other people whilst in shops, queues, meetings etc, but that doesn't help if someone doesn't care and comes and sits/stands right by me.

I'm not necessarily trying to protect myself from COVID, although I am in the slightly higher age bracket for risk, but I don't want to be passing it onto my elderly DM and other relatives, as there is still a risk of transmission even when jabbed, and I would rather my unvaccinated DS doesn't get it either.

With the exception of not keeping masks on public transport (poor bloody bus drivers) I agree with it - and I rarely agree with the government on anything. Much better to get through the peak in the summer and the hospitalisation/mortality rates are much lower now thanks to vaccination.

i cannot wait to quit wearing a mask at work!!

No, I feel this is what’s needed now. But I fear the end of most restrictions will be short-lived.

Yep. I’m pregnant so will be getting my shopping etc in before the 19th of July. After that I'll be staying home most of the time. My lungs are already squashed so I’d rather not chance it. My second jab is the 16th of July but that won’t 100% protect me.

I feel he’s doing too much too fast. He should at least keep masks in for another month or two to see what happens.

@Aposterhasnoname

You’ve been manipulated to feel like that. It’s right there in the sage minutes.

Personally I cannot wait.

This has definitely crossed my mind!!

I don't think you're being irrational OP. This variant is very contagious. Best to take precautions until you have your second jab.