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’m a bit worried but I also think it’s time to give it a go like this. I went into the office for the first time in a while and really enjoyed seeing people and am looking forward to working a 50/50 ratio. We can always review in winter. Agree Boris can’t win

@TheGenealogist

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?

Absolutely this, and hard border too, except at the airport of course!

@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.

Exactly and Johnson is an expert at it. It's telling everyone to do what the fuck they like so he can say "I told you to be careful but alas..."

@SonnetForSpring

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

Good point. I also live in an area with a high number of cases - 660/100k which doesn’t help. Will probably try not to mix too much for now!

I’m also not sure how much of this feeling is the psychological aspect of things being ‘normal’ again as well as the health aspect.

When you’re used to living a certain way for so long, it seems hard to change it back again so quickly.

I was like this when they opened hairdressers etc again. Anxious to be there but again, not because of Covid. More being around crowds and crowds of people. I don’t like it at the best of times though…

Nope, over-joyed!

DH is predicting a lot of angry conflicts, even punch ups in the supermarket at non-mask wearing. I hope his concerns are misplaced!

@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.

So much this He’s reached the fuck it and carry on stage and when it has negative consequences he can blame Joe public for it

No. Not worried.

It's long overdue.

Not conflicted at all. The figures speak for themselves. It's not a major threat any more.

I feel a weight has lifted. Really pleased

Feels like a big shift though so I get why people feel strange

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.

I was worried. I thought the government had gone mad. This makes sense though. I hope you’re right.

Yeah, I’m with you, OP.

Probably not helped by the fact that I’m pregnant, and therefore more worried than I’d previously been.

I’ll keep my mask for now.

@BarbarianMum

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.

The thing about the 'peak now instead of later' is that we have a part-vaccinated adult population now, and that won't be true later. So letting infections get out of control now creates immense selection pressure towards vaccine resistant variants.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'd bet on a much more vaccine resistant form taking off in the UK before September.

It would have made more sense to wait until the majority of adults were vaccinated.

I didn't listen to the announcement.
I can no longer stand their faces or voices and I don't trust a word they say.

As someone who has kids isolating AGAIN because of positive cases in school, I kind of feel annoyed at all those whooping it up that they can gather at the pub/nightclub/football while my kids are stuck at home with crappy remote learning. Roll on end of term....

The thing about the 'peak now instead of later' is that we have a part-vaccinated adult population now, and that won't be true later. So letting infections get out of control now creates immense selection pressure towards vaccine resistant variants.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'd bet on a much more vaccine resistant form taking off in the UK before September.

It would have made more sense to wait until the majority of adults were vaccinated.

I agree with this too but I really think the government have no choice. People are fed up and the winter is going to be grim. I also hope vaccines can be tweaked for new variants. But yes, it is a concern. Although, you could argue that by lifting restrictions, we are alleviating some selection pressures. I think people are getting so angry now, the government can't risk not opening now and they may have to lockdown again in winter. Then people may not comply with the winter lockdown and then we will be in trouble.

Yes mixed emotions but you can make your own decisions about what you want to do. Tbh my life won’t change much, work will be the same & I’ll probably wear a mask a bit longer. I don’t got to busy places as a general rule & I’ll still be careful.

Very mixed emotions
Want it to be over
Stats are good
Understand the if we don't do it now argument
But do think it will be a difficult winter as they said
and didn't feel we needed to drop everything
Ps they didn't ever say it would be over in 12 weeks

I don't feel afraid as working in a school of about 1500 people every day is my normal.

I wouldn't be surprised if hospitalisations go through the roof again soon enough, at which point Boris will throw his hand up and blame the public for not exercising personal responsibility, possibly locking down again.

DH is predicting a lot of angry conflicts, even punch ups in the supermarket at non-mask wearing. I hope his concerns are misplaced!

Why? Bit dramatic isn't that

Personally I cannot wait for restrictions to end and don't feel conflicted in the least. I'm mid 50's, asthmatic, had both vaccinations, happy to take my chances! Life isn't risk free ever.

@BitterTits

I don't feel afraid as working in a school of about 1500 people every day is my normal.

I wouldn't be surprised if hospitalisations go through the roof again soon enough, at which point Boris will throw his hand up and blame the public for not exercising personal responsibility, possibly locking down again.

I do wonder how many hospitalizations they will tolerate before taking action.

What makes you think hospitalisations will go through the roof? Bit perplexed by that.

Yes I completely understand . I have a low level anxiety when I think about doing things which have previously been restricted. I fully accept this is a result of manipulation and having lived in a fear state for so long - coupled with getting used to the restricted way of living. This doesn’t fit my personality at all. I would suggest taking things in your own time but take note of the things that make you anxious and whether you used to feel that way. I went to a shopping Center the other day and felt highly strung the entire time - didn’t enjoy it, but I will do it again until I’m comfortable as it used to be something I enjoyed doing.

DH is predicting a lot of angry conflicts, even punch ups in the supermarket at non-mask wearing. I hope his concerns are misplaced!

There does seem to be a lot of anger about masks. Hopefully, people will keep a lid on it.