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?

@bakewelltarty

I don't understand this 'personal responsibility' rubbish. I'm not free to make my own decisions. I have to commute to london to work. No face masks or social distancing at work or public transport. Where am I free to make my own decisions?? Oh yes I suppose I could always quit my job and go on universal credit instead.

This what people don't get. It's a bit like saying everyone is free to steal from anyone, but you can't choose not to be robbed.

It is the height of stupidity to drop all these restrictions right now.

Variants galore round the world. Lambda anyone?

I predict a full lockdown by October/November

It will just be yet another massive government error in a catalogue of errors throughout the pandemic

@Turquoisesol

It will just be yet another massive government error in a catalogue of errors throughout the pandemic

Of course as it’s just the usual déjà vu but this time instead of them ie Handjob et al being caught gaslighting and ignoring their own rules - it will be our fault for letting the Peru Lambda variants of potential vaccine escape in and not taking Covid seriously again. It will be our fault too that international mixing bans English visitors exporting new strains of Covid, despite the unilateral English international mixing traffic light system.

@bakewelltarty

I don't understand this 'personal responsibility' rubbish. I'm not free to make my own decisions. I have to commute to london to work. No face masks or social distancing at work or public transport. Where am I free to make my own decisions?? Oh yes I suppose I could always quit my job and go on universal credit instead.

This is what happens when people who are used to the cushion of Eton-levels of wealth make policy.

You're right, what they've done is take choice away from the poorest.

I don't think they care. I thought this poem was good.

twitter.com/RoseMarshSteven/status/1411694817931927557/photo/1

Although I doubt it will benefit business. It's been shown again and again that rampant infection isn't good for the economy.

This is also a good poem, though depressing. 490,000 is a lot of children affected by long covid - though a small % of a very large number.

twitter.com/RoseMarshSteven/status/1410972798642790400/photo/1

@theemperorhasnoclothes

Although I doubt it will benefit business. It's been shown again and again that rampant infection isn't good for the economy.

No. It’s going to make some people less confident about going out and spending money. If it feels stressful people won’t enjoy it so won’t repeat it.

I really don’t think people will be that hesitant.

Look at any event so far - full to the brim.

I expect we’ll see a pretty good bounce in figures

I really think another lockdown is almost inevitable now. I’ve been so sure the whole way through that there wouldn’t be but this behaviour from the government seems borderline insane.

I felt apprehensive yesterday but I think many people will adjust quite quickly. I was on a train and the tube today and already there are fewer people wearing masks.

@itsgettingwierd I might be wrong but I think international travel has been Scotland's downfall recently. Since then it's just spread.

I’ve just looked at my town’s stats again.

Over 850/100k of cases!!!

BUT… there have been NO deaths since March and hospitalisations for University Hospitals Birmingham (local trust) are actually declining (55 in the last week)

That has made me feel much better.

Hospitalizations are increasing.

twitter.com/Dr_D_Robertson/status/1412436021472641025?s=19

Our local city hospital have put out a warning to try and avoid coming to the hospital due to the rise in COVID patients

Mixed feelings here too.

That's because you've been brainwashed

I'll be very surprised if we don't get a homegrown vaccine resistant variant by the end of the summer. I hope I'm wrong, but we've seen covid is pretty good at evolving. We're creating massive selection pressure for a vaccine resistant variant by opening up fully with a part-vaccinated population.