Let's face it, they're letting it rip.

[ZednotZee]

Aren't they?

The vaccines aren't seemingly preventing transmission.

We are opening up on the 19th.

This is being done presumably as the public appetite for further lockdowns will be nil come October/November so best to get it over with now and have heard immunity come the autumn.

They won't say it but its becoming very clear that the immunocompromised need to continue to shield til the rest of us have contracted and got over the infection.

@MilkAndBiscuits

How long are the vulnerable expected to shield?

Non vulnerable people have no idea how hard fully shielding is

This isn't meant to sound unsympathetic as I'm sure it's been he'll but we can't keep the country on its knees because there are vunerable people

I don't know what the answer is but it isn't prolonged restrictions on the economy and health and general well being of the populations

Masks and SD in place.
No indoor mixing.
No holidays.

But the above can't go on longer term. It's been too long already.

To be fair, masks generally don't bother me. I don't actually have to wear one that much and have no issues for the short time it takes to walk to a table in a restaurant or to do a shop.

Indoor mixing - 6 people means I can't see my close family in one go, not been able to see my parents and both siblings and nephew all together for too long as it is. Not everyone lives close to family (and friends) so seeing more than 5 other people in any one time will be fab. All but the little one have had at least one vaccine, the 19y will be double vaxxed next month. The risk is low.

No holidays - what, even in the UK? I don't want to spend another summer in my city. I want to get out and explore. Have a UK holiday booked and I cannot wait until foreign travel opens up once more (booked for October so we shall see) , without quarantine. Surely that has to happen soon - at least to far more countries, esp across Europe and the US.

I'm CV but I have had covid, I have antibodies (tested last month), I have had two vaccines and will have the booster in the Autumn. I'm ready to move on now. Everyone I know pretty much is ready to move forward now as well.

Yes, that’s exactly what they are doing.

The government’s judgement is that the vulnerable are now protected by vaccines, we have to achieve herd immunity at some point, the public have had enough of lockdowns and won’t accept any more, vaccine refuseniks have made their choice and can live with the consequences, and that this is as good a time as any to let the young catch Covid and recover before that start of the next academic year.

In fairness, there is logic to their approach.

Those who want SD and masks to remain and to continue to limit indoor mixing, is there a point at which you would support the removal of those restrictions (other than the total eradication of covid which is not achievable?)

@caughtinanet

I completely agree

I was replying to a previous comment but some how my post failed to add that comment in…

It was to a comment that the vulnerable should just shield for the foreseeable
So i was asking how long the poster thought that could go on for

They’ve basically substituted lockdowns with vaccinations (fine) and then got rid of everything else as well.

It’s a shame they wasted all their goodwill over the winter because I think a tiers/vaccination combo would actually work really well right now, including lifting mask restrictions in areas of low infection.

@Sunshinegirl82

Those who want SD and masks to remain and to continue to limit indoor mixing, is there a point at which you would support the removal of those restrictions (other than the total eradication of covid which is not achievable?)

Double vaccination of all adults + 2 weeks.

Vaccination of all 12+ before return to school, and a successful and stable return to school and university.

Then introduce steps gradually e.g. larger numbers and less SD + masks, followed by removal of masks.

Oh, and a clear strategy with threshold levels for the main measures that allows rapid and logical removal and reintroduction of restrictions at particular levels.

@Randominternetbitch

Yawn. We are incredibly lucky to have vaccines that offer excellent protection for the majority of people available to us free of charge. Take up rates are also thankfully very high. Thats not what I’d call letting it rip.

Covid is not the only threat we have to face and balance as a society.

This.

Flu is potentially dangerous to the elderly and the vulnerable, chicken pox is potentially dangerous to the elderly and vulnerable, so is mumps, measles, German measles, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio etc etc etc. Some we have vaccines for, some we don’t but we live alongside these, potentially fatal to some people, diseases without locking up everybody else. Covid isn’t going anywhere, we have a vaccine and people must be allowed to get on with their lives, vulnerable or not.

@cantkeepawayforever

Oh, and a clear strategy with threshold levels for the main measures that allows rapid and logical removal and reintroduction of restrictions at particular levels.

But this won’t happen until the point they’re backed into a corner because they’ve made such a big deal of not going back.

The delta variant has had a hand in this of course, but as far as I can see currently they’ve fucked it again. I really hope I’m wrong.

We cannot live so restricted for ever. Children's mental health is horrendous because of it all.
Covid isn't going away, we have to learn to live with it.
The vulnerable have been vaccinated, herd immunity seems sensible now.

Good.

But why oh why are we removing all restrictions before the vaccination programme that protects against the current variant is complete?

The original dates were predicated on a single dose being enough. It isn't, not against Delta, so we need to move the dates to be after second doses.

Except whoops, that lands us in flu season. So the Government hasn't the courage to say 'sorry guys, this is the situation'. They throw bread to the masses, offer them circuses (or festivals) and wash their hands of the mess.

With respect;

Lots of you have misjudged the OP.

I agree with letting it rip. What I object to is the obfuscation of the intended policy and the lack of instruction and support to the ECV.

If Boris wants to go the route of herd immunity, then fine, ok no arguments from me at this point.
But call a press conference and set out your stall instead of pretending that freedom day is based on a presumption of safety.

As always its the lying and presumption that the electorate are thick as pig shit that irks me.

@Sunshinegirl82

Those who want SD and masks to remain and to continue to limit indoor mixing, is there a point at which you would support the removal of those restrictions (other than the total eradication of covid which is not achievable?)

When your government's covid strategy is this heavily reliant on vaccine rollout it seems less than optimum timing not to wait for said vaccine rollout to be completed.

Aren't we at about 50% double jabbed?

Which is brilliant.

But it's only about three quarters of the way to the herd immunity threshold which - if we don't develop an even worse variant by allowing millions of cases - should be a bit of a game changer.

@ZednotZee the government can’t lift every restriction and precaution and simultaneously endorse the CEV/CV shielding because it’s admitting to everyone that they’re knowingly putting us all in a precarious position. It’s a gamble and they know it.

So we would potentially release restrictions at the end of September(ish?)

I think the issue with that is we would be heading into winter with all the schools back. As children are so unlikely to suffer serious side effects from covid the risk benefit analysis of vaccination for children is more evenly balanced than it is for adults.

I don't think there is a "right" answer, there are pros and cons whatever approach is taken.

It's frightening. These vaccines are experimental. 50% of those hospitalised have been vaccinated.

*The Government is giving the public bread and circuses - and false promises - for a few weeks because they feel they have to, and they know restrictions will have to come back in the Autumn.

So they have to let things go so badly wrong that people will accept those restrictions - both because they will have had their few weeks of fun, and because the stats will be SO scary that people will agree to some restrictions again.*

Out of all the possibilities I think this is the most likely - infuriatingly.

Retaining some measures ie restricting indoor numbers, restricting foreign travel is incredibly economically costly, not to mention the stress that individuals in affected industries are facing.
Furlough is ending. You cannot restrict businesses from operating if you don't economically mitigate their losses, and you can't keep doing that indefinitely.
We're going to be paying this back for decades as it is.

@Bobbiebigbum

It's frightening. These vaccines are experimental. 50% of those hospitalised have been vaccinated.

Lol

They’re doing similar to what they did last time opening everything up for the summer and then we’ll be in lockdown again once the holidaymakers have stopped spending their money.

I dont understand what people want though.

Whinging about the vaccine, whinging about opening up. If people want to shield then let them sheild. Get the vaccine those who can instead of the handwringing.

What do people want? Heads bost trying to figure it out.

ZednotZeethe government can’t lift every restriction and precaution and simultaneously endorse the CEV/CV shielding because it’s admitting to everyone that they’re knowingly putting us all in a precarious position. It’s a gamble and they know it.

They are gambling with the lives of the CEV.

If that sits well with you crack on. Personally I would appreciate a touch more honesty.
I believe most of us can handle the truth, don't you?