Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

What would YOU do about Covid?

139 replies

KhalliWhalli · 07/08/2021 07:01

I get that the government can’t win, whatever they do. And everyone seems to have an opinion on what should be done about Covid. I have my own opinions but am wondering what everyone else thinks, about lockdown, mandatory vaccination, etc.

So, what would you do, if you were in charge?

OP posts:
MyriadeOfThings · 07/08/2021 16:38

Ventilation proper ventilation everywhere
No Mass gathering like football (just look at the effect the Euro has had).
Consistent rules across the country
Financial Support for people who are self isolating
Mask indoors in all schools n

AND let people mix indoors so they can still get support/network etc…

MyriadeOfThings · 07/08/2021 16:41

I agree with putting money in the nhs too! Incl paying doctors and nurses appropriately

And stopping from making it hard for (immigrants) doctors and nurses to stay here. We need them!

ActonSquirrel · 07/08/2021 17:06

@MyriadeOfThings

I agree with putting money in the nhs too! Incl paying doctors and nurses appropriately

And stopping from making it hard for (immigrants) doctors and nurses to stay here. We need them!

Do you think a starting salary for a nq nurse just finished university of almost £25k is inappropriate?!
Tealightsandd · 07/08/2021 17:34

Look to East Asia, and Australia (NSW aside) and New Zealand. Europe too. Eg. Germany, France, Italy.

Pandemic border control. UK borders have been and continue to be pretty much wide open for any and all new strains. And there's no such thing as 'home quarantine'. The whole point of quarantine is to stop the spread. That doesn't mean only after the potentially infected person has travelled, often on busy public transport, to their home or hotel.

Mandatory masks in indoor public spaces including schools, like most of Europe, USA, and East Asia (the minority of genuine exemptions excepted). Possibly at times of high infection, follow CDC advice to mask in busy public spaces outdoors too.

If lockdown, do it properly and enforce it. Like Europe, paperwork required if out and about for essential reasons. Curfews. Strict but short is best when it comes to lockdowns.

Ventilation. Fitted filtering systems in schools and on public transport.

Self isolation support.

Include all the main symptoms on the NHS list and offer tests for all main symptoms.

Educate public. On the symptoms, and on what airborne infection means, on infection control. Things we used to understand in the past - back when we had TB sanatariums and isolation hospitals.

Proper PPE for health and social care staff. FFP2 or FFP3 masks. In fact, do as Germany advises and FFP2 masks for the public too in crowded public spaces, i.e. public transport.

mRNA booster jab all clinically vulnerable and over 40s (risk increases at 40/45, not 50).

Provide access to treatment for Long Covid patients. Including specialist scans (routine scans don't always pick up the damage).

Regeneron treatment for patients who for medical reasons aren't protected fully by vaccines.

CEV list to include those at highest risk of hospitalisation and death (not necessarily the same as increased risk of infection).

Tealightsandd · 07/08/2021 17:56

Also do the same as America. Suspend evictions. Homelessness is in itself a public health emergency, but even more so during a pandemic.

Rent payments if arrears to go direct to landlord. Either from benefits, or from wages if tenant is working. Increase housing benefit levels to meet 50% of private market rents.

Evict only if serious anti social behaviour. And if it's that bad, take proper action, i.e. police, criminal charges, social services, mental health care - since otherwise it's just moving the problem on to new landlord/neighbours.

Longer term. Deal with the public health emergency of homelessness and insecure housing.

No special exception for the capital of homelessness. Equal help for London born Londoners. Eg. Today there was a media report on the impact of second homes in seaside towns. Concerns about locals being priced out away from their families and communities. By contrast Londoners have been told to 'just move' and suck it up if their local communities are ripped apart. London is the capital of homelessness and has a huge amount of second homes. 165,000 Londoners are homeless. Two thirds of English families in temporary accommodation are in London.

Housing issues impact heavily on society including financially. Hugely expensive to house homeless in temporary accommodation, and poor housing is a major factor in ill health (mental and physical), which puts a strain on the NHS. Also associated costs linked to demand on social services and the criminal justice system.

Increase stamp duty to help fund desperately needed social housing. Also stop pushing anti smoking message. Smoking less harmful to health and public finances than homelessness and poor housing. Smoking net gain to national economy. Taxes in, plus shorter life expectancy so lower pension and social care costs.

MRex · 07/08/2021 18:15

You're obsessed with smoking @Tealightsandd.

thelegohooverer · 07/08/2021 18:19

I would massively invest in healthcare- a healthy economy depends on a healthy workforce. Take the pressure off the hospital system with more resources and more people.

Swop around the school year so the dc aren’t out of school on holidays during times of lowest transmission and also out of school during times of high transmission.

lannistunut · 07/08/2021 18:22
  1. Communicate more clearly with the public and stop changing things every five minutes
  2. Stop giving contracts to friends and instead fund decent public health services
  3. If I imposed any restrictions or rules, follow it myself and not be a MASSIVE HYPOCRITE
  4. Try a lot bloody harder on the basics - e.g. ventilation in schools
Tealightsandd · 07/08/2021 18:29

Maybe just a little bit @MRex Grin

I believe in priorities. Homelessness and insecure/poor housing is a far bigger public health crisis than smoking. It impacts on the health and wealth of society much more than smoking. Smoking is a personal responsibility choice (something Boris seems keen on). Homelessness is not. Smoking brings a net economic gain to society. Homelessness costs society a lot of money.

Nicotine is an anti-inflammatory. I don't know what happened to the French study on nicotine patches for Covid (an inflammatory disease)?

MRex · 07/08/2021 18:45

Oh, I'm not sure. This article suggested the tobacco industry gave some funding: www.nature.com/articles/s41533-021-00223-1. I know there was also some UK research, but I haven't seen a report on it.

bumbleymummy · 07/08/2021 18:52

[quote Rosehip10]@bumbleymummy Why do people still drone on about "using the nightingales" - there was not the NHS staff to do this, or do you think Dr/Nurses/HCA/allied health staff/lab workers etc etc can be pulled out of a hat Hmm[/quote]
Well, seeing as they’re now mostly all vaccinated and don’t have to isolate, we should be a bit better off. But I did also say we needed to invest more in staff in general. :)

bumbleymummy · 07/08/2021 18:53

@Serenissima21

I'd train more doctors, nurses and support staff hoping to prevent our current ones collapsing under the strain. I would reverse Brexit and try and entice some of the many EU doctors and nurses who left to return. Sad
This too ^
changingstages · 07/08/2021 19:10

this is an interesting thread.

I'd go for:
Ventilation improvements in public buildings, including schools
Compulsory mask wearing in enclosed spaces until the autumn at least
Localised T&T systems
Proper financial support for those who have to isolate
Continue isolation for those in contact with a positive case (not stopping on 18 August) until all adults in the country have been offered a second vaccination dose
A much harder push to get vaccinations to the rest of the world

Greenhand · 07/08/2021 19:10

In the current situation:

  1. Mandatory 2 week quarrantine for all arrivals to UK.
  2. Start a strict 6 week lockdown along the lines of the first lockdown but with support bubbles. Takeaways and click and collect permissable
  3. Mandatory masks for all indoor spaces
  4. FFP2 and above to be supplied to all in the health care and care services sectors and recommended to public.
  5. Vaccine passport system for reopening - you need to vaccinated or exempt for medical reasons to enter any indoor public space to apply to all 12+
  6. Ban mass gatherings - sporting, festivals etc until cases fall below a set level
  7. Try to hire more NHS staff and focus on backlog (big question how this is going to be paid for!)
KhalliWhalli · 07/08/2021 23:27

Some interesting ideas here. How do people feel about mandating mask wearing? Also vaccination for healthcare workers? There was a very sad story yesterday of a man in hospital who died from Covid after catching it from a nurse who was treating him. She had refused to be vaccinated.

OP posts:
ActonSquirrel · 07/08/2021 23:37

2) Start a strict 6 week lockdown along the lines of the first lockdown but with support bubbles.

I'm sorry what the actual fuck for?!

Look at that! You think another lockdown is needed? What is wrong with you and this love of lockdowns?

What would YOU do about Covid?
Tealightsandd · 07/08/2021 23:37

There was a very sad story yesterday of a man in hospital who died from Covid after catching it from a nurse who was treating him. She had refused to be vaccinated.

I'd be looking at legal action if that man was my family member. Hospitals and care homes have a duty of care to their vulnerable patients and residents.

Yes I'd do the same as many other countries including close neighbours in Europe. Mandatory masks (genuine exemptions excepted) in enclosed public spaces, and mandatory vaccination for health and social care workers. Obviously nobody should be forced to have a vaccine - and they're free to instead look for more suitable alternative employment. Just as a vegan wouldn't probably work as a butcher, nor should unvaccinated work with the vulnerable.

Susannahmoody · 07/08/2021 23:38

Just get on with it. Live with covid. Back to normal

Susannahmoody · 07/08/2021 23:40

Mandatory vaccination for all.

I'm sure why peasants think they can have an opinion on the efficaity of vaccinations.

ActonSquirrel · 07/08/2021 23:41

@Susannahmoody

Just get on with it. Live with covid. Back to normal
Yes exactly 💯👏🙌👌
MooseBreath · 07/08/2021 23:45

In March 2020, 3 weeks of lockdown worldwide with no international travel. Proper enforced lockdown. Care packages of necessities provided by the government for each household (with enough for each occupant).

Then, social distancing and masks until vaccines were ready. Those with Covid or in direct contact need to isolate. Shielding for CEV would be funded by the government until all adults could be fully vaccinated. Vaccinate children over the age of 12.

Remove all restrictions once all adults are fully vaccinated.

Going forward, properly fund the NHS and promote use of masks when ill.

KhalliWhalli · 08/08/2021 00:34

Just as a vegan wouldn't probably work as a butcher, nor should unvaccinated work with the vulnerable.

This is a really good point. If the requirements of the job don’t align with your values, then leave. I am all for mandatory vaccination of health and care staff.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 08/08/2021 00:41

Part of me wants to say... the human race sucks, and we are wrecking the planet. Let it rip, and let it kill us all tbh.

But that is not a popular opinion to have. I don't know. Even our governments don't have answers that have really worked. All I can think of is things that would help people with whatever measures were brought in. Single people were forced to be alone. So, there should have been some help with that instead of "suck it up". More acknowledgement that the lockdown measures were causing harm. Covid was not the only thing killing people.

XenoBitch · 08/08/2021 00:43

@KhalliWhalli

Just as a vegan wouldn't probably work as a butcher, nor should unvaccinated work with the vulnerable.

This is a really good point. If the requirements of the job don’t align with your values, then leave. I am all for mandatory vaccination of health and care staff.

No, an equivalent would be a vegan working in a vegan shop and then being told they have to handle and sell meat. Bringing in a vaccine requirement is the same.
SaharaFlower · 08/08/2021 01:21

I would keep society running, get some balanced epidemiologists and allocate some more money for hospitals.

Swipe left for the next trending thread