Normal life is back

[ExmoorValley]

I don't know about you but life where I am is pretty much back to normal, masks in shops falling rapidly. People having a good time. Covid barely gets mentioned now. (and yes I know people are still catching it and a tiny proportion will die)

It feels great. So what happened to the 200,000 cases a day doom scenario peddlers on here? They seem rather quiet.......

I happen to agree but the vaccines aren't 100% and db vaxxed still end up in hospital (esp the elderly) plus there just seems something a bit wrong about being ok with doing nothing at all to limit CV but in doing so increase the risk for many others.

No vaccine is or ever will be 100% effective.

If people still think the risk is too great, then it's up to them to live their lives accordingly, not to demand that everyone else changes their lifestyle indefinitely.

And what have you got against theatres?

Those happy with a floor of 30000 reported cases a day in the height of summer seem to have forgotten about Variants and Long Covid.

The SAGE predictions have been off every single time. I don't know how they have the balls to keep this up tbh.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

The support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction

You may wish that was the case, but in fact the polls and research show continued support for restrictions such as mask wearing and some social distancing.

These 'polls and research' are based on self-reporting.

If people want to continue to wear masks, they are absolutely free to do so. Yet with every week that passes, fewer people are wearing them, which is a much more reliable indicator than what someone says to a pollster. As for 'social distancing', what people often mean is that they like having a free seat next to them on the bus or getting served at the table rather than queuing at the bar without having to pay extra, but these measures aren't financially sustainable.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

The support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction

You may wish that was the case, but in fact the polls and research show continued support for restrictions such as mask wearing and some social distancing.

I don’t think the poster needs to wish it it’s changing already.

People are realising they don’t have to wear a mask and SD is stopped.

My area seems higher with mask wearing than other areas but even then the bus was 80% workout on one route today.

These 'polls and research' are based on self-reporting

The polls are consistent with the (verifiable) vastly reduced level of social contacts compared with pre-pandemic (and compared with last summer actually).

There is zero evidential basis for the assertion that "the support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction". Where I live, people are still wearing masks and distancing, for example.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

The support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction

You may wish that was the case, but in fact the polls and research show continued support for restrictions such as mask wearing and some social distancing.

Yep, here it is:

yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2021/08/04/english-people-want-bring-back-mask-wearing-and-so

The science and the public support the continuation of masks and SD. Johnson prides himself on being a populist, so why isn't he fucking listening to us?

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

These 'polls and research' are based on self-reporting

The polls are consistent with the (verifiable) vastly reduced level of social contacts compared with pre-pandemic (and compared with last summer actually).

There is zero evidential basis for the assertion that "the support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction". Where I live, people are still wearing masks and distancing, for example.

And people can wear a mask if they want to.

And others don’t have to SD tg

Where we are can suit each of us.

Well I don't disagree with any of that, Marsha, you have accurately summarised the current rules!
However I was taking issue with a different point, namely a very sweeping factual assertion that there is no longer support for mask wearing and social distancing in this country. The available evidence suggest that simply isn't the case.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

These 'polls and research' are based on self-reporting

The polls are consistent with the (verifiable) vastly reduced level of social contacts compared with pre-pandemic (and compared with last summer actually).

There is zero evidential basis for the assertion that "the support in real life is just not there anymore for any kind of restriction". Where I live, people are still wearing masks and distancing, for example.

Well, we can trade ancdotal evidence and I could say that few people I know are 'distancing' and wearing masks.

The polls are consistent with the (verifiable) vastly reduced level of social contacts compared with pre-pandemic (and compared with last summer actually).

Have you got a source for this? And evidence that it's because people are desperate to keep 'distancing'?

Well, we can trade ancdotal evidence and I could say that few people I know are 'distancing' and wearing masks.

That is my point exactly! It is not possible to make general statements based on one's own individual/anecdotal observations. However, the broader evidence that is available points towards support for restrictions.

There was an article in today's Times summarising the level of daily contacts, I think it was mentioned in a press conference recently too. "Desperate to keep distancing" is rather a tendentious way of putting it, but is there any reason why contacts would be so low? I would suggest it demonstrates a level of ongoing caution.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

Well I don't disagree with any of that, Marsha, you have accurately summarised the current rules! However I was taking issue with a different point, namely a very sweeping factual assertion that there is no longer support for mask wearing and social distancing in this country. The available evidence suggest that simply isn't the case.

We still have guidance on mask wearing here on public transport and in some shops. Whether it would drop further if optional or no requests - I expect so.

It also doesn’t mean there’s reason to go back to legally mandated mask wearing or SD.

I’m fine with where it is. Just glad it’s not legally mandated anymore and very glad SD has been dropped in all areas.

And so talk of support sounds like some want it to revert. Maybe not you though.

Btw I have no issue with people choosing to be cautious. That’s a personal decision which they can make:

As long as it’s not put back into law for businesses / education etc

That is my point exactly! It is not possible to make general statements based on one's own individual/anecdotal observations. However, the broader evidence that is available points towards support for restrictions.

"Evidence" of what kind though? I don't think saying something to a pollster constitutes evidence really. It's well-known that people are often not honest - even in anonymous polls - and tend to say what they feel they 'ought' to say.

Is there evidence that people are refusing to go to pubs, football games, theatres, ets because 'distancing' is not guaranteed?

There was an article in today's Times summarising the level of daily contacts, I think it was mentioned in a press conference recently too. "Desperate to keep distancing" is rather a tendentious way of putting it, but is there any reason why contacts would be so low? I would suggest it demonstrates a level of ongoing caution.

I've not seen the data so it's impossible for me to say. How recent is it and how was it obtained? Restrictions were only fully lifted in England on July 19th, so could be that people didn't want to go out if there were restrictions in place. Or could be that those restrictions prevented them from doing so. As I say, when I've not seen the data you're basing your argument on, I can't really say.

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

Well, we can trade ancdotal evidence and I could say that few people I know are 'distancing' and wearing masks.

That is my point exactly! It is not possible to make general statements based on one's own individual/anecdotal observations. However, the broader evidence that is available points towards support for restrictions.

There was an article in today's Times summarising the level of daily contacts, I think it was mentioned in a press conference recently too. "Desperate to keep distancing" is rather a tendentious way of putting it, but is there any reason why contacts would be so low? I would suggest it demonstrates a level of ongoing caution.

There is an ongoing level of caution, I see it in work. Although the area I live in has pretty much gone back to normal.

In work I see it pretty much as a 50/50 split.

Some people are genuinely still scared, some are way past caring and thinking about their holidays coming up. Complete polar opposites with no in-between, both believing they are 100% right. Thats why MN can get so heated because people here are firmly in two camps. The only thing I have ever witness in my life time like this is Brexit and I think it will be fascinating in years to come historians or analysts look at this past decade and how we behaved through the significant events

Polls were constantly cited to show the population wouldn’t vote Brexit etc
Polls were cited to show people wouldn’t embrace the reduction of restrictions - yet Wembley, nightclubs, restaurants, bars, all full.

Yes people wear masks - I do - as a matter of courtesy. But that is not any indication that I would support a return to restrictions.

I'm not sure about YouGov. I used to do their polls. Can't say I took it very seriously, or worried too much about my answers.

@jasjas1973 around ten thousand people in the UK die every week, I'm afraid. Are you not aware that people do die? You must have led a very lucky life if people dying comes as a shock to you

People here have consistently stated that people won’t do....[insert activity of choice] yet every single time there’s been a chance to do it, they have.

Theatres are sold out (including ones without SD), nightclubs are sold out, you can’t get a ticket for a prem match for love nor money (I had to sell a child).

I signed up to YouGov because people kept citing it on here as an indication amd I wondered how they did polls

I did a couple then stopped because I’m not that interested. However if I was motivated by anxiety etc and wanted restrictions I could be more compelled.

The same way numbers are Wembley and all events show people keen to do events (probably over polls).

And constituents who write to MPs might be more likely to be worried about their business failing.

You get self selecting bias. I’m in the write to MP re education (twice) and do event camp, rather than do polls.

Things have certainly improved a lot. But I want to be able to go overseas without having to do tests; and go into cafes and bars overseas without having to show vaccination passes. Until that happens we're nowhere near normal.

I don't have an issue with mask-wearing into the winter - it might help avoid flu outbreaks.

They said parents won’t send their kids to school - were literally fighting for key worker places.

They said people won’t eat indoors - literally can’t get a table.

@igelkott2021

Things have certainly improved a lot. But I want to be able to go overseas without having to do tests; and go into cafes and bars overseas without having to show vaccination passes. Until that happens we're nowhere near normal.

I don't have an issue with mask-wearing into the winter - it might help avoid flu outbreaks.

I think that depends where you are going. I have friends that have just come back from Ibiza and they didnt have to show vaccination passes.

They were in their 50s

Do YouGov still give you £50 for a certain number of polls - I got about £100 ages ago from and by the end I was just ticking boxes just to get through them to get my money!

If you really think it’s over and life back to normal get off mumsnet covid forums and have some fun, don’t keep looking bac& 🤦🏻‍♀️