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Will this level of cases now just be acceptable?

758 replies

Tuba437 · 16/08/2021 19:26

Just having a think to myself. We're now at around 30k cases a day in general. The 7 day average daily deaths is about 89 (this was for around 45-50k cases a day). We can assume that I a month or so deaths will be at around 60 a day.

Over a year that works out at about 21k worth of deaths. Will this just be the acceptable number. We know the vaccine doesn't stop the spread so I highly doubt were ever just going to get down to sub 5k cases a day again.

21k is considered a very mild flu death rate for the year. We have a new virus around now so more deaths a year are going to be a thing whether we like it or not.

I also think red list countries should only be for countries with worrying variants. If I don't have to isolate if my wife tests positive (just daily testing) then why on earth would I have to spend 1500 on a government hotel to quarantine as I've been to a country with a lower covid rate than us?

Sorry about the rant.

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Fitschkels · 16/08/2021 19:32

Bearing in mind that flu and covid tend to kill the same sorts of people, we must also be due a reduction in covid deaths (as flu kills more in season) or a reduction in flu deaths compared to annually if covid is deadlier?

Tuba437 · 16/08/2021 19:35

@Fitschkels

Bearing in mind that flu and covid tend to kill the same sorts of people, we must also be due a reduction in covid deaths (as flu kills more in season) or a reduction in flu deaths compared to annually if covid is deadlier?
Exactly, my guess is a combined total of 40k deaths from both would be seen as acceptable. Obviously tragic for the families but needs to be considered.
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Mybalconyiscracking · 16/08/2021 19:39

Frankly I hope so!
Apologies if that offends anyone but my priority now is my teens. They need their lives back and a shot at a decent future.

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 19:40

I agree that at some point we need to accept a certain level of cases/deaths. It may take a while for some people to accept this idea though. There are still a lot of ‘one death is one too many’ people out there. Even if the death is in someone over 90 with a massive list of co-morbidities. Of course most deaths are tragic for the people who know and love them but still…

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 19:41

my priority now is my teens. They need their lives back and a shot at a decent future.

This^ can not be said enough!

rosie39forever · 16/08/2021 20:10

21k deaths from flu is definitely not a very mild flu year it's a bad one when the vaccine fails, average flu deaths for the UK is 8 to 10k

FloFloFloFloFlo · 16/08/2021 20:46

Yeah as long as it’s ‘others’ who are dying it’s all right isn’t it?

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 20:54

Well, it depends on the age,general health and numbers of the ‘others’ doesn’t it? People do die of something you know.

Pissinthepottyplease · 16/08/2021 20:54

“ I also think red list countries should only be for countries with worrying variants. If I don't have to isolate if my wife tests positive (just daily testing) then why on earth would I have to spend 1500 on a government hotel to quarantine as I've been to a country with a lower covid rate than us?” I completely agree! The travel restrictions we currently have make no sense when you can go to a sweaty night club and not have to test. It’s illogical. I say this as someone who has always been super cautious. I’m not sure if it’s the present level of no restrictions or the travel restrictions which are problematic but the current situation doesn’t make sense.

I believe the numbers of covid cases are expected to rise over the winter so that may have a knock on effect. We are also expecting to have a very bad year with flu and I’m wondering if we will end up with people with both Covid and flu at the same time increasing the death rate even more.

FloFloFloFloFlo · 16/08/2021 20:55

Aye, as long as you aren’t one of the unlucky ‘healthy’ ones eh?

DesperateForSun · 16/08/2021 20:56

Why wouldn’t it be? Hospitals aren’t overwhelmed, majority of people catching it can manage without medical intervention, this is what it means to live with it. It is endemic now, like flu.

TheKeatingFive · 16/08/2021 20:57

Yeah as long as it’s ‘others’ who are dying it’s all right isn’t it?

Well far more than 21k die of cancer in a year, yet I don’t see many advocating taking more steps to prevent these deaths.

afriusaenghather · 16/08/2021 21:02

I think we’re around 550 days or so into this now

In that time we’ve stopped treating many other curable diseases, and mental health is at and all time low amongst my friends, family and contacts. Let alone the economic impact which will further fuel misery in many ways.

We can’t sustain this life. We have to get on, and provide and safety nets those that are vulnerable in my view.

I’m really sorry for those with very poorly affected people in their lives and those that have lost loved ones, but there’s no way we can carry on like this :(

vaxmeup · 16/08/2021 21:04

It's 30k cases on average during the summer though (more meeting outside), lots still WFH, schools/Unis closed etc...so this will increase from September onwards.

ParityJ · 16/08/2021 21:08

@TheKeatingFive

Yeah as long as it’s ‘others’ who are dying it’s all right isn’t it?

Well far more than 21k die of cancer in a year, yet I don’t see many advocating taking more steps to prevent these deaths.

What can be done to stop cancer? Are vaccines and hand washing useful for it? And social distancing? Can it be helped by very simple actions most people should be easily capable of?

Cause things that cause cancer, smoking for example, are already being advocated against. Stop smoking campaigns and vape industry etc etc.

Tuba437 · 16/08/2021 21:09

@FloFloFloFloFlo

Aye, as long as you aren’t one of the unlucky ‘healthy’ ones eh?
You make absolutely no sense. Let's ban smoking, drinking,flying, driving and all un healthy foods..... these all cause preventable deaths but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't give all of them up for the sake of other people's lives.

You may not like it but there is an acceptable amount of death for anything. They could save many more lives from cancer if they through the sort of money at it that they did with covid but its not financially viable. You may not like it but every life has a monetary value, to any government not just ours. Your very out of touch if you you dont understand this.

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FloFloFloFloFlo · 16/08/2021 21:09

@afriusaenghather

I think we’re around 550 days or so into this now

In that time we’ve stopped treating many other curable diseases, and mental health is at and all time low amongst my friends, family and contacts. Let alone the economic impact which will further fuel misery in many ways.

We can’t sustain this life. We have to get on, and provide and safety nets those that are vulnerable in my view.

I’m really sorry for those with very poorly affected people in their lives and those that have lost loved ones, but there’s no way we can carry on like this :(

I actually agree with this. A post written with compassion.

There is a balance to be struck between getting on with things and adequately protecting those most at risk. Because they are human too.

afriusaenghather · 16/08/2021 21:09

@vaxmeup

It's 30k cases on average during the summer though (more meeting outside), lots still WFH, schools/Unis closed etc...so this will increase from September onwards.
30k cases is due to testing. We need to look at the numbers of seriously ill and deaths, sadly. Comparatively there are more deaths from covid policies (non treatment of cancer, loss of routine /hospital appointments, mental health, fuel in alcohol abuse etc)

Our goal should be protecting the vulnerable, and vaccinating to prevent more dangerous mutations. Not ideal or nice, I know.

minipie · 16/08/2021 21:10

Well far more than 21k die of cancer in a year, yet I don’t see many advocating taking more steps to prevent these deaths.

An even better comparison is with air pollution which is believed to cause premature death in about 40,000 each year. A few lockdowns per year would certainly help hugely with air pollution, and yet nobody says we should have lockdowns to avoid those deaths. Because usually we prioritise jobs, life, trade, mental health etc for the whole population over the prevention of every (possibly) preventable death. About time we do the same for covid.

Tuba437 · 16/08/2021 21:11

@parityJ but they banned people from not meeting with each other. Why not ban smoking?... because of money. Every life has a monetary value and it just so happens the money the government make from smoking outweighs the monetary value in lost life.

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lannistunut · 16/08/2021 21:13

It is, IMO, too high - but we have the government we have, so that's that.

I would be very much less concerned if we were vaccinating young people.

TheKeatingFive · 16/08/2021 21:17

What can be done to stop cancer?

Is that a serious question? Confused

A huge amount. Aside from banning all smoking, we could ban all meat production for starters. And alcohol. And high calorie foods. Compulsory exercise for all. Regular weighing in with the GP and enforced dieting. Take all cars off the road to combat air pollution. Ban plastics. Triple everyone’s tax contribution so we can pay for the most expensive drug therapies.

If we did all that I’d say we’d quarter our cancer deaths easily.

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 21:17

I would be very much less concerned if we were vaccinating young people.

Why? Children have been incredibly low risk throughout. They’re more at risk of RSV/flu.

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/08/2021 21:18

TheKeatingFive

What can be done to stop cancer?

Is that a serious question? confused

A huge amount. Aside from banning all smoking, we could ban all meat production for starters. And alcohol. And high calorie foods. Compulsory exercise for all. Regular weighing in with the GP and enforced dieting. Take all cars off the road to combat air pollution. Ban plastics. Triple everyone’s tax contribution so we can pay for the most expensive drug therapies.

If we did all that I’d say we’d quarter our cancer deaths easily.“

This.

TheKeatingFive · 16/08/2021 21:20

Taking all cars off the road would have the additional benefit of eliminating RTA deaths and serious injuries.