Are people no longer bothered by Covid….?

[Iwannabelikeyouohh]

Is anyone actually bothered about Covid?
From places I’ve been recently, everyone is just “normal”

I took my son to a toddler class this morning.

I walked in wearing my mask. Room full of 19 other adults and their toddlers.

Not one single adult had a mask on (expect me)
There was no distancing in the class.
It was as normal as normal can be.

I joined a new slimming class tonight.

Again I walked in wearing a mask. No one else had one on.
All chairs pushed up together, people sat close.

I don’t get it.

How can we go from distancing, mask wearing, avoiding people on walks (which is exactly what it was like) to nothing….

@FamilyFortune

MN perception of course is that if your not consumed by covid news, know the stats and protocols for every country in the world and don't wear a medical mask 24/7 then you are selfish and don't care.

Really?

I think most of the posts here say the exact opposite of that!

eg that anyone still wearing masks and taking care is an idiot.

I don’t agree people should feel like idiots - I usually wear one still if others are

But selfish should be dropped too.

At this point, when it’s not legally mandated people should stop trying to tell others what to do. Insults aren’t going to work anyway.

Also, I'd like to add that the frothing covid doom mongers on here, and also those who believed there should be no mask exemption (I've been called selfish/cunt/super spreader/dirty etc on here) didn't help matters at all when I was at my lowest. People should really think before they post. It's not so much 'be kind' as 'don't be a dick'. Particularly when you know people are struggling.

I have a friend who will barely leave the house still. She’s got no health issues and has had both jabs. She jumps at every noise . Is scared to touch a bench or a door. Won’t sit down on a walk. Won’t drink or eat anything from a takeaway or cafe. She tried taking up an outdoor sport but gave up because she didn’t want to touch anything anyone else had touched. Wore gloves all the time.
That’s where fear gets you. I’d rather be living my life and accepting the risks whilst being sensible.

Oh the “selfish” thing

All you’re saying is that you want whatever restrictions related to covid that you think are necessary because they don’t negatively affect your life to a great extent. You don’t really give a shit if it feels that way to someone else. That’s absolutely fine, it’s your opinion, but I would be careful about throwing the word “selfish” around

Very few of us have one single issue to worry about. Back in March 2020 when the world ground to a halt, the only things to worry about were Covid related. The government spent weeks and months trying to scare us with information campaigns asking us whether we could look medics in the eye and tell them we had done everything to prevent the spread of this disease which was killing thousands.

But things move on. We get over our initial shock about this new disease, and realise that it's going nowhere. We have a very effective vaccine, which the government has rolled out and made it easy for people to access free of charge. The stats clearly show that vaccines are reducing risk of getting very ill. Kids are back to school, furlough is ending, and other news takes over from Covid at the forefront of every bulletin.

People are moving into the "live with it" phase of this pandemic . Some people will take later to get to that stage than others and that's what's causing the conflict. They are still in the scared phase, the wear your mask and social distance phase, and have their anxiety levels raised by people who they feel are displaying risky behaviour.

Hopefully as time goes on, more people will start to move out of the "terrified" phase and there will be no more need for specific threads about this illness any more than there are specific threads about other illnesses.

I'm not hugely worried for myself but I do worry about elderly relatives that I need to see.
I do go out though, I'm not hiding at home, but I do wear a mask when I go to indoor places though. Most people where I live are still mask wearing though, so I don't feel like I'm an odd one out.

@FamilyFortune

Masks don't really reduce the risk, they spread risk over a longer period... They may mean the average hitherto uninflected person will become Infected in four months rather than two

Where are posters of stuff crap like this getting it from?

(And what on earth is 'uninflicted'- it's not even a word!)

There was research out last week which showed not wearing a mask doubles the risk of being infected.

But the main point of wearing a mask is it protects others from your asymptomatic infection!

There are posters here like @ZenNudist who got Covid after 2 jabs, and said 'Oh I was fine'. And they encourage everyone to go around as 'normal'.

I suppose darling @ZenNudist doesn't even understand that when she was infected , and swanning around in shops or on transport, or wherever, that she was probably infecting God knows how many other people, who maybe are not 'fine' now. They may have long term health problems after getting covid.

IMO everyone has a right to live a 'normal' life but we also have a duty to accept that at any time we can be infected and infect others.

That is why masks are necessary to reduce risk, in crowded places.

Covid is spread by airborne viral particles.

Masks are still mandatory in any health setting. My hairdressers is still ensuring ALL staff and clients wear masks.

No one has said they have an issue with wearing masks where they are mandated.

What people are saying is that expecting people to wear masks when not required to is simply not realistic.

Why would I wear a mask in Tesco when 99% of people aren't wearing one?

@AlixandraTheGreat

*@Warhertisuff*

Masks don't really reduce the risk, they spread risk over a longer period... They may mean the average hitherto uninflected person will become Infected in four months rather than two. Your post seems to be yet another example of those who believe that greater restrictions will lead to Covid going away, and for the risk to be reduced overall.

OMG Your post seems to be an example of bonkers - ness.

Ok, so to reiterate the question that you and those with similar views seem to avoid like the plague: if not now, when?

@AlixandraTheGreat

And it would be interesting to know what you believe is so bonkers about my post!

I haven't been bothered for a while

@AlixandraTheGreat

*@Warhertisuff*

So it's not a case of mask wearing and socially distancing for another few months, or even couple of years, Covid won't "magically" disappear over that time, so if you're still arguing for restrictions like FFP2 masks for all, distanced outdoor socialising, and other intrusive restrictions, then there's no way out... that would be the "new normal", not for the next six months or year until Covid blows away, but for generations

I'm interested to know where you got this from? Is there a study saying this or are you simply having a punt?

No study needed. It’s logic.

The pandemic will end that is different from thinking Covid is going to go away.

But the whole point of mitigations is to manage it - to spread it out over time so at no point does the system get overwhelmed. To ensure the health service is there when you need it, to get the maximum number of people vaccinated that you can.

The problem is that the mask rules have always been contradictory and now they are unmandated people simply dont see the need. I think understanding that it is to spread and reduce risk to manage it does help realise why even some mask wearing helps

[quote Warhertisuff]@AlixandraTheGreat

And it would be interesting to know what you believe is so bonkers about my post![/quote]

All of it?

Nope. Double jabbed and had Covid since the jabs so I'm done with it all now. Time to move on and stop the mass testing.

People stare when I wear a mask. The odd person sniggers and talks to the people they're with. I'd prefer to be cautious

@Sunshinealligator

People stare when I wear a mask. The odd person sniggers and talks to the people they're with. I'd prefer to be cautious

So weird… where do you live? I’d say about 50% of people are still wearing masks in supermarkets etc here (including me) and I’ve never noticed anyone even looking twice at me, let alone staring or sniggering.

I’ve not had any sniggering here at all either, thank goodness. Levels of mask wearing varies according to type of venue (I also don’t wear one in toddler groups) but no one seems to pay any attention either way

Yes I don’t wear one at toddler groups either, or soft play etc where I’m interacting with my child. He has a speech delay and seeing my face is so important.

Front page of the gov.uk/coronavirus website is:

"Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. You should stay cautious to help protect yourself and others.

Let fresh air in if you meet indoors.  Meeting outdoors is safer
Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet "

I think many people genuinely don't know that this is the current advice. And also that the masks are mainly to prevent spread rather than to protect the individual. Someone in their 30s, no underlying health conditions, fully vaccinated and perhaps having already had covid once, might feel that the risk to themselves of attending a baby group is fairly low. They might also think the risks to others is low, because the idea of vaccination passports suggests that vaccinated people aren't a risk to others. So I can understand it. But I think it's a real shame.

@AlixandraTheGreat

All of it?

So rather than engage, you just dismiss without reason....

I have to assume then you can't answer the question "if not now, when?".... without the answer:
a) assuming Covid will disappear at some point;
b) recognising that restrictions will be long term and last for many years;

If you can't answer this, then your position is simply not credible.

But I think it's a real shame

I think it’s a real shame that my toddler didn’t get to see anyone outside of his own household for months on end, and I was trying to work full time and homeschool 2 older children at the same time as care for him. I think it’s a real shame that when we was actually allowed to socialise, the vast majority of adults he encountered were wearing masks. I think it’s a real shame that he was petrified of going into anyone else’s house, or into the supermarket, or to places that toddlers normally go like soft plays and swimming pools after lockdown because it was so out of his comfort zone.
So no, I don’t wear a mask when I take him to groups and if glad that the other attendees and those running the group don’t either.

@AugustSeptemberOctober

Nope, not bothered. I seem to live in an area where everyone is still wearing masks, which is absolutely their choice, but the looks I get for not wearing one!

I went in a shop yesterday to browse, and was the only customer in there. I didn't have to go anywhere near the cashier as I probably wouldn't have bought anything, but she walked right up to me to give me a mask to put on... Where's the logic?!

I was extremely cautious until I'd had my second jab, but now I wonder at what point people will stop wearing masks, distancing etc? Yes, cases are high, but covid isn't going anywhere - precautions or not! Time to live freely again after 18 months of being told what we can and can't do.

The logic is that the extra virus you exhale (that the mask would have helped to trap, even imperfectly) remains in the air of the shop after you've left (until ventilation eventually changes the air).

@Warhertisuff

OK. Your post, again:

Masks don't really reduce the risk, they spread risk over a longer period... They may mean the average hitherto uninflected person will become Infected in four months rather than two. Your post seems to be yet another example of those who believe that greater restrictions will lead to Covid going away, and for the risk to be reduced overall.

Masks do reduce risk. I recognise what you are attempting to say here, but I don't agree with it, and I don't think most epidemiologists would agree with the approach either. You appear to ascribe to the school of thought that says the less restrictions = more infections = less time until the pandemic is over.

The approach I favour is vaccinate as many as possible (those that are able/wish to - I'm not a fan of mandates), while mandating the wearing of masks in close-contact, indoor situations where social distancing isn't possible for the next six months or so. Vaccination rates across nations are increasing; this is key.

I should clarify the above - I'm not a fan of vaccine mandates.

Like PP I was never bothered but adhered to the guidelines to be a good citizen and protect others. However , I respect others right to wear a mask and if someone felt more comfortable with me wearing a mask then I would comply