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Original poster

Concerns over visiting UK

233 replies

burningfromtheinside · 03/10/2021 06:05

I'm due to visit UK to see my family soon, haven't been there for two years due to the pandemic. I live in Italy, in the north, in one of the places hit by COVID at the very beginning in Feb 2020, however despite this, I still personally don't know one person who has contracted it, not even the Delta, no one pre and post vaccination. I have a large network of friends and work in large company ( although we're still WFH) Reading here and hearing from plenty of friends in the UK, so many people seem to have had it there, despite being double vaccinated. I don't know if it's because masks are still mandatory here indoors, or that COVID passports are mandatory for nearly everything, but I can't understand why it's so different. This is making me concerned about coming to UK, I feel like I'll catch it there no matter what. The whole family are Pfizer double vaccinated ( most of Italy is Pfizered, could it be this?!) I wonder if a large proportion of people are not vaccinated there or if because the vaccine program was much earlier in the UK, most people are no longer covered ( I'm in my 50s and was vaccinated in June) Anyway does anyone, like me not know a single person who has had COVID or it is just rife there? I should add I also don't know anyone who is not vaccinated here.

OP posts:
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RedRiverShore · 03/10/2021 06:10

The only person I know is DS who had it in March 2020, he was never tested but his doctor friend was who had it, I live in the East Midlands and was vaccinated in June, early 60s. I'm retired but out loads and go away in our caravan a lot, haven't worn a mask hardly since July

RedRiverShore · 03/10/2021 06:11

And vaccine was AZ

Palavah · 03/10/2021 06:11

Catching covid now for vaccinated people is more like catching a bad cold or maybe the flu. Are you so concerned about catching it?

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 06:13

If I was not living in the UK, and was planning a holiday, I would choose somewhere else.

Covid is not controlled at all and our healthcare system is under serious pressure so it's not great if you e.g. need emergency care for a fall.

What does Italian government say about travel to the UK?

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 06:14

@Palavah

Catching covid now for vaccinated people is more like catching a bad cold or maybe the flu. Are you so concerned about catching it?
This is a comforting lie, often repeated.

Medically I would still prefer flu due to lower risk of a) ongoing symptoms b) organ damage.

Verbena87 · 03/10/2021 06:16

I’m a teacher and currently at school there are at least 2 students off with covid in every single class.

If you are older and not in contact with school-age children I think there are still people who don’t know anyone who’s (knowingly) had it, but it is absolutely rife here yes.

RedRiverShore · 03/10/2021 06:21

Are you likely to have a lot of contact with schoolchildren when you come over, in our county it is high in schools, it was in the local paper, and then likely running through families as they are all together indoors, I think I have mainly avoided it and people I know have because I don't have DC in the household or mix closely with them

Original poster
burningfromtheinside · 03/10/2021 06:21

Thanks, I have to go to see my parents, they're pensioners and I can't let any more time pass not seeing them. The Italian Gov don't say much, it's not a place that's restricted, and quarantine is no longer necessary if vaccinated, although tests are needed to fly back into Italy. I'm concerned as two friends there have been very ill with it, despite being fit and healthy, vaccinated and youngish ( early 40s) however if it's just flu/cold I can cope.

OP posts:
mummyofthreemunchkins · 03/10/2021 06:21

@Palavah

Catching covid now for vaccinated people is more like catching a bad cold or maybe the flu. Are you so concerned about catching it?
Unfortunately this isn't always the case, we lost my mil 3 weeks ago to covid, she was double vaccinated. People still need to be so so careful
niceberg · 03/10/2021 06:22

One of the long running and largest studies of covid rates, hospitalisations etc is the ZOE study from Kings College London. I find their weekly updates on YouTube really useful. There is a particular angle each week but alongside that they often compare the UK situation with other countries including EU countries. It's a good and reliable source of information.

Go to YouTube and search for'Tim Spector Zoe' and watch a couple.

Original poster
burningfromtheinside · 03/10/2021 06:24

No won't be in contact with any school children there, but here I am in contact with two middle school aged children almost daily (not mine) although masks are mandatory in classrooms and COVID passports are mandatory for all staff and parents picking children up, so the risk is lower I suppose.

OP posts:
Flippyflops2021 · 03/10/2021 06:28

I know quite a few that have had it now, but NO one of those has actually been very ill at all. The vaccine seems to be working. Just a cold or headache. Or asymptotic.

Silkieschickens · 03/10/2021 06:32

Its really hard to know how ill you would be with it, younger and healthier much less likely will be ill but I am double vaccinated, late 40s, and been very ill for 3 weeks with it, last vaccination AZ mid July so not dates. I have been dizzy all today and sick 3 times and this is day 19 for me and a better day. But for a lot of people it can be a cold. Trouble is you don't know until you get it. It has been worse than flu for me, maybe like gastric flu with breathing difficulties for 3 weeks. But others get no symptoms, a few unlucky ones end up in hospital, if I didn't have my DH I would have gone to hospital but not ITU as my oxygen levels have been below what they should be and my pulse.

It is spreading rapidly now there is no household isolation and so one child gets it other child has to go to school or you can be fined and one person is sick their partner has to go to work and it takes a few days for symptoms to show. Vaccination rates are high and most people have second dose in last six months. We probably got it staying in hotels from the buffets, can't be certain though. Before that we were very careful and always avoided it but my husband thought we would be safe after vaccination - some people are but we were not lucky, he was ill for 4 weeks, my 15 year old daughter for two and both are never normally ill.

If you are careful - masks, hand gel, no buffets etc you should be OK I would say but if you are stay staying in hotels having buffets, eating out it starts to get more risky and also more risky if anyone in your family has school age kids. Rates are rife in schools.

Tresal · 03/10/2021 07:03

When you look at percentage of population, there have been more deaths from Covid in Italy. Vaccination rates are fairly similar. The UK doesn’t feel that different to other countries I have visited in Europe. We do have less mask wearing now. I imagine it depends a lot on where in the UK and who you are spending time with.

Silkieschickens · 03/10/2021 07:11

These are some of the current rates - 1 in 20 secondary aged kids currently has covid, 1 in 80 of general population.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58763845

We have an elderly French MIL (88) and have a similar dilemma, not seen her for 2 years and DH for 18 months. I think we will try but be very careful. Its not us I would be concerned for its MIL due to her age.

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 07:13

@Tresal

When you look at percentage of population, there have been more deaths from Covid in Italy. Vaccination rates are fairly similar. The UK doesn’t feel that different to other countries I have visited in Europe. We do have less mask wearing now. I imagine it depends a lot on where in the UK and who you are spending time with.
Don't think totals help as Italy's total deaths are awful but they were hit very hard in early 2020.

What is Italy's death rate currently? They reported 25 yesterday, only just over a fifth of the UK number of deaths reported (121). Their population is 60m to our 68m.

Mainland Europe is doing much better than the UK at controlling covid and limiting deaths. UK is a mess tbh. Johnson is happy to see over 1000 people die per week.

Imfedupwithallofthis · 03/10/2021 07:13

@burningfromtheinside

No won't be in contact with any school children there, but here I am in contact with two middle school aged children almost daily (not mine) although masks are mandatory in classrooms and COVID passports are mandatory for all staff and parents picking children up, so the risk is lower I suppose.
Vaccine passports, to pick children up from school?

That seems extraordinary. I have read, correct me if I'm wrong, that test prices are capped at €15.
So, to pick up a child from school, if unvaccinated, could cost minimum €30 a week, up to €60 a week if they wanted to go elsewhere.

If it is mandatory to send your child to school, nobody should have to pay to be able to do that (I know the cheaper option would be to get vaccinated!).

According to World in Data, just over â…” of Italy's population has been vaccinated. Possibly the majority of those are old enough not to still have children at school.

That leaves a fair percentage of unvaccinated parents, I would think.

lifehappened · 03/10/2021 07:13

If you're seeing family then it's a bit silly to think about not going. It really ripped through your part of Italy, it was very scary to watch, and you survived. Our healthcare system did seem to do a lot better too (only from what I saw with the people on the news who were having to be treated outside over there, or some not treated at all).

You need to relax, the vaccine doesn't stop you catching it fully no, but if you were unlucky enough to do so, your chances are EVEN LOWER than they were, of being seriously ill. Live life now, so depressing otherwise!

Dozer · 03/10/2021 07:15

Anecdotes are pointless when you can easily see the case numbers for the area(s) you might visit.

Silkieschickens · 03/10/2021 07:15

I don't know but one difference with Italy currently maybe outside transmission rates are incredibly low and you may have more outdoors than we have due to weather.

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 07:17

@Silkieschickens

I don't know but one difference with Italy currently maybe outside transmission rates are incredibly low and you may have more outdoors than we have due to weather.
Also Italy has a government that wants to limit deaths, so they have masks, vaccinations for secondary pupils and measures in schools.

UK has a government that does not give a shit.

We are now miles behind Europe on vaccinations too.

Imfedupwithallofthis · 03/10/2021 07:31

lannistunut, "We are now miles behind Europe on vaccinations too."

Not according to World in Data. Roughly similar to Italy, France and Germany.
Now we have started vaccinating high school children, our numbers will go up further.

Concerns over visiting UK
Dozer · 03/10/2021 07:39

If by ‘behind on vaccinations’ you mean 12-15 year olds, scientists and citizens have different views on that.

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 07:40

@Imfedupwithallofthis

We have barely started with young people, the rate has slowed right down.

You left Portugal, Ireland off your list - they are both way ahead.

I know people want to believe the UK is leading, but we're not now. It was tortoise and hare, although with teens we are snails not tortoises Angry

lannistunut · 03/10/2021 07:42

@Dozer

If by ‘behind on vaccinations’ you mean 12-15 year olds, scientists and citizens have different views on that.
People who don't want to vaccinate their child can turn it down, but not try to get in the way of those of us who do want it.