What do you think should happen?

[Jourdain11]

Rather than, "we're going to lockdown again, aren't we?" I'm interested to know what people think should happen.

I think we should avoid lockdown at all costs. I'm also not in favour of restrictions being brought in, unless they are ones where it is clear that the benefits broadly outweigh the negatives.

If we need to have mandatory mask-wearing in public settings, proper masks should be provided at a set rate or free of charge. This would be expensive, but IMO would be a better use of funds than endless asymptomatic testing.

I do think that ultimately, asymptomatic testing needs to stop at some point. I'm not sure cases are such a useful way of measuring the impact of Covid any more and it creates a lot of public anxiety.

I also think that Covid has exposed a lot of health inequalities and these need to be addressed, so that the population can generally be in better health. Social prescribing is a good idea, but it isn't used widely or effectively enough.

I am against lockdown, closing school and work from home orders.

I am also against weird, pointless and ill-thought-out measures, like substantial meals, etc.!

I would be on board with localised restrictions if they were necessary.

@Dancerinthedark01

Hospitals are overwhelmed. Doesn’t matter what with - they are overwhelmed

It really does matter with what. Because if it’s not Covid patients that are overwhelming hospitals we most certainly should not be locking down. Not in the name of COVID. If it does need to happen it should be in the name of Government’s reckless incompetence and Austerity.

The Covid patients are the straw breaking the camel’s back. Would you like to choose who shouldn’t get treated?

Disclaimer, this is pure speculation, but I wonder if (particularly given the time of year) a lot of those on hospital for Covid complications might have been hospitalised for a.n.other viral illness if Covid didn't exist.

It's like Colin Powell dying "from Covid complications". He had multiple myeloma! I feel sure that, in the past, if he'd died from acute flu complications which were a result of his underlying illness, it would have been "died after a long illness".

I get that it's technicalities, but the result is that it makes Covid sound more scarey.

No not at all. Why do you ask me that @WiseUpJanetWeiss?

Are you aware of the disruption to schools this past half term?

Ok but my point still applies. They are both higher grade masks.

@Dancerinthedark01

No not at all. Why do you ask me that *@WiseUpJanetWeiss*?

Because that’s what it will come down to. Medical staff choosing who can be treated and who can be left in the back of the ambulance or at home after their cancer surgery has been cancelled. The things that can be controlled in the short term are respiratory viruses -Covid and flu, mainly - that cause admissions.

Even if the government had the will to sort out the capacity issues in another way there is no time. And they don’t, so we’re doubly fucked.

I’m OK, of course. Vaxxed and boosted, financially comfortable, wfh. But if I’m diagnosed with cancer and need major surgery I’d like to have it quickly and for there to be an ICU bed for me. And I’d quite like everyone else to be safe too.

@Warhertisuff

Also think the unvaccinated should be refused hospital beds ( unless the medically can’t be vaccinated). That would solve the problem of the nhs being overwhelmed. But I know that would never happen unfortunately,

Careful... I suggested something along the same lines but milder and was set upon like by the MN equivalent of a pack of rabid starving wolves!

That’s because it’s deranged.

(And I’m double vaccinated so it wouldn’t affect me.)

@Perfect28

Are you aware of the disruption to schools this past half term?

That’s fairly variable though. No disruption at our school.

@Perfect28

Are you aware of the disruption to schools this past half term?

Dc have been part of higher cases in schools but now will be immune over winter

Other than that there wasn’t extra disruption

Ok @WiseUpJanetWeiss

That’s also why I think we should do nothing more to meddle with this pandemic.

Soooo much money is being wasted.

The money instead should be pumped into hospitals to cope with the current NHS overload and crisis.

NOTHING

@Dancerinthedark01

Ok *@WiseUpJanetWeiss*

That’s also why I think we should do nothing more to meddle with this pandemic.

Soooo much money is being wasted.

The money instead should be pumped into hospitals to cope with the current NHS overload and crisis.

I agree in principle, but in the next month what would the money be spent on? Who would staff the extra beds? The priority is to reduce admissions.

Yes I see that @WiseUpJanetWeiss

I kind of realised it whilst I was writing it.

I just think it’s getting stupid and seriously wrong that we have to lockdown whenever the NHS can’t cope.

Actually we need to stop enabling the government to force this on us. The NHS needs saving properly not just every winter via lockdowns.

Nothing, it will fall naturally itself again. That's what a virus does.

And I know you will say what about the people dying and in need of treatment now.

But if we let this carry on and let the government get away with this nonsense we’ll end up with no NHS at all. Then there will be even more intreated dying people.

I also think we should not be going private and getting private medical insurance if we can help it. That’s exactly what the government wants us to do.

@Dancerinthedark01

And I know you will say what about the people dying and in need of treatment now.

But if we let this carry on and let the government get away with this nonsense we’ll end up with no NHS at all. Then there will be even more intreated dying people.

I also think we should not be going private and getting private medical insurance if we can help it. That’s exactly what the government wants us to do.

I agree with your views on the NHS. But the consequences of doing nothing now will be catastrophic. Remember, the government doesn’t want to introduce restrictions. They don’t care about the consequences on the NHS — and by extension every one of us who needs medical care. Doesn’t that give you pause?

It isn’t deranged to turn away care to the unvaccinated. If they have turned away the vaccine which is distributed by the nhs why do they suddenly want their care when they get sick from Covid?

Why should a cancer sufferer lose a bed to a selfish vaccine refuser.

That is not ethical to me. But obvs I know this will never fly. It’s just what should happen.

Doesn’t that give you pause?

I don’t know what this means. Do you mean pause for thought?

I know the government doesn’t care. They want to run the NHS into the ground and have almost done so.

Many of my family members need the NHS ongoingly. Myself included and one of my children.

The chronic stuff is important too and if we keep giving in to these emergency lockdowns we take the pressure off the government to do something about the NHS in a serous and sustained way.

@olivehater

It isn’t deranged to turn away care to the unvaccinated. If they have turned away the vaccine which is distributed by the nhs why do they suddenly want their care when they get sick from Covid?

Why should a cancer sufferer lose a bed to a selfish vaccine refuser.

That is not ethical to me. But obvs I know this will never fly. It’s just what should happen.

Not everyone who is declining the vaccine is an "anti-vaxxer". Many already had one dose and suffered awful side effects that has put them off any more jabs. Some have terrible health anxiety, and others have debilitating needle phobia. Others have already had Covid and don't see the point in getting a vaccine.

I agree with jourdain. I also think we should stop bloody testing so much. COVID’s spreading like crazy anyway so what’s the point. Seeing as so many people are asymptomatic and by the time you’ve tested you’ll have spread it to loads of people already. Especially now that contacts don’t have to isolate. It’s just all pointless.

Fuck all.

Get on with living. My fil is dying after a long battle with cancer. Life is too short. Fuck this shit.
Lockdowns dont work. End of.
Vaccines protect you. Supposedly. Not others. So fuck off with this deny 'the unvaccinated' bollocks.

Never said they were all anti vaxxers and I said those that had a medical reason not to have it should be different.

@Dancerinthedark01

Doesn’t that give you pause?

I don’t know what this means. Do you mean pause for thought?

I know the government doesn’t care. They want to run the NHS into the ground and have almost done so.

Many of my family members need the NHS ongoingly. Myself included and one of my children.

The chronic stuff is important too and if we keep giving in to these emergency lockdowns we take the pressure off the government to do something about the NHS in a serous and sustained way.

Yes. Pause for thought.

I don’t know how to explain this to you so you will understand.

The chronic stuff, the emergency stuff is important. Vitally important. But while the hospitals are overflowing and primary care is failing, how will increasing the level of Covid patients help?

I entirely agree that the government need to be taken to task and held to account. I don’t see how your plan of sacrificing those chronically and acutely ill non-Covid patients is going to help. Unless you are thinking that their sacrifice is somehow worth it?

@olivehater

Never said they were all anti vaxxers and I said those that had a medical reason not to have it should be different.

There is a huge gulf between anti-vaxxers and people medically unable to have the vaccine. Should they be denied care too?

Haven't rtft, but will in time. Agree with everything in the OP though.