Some restrictions back, fed up

[Ireallydontcare55]

Just heard the news about masks returning as of next week and changes to travelling rules.

It’s not so much that wearing a mask is inconvenient, it’s the fact that we were told restrictions were over and that we could get on with our lives.

I know I will get shot down for this post, but if it isn’t the ‘omnicron’ variant then it’ll be something else.

I’m sure many people will be in favour of tighter restrictions ‘until numbers drop’. And then what? In a few months’ time when the latest variant is out, will we have to do the same again?
“it’s just for a few weeks/months”

This isn’t going away. What’s the point of having 3 vaccines?

I’m fed up with it all, are people really prepared to do this for the foreseeable future ?

It’s an emerging situation. Things change.

It was silly of the government to say “no going back on easing restrictions now” as it didn’t adequately take account of things that might arise.

Equally silly to take them at their word for it, given a) the changeable nature of the situation being apparent and b) government’s track record on doing what it says it will do.

In this situation I think it’s right that masks are back and duly expect further restrictions to come about if Omicron turns out as predicted.

Given 61 people on flights from SA to the Netherlands tested positive for it, I think we’re back to buckle up buttercup to be honest.

For you, maybe. For me, generally out and about with a preschooler, mask mandates potentially mean masked kids classes/activities, masked church services, masked children’s parties, masked cinema and theatre trips… It’s all so joyless, and really not conducive to effective communication - in my experience masks make interactions with others functional rather than enjoyable.

Do you think people in other countries are all living a 'joyless' and purely functional life, simply because they have to wear a mask??

I wear a mask to all the above plus shops, public transport for several hours a day, and during some of my time at work. Kids over 6 wear them in schools.

Life is still enjoyable and we're all having a normal existence here. Life doesn't suddenly become joyless because of a mask.

Oh gosh I’m so so sorry. Yeah, I’m just gonna grow up now, stop being so thick, immature, uneducated, naive and deluded. I’m just a selfish individual who couldn’t care less and who has no knowledge.
I really need to get a grip and get over myself, and maybe read some books!
If only I could be even an ounce of what you were

@Ireallydontcare55

There could be variants forever, it’s here to stay.

So might masks be, especially in winters

The wearing of masks was still advised. The legal requirement was removed. Vaccines mean that despite rising cases, the numbers in hospital are far fewer.

@TheBabyBoo

It’s an emerging situation. Things change.

It was silly of the government to say “no going back on easing restrictions now” as it didn’t adequately take account of things that might arise.

Equally silly to take them at their word for it, given a) the changeable nature of the situation being apparent and b) government’s track record on doing what it says it will do.

In this situation I think it’s right that masks are back and duly expect further restrictions to come about if Omicron turns out as predicted.

Given 61 people on flights from SA to the Netherlands tested positive for it, I think we’re back to buckle up buttercup to be honest.

Was it confirmed 61 had the new variant?

@Superfoodie123

'This was probably not the right site to post this on.'

No s**t sherlock. The majority of mumsnet is not the crowd to question things and how dare you even hint at not wanting to follow the rules.

Anyway I agree with you. Fed up of it. There will likely be more and more variants until we have given up every shred of liberty we have left.

Ahhhhhhhh the mythical ‘questioning’ of the enlightened

Masks are back because this new variant looks like it is certainly more transmissible and they are trying to be cautious while they wait to see whether it also evades vaccines and /or leads to more severe illness. Of course it’s a bummer and I wish we didn’t have to do this, but having some masks and travel restrictions seems like a very minor inconvenience to me, which will hopefully buy some time whilst the scientists work out what the new variant might do. I am glad they are acting quickly this time as I think they have waited too long in the past .

@Ireallydontcare55

What worries me is how willingly people have accepted the idea of wearing a mask for the rest of their life potentially

It "worries" you that people are willing to take on a small inconvenience to protect others?

OK then

Frankly, it disgusts me that so many people aren't.

@LizzieSiddal

*they told us we wouldn’t go back”

No they didn’t. They said we may have to go to plan B, which was more restrictions.

What worries me is how willingly people have accepted the idea of wearing a mask for the rest of their life potentially

Many eastern countries wear masks in public/crowed places because they’ve had to deal with other epidemics such as Sars. We in the west need to get used to it, wear a mask in a crowded place, wash your hands and get on with your life. It’s really not difficult or a hardship.

Actually, in Japan anyway, they also always wore masks in public when they had an illness themselves. i.e. if they had a cold that meant they were well enough to go to school / work, but still had germs, they would wear a mask all day. So I guess it was an easier cultural shift.

I have to say, popping a mask on to not spread germs seems like pretty good manners to me, especially in a crowded place.

We are living through a Worldwide pandemic @Ireallydontcare55 , it is perfectly acceptable to think 'FFS what now ! ' , but believing that nothing would change after Freedom day was a teeny bit naive, especially given that no absolute promises were made about there never being any restrictions ever again.
And lets be honest, restrictions in the Winter always feel a lot worse than restrictions during the Summer. Only 24 more days and the nights will start getting lighter again slowly

@teaandtoastwithmarmite

I have had Covid, double jabbed. I won't wear a mask unless someone actually walks up to me and asks me to. I don't understand the point of all this crap.

To protect others?

Can folk not just exempt themselves from mask wearing.

I prefer to have restrictions in winter as I don't do anything or go out but I would hate it in the summer

@Viviennemary

Can folk not just exempt themselves from mask wearing.

This is the bit that always makes me laugh - the people who ‘question everything’ and won’t be led, and ‘think for themselves’ and talk about ‘fear and control’………..still bother enough to go along with it. Vote with your feet!

I think you just don't wear one, no one will say anything, they might just glare a bit but just glare back

@Viviennemary

Can folk not just exempt themselves from mask wearing.

I am sure that loads of people will suddenly become exempt. Last year you could buy a set of four 'Mask exempt' pin badges from Home Bargains for 99p. Job done. First time around the shops had no power to make anyone wear a mask anyway.

@MarshaBradyo Authorities are saying “a number of them” according to BBC.

@grafittiartist

Never stopped using them- out of curtesy to others and to protect myself.

Exactly... but I fear now the gov chucked that out the window only a small number of people who stopped will start again. 'Plan B' is simply what everyone able to do has been doing even since 'Freedom day' - wearing a mask and wfh as much as possible. No, masks are nothing like 100% protection against the virus and everyone knows that, but they offer some mitigation for what is, for most people, an absolutely minimal cost.

What an immature response to something which is a simple proven way to reduce the spread of Covid.

I prefer to have restrictions in winter as I don't do anything or go out but I would hate it in the summer

You don't do anything in the Winter ? you don't go to work, go to the shops ? do you hibernate ? Are you a hedgehog in disguise ?

sst1234 "OP, there are too many hysterical mask enthusiasts out there. They are offended at anyone not wanting to wear one. A lot of closet lockdown enthusiasts too. They come out in force to defend and cheer lockdown as soon as one is announced."

Such a childish comment.

@Ireallydontcare55

Oh gosh I’m so so sorry. Yeah, I’m just gonna grow up now, stop being so thick, immature, uneducated, naive and deluded. I’m just a selfish individual who couldn’t care less and who has no knowledge. I really need to get a grip and get over myself, and maybe read some books! If only I could be even an ounce of what you were

It's okay not to be okay.

It's okay to be upset, angry, and frustrated about our current reality.

I’m not so bothered about the mask wearing as such but I’m just getting this terrible feeling that it won’t end there. The journalists were almost pushing for plan B to be triggered and they tend to get what they want with the people pleaser in number 10.

I don’t mean to be selfish and I’m not ignorant, I just don’t want my Christmas blown up and I can’t stand the thought of going back to any of the old restrictions.

Positively though, Patrick Vallance did say that with the vaccines and medication we have it’s not likely to be as serious as before. I hope this is just a blip as they work things out.

You have every right to be fed up op.
I suspect we all are

I hate masks and given the cases in England verses the rest of the uk, it would appear they do little to drive down numbers. That said, I will wear one.

The underlying thing for me is it feels like the slippery slope back to last winter. There is nothing we can do about it and if everything shuts again, we won’t have any choice but to comply in the main.

It’s shit and you’ve been given a hard time for expressing a perfectly reasonable frustration. Not sure that us mere mortals can influence things though