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 going to be here for a while because still not enough people are vaccinated in certain places.
Also I think we should stop all non essential travel to try to stop us going back into lock down.
Wearing a mask is the least of or worries, if everyone stayed in their own country it would stop variants spreading.

Wearing a mask in public places and having to isolate after travel until a negative pcr result is in are very small things to do in life to keep yourself and others safe. I think you need to get a grip.

OP it's not normal life BECAUSE ITS A FUCKING PANDEMIC. Stop being a toddler.

@Spongecake23

I just think it’s time we realised we cannot control a virus…it’s impossible. The sooner that happens, the better. Mother Nature will always win.

Regardless of whether you are right or wrong this is simply not politically possible.

Even if you are right (and many on MN would disagree) to say sorry everyone we just have to live with it then politically the country would erupt by both those saying we will needlessly kill millions of lives and others saying if this is the approach then why didn't we do it from the start and save £450 billion, children's education, mental health timebomb, thousands of jobs losses, undetected health issues like cancer etc etc.

As a result and regardless of whether it makes any difference we have to continue with restrictions large or small for as long as we are told they are necessary.

it’s the fact that we were told restrictions were over and that we could get on with our lives.

Yes, it’s almost like that was a really bad idea.

I wear a mask at work teaching and I have carried on wearing them in shops and public transport out of politeness these past few months.

However, I still hate masks and those saying- it's no hardship to wear a mask, I disagree. For starters, I can't fully recognize my students (university level) with masks on, often they can't hear each other in class, we do joint seminars with online/face to face participants and the people online can't understand the people in the room and so on.

Having a piece of cloth or paper in front of your mouth is a barrier to effective communication. I've noticed amongst my colleagues people make fewer jokes, just make the point they need and then stop. Going to a social event like drinks or a party is almost pointless in masks, it's hard to see who is who and then you try to meet new people and don't really recognize them again next time.

I do support the short-term use of masks if there's a genuine increase in risk, and I wear one out of politeness, but I dread this becoming the new normal; masks might work if you have a job to do and can just crack on, but you can't see people's expressions, them smiling, their lips moving, of course over time this wears you down and interferes with usual communication.

Those saying, well everyone on the Continent just got on with it, they have, but I also know people in several countries who are depressed, feel they are going backwards too, worried about the future. Living in this limited and limiting way wears everyone out over time, even if each individual thing is not that bad, not seeing family, wearing masks, jabbing but then getting Covid.

The solution isn't to abandon masks, but just saying 'it's no hardship'- yes it is, human communication, human attraction and so on is usually predicated on seeing other people's faces, for most people at least unless they have sight issues, and so there is a cost to not seeing people fully.

But yeah, let’s lockdown yearly because the hyperbole on mumsnet says we ‘must’ do or everyone will die.

If the new variant turns out to both evade a lot of protection from the current vaccine and cause severe illness then further restrictions would sadly be necessary because yes many would die if ignored. It’s not wanting it, it’s accepting that could be a scenario. However, so far scientists are hopeful even if the protection will be less it still might not cause serious disease in the vaccinated, so here’s hoping that will be the case as scientists study the new variant. Some precautionary measures whilst they do is sensible.

We are lucky we live in a country at least that has high vaccination rates.

Just wear the mask and stop whinging or get covid or whatever and stay home so you don’t transmit it, honestly can’t be bothered listening to people like this it’s not like we are in a pandemic or something, if people listened to restrictions then we’d be in a better situation

What worries me more is where they'll go to next. And they will. Because they can. Because this variant, that hasn't killed anyone and most probably is less severe than the rest, is a perfect reason

Yup. 2 people are known to be infected. Just two. And both are isolating with their families while here on MN people are losing their minds over 'thousands' dying whilst insulting anyone who doesn't agree with them about the new restrictions.

I haven’t stopped wearing a mask in public because the message has always been that we should indoors in public.

My glasses steam up so I buy anti fog wipes. It is a very minor inconvenience to keep others safe and help to stop the spread.

I favour the directness of the German politician's announcement that after the winter everyone in Germany will either be vaccinated, recovered, or dead. Why can't the whiners understand the stakes? I see not wearing a mask and not getting vaccinated exactly the same level of criminality as speeding or reckless driving. It's not about YOU the driver.. It's about the poor fuckers you hit.

@Ireallydontcare55

The point that people are making ‘it’s just a mask, it’s just a couple of days of isolation, well we were told this would not be returning. This is not normal life

Well it's not normal life. It's a global pandemic,it isn't 100% predictable and it isn't going away just because the government say we can get back to normal or because it'd be nice if it wasn't happening...

Because the whiners have a low IQ and inconsiderate

@RomanaBanana

I really don’t mind putting a mask on. Can’t work out why people get worked about it.

It's not the mask that's the problem.

Its the fact that this is the start of a slippery slope.

First its masks. Then its lockdowns and then its restrictions in meeting people and then its schools shutting and home learning.

I wear a mask for work and am fine with this, so wearing masks in shops isn't a big ask for me but can understand why people are sick of this.

Did wearing a seatbelt effectively prevent you communicating normally with other human beings? No, I didn't think so.

For me mask mandates have always been annoying, since they are largely pointless and more about behavioural psychology than infection control.

But the bigger irritant is the stubborn insistence of some that they are a low cost, harmless intervention. They really aren’t, and a broader recognition that they involve sacrifices for many disparate groups (among others the hard of hearing; the very elderly; those with sensory issues; those with dementia and learning difficulties; those with past mask/breathing-related trauma; young children who are just at the stage of learning speech sounds and social skills, and the parents who are struggling to facilitate this in a world of masks) would likely mean that there would be less kickback from those who are sick of being told they are simply ‘selfish’ for disliking them.

We was never told restrictions where over, there was always a plan b in the uk.

The world is bigger than the uk and not every part of the globe has such high vaccination rates. And that’s to say we don’t even know if the virus can mutate to be vaccine and even covid natural immune evasive.

It’s a virus that is impacting the whole of planet earth. The more it goes on the more I feel humbled to just be alive, this virus has really divided people and that’s what I am more shocked about.

I think it’s time people start thinking about respecting this planet more, I can’t be upset about wearing a face mask to buy a pint of milk when I am fully vaccinated. Yet millions in the African continent don’t have the luxury of either choice

@MB58

Wearing a mask in public places and having to isolate after travel until a negative pcr result is in are very small things to do in life to keep yourself and others safe. I think you need to get a grip.

These rule changes seem like unenforceable tokenism which will do no good whatsoever. That is the big objection for me, it’s rules for the appearance of doing something rather than actually doing anything effective.

Masks don’t seem to have had any effect statistically.

Then holiday returners. So Joe Blogs comes home from abroad. On the plane, then on a train or suchlike to get home from the airport. He has potentially already infected countless people who will unwittingly do the same whether he sits at home for 2 days or not. So it spreads regardless

Whilst they may make a tiny difference, is is just that. These rules are not making anyone safer, even if they are full6 abided with, which they won’t be

First it’s a pandemic then high death rate then masks then lockdown*

You should “love” xxxxxx

So, what do you suggest instead then @Undisclosedlocation?

@user848827672

Because the whiners have a low IQ and inconsiderate

Oh do hush 🙄

Wearing a mask is not a big deal in itself but psychologically it does feel like we're taking a step backwards.

@TempsPerdu

Did wearing a seatbelt effectively prevent you communicating normally with other human beings? No, I didn't think so.

For me mask mandates have always been annoying, since they are largely pointless and more about behavioural psychology than infection control.

But the bigger irritant is the stubborn insistence of some that they are a low cost, harmless intervention. They really aren’t, and a broader recognition that they involve sacrifices for many disparate groups (among others the hard of hearing; the very elderly; those with sensory issues; those with dementia and learning difficulties; those with past mask/breathing-related trauma; young children who are just at the stage of learning speech sounds and social skills, and the parents who are struggling to facilitate this in a world of masks) would likely mean that there would be less kickback from those who are sick of being told they are simply ‘selfish’ for disliking them.

Good post