This is a would you go one

[AndMatt]

I'm sorry, I'm sure I used to be able to think for myself.

I was quite proud of myself, after a horrible year, I contacted a friend and organised a big day out in London. Really had to make myself do it but once done I felt so much better and had something to look forward to it.

When I booked it a week or so ago it seemed perfectly fine and reasonable. Now it seems a bit stupid.

I'm not worried for me or my friend, both in good health and thrice jabbed, but we both have elderly parents etc and there's the social responsibility aspect.

It involves public transport , including the tube, lunch, a show in the West End and an evening in a sweaty basement .

I swear a week ago there was no reason not to....

Yes I’d go. Social responsibility is wearing a mask, being respectful of distance, getting vaccinated. It is not stopping living & enjoying life. It’s not staying at home unless a lockdown is issued.

Elderly parents are another matter, only you can make that call. How often do you see them? Do you care for them? Are they reliant on you or is there other people who can help
if you had to isolate?

I would go. Live your life, there is a risk to everything, there always was.

I'd go, yes. I'm not changing my behaviour unless I'm forced to!

Yup. Sounds great.

It depends on if you are providing care for your parents/can avoid them for 10days afterwards/how close to Christmas it is. If you’re happy to go and risk it for yourself then go.

Just go.

Go, nothing has changed in the last week except media hype. The new variant has likely been here for weeks. You need to live your life

@CovidMakesThingsHard

It depends on if you are providing care for your parents/can avoid them for 10days afterwards/how close to Christmas it is. If you’re happy to go and risk it for yourself then go.

This. I work in a school though and for me, Its not much different than my daily risk with kids in front of me. I am very mindful though when I feel that cases are on the rise in my class. If you provide care for your parents, it may be best to postpone. Seems a shame and at this point, a bit of an over reaction.

I do provide care for my mum.

I work in school too. Public transport and crowded "hospitality" venues feel a much bigger risk to me.

I think my biggest concern is that if "we" aren't sensible we'll end up back where we were, but there seems little point me avoiding it if no one else is going to.

Yes, I’d go.

I was in London last week, used the Tube & a bus, ate in a cafe, attended a meeting with delegates from different areas of the country.

Now I have Covid.

But I am pretty sure the Covid is from 5/6 year olds in my class not from London! Go, wear a mask when appropriate, don’t lick anyone.

My CV/CEV, mid-70s mother was in London last week. She took an hour's train to get there, and then the tube. Had a meal in Covent Garden with a friend, and then they went to a show.

I was convinced she would catch Covid! But she didn't, and of course she's glad she went. She said it was emotional having that kind of day when she hadn't in a few years.

This was before the omicron variant was announced, but who's to say if it wasn't already circulating.

@manolantern, There's an article from the Jerusalem Post linked to on the data thread saying that 2 cardiologists in Jerusalem have tested positive for omicron after returning from London 'a few days ago'. No exact dates but it sounds as if they could have picked it up last week, suggesting it was possibly circulating there.

Yes. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Wear masks on transport. Eat outside on under heaters if you want.

Go. Take whatever precautions you can.
Do it now before we are no longer allowed.

Can you wait to see your parents for a bit after the day out and take tests?

Here's the missing , !

If you can avoid seeing your parents after then I'd go for it. If we get locked down again it could be a while before you can do anything like this again

I wouldn’t because I live with a CEV person.

If I didn’t, I would get in a fresh supply of FFP3/N95 masks, sanitise regularly, go and enjoy (keeping mask on indoors) and not see my elderly parents for a couple of weeks.

I would go and I see elderly DM 4 times a week. She’s vacc’d and I LFT before I visit her x

No exact dates but it sounds as if they could have picked it up last week, suggesting it was possibly circulating there.

I’m not saying this isn’t or can’t be true BUT the R ratio is currently falling, hospitalisations etc are falling. The concern is of a new variant with a much higher rate of transmission and who knows better / worse outcomes.. that isn’t around much yet in the U.K. but because it’s there, we know we don’t have much chance of stopping it and it might take over from Delta as our dominant strain..
So if it IS freely circulating in London, then what is the fuss over? Infections are doing what they have been doing since the summer - up for a few weeks, down for a few weeks with the R bumping up and down between 0.8 and 1.2. I thought the worry is actually that it’s NOT circulating amongst the population yet and that once it does we might see a massive rise in cases? Because I thought the hypothesis that it’s been around in South Africa and other countries for far longer than anyone has realised is the comforting theory? - the one we all hope is true?

@Katie517

Go, nothing has changed in the last week except media hype. The new variant has likely been here for weeks. You need to live your life

THIS

Please go and have a lovely time, it sounds like the perfect day and you deserve it!

I wouldn't do the West End show or the sweaty basement right now even before Omicron personally, with rates as they are.

Going to London in general, yes I would do that now.