Germany bans unvaccinated from shops and pubs.

[Ratched]

We really are going to end up with a two tier society. It's actually quite worrying.

I am NOT anti vaxx, just concerned at how we are sleep walking into giving away our hard won freedoms.

withholding simple places like shops from people who aren't vaccinated is coercion, and ultimately a very slippery slope.

But THIS ISN'T HAPPENING. Essential shops have no restrictions, not even testing and it's a pretty wide net:

Grocery stores (including markets, butchers, bakeries etc)
Chemists/drugstores
Pharmacies, Opticians, Hearing aid shops etc
Children's goods shops
Pet shops
DIY and garden centres
Banks
Post offices
Petrol stations
Newsagents

Even Christmas tree shops (hilariously - I expect simply because the owners of these businesses would struggle if their customer base was restricted, but perhaps also because they are outside. Seems fair.) And travel agents for some bizarre reason.

Yes you might be excluded from your local Primark or Ikea, which is annoying, but it's hardly a hardship and is only temporary/tied to the highest level of shutdown - these places will be open with a quick test again if the ICU capacity opens up again.

I think the profiling of the omicron as to which section of the population is at risk might be very important in the near future in decision-making about making sure we have enough people vaccinated.

there is mounting evidence that they are far less likely to transmit - due to reduced viral load.

Recent studies saying the opposite.

Actually, not the opposite - they are just not significantly different.

@fakereview

What if you were HIV+ and wanted to not have any treatment? If you infected future partners, you'd face legal sanctions

Yes but you don't pass it on by breathing on people do you? You have to have sex with them or share needles. It's quite hard to pass on and you wouldn't be fined for not having treatment.

Exactly, you don't prosecute someone for giving you flu, which could also be fatal. Its also impossible to prove where you contracted an airborne virus

Hopefully Omicron is significantly weaker and this is the end of the pandemic making all restrictions unnecessary. Let's be optimistic.

I’m with you @boobot1. We need more optimism! :)

@bumbleymummy

there is mounting evidence that they are far less likely to transmit - due to reduced viral load.

Recent studies saying the opposite.

Didn’t a recent study show that after booster over 90% less likely to catch it though ( pre variant)?🤷‍♀️