On scale of 1-5 - where are your views on COVID?

[SonicBroom]

So it’s nearly two years and none of us want things to be the way they are. However, it still feels like people are pretty polarised in their views looking across threads and conversations, so I was wondering quite HOW polarised people are?

Please therefore indulge my highly unscientific mini-survey to see roughly where people sit. If I have nothing better to do then I might even add up all the numbers at the end and make a pretty graph .

Please just reply with 1 to 5 in respect of how you feel about what we know at the moment (which is largely that omicron is more transmissible, no certainty over severity yet but even if less severe could result in higher impact due to greater numbers).

1 - I’m worried about what COVID will mean for me / my / family / society and willing to take any precautions necessary including full lockdown with school closures

2 - I’m worried about what it will mean and I’m willing to take precautions including restrictions on social gatherings but want to be able to mix between households and prefer schools to stay open, although I know transmission among kids will be high.

3 - I’m on the fence, I don’t mind a few restrictions but I’m not that worried and really don’t want anything that curtails my life too much. I’ll go along with whatever I’m asked to do though.

4 - I’ve had enough, I don’t think we’re at much risk and don’t want any major restrictions or disruption to my life / social life. I’ll do what I absolutely have to on the face of things but otherwise will quietly get on with doing things my own way.

5 - I’m completely over it, it’s utterly ridiculous how worked up everyone is getting we just need to get on with our lives and accept that some people just won’t make it. I’m not going to bother paying any attention if I’m asked to do something I don’t want to.

1. I'm very worried for my family members who are CEV.

I'd say 2 - but only if the government would bother to vaccinate under 12s and my children's primary schools would allow them to wear masks if they wish (they want to, but have had masks confiscated and been told off for trying to wear them!)

Yes, we're all fed up with it. But unless we get a grip on case numbers in schools it is only going to drag on and on.

5

@Getyourarseofffthequattro But even when we "manage our waves" it has carried on so where would you be happy to stop?

In my view We can only stop when;

• There’s a complete cure (or vax that more or less eradicates risk)

• New variants with unknown consequences aren’t prevalent

• Those vulnerable or with health issues aren’t at risk

• We know more about long term impact of reinfection

• We know more about long Covid

• We know more about length of vaccine immunity

• The whole world has sufficient vaccine immunity

• Our health services can cope with the increased pressures

Until we’ve ticked those boxes then assuming we can live as wish is pointless because we will always end up back at this stage. Living with Covid means living with restrictions of varying types to manage the swell that inevitably comes with every wave.

4

Never then, @Thewiseoneincognito there's never going to be a cure.

5

Anti virals should be rolled out to prevent hospitalisation and death. Vaccines do not seem to have long term prevention so enough is enough.

@Roomba

1. I'm very worried for my family members who are CEV.

I'd say 2 - but only if the government would bother to vaccinate under 12s and my children's primary schools would allow them to wear masks if they wish (they want to, but have had masks confiscated and been told off for trying to wear them!)

Yes, we're all fed up with it. But unless we get a grip on case numbers in schools it is only going to drag on and on.

What do you think are the benefits for the under 12 having the vaccine?

4

@Getyourarseofffthequattro

Never then, *@Thewiseoneincognito* there's never going to be a cure.

I wouldn’t be so sure, I think after a few years of stunted economic growth with social and travel disruption it may spur the development of a cure or at least a vaccine that can bring the numbers down considerably.

Covid mutating every few months is not good for business.

Gradually getting closer to 4 every day. I reckon by January I'll be at 5.

2 to 3.

7

7 Is that when you side with the virus and snog your way around the office party?

5

3

4

4 with the caveat that I'll take sensible personal precautions to avoid any seasonal viruses (covid, flu, noro etc) as I've always done. I don't particularly want to be ill and I'd hate to pass on any illnesses to vulnerable people but I'm sure that applies to 99.9% of people on this thread.

5

4-5

4/5

4

Dh and I are both double vaccinated. Had covid, I've been far worse with colds and flu than I was with covid. Before I would have been 2/3 but we need to live with it now.

4

1/2. Mainly 1. NHS worker and without restrictions I'm very concerned for what's to come.

4/5