Page 4 | If you live outside the UK

chatw0o0 · 15/12/2021 07:34

Thanks @bluetongue, I missed that update! To be honest, I haven't been watching the news so much lately, as I was sick of hearing about Omicron... I look at the news online so at least I'm vaguely aware of the headlines!

I think you're in SA from memory? My MIL is currently in NSW on a pre-Xmas visit from SA, and I know she's concerned about the border requirements changing before she gest back home. All so much uncertainty over what used to be simple things.

merryxmasmelodies · 15/12/2021 07:47

@everythingbackbutyou Ah, right... I've only been tested once and that was in March 2020. I don't know of many people who've been tested, tbh.

notimagain · 15/12/2021 08:05

@fournonblondes

Exactly, My blood boils when stupid Macron stars putting more restrictions to people from the U.K. because of COVID. I hope the French vote that man child out in the next elections.

Given the UK press is running possibly alarmist front page stories stating:

“More than 1million people in the UK are likely to be isolating with Covid on their own on Christmas Day, the latest data suggests”…(Daily Mail today)

And given the UK press gets seen by many overseas what exactly to you expect foreign politicians to do?

Summerofcontent · 15/12/2021 08:36

The UK press is alarmist all the time, just more so at the moment.

Personally I think there was a bit of apathy around getting boosters and they needed a way of "motivating" people

madisonbridges · 15/12/2021 08:37

Given the UK press is running possibly alarmist front page stories stating:

“More than 1million people in the UK are likely to be isolating with Covid on their own on Christmas Day, the latest data suggests”…(Daily Mail today)

I saw tonight on Sky news that they were predicting 17,000,000 would be diagnosed with the omicron strain on Christmas Day. Add that to the people diagnosed before and that's just about the entire population. Then they mumbled something denying that? I was ordering Christmas presents so not fully taking it in, but it sounded alarming to me. Perhaps Macron had been watching that? Mind you, none of that makes him less of an unlikeable idiot!

notimagain · 15/12/2021 08:42

I think if you look at what Gabriel Attal said yesterday at he was almost reflecting back verbatim some of the figures/scare stories/phrases that had been circulated by the UK media for domestic consumption in the last two or three days.

www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/omicron-au-royaume-uni-la-france-travaille-a-un-renforcement-des-mesures-aux-frontieres-selon-gabriel-attal-20211214

S0upertrooper · 15/12/2021 10:36

Singapore. 96% population double vaccinated and I think they're starting to vaccinate young kids soon. Boosters available to all, so many days after 2nd jab. We have 16 detected Omicron cases. ALL detected cases are hospitalised and those in close contact are put in quarantine hotels.

Masks are compulsory indoors and outdoors at all times except eating and drinking. You can only eat with 4 others, can only have 5 visitors a day at home. WFH is being relaxed in January, however, if you're not fully vaxed, you'll probably loose your job. You cannot enter shops, restaurants, cinemas, some parks without Trace Together app or token.

Country has opened up to visitors from certain countries but only on fully vaccinated flight. Passengers must test pre flight, PCR on landing (quarantine till negative result) self test ART (like LFT) days 2,4,5,6. Supervised test at testing centre day 3 and 7.

We're not allowed to talk to others or on our phones on public transport as it might increase transmission. At times it feels very restrictive, especially masks outdoors but we are very safe and I think the govt did a great job of protecting the older generation.

maddy68 · 15/12/2021 10:41

I live in Spain. Far less panicking. No changes to restrictions , (we have always had to wear masks inside public places and transport ) we have covid passports to go into restaurants etc. But sitting on terraces outdoors you don't need them.

There certainly isn't the same fear over Omicron as in the UK. I was shocked when I visited last week.
We are only doing boosters for over 60s, those who had Jansen and vulnerable people there is talk they might extend that but currently the vaccination campaign is on 5s and overs

50ShadesOfCatholic · 15/12/2021 10:42

Love the international reporting in this thread, a true united nations effort 👏

S0upertrooper · 15/12/2021 10:47

@backtoschoo. Hello from HV, posted before I read yours. Enjoy your trip.

backatschool · 15/12/2021 10:57

[quote S0upertrooper]@backtoschoo. Hello from HV, posted before I read yours. Enjoy your trip.[/quote]
Hello @S0upertrooper I'm in HV too!! Interesting to see your perspective very similar to mine re:elderly/loss of life being minimised. It's so easy to feel negative and down but bigger picture I think it's not a terrible plan they've put together here in SG.

Original poster

zen1 · 15/12/2021 11:28

@S0upertrooper was it policy to hospitalise all detected cases of Omicron regardless of how serious the symptoms or have all people with the new variant required treatment in hospital do you know?

OP posts:

backatschool · 15/12/2021 12:56

[quote zen1]@S0upertrooper was it policy to hospitalise all detected cases of Omicron regardless of how serious the symptoms or have all people with the new variant required treatment in hospital do you know?[/quote]
Zen - they all get hospitalised automatically, but reports have also said all are mild cases. All of them double or triple vaccinated.

Insert1x20p · 15/12/2021 13:01

we basically live normal lives with masks on.

I'm not sure if I agree with you on that re HK - remember local schools are still on half days- those kids haven't had a full day of school since Jan 2020. No trail racing (although of course the SC marathon can still go ahead because.... who knows?), no events like the Sevens/Clockenflap, no live music/ theatre coming through, and it's not like HK produces its own (unless you count Mirror ). Plus there's the ongoing witch hunts and paranoia re. testing and quarantine. Plus, you walk down the street and everyone looks as miserable as fuck. The buzz is dead.

Original poster

zen1 · 15/12/2021 16:35

Thanks backatschool. There’s no way that could happen here!

OP posts:

madisonbridges · 15/12/2021 17:59

Is there panic in the uk, though? I got my flu jab in September and my booster on 1 Nov. All very organised and straightforward. They've been lowering the age gradually to get as many as rhey can of each age group. A new variant comes along so they lower it from over 40s to everyone and increase the amount of places to go to. Is that panicking or is it accelerating a system that was already delivering well? As to the population, they're not really represented by the media. I've just been out for a Christmas meal at my local pub and it was full of older people like me, out with friends. And all the tables were reserved for the teatime people who presumably workers coming on after work. No panic, no one cancelling.

The papers love using words like chaos, panic, collapse, but I just don't see that where I live. However , I know my experience is anecdotal. Maybe other areas are more panicked?

bluetongue · 15/12/2021 20:29

@S0upertrooper

Singapore. 96% population double vaccinated and I think they're starting to vaccinate young kids soon. Boosters available to all, so many days after 2nd jab. We have 16 detected Omicron cases. ALL detected cases are hospitalised and those in close contact are put in quarantine hotels.

Masks are compulsory indoors and outdoors at all times except eating and drinking. You can only eat with 4 others, can only have 5 visitors a day at home. WFH is being relaxed in January, however, if you're not fully vaxed, you'll probably loose your job. You cannot enter shops, restaurants, cinemas, some parks without Trace Together app or token.

Country has opened up to visitors from certain countries but only on fully vaccinated flight. Passengers must test pre flight, PCR on landing (quarantine till negative result) self test ART (like LFT) days 2,4,5,6. Supervised test at testing centre day 3 and 7.

We're not allowed to talk to others or on our phones on public transport as it might increase transmission. At times it feels very restrictive, especially masks outdoors but we are very safe and I think the govt did a great job of protecting the older generation.

Wow, masks outside must be difficult in Singapore with the climate there. To think I whinge about indoor masks in Australia in summer.

givethatbabyaname · 15/12/2021 20:48

East coast USA here.

How is the government reacting to Omicron in your country?

It was officially reported in California a couple of days after it was officially reported in the UK. Had probably been here for a while already. Generally, it's being said that Omicron is more transmissible but has less serious consequences. States with low vaccination rates are seeing hospital admission rates rocket. All stable where I am. New mask mandate indoors, but nowhere near as drastic as the first one.

Is there a drive like there is here to give everyone over 18 a booster jab ASAP?

The drive started a couple of months ago, take up where I am has been successful. Readily available, free.

How often are you advised to carry out LFTs?

We've only recently begun to have home test kits come on the market. Two antigen tests can be your for the outrageous cost of $22. That said, where I am doctors' offices, hospitals, walk-in clinics, mobile labs all offer rapid tests and PCR tests for free (if you say you've had contact or have symptoms). Otherwise, insurance will cover the cost less an admin fee. It's very easy and not a big deal at all. Children are tested weekly at school, results within 24 hours. We have had none of the drama that people in the UK have been making of testing.

I’m just interested as our government seems to be in a complete panic.

There's no panic here. Nothing compares to the fuckwittery of covid deniers and antivaxxers, of which there are literally millions and millions in this country.

PilesEdgeworth · 15/12/2021 20:50

Canada here (more specifically, BC).

Canada has around 3,000 new cases per day currently (500 in BC).

We’ve never had a full blown lockdown. Vaccine take up is good. We’ve had vaccine passports for a while for all social indoor venues (including pubs and restaurants). They still seem pretty busy.

All in all, I think it’s going about as well as it can be.

PilesEdgeworth · 15/12/2021 20:51

Oh I don’t know anyone that’s ever done an LFT though.