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Original poster

Hope the Govt keeps its nerve

219 replies

Wizzbangfizz · 22/12/2021 21:44

Against another lockdown?

I know it is back bench pressure keeping us from where wales and Scotland are going to be/are. Due to that though I think we have a chance of coming through this - seeing it out and hopefully getting on with it on 2022 (I'd except back to tables in hospitality) - especially in light of the 10-7 days isolation reduction now?

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 22/12/2021 21:47

The papers online seem very positive about the numbers and the data so far. I've had a quick look.
Fingers crossed there isn't a lockdown

thewhatsit · 22/12/2021 21:48

Oh I know what you mean. I think we were a hair’s breadth from lockdown on Monday when the cabinet met and Boris announced his conference. It’s absolutely crazy that it can be decided as if on a whim like that and the fact that Boris is weak right now is what means we aren’t in some form of tightened restrictions right now.

underneaththeash · 22/12/2021 21:55

I think we're doing okay so far.

Porcupineintherough · 22/12/2021 21:59

I hope the government base their decisions on the data. That would make a refreshing change.

puppeteer · 22/12/2021 22:00

the fact that Boris is weak right now is what means we aren’t in some form of tightened restrictions right now

In a way, it's Boris we should thank for this.

Although I regret that we now have masks back, wfh and reduced mixing, if we didn't have them, we'd not have had the rebellion of 100, ministers would not have stood up to SAGE.

A bizarre world indeed...

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2021 22:04

Me too

It feels a bit like the period when WHO etc were going on about England / U.K. experiment

It is uncertain still, new UKHSA data expected tomorrow

AchillesLastStand · 22/12/2021 22:05

Well Australia has surging cases of omicron and the PM there has said no more lockdowns. They’re going for herd immunity through natural infection now most people who want the vaccine have had it.

I can see our government going down a similar path if the data points in the right direction with very light mitigations like the numbers that can get together in hospitality settings. I don’t think schools will close over this. I can’t see what purpose it would serve. Hopefully we’re over the worst ( for now!).

the80sweregreat · 22/12/2021 22:15

Sage have been gloomy all along , but now Prof Ferguson is being a bit more positive now.
If people can stay out of hospital that is ( obviously) a good thing , many cases doesnt always equate to being in hospital for ages.
It's the data that is being watched now.

Franklin12 · 22/12/2021 22:20

Boris needs to hold his nerve. The scientists love their models, worst case scenarios, scaring the life out of people to cover themselves. They just want data after data and it’s about time the views were balanced.

I see Wales and Scotland did their usual controlling, we know what is best etc.

paranoidnamechanger · 22/12/2021 22:22

Sunak has his eye on the nation's pursestrings so I've been thinking for weeks there won't be another lockdown (how would we pay for more furlough? We already owe more than 2 trillion pounds). But I still think we'll follow Wales and Scotland next week with more restrictions. They have to be seen to doing something.

bumbleymummy · 22/12/2021 22:22

Yep.

Mountaintrip · 22/12/2021 22:23

It’s all about the money. I am cautiously optimistic but let’s see. I certainly don’t think its data driven for health.

Tealightsandd · 22/12/2021 22:24

Yeah... Australia's surge couldn't possibly be in any way compared to the situation in the UK. The UK is one of the worse in the world - case numbers, death rates, and sheer numbers of dead.

Our 'stable' has been months of letting between100-200 a day be killed (and many more long-term sick). Almost nowhere else in the world is doing as little as us to save lives.

But you probably don't need to worry OP. Those like you, content with a policy that seees1000s a week dying month after month, will most likely be relieved. The situation in the UK will be/is dire - but mostly only in London. With 1/3 unvaccinated, the (millions) of vulnerable in London (including the 2/3 vaxxed) are in for it. But Londoners particularly the vulnerable are used to lesser protections than the rest of the UK. Eg. For decades London has been the epicentre of the public health housing and homelessness emergency (with a huge second home problem) but it's only very recent years, now the crisis is hitting elsewhere in the UK, that media and public attention is begining to focus on it.

So yes. If the situation continues as it is. Only London badly affected, than no public health measures will be taken.

DSGR · 22/12/2021 22:24

agreed and data out this afternoon/tonight on severity looking much more positive

Tealightsandd · 22/12/2021 22:24

That said, whilst London will bear the brunt, things will be grim across the country for The Others - both the CV to Covid (particularly those who don't get access to the for now limited supply of treatments), and anyone who needs non Covid care. My sympathies to The Others and their families.

I hope there's a better safety net post pandemic. For the redundant - but particularly for all those unable to work. Including the new Others (the Long Covid disabled)

Chessie678 · 22/12/2021 22:26

The study on omicron which came out today was positive- papers are running with headlines about omicron being 2/3 less likely to hospitalise you. Hospitalisations and deaths have not really increased. It may all change in the next week or so but I think it would be very difficult to justify a lockdown or get mps to vote for it on the current data.

IcedPurple · 22/12/2021 22:27

Yes I hope so too. I've never thought a full lockdown was likely and now I'm even more convinced.

Whether his motivations were 'pure' or not, I'm glad Boris has made no knee-jerk panic decisions. Lockdowns and severe restrictions really shouldn't be normalised. They should be a last resort. There are going to be 'surges' and 'variants' for some time to come. We can't just shut things down 'to be safe'.

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2021 22:27

I do wonder about the huge cost re Scotland / Wales and if they’ve gone too early pre data confirmation

AnyFucker · 22/12/2021 22:28

Agree, op

No. More. Lockdowns.

MissAmbrosia · 22/12/2021 22:29

There's lots of mitigations that can be done before a lock down though. Unfortunately Boris is doing none of them.

Tealightsandd · 22/12/2021 22:30

@DSGR

agreed and data out this afternoon/tonight on severity looking much more positive
You neglect to mention that, whilst the data suggests less severity, A) It's not certain yet,

And, very important this...

B) Because it's more transmissible, it is expected that hospitals will still be overwhelmed due to sheer numbers getting infected, which will include serious cases (meaning kiss goodbye to non Covid care).

One hell of a New Year hangover coming.

Absolutely no way can this one be excused as 'hindsight'. Not with the repeated and very clear warnings from the world's experts.

IcedPurple · 22/12/2021 22:31

@MissAmbrosia

There's lots of mitigations that can be done before a lock down though. Unfortunately Boris is doing none of them.
Given how very contagious Omnicrom is, it's by no means clear that these 'mitigations' would have much of an effect.

In any case, there are 'mitigations' already in place, so it's not true that 'none of them' are being done.

Tealightsandd · 22/12/2021 22:32

@MarshaBradyo

I do wonder about the huge cost re Scotland / Wales and if they’ve gone too early pre data confirmation
I think you mean 'England' when you say huge cost. Huge cost indeed. Many many innocent lives lost - condemned to death or long term disability (including long-term lost livelihood) of Long Covid.
MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2021 22:33

Tea no I mean lost businesses.

Just hearing tonight on radio from some that will fold. It needs to be data based rather than too early.

Tealightsandd · 22/12/2021 22:34

they’ve gone too early pre data confirmation

The whole point of prevention. Not waiting until mass death, disability, and the consequent economic hangover.