Hope the Govt keeps its nerve

[Wizzbangfizz]

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?

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

Sturgeon had little choice. Public services are seriously struggling with people off sick. As is hospitality.

And, we aren’t in lockdown. Nothing like it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59758784

But the concern remains that even if Omicron is milder, the sheer number of cases could overwhelm hospitals.

Oh - and the preliminary 'less severe' data comes from studies involving mostly young healthy groups...

Let's just hope we've ordered a good supply of sotrovimab and paxlovid. Both have shown around 80% success rate in preventing serious disease. With worldwide demand I doubt we have enough yet - but their development is some good news (amongst all the bad).

Sturgeon had little choice. Public services are seriously struggling with people off sick. As is hospitality.

Likewise services and hospitality in London. Good for Sturgeon for doing the right thing. The Westminster government won't.

Try living in Wales with this jumped up power hungry parishes councillor lunatic at the helm!

I hope so too.

Everything I've seen suggests that this is going to be, basically, a pale echo of last winter and of Delta, in terms of pressure on hospitalizations.

And I'm sorry, but "a bit of pressure" is not enough to justify restricting people's activities. I've tried to mostly follow rules and be tolerant throughout this pandemic, but restrictions on socializing and the like are supposed to be emergency measures, not something that gets wheeled out whenever bed pressures are up "a bit" in winter.

If we do start spiralling into restrictions, this means that when the numbers turn out to be manageable (which it looks like they are going to be anyway), the story will be "See! It was manageable BECAUSE of the restrictions," and we are going to end up being suckered into doing this every winter.

No more. Happy to do covid boosters, flu jabs for the whole family, masks in indoor public spaces when not eating, but not prepared to start cancelling my social life.

Maybe time for someone to accept their disappointment and call it a night?

Disappointment implies expectation. I had zero when it comes to the Westminster government.

I'm simply calling out immoral and anti science policies.

We can't always stop bad things being done but we don't have to justify, excuse, or condone them.

But you're right about just one thing. It is nearly time for my relaxing soak in the bath. I'll wish you all goodnight and be off soon. Enjoy the echo chamber and have a good night

@Tealightsandd

Maybe time for someone to accept their disappointment and call it a night?

Disappointment implies expectation. I had zero when it comes to the Westminster government.

I'm simply calling out immoral and anti science policies.

We can't always stop bad things being done but we don't have to justify, excuse, or condone them.

But you're right about just one thing. It is nearly time for my relaxing soak in the bath. I'll wish you all goodnight and be off soon. Enjoy the echo chamber and have a good night

Have you been enjoying your own personal echo chamber?

Oh, and what makes you think it was you I was referring to?

You think a business is worth killing (many) people for?

And lost livelihood. Indeed. Easier to build a new business than stop being disabled.

Maybe. Maybe not. Businesses are hard to start, especially if you could be the other side of a bankruptcy. Even if you can find the financial support, perhaps your family isn't too keen to do it all again.

Not to mention kids loosing months, perhaps it would even be a year, of education.

And normal folk who have been conditioned to worrying about Covid over everything else — some of them may never be the same person again. Or those that are worried about this or that next restriction. Mental health is a thing, and is delicate in some.

And the older grandparents, who haven't seen their grandchildren [at all/much] for 18 months. Or the baby child that has been deprived of spending time with other children.

And those that will unfortunately die, or have already —but remember too those dying for reason other than Covid. Many have gone without seeing their children and family a bit or a lot. The grandchild who is three might literally never remember granny —memory doesn't last at that age.

Life is precious. As indeed you suggest. But not only in the way you say.

That's London, where huge numbers have chosen not to get vaccinated?

Yeah you ignored the bit where I referred to the two thirds of Londoners who have had the vaccine. Including millions (and it is millions) of vulnerable, plus anyone who needs hospital care (but can't get it because of unvaccinated taking the beds).
Why should the 2/3 of Londoners who are vaccinated suffer?

What a society the UK (mainly England) has become. There are people who seem to genuinely believe it's worth killing Other People.

Technically yes, which is why we don't ban things like cars.

I'm more concerned about the large increases in obesity and alcohol consumption/alcohol-related liver damage related to restrictions. We can't live like this forever, sorry. You may be happy as Larry living like a hologram behind a Zoom screen for as long as it takes, but everyone else is comfort eating, comfort drinking and lonely as hell.

I mean, you could always arrange to emigrate to Hong Kong if you want a zero-covid paradise. I believe it's still just about possible to do so, and you'll have your pick of apartments, since so many people are clearing out of HK at top speed because they've decided that Plague Island is actually a better place to live in the long term.

@user1477391263

I hope so too.

Everything I've seen suggests that this is going to be, basically, a pale echo of last winter and of Delta, in terms of pressure on hospitalizations.

And I'm sorry, but "a bit of pressure" is not enough to justify restricting people's activities. I've tried to mostly follow rules and be tolerant throughout this pandemic, but restrictions on socializing and the like are supposed to be emergency measures, not something that gets wheeled out whenever bed pressures are up "a bit" in winter.

If we do start spiralling into restrictions, this means that when the numbers turn out to be manageable (which it looks like they are going to be anyway), the story will be "See! It was manageable BECAUSE of the restrictions," and we are going to end up being suckered into doing this every winter.

No more. Happy to do covid boosters, flu jabs for the whole family, masks in indoor public spaces when not eating, but not prepared to start cancelling my social life.

Agree with this. Being held in restrictions whilst numbers fall, which they may well do anyway, is a costly and damaging error.

On businesses being easy to start again in pp it is important for the individual but also we need taxes to fund what it does.

I have been out the last few nights. Everywhere is incredibly quiet. People have put themselves into a voluntary lockdown.

And those that will unfortunately die, or have already —but remember too those dying for reason other than Covid

Indeed. Yes. Dying because they can't access non Covid care...because hospital beds will be full and staff off sick. Or dead. More than 600 HCP are dead from Covid.

Not to mention kids loosing months, perhaps it would even be a year, of education.

If people cared about children's education and life chances, they'd be as vocal about the public health housing and homelessness emergency as they're being on pandemic measures.

Yes we do all die. Yet, unlike other compassionate humane countries (and some US States) the UK hasn't legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Yes also life is precious wrt quality. So let's deal with one of the biggest impacts on quality of life. The public health housing and homelessness emergency.

Oh, and (relevant to the talk of struggling businesses and Long Covid disability) reinstate the welfare benefits safety net.

@RoyalFamilyFan

I have been out the last few nights. Everywhere is incredibly quiet. People have put themselves into a voluntary lockdown.

The population (very many of them) are more intelligent than their leaders. Lions led by donkeys.

Quality of life as important, if not more so than longevity. And economy is evidently king. Yet....a major anti smoking crusade has been taking place over the past two decades. Why? Smoking gives many pleasure - and, unlike Covid, it is a net gain to the national economy.

Back to Covid. You say you care about the economy. Countries that took/are taking proactive infection control mitigation measures have healthier economies than us.

Lions led by donkeys.

Let's not insult donkeys. Lions are great but so are donkeys. Kind and gentle - but also strong and hardworking.

The population (very many of them) are more intelligent than their leaders. Lions led by donkeys.

If people can’t see that behaviour change is due to media messaging including gov then they are missing a trick.

It’s cost an extra £1bn so far too.

@AchillesLastStand

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!).

That's what I think we should do. Hers immunity with a mild but contagious version.

@RoyalFamilyFan

I have been out the last few nights. Everywhere is incredibly quiet. People have put themselves into a voluntary lockdown.

It’s awful. It looks like we are starting to see the other side of this with omicron but I think it’s going to take some people a long time to recover psychologically from all the fear mongering.

we need taxes to fund what it does.

Step forward...smoking. Lotsa lovely taxes.

I am also going to a zoom party tomorrow night, organised because only a few would do a face to face. It is an annual thing.
We really are in a partial lockdown anyway whatever the government says.

@Tealightsandd

we need taxes to fund what it does.

Step forward...smoking. Lotsa lovely taxes.

Stay in and smoke Tea, that should do it ;

@MarshaBradyo

The population (very many of them) are more intelligent than their leaders. Lions led by donkeys.

If people can’t see that behaviour change is due to media messaging including gov then they are missing a trick.

It’s cost an extra £1bn so far too.

I think the Public Health effort over covid has been pretty good and saved a lot of lives actually.

@Tealightsandd

we need taxes to fund what it does.

Step forward...smoking. Lotsa lovely taxes.

It's not as if living a long life is prized. Like you say, quality not longevity. Smokers pay lots of tax (studies have demonstrated they more than cover their own healthcare) and tend to die younger - so saving on pensions and social care costs.

@MarshaBradyo

The population (very many of them) are more intelligent than their leaders. Lions led by donkeys.

If people can’t see that behaviour change is due to media messaging including gov then they are missing a trick.

It’s cost an extra £1bn so far too.

It’s eye watering. Imagine how much better our healthcare system could be if that amount of money was properly invested in it. And community services. Ugh. It’s sickening