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Original poster

Get rid of all restrictions

528 replies

AnEpisodeOfEastenders · 29/12/2021 12:22

I think it's time for all restrictions to be removed. There has been plenty of time for people to be vaccinated / boosted that want to, those that can't or don't should take their own precautions.

If we test positive then we shouldn't need to isolate, shouldn't need to declare it and should just treat it as a normal cough / cold / illness. If you feel up to going to work, out to the pub, seeing friends or family then do so. Everyone I know who have had it say they feel fine.

Life has been disrupted for far too long, the costs associated are astronomical and will be a crippling debt for generations to come.

OP posts:
Blubells · 29/12/2021 12:23

I think we're heading that way. Let's hope hospitalisations stay relatively low!

nether · 29/12/2021 12:30

We need to learn to live with the virus, not crack on and ignore it.

Because the current vaccine leaves about 25% vulnerable to the current strain, and we dont know who in the vaccinated popuiation they are. They could still fall moderately or severely ill and fill hospitals - that is why the admissions data is now the key indicator,

If hospitals become full, or because of lack of testing/precautions, unsafe, then you are condemning all vulnerable people to a miserable tine, and effectively ending all high risk treatments. As they say somewhere between a third a half of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point, do you really want to leave such a large number with little prospect of safe treatment? It's bad enough with intermittent restrictions

jumpbounce · 29/12/2021 12:35

Just because everyone you know who has had it has been fine we should end all restrictions?
My friend under 30, no underlying health conditions and double vaccinated, caught covid end of November seemingly mild for about 5 days then took a downturn ended up ventilated in ICU and only got out of hospital a couple of days before Christmas and is still recovering. Yes she is recovering which is positive but this is just one person out of the small number of people I know....how many others around the country are being impacted by it in the same way? As things go she had the same views as you, was so over it, it's only only cold, shouldn't have restrictions etc. I can assure you a dose of covid has changed her mind.

IcedPurple · 29/12/2021 12:39

@jumpbounce

Just because everyone you know who has had it has been fine we should end all restrictions? My friend under 30, no underlying health conditions and double vaccinated, caught covid end of November seemingly mild for about 5 days then took a downturn ended up ventilated in ICU and only got out of hospital a couple of days before Christmas and is still recovering. Yes she is recovering which is positive but this is just one person out of the small number of people I know....how many others around the country are being impacted by it in the same way? As things go she had the same views as you, was so over it, it's only only cold, shouldn't have restrictions etc. I can assure you a dose of covid has changed her mind.
But restrictions were never intended to stop everyone becoming ill.

They were to prevent the health services becoming overwhelmed. If, as it now seems, Omnicron is unlikely to do that, then there is surely a case for removing restrictions.

firstimemamma · 29/12/2021 12:40

Couldn't bloody agree more op!

Kshhuxnxk · 29/12/2021 12:41

Agree and I am CEV but this is no life.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 29/12/2021 12:45

It's so easy to say those that can't or don't should take their own precautions without giving a moment's thought to what it actually means.

MrMistoffee · 29/12/2021 12:46

Completely agree. The stress I am under currently wondering if I can go back to work, if my partner will lose his job and his house, if my friends will lose their businesses is phenomenal. That's not even taking into account my son who tried to kill himself this year due to lockdown. (Not even a teenager yet).

TheVampiresWife · 29/12/2021 12:50

There's some merit in what you say, OP.

However. What do you propose we do about immunosuppressed people who are triple - or even quadruple - vaccinated, but whose bodies can't achieve a good immune response and so are still extremely vulnerable?

I agree that we should get back to normal asap. I also think that in order for the rest of society to do so, there needs to be proper financial and practical help in place for those for whom going out to work could be fatal, for example. Also the support for those they share a home with to do the same. By choice, obviously. Nobody should be forced to go to work knowing it could kill them, or a loved one.

We're never getting rid of Covid, it's here for good. Therefore, we need to protect those who wish to be protected properly. And before someone suggests we can't segregate people that way - we are already segregated. We're not supposed to go into crowded public places, yet millions of us/our family members must do so every day. At least offer support so we don't have to if we don't want to.

And hopefully one day in the not too distant future there will be vaccines and treatments which mean we can get on with our normal lives, too.

littlepeas · 29/12/2021 12:52

I agree too. We cannot reasonably curtail people’s lives forever because of a virus that the extreme majority of people survive, many of them without feeling particularly unwell. Vaccines give a lot of protection against serious illness and death. Unfortunately there will always be situations where some people are more vulnerable than others. My dd was extremely vulnerable to swine flu and as a family we took every precaution possible to protect her - I expected nothing from anyone else.

IcedPurple · 29/12/2021 12:57

Also, given how very contagious Omnicron is, it's doubtful whether anything short of a full lockdown would do much to stop it spreading.

If this is the case, why continue with 'restrictions' which cause a lot of hassle and financial pain, just to be seen to be 'doing something'?

Stormsy · 29/12/2021 13:03

Not all people have had time to get boosted at all. My partner booked as soon as he was allowed and only had his done yesterday. My teen can't get their second jab for a few more weeks yet due to delays in rolling out the first one for 12-15yos and they got theirs sooner than many of their peers.

Flippyteeno · 29/12/2021 13:04

Agree. Stop all the recording and media sharing of test results and just watch how life goes back to normal....

luckylavender · 29/12/2021 13:04

For those of you asking for removal of all restrictions. If you're in England, what 'restrictions' do you find so onerous currently?

littlepeas · 29/12/2021 13:11

@luckylavender

For those of you asking for removal of all restrictions. If you're in England, what 'restrictions' do you find so onerous currently?
Any and all. Constant testing, masks, isolation with symptomless/mild disease…having to think about the bloody thing constantly.
southeastdweller · 29/12/2021 13:11

@luckylavender

For those of you asking for removal of all restrictions. If you're in England, what 'restrictions' do you find so onerous currently?
‘Having to’ wear a mask in some settings is a restriction too far for me. That mandate from our overlords has of course worked wonderfully in Wales and Scotland Confused
Flaxmeadow · 29/12/2021 13:14

What, remove them permanently? Nope crazy

Everyone I know who have had it say they feel fine.

Yes lets ignore all the science and trust your anecdotes instead. See how that works out

insancerre · 29/12/2021 13:16

I completely agree
Let’s get back to normal

BonnesVacances · 29/12/2021 13:20

Whenever I wonder how much worse the English government could have managed this pandemic, I'll refer back to this post and see just how much. Grin

Thanks OP. You've made me feel a tiny bit more grateful for Johnson et all than I did 5 minutes ago.

LegoPandemic · 29/12/2021 13:23

I’d want to be certain that the health service could cope first.
But yes this has to happen in 2022.

rrhuth · 29/12/2021 13:23

I would just like to say on this point: the costs associated are astronomical and will be a crippling debt for generations to come that the costs of Covid are peanuts compared to the costs of brexit.

So the money argument is just made up bullshit. Uncorntorlled covid costs a bloody fortune too.

Those who just want to end all measures because they are stupid tired can do one. Life does not follow some predetermined timeline dictated by those who struggle with reality.

I will be very happy when measures are not needed but that point will only come when it comes, you can't just decide.

BonnesVacances · 29/12/2021 13:27

@rrhuth

I would just like to say on this point: the costs associated are astronomical and will be a crippling debt for generations to come that the costs of Covid are peanuts compared to the costs of brexit.

So the money argument is just made up bullshit. Uncorntorlled covid costs a bloody fortune too.

Those who just want to end all measures because they are stupid tired can do one. Life does not follow some predetermined timeline dictated by those who struggle with reality.

I will be very happy when measures are not needed but that point will only come when it comes, you can't just decide.

Not to mention the economic cost of Long Covid which people advocating for no restrictions conveniently omit from their argument.

southeastdweller · 29/12/2021 13:28

@rrhuth

I would just like to say on this point: the costs associated are astronomical and will be a crippling debt for generations to come that the costs of Covid are peanuts compared to the costs of brexit.

So the money argument is just made up bullshit. Uncorntorlled covid costs a bloody fortune too.

Those who just want to end all measures because they are stupid tired can do one. Life does not follow some predetermined timeline dictated by those who struggle with reality.

I will be very happy when measures are not needed but that point will only come when it comes, you can't just decide.

But we can decide, and to a large degree. Of course we can. In England there's no enforcement of face wearing. If a ban of indoor mixing is 'implemented' next month how many people do you think will bother? The police can do fuck all. You don't like that, perhaps, but it's the truth.
bluetongue · 29/12/2021 13:29

Even most of Australia is slowly heading towards this. After our PCR testing being completely overwhelmed meaning people who really need tests can’t get them we’re going to move to relying on mostly LFTs. As it’s summer here pretty much anyone with cold symptoms is assumed to have Covid and if young and healthy test yourself and treat it like you would any virus.

HPFA · 29/12/2021 13:30

Why do people who say "no restrictions" think somehow that would make the virus disappear?

One of the major problems at the moment is the amount of doctors/nurses/social care workers who are off sick. Even if they're symptomless do you want them working with people who are very vulnerable? If we stop testing does that mean people won't get sick?

There might be a sensible discussion as to which restrictions are most useful (I'm not sure why Boris is saying New Year parties are fine but requiring a battery of expensive tests for anyone daring to travel to a foreign country) but I don't get this line of "if we just pretend it isn't happening everything will be normal!"

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