Get rid of all restrictions

[AnEpisodeOfEastenders]

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.

@hassletassle

I predict that by the end of February most of us will have had a dose of omicron and low deaths will mean it's downgraded to a 'flu' type illness.

🤞

Hopefully so. Peak and fast fall

I’m not sure where pp travelled to to avoid omicron impact but would be interested to know.

*The data is already clear enough. Dont confuse political posturing with scientific analysis.

The data for Delta was a 2% hospitalisation rate (2 out of 100 infected).

When you see comments like "it is 70% less severe than Delta" it is based on a relative comparison.

So 70% less sever means a c0.6% hospitalisation rate.

Delta (daily max) Winter Wave 2020
40,000 people * 2% = 800 hospitalisations

Omicron (daily max) Current Winter Wave 2021
150,000 people * 0.6% = 900 hospitalosations
200,000 people * 0.6% = 1200 hospitalisations

You see the problem now?

Number of infected matters immensely in the current scenario that we are now experiencing with Omicron.*

Should one also factor in how long each hospitalisation lasts on average with each variant?

My question is to what extent those are genuine restrictions on what you can do (rather than minor inconveniences). Testing is not a ‘restriction’ - I haven’t seen anyone complain that the driving test is an unreasonable restriction on just getting into a car and driving it. It’s an inconvenience.

The only one which genuinely restricts what we can do (to an extent) is travel tests. We can’t get rid of testing for travel because it’s not the UK who sets those rules, in general.

I’m not sure where pp travelled to to avoid omicron impact but would be interested to know

Is not so much about avoiding Omicron, as being in a country that has measures in place to ensure healthcare remains available throughout this wave.

UK healthcare is incredibly stretched due to a) underinvestment since 2010 b) long period of high Delta caseloads c) massive backlog in surgery/treatments meaning more cases are becoming urgent and now d) Omicron, plus England has so few measures so things are going to play out very quickly.

A mask is not a ‘restriction’ - it’s an extra piece of clothing. I have to show a ticket to get into a venue, having to show an additional piece of card or on phone code is not a restriction. Staying at home when ill - that’s just sensible.

@cantkeepawayforever yes, I confirm that I find those things restrictive. Not just inconvenient, but restrictive. I can't do everything freely that I used to be able to do. Nor can I reliably plan to be able to do things in the same way I used to. And I confirm that I'd be happy for all the restrictions to end so that I can have a more worthwhile life again.

Do you really have to keep asking me if I'm sure of my opinion? 😂

I can't think of many times where a government has taken such a big gamble as Johnson has this Christmas. I look forward already to reading the memoirs from Drakeford/Sturgeon about the UK government's comments on the phonecalls during the period since early December.

@cantkeepawayforever

A mask is not a ‘restriction’ - it’s an extra piece of clothing. I have to show a ticket to get into a venue, having to show an additional piece of card or on phone code is not a restriction. Staying at home when ill - that’s just sensible.

I always think it is a massive imposition that I have to show a ticket to get into a football match. Shocking. They should just let anyone in who wants to like that final in the summer.

Vicky - if your son was vulnerable, with a lifelong condition that would eventually shorten his life, would you be saying tgat he should isolate indefinitely to allow freedom to ithers?

@cantkeepawayforever

A mask is not a ‘restriction’ - it’s an extra piece of clothing. I have to show a ticket to get into a venue, having to show an additional piece of card or on phone code is not a restriction. Staying at home when ill - that’s just sensible.

Then I have wonderful news for you! You will be permitted to keep wearing your extra clothing when it's no longer a legal requirement! The rest of us will not be criminalised for not wearing a mask - just as we are not criminals for not wearing a burka or mittens or socks. It IS restrictive to be told to wear a face covering.

[quote humdingle]@cantkeepawayforever yes, I confirm that I find those things restrictive. Not just inconvenient, but restrictive. I can't do everything freely that I used to be able to do. Nor can I reliably plan to be able to do things in the same way I used to. And I confirm that I'd be happy for all the restrictions to end so that I can have a more worthwhile life again.

Do you really have to keep asking me if I'm sure of my opinion? 😂 [/quote]
I understand that you are sure of your opinion.

I don't understand why your life is less worthwhile though. Frustrating, a bit, I can understand. But in what way does it reduce the worth of your life?

@rrhuth

I’m not sure where pp travelled to to avoid omicron impact but would be interested to know

Is not so much about avoiding Omicron, as being in a country that has measures in place to ensure healthcare remains available throughout this wave.

UK healthcare is incredibly stretched due to a) underinvestment since 2010 b) long period of high Delta caseloads c) massive backlog in surgery/treatments meaning more cases are becoming urgent and now d) Omicron, plus England has so few measures so things are going to play out very quickly.

Where though?

France 200k plus
Italy 78k
Spain 99k

Higher daily deaths than here already too

Feel free to move but it’s not going to be easy in Europe / Aus / US probably elsewhere too.

@rrhuth really? 😂 I didn't say it reduced the worth of my life. But I am finding things less worthwhile in the midst of so many restrictions - it's part of my mental health. I don't think I could cope if I didn't believe the restrictions would go some time soon.

A mask is not a ‘restriction’ - it’s an extra piece of clothing

For YOU maybe it's not a restriction. But YOU are not everybody.

Ofgs, rrhuth. Stop underlining words.

I guess a mask is not a restriction to most people who have a broad perspective of the whole of society and how we can support each other.

Comparison of the case rates in the four nations: twitter.com/AlPinkerton/status/1476234206531436554

Then I have wonderful news for you! You will be permitted to keep wearing your extra clothing when it's no longer a legal requirement

Ha true

@AngryWithH

Totally agree with you OP. Restrictions are old - were an emergency response to a novel threat so (just about) excusable on that basis. Now is totally unnecessary-everyone has access to the info that ‘Omicron’ is mild and can make decisions for their own situation.

Totally agree. Governments have had nearly two years to come up with a more targeted approach but yet here we are still acting like it's March 2020 and scattergun measures being put in place (especially Scotland). The average age of death is over 80 years old yet the first thing that's deemed effective is to stop 20 year olds going to nightclubs. Ludicrous.

[quote humdingle]@rrhuth really? 😂 I didn't say it reduced the worth of my life. But I am finding things less worthwhile in the midst of so many restrictions - it's part of my mental health. I don't think I could cope if I didn't believe the restrictions would go some time soon. [/quote]
I included your own post in mine - you said And I confirm that I'd be happy for all the restrictions to end so that I can have a more worthwhile life again

@FourTeaFallOut

Ofgs, rrhuth. Stop underlining words.

No, people can post differently if they choose.

@JanglyBeads

I guess a mask is not a restriction to most people who have a broad perspective of the whole of society and how we can support each other.

You may well feel OK for wearing a mask every winter to protect the vulnerable but some of us aren't.

@MarshaBradyo

I don't know where anyone else has gone, my point was general that it is not about cases but also about whether the government intends to try to do anything about the cases.

You should look at test positivity rates alongside cases, Scotland's is now at 30%.