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.

@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.

They restrict human interaction to a degree - can't you see that?

And they do jackshit, of course.

@southeastdweller If it bothers you that much just don't wear one, let the majority get on with it.

[quote rrhuth]@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%.[/quote]
Cases are very high and I can’t see light restrictions doing much so unless it’s strict lockdown then similar there too.

@FourTeaFallOut

ok but it makes you seem hysterical.

That is actually useful feedback!

Although @FourTeaFallOut it is just how I type, I do not know if I could stop even if I tried

@vickyc90 and what if in your scenario the ‘vulnerable’ refused to stay home? I presume that you would want an ambulance if your child took ill?

How would that then work? I don’t think it would.

I would want to say that some measures ARE restrictive, just to clarify that I do not see all Covid measures as non - restrictive.

Closing venues is restrictive.
Closing activities such as gyms is restrictive.
Applying a 2 household rule is restrictive.
Household bubbles are restrictive.
Isolation for the CEV is definitely a restriction (which us odd, as many people who demand no restrictions fir themselves want the vulnerable to lock themselves up in order to facilitate this)

What is in place at the moment us, by comparison, not restrictive.

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

We generally wear clothing to keep us warm. Our mouth and nose are normally not covered to allow for breathing and communication. So personally I find it a little restrictive. Deaf people will probably find it much more restrictive.

@Blubells

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

We generally wear clothing to keep us warm. Our mouth and nose are normally not covered to allow for breathing and communication. So personally I find it a little restrictive. Deaf people will probably find it much more restrictive.

The last 18 months must have been incredibly difficult for deaf and hard of hearing people. I went to a coffee shop for a hot drink... there was music playing, noise from people talking (it was quite busy), the staff serving were behind a Perspex screen plus wearing masks. I had absolutely no clue whatsoever what the server was saying to me when taking my order/payment. Literally no clue. And I have no hearing or communication difficulties at all. It was an awful experience, and for many this will be their day to day lives. Yet so many just brush it off as a minor inconvenience.

@DaisyMum40 I agree with you. I find communication so difficult with masks. Masks are not merely an inconvenience, they're a restriction.

@DaisyNGO

Haven't read whole thread

Bambina "I want no part in the coming problems (which are going to be self-inflicted), which is why took my family (and 2 y/o) out of the UK on the 24th for at least 1 month."

What's your view re the next month please?

Here is my view based on a variety of factors:

1. Pandemic fatigue and poor messaging from the Govt have caused a material increase in multi-household interactions over the last few weeks.

1. When combined with the increased transmissability of Omicron, this is materially increasing the number of infections.

1. Booster shots (while helpful) were started too late, and while the NHS is doing better than predicted in delivering them, they are only going to have a small impact on the coming weeks as they are at about 50% (at 90% they would have had a moderate impact which is why it was so important to have started them earlier).

1. Total (reported cases) will peak on/before mid January 2022. I see about 250,000 to 300,000 reported per day based on current projections.

Hospitalisations will start rising slowly this week, and ramp up beginning of Jan 2022, which is when they will start increasing more.

Late Jan/early Feb 2022 we will likely see 2,000 to 3,000 hospitalisations per day.

This will be a sharp spike of 2-3 weeks.

The big ? Is whether the NHS can cope with 50,000 hospitalisations in 3-4 weeks given an estimated average hospitalisation time of 5 days (vs 10 for Delta).

Of course, this is completely geographically dependent. If you are not near a healthcare facility and you get seriously ill from Omicron, you are bang out of luck. Same issue with non-covid care like cancer treatments and other in patient care. This will not be a good time for you as it will be very likely your treatment will be delayed or cancelled outright.

School wise?

They will likely open up in person early Jan 2022, but as infections surge, they are likely to transition to virtual at end Jan/early Feb (likely due to staff absences due to infections) so I would prepare for this if I had a child in school.

I entirely agree that for deaf people, mask wearing is a restriction - in the sense that it absolutely restricts (in a practical sense) how they can live their lives, where they can go and what they can do

That doesn't make mask wearing a restriction (in a practical sense of stopping people doing something or going somewhere) for everyone.

@cantkeepawayforever I am telling you that it restricts me. You don't get to decide whether it is an inconvenience or a restriction for most people.

You might think of it as an extra piece of clothing or whatever (ha!) but for many people it IS a restriction.

Where is it that a mask stops you from going to?

What is it that a mask totally stops you from doing?

A restriction (in the sense that it is meant here) is something you CANNOT do - something that is closed, something that you are forbidden to access or completely unable to access. So closure of pubs or clubs or gyms, or stay at home and isolate orders for the vulnerable.

Yes, I completely get that masks and tests are inconvenient. they make things that are completely possible less spontaneous and less enjoyable. However, they do not - except in a few cases - make things completely inaccessible.

Bambina thank you

I am quite relieved to read that. No offence but with you taking your DC out of the country, I thought you must be anticipating a lot worse. But I realise it must be a lot easier for you to go away than for many people or you'd not do it, if that makes sense.

I agree with posters who feel there are restrictions, especially if you have to test for work and lose pay even if asymptomatic. I've got one friend who has tested positive 4 times now with no symptoms.

Scotland and Wales are really damaging lives with the hospitality restrictions.

Re masks - yes, definitely a problem. We had to do a four hour round trip on the train today. I was feeling rough as guts when I got in and nearly did a test! 😂 but it's because wearing a mask all that time makes me feel ill. Of course some people are fine with it, DP is fine.

I don't know how people cope in masks all day. I wonder how much business theatre and cinema are missing for masks?

I continue to find it ironic that those who are most vehemently for removal of all measures and mitigations from themselves, because they see them as 'restrictions', are completely willing to suggest that 'others' - the vulnerable - have their freedoms completely removed to facilitate this, by suggesting that the vulnerable look after themselves by totally isolating.

Masks are working really well in France. Over 200,000 cases today. It’s almost as though these crappy half-hearted measures do bugger all.

Your uninformed opinion is not welcome.

Why so rude?

I can’t see anyone with a particularly better informed opinion. Even if personally convinced that is the case.

@Delatron

Masks are working really well in France. Over 200,000 cases today. It’s almost as though these crappy half-hearted measures do bugger all.

And Ireland. Topping the tables this week. In fact, any European country that's gone hard on masks have out of control cases. It's almost like they could actually make things worse, increased face touching and spreading... like we were originally told way back in early 2020.

Catering to your rather poor understanding of the situation is precisely why the UK is in its current predicament.

Presumably the unnamed country to which you chose to travel during a pandemic has very low rates and is filled with a population whose sophisticated, intellectual outlook matches your own high standards?

What country is that?

@BambinaJAS you're being rude. My point of view is no less relevant or welcome than yours, so go have a talk with yourself.

Our current predicament is not "on me" as you say - how ridiculous!

@cantkeepawayforever "the vulnerable" - that great big monolith that you make them sound - can do as they please. I'm not going to presume to tell anyone else how to live their lives.

I want my usual freedoms back. I support ending restrictions.

Now for gods sake stop tagging me, questioning me, quoting me, telling my opinion is not valid or is wrong etc etc!! You are not winning me round by telling me I'm wrong and you're right and therefore my opinion doesn't matter 😂 where did you learn to carry on like that?!