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Original poster

For those that want one, please remember this problem with lockdowns!

153 replies

Thurstyy · 31/12/2021 09:38

Not economic or social, but the fact that it is really not good that we are all shut away not catching the usual viruses OTHER than Covid.

My son has been hospitalised 3 times this year with viruses which are not Covid. The nurses and doctors in the children's ward at the hospital told me they were seeing much more of it this year, with more severe cases of OTHER normal viruses because people were prevented from mixing so much last year. When he had bronchiolitis in Sept the nurse who came to see him at home said they were being prepared for the worst RSV season because of this and barely anyone knows or talks about it.

The typical yearly bugs have made my son so so much more poorly than Covid ever did when he had that and it could well be because his immune system was not given the chance last year to properly build up against them.

It is not good for us to live in a sterile environment.

There are other problems caused by only considering Covid and I'm sick of people caring about nothing else.

OP posts:
Dishhh · 01/01/2022 03:20

@Lifeisnteasy

The thing is, a virus and it’s impact can be quantified into neat numbers - number of infections, number of deaths etc.

It’s impossible to quantify the effects of lockdown on mental health, the individual, other public services, physical health due to delayed appointments etc, relationship issues (not just not being able to see people, but couples forced together for years when they’re used to a healthy relationship with time apart), domestic violence… and on and on.

I'll just give you one stat - I hope it doesn't scare you too much, but it does (for me, anyway) sum up the scale of Covid where mere lists of figures cannot: 824,000. This is how many people have died in the US of Covid since the beginning of the pandemic. 824,000 people who won't see their family again.

Lockdowns aren't easy, no. I live in a country that had some of the most rigorous lockdowns in the world. But they are sometimes necessary to save lives - and they do work.

Lifeisnteasy · 01/01/2022 07:22

@Dishhh

*@Lifeisnteasy*

The thing is, a virus and it’s impact can be quantified into neat numbers - number of infections, number of deaths etc.

It’s impossible to quantify the effects of lockdown on mental health, the individual, other public services, physical health due to delayed appointments etc, relationship issues (not just not being able to see people, but couples forced together for years when they’re used to a healthy relationship with time apart), domestic violence… and on and on.

I'll just give you one stat - I hope it doesn't scare you too much, but it does (for me, anyway) sum up the scale of Covid where mere lists of figures cannot: 824,000. This is how many people have died in the US of Covid since the beginning of the pandemic. 824,000 people who won't see their family again.

Lockdowns aren't easy, no. I live in a country that had some of the most rigorous lockdowns in the world. But they are sometimes necessary to save lives - and they do work.

It doesn’t scare me.

500,000 people die of cancer in the USA every year.
670,000 from heart disease.
Nearly 3 million people die in the USA every year.

The numbers sound scary because the USA has a large population.

Equally just saying ‘a thousand people died’ sounds terrifying.

Context is needed.

treeflowercat · 01/01/2022 07:41

@Flyonawalk

I agree with you OP. I find it sad that other health issues are not given notice.

We are starting to see the effects of lockdowns - a backlog of cancer patients for one, rising (non-covid) mortality in under 65s, greatly increasing inflation. Many people who supported lockdowns will find themselves much poorer over coming years.

@Flyonawalk

I think the OP has a point regarding other viruses, but I don't see the logic that links lockdowns to reduced cancer treatment...

You can reasonably argue that lockdowns had various detrimental impacts on society (even if you believe they were ultimately necessary) but I've never understood those who try to link lockdowns with all our ills.

I'm not sure how letting Covid spread back last year would have helped people safely access cancer treatment?

Dishhh · 01/01/2022 09:28

@Lifeisnteasy

Equally just saying ‘a thousand people died’ sounds terrifying.

Most of that 824,000 are extra deaths - ie. deaths that wouldn't have occurred otherwise. Additionally, I see cardiac disease and cancer deaths quoted often - but these don't have the transmissibility that Covid does. Covid is virulent and novel. Humans don't have natural immune defences because of this. Minimising the fact doesn't change it.

mustbetheseasonofthebitch · 01/01/2022 10:12

She didn't call you that, and she explained that she didn't call you that. But I think I'll call you that.

Original poster
Thurstyy · 01/01/2022 10:31

@mustbetheseasonofthebitch

She didn't call you that, and she explained that she didn't call you that. But I think I'll call you that.
I assume you're talking about the Covid denial because you dare to discuss the difference between of and with Covid in relation to hospital admissions?

You can call me a covid denier if you wish. I'm not but okay. I can call you insane if you think its not important to know the difference between the two 🤷‍♀️

That is not the same as saying incidental Covid doesn't matter. Obviously it does. But I don't see the harm in separating those figures out clearly so we have the actual facts.

And the poster I was actually replying to when I wrote that initially said hospitalisations were the highest they'd ever been, which is not actually true is it.

OP posts:
Lifeisnteasy · 01/01/2022 13:55

@Dishhh

*@Lifeisnteasy*

Equally just saying ‘a thousand people died’ sounds terrifying.

Most of that 824,000 are extra deaths - ie. deaths that wouldn't have occurred otherwise. Additionally, I see cardiac disease and cancer deaths quoted often - but these don't have the transmissibility that Covid does. Covid is virulent and novel. Humans don't have natural immune defences because of this. Minimising the fact doesn't change it.

I’m not minimising it. It’s a matter of personal perspective. Numbers are what they are. 824,000 sounds like a lot. But it’s also 0.002% of their population. I don’t think the restrictions - literally putting countries under house arrest & causing untold economic and social damage which will last decades - is proportionate for an illness which has killed 0.002% of the population.
rrhuth · 01/01/2022 14:21

I don't think 'insane' is an acceptable term for a person who holds different opinions @Thurstyy

Original poster
Thurstyy · 01/01/2022 14:27

@rrhuth

I don't think 'insane' is an acceptable term for a person who holds different opinions *@Thurstyy*
I'd say it's as acceptable as calling someone a Covid denier for the same reason so excuse me 🤷‍♀️
OP posts:
Nidan2Sandan · 01/01/2022 14:44

@MaryAndHerNet

I'm sick of people caring about nothing else.

TBF, a lot of survivors feel the same way.

Is that you Jimmy Carr Grin
MaryAndHerNet · 01/01/2022 14:48

@Nidan2Sandan

Grin No, but I did like that joke.
rrhuth · 01/01/2022 16:48

@Thurstyy well no, because it is a mental health slur.

youkiddingme · 01/01/2022 16:54

Lots of strong feelings on both sides but why the need to tell others what they should want?

There are other problems caused by only considering Covid and I'm sick of people caring about nothing else. - maybe talk about those other things then?

Gorseinon22 · 01/01/2022 20:49

This reply has been deleted

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mustbetheseasonofthebitch · 01/01/2022 21:18

In any case, it is irrelevant what anyone does or does not want. It's not like anyone can hold their breath and stamp their feet and make this pandemic not be happening. Good try, though.

Timeturnerplease · 01/01/2022 21:23

How about people stop arguing about at whether having restrictions or not causes the most problems for the health service, and think about the fact that the NHS* has been dramatically underfunded for a long time now. I wonder how many people worried about ambulance provision etc keep voting in the parties that strip funding from these services and piss it all up the wall on Brexit (missing £350m anyone?) or handing contracts to their chums.

  • Not just the NHS - schools, police, fire service etc.
ChristmasCurry · 02/01/2022 00:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Dishhh · 02/01/2022 00:22

@Lifeisnteasy

I’m not minimising it. It’s a matter of personal perspective. Numbers are what they are. 824,000 sounds like a lot. But it’s also 0.002% of their population. I don’t think the restrictions - literally putting countries under house arrest & causing untold economic and social damage which will last decades - is proportionate for an illness which has killed 0.002% of the population.

I'm glad you aren't an epidemiologist, then. Or even a philosopher.

Belladonna12 · 03/01/2022 11:17

I’m not minimising it. It’s a matter of personal perspective. Numbers are what they are. 824,000 sounds like a lot. But it’s also 0.002% of their population. I don’t think the restrictions - literally putting countries under house arrest & causing untold economic and social damage which will last decades - is proportionate for an illness which has killed 0.002% of the population.

I think you forgot to multiply by 100. It is 0.25% of the population.

Likkleredridinghood · 03/01/2022 14:08

@Timeturnerplease absolutely but labour are worse apparently. Children from deprived areas have had poor outcomes for years, but it's got worse over the last 11, but people are only bothered when it directly impacts theirs.

Lifeisnteasy · 03/01/2022 14:32

@Belladonna12

I’m not minimising it. It’s a matter of personal perspective. Numbers are what they are. 824,000 sounds like a lot. But it’s also 0.002% of their population. I don’t think the restrictions - literally putting countries under house arrest & causing untold economic and social damage which will last decades - is proportionate for an illness which has killed 0.002% of the population.

I think you forgot to multiply by 100. It is 0.25% of the population.

You’re right. But that’s 1 in every 400 people.
Lifeisnteasy · 03/01/2022 14:37

And 1 in 500 in the U.K.

And that’s taking into account deaths before vaccinations. Over the 2 years.

QueBarbaridad · 03/01/2022 15:14

@Lifeisnteasy
I can imagine you at a funeral: ‘All this for one corpse!’

ItchySnoof · 03/01/2022 16:55

The NHS has been on it's knees for years. It's NOT on it's knees anymore, because of the govt handling of Covid it has collapsed completely but no one is willing to admit it because then the Govt would actually have to do something other than selling off parts of it.

Belladonna12 · 03/01/2022 17:13

You’re right. But that’s 1 in every 400 people.

That sounds quite high to me considering lockdowns, vaccination etc. It would have been higher otherwise.