Self Isolation likely to end in March

[Overthebow]

What does everyone think about this?

I personally felt massive relief when I heard this, finally looking like the end of restrictions on our lives. I know it will be scary for some people who are more anxious but for me I am really looking forward to this happening.

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@TheDailyCarbunkle

Because my kids would tell me.[/quote]
How would they know though? If there’s no self isolation requirement, and therefore likely no testing requirement, and people won’t be testing regularly anyway, how will your kids know if they have it or not? So you won’t know.

If all the evidence points to it then fair enough @frazzledali, but I do know mask wearing didn’t seem to make much if any difference in Scottish schools.

I want to be happy. But it just seems like another empty promise that will end in disaster.

I think people will be very wary of coughs and temperatures for a while yet and think people will stir err on the side of caution.

Some people maybe. But the only reason most people care is they don’t want to have to self isolate.

@cantkeepawayforever

I would be very happy with the announcement if I thought it was a carefully-calculated, scientifically-advised, long-planned and well thought through pandemic management plan, with checks and balances and conditions to meet.

As it is the knee-jerk self-preservation response of a pathological liar, I'm not really feeling the joy....

I can see why you'd feel that way, but I think isolation requirements are just in themselves becoming hugely burdensome to both individuals and to systems. People can't afford not to work, businesses can't afford not to have employees, government services can't afford not to actually serve people.

It's not sustainable no matter how you slice it.

SantaClaws,

As I say - if this was the clear outcome of a deliberate and well-mapped thought process, balancing up all needs and with the full and considered input of a wide range of experts, I would have no problem if the conclusion reached was that self-isolation beyond the end of symptoms should end.

As there has been no such process, and in fact very good reasons to jump to this answer without any thought process at all, I do not trust the conclusion.

If he thought the majority of the white middle class wealthy people wanted restrictions to remain he'd go for that option instead, also regardless of what medics and science said.

In my experience the vast number of people pushing for continuing restrictions are middle class. They are much more problematic for those with less.

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@TheDailyCarbunkle

Because my kids would tell me.[/quote]
What I mean is, if a child comes into school tomorrow with covid but no symptoms, how do you know they have covid? How do you currently avoid being in the classroom with a child who has covid when you can't possibly know about every single case straight away?

@cantkeepawayforever

SantaClaws,

As I say - if this was the clear outcome of a deliberate and well-mapped thought process, balancing up all needs and with the full and considered input of a wide range of experts, I would have no problem if the conclusion reached was that self-isolation beyond the end of symptoms should end.

As there has been no such process, and in fact very good reasons to jump to this answer without any thought process at all, I do not trust the conclusion.

I don't know - to me this is the direction of travel almost everywhere, except the super crazy places. Systems are beginning to fail. Options are limited to deal with that, and they know they can not stop omicron anyway, maybe can't even slow it down.

And as I say again, if a series of scientists, economists, SAGE, behavioural experts and the WHO come out and say this, and the government also sets out its thinking clearly and explicitly, with checks, what ifs and caveats, in a way that allows people to look at all the underlying data - I'm fine.

Boris asserts, because his position is under fire - not so fine.

Working in a school I think this is bollocks and won’t be teaching my class if kids in there have covid

I doubt you’d know, or that the child would know. Are people still going to be doing LFTs - will they be free? Will anyone be able to order a free PCR, and would they bother? Have they confirmed what’s happening with tests? Parents aren’t going to pay to test a child with very mild symptoms.

@Curiousmouse

I'd like to know the case numbers per day, now that we're moving towards dropping restrictions. Presumably far fewer people are getting PCR tests and using LFTs as directed, but then those positives are surely not counted.

Positive LFTs are counted if people log them, and clearly many people do, if the graph below is anything to go by (from the government dashboard, blue are positive LFTs). 1.3 million tests were conducted today, similar to the numbers of those done in the first few weeks of December.

(Dark blue - I appreciate just saying 'blue' isn't helpful when there are two!)

As others have said, if this was a well thought out plan, with evidence, then fine. It's to appease certain backbenchers who have been crap for covid, Brexit etc. So many of them seem self first, party second, country last.

@Caramelvanillafudge

If all the evidence points to it then fair enough *@frazzledali*, but I do know mask wearing didn’t seem to make much if any difference in Scottish schools.

I think the key is they have to be worn properly. Wearing them with your nose hanging out, around your chin etc is clearly not going to be effective at all.

A while ago I would have felt anxious, but it's welcome now. I'm not saying people should go out walking around infecting everyone when they are ill but common sense should be used. If you feel a bit ill, just stay in for a few days until better or don't get close to anyone as we would a normal illness. Dd has had covid twice. The first no symptoms and now mild cold symptoms. Needs to be treated like amy other virus!

Boris :
“If I say it’s not a party, it’s not a party”
Also Boris :
“If I say the pandemic is ending, the pandemic is ending”

We know that both Scottish and English schools had Covid transmission. What we don't know is how much extra transmission there would have been in Scottish schools if there hadn't been masks.

I also wonder whether impact of masks would have been greater if there had been consistent guidance at a whole UK level - so it became a cultural norm as it is becoming elsewhere - rather than there being such an obvious 'well, the blonde one says masks aren't necessary so we won't really bother' factor?

@cantkeepawayforever

SantaClaws,

As I say - if this was the clear outcome of a deliberate and well-mapped thought process, balancing up all needs and with the full and considered input of a wide range of experts, I would have no problem if the conclusion reached was that self-isolation beyond the end of symptoms should end.

As there has been no such process, and in fact very good reasons to jump to this answer without any thought process at all, I do not trust the conclusion.

^this a million times

The main reason for lifting self isolation is because this government lets employers get away with not having decent pay and conditions. And it has not supported self employed people.

It’s effectively a way of saving money.

I have to say I’m really scared - not so much of catching covid, but of suffering from long covid. It’s such an unknown and the thought of struggling potentially for the rest of my life from it scares the heck out of me!! Appreciate I’m in a minority and others will think I’m mad

@Flowers024

I have to say I’m really scared - not so much of catching covid, but of suffering from long covid. It’s such an unknown and the thought of struggling potentially for the rest of my life from it scares the heck out of me!! Appreciate I’m in a minority and others will think I’m mad

Are you in that much of a minority? Is it extreme to have concerns with all the studies on organ damage etc? Is it more extreme to do nothing to minimise that?

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@TheDailyCarbunkle

Because my kids would tell me.[/quote]
If we are doing away with self isolation, then there will be little/ no reason to continue testing widely in the community.

Chances are we will only be testing (if we continue testing at all) if there is a medical need (so in hospital/ GP) or if (for whatever reason) there Government believes there is a major outbreak somewhere.

Otherwise, you will realistically have no idea if you definitely have covid positive children in your class. You will just have to assume that it is highly likely that you will frequently come into contact with someone who is covid positive in any/ every situation.

Happy, on a purely personal level. When DS and I had Covid we were not ill enough to justify staying home but obviously we had to.

@SantaClawsServiette

If he thought the majority of the white middle class wealthy people wanted restrictions to remain he'd go for that option instead, also regardless of what medics and science said.

In my experience the vast number of people pushing for continuing restrictions are middle class. They are much more problematic for those with less.

My experience is different, based on some of the people I know of.

I see those who are well off, middle management and above types, often make but not always - more often Tory voters initially too - who want their staff in the office so they can oversee them more, they want less absence, usually not testing unless ill, if at all, and already not following guidelines much of the time and haven't got a whole. I've seen a few this past year or so.

It's not to do with themselves struggling with childcare and juggling work life balances - they've often got a wife or childcare options to cover that. It's making sure their staff are in where they can see them, but working from home or having to stay home with isolating children.