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Original poster

Self Isolation likely to end in March

131 replies

Overthebow · 19/01/2022 16:04

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.

OP posts:
merrygoround23 · 19/01/2022 20:26

So what is different between now and March?

Will the positive person still have to isolate but everyone else exposed won't have to isolate or test?

HighDowny · 19/01/2022 20:27

@merrygoround23

So what is different between now and March?

Will the positive person still have to isolate but everyone else exposed won't have to isolate or test?

No. The requirement to isolate will be scrapped completely whether you're positive or not us my understanding.

I would assume along with or not far after will be the requirement to test at all. What's the point if you don't need to isolate?

Whathefisgoingon · 19/01/2022 20:28

I am not happy about it at all.

Original poster
Overthebow · 19/01/2022 20:31

@merrygoround23

So what is different between now and March?

Will the positive person still have to isolate but everyone else exposed won't have to isolate or test?

No isolation for having covid, we will live with it as we do all the other viruses. Will likely mean testing is dropped too.
OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 19/01/2022 20:36

It’s extremely sensible. It’s 8/9 weeks away, this extremely mild variant has peaked and is likely to be very manageable by then.

We don’t require any of these extraordinary measures for cold, flu or norovirus. Let’s all get back to normal.

TooMuchSugar22 · 19/01/2022 20:44

Great news. I doubt anyone would even bother to test either thank god.

TheLazyBeagle · 19/01/2022 20:45

That’s why they should say IF cases rise not WHEN - although like flu, cases do tend to rise and fall and covid will be the same

My point was that they may not bring back restrictions even IF cases rise.

Fairylightsongs · 19/01/2022 20:52

Unless another deadly variant arises, which is unlikely as omicron is providing immunity to prevjous variants like delta, so scientists think this is the end of the pandemic and Covid is now more benign than the flu, and we don’t self isolate and test for that, we live with it.

Yes people will still die from covid sadly, thousands die annually from the flu, hence the hugely expensive annual vaccination program for the vulnerable, but it’s likely Covid will have a lower fatality rate than the flu.

So really everything will be totally back to normal by March they are just giving the public time now to get used to the idea, removing working from home, reducing self isolation, removing masks, all now, as they ramp down all restrictions and move to living with it like we do the flu as some folks need time to adjust.

Gardeningdream · 19/01/2022 20:57

I think they need to be clear that if cases get high again then restrictions will come back in

I think that’s unlikely to happen to be honest. Only if it mutates back which is not very probable, as pp said, omicron is giving immunity to the previous variants and pushing them out naturally, it’s become more transmissable and milder as it has,

They can’t announce it’s over, but it’s pretty much over now.

Wizzbangfizz · 19/01/2022 21:03

Spot on @Fairylightsongs 👏

cantkeepawayforever · 19/01/2022 21:04

so scientists think this is the end of the pandemic

Can you give a source for that?

WHO says nothing of the kind

LifesABotch · 19/01/2022 21:08

@Wnkingawalrus indeed. There are no easy answers. Does seem a dramatic shift, though, with little regard for those most at risk from the current pandemic. Have to wonder why the gov is doing it now, when it's still winter, and whether it's more a deflection from the shit-show that is those in power than anything else.

Muststopeating · 19/01/2022 21:09

@Florelei

Is anyone actually self isolating properly now anyway?
Yes, I've been stuck at home on my own for 2 sodding weeks with 3 kids under 5. All of us positive (over the course of a week). Haven't left the house once. I'm losing the will!!! Can't get the bugaring tests to go negative so we can get the hell out!

Cannot even begin to imagine going out in public knowing I had COVID.

My deepest sympathies to anyone who did this (with kids) when it was a 14 day isolation.

2389Champ · 19/01/2022 21:12

@cantkeepawayforever

so scientists think this is the end of the pandemic

Can you give a source for that?

WHO says nothing of the kind

Ah yes. This is the same WHO that said Covid was nothing to worry about, that we shouldn’t close borders to China as the virus was manageable, that we didn’t need masks - then we did, was adamant that Covid wasn’t lab released despite other respected scientists saying it looks increasingly likely etc etc.
Wellbythebloodyhell · 19/01/2022 21:14

@merrygoround23

So what is different between now and March?

Will the positive person still have to isolate but everyone else exposed won't have to isolate or test?

My assumption is that you wouldn't even be advised to test anymore therefore no isolating. If you feel unwell ,stay at home, avoid large crowds or mixing with anyone medically vulnerable, if not carry on as normal. The common sense/less hysterical approach that we've adopted for decades/centuries previously. Obviously there will be asymptomatic carriers of covid just the same as there has been asymptomatic carriers of all other nasty viruses that often circulate .
Gardeningdream · 19/01/2022 21:16

@cantkeepawayforever

Sure, just Google, it will likely become endemic now. Sadly the who have lost all credibility due to their poor management of the pandemic.

www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068094

SantaClawsServiette · 19/01/2022 21:17

@rainrainraincamedowndowndown

I find it really funny, tbh. I've been watching the news from my own country, and they have way less case/admission/death, yet they are trying to implement restrictions. While in England, people are still getting sick, dying, and NHS under pressure but we are ditching everything now. And I think by March, everyone must have had it and those vulnerable have suffered or dead, so yeah, it's likely we don't need any isolation anymore.

But what price we pay, we are yet to find out in the future.

But we're also seeing more and more the price we are paying, or will pay, for the measures themselves.

The longer these things go on, the higher that price gets.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 19/01/2022 21:22

I'm glad that signs of normality are on the horizon.

Blubells · 19/01/2022 21:31

I find it really funny, tbh. I've been watching the news from my own country, and they have way less case/admission/death, yet they are trying to implement restrictions.

@rainrainraincamedowndowndown what country are you referring to? What have the restrictions been during the past two years?

Kokeshi123 · 19/01/2022 21:49

I think it will be fine.

Meanwhile, the US gov is doubling down and mailing N95s to everyone in the post (!)

HipTightOnions · 19/01/2022 21:57

My school now has more positive cases than at any point in the pandemic. Some of the kids have been quite unwell. Most of our staff haven't had it, so we haven't had to close any year groups.

More than half my form are currently positive. I can't imagine how I would feel if they were in school, and who knows how many more staff absences we would have.

Tryagainplease · 19/01/2022 22:00

I think it’s a good idea to view it as the ‘End of legal restrictions on our lives’

It’s a positive thing that it will no longer be mandated by law to behave in a certain way because you have an illness.

However, I hope that people don’t take it too literally.

When they told us we would no longer need to isolate if we are fully jabbed and had been in contact with a Covid case, I assume it was largely so people could still get to work etc. But it was taken by many as ‘oooh I can still meet my mate for a coffee’ which is obviously not essential.

So I still hope that, just because the legality has been removed, that people are sensible and allow other people full autonomy to risk assess for themselves. I.e - you knowingly have Covid? Maybe tell your mate before they pop over for a cuppa so they can decide if they are comfortable with it…

Ricksteinsfishwife · 19/01/2022 22:06

you knowingly have Covid? Maybe tell your mate before they pop over for a cuppa so they can decide if they are comfortable with it…

But you won’t know, because they will stop mass testing, it will only be if you’re hospitalised.. So as so many are symptomless and most others a bit of mild cold, then it’s likely most people just won’t know.

You’d prob tell your mate not to come over if you had a bit of a cold, but clearly not if your symptomless of sneezed twice.

TheLazyBeagle · 19/01/2022 22:12

I.e you knowingly have Covid? Maybe tell your mate before they pop over for a cuppa so they can decide if they are comfortable with it…

The point is that you probably won’t knowingly have covid. Mass community testing will end.

Taswama · 19/01/2022 22:19

@2389Champ

This planned easing of restrictions was in the pipeline last November - well before Partygate.

www.lancs.live/news/uk-world-news/secret-covid-exit-plan-operation-22169956

It’s now emerging that a lot of people aren’t bothering to test anymore and quite a few of my friends are admitting that, despite the restrictions at Christmas 2020, they did meet up with others whilst giving the impression they were complying.

Whitty, JVT and Vallence have all said at various stages throughout the pandemic, there will be a time when sadly a certain number of deaths will have to be acceptable and we will have to move on.

As an aside, I heard an interesting comment by a commentator on TV late last night - in anticipation of todays announcement - saying if the government had to supply and pay for masks, they would have been phased out months ago. Certainly made me think.

But they've been paying for 'free' LFTs unlike other countries, which has cost a fortune.
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