AIBU to think that we need to stop “hiding” from covid

[Belle82]

I know I will get some very strong opinions about this but please hear me out.

I am fully vaccinated, and for those who are not that is their own choice, with the exception of the immunocompromised.

The recent omicron strain is not as dangerous as the first it is simply spreading faster, causing there to be more admissions to hospital.
However 90% of people in hospital with covid have not been vaccinated.
Of course a % of this would be those too young to have the vaccine and some are immunocompromised.

I am more than happy to keep the restrictions in place to protect the children and the immunocompromised.
However any RSV infection or Flu is much more dangerous to those two groups than Omicron is, but there is no mention of those from the government.

However I don’t think it’s right that there are blanket restrictions to protect the (by choice) non vaccinated. You make that decision knowing the risks so why should we all be restricted to protect those people.

My family currently have covid, and our symptoms only lasted for 3 days, very mild. Although, we maybe lucky, everyone I speak to has either had it or knows someone who has and they have all said the same regarding symptoms.

My question is, if we are not going to quarantine and test for the more dangerous viruses, like the flu, then why are we asked to quarantine and take tests everyday for omicron that is (for most people) a 3-5 day cold?

I agree

Ughh stop posting about covid in AIBU! YABU to not post it in the covid thread.

What restrictions are protecting children?

You know when you have flu and hopefully avoid vulnerable people
You may not know you have covid and pass it on to someone vulnerable and they could have a bad reaction
But it's ok, Mumsnet are bored of worrying (from what I read last night)

@RockAndHardPlace1
Sorry, I honestly didn’t realise there was a covid thread.

@Sux2Buthen

I used to think the same, although an old study. It appears my thoughts were wrong
www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/cbn/2005/cbnreport_103105.html

There are no restrictions from next week OP.

Are you talking about lateral flow test - if so they're voluntary. Remember COVID isn't mild for a lot of people though and unlike flu it is MUCH more virulent.
You'd have to be some sort of special arsehole to go into a crowd of people without checking that you don't have a communicable disease which could potentially make someone unwell/stop them doing exams/being able to work/being able to go on holiday - when you can stick something up your nose and check.

@changingstages
the schools are still sending positive cases home (including teachers) with the threat of closing the nursery/school.

All restrictions in place are fair if only to protect the young children and those for health reasons can not have it. But my point is there are far more dangerous viruses out there which we are not shielding them from because all the attention is on covid.

Personally I don't think "living with covid" means "let's pretend it's not a problem and forget all precautions". Not yet anyway.

Obviously others disagree though.

@underneaththeash

There are no restrictions from next week OP.

Are you talking about lateral flow test - if so they're voluntary. Remember COVID isn't mild for a lot of people though and unlike flu it is MUCH more virulent.
You'd have to be some sort of special arsehole to go into a crowd of people without checking that you don't have a communicable disease which could potentially make someone unwell/stop them doing exams/being able to work/being able to go on holiday - when you can stick something up your nose and check.

There are in Scotland. England is not the only person in the UK.

In Scotland:
work from home has not been removed
face coverings still compulsory in schools, have been since August 2020.
face coverings still compulsory in indoor spaces
"flow before you go"
not allowed to accompany elderly relatives to medical appointments
checking in at hospitality venues for test and protect

etc etc etc

Yes asymptomatic testing needs to stop. Self isolation rules need to end. We should treat this like flu. And masks should not be manadatory.
Unfortunately the hysteria makes some people feel safe. Unfortunately, with restrictions, they feel protected and almost enjoy being infantilized. Frankly, they fail to see the long term damage of restrictions and has turned into a virtuous quality that somehow they care more about others than those who want all restrictions to end. It’s shortsighted and economically, socially and psychologically ignorant to support restrictions.

Whereabouts do you live OP and what sorts of restrictions are in place? Restrictions are being ditched in England from next week.

@Chasingaftermidnight
Some restrictions are being lifted I agree.

However and this is where I am likely to be shot.

I don’t think self isolation or testing should even be necessary anymore.
If we don’t isolate for the flu or an RSV infection then why are we still hiding from this.

I remember going to see a comedian on stage I’m the first few days in March back when all this first began. He didn’t joke about the virus, simply that there were only 24 cases in the country let’s not get too worried.
Within such a short time those 24 became 1000’s. My point being, this one is spreading even quicker, you would pretty much have to barricade yourself in your own house not to catch this at some point. So why are we “hiding” from the inevitable.

@sst1234
I completely agree.
My argument even stretches to those who do even have it. I won’t bore anyone by rewriting it, but you can see in my last post.
I know it is a very controversial point.

This is kind of pointless really OP, they put more restrictions in place while they worked out wether omicron was more dangerous or not. Now that they no it’s not they are lifting all restrictions and planning to stop self isolation from March, it’s been in the news all week. Doesn’t seem like much point debating it like it’s a pipe dream. I agree with you though for what it’s worth.

Stop comparing it to flu, it's a completely different virus. For one thing, on average people with flu infect one other person. People with omicron infect an average of 8 other people.

Secondly, how are people still not understanding that the NHS getting overwhelmed affects treatment for all other conditions? I know someone whose husband had a stroke last week and there were no ambulances available. Fortunately her quick thinking meant he got to hospital and got quick treatment anyway but there will be a lot more of this if we just pretend covid doesn't exist now when infection rates are so high and it's the busiest time of the year for the NHS in general.

I agree that we need to move on and never again lockdown. So much has been lost.

However it's worth remembering that for CEV people being able to live anything like a normal life requires that we (and those we come into contact with) test regularly. It's absolutely key.

Many immunocompromised people don't achieve good protection from vaccines despite being triple (or even quadruple) vaccinated. Having access to free LFTs (I test daily) is essential. Also those we live with/spend time with.

Oh and it's not the same as flu.

People generally are too ill to go out when they have flu, but up to a third of covid cases are asymptomatic. You could pass it on to a CEV person without even knowing you have it, which is why LFTs are so useful.

Also covid can be far more dangerous to some CEV people, and Omicron is many times more infectious than flu.

I am more than happy to keep the restrictions in place to protect the children

Why? Schools are hot over crowed and full of germs, parents aren’t testing the kids and it’s spreading because they aren’t staying home. Teachers are testing daily and 25/40% of staff are off ill!

The staffing pressures are enormous.

@underneaththeash

I agree with you in regards to the old strains, however listening to the latest information from our government and all of the cases I have heard of, they are all mild.
I am not dismissing the fact that some maybe affected badly but this strain is not a comparison to the first one.

In saying that people can’t take exams, go to work, go on holiday you are agreeing that these restrictions are still in place. This isn’t going away, when there were only a handful of cases in the uk they couldn’t stop those becoming 1000’s. We can not keep hiding from the inevitable. Why are we stopping people going about their everyday lives with this if we would not do the same with the flu. Or shall we continue to hide from this for all time, as it isn’t ever going away.
The hysteria that happens in school/nurseries these days if a student has a cold is ridiculous, through absolutely no fault of their own, but the restrictions still in place by our government.

In the same way that the flu can be asymptomatic, covid also can be. However with most of the cases of the omicron variant being mild (do you think the government would be lifting any restrictions if it were still as dangerous as the first two strains), I have never heard of any person who has / had the flu refer to the symptoms as mild.

YANBU to want to pretend that covid is no longer a threat but you AIBU to not realise that for millions of people it is still a very real danger. I have 3 high risk people in my immediate family. My daughter is extremely vulnerable. Yes we're all fully vaccinated and yes the risk is much lower than earlier in the pandemic. But would you really take the risk of just cracking on with it if it were your child?

@BluebellsGreenbells

Sorry I should have made that a lot clearer, my apologies. I totally agree with you.

I should have said for babies, children have a built up immune system but babies do not.
I can’t edit the OP but this is what I meant.

@WorriedGiraffe
This is what I thought, but from the statement I read from Chris Whitty is that the quarantine will stay in place if you test positive.

I'm very torn about it all too, my only problem is if in5 years time if we find out the people (children) have long term lung or heart damage because of covid. Flu has been about for years, we know all the issues and effects. So while I'm thinking yes, bring it on etc, I'm also thinking we need to be cautious. Also if someone I know turns out to be in the small number who end up in icu from it, I can't say I won't react to people saying they were unlucky.

I am not for a second pretending covid does not exist anymore.

But do we honestly believe that we can hide forever from a virus which is so wide spread already.
It will never go away so are we to live this way forever, schools closing, no holidays, people not allowed into work for a week.
Imagine the months of isolation (2020/21) for those living alone with serious mental health problems?
Shall we go back to this again?