End of isolation

[AnEpisodeOfEastenders]

Boris Johnson has indicated the requirement to isolate after a positive Covid test will be scrapped at the end of this month. All I can say is about time too! Let's get back to life.

@treeflowercat I'm ok with colds, and I've had flu previously and was unwell but recovered
If I get covid I have to have anti virals or antibodies which I don't if I get flu/or a cold
It's not so much the actual covid as the risk of getting a bacterial infection from it, I can't fight bacterial infections

[quote ihaveonecat]@greenteafiend my condition isn't curable, I am immunocompromised for life and my vulnerability is equal to someone on chemo as my bloods react the same. So not an option so do something for a time being[/quote]
So what did you do pre-covid? Presumably you're also vulnerable to other viruses? How did you protect yourself from those?

@ItsSnowJokes

I also wonder if a lot of countries will now treat us as lepers and not want us to come in with no restrictions or testing in England?

It's not just the U.K. who are dropping restrictions though.

Wrong 21-01-2022 - 307

@Figgygal

Great So now if you have it you can just carry on without concern for who you may give it to Fuck the vulnerable Fucking Tory Britain

No, you can treat it sensibly, the same way as you would any other illness, such as flu.

[quote ihaveonecat]@treeflowercat I'm ok with colds, and I've had flu previously and was unwell but recovered
If I get covid I have to have anti virals or antibodies which I don't if I get flu/or a cold
It's not so much the actual covid as the risk of getting a bacterial infection from it, I can't fight bacterial infections [/quote]
Presumably you could get bacterial
infections at any time though given your immune system? Why would Covid be a particular vector for one when the flu wouldn't be, or any bacteria that happen to be "flying" around?

I'm not sure why I'm justifying it but
Nobody has ever been asked to isolate or get vaccinated against a cold, I've never been sent letters or asked about a DNAR, or told to shield, or vaccinated 4 times for other viruses or any of the other stuff that I've had to do
My consultant has been VERY clear that covid is a significant risk to me. It's a catch 22 - the medication I'm on usually protects me a little against other mild stuff, but with covid it's linked to a much higher severe illness and death rate. If I stop taking it, I will get chest infections/tonsillitis/UTIs etc but if I keep taking it, my covid risk is higher

At work I usually sit in the corridor alone if someone has a sore throat/cold and take my lunch outside
Now I'm having to job hunt which isn't fun when you need something that isn't public facing, doesn't involve being with other staff, and having to declare my medical condition

No one gave a shit about protecting CEV people like my mum before covid came along so you can shove your fake concern.

She, and many like her, will continue to do the things they had to do in the past to keep themselves out of hospital.

And before anyone starts on how covid is some kind of exception, it isn't for a lot of CEV people. A lot of common respiratory viruses are enough to put a vulnerable person in hospital.

Dam does that mean I’m going to miss out on that.

TBH I’m sick with all this working from home.

@StarCat2020

Wrong 21-01-2022 - 307

Track back 3 weeks from then and the U.K. was experiencing in excess of 500,000 daily infections (based on ONS), so that's an infection fatality rate of about 0.06% which is comparable to the flu.

Plus wasn’t this the whole point of being vaccinated what do you want to do, live like this forever more?

Posters mentioned schools before teachers came on the thread

Now imagine you trained to be a teacher, all you've ever done is teaching and people say "well now you can't do it any more, bye" and mid pandemic you have to look for a new job
It's basically saying people with X/Y/Z health conditions can't be teachers and fuck you if you're a teacher and get cancer

Yes, if exposure to viruses like covid or flu is too risky then you're better of finding a new job.

What's the alternative?

Track back 3 weeks from then and the U.K. was experiencing in excess of 500,000 daily infections (based on ONS), so that's an infection fatality rate of about 0.06% which is comparable to the flu
??

Schools are regularly mentioned because of the huge numbers of unvaccinated people there, and viral load.

If having had omicron offers some protection for school staff then things should improve once it’s torn through schools. If however, as is thought, there will be multiple re infections, then how is the situation ever going to improve, because school staff are generally quite ill due to the viral load they receive. They will still need time off school.

Only time will tell if there are many re infections and the severity. Also the long term impact of multiple re infections.

I’ve caught covid twice at school; I’m still recovering from the last bout. If I get it again soon, I will be seriously considering whether I want to stay in education. I think many will too.

I also wonder if a lot of countries will now treat us as lepers and not want us to come in with no restrictions or testing in England?

On the contrary - more and more countries are loosening restrictions for visitors from the U.K.!

Also, the UK is not the first or only country to get rid of all restrictions.

@StarCat2020

Track back 3 weeks from then and the U.K. was experiencing in excess of 500,000 daily infections (based on ONS), so that's an infection fatality rate of about 0.06% which is comparable to the flu ??

What do you want?

Nobody is forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. If you feel "safe" walking around your own home in a full hazmat suit then feel free. It doesn't really matter how worked up you get yourself on a thread. The last of the restrictions are being dropped, you have to get used to that and do whatever you personally see fit from that point on.

Utter madness.

I hope those infected who decide it's fine to wander around at least wear masks to protect others.

Anyway I'm off to keep trawling the jobs
If anyone would like to find me one in the NW which doesn't require any contact with people, will interview via zoom, accept I will need time off for appointments, and pays min 25k then throw me all suggestions
Oh and no relevant qualifications as having to leave my field of work

@Delatron

Why are we making this about teachers again?

What about all the other professions that are public facing? Doctors/nurses/shop assistants.. Most people who work in those environments have been exposed multiple times and have either had it or built up some immunity to it.

THIS

And of course this has nothing to do with trying to draw attention away from partygate.

I wonder why Boris has announced this earlier than expected?

Because cases are dropping and hospitals are coping! We don't want to isolate people any longer than absolutely necessary.

What do you want?
What on Earth?

@treeflowercat

Unless you happen to be an immunocompromised teacher of course

If you're immunocompromised to the extent that Covid is a major threat to you, then sadly teaching really isn't a suitable career for you.... And that would be the case even if Covid didn't exist!

You are joking right? There are plenty of immunocompromised staff in schools. I think we'd find we may exacerbate the staffing crisis somewhat if we took them out of schools. Also why should your health condition dictate your ability to do a job? We should focus on making schools safe working environments. In no other industry would people carry on working if their health was at risk. That's madness!!

I don't have all the answers to what the alternative is but I think we need better plans in place first than just "let's pretend it's not happening any more". (Or doesn't matter).

Some ideas:

• Option to vaccinate children 5-11 (plenty of data from US and elsewhere on the safety, lower dose needed than adults). This would hopefully help the situation in schools, as would more ventilation and air filters.

• We need to keep monitoring new variants - perhaps by continuing the ONS survey, which will also help to know when prevalence is higher too. (Currently it's due to end in April unless an extension is announced).

• Even if lateral flow testing is reduced maybe PCRs could be encouraged again if someone has symptoms (from a wider list) or if a close contact. At least then they can reduce the amount they mix, though not everyone will be as careful if it's optional (or will be able to if not supported to by the system).

• testing before going to hospital when possible and/or keep regular testing in healthcare professions.
• masks strongly encouraged in crowded places