All Covid rules to be scrapped at end of the month!

[Cheekypeach]

🍾

Maybe we were unlucky and didn't have omricon, though seems unlikely.

I just want to add. I do understand that for the majority getting back to normal is so appealing and in some ways so good. It's just I understand for the cev it's just terrifying and for the elderly it's worrying. Just a little more time I think is needed.

I don't really recognise these cowering WFH types often mentioned on MN. All my workmates were WFH for most of the last two years. We're now all coming back, moaning about the commute but otherwise fine and happy to socialise. The only ones who are nervous about catching Covid are the ones who are going on holidays abroad soon.

@characterforming. I'm with you there.. My wfh husband couldn't wait to get back.. The only wfh person I know who is worried, has understandable reasons to be so.

Husband still vulnerable so will continue wearing mask in public.

@CharacterForming

I don't really recognise these cowering WFH types often mentioned on MN. All my workmates were WFH for most of the last two years. We're now all coming back, moaning about the commute but otherwise fine and happy to socialise. The only ones who are nervous about catching Covid are the ones who are going on holidays abroad soon.

There will always be a few people like that who have become anxious. Some of them really just like working from home or have made life changes that mean going back is difficult. I know a couple people through a group I work as a volunteer with who I strongly suspect are just lazy.

But most people want to get back to doing something.

One thing they can't predict is people's behaviour. I think this recent move is a strategy to test the water for a month and see what happens before the review of legal requirement to isolate on 24th march. If people choose to stay at home when unwell (or know they are positive), cases and hospitalisations don't rise much then they can go ahead with confidence and remove the legal requirement to isolate. If it all goes tits-up they can justify extending it beyond march. I'm sure it'll be fine btw. I do think they need to keep the financial support in place so money isn't a barrier to isolating for people working with vulnerable groups.

It was an attempt to stop the NHS being swamped.

Yes I wish those constantly going on about the freedoms them and their kids had given up just to protect some old person in a nappy etc etc had worked that out sooner.
.

wearing a mask is an easy thing to do.

Some people find it easy. Others, while not qualifying for an exemption, find it uncomfortable and inconvenient. Different people experience things differently.

What did clinically vulnerable people do pre-Covid? I am genuinely wondering this. There have been far worse viruses doing the rounds since the beginning of time...

@containsnuts

One thing they can't predict is people's behaviour. I think this recent move is a strategy to test the water for a month and see what happens before the review of legal requirement to isolate on 24th march. If people choose to stay at home when unwell (or know they are positive), cases and hospitalisations don't rise much then they can go ahead with confidence and remove the legal requirement to isolate. If it all goes tits-up they can justify extending it beyond march. I'm sure it'll be fine btw. I do think they need to keep the financial support in place so money isn't a barrier to isolating for people working with vulnerable groups.

It won’t be easy to extend though no matter what happens. It’s the legal part which is expiring so much harder to extend than during the last two years. They barely got the last restrictions through, they won’t get the support to renew a law.

@MonaCorona

What did clinically vulnerable people do pre-Covid? I am genuinely wondering this. There have been far worse viruses doing the rounds since the beginning of time...

Can you really not understand numbers? Are these other diseases causing hundreds of thousands of cases every day? Are they ripping through schools?

It's a prevalence thing. The more contagion, the more the risk for us.

@MonaCorona I think a few people have answered this previously.
I can only speak for DH who is classed as ECV by virtue of going on certain medication in the last 5 years.
During that time he has never been hospitalised for a cold and has not contracted flu. Always had flu and pneumonia vaccines.
Yet he is considered vulnerable enough to COVID to require 4 vaccines and the anti virals.
I think with COVID the risk is higher because of thr prevalence and higher transmission rates.
Having said that he is not cowering away like some seem to think. Yes he shielded at the start and is currently WFH but is about to move onto hybrid working. We have holidayed in the UK throughout and are now back attending the theatre etc.
We will still wear masks and try to retain some distance when chatting to people in the street etc but that is all.
I do however understand why others are more concerned especially those with vulnerable children who haven't yet been vaccinated. I cannot imagine how difficult this must be and seeing thread after thread like this one with everyone celebrating their new found freedom must be hard.

Cross Post @Madhairday screen didn't refresh.

@MangyInseam

Countries with masks aren't really faring better than those without.

Yeah have a wee look at Scotland. We have never stopped masks. Since June 2020 we have been told to wear masks pretty much in any indoor public space and in outdoor settings like school playgrounds. Kids have been wearing masks in schools all day since August 2020.

I defy you to spot the difference in Covid rates.

And yes, the constant "just a wee bit longer" from Nicola Sturgeon is grating. Especially given that she has continued as normal throghout. Going to work in Edinburgh from her home in Glasgow, working without her mask on, seeing her friends and colleagues, gadding about at Cop26 taking selfies with anyone who glanced in her direction. While simultaneously preaching that just because you can doesn't mean you should, and telling us to take LFT tests before going to Tesco.

It won’t be easy to extend though no matter what happens. It’s the legal part which is expiring so much harder to extend than during the last two years. They barely got the last restrictions through, they won’t get the support to renew a law.

This is true. I think it's going whatever happens.

DH ... is classed as ECV by virtue of going on certain medication in the last 5 years. During that time he has never been hospitalised for a cold and has not contracted flu. Always had flu and pneumonia vaccines.
Yet he is considered vulnerable enough to COVID to require 4 vaccines and the anti virals

I agree that the greater transmissability of Covid is an issue, but it's worth remembering that public protection wasn't the only motivation for developing a vaccine and then advocating multiple doses

this all makes me despair a bit - the inflammatory language and people literally talking about 'people on your side' etc is just so unhelpful. In 'real life' I don't really see this so I hope it's just tensions being stoked online.

I don't think there's anyone out there who doesn't want this to be over? Personally, as I've said before on this thread, I'd like the original date for restrictions lifting to have remained in place as the rates are not exactly low just yet and it feels like a dead cat move. I also wish that we'd vaccinated children more quickly - DD is CV and am desperate for her to be vaccinated as the two bouts she's had in quick succession have left her pretty battered.

At the same time we're out and about as a family, we've been to the theatre (and are going again next week), I'm commuting half the week on a very, very long commute (where, it should be said, mask wearing remains pretty high). I'm still wearing a mask and I think will probably continue for quite a while on public transport and crowded spaces, though at the same time I'm looking forward to that not being necessary.

We really do need to have a conversation about SSP rates in this country so people can afford to be ill.

And it would be good if we weren't such arseholes to one another too, but I imagine that's as likely as SSP being raised.

Good post @changingstages.

I have no truck whatsoever with the dramatic "ripping through schools" hyperbole, but thank you for the balanced responses, @Tynetime and @Puzzledandpissedoff

@CryingAtTheDiscotheque

Good post *@changingstages*.

I'll second that

@LibbyR79

That maybe true, but I think every little helps and that wearing a mask is an easy thing to do.

for you. Wearing a mask is an easy thing to do for you

You're very welcome, @MonaCorona - I do my best
Doesn't always work, but at least I try

It's just I understand for the cev it's just terrifying and for the elderly it's worrying. Just a little more time I think is needed

"The cev" are not one homogenous mass. Don't speak for them. We certainly are not all "terrified". Not remotely. And no, no more time. Enough time has been given. You are free to continue to do whatever you see fit for yourself. Nobody is stopping you.

I do want life to get back to normal but it does feel rushed to me at the moment.

The NHS is still feeling the strain, staff are still off unwell and I'm sure the same goes for schools and other sectors.

It pisses me off when some people think covid is 'just a cold'. It really isn't and can affect people very differently. I'm off work today as I'm doing a phased return after being very unwell with covid, and I'm (reasonably) young, fit and healthy. I'm one of thousands of NHS staff not able to work to my full capacity yet.