If Boris goes will we reverse covid rules?

[Puppylucky]

Just that really. If the abolition of self isolation /testing etc is a ruse by Boris Johnson to divert press attention /stay in power and is a dangerous rejection of science, will this strategy be reversed by a new prime minister? I think it may be.

I am no fan of boris but I hope not. It’s relatively mild now. There’s a vaccine and presume we will get boosters with the flu jab next year.
I’m partially deaf so it will be wonderful when face masks go

No

Hope not and we’re not the only country to be getting rid of restrictions so not entirely convinced it’s a political move.

No

Nobody would comply after gaining full freedom

And employers cannot go on paying people to sit at home isolating if they are well enough to work.

It’s a worry when you work with vulnerable people in social care.

Lots of places are making these changes, so I don't know that the idea that this is primarily playing politics is all that accurate.

I'm not sure why anyone would think this, any potential successor is likely to be to the right of him on these issues.

@SantaClawsServiette

Lots of places are making these changes, so I don't know that the idea that this is primarily playing politics is all that accurate.

Bringing forward the date apparently wasn't even discussed at the last Sage meeting. So I think it's pretty clear that it was a purely political decision.

I guess a lot will depend on how Boris's gamble works out, OP. It could go either way. If he is lucky and the impact isn't awful, then I don't think the decision will be reversed. If it goes horribly wrong, he might be forced to backtrack himself anyway. I guess time will tell.

Nope. If they tried to restrict freedoms again won't people just stop testing (even more so than they already have).

I’m Boris’ biggest anti-fan and will be happy to see the back of him (and the party that made him the PM whilst we are at it!) but I really don’t think we can continue with covid restrictions as they are indefinitely. I also think face masks are not something we want to encourage long term. I’ll be very glad to see the end of restrictions (although I suspect we’ll see a very slow uptake of it from many organisations even once the law changes).

The mandate runs out in March. Even if the 1922 committee calls a vote of no confidence and Johnson loses, the selection of a new leader and hence PM will take time. Johnson had to rely on the opposition to get any increase in restrictions past last time and a change of leader doesn't change the MPs. They won't vote for it on the Conservative majority benches whether you like it or not.

I agree that the restrictions need to go at some point. I'm happy for them to go now. I just wish that I had confidence that the decision was being taken for the right reasons, but instead, I'm convinced that it's about Boris trying to secure his job.

They would have to extend the coronavirus act to extend restrictions past March and it seems unlikely that many conservatives would vote for that.

“Science“ if we define science to mean epidemiology aimed at reducing transmission of infectious disease (a very narrow definition), will always be pro restrictions almost by definition. If you ask a scientist, how do we reduce transmission of covid, they will (quite reasonably in the context of the question asked) suggest restrictions. If you ask a different scientist who studies psychology, obesity, effects of poverty, child development, economics etc they would likely give a different answer.

I am horrified by the number of people talking about going back to normal or freedom or how this is just a cold. 314 people died in the last 24 hours from it.

I have clinically vulnerable people in my family who would definitely not fare well if they caught it, (if they survived it), and the sheer number of people who believe that it's a sniffle for everyone affected shocks and horrifies me. There is absolutely no consideration for those who are disabled or clinically vulnerable here.

Sorry @Glitterandunicorns but who will pay our wages? I'm not taking time off unpaid for isolating if I feel well enough to work

Your relatives will surely carry on protecting themselves as they have throughout

@GirlInACountrySong I can understand people who would otherwise have to take time off unpaid having that opinion. If you aren't entitled to sick pay, ok go to work if you feel able. I can't imagine those people would be isolating other than going to work though.

For those who could take sick pay, I think it's just selfish to not isolate. Why the hell should anyone vulnerable or disabled be virtual prisoners in their own home because people can't think of those less fortunate? We are not second class citizens. I understand that this attitude has come from the very top, but I'm disappointed how many people seem to agree with it.

It will be down to individual businesses - some will insist on working from home, others will ask you stay home, others will want you to work.

It’s always been the strategy to get people responsible for their own welfare:

Hopefully the big companies and those responsible for elderly or vulnerable will already have a plan in place when the rules end.

It isn't 'abolition'. Abolition means to end something.

All thats happening, and not just in this country, is that legal rules are being suspended for the time being.

We've been here before, and like before it will change back at some point in the future.

I think its over. EVERYONE will have had omicron by this point or in the next few weeks.

I dont know a single person who hasnt had it this wave who has been PCR testing.

Most people dont know they have it because its only showing on LFTs a fifth of the time (anecdotal calculation based on 3 x weekly LFTs and twice PCR at my work).

I am pleased to say we did it. Well done all

@Puppylucky

Just that really. If the abolition of self isolation /testing etc is a ruse by Boris Johnson to divert press attention /stay in power and is a dangerous rejection of science, will this strategy be reversed by a new prime minister? I think it may be.

Only perhaps if him going triggers a general election.

He's ignoring the science letting the bodies pile up or get disabled because he's desperate to keep his job.

The push to get rid of him came from the far to the right in his Party. The ERG and co.

They want him to take us into 'endemic' Covid...but without the mitigations that would allow people to 'live with it'.

Countries with endemic malaria, for example, take mitigations to reduce the damage. Eg. Mosquito nets, anti malarials, etc. Even so, it still kills many every year. But that's the reality of endemic.

Only perhaps if him going triggers a general election.

Sorry I should add. Only if it triggers a general election and Labour manage to win. Which is possible but will require just a little tweaking of some policies and direction by Keir, and importantly - his MPs and Labour members end their own Labour Party version of game of thrones.

think its over.

Sadly the majority of expert virologists, epidemiologists, immunulogists, and other experienced and knowledgeable doctors and scientists, and the WHO too, say otherwise.

Not only the fact of 200-300 people a day being unnecessarily killed by Covid, but also the reality of the initial acute infection having potential to cause long term damage - to the heart, the brain, the lungs, the whole immune system.

EVERYONE will have had omicron by this point or in the next few weeks.

Which Omicron variant? Regardless which one, omicron reinfects. Some people might get it again and again and again. Each time further risking the damage to their immune system that SARS-COV-2 can cause.

Which Omicron variant? Regardless which one, omicron reinfects. Some people might get it again and again and again. Each time further risking the damage to their immune system that SARS-COV-2 can cause.

There's no reason to believe that an omicron infection gives you very little protection from a further omicron infection over a short period. That would make it uniquely different not just to other Covid variants, but pretty much every virus in existence! The reinfection risk is in relation to previous variants. That's not to say it's impossible to be reinfected in a short timeframe, but very unlikely.