Independent sage condemn lifting of restrictions

[RocketFire7]

I see that independent sage have condemned the government’s plan to lift restrictions this week, saying that it’s not driven by the science.

Are the vulnerable being thrown to the wolves as they are claiming?

However on the other hand independent sage have been against every reduction in restrictions that’s taken place. They’ve also called for lockdowns in December 2021, September 2021 among others.

Are they correct in this situation?

twitter.com/independentsage/status/1494629238598733831?s=21

@MarshaBradyo

Even if they said “give it another month and slowly ramp down”, then that would be fair enough.

Previous approaches were slow because we are in a different place now. Omicron peak has passed, hospitalisation is reducing and excess deaths are normal - this means the reduction is happening already.

I'm not sure people would necessarily trust anyone advocating for just carrying on restrictions a little longer, at this point. It's been heard before.

“Everyone who agrees with me has critically assessed. Everyone else is having the wool pulled over their eyes.”

Really this is not the way to convince people that you have critically assessed the situation either. I can absolutely see how on this topic, other opinions to mine have been reached and I completely accept that they will have been just as thought through as my own, but with different conclusions

(Sorry, that looks like I’m quoting, it was meant to be paraphrasing)

I note ROI still requires self-isolation for people with Covid after the 28th Feb, for example)

But only over 65s as they're the only people who will have it confirmed by testing.

The vulnerable and poor will get ill. But the government don't care and employers won't care as they'll find people to replace them.

I'm not sure people would necessarily trust anyone advocating for just carrying on restrictions a little longer, at point. It's been heard before.

Yes, plus the costs of delay are astronomical so they need to be weighed against benefit. And when we have reducing hospitalisation and no excess death the costs become too high - this kind of cost is often overlooked

I'm not sure people would necessarily trust anyone advocating for just carrying on restrictions a little longer, at point. It's been heard before.

Exactly for some people it's always a few more weeks, these weeks go on and on.ad infinitum

Speaking of Indy Sage

twitter.com/skepticalzebra/status/1495708249064099843

This is clearly the right thing to do. We always needed to exit the restrictions. Change is hard for many people. It’s not like we were unprepared though. It’s been drip fed for a number of weeks that they were ceasing restrictions. It’s time for the health of the economy to have priority. I say this as someone who is severely immune compromised so at ongoing high risk. We just can’t keep saying “just a few more weeks”.

I see New Zealand's PM has "cautioned that the traffic light system was likely to remain in place for the winter to combat not just Covid, but the return of the flu" (New Zealand Herald today)

New Zealanders seem to be happy enough with this, but I have to say that this kind of "mission creep" makes me want to draw hard lines in the sand and say "No more."

@greenteafiend

I see New Zealand's PM has "cautioned that the traffic light system was likely to remain in place for the winter to combat not just Covid, but the return of the flu" (New Zealand Herald today)

New Zealanders seem to be happy enough with this, but I have to say that this kind of "mission creep" makes me want to draw hard lines in the sand and say "No more."

It'll be intetesting to see how it plays out in New Zealand. Our one outstanding issue is how we'll manage our first unrestricted winter, with normal levels of winter illness and covid added into the mix plus a massive booster drive to accommodate. Maybe we'll just have to accept a total shut-down of non urgent health care every winter.

@greenteafiend

I see New Zealand's PM has "cautioned that the traffic light system was likely to remain in place for the winter to combat not just Covid, but the return of the flu" (New Zealand Herald today)

New Zealanders seem to be happy enough with this, but I have to say that this kind of "mission creep" makes me want to draw hard lines in the sand and say "No more."

I'm not a NZer, so this is a genuine question. Is no one in the country asking why their critical care capacity is so utterly woeful?

I think part of the problem here is that the evidence as to whether it is the right time to remove restrictions can really only be gleaned from removing restrictions.

So you cannot simply go - we will remove restrictions when the evidence says because every bit of data we have (which is looking good) is based on the current situation. There is no getting rid of Covid, or suppressing it down even in Hong Kong www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-60339746

We arent alone either - just back from Florida and mask mandates were removed in all the Theme Parks - and lets just say by the end of the week you had to properly look to find a mask, there was no social distancing and it was like Covid was just like any other virus.

@RocketFire7

I think they have to say that, they have to be the voice of caution - as we are go into our ‘learn to live’ phase. No one knows what will happen, no one has a crystal ball. If there is another mutation that results in excessive hospitalisations - we’d be screaming at them saying, ‘why didn’t you tell us’ - when they know full well that it could happen.

Within my friends and family - I know we’ll continue to be cautious. Other people have so much to deal with, so maybe we can’t expect to be ‘nannied’. We know the situation - we know best case/worst case scenario. I think we’ve just got to get on with it.

Looks like Russia will be overtaking Covid worries now.