To ask if we’re heading for another lockdown?

[TreeLine6]

So covid cases are rising and like clockwork, the likes of independent sage are back in the media calling for ‘protections’ like masks, isolation and social distancing to “avoid full lockdown”.

Is it time to reintroduce some measures like the rule of 6, a cap on large events numbers and maybe distancing and early closure for hospitality as independent sage are calling for?

Personally I feel that with vaccines and treatments, we are now in the best position we’re going to get with covid and would be very reluctant to comply with further measures, that themselves cause enormous harm.

We do not need another lockdown. The percentage of people getting seriously ill is far less than it used to be. I also do not think we will get one.

There are, however, measures each of us can take out of courtesy to one another. If you are sick, do not go to optional social events and infect everyone, and WFH if you can. If you have a job that can be done form home and boss who is not an idiot, she will not want everyone else getting ill: it lowers productivity.
Wear a mask if you must go out while you are ill with flu or COVID. Buy some LFTs (you can get them for £1 per test) so that you will be able to check whether you have it.

If we were all to do that we would save a few lives and avoid causing a lot of inconvenience to others.

What on Earth is everyone talking about? There is absolutely NOT WAY that there will ever be another lockdown for Covid!!

Someone passed it on to me, someone who was infectious and refused to wear a mask. Very selfish.

Chances are you got it from someone who didn't know they had it, so cool the judgement

Not another lockdown the way the economy is atm.The debts are still massive from the other lockdowns. COL will rise even more if we do. It's the vulnerable I feel for. A friend of mine works in retail and had to have her spleen removed so not really got an immune system. Her husband is also high risk. She is still working atm but I don't think she can continue much longer. Her husband has been able to work from home luckily.

As long as we isolate hopefully we can avoid the high number of deaths.

I have absolutely no objection to wearing a mask in crowded/public/health settings. None. Yes it is difficult to understand people but once you explain they are usually very helpful. How do you exit your comfort zone at all even without a mask? Oh I get it, it's all the mask's fault nothing to do with your underlying issues.

Well, I’m pleased for you that a mask causes you no problem. But they do me, and the hearing side of things is the lesser of the issues it causes. But then you wouldn’t be expected to know that because you don’t know me or my underlying issues. It’s almost like everyone’s different, isn’t it?

Someone passed it on to me, someone who was infectious and refused to wear a mask. Very selfish.

I can only assume that you have quite poor critical thinking skills. Or that you don’t know what “asymptomatic” means.

I don't think there should be anymore lockdowns but I don't think it would hurt to bring masks back for winter

Nope. Fuck that. I’ve done the shielding and the loneliness and the confinement.

Never again.

No. So many people have been vaccinated and/or have had covid. It's not that big a deal any more

I don't think there should be anymore lockdowns but I don't think it would hurt to bring masks back for winter

What do you mean by 'bring masks back'? If it's any attempt to make them compulsory in public settings, yes it would hurt. It also wouldn't work.

Personal responsibility really needs to be more of a thing at this point. Stay in if you're worried, wear a mask if you feel safer that way. But don't expect another lockdown.

I keep asking and nobody will answer me.

Why do you want masks "brought back"? All we have to do is look to Scotland and their ridiculous policy on masks and then look at their consistently high covid rates. That tells us masks do fuck all. So why do you and others like you want them "brought back"? If you want to wear one then do so 24/7. Nobody is stopping you.

We're in the midst of a spiralling cost of living crisis. Any restrictions would be catastrophic for jobs and livelihoods. Social distancing would mean most hospitality venues could not open at full capacity, or at all. Many would lose their third vital Christmas revenue in a row, and wouldn't survive. Staff on zero hour contracts would have no hours. There is no furlough. The resulting poverty would likely kill more than covid would this winter.

I'm CEV and I've just had covid for the seventh time. I don't want people to lose their jobs to protect me - if I'm worried, I'll do what I can to protect myself. We are in a totally different place to where we were one or two winters ago - antivirals, Omicron-specific vaccines, therapeutics. We can't close down every winter. It's not feasible or desirable.

The government has had almost three years to invest in the NHS, to increase staffing levels, but it's chosen not to (we've been able to afford a platinum jubilee and a state funeral in that time, oddly enough). They've also had plenty of time to tighten employment law so that employers have to pay sick leave - instead, we're in a situation where staff have to come into work with covid or lose pay, or their jobs. And get called selfish for doing so by people who don't understand that rent and bills don't pay themselves.

As for masks - wear one of you like. Just as long as you don't attack those who don't - and particularly, those who can't. MN, and the real world, was absolutely horrific for those who were exempt when masks were mandatory. I hope some of the people who said and did atrocious things look back now and feel thoroughly ashamed.

Ah yes, the old asymptomatic get out clause. If you are going somewhere on public transport, into a shop, to the doctor's, dentist's (when you can get one!) and various other places indoors airless and crowded, pretend you ARE symptomatic and contagious then. What's the big worry about that?

It is such an easy thing to do, wear a mask and Winter is coming so it's not all about Covid transmission either. But some people just like to appear rebellious. Why I don't know.

What would you say to the people who would lose wages/jobs if masks were mandatory again? Would you tell them how 'simple' it is?

And for those advocating a return to SD - s

We’re about to enter the third year of covid - what else can we throw at it? Time for life to get back to the normal I’m afraid.
Masks don’t work.
I’ve done by bit, worn mask when we had no choice and had the jabs.
I won’t comply again.
In my day to day life, Covid is rarely mentioned now.
I work in a funeral home & we’re busy at the moment. Not because of covid, but excess deaths due to lockdowns I suspect.
Hate these type of threads and suspect they’ve been created to stir things up.

@TheyreOnlyNoodlesMichael

I said stop speaking as though you are the lone voice for every "vulnerable" person. It's written down in black and white so I'm not sure why you're making things up. I guess you like drama...

Except I wasn't saying I was the lone voice. It's you making stuff up for the drama. Crack on, pet. Just don't tell people what they can and can't post, eh?

@greenhousegal

What?

Are you seriously telling people that if they go out in public they should pretend they have a contagious illness?

(Posted too soon)

For those advocating a return to SD - social distancing doesn't just mean standing a metre apart in the Tesco queue. It means being isolated from loved ones, hospital clinics being unable to operate, hospitality being unable to function at full capacity, many venues being unable to operate at all and becoming unviable, and so on.

These are not 'light measures'.

Oh FFS no wonder the UK is fucked. No point in talking to a blank wall. Wear your mask on the basis that you MIGHT have covid, and you MIGHT transmit it.

You don't need a test to look out for others, or to hope they will look out for you too.

No, I don't think there will be another lockdown. I think most people will now take a common-sense approach. Masks if you are feeling vulnerable on public transport or busy areas etc. Many will be vaccinated again if offered. Work from home if infected and otherwise feeling OK.

People who never changed their lives, complied and/or got vaccinated will continue as before. They may get Covid again, they may not.

I will take my booster, got my flu jab tomorrow, will wear a mask on the tube if the numbers are rife and will carry on.

@greenhousegal I wouldn’t wear a mask even if I was contagious.

They’re hot and uncomfortable and just plain awkward.

No. We cannot afford it and it would do nothing. People have to live their lives.

This cannot be real.

You do realise that many workplaces - even schools - are insisting staff come in five, or even three, days after a positive test, don't you? And that most people aren't testing anyway, because tests are not free?

Sometimes I wear a mask because I'm spotty, sometimes I whip one out because there's someone coughing and vomiting on the bus (true story) and sometimes I don't wear one at all.

It's a personal choice and that's fine!

It is such an easy thing to do, wear a mask and Winter is coming so it's not all about Covid transmission either. But some people just like to appear rebellious. Why I don't know

This is like being back in 2020.

Wearing a mask is easy for you, so you triple mask 24 hours a day if you want. For many many people it is not 'easy'. You stick to making decisions for yourself and leave the rest of us alone.