Restrictions - how are they justified now

[shouldistop]

According to bbc figures the average area in England had 465 cases of covid per 100k last week. In Scotland we had 1,312 per 100k last week. Clearly mandating mask wearing does nothing for transmission. How is it justified?!

People are still doing lateral flows in Scotland, dod England not stop giving them for free? That would make a huge difference to figures.

Scotlands death rate has also been higher over the past 2 years though

Also I think England have free lateral flows until 1st April

@shouldistop

Also I think England have free lateral flows until 1st April

So neither of us know for sure, which tells me that it's not unreasonable to assume some people will have stopped testing because they also think they have stopped. Maybe, maybe not.

It's posturing. Pure and simple. I stopped wearing my mask weeks ago.

They're holding off for the great face unveiling just before the local elections.

@drawingpad

People are still doing lateral flows in Scotland, dod England not stop giving them for free? That would make a huge difference to figures.

Maybe, but the ONS survey has cases much higher in Scotland than England too and that isn’t reliant on the normal testing programme.

@drawingpad well I don’t know for sure because I’m not English. If I was English then I’m sure I would know.

@drawingpad

People are still doing lateral flows in Scotland, dod England not stop giving them for free? That would make a huge difference to figures.

England still have LFTs.
They are stopping in April

@Pootle40 I have to wear one at work. I’m a glasses wearer too which doesn’t help but it’s mainly the headaches, claustrophobia and bloody acne that is bothering me

It’s Sturgeon’s tantrum in response to the inbound to UK travel restrictions being lifted-she can’t control that because it’s a border issue which isn’t devolved so she’s controlling the 1 thing she still can.
She can fuck off as far as I’m concerned, I’ve stopped wearing masks

[quote shouldistop]@drawingpad well I don’t know for sure because I’m not English. If I was English then I’m sure I would know.[/quote]

Fair enough; I just think that even people in England don't really know. There are multiple threads on here every day where people are clueless as to the 'rules' in their country.

@drawingpad yeah, I’m not sure that really accounts for the difference in figures. And death rates are higher here too.
I don’t know anyone (except healthcare workers) who test twice a week anyway.

[quote shouldistop]@drawingpad yeah, I’m not sure that really accounts for the difference in figures. And death rates are higher here too.
I don’t know anyone (except healthcare workers) who test twice a week anyway.[/quote]
I used to (public sector and no home working) but stopped when I did 8 LFT all negative, then a positive PCR

[quote shouldistop]@drawingpad yeah, I’m not sure that really accounts for the difference in figures. And death rates are higher here too.
I don’t know anyone (except healthcare workers) who test twice a week anyway.[/quote]

We all test twice a week. DC at school/university and one in full time work (not healthcare)

I used to (public sector and no home working) but stopped when I did 8 LFT all negative, then a positive PCR

Oh wow, that's mad. It makes me wonder though if maybe the whole LFT is just a waste of time/money. Did you never get a positive LFT

@drawingpad

I used to (public sector and no home working) but stopped when I did 8 LFT all negative, then a positive PCR

Oh wow, that's mad. It makes me wonder though if maybe the whole LFT is just a waste of time/money. Did you never get a positive LFT

Not once, and I know I was doing them correctly as the PCR was self administered and I did it in exactly the same way. A load of people at my workplace had exactly the same experience I’ve had covid twice and I lost my dad to it so I’m not being a dick about it, I genuinely am over it all

My son has covid a while ago, a PCR picked it up. Tested on lft 8 days in a row and none of them turned positive. 7 of the tests were after the PCR.

I’m sure there are some people who do test twice a week, I believe you exist. I’m just saying my wide circle of friends and acquaintances don’t so I’m not sure a huge proportion of Scotland is actually testing twice a week.

Cases here went from average 60 a day to now 300 a day - no restrictions other than self isolation if positive. This has been the case for months - so no changes

Makes me wonder if another new strain in rife?

I haven't really thought about why I do it, or taken into account peoples experience of getting positive PCR but not LFT. I'm autistic and I often get fixated on what we 'should' be doing rather then sitting back and thinking about it objectively so I have learned from this thread already

As an aside, I don't always wear a mask, some days are harder then others. If things are ticking over nicely it's not an issue but if I'm having a harder than normal day or if something goes wrong during my day I am less able to tolerate the mask. Sounds nuts I know but if my brains is overwhelmed the smaller things be down harder to manage. Im looking forward to not having to wear them at all.

We've stopped regularly testing now and only test if feeling poorly. And that's kind of what others I know are doing too.

Am gutted that face masks are here to stay for a while longer. Am very tempted to say I'm done with it.

I would LOVE our supine media to harass Sturgeon with one simple question - "how many hospitalisations / lives do you estimate will be saved by keeping masks for this extended period".

She can't answer because she doesn't know. They have no idea of the estimated benefit of the extension. That tells you that they consider the cost negligible, because the benefit is not measurable.

It is this constant instinct for nannying, posturing and a complete indifference to the burdens of the remaining restrictions - minor though they may be, over a whole population it is not trivial.