I don’t understand why

It’s not over yet!

Yes I remember Summerlove!

I do realise there are differences between us and Sweden. I read that they have an overall younger population than here and that a large percentage of the population live alone, all of which is significant, but I still can’t help wondering how things would have turned out for us.

In my opinion the PM paid too much attention to Professor Ferguson’s idiotic claim that 500,000 could die here with no lockdown.

This man has been proved wrong in his ridiculous scaremongering over other epidemics, but I can see how the PM felt he couldn’t afford to dismiss his dire predictions.

It’s just a thought that’s on my mind a lot lately with the dismal nightly news of yet more job losses.

JenniferEccles

Rather than considering what the situation now would be like if lockdown had been introduced sooner, how about considering where we would be if there had been no lockdown at all?

The very old, ill, vulnerable could have been shielded and the rest of the population could have continued to work.

We certainly wouldn’t be facing potentially millions of job losses.

Despite dire predictions, Sweden’s no lockdown approach appears to have been successful.

Do you not remember when that idea was floated here at the beginning? People started talking very loudly about ageism and how unfair that was.

I am desperate to see my children, grandchildren and my late husband’s family. We had hoped to kill two birds with the one stone and all meet up in February but that is looking less and less likely now.
Had I been younger it would possibly have bothered me less but having passed the three score and ten I am conscious that the number of years I have left are in short supply.

Sweden’s position of no lockdown was no more successful than ours with lockdown. I believe the deaths per million of population were similar in both countries. However, with no lockdown it’s certain that as a country with less land mass ie the UK, and much more overcrowding, the UK would have suffered far, far more fatalities. Let’s just remember that the population of London is about ten million, and the population of the entirety of Sweden is about eleven million. More land to spread out, and fewer people. It’s not rocket science is it?

Lucca

What do people think about people like this ?

“Minister Chloe Smith has distanced herself from her husband's comments on Covid-19, which he described as "most likely an outbreak of mental illness".
Sandy McFadzean also called for an end to social distancing, track and trace and the use of face coverings.
Ms Smith, Conservative MP for Norwich North, said she took a "different view" but felt everyone was "entitled to their own" opinion.
The controversy over Mr McFadzean's comments comes as the the number of daily recorded coronavirus cases is
Mr McFadzean, who is a vice-president of investment bank Credit Suisse, attended last weekend's march in London against coronavirus restrictions.”

I know what I think but my thoughts aren't repeatable in polite society.

Is Sweden's coronavirus strategy a cautionary tale or a success story?

www.newscientist.com/article/2251615-is-swedens-coronavirus-strategy-a-cautionary-tale-or-a-success-story/

Why do people persist in claiming that Sweden has been a success story when it hasn't?

Just lockup the oldies? Right.

Rather than considering what the situation now would be like if lockdown had been introduced sooner, how about considering where we would be if there had been no lockdown at all?

The very old, ill, vulnerable could have been shielded and the rest of the population could have continued to work.

We certainly wouldn’t be facing potentially millions of job losses.

Despite dire predictions, Sweden’s no lockdown approach appears to have been successful.

What do people think about people like this ?

“Minister Chloe Smith has distanced herself from her husband's comments on Covid-19, which he described as "most likely an outbreak of mental illness".
Sandy McFadzean also called for an end to social distancing, track and trace and the use of face coverings.
Ms Smith, Conservative MP for Norwich North, said she took a "different view" but felt everyone was "entitled to their own" opinion.
The controversy over Mr McFadzean's comments comes as the the number of daily recorded coronavirus cases is
Mr McFadzean, who is a vice-president of investment bank Credit Suisse, attended last weekend's march in London against coronavirus restrictions.”

I really don’t understand why governments and populations don’t just bite the bullet until this virus is under control. A few more months, keeping restrictions in place, foregoing a holiday abroad, working from home if possible, avoiding public transport, etc. and things could return to ‘normal’ more quickly.

Imagine if all these securities had been put in place the minute this spread outside China. If the WHO had been more on the ball. Borders closed, masks made mandatory, countries in simultaneous lockdown. Dream on?

Perhaps the next pandemic will be handled better.

Here’s Devi Sridhar on why travelling now is likely to lead to more lockdowns over the winter www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/opinion/coronavirus-europe-vacation.html

Eight teenagers from a group of twelve from Winchester have just tested positive after travelling back from 10 days in Crete, Cambia. They were contacted by friends they'd made while out there from Estonia, who have also tested positive on their return home from Crete. If it ever was Covid free, it seems it's not now.

Surely you aren’t disputing that?
No, not if we are going to be pedantic. England, Wales and Scotland are indeed an island and form part of the the United Kingdom along with Northern Island.

However, if discussing population, demographics, the geography of the British Isles and also political devolution, it is completely different.

Callistemon

^Crete is an island as is the UK^
No, it's not.
The population of Crete is less than three-quarters of a million!
It's not a bit like the UK.

I can think of worse places to be stuck though.

The point was that both were islands.
Surely you aren’t disputing that?

Yes.
It's just not the same. We should be on the way there about now.

Callistemon

Lucca my family heard that Australian borders will be closed until the end of 2021, by which time DH and I could be disinclined to travel that far, we'll be getting too old.

People can keep all their holidays, for those of us unable to see families it's not a happy time.

Oh dear. I know that people whose families live in the uk will say “ah but there’s FaceTime” but I just want to physically be with my son, go for a walk together, have a coffee, have a hug etc and the GC too of course.

Not everyone is going on holiday - my DD wanted to see her parents in law who are elderly, live abroad, and haven't seen their grandchildren for over a year. So don't assume its just people wanting a good time.

Callistemon I do not know how people coped before Zoom and FaceTime, it’s good but not the same as being in the same room as our loved ones abroad.

We have family in Victoria, Australia no idea when they will be allowed here or us there ?

This is the longest time I have spent on UK soil since I was eleven years old (nearly ten months). Desperate to see AC, GD who
live abroad, I am a nervous flyer at the best of times, which up till now hasn’t prevented me from flying. Mr GG13 is desperate to visit our AC in Africa, our GD in mainland Europe but I cannot pluck up the courage to do so. He understands (at the moment) but I know I will have to make the decisions in the near future.

Crete is an island as is the UK
No, it's not.
The population of Crete is less than three-quarters of a million!
It's not a bit like the UK.

I can think of worse places to be stuck though.

Lucca my family heard that Australian borders will be closed until the end of 2021, by which time DH and I could be disinclined to travel that far, we'll be getting too old.

People can keep all their holidays, for those of us unable to see families it's not a happy time.

We were in Crete earlier in the year when they locked us down. Nobody could leave either by plane, boat or car. We were there for nearly four months and due to family problems desperate to get home by the fourth month. As they lifted the restrictions we had to take three flights across Europe to get back to the Uk. During the time we were there, the Greek govt were extremely strict on people being out about with no good reason. Fines of €150 euros each were applied if you were out without good reason. Covid cases were down to none by the time we left. Although on an island we never had a single food shortage either. As restrictions were lifted slightly everyone coming on to the islands were Covid tested. Coming home to the UK we were not tested once.

Crete is an island as is the UK and I cannot understand why our government did not do the same. Why was travel not suspended immediately? Because our government put the economy before lives unfortunately. I am not anti government and voted for this government as the lesser of two evils but I am thoroughly dismayed at the way they dealt with the virus.

I am also thoroughly dismayed at people’s behaviour too. Selfishness in filling up trolleys and leaving others without. Selfishness at going out and mixing without thought for anyone else. Selfishness even now at not wearing masks to protect others.

I have to say I was ashamed of being British and couldn’t explain to my Greek friends why we behaved like this.

quizzer I can’t believe your husband has seen EVERYTHING he wants to see in the UK! This island is inexhaustible for interesting places as Bill Bryson says. It takes an American to point this out to us...
I adore my trips abroad nevertheless and my Orient Express trip is postponed until the Spring GW. I do agree with those who say the whole palaver of travelling abroad at the moment with masks and distancing etc defeats the object of a relaxing holiday.
It amuses me to think how, all being well, 2021 is going to explode with weddings, holidays etc.
It’s going to be a busy year?