Don't clap for us. You have stabbed us in the back

If that’s what it is to you JaneA I assure you that’s not what it means to me.

Frontline staff isn’t just the NHS it’s supermarket checkout and other staff, delivery drivers, postmen, care workers, teachers, and all the others.

Not dentists though, except those brave few emergency ones.

Frontline staff are the NHS. They are the ones who are doing battle with the virus every day and their lives are more at risk as they are caring for patients who have coronavirus.

Mostly they want us to follow guidelines and limit the chance of catching the virus. That leads to them not being in as much danger.

I appreciate all others who are keeping the country going. We would be in a mess without them and they too would prefer us not to be bringing the virus to them.

If people want to clap then go ahead. The virus will be with us for the forseeable future maybe years.

Absolutely AGAA4
But write to your MP as well.

I will Maddy. My daughter is a nurse and I feel for what they have to do in the course of their long day's work the pay is inadequate.

Thank them by giving a decent pay rise and one-off bonus!
For once BJ seems to have got it right but waiving the NHS charge for health workers from overseas.

Yes mcem that’s a move in the right direction.
Big thanks AGAA4 for writing to your MP. And also big thanks to your daughter for all her hard work and dedication during this terrible time.

I stopped clapping last week and won’t be doing it again. I think it should have been a one off really and it’s become a bit silly now.

There's an online community group website here where we live.
Someone has suggested dressing up in weird outfits for the 'Clap' tonight. I just hope residents don't respond to the appeal.
How can people be so insensitive?
For the first time I'm going to look out there in our Close at ?8pm to see if anyone has taken any notice.

I've been looking and no-one has come out to clap thank God.
The front or the back way.,
Mostly retired, and all of them are grateful to the NHS for one reason or another but won't make this stupid fuss.

Stupid fuss?

Just been reading that Kate Garraway was out with her children clapping last night. Her husband Ben has been in a coma for 7 weeks with Covid19. This is more that a 'stupid' fuss. It is our street out last night in solidarity and community knowing that we are in this together.

Not wanting to make a stupid fuss, but I think Kate Garraway’s husband is Derek......

In our cul de sac a lot of houses put a flag up. One house had red, white and blue baloons tied up outside. A house at the top played very loud wartime music most of the day on a loop. Two houses had picnics in their front gardens, but only with own households. Many residents came outside and stood on doorsteps for minutes of silence, then clapped and went back in again. Everyone seems to be observing social distance here.

I feel the same about out street Furret. There's independent living accommodation for senior citizens opposite and 8.00 pm on Thursday evenings is the only time we see the majority of them.

They wave and clap, are happy to do so and we're happy to be a part of it too.

I think it’s wrong to “expect” people to clap .....people should clap only if they want to and not be frowned upon if they don’t. I don’t think the majority of young people take the virus seriously, after all, their chances of dying from it are so low. As for VE Day, it couldn’t be celebrated like it should have been for obvious reasons, and that was sad for a generation that won’t be around to celebrate it in the years to come.

By 'stupid fuss' I meant dressing up in silly outfits - maybe they meant to make it more of a communal get-togather.
And perhaps the flags etc were for VE Day

Furret wrote:

"This is a symbol of solidarity when we feel helpless. Nurses and doctors and paramedics on our street all come out to clap."

Solidarity is fine but it's not enough. The danger is clappers and Conservative MPs get to think NHS workers are contented with applause.

I am not an NHS worker and I am deeply discontented that applause is all the reward they are getting .

Introducing the lockdown in a week or two earlier would have made "quite a big difference" to the UK's death rate, according to one of the Government's scientific advisers.

Sir Ian Boyd, a member of the Sage scientific advisory group, said: "I would have loved to have seen us acting a week or two weeks earlier and it would have made quite a big difference to the steepness of the curve of infection and therefore the death rate."

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-testing-antibody-uk-lockdown-deaths-track-trace/

I agree Yogadatti that it's wrong to "expect people to clap" but it's also wrong to disparage those that do.

As a 'clapper', I don't for one moment think that *NHS workers
are contented with the applause*. There are some who appreciate this gesture from the public and some who don't.

The Thursday clap originally intended to demonstrate our gratitude for NHS workers now encapsulates all workers who have been going to work since the lock down began, and without whom the country would have come to a stand still.

The view of one hospital consultant.
www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/21/nhs-doctor-enough-people-clapping?CMP=share_btn_fb

Jane. That is an interesting article. How long is this clapping going to go on for.

It seems for some it has become a social occasion, with people in competition as to how much noise they can make.

The original clapping was heartfelt and emotional but that has been lost now as it has become a habit.

pantglas well spotted. I realised as soon as I posted but thought 'well let's see if anyone actually reads posts'. ?

smokeless I agree and it's even worse to disparage those who choose to do so.

Who are you AGA to tell people how they must feel? Bloody cheek ?

I apologise Furret if your clapping is heartfelt and emotional every Thursday.

I am just thinking of my daughter who is a nurse. She doesn't want people applauding her. You don't have to clap to feel.