Are we approaching another lockdown?

I am sure with Macron unsettling people and Ursula Vanderlyen being a bit of a b**ch their vaccine process is not going welll

Why is the man simply unsettling people, but the woman is being a bitch?

Thoughts on a postcard.

I’m living in France, over 60 and have diabetes. I can’t get vaccinated anywhere in my department. Have been offered a vaccination back in the UK. Wish I could just nip back. We are not in lockdown here, just a nightly curfew, which has just changed from 6pm to 7pm. Which doesn’t seem to make any sense?

We are in a lockdown now. If people go out on protests and marches, we’ll be in permanent lockdown obeying the rules while the walkers etc. will not be! It’s a rollercoaster really!

olliebeak, i fully agree.

I just hope it won't put even more off having the vaccine.Blinking EU woman blowing it out of all proportion! The risks are still very, very low,against risks of covid, and if i can still take the plunge, with medical problems, i hope others can too..If EU are so unhappy with astrazeneca then i suggest their scientists invent something much better then..?

IF every country, ALL OVER THE WORLD, had had a fully co-ordinated attitude towards Lockdown at the same time we wouldn't be still in this situation.

But Oh No - the thoughts of Governments co-operating together to defeat this virus is just alien to those who look to 'get one up' on their perceived rivals!

Yes Casdon, i read about the trials for childrens vaccines (we are all so worried for our GC)! But theres now the worries about the safety of the vaccines? Even for us as adults, so the worry for the kids having it is huge? Ive never worried about getting my kids vaccinated,(when they were growing up) i think its best, but this safety aspect thats come to light recently is a worry.im still getting my second dose when i can-though as I'm prone to forming blood clots already I'm very concerned.(i'll just hope as I'm on lifetime blood thinners already that it helps counteract the side effects)??

I don't think it will ever get back to normal. According to the nurse who vaccinated me social distancing and masks are here to stay forever! When I said it was not economically viable and mentioned things like cinemas, football stadiums, and theatres she said that they can space out and sit 5 seats between each other. Well, the venues will lose money if that happens on a permanent basis. I mentioned care home visits and she said one person at a time can visit. I also mentioned people who become new grandparents her reply was the grandmother can see the baby one week and the grandfather the next, and there's always facetime. Social distancing must NOT become the new normal and I am sick of being dictated to by the government.

But overall, yes i do think that when we are all allowed to leave this current lockdown we will probably end up with another, (or back to the 'levels'- as Boris has said we "wont have another complete lockdown") as so many will just flock to places, or jet off somewhere...its most disheartening now..?

I’ve just been looking at the vaccination figures now by coincidence, and it looks like the uptake for the 60+ and vulnerable groups is going to be much higher than they predicted, it’s nosing 95% for many of those groups already, and creeping up daily. It looks as the most vulnerable who can’t have the vaccination is a very small percentage. These were Wales figures, but I’m sure it’s similar in the rest of the UK. There are trials going on for children now too, so soon the most vulnerable of them will be vaccinated as well.

Yes (again) FarNorth, i know the bus drivers & retail staff did not sign up for that either, one of my sons is a bus driver and it had always been what he wanted to do- he started the job not long before covid arrived- now i worry all the time, and for my youngest daughter who works in retail, its a very different job to what they both 'signed up' for..as it is for teachers too.This is why they should have been given a chance to get vaccine early, as coming into direct contact with the public every day is unsafe.But gov't chose to give it as they have so it is what it is...

I do agree!

In my view, there will be lockdowns in parts of the country and during some of the winter weeks (post Christmas and New Year?) subject to the data obtained, and on the advice of scientists and medics. Independent SAGE is an excellent and trustworthy debate I would advise one follows on the YouTube indie_SAGE

Yes FarNorth, but they are endangering the ones who cannot be vaccinated (but would love to) for health/medical reasons, or children, who can't as yet be given the vax, and even of those who are vaccinated, theres some of course, who are going to be the few percent whom it does not 'work' on, and still even vaccination doesn't necessarily mean we won't get it and be very ill, even if we are not going to die from it.The vaccine isn't a complete magical potion, but the more that take it up, than don't bother, the better it will be, obviously.

I am like many, suffering from lockdown fatigue, and am becoming a little complacent. However I tend to tune into the Independent Sage Group (Fridays on YouTube) it’s open to the public and they give a very sensible and comprehensive view of what is happening, and without the usual briefing waffle from the government.

They don’t believe we are out of the woods yet, but I am hoping for some respite during the summer. Much safer when many activities are outside. The vaccination programme has gone well up til now, but still leaves half U.K. population vulnerable, and we are all vulnerable when new variants appear.

I witnessed a funeral outside an ASDA last week, they shut the shop and stood outside as the hearse was walked round I couldn't help wondering if it was covid related. It was incredibly moving. There has been so much loss

springishere

Does anyone live in Wales? Shops are open there. I live on the border, but the first minister says: "Don't think you English can come here to have your hair done". Very frustrating. Businesses there won't be pleased with him.

Shops aren't open in Wales although I have heard that they are open in some areas of England. People are not allowed across the border (either way).

Hairdressessers and barbers are not pleased with Mr Drakeford because he gave them two days' notice of opening - as many have said, no time to prepare, make sure their staff have the required Covid tests and in fact even to make appointments!
People in the hospitality industry are not pleased with him because they cannot understand why hairdressers are allowed to open but people are not allowed to sit, self-distanced, in a pub garden.

Even if anyone thinks that NHS staff did sign up to live with whatever danger arises in healthcare - retail workers, bus drivers etc certainly didn't.
A lot of people have been living in terrifying circumstances.

No theyre not in trenches Kittypaws49, but its like our younger,AND older people of the NHS, have been sent to the 'trenches' in a way- sent to the frontline, to risk their lives- to fight this virus, and some lost their lives just the same as if they'd gone to war.And not even knowing at beginning exactly what it was they were battling! Its not what they signed up to the job for, is it, to risk their life doing it? And for that they got a measly pay rise that wont even pay their parking fees. I was horrified when someone on phone when i arranged an appt told me even the staff have gone back to paying hospital parking charges! Bl**dy heck, they could at least give them that free couldn't they? It would save the NHS staff a fortune if they at least do that..and no im not related to anyone in NHS, but i (and my family) rely on their care a lot, and can see how hard they work.and admire their dedication.

This is today’s graph of Northumberland from the Zoe Covid symptom study app. The figures are estimated from their data but are in real time and are usually ahead of government figures.
I feel very despondent and doubt that the roadmap will be adhered to.
We have been pinning our hopes on travelling to see DD in the midlands after May 17 but I think that’s now unlikely to happen.

The ones who dont take it up will always have a death knell over them, and also endanger everyone else.

They shouldn't be endangering the 'everyone else' who have been vaccinated.
The virus can be transmitted by anyone, vaccinated or not, so having unvaccinated people on the loose should pose a danger only to those same people.

Our parents bored us with WW2 stories!

Lockdown may be boring for some, but it is very worrying for others, frightening and distressing for some and sheer exhaustion for those in the NHS and other services.

WW2 was not, as far as I have heard, boring. Frightening, distressing, exhausting for some and worrying.

If all we are is bored, then we should count ourselves lucky.

maddyone
Are we ever going to be sure now we have a vaccine to control this present virus there is not some other 'form of nasty' ready and waiting to take over ?

We are still in lockdown- have been for ages now. It has got to the position that people are so fed up they are ignoring it. I was surprised when both my sons came to see us on Mother's Day. To be fair they live in areas where they are not in lockdown so did not realise we still were.
The schools have gone back now though so hopefully things are looking better.
Has anyone had their 2nd jab yet? they said 12 weeks so I have about another 6 weeks to wait.

I am hoping that foreign. Holidays will be banned this year, then people who have booked can get their money back. We have booked a self catering cottage in the UK, with large garden and a country park nearby, so if nothing else,it will be a change of scene. I am hoping before then, to make some day trips, just to get out of the area.
Personally, I don’t see why people who have been vaccinated and are leading quiet lives should not meet up. I would love my choir to restart for the likes of us. The trouble is, some are looking after grandchildren, whose parents are working in key roles, so actually I don’t want to mix with them. Everyone’s standards are different. It is hard to know who is safe.