Summer holidays abroad ‘extremely unlikely’ as third wave hits Europe

.Correction

...a threat to protect the citizens of the country they have been entrusted to govern from..

Or - a threat to protect citizens from..

I feel that younger people and children have paid the price for our safety.

You do do realise that young people and children can get covid, some can even die of it and some can recover but with life changing long term effects. Lockdown was meant to protect everybody. I'm a bit tired of being characterised as a selfish old person who is stopping everyone else have fun just to protect me from a nasty illness and a possible premature death.

I am very cross that our government got us into this situation in the first place by blithely ignoring all early warnings and advice from scientists and other affected countries and that, having allowed the virus to take hold, they have seen it more as an opportunity for their cronies and donors to make a profit than as a threat to protect the citizens of the country they have been entrusted to govern. Furthermore, it has done very little to protect those who have had to be in the front line and very little to make returning to school actually safe for children and teachers.

And I am very cross that all this incompetence has laid people open to ridiculous accusations of 'entitlement' when they actually believed that they were doing the right thing.

Callistemon Theoretically the French are following a similar pattern to that in the UK - age groups, health care and care home workers.

Maizie
I feel that younger people and children have paid the price for our safety. They have paid in many ways. Children have lost a year of school, they’ve lost out on education (not every household had a computer for every child) they’ve lost out on development of social skills (particularly the youngest) some have lost out on physical development (if they live in a high rise flat with no garden) and they’ve lost out on a lot more (too much to include here.) Younger people have lost their jobs, or will have lost their jobs when normality returns. And others have kept working throughout the pandemic, like my daughter and son in law. Actually, all my children have kept working, one from home, the others not so. Nearly a thousand doctors and nurses have died of Covid in the UK.
Older people have been able to stay at home. Quite rightly, they were protected. Obviously they shouldn’t have all gone out and caught Covid, they were privileged in that they could stay at home, and continue to receive their income. Apparently the savings of those in work and older people in particular have grown enormously. But on the other hand the economy has suffered enormously.
I just wish that older people would have the grace to accept and be grateful for what had been done for them.

maddyone I’m fed up of the sense of self entitlement from many of the other generation.

What on earth do you mean? Those who have stayed in and gone nowhere have had no choice. They have been told to shield by the government. Have you any idea what effect this has had on many people's mental health? Where is this sense of self-entitlment that people have shown? I haven't seen it. Certainly not among the housebound and unemployed because of COVID, the housebound and now mentally ill, the housebound and desperately waiting for treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. The parents housebound in small homes with children, trying to work and home educate and possibly support a family member or friend who has been told to shield. the housebound with close family in care homes that they cannot visit, knowing that when they next see their parent they will no longer be recognised. the house bound who were unable to visit and be with close family members when they died.

I have yet to meet anyone who wasn't grateful and appreciative of all that those that have continued to be able to go out to work, from those in the NHS to the delivery drivers that deliver their food orders

It is ridiculous this constant yah boo suckery about who has suffered and who hasn't, behaving like children in a play ground.

This virus has affected almost everyone in the world in one way or another, some sections of society have suffered more than others, that is inevitable, it is the same in every aspect of life.

But in situations like this the community should come together as one and work together as one, and indeed this has been the experience that constantly has been exhibited in communities all round the country.

It is sad to see someone on GN advocating division and sectionalism

You’re right ayse. We are absolutely not all in this together. That sentiment comes from people who have been able to sit comfortably at home whilst others went out to work to keep them comfortable and safe. My daughter and her husband are doctors, they both got Covid. They were out there and ended up infected whilst others were afraid to out of their doors. I’m fed up of the sense of self entitlement from many of the other generation.

Well, you have me thoroughly confused, maddyone.

Can it be that those of us who have stayed at home and followed the 'rules' (just about) thinking that they were not only protecting themselves but were also protecting front line and essential workers by not allowing the virus to spread, were doing the wrong thing all along because it's somehow given us a 'sense of entitlement'? Entitlement to what?

Would you have preferred us all to have just gone out and caught covid? Because it seems as though not having had it and not being able to spread it around is a black mark against us and entitles us to nothing at all, least of all a 'view'.

Or have I seriously misinterpreted your post?

Well said MissChatelaine.

ayse

MOnica

Trouble is that we are not all in it together. If you have a holiday home you are allowed to travel to prepare it for rent (courtesy of the Guardian). Government restrictions do not seem to extend to those who have more resources. So much for levelling up!

You’re right ayse. We are absolutely not all in this together. That sentiment comes from people who have been able to sit comfortably at home whilst others went out to work to keep them comfortable and safe. My daughter and her husband are doctors, they both got Covid. They were out there and ended up infected whilst others were afraid to out of their doors. I’m fed up of the sense of self entitlement from many of the other generation.

Frogsinmygarden

Miss Chatelaine
Seriously? You think everything will be open and as accessible as it ever was abroad? Your post suggests that the UK is the only country stifled by Coronavirus. I’d like to know what planet you live on? Bizarre.

I wasn’t going to bother to reply to this as I really am not sure what it is that you are specifically referring to. However I am curious. Maybe your planet and experience is different to mine .
Yes I do think that at some point in the foreseeable future we will be able to travel abroad for holidays and to visit friends and relatives. We can not cut ourselves off on our island forever. People have many reasons for travelling.

Actually it is possible for my partner to travel abroad to our apartment in the Canary Islands whenever she wants as she has Spanish residency. I could if I wanted now accompany her under today’s Stanley Johnson clause of being able to visit a holiday home to get it ready to sell or rent. Having flown out there and back in August I can happily say that I have no fear of being on a plane.

The small town where I live has 0 current cases and the island we spend half the year on has fewer than 3 cases.
Please tell me what your problem is?

M0nica

MibsXX The saddest thing of all has been the selfishness of many of those who have been vaccinated.

This pandemic has affected everyone and everything, We are in this together and we should stay together as a community until the end. We have both been vaccinated but will be obeying all the rules until all of us are freed from them.

If I were a younger unvaccinated person I would be very angry to see oldies travelling abroad before I myself felt comfortable and safe.

Miss Chatelaine
Seriously? You think everything will be open and as accessible as it ever was abroad? Your post suggests that the UK is the only country stifled by Coronavirus. I’d like to know what planet you live on? Bizarre.

MOnica

Trouble is that we are not all in it together. If you have a holiday home you are allowed to travel to prepare it for rent (courtesy of the Guardian). Government restrictions do not seem to extend to those who have more resources. So much for levelling up!

Katie I can’t speak for NZ but Australia haven’t repatriated all their citizens yet. They have to wait until there is space in one of the hotels they are using.
We are very low down on the priority list. I have more information about NSW than anywhere else because my DD works with the people making the decisions.

Saetana

It may well be possible to holiday abroad to some destinations - those that have low levels of covid and/or are well advanced with their vaccination programmes. I would warn those who have chosen not to be vaccinated though - its highly likely other countries will want proof of vaccination before you can travel there. We don't holiday outside the UK in any event, my husband's health issues make it too risky. We will not go on holiday at all this year but looking forward to visiting local attractions and visiting our closest seaside resort (Weston-Super-Mare). Maybe an overnight to London to visit the theatre at most. I am just looking forward to being able to go out in April for al fresco lunch and cocktails. Its been months since we have gone anywhere - last time was - August/September 2020 and we stuck to al fresco then as well.

It may well be that other countries don’t want us!, Australia and NZ in particular will be very cautious until their population is vaccinated.

MibsXX millions of people have had to continue to work throughout the pandemic, my staff and family included.

MOnica I could not agree more. I am expecting my second vaccination any time but my life will not change- I will still be seeing rather a lot of these 4 walls.

MibsXX The saddest thing of all has been the selfishness of many of those who have been vaccinated.

This pandemic has affected everyone and everything, We are in this together and we should stay together as a community until the end. We have both been vaccinated but will be obeying all the rules until all of us are freed from them.

Most people here are staying within the country. Problem is, everything is getting booked out. Some friends were planning to travel with us in August up to the Kimberleys but they couldn’t get on the tour because they tried to book just one day after we had booked. Europe seems decidedly unattractive from this distance just now. Especially when you hear of thousands of people trying to get home who can’t get a flight in.

It may well be possible to holiday abroad to some destinations - those that have low levels of covid and/or are well advanced with their vaccination programmes. I would warn those who have chosen not to be vaccinated though - its highly likely other countries will want proof of vaccination before you can travel there. We don't holiday outside the UK in any event, my husband's health issues make it too risky. We will not go on holiday at all this year but looking forward to visiting local attractions and visiting our closest seaside resort (Weston-Super-Mare). Maybe an overnight to London to visit the theatre at most. I am just looking forward to being able to go out in April for al fresco lunch and cocktails. Its been months since we have gone anywhere - last time was - August/September 2020 and we stuck to al fresco then as well.

"So let those of use who are not afraid of catching or transferring the virus get on with our lives."

And this here is why I am getting more and more stressed and frightened in my public facing job.....there are soo many where I am who think and act like this, or its all a government conspiracy, etc, pure selfishness and self entitlement IMO, I am sorry but it is.
This pandemic has really shown what a two tier nation we are, them that can sit at home safe and secure and all those poor souls who have no choice but to potentially risk both theirs and their families lives.... just remember this next time you're in a supermarket, or a doctors surgery, or a hospital , or needing your dishwasher repairing, the list is pretty endless really, the service staff aren't quite revolting yet but the attitudes and sheer self entitlement of the "top tier" really is starting to look revolting

GrannyGravy13

Aveline

Holidaying in the UK this year supports the hospitality industry and lots of related jobs. No need to go abroad right now.

What about those of us with AC, GC and other family members living abroad?

If we have had both vaccinations why should we be prevented from visiting them?

Because too soon and you will be risking maybe bringing back a nastier version of covid for those of us working in supermarkets who won't have had the vaccine as yet as we are deemed waaay down the important list and yet still have to face non mask wearers etc every day, I am sure there are plenty of other occupations in the same risk boat as I though. Please remember there is a large army of folks who have been unable to shield from this terrible thing, it has cost a lot of us financially though extra precautions we have to take and emotionally through not feeling safe to be able to see our own families..... and as for the luxury of affording and being allowed the time off for a holiday...

I hope they speed up the vaccination programme now. Are they going to do it in age groups?

I've just been looking at some statistics which make interesting reading. The total number of cases in the UK, France and Italy are just over 4.3 million, just under 4.3 million and 3.4 million respectively. The active cases are UK 481,600; France 3.9 million and Italy 563,000. Why should this be? For France to have so many active cases. The UK still has the highest number of deaths at 126,127, France 92,621 and Italy 105,328. Given the rate of vaccination in the UK and the slow rate in France it looks as though France might overtake the UK in the number of deaths.

Shinamae

maddyone

Keeper I’m the one that’s speaking of civil liberties. I’ve already been seriously ill with Covid, as I described up thread. Civil liberties mean you should, now the numbers are dropping, but more so because 50% of the adult population have had their first vaccination, you should be able to see your family, and go on holiday from the designated date, which is May 17th. There should be no more talk of extending the lockdown. If you want to lock yourself down Keeper, no one is stopping you. You can stay locked down for the rest of your life if you want to, and so can all the rest of those who want to curtail everyone else’s activities. But please leave me alone to go on holiday if I want to. I’ve had the virus, I was extremely ill, I got it from my mother who got it in hospital after a fall. I was in a support bubble with her so simply followed the rules, but I still got bad Covid. Now I’ve done everything I was told to do for a year, I want to go on holiday. I don’t live in a dictatorship, and therefore the right to free travel is important to me and to many others.
For everyone who doesn’t want to travel, or who wants to remain locked down, no one is stopping you. Please respect my choice to travel if I want to.

????????????Well said Maddyone

It's not well said though, is it Shinamae

It's now deemed illegal to travel abroad unless it's for exceptional reasons. £5000 fine.

It's all very well people banging on about their civil rights. I have worked throughout this whole palaver.

I am not frightened as has been suggested. In fact my life hasn't changed very much at all in lots of ways.

I can only assume those of you who want us to respect their wishes to travel, ( this comment would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic) have not lost loved ones. Have not seen what happens in a hospital. Have not seen a relative struggling with long covid

To compare this to flu is pathetic.

I'd love to take you to work with me. To an end of life ward. See how you feel then with your big exclamations of human rights and dictatorships

And do watch the Kate Garraway documentary. I think it airs tomorrow.

Callistemon I don't know anybody who wants to travel from France to anywhere else at the moment.
Some of our relatives are there and would probably like to come over here in the summer to see their family so ?. They have had the vaccination.