Indian variant - Is anyone else incredulous at Boris yet again having shut the stable door after the horse has bolted?!

Atqui

Haven’t we discussed this on another couple of threads? But my reaction is still the same: “Why did WE bloody bother ( doing as we were told)”

Because we are adults? Although I may have got that wrong. May I ask how old you are?

Families in the UK or in nearby Europe have NOT been allowed to go back and forth, or to attend funerals and weddings.

You say ''The many Indian families within the UK travelling back and forth to India ( mainly for weddings and funerals lately) would have brought the variant back here regardless.''

how could they have brought it back if they had not been allowed to go back and forth ?

Whitewavemark2

“So in short the Indian variant might mean we don't return to normal for a much longer time. And the Indian variant is here because of Brexit and Boris Johnson's determination to make an eye catching trade deal with India. Well done everyone. Great job.”

Who are you quoting here? Not that I agree with it in any way.
The many Indian families within the UK travelling back and forth to India ( mainly for weddings and funerals lately) would have brought the variant back here regardless.
Pakistan was only closed (by our government) as a destination a couple of weeks ago, so even if India had been on the list at the same time, the variant would have arrived here, it only takes a few people to spread it into their communities.
Viruses mutate, it’s what they do, and this one hasn’t finished yet. Getting everyone to accept the vaccine is the only way we will be able to live with it.

farview

I live in Bolton...the vaccination roll out,I think,has been really good...the amount of people refusing to have the vaccine is the big problem here!!!!!....plus ,of course,people visiting, then returning here from India...

Interesting.
Do you think that those in the Asian community in Bolton will now have the vaccination, are they not worried by it all?

And there is absolutely no evidence that the virus has been brought by dinghy.

Let me think - what do people on dinghies and people in "them areas" have in common? Now, that's a difficult one!

Nannashirlz

Well I’ve noticed that the varieties are always start in the same areas. So yes Boris should have shut down borders. But he didn’t but it also says a lot about the ppl in them areas because they obviously haven’t followed the rules like the rest of us have. But don’t forget ppl enter our country by dingy yes they bring in some but what about the ones that sneak into country that no one knows are here. They could have also brought it here. But it could also enter on an animal. If a virus wants to spread it will find a way. Also how many ppl are still sanitizer hands and trolleys. I was doing mine yesterday and the amount of ppl not was shocking and that included a store assistant.

Not true. The Kent variant was first identified in Kent (not surprisingly) and south Essex.

27 flights came into Heathrow this morning in 4 hours. India, Bahrain, New York----as I've said before, I give up.

People aren't taking responsibility for themselves---they don't care. Why bother worrying ?

The reports from Heathrow are terrifying; all those people from different countries all crammed into the arrivals lounge, using the same toilets etc. India has been a strange case though; last year it seemed to be coping very well, even as people from the cities travelled back to remote villages, but suddenly in the past month or so it has blown up into the biblical plague that we are seeing daily in news reports. I know that there was unwise political rallies and religous gatherings, but surely these were happening last year as well? I am sure that this is baffling bigger brains than mine, but one thing is for sure, we should have closed entry a lot quicker than we did, and surely we could manage some sort of lane/filtering system at Heathrow or wherever to keep flights apart? It is not as if the airports are as bust as they used to be. Oh, and we didn't need those business people from India here during G7, they are not members, and we learned that at least 2 of the delegation tested positive for covid19 after arriving here.

Critical as I am of the way the government have handled the pandemic they do seem to have got people on board regarding lockdowns and mask wearing. The downside is that it was all done too late and resulted in deaths. We’ve all got used to mask wearing and social distancing, schoolchildren in particular seem to have just accepted it. I know my son tells me his two year old says ‘mask’ when he goes out! . If this is suddenly lifted in June it will be difficult to get people on side again. It’s a small price to pay for being able to meet up and socialise imo. Someone told me today that 150 people booked in for vaccinations down the coast decided to go to the beach instead as the weather was nice. Is it any wonder we’re in such a mess?

Incredulous, yes, extremely angry, yes, surprised, no! I am also very upset. We haven’t seen our DD1 who lives in London since Christmas 2019 and we have booked a site in London to go next month in our motorhome. I am just hoping that this doesn’t put paid to our plans. We had to cancel last year when things started to rapidly go downhill. ????

Well I’ve noticed that the varieties are always start in the same areas. So yes Boris should have shut down borders. But he didn’t but it also says a lot about the ppl in them areas because they obviously haven’t followed the rules like the rest of us have. But don’t forget ppl enter our country by dingy yes they bring in some but what about the ones that sneak into country that no one knows are here. They could have also brought it here. But it could also enter on an animal. If a virus wants to spread it will find a way. Also how many ppl are still sanitizer hands and trolleys. I was doing mine yesterday and the amount of ppl not was shocking and that included a store assistant.

I think that the risk is exaggerated because the PM and his scientific advisers are terrified at losing their hold over the public.
What do you mean by this, please? I may be misunderstanding your post, but are you saying that the government is enjoying having us under their control? I have heard this before, and don't really understand why they would want to have us all locked away, particularly when it is 'costing them' money, and so on.

Clearly, a compliant population is easier to deal with than a free-thinking one, and I do hope that some of the emergency legislation introduced on the back of the pandemic is repealed ASAP, but 'terrified of losing their hold' seems a step (or three) too far.

I agree with eazybee people need to take responsibility for themselves and not need constant government nannying.

Haven’t we discussed this on another couple of threads? But my reaction is still the same: “Why did WE bloody bother ( doing as we were told)”

Australia figures include people in hotel quarantine as well though, they are repatriating their own citizens from India but their quarantine is very strict so it’s unlikely it will get out of control there.

* Jaxjacky* I did read in the Aussie news last week that they were aware that there was one person who was carrying the strain but weren't successful in tracking him/ her down.

Australia mostly closed their borders EllenVannin they have 85 cases of the Indian Variant.
If we’d totally closed ours, I don’t know, I’m sure others have a better idea than me.

winterwhite

I think that the risk is exaggerated because the PM and his scientific advisers are terrified at losing their hold over the public.

The prospect of getting to September with no proper opportunity to enjoy the summer is very depressing.

The new variants certainly highlight the need to get on and vaccinate the under 30s as fast as possible, and to further encourage the vaccine hesitant, but what is the sense in double-jabbing people and then expecting them to behave as though they had never been jabbed at all? Not much.

Do we want the police on the streets and fines all over again.? No.

In America, people that have had two vaccinations or have proof that they’ve had covid are being allowed to be restriction free. It’s a different approach but one that might take off here at some point but I don’t think we’re at that stage yet. I believe they’re vaccinating much younger people in America too.

Jaxjacky, in a way I can't blame them for thinking on those lines, it's the unknown and to be on the safe side they're erring on the side of caution. I know how I felt and I was no willing participant for the first jab.

EllanVannin

Playing Devil's Advocate, I wonder what would have happened if Boris had closed the country completely ?

Flowershop very few, if any politicians use forethought.

Do you mean like New Zealand?

Playing Devil's Advocate, I wonder what would have happened if Boris had closed the country completely ?

Flowershop very few, if any politicians use forethought.

Take up of the vaccinations in India is low too, many refusing amid rumours of heart attacks and infertility, Times today.

This could be Johnson's undoing, and I hope not as it would make all the sacrifices we have all made for so long, more or less in vain. And could threaten the very success of the vaccination programme.
Dangerous times.

“So in short the Indian variant might mean we don't return to normal for a much longer time. And the Indian variant is here because of Brexit and Boris Johnson's determination to make an eye catching trade deal with India. Well done everyone. Great job.”