The decision to end restrictions is dangerous and premature, unethical and illogical.

PippaZ

I have suggested that not wearing a mask in company is about the level of not using a hanky when you sneeze - basically quite disgusting. This hits the nail on the head when it comes to flaunting your "freedom of choice". I wonder if those pushing this know exactly how ridiculous they appear.

Excellent

Signed, varian. Great post, PippaZ 12.07 today. Spot on!

I'd be totally for mask wearing being mandatory for a little longer and will be continuing to wear mine. I do wonder though how you can be sure that those who have been exempt from wearing masks have not been infected and gone on to infect others. I wouldn't think the virus can tell the difference between exempt and non-compliant. Perhaps if we hadn't allowed exemptions, hard as that is, we'd not have had so many people choosing not to wear masks in the knowledge that nobody could challenge them.

PippaZ

I have suggested that not wearing a mask in company is about the level of not using a hanky when you sneeze - basically quite disgusting. This hits the nail on the head when it comes to flaunting your "freedom of choice". I wonder if those pushing this know exactly how ridiculous they appear.

That's brilliant - the Anti-Masketeers are beyond ridiculous.

songstress60

We need to get the economy back! We have the vaccine so I want my freedom, and medics are concentrating so much on Covid they are neglecting other medical procedures and operations. People are being diagnosed with cancer when it is too late to treat them. I had my cataract op cancelled 3 times. We have the vaccine. Let's get back to normal.

Sadly, it is exactly because covid is rising again so fast that ops are being cancelled again due to the numbers in hospital with covid. How would a clear message to continue wearing a mask and social distance where possible be likely to worsen the situation? Not everyone has had the vaccine yet. Not everyone can. I bet they would like some freedom too - to have a little protection against something that might kill them.
How much do very basic measures impinge on the economy?

Signed Varian. Thank you.

I have suggested that not wearing a mask in company is about the level of not using a hanky when you sneeze - basically quite disgusting. This hits the nail on the head when it comes to flaunting your "freedom of choice". I wonder if those pushing this know exactly how ridiculous they appear.

varian

Last Wednesday, every single Conservative MP voted against starting the COVID-19 Inquiry ASAP.

We know why. The Government’s pandemic response has been plagued by repeated failures and casual cronyism. At every turn, they have awarded their chums billions of pounds worth of COVID-19 contracts.

That’s why they want to delay the inquiry. They don’t want their flagrant cronyism to be scrutinised. Especially not before the next General Election.

We can’t let that happen. We need to apply the lessons learnt immediately, in case Covid drags on.

Will you sign our petition calling on the Government to hold an independent inquiry starting in 2021?

Just last month, the High Court ruled that Michael Gove acted unlawfully when he awarded a COVID contract worth half a million pounds to Public First, a firm with connections to Dominic Cummings.

Is the Government scared of more illegality coming to light?
With Boris Johnson’s “Freedom Day” just around the corner, he can’t still claim that it is too early to start the inquiry.
We believe that the Covid Inquiry should start in 2021. That way, the Government can learn vital lessons and apply them to future crises.

Please sign our petition to hold the independent COVID inquiry ASAP.

secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/84593/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=email&ea.url.id=5406289

Signed - and I'm in total agreement with you.

varian

This populist government is all about creating division. Them against us. Sadly that populist tactic has succeeded in many countries. We need to say NO. We are one people.

Although I am not English, I think the England football team set a good example.

Well said - and absolutely right.

We, as a people need to oppose this government - it is continuing to do wrong and bad things.

OnwardandUpward - what you said here is interesting: "I hope the government passes a law to prevent discriminations, harassment etc"

Given that they stoked the fires of racism and online / offline abuse, I think that is highly unlikely.

This is so depressing.

….and this is before Freedom day actually kicks in…..

MayBee70

My grandsons secondary school has sent all of the pupils home today because the infection rate amongst staff and pupils has gone through the roof.

Ah - the "Johnson Variant" in full swing there then - and the pattern is repeated across England.

Curlygirl - when you said "He is not an idiot he knows exactly what he’s doing and it shows his contempt for the ordinary people of this country."

I am inclined to agree, but he is ignorant and has had a bad education, as indeed most of the ex public school types - perhaps we need to start a fundraiser to help improve the education of politicians from the Eton & Harrow mould.

We could use the money they voted not to spend on education, health, and welfare of children in less developed countries?

My grandsons secondary school has sent all of the pupils home today because the infection rate amongst staff and pupils has gone through the roof.

MayBee70

I’m seriously concerned for retail staff that will not only be put at risk by people not wearing masks but may suffer abuse from anti mask wearing customers. And believe me that is going to happen. It’s almost as if the government want to create a country full of shops that request customers to wear masks and those that don’t.

That is a concern. On a popular daily news site I read anti maskers making comments like " now we'll see who cost us our freedom"

I hope the government passes a law to prevent discriminations, harassment etc

I really cannot believe that the Government are going against all the warnings that are being made by SAGE members, scientists, leading members of the medical profession and WHO. I’ve read that we can expect 100-200 deaths per day if infections rise at the rate they are at the moment. That’s 700-1400 lives per week that will be lost because Boris Johnson wants to make this foolhardy gamble. How dare he decide that so many people will lose family, children lose their parents, grandparents and siblings. He is not an idiot he knows exactly what he’s doing and it shows his contempt for the ordinary people of this country.

hugshelp

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2

Imagine how health workers are feeling

I know very well how health workers are feeling as we have several in our immediate family.

Hospital admissions for Covid are still low.

Not where I am.

www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-rocketing-covid-rate-holding-20993573

It's not just Leeds.

I guess it depends what is meant by "low".

There were 538 Covid hospital admissions in the UK on 10th July (the last date for which complete data are available). On 10th July 2020, there were 104 admissions.

MayBee70

I’m seriously concerned for retail staff that will not only be put at risk by people not wearing masks but may suffer abuse from anti mask wearing customers. And believe me that is going to happen. It’s almost as if the government want to create a country full of shops that request customers to wear masks and those that don’t.

shops that request customers to wear masks and those that don’t.

As a shopper I'd be fine with that. Stick a sign up outside and people can choose. Sadly the staff don't get much choice. Like You, I worry for the staff.

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2

Imagine how health workers are feeling

I know very well how health workers are feeling as we have several in our immediate family.

Hospital admissions for Covid are still low.

Not where I am.

www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-rocketing-covid-rate-holding-20993573

This populist government is all about creating division. Them against us. Sadly that populist tactic has succeeded in many countries. We need to say NO. We are one people.

Although I am not English, I think the England football team set a good example.

I’m seriously concerned for retail staff that will not only be put at risk by people not wearing masks but may suffer abuse from anti mask wearing customers. And believe me that is going to happen. It’s almost as if the government want to create a country full of shops that request customers to wear masks and those that don’t.

Last Wednesday, every single Conservative MP voted against starting the COVID-19 Inquiry ASAP.

We know why. The Government’s pandemic response has been plagued by repeated failures and casual cronyism. At every turn, they have awarded their chums billions of pounds worth of COVID-19 contracts.

That’s why they want to delay the inquiry. They don’t want their flagrant cronyism to be scrutinised. Especially not before the next General Election.

We can’t let that happen. We need to apply the lessons learnt immediately, in case Covid drags on.

Will you sign our petition calling on the Government to hold an independent inquiry starting in 2021?

Just last month, the High Court ruled that Michael Gove acted unlawfully when he awarded a COVID contract worth half a million pounds to Public First, a firm with connections to Dominic Cummings.

Is the Government scared of more illegality coming to light?
With Boris Johnson’s “Freedom Day” just around the corner, he can’t still claim that it is too early to start the inquiry.
We believe that the Covid Inquiry should start in 2021. That way, the Government can learn vital lessons and apply them to future crises.

Please sign our petition to hold the independent COVID inquiry ASAP.

secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/84593/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=email&ea.url.id=5406289

I think the issue that maybe is highlighting is that there are possibly sufficient “don’t cares” to make the risk of greater spread a real danger.

When we wear a mask, we are doing so to protect our fellow citizens, we do so because we value the community spirit, but we know - even on GN - that there are people without that moral value and they pose a real danger to the vulnerable.

It certainly isn’t rosie and it’s a really childish response as well from poshpaws

Message deleted by Gransnet for repeating a deleted post.