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

I understand the logic behind doing it in the school holidays, with the better weather. I would have said there are less of the other bugs around.
That's a good point DiscoDancer. The start of the new academic year in September is a notorious time for everyone passing round illnesses.
Otherwise would we be carrying on with masks until there's a good window next spring?

Greta

I'm not happy about 'freedom' day on 19 July and I think it's irresponsible of the government to just tell people to use their common sense and act responsibly. We saw crowded beaches not so long ago with a mountain of litter left behind. Where was common sense and responsible behaviour then?

We have been told on numerous occasions that if you wear a mask you protect others. Are we saying then that if you choose not to wear one you are happy to harm others?

There was definitely litter left behind in parks and on beaches, but there were no spikes of infections, nor were there any spikes in infections at the numerous protest marches last summer.

The vaccine roll-out has not totally severed the link between severe illness and mortality, however it has reduced it to a tiny thread.

A friend of mine who has COPD and lives on South Tyneside where the infection rate is very high is terrified at the moment. Her mum died from covid in a nursing home last year.

Greta

I'm not happy about 'freedom' day on 19 July and I think it's irresponsible of the government to just tell people to use their common sense and act responsibly. We saw crowded beaches not so long ago with a mountain of litter left behind. Where was common sense and responsible behaviour then?

We have been told on numerous occasions that if you wear a mask you protect others. Are we saying then that if you choose not to wear one you are happy to harm others?

We have been teaching children about beach litter and marine plastic for as long as I can remember, and yet it still happens. It's like people, (adults), enter a different world when they hit the beach for a holiday or a day out. It will be the same for masks.
People in holiday mood forget or don't think it applies.
Ironically it might be safer to travel on the Central Line where masks will be mandatory, than to walk along the seafront in Cornwall.

The BBC News tonight identified that there could be up to 4000 admissions to hospital per day if people don’t comply with the new guidance. There are currently 4m unvaccinated adults, plus 3.5m vulnerable adults for whom the vaccine may not be fully effective. That is not a tiny thread, it’s a lot of people. Deaths reported today were 50, it’s rising significantly and will continue to rise.
Some of us are going into this with our eyes open. I wish I wasn’t, as it’s a lot more comfortable just to believe what the government says.

"Are we saying that if you choose not to wear one you are happy to harm others?" I hope not Greta.

I'm unable to wear one so have a lanyard. Do I need to continue wearing my lanyard so people wont think I'm not wearing a mask because I'm happy to harm others?

Casdon
I prefer to look at the positive side of numbers.
34,764,511 people have been fully vaccinated. 52.5%
45,881,721 people have had one dose. 68.8 %

Another 27% to go for herd immunity.

BMA says 19 July relaxation is ‘irresponsible and perilous’. This alone should concern most people. It defies explanation as to why the government are removing all restrictions when the infection rate is growing at this rate. At the same time expecting people to abide by the rules as if they were still in place. It's almost as if mass confusion were the ultimate objective.

I think this says it all.

Chaand Nagpaul chair of the BMA talks so much sense. He seems to be horrified by the governments plan of action.

PippaZ

I think this says it all.

I can’t believe that this was on my timeline a year ago and we are still in the same position now.

It's just come up in memories MayBee, and I felt the same.

Depressing isn’t it?

It wouldn’t be so bad if people made a mistake but learned from it.

I agree with you Pippa.
The anti vaxx & conspiracy guys have been sharing stories that the vaccine is going to kill us all so the population will be reduced and then "The Great Reset" will happen. Hmmm somehow I feel that opening up things too soon is a more plausible population control ploy.

The anti vaxxers said the vaccine will kill us. No. THIS is natural selection, I feel. The people who are not vaccinated won't have as much protection against the Delta variant (and any new strains)

My friend in South Shields says her son has friends that refused to be vaccinated and they now have covid.

So sorry to hear that Maybee70

There's a story in the Sun today about a man who's got covid and regrets not getting the vaccine.

Meanwhile at "The Unconventional Parent" on Insta, there is a plan to get a LOT of people together in Parliament Square on Monday (see pic)

There are a lot of people who believe covid isn't even real, still. It's a great concern.

I’ve just watched Dr John Campbell, who advises that we should definitely continue as we are if not for the time be more careful.

We as double vaccinators have a moral duty to protect the vulnerable and of course the NHS.

I'm double jabbed and I agree with you @Whitewavemark2

I wish I could say the same of many of the commenters here www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9783781/Covid-UK-Polls-Britons-anxious-return-normal-Freedom-Day.html#comments

How can people see what’s happening in Indonesia/India and still say covid isn’t real?

Did you know that London has asked for companies to tender for supplying temporary mortuaries starting this winter for four years as they are expecting excess deaths. If that doesn't scare the bejabers out of you, nothing will. Well it's there on gov.uk for anyone to read but I bet you'll not hear about this on MSM and the big question we should all be asking and demanding answers to is, if London is doing this, are other cities doing the same?

MayBee70

How can people see what’s happening in Indonesia/India and still say covid isn’t real?

I got my comment removed on the DM site but I'll try to say it here.

Someone I know (who isn't now talking to me) was spreading videos of India where people were being killed by Dr's and not covid. I am pretty sure they might have got some film footage from a film they had seen and cobbled it together with some news footage because even now I can't even fathom that what I saw is true. I don't want to say too much in case I get in trouble here but due to what I have seen, I believe someone is editing videos to deliberately spread fear and misinformation.

effalump can you provide a link please to where on gov.uk that is?
I have just had a quick look and couldn’t find it.
I know there were temporary mortuaries at the beginning of Covid epidemic, some ice rinks were being prepared, haven’t heard anything about them being reinstated for the coming winter.

effalump

Did you know that London has asked for companies to tender for supplying temporary mortuaries starting this winter for four years as they are expecting excess deaths. If that doesn't scare the bejabers out of you, nothing will. Well it's there on gov.uk for anyone to read but I bet you'll not hear about this on MSM and the big question we should all be asking and demanding answers to is, if London is doing this, are other cities doing the same?

I didn't know that (thanks for sharing) but it also does not surprise me.

I think they feel that the excess deaths will be the unvaccinated and possibly the more delicate among us as the virus continues to mutate. I don't wish to spread fear, but the SARS virus has always been a mutating virus and this has been known from the beginning. Initially I think it was considered not helpful to say this, but as time goes on and we still need to be careful, I hope it explains something.

The double vaxxed among us will have some protection, but as the virus continues to mutate we don't know how much protection we will have and I think that's why they are considering a booster jab.

I feel that even though things look far from over, there are still positive steps we can take to be in the best possible health for ourselves.

Is this what effalump meant?
www.government-online.net/westminster-city-council-tender-for-temporary-body-storage-services/